Neere Troppaw in Sileſia, in the Moneth of February, Anno. 1625. a great multitude of little Crowes (Corniculae) appeared in the Ayre, which fought as it were in a ſet Battaile, and skirmiſhed ſo eagerly, killing many amongſt themſelves, that the Boores gathered ſome ſacks full of them dead, and tranſported them unto the City. The yeere after, Anno. 1626. fell out a hard and ſharpe fight, betwixt the Imperialiſts, and the Weinmariſh Forces in this place. The Imperiall Commanders Schaffgotch, Dona, Colorede, and Hexted, with an Army of ſome 1000. men of Horſe, and many Foot, attempting to aſſault the Weinmariſh troupes in their Camp neere Troppaw, were ſtill repulſed; and in the end 7. Companies of the Weinmariſh • allying out of the Campe, ſlew and rowted the Imperialiſts, 4000. dead corpes being found of them upon the place, and many Officers ſlaine; and ſo the Weinmariſh got an happy victory of their enemy, although they were more in number. Another, but more bloody, conflict fell out few Leagues from this place the 3. of May, Anno. 1634. where the Saxonian Army, under the command offield-Marſhall Arnheim obtained a memorable Battell, and brave ſucceſſefull victory againſt the Imperialiſts: where the onſet, and firſt ſhocke of the Battell was hot and fiery, continuing with great obſtinacy, and bloody oppoſition, for the ſpace of 6. houres: the Saxons Canons being three times loſt to the Imperialiſts▪ and three times with much ſlaughter recovered againe from them by the Saxons. The Curaſſiers, and Crabats did ſhew much valour and reſolution for the moſt part of the Battell, till in the end the victory enclined to the Saxon ſide. Of the Imperialiſts were ſlaine upon the place of Battell above 5000. amongſt whom were two Generall Majors, 1. Colonell, 1. Colonell Lieutenant, 4. other Officers of account: Coloredo the Generall, Troſt and Winſe, both Colonels, were grievouſly wounded; and moſt of the Captaines of the Foot forces were ſlaine. Of the Saxons party ſlaine about 400. whereof • . Ritmaſters, 5. Cornets, and 4. Ancients, and 100. of them hurt: 36. Enſignes, 9. peeces of Ordnance, 27. Comets won▪ in the field.

In the end of February, Anno 1625. in divers places of Sileſia was as exceeding great TempeſtThunder and lightning. with thundering and lightning, as hath been ſince the memory of any man. At Breſlaw the ſpires of the Elizabeth, and Mary Magdalene Churches, the foundation of the State-houſe, and many fine dwelling places, were overturned into the Towne; great Trees, and a new ſtrongly-builded Bridge before the ſwinith port, were torne up by the roots, that the next day following nothing of them were ſeene, but driven to divers places: many faire houſes were utterly demoliſhed by this ſtrange Tempeſt. At Niſſa a leſſer City then Breſlaw, the chiefeſt. Church therein was ſtruck with a terrible thunder, and the Tower was thereby battered to the very ground worke, and foundation, the 9. of September, 1627. At Breſlaw, Anno 1628. a ſtrange prodigie alſo was obſerved by the Inhabitants of the ſame City, with great wonder and aſtoniſhment: The Moon appearing much bigger then uſually, and foure great Ordnance or Canons were firſt ſeen in the Ayre, with great terrour; and afterwards heard ſhot off with unceſſant thunders, and volleyes one againſt another. After that, before the gates of this ſaid City of Breſlaw, ſome ſharpe conflicts fell out about the 26▪ of Auguſt, Anno 1632. betwixt the Imperialiſts and the Swedes: who purſued the flying Imperialiſts unto Breſlaw. After ſome encounters the Imperialiſts called to the Citizens on the walls, to aſſiſt them, by ſhooting at the Swedish, and Saxons, which they refuſed: ſome skirmiſh being made on both ſides, the whole Swedish and Saxonian Army appearing with their great