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
glory l. 30. the time l. 48. and live after p. 13. l. 35. States p. 14. l. 42. States p. 24. l. last adde But here we must note another evill which partly caused that p. 36. l. 13. apprehension p. 37. l. 16. gave any p 50. l. 40. she is p. 51. l. 9. the point p. 53. l. 35. to the. p. 58. l. 16. as they p. 77. l. 7. and so p. 73. l. 16. storm l. 17. port p. 83. l. 6. in regard p. 84. l. 25. of repast p. 86. l. 18. apprehensions p. 87. l. 17. receivable p. 93. l. 4. how p. 99. l. 38. inconsiderate p. 100. l. 11. Rebellion p. 107. l. 21. brought into p. 112. l. 6. those two l. 35. glory 36. dammageable p. 113. l. 4. Negotiator l. 18. them p. 〈◊〉 l. 50. adored in Germany then in l. 53. neighbours with p. 127. l. 37. such whose party was supplanted p. 132. l. 48. in such p. 1. 5. l. 14. ardout p. 137. l. 26. will hence p. 138. l. 5. he p. 141. marg 1631. p. 144. l. 41. Novelty p. 153. l. 44. noyse of his Arms. p. 154. l. 4. at his p. 150. l. 50. out of p. 172. l. 39. There p. 180. l. 10. winnes the lawrel near the. p. 188. l. 6. good reason yea p. 203. l. 5. unwillingly l. 7. disadvantage p. 213. l. 25. to escape p. 239. l. 3. sacked p. 240. l. 45. at Trevirs p. 245. l. 54. taken p. 247. l. 7. praises p. 255. l. 34. casual p. 265. l. 1. dele little p. 268. l. 7. well enough l. 19. or for p. 209. l. 13. of others p. 276. l. 46. excuse p. 287. l. 18. now held Directions for placing of the Figures THe Emperour of Germany Page 178 The late King of England Page 208 The King of France Page 48 The King of Spain Page 50 The Protectour of England Page 254 The King of Poland Page 251 The Queen of Sweden Page 256 The King of Sweden Page 9 Cardinel Mazarine Page 198 The Prince of Orange Page 260 The Farl of Strafford Page 210 The Arch-Duke Leopold Governour of Flanders Page 237 Pope Alexander the Seventh Page 287 THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I The state of EVROPB towards the end of the precedent Age. THE Romane Empyre enjoyed a profound Peace France Italy Spaine Lorraine and the Gallicane or French Provinces of the Low-Countries began to respire by the Peace of Vervix All the Partialities of the League grew to be smoothered by the prudence of that Gaulish Hercules The Romane Catholicks HENRY Fourth and they of the Reformed Religion with an agreeable harmony to one anothers grief testified their fidelity to their magnanimous Prince and to please him the more bestowed all their hatred upon his service and their grudges upon the glory of their Country The Germans under the government of Maximilian Nephew to the Emperour Charles and Rodolph his son both meek Princes no more remembred the calamities which they had suffored through the difference about matter of Religion Nor knew they now what belonged to war but by hear-say and report for if by accident they saw any souldiers listed they were appointed for France or the Low-Countries The Forces of the Dubos des deux Ponts of Prince William of Orange of Casimir and of the Duke of Brunsmick The Battell of Anolt were soon the one to be cut in pieces by the Duke of Guise and the other after having committed great extravagances and made shamefull compositions to return with confusion This part whereof only which came into the Bishopprick of Colein to interrupt the marriage of their Electour proved not despisable Frances married fair Agnes of Mansfeld and had almost kindled a great fire but it passed not over the Lisiere and was quenched in the waters of the Rheyn by the valour of the Duke of Parma And so by a good understanding of the Members with their Head there returned a Calme I mean of the Electours and Princes with their Emperour Fear was taken away but distrust which casts her roots every where amongst pleasures caused by abundance was not rooted out This hath smothered the good Corn as we shall hereafter shew and dried up the fat of these rich Provinces and that Germany which was so formidable to the whole world would not have since been seen so miserably torne in pieces if she had known how to keep her self in unity and concord Now this desirable Aurora had chased away the darknesse of the night this Peace had lulled asleep the better part of Europe and the War was retired towards the extremities or uttermost ends thereof as that at Sea between the Spaniards and the English The Low-countries the Academy of the Wars the Poles and the Swedes the Hungarians and the Turks But it was principally in the Low-Countries where it had fixed its Seate and Schoole It was I say in this little corner near the Sea amongst great Rivers and inaccessible Fennes and Marishes where it set up its Academy so to render the Discipline thereof immortall In effect great spirits not being able to live at home in sloth and idlenesse and inflamed with a laudable desire of making themselves famous in Arms for the acquisition of glory hastened thither from all parts there to make their Apprentisage and some following the humour of their Prince and others the interest of Religion ranged themselves on that side