Artillery, and being come within halfe an houres march of the Imperiall leaguer, they ranged themſelves into Battaglia, advancing with their Canon playing before them, and beate the Imperialiſts over the River Oder, who ſet fire upon their owne quarters before the Towne, and in haſte retired themſelves with Baggage, and Ordnance over the Bridge; which in three places they put fire unto. This had the Imperialiſts not done, they had been all undone. The Swedish were at this day in hot skirmiſh with them: The next day, in the morning, they began againe the fight, continuing till 8. a Clock: at which time ſhooting was given over on both ſides. The Imperialiſts towards evening retire a little, and ſend much of their beſt Baggage, with 4. great peeces of Ordnance (each drawne by. 20. on 24. horſes) to be taken into Breſlaw, for feare leaſt they in their retreate ſhould be forced to leave them to their enemies. The Gunnes were taken in. The moſt part of the Imperiall Army in the meane time forſooke their owne leaguer, and retyred into that ſuburb on the other ſide of Breſlaw, the Swedish continuing their aſſault, upon thoſe left at the Oder: but at laſt the Imperialiſts in great haſte retyred themſelves from Breſlaw, ſome North eaſt-ward, to Namſtaw; others North-weſt-ward-to Auris, whence was thought they would have gon, out of the Country. Newes afterwards was brought, that other Swedish had ſlaine 200. horſemen more at Olaw-Bridge. Whileſt the Swede was thus employed about Breſlaw, the Saxons follow the Caeſarians towards the paſſe at. Olaw, where all day, and night, the Saxon Ordnance ſo thunderd into the Wood, that ſo ſoone as ever the Saxons came over the Bridge, the Imperialiſts tooke the rout at it, leaving 2. peeces of Ordnance behinde them. There were 1200. Imperialiſts ſaid to bee ſlaine. October the third did Breſlaw accord with the Swedish Commander Dubalt, yeelding to maintaine thoſe 600, Foot, and 1000, horſemen, which he already had about the Cathedrall Church, which is in the Suburbs.

At Hamborow the 3. of May, 1627. a prodigy was ſeene in the Heaven not without terrour of the Citizens, and Inhabitants. It appeared firſt a circle, and therein the accuſtomed face of the Sunne, but in the edge of the circle five other Sunns, round about the firſt appearing Sun, with an interpoſed Rainbow; afterwards two other Sunnes with another part of a Rainebow, one extending towards the Weſt, the other towards the South, were to be ſeen; at the laſt all this vaniſhed in a burning ſmoake. This City of Hamborow lyeth upon the front of Holſtein, whereſome leagues off, betwixt Bredenborg, and Itz • ho, in the ſame yeare the Imperiall Count of Slick fought a Battell againſt the Marquis of Durlach, then Commander of the Danish Army, where the ſaid Marquis loſt the field, his Army rowted, and a great many of them ſlaine upon the place, 32. pieces of Ordnance, and 42. Enſignes taken by the Imperialiſts whereupon they ſuddainly ſurpriſed the Fort of Bredenborg, putting to the ſword all that they found in Armes. Not long after, this Count of Slick having notice that 24. Danish Compaines, with 200 horſ-men were enquartered about Froyborg ſome miles diſtant from Hamborow, he with all his forces over▪tooke them, cut in pieces 300. of them, 3000. of the Danish horſ-men ſticking in mooriſh places were all taken priſoners. Betwixt Hamborow, and Stoad in the end of April, Anno 1632. happened another conflict: Generall Pappenheim being come with an Army of 10000. horſe and foot into Stoade, had the paſſage into Keydinger land open; where was a Swedish Regiment of Generall Major Leſlyes, and 4. Companies of Colonell Monroes enquartered; upon theſe falls Pappenheim, cuts them off all, takes 19. Colours, and ſome Captaines and Officers priſoners.