to which their zeal addicted them How because from the knowledge of the Revolutions of the precedent Age are drawne the truest causes and motives of the bloody and terrible Tiagedies which are yet a playing in this of ours we will reprize our Discourse from the head and having reached the source follow the brooks and rivers till we come into that Sea of calamities and miseries wherein we see poor Christians ingulfed at this day who cannot truly call themselves any more the Disciples of their Master Jesus Christ since they have exterminated Peace and brought confusion dissentions and disorders upon themselves It is therefore this abominable Age whereof the Scripture so clearely speaks This is that Kingdome of Iron which shivers and subdues all things The seven Angels have powred down their Vials upon the earth which is filled with blasphemy massacres injustices disloyalties and infinite other evills almost able to draw even the very Elect to murmuration We have seen and yet see Kingdome against Kingdome Nation against Nation Plagues Famines Earthquakes horrible Inundations signes in the Sun Moon and Starres anguishes afflictions of whole Nations through the tempests and noise of the Sea And whereas the Trees by thrusting forth their buds give us assurance of the approach of Summer in like manner will I be bold to say that since those things are come to passe which have been foretold us we ought not to make any difficulty to believe that the End is at hand and that the Son of man is coming in a Cloud with
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
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
Camp being suddenly staggered after the resistance of some Regiments the whole Body fell into confusion and such as could save themselves got into Prague There perished more by water then by the sword and the terrour was so universall that there was no other thought left for the conquered but to flye towards Silesia King Frederick not daring to trust himself in the Places of strength which remained nor yet to his new Subjects neither retired speedily towards Breslaw where entring into conference with the States of the Countrey and finding neither forces nor safety to stay there he put himself upon the way towards Holland This Generall Decision fell out upon the eight of November 1620. the very day upon which was read the Gospel of Give Casar that which is Caesars and God that which is Gods And indeed it was manifested by the Augures or Signes from heaven to whom Godthad determined to give the victory The number of the slain and drowned was very great as being related by some of the most moderate writers to have amounted to six or seven thousand The Conquerours lost but very few of theirs but Count Godfree of Papenheinâ— was found lying amongst the dead so extremely wounded that he could hardly declare his own name But his hour was not yet come as being reserved for exploits which were to fill the whole distent of the world with his glory The number of the prisoners was not equall to that of the dead the City being near enough for the retreat of such as were timely spurred on by fear Prague being abandoned by the principall Heads of the Party remained the price of the Victory The nest was there but the Birds flowne The Duke of Bavaria after this Master-blow retired himself to Munâ—â—ken leaving the Command of his Army to Monsieur de Tilly and the rest of the Businesse to the Conquerours who quickly brought all the Places of the kingdome to the Emperours obedience One and the same cause often produces very different Effects The Bohemians being of the race of them who had defeated so many Armies not only with the sword but even with the very noyse of their names fighting now for the same Cause and upon the same pretexts obtained not the same good issue It is true that those others had to do with people who in respect they had lived long idle in peace had not any knowledge or understanding of armes and these here with men who came out of a School where Mars praesided where the best Lessons were taught and where experience had made them Captaines Let us now return into France CHAP. IV. Warres against the Hugenots and why A new difference between the House of Austria and the Venetians THe Hugenots not being able to digest the reduction of Bearne which was performed more by the venerable luster of the Kings Majesty then by that of the sword which remained unsheathed and fearing to be one day overwhelmed by his good successes through the instigation of their good friends the Jesuits discovered their distrust A second warre against the Hugenots by Assemblies in divers parts of the kingdom and last of all at Rochell where all the Churches met to consult and provide for their Businesse The King being informed that this Generall Convocation of theirs without his knowledge and permission too visibly checked his Authority that that which he had granted them at Londun proved prejudicial to him and that it was to his Grace and not to Arms that they were to have recourse gave them to understand his Royall Will which was that they should separate themselves within a few dayes under pain of the crime of High Treason But in vain They whose courages are so inflamed by the clattering of Arms as to hold it for pleasant musick are not to be terrified by threats They send their Deputies to Paris to make protestation of their fidelity and excuse the necessity of their affaires But the King required nothing but obedience and so he advanced his Troops towards Saumur which was delivered him up by Monsieur de Plessis Saint Iohn d' Angeli after having suffered some Attacks implores the Kings pardon Benjamin Duke of Soubise comes and casts himself at his Royall feet and promises him to wear his sword no more against his service though afterwards he quickly forget that promise The Walls were demolished upon which the choler of Lewis the just was stopped and his elemencie extended upon the Inhabitants This good successe made him resolve to march into Gascony nor did a whit disanimate the Gascons who had determined on the other side to sell their liberty at as dear a rate as they could Many Townes were constrained to humble themselves to the victorious Arms of their Prince The women were often seen most desperately fighting upon the Breach of the Walls and really if the chief of the Party had shewed as much stability as the Common people did zeal the prize had not been gotten so good cheap nor their Republick the foundations whereof they were suspected to have already laid so easily destroyed The prosperity of this vertuous Prince together with the promptitude he used to surprise the Hugenots before they could have meanes to put any considerable forces into the Field facilitated to him that which could not be denied to his justice and since hath declared that his will was to command his Townes and not the consciences of his People for the Hugenots who put all their confidence and security in the fortifications of theirs were at length constrained to rely only upon his Royall Word His exploits against his Subjects of the Reformed Religion are amply described by many Authours and therefore it suffices me to take notice only of the course or Current of them insert the misfortunes briefly follow my way and return with him to Paris there to hear his victories sung by the one and see the displeasure done to the other The siege of Montaubanc The liedge which was laid before Montaubanc a Town of superlative strength at the beginning of Autumne was raised by the great resistance of the Besieged seconded by continuall raine and diseases which much afflicted and diminished the Kings Army not without the losse of many brave men The Dake of Mayenne killed as the Constable de Luynes and the Duke of Mayenne who was lamented most of all Now these two Lords who had most excellently acted their parts upon the Stage or Theater of France and danced a Gig Round most different in cadency to one another as they were of a very contrary humour so had they likewise a very distinct death And in regard that all the most tragical and most memorable accidents which happened are found annexed to their lives we will succinctly passe through them The Castle of Amboise gave the beginning and the Birds laid the foundation of the fortune of Monsieur de Luynes Reletion of the life of the Constalle Luynes His credit glittered
were all detained prisoners contrary to the Agreement made by a maxime little usual for they would not release them because they would not draine the Source of them and exhaust the Country of Souldiers It is to be noted that this said Fort before which there perished the Flower of the French Nobility and which merited not to be attacked had it not been for the consideration of the Haven yeelded to testifie to the French that the honour thereof was due to the Hollanders And these small grudges served but to sharpen their stomacks hasten the taking of Dunker and Fuernes The eleventh of October 1646 Thus almost all Flanders being conquered they doubted no more of expelling the Spaniards since there wanted onely one effort or last blow for it whereof France for her part was resolved Wherefore the King sent to intreat the Prince of Orange to lay siege before Antwerp and promised him the succour of six thousand men demanding onely four Churches for the Roman Catholicks in lieu thereof to which the Prince consented but the found some difficulty in the determination of the States For they of Zeland protested against it and they of Amsterdam would not have the said Town taken for feare least the Commerce should return thither again But there was yet another stronger and more considerable reason and jealousic had already taken too firme root to be so easily plucked up The Marshals Gassions and Rantzaw after having put good order at Courtrack advanced with their Troops towards the Channel betwen Gaunt and Bridges secured the Princes passage and drove back Piccolomini who durst not venture any thing against them The Prince after having passed made a circuit found plunder for his Souldiers rendred the Duke of Orleans a visit then crossed