This 1628. yeare was full of portentuous prodigies, which were ſeen in many and divers places. At Sunderbory in Pomerland, the Heaven being open, an Army appeared comming from the Northern parts, the Avantguard thereof being Pioners and Muskettiers; hereupon did follow great peeces of Cannons and Ordnances: the reere was concluded by Cavallery or horſemen. Another Army came forth on the other ſide againſt the firſt, where began a fiery, and hot skirmiſh betwixt them: but the victory enclined to the Northern Army. At laſt a right fiery beame followed upon the Northren Conquerour, which beame put forth fiery rayes or beames, and continued thus prodigiouſly for the ſpace of ſome houres. A prediction of a great Aſtronomer of the English Nation, and his judgment upon that great conjunction of Saturne and Iupiter, July, 18. Anno 1623. is this; That the effect of that conjunction would bee felt in the North, and North-Eaſt parts of Europe in particular: and in generall over all. That it would produce Warres, Famines, Plagues, &c. Places ſubject to this he nameth, Italy, France, Bohemia, Sileſia, and Germany. Of Provinces he nameth Pruſia, Brandenburg, Stiria, Haſſia, and Saxony: yea, he deſcends to Cities; naming Rome, Prague, Magdenburg, Coblenz betwixt Mentz and Cullen, Vlin, Brunswick, Augsburg, &c. He ſayes it is likely to goe hard with the Romane Empire, Clergy. Jeſuites: he ſpeakes of a King of a true Religion that ſhould doe all this, and much happineſſe that ſhould ſucceede it. How this obſervation hath even now been verified, we neede not feede the humour of the times: true it is, and cannot be denyed, that in the yeare 1630. following, Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden, having conquered many Townes from the King of Poland, both in Prusſia, and Livonia, came with an Army of ſome 12000. men out of the Northern corner of the world, and landed firſt in Pomerania, not very farre from Sunderborg, where the fore-ſaid prodigy was ſeene: where he firſt beate out the whole Imperiall Army, nor ever returned he out of them, but with the Olive Branches, the emblemes of Victory. But theſe Northern trophes upon his next neighbours, as they had much of glory; ſo have they much of credit in them: but chronicle, and beliefe, muſt ſtraine hard to make his Germane conqueſt any thing probable with poſterity: and were they not written in the times of doing, and acknowledged by his enemy, ſcarcely would the legend be more apocryphall. For what beleefe (not eaſily to be abuſed) could perſwade it ſelfe, that two third parts of Germany could (and by him that entred with 12. or 11000. men) in two yeares, and 4. months ſpace, be wreſted from ſo puiſſant an Emperour? A might Empire and a potent, formidable for its greatneſſe, confident upon the power of its colleagues, and upholders: vaſt in extent, terrible for its armes and Captaines, renowned for its conqueſts, beyond expectation ſucceſſefull in all its enterpriſes, and that knew no bounds but the alpes, and the Ocean. And yet this Empire, with its Armies or Gariſons, that did hold ſo many Princes at a bay, was it ſelfe conſtrained to take the yoake, which Swedens Gantlet put upon it. In leſſe then 2. yeeres and a halfe this Northern Lyon did all this: what might he more have atchieved, had hee gon on another yeare, and two moneths, and filled up the time of that malicious and falſe prediction, which the Ieſuits, had caſt abroad of him? They comforted their creduious Novices with his being Antichriſt; and that he ſhould raigne 3. yeares and a halfe, and no longer.

At Biſhein a Village neere the City of Strasburg, 2 Femals joyned together. a poore woman brought forth a ſtrange monſter to the world the 11. of March, Anno 1628. which was two femalls, whoſe bodies were joyned together, the externe members, as hands, feete, and heads, being perfect and whole, but onely ſeene in them one heart, and one lungs. This prodigy if it hath fore-run the many and fearefull outrages committed in the warres neere and about Strasburg the yeares following; and thoſe great damages, which uſually accompany the warres, and the unruly Souldiers, I know not. Certain it is that theſe continued warres, theſe grievous Impoſitions, theſe violences, injuries and rauages in thoſe parts would ſcarcely be beleeved: and to paſſe by alſo the great famine and plague, which for a long continuance have followed this prodigy, no man can be ignorant, how the people and inhabitants of that Country have been tortured for their money, had their cattell driven away, their houſes firedand and all commers driven out of the ſame Country. The Souldiers neither obſerved martiall diſcipline, nor morall honeſty: neither keeping the Lawes, nor fearing God. Virgins, and women have been raviſhed upon the high altars. And if the weekely contribution were not payed at the Souldiers pleaſure, then the inhabitants were preſently ſpoyled or killed of them.