the River Skelde and entred the Land of Wass General Back seeing this storme ready to fall upon him after having stopped the Hollanders below Gannt retired himselfe and pitched his Camp a league beyond Antwerp for the safety whereof all being in confusion he left the fruitful Land of Wass to the Enemy as also the Town of Hulst which the Prince forced to yeeld Hulst besieged and taken after a moneths Siege Fortune which had alwayes accompained him made it appeare that he was yet her Darling in this occasion for though it were in the moneth of October it was faire and dry weather and had it been rainy according to the Season he had run hazard of loosing the benefit of this Field and of blemishing in some sort the splendour of so many gallant exploits as had been happily accomplished by him CHAP. XVIII The War of England The Tragical death of the King FErdinand the third at present Emperour had good reason to say these words which are reported to have been once uttered by him by way of deploring the calamity of this Age. The Princes of the Empire said he will be râ—â—ved and the evils and disasters which we suffer will rebound upon the heads of them who make us suffer them He is now in repose and sees all the calamities of Germany transported into England and other places But let us first begin with England without seeking the speculative Causes or casting them at all upon the sins of men To the end that we may speak with the more ground of what hath passed in this Kingdom we will derive the Source thereof from William the Conquerours time CHARLES PAR LA GRACE DE DIET-ROY D'ANGE ETERRE sould by P. Stent The curses of Fathers and Mothers upon their Children are of most dangerous consequence Behold here a proofe thereof by which this said Kingdom hath bâ—â—â—n afflicted since many Ages past and by the late Tragical Act which turned it into a Common-wealth Robert Son to the abovesaid William being gone to conquer the Holy Land gave his brother Henry the first of that name occasion by his absence to seize upon his Crown who having a desire to marry the Princess Mawde Sister to King Edgare of Scotland who had been long before an inclosed Nun in a Monastery caused her often to be asked with great instancy but the devour Princesse remained constant to her Vow but finding that she would not voluntarily yeeld her brother Edgare King Henry of England marries Mâ—wde Princesse of Scotland fearing Henry's fury was constrained to make her condescend so that she perceiving it to be a businesse of force made a prayer to God that all the issue and posterity which should spring from them might live in perpetuall disquiets and quarrels This malediction of hers hit right and extended it self not onely to the third and fourth generation but even to our Times also in such sort as that there have been few Kings ever since who to raigne in security have not been either necessitated or induced to kill their Brothers or near Kinsmen and who have not also experimented Civill Seditions whereby the Brothers Uncles Children or Brothers in Law have seized upon the Crown In fine the Division under Edwards Children between the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke existed under the Colours of the Red The quarrels between the Houses of Lancaster and York and the White Rose which quarrell after having caused many Battels and the death of above eighty Princes was composed by the marriage of Henry the seventh with Elizabeth of the House of Yorke and so the Roses were re-united to bury the two Factions and terminate the Difference however the Kingdom were not thereby cured of Mawdes Curse for in the year 1587. Queen Elizabeth who then raigned put to death Mary Stewart her Kinswoman after detaining her prisoner almost twenty yeares Thus farre reaches Stephen Basker a Writer of very much esteem but I must passe further and call a milde King upon a Scaffold After Queen Elizabeths decease it looked as if the course of misfortune were stayed by the raigne of King Iames and the Union of three Crownes but this great Calme continuing yet about fifteen yeares after his death turned into the blackest and most furious Tempest that ever was and those waters had not been stopped but to overflow this Field with so much the more violence and desolation Iames Stewart King of Scotland was murthered by a detestable Treason The misfortunes upon the House of Stewart and the Queen his Wife was beheaded in England where shee thought to sinde her Sanctuary from the Faction of her subjects Her Sonne afterwards King of England was likely to be stifled in her wombe Her Grand-Childe ended his dayes as she did hers by the hand of an Executioner and his distressed Children retyred into France to their Mother A strange Catastrophe and a malediction more Tragicall in the end then in the beginning But let us begin this Tragedy by this first Act. The English under a pacificall King lived in such superlative delight and riot produced by an uninterrupted course of many yeares Peace that they grew almost to forget God For it is but
ever to returne thither again Then they entred into the Dutchy of Brabant and carried themselves not a jot better where they passed then they had done in Hennawlt so that the Citizens of Brussels found themselves almost in the same apprehension wherein they were in the year 1635. And so this Field was passed at the losse of the Country-people and of the lives of some Souldiers who were killed in the skermishes Champagne and Luxemburgh rifled The Duke of Wirtembergh with fower thousand men pillaged Champagne and General Rose did as much in the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and so they all retyred into their Winter-quarters Obmiserable condition of this most miserable Age the Sink of all other which is turned to corruption by the infection of so much stanghter They who had tilled and sowed the land were knocked in the head for their paines or starved with their poor Children in the rigout of Winter to leave their Harvest for their murtherers And such as escaped sled into Holland to save their unhappy lives by Day-labour When shall we see an end of all these misfortunes Alas It will not be possible but with the end of the universe Now we have finished the Warrs of Germany and Holland let us go into the Bishoprick of Liedge and see with what fuell that fire is made CHAP. IIII. The tumults in the Province of Liedge The choosing of a Coadjutour Tumults at Trevirs The Lorraines in the Kingdome of Aix and the Land of Gulick or Juleers beate the Country people The War kindled again at Neaples THis fatall War is like the Hydra the more heads are cut off the more grow up out of one smothered in one place their sprang many in another If this impetuous torrent be stopped but with the least apparence of good successe it forthwith breakes out in many places It is a great embarassement the more water is cast into it the more it kindles Nor may we hope for any amendment since those horrible effects which we have now described and which we yet see dayly happen will not permit us to doubt but that this is the last Age. The people of Liedge are very firme Roman Catholicks and very much love novelty as well as the French they are stank and single-hearted A description of the City of Liedge but a little too cholerick and jealous of their priviledges The Town is faire and great and the Palace and S. Lamberts Church of an admirable structure It is situated in a Bottom and surrounded by Mountaines which take away the sight of it unlesse one be very neer it and it is bathed by the River Moze which passes both through it and before it Sciences so much flourished there heretofore that Historie affirme that there were fourteen Princes at one time all Sonnes of Kings or Soveraignes At least it is no hard matter to judge that it hath been one of the most flourishing Cities of Europe In the time of Ferdinand Duke of Bavaria Elector of Colein Prince and Bishop of Liedge there were some tumults and complaints tending to the destruction of his authority For they cryed aloud that their Priviledges were not maintained that the Prince came not to dwell in the Town and that he did not say Masse c. The power of these factions encreased which pretended nothing but the conservation of Priviledges and Liberty the general pretext of all such as love novelty and strangers endeavoured to blow this fire of division especially after the taking of Mastricht La Ruelle murthered by the Count of Warfuses treachery who was also cut in pieces The Burgher Master or Maior of the Town called La Ruelle who favoured of the people and was cherished by them was justly suspected by his Prince for Soveraigns will not have the affection of their Subjects divided So that it was judged that this thick cloude would power down a great Shower The Count of Warfuse after having betrayed his Master retyred himself into the said Town where thinking to wash away the old treason by a new one and winne the favour of the Prince to returne to that of the King caused the said Burghermaster to be unhappily murthered at a Dinner to which he was invited both him and the Abbot of Mouzon Resident of France his confident who had great intelligence and authority in the said town which murther being discovered whilest it was hot made the Citizens take Arms and cut the murtherers in pieces and so their grew great tumults Since which time the leven of the Sedition hath always remained and faction hath held up her head there Faclions in the Town under the names of Chiroux and Grignoux Such as kept their respect towards the Prince took pride to be called Chiroux and they who professed themselves for Liberty Grignoux In fine the Prince being no longer able to suffer the deminution of his authority nor the affront which was done him when he desired to enter into the Town armed himself to chastize the said Grignoux He put some thousands of men into the field under the conduct of Generall Spar armed the Peasants and drew neer the Town whereof he quickly grew Master by the intercession of the Chiroux The Prince enters into the Town and so the difference was drowned in the blood