Thunderbolt did much hurt Strange was that Thunderclap which fell at Brig in Sileſia, wherein the Immediate power of God appeared. A thunder Bolt about mid-day, May, the 29. Anno 1628. fell upon one of the Churches of the ſame Towne, broke downe the doore, ſlew a poore woman in the porch as ſhe was praying, wounded in its courſe many poore women and children. After this the ſame thunderbolt, rowted towards the Church in the Suburbs, ſtruck the Miniſter as he was reading, doing him no more harme but that it ſinged the haire of his head, nor the people which fell down and proſtrated themſelves to the Earth at the inſtant. A ſtrange thunder fell upon the Church at Sagan, another Towne in Sileſia, the 13. October, in the ſame yeare, whence it burſt forth by a window, attended with ſuch winds, raine, haile, ſtormes, and tempeſts, that it tore up the Trees by the very roots, blaſted the Herbs, and fruit-Trees, and ſo harrowed the Country for a league about, that the loſſe was eſteemed of a great ſumme of money: I can onely ſay with the Prophet, it is the glorious God, which makes the Thunder; marvellous are his works, and that my ſoule knoweth right well. Beſides this Thunder and tempeſt, afterwards appeared juſt over the Church fiery beames like a ſword and a rod, the Bells in the ſteeple began to ſound andSword, & a Rod appeared. ring without helpe of man, and 3. miles of the heavens for the ſpace of an houre ſeemed open and fiery. Betwixt this Towne Sagan, and Steinaw both ſituated in Sileſia, a hot skirmiſh happened the 17. of Auguſt, in the yeare 1632. following; where the S wedes and Saxons forces came before the Imperiall leaguer under Don Balthaſar di Maradas conſiſting of 12000. men. The Swedes cruelly with 20. peeces of Ordnance thundred both upon the Towne Steinaw and the Imperiall leaguer. The Swedes, and Saxons Cavalery charged, and fell upon their horſe quarters; their horſemen after a charge or two, were defeated: ſome 4000. of their foot having thruſt themſelves into the Fort of the ſame Town. In this fight were ſome 2000. Imperialiſts ſlaine; the reſt of the horſe-men running towards Sweinitz, and Breſlaw. At Griffenbery another Town betwixt Sagan, and Brig in Sileſia, the Swedish Generall▪ Bannier was entered in a ſet Battell with 15000. Imperialiſts under the conduct of their Generall Coloredo the 29. of Iune, Anno 1634. and: got a noble victory; where the Imperialiſts loſt ſome 4000. men ſlaine upon the place. Another Towne in Sileſia, by name Olaw, felt the like miſery of the bloody warres, with more grievous puniſhment. After the Battell at Lignith the Saxon Army marched towards the ſame Towne, wherein the Imperiall Governour being advertiſed of the Saxons comming, burnt the whole Towne to the ground, and betooke himſelfe into the Caſtle; from thence the Saxons did goe to Orls, a leſſer Towne then this in Sileſia, wherein the Imperiall Governour Don Iohn de Languiall yeelded to the mercy of the Saxon, and was taken priſoner, with his 300. Souldiers. S • llaw a City in Sileſia ſuffered alſo much calamity, and was plundered at the ſame time by the Souldiers in their fury. For the Saxon Army, though not with ſtrong oppoſition tooke, the ſame City by aſſault; the iſſue on both ſides was bloody.