of both the Burghermasters and some others who followed A Cittadell was built to defend the one from the oppression of the other yea to maintain Justice and the Princes authority and to represse the insolence of the common People A calme being restored to the Town every body in quiet and the cabal of the Grignoux destroyed who had so much laboured under hand for help from the Hollanders and the French a coadjutour was elected and the votes fell unanimously by divine providence not upon the Prince of Conty whom his Brother endeavourd to establish by fayre meanes and foule but upon Prince Maximilian Maximilian of Bavaria â—â—adje tour Henry of Bavaria a most worthy Prelat and great ornament of the Church who ought to be imitated by all the other as being the most noble example that could be proposed There wanted a holy Pastour for so irâ—egular and undisciplined a Flock The difference at Trevirs Almost the same difference hapned of Trevirs for the same subject but without blood-shed and with lesse heat the temperament or constitution of these being more moderate then that of the Liedgers In fine by the intercession of some Electors all was appeased and the Election fell upon the Lord Charles Gasper of Leyen at present Arch-bishop and Elector The Lorraines beat the Liedgeoises 1549. The people of both these Electors had absolution but they were fain to do pennance and the Duke of Lorraines Souldiers have often and some years together since disturbed their rest For they went to seek their Winter-quarter in the year 1649. in the said Province beat the Country people who presumed to oppose them and the Characters
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
no more he had sent Count William of Nassaw to put all in quiet that so that which he had yet to propose for the Countries service might not be hindred by such as were ill affected Let us returne to the Hague The Prince having made himself sure of the aforesaid Lords sent for the Pensioner Gatz and acquainted him with his having secured them and told him that he had sent sixty companies of Horse and Foor to Amsterdam under Count Williams conduct whom he believed to be infallibly already The States separated themselves in the Town which being reported by him to the Assembly of the States they forthwith retired and the Deputies of Amsterdam having taken a cow ple of Waggons went by the way of Harlem and arrived at Amsterdam The gard invirons the Court at eight of the clock in the evening and about eleven the Princes Gard with five companies more invested the Court. There were so great changes that they made some murmour and others blame the Peace with the Spaniards and cast in fine all the Hollanders into such astonishment that they knew not how to free themselves from it The Peasants fly The Country people about Amsterdam fled and no body knew either what to hope or feare The rich were silent and the dreggs of the People spake What State can be sure of being free from War since Holland being in the middle of the Water sees her self precipitated into these disquiets in full peace God who governsall knows why since nothing is done without his providence The reasons why those Lords are detained they are carried to Louvestein The Prince gave the six other Provinces to understand upon what grounds he had seazed upon the aforementioned Lords whom he sent with a good Gard to Louvestein the last of July and having received notice of what had passed he transported himself on Sunday to Amsterveen a Village neer Amsterdam In the mean while Souldiers flocked thither from all parts and it looked as if they would besiege the Town in good earnest which being perceived by the Inhabitants they opened the Sluces and made a shew of breaking the Damms The Slucer open in case they were put to greater extremity so that by little and little the Country began to be covered with water when the Inhabitants of Harlem observing the Prince was come to lodge with some companies neer the banck between their Town and Amsterdam took a fright and resolved at the same time to dispatch their Deputies towards him who returned with answer that they should be quiet and that he had nothing at all to say to their Town But they of Amsterdam seeing his resolution forgot nothing which concerned their liberty In fine the third of August the accommodation was made with articles of advanrage enough to the Prince who withdrew his forces The peace is made and the forces withdraw and thereby rendred Peace to all Holland and indeed had this Siege lasted yet some dayes longer it would have caused an irreparable dammage which was grown already by the interruption of commerce to be of some millions to the besieged The Siege knows before We must not omit to take notice here of a very remarkable things which is that some Marchants some weeks before this Siege received advertizements from London Dantzick and Genna that Amsterdam was besieged by Prince William The States in this conjuncture determined to draw the difference to the Haghe The Libels run and malicious Pens lest not to vomit up their venim against them of Amsterdam for a certain Libel ran up and down of articles ordered with them of the Parliament of England In brief ill tongues were as busy as ill Penus and the Prince himself was not spared Thus passed this first attack which was but precursory to a pernicious war whereof weshal make mention in fit place Albeit it seemed that the poison was taken off and all pacified distrust increased daily Distrust and they of Amsterdam had alway es an eye upon the Country The Prince sent the reasons of his proceedings to the Assembly of the States in writing but the Paper was sent back without being opened and the Prisoner's released without any other condition then that of being thenceforth deprived of Publick Employments The Prince goes to the Assembly of the Stares of Guelders He went to the Assembly of the Dutchy of Guelders where having by his prudence scattered some disorders between the Nobility and the Towns Returns is the Haghe he returned to the Haghe in some indisposition of health the twenty nineth of October was let blood the thirtieth the day following the small pocks appeared upon him and the sixth His death against the opinion of all the Physitians his sicknesse being augmented he departed out of this world in the four and twentieth year of his age leaving behinde him a young widow with childe who being afterwards delivered of a young Prince delivered the House of Nassaw and such as were well affected to it from part of the grief which was caused by his death The vecital of his life He was a Prince of a great wit which he testified in the Conference he had with the Deputies of Amsterdam as also in many other occasions He was handsome of body and given to such vices as are ordinary companions to youth Above all he was infatigable on horse-back and sooner tired his horses then himselfe He was already his Crafts-master in war to which he much inclined and promised to follow the steps of his Ancestours He knew well how to make himselfe both feared and obeyed Let us now see the miserable end of the brave Earle of Montrosse CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the magnanimous Earle of Montrosse The War of the Polanders against the Cossacks Brave Montrosses praise VErtue was never so universally oppressed as in this miserable Age Witnesse Montrosse a Souldior of merit and illustrious extracton who had rendred his Master so considerable services in the Kingdom of Scotland that his enemies effectively feared him and after he had laid down Anns by his said Masters commandment he did him yet such other services by Embassyes as made him admired for the dexterity of his wit During the Treaty of the commissioners with Charles Sinart his young Master at Breda he went into Scotland contracted some Forces to such as he carried with him from abroad and entred the Kingdom upon hope of the good successe of the said Treaty Is beater But his Troops were defeated he escaped by swimming and lay hid some dayes amongst the Reeds In fine after he had been forced by hunger His mistry which drives the Wolfe out of the Wood to eat his gloves and the very flesh of his Arm he was discovered by a Peasant taken prisoner brought before the Parliament at Edenburgh and accused of entring into the Kingdom against the order of his bannishment and other crimes
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
usually happen about that season of the year withdrew themselves likewise into Harwich and Yarmouth Roades Let us leave them both labouring to repayre their ships without examining the number of the dead and wounded or lending eare to the cries and groanes of Widows and Orphanes which ring even to heaven it selfe in all parts of Europe to see what passed at that time in Guyenne and we shall meet by the way some Vessels richly loaden The French â—â—bes some ships of the Spaniands which Mons. de la Mâ—ilheraye carried in triumph from Spain to Nantes We have told you already that Bourdeaux had recourse to the Kings clemencie The reasons why Bourdeaux yealds the cause of which change was this The length of the siege the Plague Famin and more then all secret Intelligence and the Act of Oblivion prevayled for the King The â—pâ—nish Fleet â—â—rives too late In such sort as the Spanish Fleet which arrived two dayes after the accommodation returned into Spain to see the Admiral thereof beheaded and the Princesse of Condè retyred into the Low-Countries to her husband who after this reduction had no body lest in those parts who sides with him Indeed the tardity of the Spaniards and the proceeding of the Prince of Conty gave France glory and such as knew the affayres of the world matter to examine the reasons thereof All these successes were attributed to the Cardinals prudence who by destroying the Princes Party fortifyed his own and prepared himself to have the King annointed The tumult in Languedock passes like a flash for that tumult of Languedock between the Count of Rieux and them of the Religion which looked as if it would have caused an embarassement proved but a flash and forthwith disappeared so that the troubles were allayed in those two great Provinces and they in condition to see thenceforth no other forces there then they that are usually raysed for Catalunia The heat of the English recalls us speedily towards the North besides there passed nothing worthy of memory in the County of Rossillion After that bloody Navall Battail which makes the haire stand on the heads of such as hear it related and which looked as if it must needs have cooled the courage of these Champions for entring the lists any more which all Christendome beheld with terrour the English were the first who endeavoured to resume the Dance A tempest indâ—â—â—ages the English Fleet. but a horrible tempest arising made them repent their temerity and sent them back to their ports many of their ships being much incommodated In fine these most valorous Sea-souldiers gave the Belgick Lyon so many jerks and â—hogs that almost all the States of Europe foreseeing and apprehending this terrible Power desired to gain their amity amongst which the Swedes were not the last The Swedes make Amity with England to evidence that interest of State was not less near their hearts now then the pretext of Religion was formerly from which they drew so great advantage The Hollanders fearing lest the prosperity of their enemies should make them enterprize somewhat upon them by land as well as by water made the Country people take Arms and keep good Guard every where without neglecting what belonged to the Sea and the furnishing of Ships The Country people take Arms in Holland about which they laboured incessantly But this was not sufficient for they must chuse an Admirall who fell out to be Opdam of the most ancient House of Wassenaer who forthwith transported himself to Amsterdam Opdim Admirall and thence to Texel at the mouth of the North Sea to put all things in good order Eukhayse drawn out of the hands of the Rabble At the same time the Town of Enkâ—sen seated upon the South-Sea seven Leagues from Amsterdam was drawn out of the hands of the Rabble by means of some souldiers who entred very craftily whilest they were all running to the Town-house to heat a Proclamation This tumult was of so dangerous a consequence that it had dismounted the Magistrates but that of the Haghe about the young Prince A tumult at the Haghe and was begun by Children and augmented by some malicious persons who brake the glass-windowes of many houses made the Burghers or Townsmen run to their Arms and the Nobility get on horse-back to stop these petulances which deserved somewhat more then the rod. at Alckmaer That of Alckmaer had the same issue and was refrenated by the prudence of the Magistrates All which seditions had but one and the same Cause and their Pretexts were also very little different Indeed the Red-Lyon had very much to do both at home and abroad by the strength of his enemies Murmur against the States and by disunion of wills amongst his friends and such as were bound to the Helme were not a little exposed to the venimous traducements of evill tongues A tumult in England England felt also some Commotion for want of pay but that was smothered and no body stirred but some certain Seamen some whereof payd the score for all In the moueth of November the Holland Fleet having conducted another towards the Sownd and being fallen too near the Coasts was surprised by a suddain storme which cast many of the Ships so a ground A tempest afflicts the Holland Fleet. that they could not ger off into the Main and many poor Seamen miserably perished about a Musket-shot from the Mountains of Sand so that Fortune treated both parties alike in sight of the Coast laughed at their Enterprises but the more judicious sort of men foreseeing that at long running the Traffick would be utterly annihilated and the ruine of Holland advanced which was so much envied for her riches considered that a Peace though little glorious was better then a thousand triumphs The Embassadours of Holand return into England to begin the treaty of peace again Wherefore the States sent their Embassadours again to London to begin the Treaty for the last time and in case of refusal to tell the English that they would enter into a Confederation against them with some other Princes thereby to bring them to reason The confusion which was made by the plurality of voyces and the roaring of the Red Lyon rung so loud that the most considerate Lord Protector and his Parliament who regorged with booty taken from the Hollanders opened their ears to the Propositions of Peace But whilest these things were in agitation who would have believed but that many should needs be well disposed for the Kings eldest Son For the High-landers in Scotland had taken Arms and had received some from Holland the French spighted at the taking of their Fleet without a denunciation of war arrested all the English Merchants goods in Normandy the Hollanders made a shew of preparing themselves in good earnest for the war which yet notwithstanding they endeavored to shun as most pernicious to them Some beleeved