A very miraculous thing happened in a Souldier at Geiſmar in Haſſia, Anno 1630. Two Souldiers lying for a ſafeguard in the ſame Towne, the one at night makes his complaint to his fellow Souldier, who lay with him in one bed, for taking much cold, to whom the other anſwered, that he did not beleeve it in regard that his body was very hot, and wet, intreating him to touch, and feele his ſide. Which when he had done, finding his hands exceeding wet, which were as it were glued or congeled together, ſuſpected ſome had event; Firſt lookes upon his hands in the ſhadow of the Moon, and apprehendeth his hands to be bloody: being hereat much terrified, called for a Candle; who find • the Souldier very weake, and his left ſide and the ſheets of the bed to be bloody: and whereas their indeavour was to waſh off the blood of his ſide, preſently commeth forth more, and more blood; at length after a ſpace of an houre it ceaſeth of it ſelfe. Three handfulls of blood, or thereabout was taken out of the ſheetes: this, with the relation of other circumſtances, they preſented in the morning to the Captaine and Commander of thoſe two Souldiers, who enquired of him, how he had felt himſelfe that night; the Souldier anſwered, that he had been in great anguiſh of heart, and was afterwards reſtored to his former health. It cannot be concealed, how many and ſeverall Armies and Forces ſince have invaded this goodly Country of Haſſen, and eſpecially about the time when this prodigie happened on the Souldier. The 2. next yeeres after, how barbanouſly and inhumanely the Inhabitants thereof have been uſed by the Imperall Army, and that againſt all reaſon, without any cauſe, and beſides all colour of right and juſtice: they are yet ſtill ſenſible of them; and wh • ch was worſe then all this, if the Prince with his poore ſubjects did at any time complaine or ſue for juſtice or redreſſe, they were but ſcorned and rejected for their labours, contrary to all Lawes and rights of nature; as alſo againſt the peace of Religion and of policy, all Conſtitutions, and Articles of the Romane Empire: yea, they have endured the moſt barbarous uſage that might be, in the ſaid Country of Haſſia; namely in quarterings, taxations, burnings, robberies, ſacking of their Townes, and Villages: yea, alſo, and of putting to the ſword innum • rable innocent Subjects of all ſorts. During all which proceedings of the enemy, and moſt lamentable ſufferings of the Inhabitants, the worſt hath been of all, that notwithſtanding thoſe infinite complaints, prayers, cryes, and lamentation, they were never able to obtaine any pitty of their cauſe, or any Chriſtian compaſſion towards them.

The Norinberg Carrier, with ſome company in his journey towards Hamborow paſſing by the Towne of Coburg at night in the moneth of May, Anno 1630. obſerved with great admiration a prodigious fire going into the Towne and out of the Towne, as if ſome diſcharging of great Orduance were heard, for certaine houres after this. Before the Towne of Coburg Generall Wallenstein preſenting his Canons in the yeare, 16 • 2. following, the Towne being there▪ upon entred, the Dukes Pallace within the Towne fell alſo to the Souldiers ranſacking with the rich houſhold-ſtuffe, and a great part of treaſure. The Towne being thus maſtered, the ſtrong Caſtle ſtanding upon a Rocke without the Towne, was next ſummoned. The roiſe of the ſummons is anſwered by the thunder of the Canons: which being lowder then the ſound of the Trumpet, would not let the offered conditions to be hearkned unto. Wallenſteins Ordnance therefore are ſent to reply upon Dubatals Canons, who had then the command of it. Wallenstein having ſhot a breach in the lower parts of the Caſtle wall, he prepared all things to give a generall aſſault upon it. Five hundred Souldiers thereupon being commanded into the dry Graft or Moate of the Caſtle; Other from the Towne ſide with continued Volleys of ſmall, and great ſhot, entertained the beſieged Dubatel having with good diligence alſo brought downe ſome new peeces of Ordnance, he ſo ſeowers the Imperialiſts, that a many of the aſſaylants already halfe way mounted, came fluttering downe headlong into the Moate. Wallenſtein perceiving the Caſtle to be ſtrong, high ſituated, well provided, and the beſieged reſolved for defence; after that one repulſe had been given him he retreated, Anno 1634.

At Hall, in lower Saxony, in the beginning of May, Anno 1631. the Water was turned toWater tur▪ned to bloud. blood, which miracle was beheld with horrour of many of the Inhabitants. Great alteration about the midle of the ſaid moneth of May, in the ſame yeere followed in this City. Firſt as it was taken by Tilly, ſo was it retaken by their naturall Lord the Adminiſtrator of Hall, and Magdenburg from Tilly. But preſently repoſſeſſed by Tillies Forces. Hither Generall Tilly, thus wounded in the Battell of Leipſig, made ſhift to flie that night, and had his wounds dreſſed by the Town-barber of Hall. This City of Hall is but 7. Dutch miles diſtant from the place of Battell, wherein the Imperiall Army was quite defeated and beaten out of the Field, being miſerably ſlaine and trodden downe in the chaſe. And had the King of Sweden had but 3. houres more of day-light, ſcarcely had, 1000. Enemies come off alive. One of the high-Dutch relations doth affirme, that there were, 15000. of the Imperialiſts ſlaine upon the place of Battell, or in the chaſe; the ſame night and the dayes following. Tillys manly heart (tis ſaid) could not refraine his teares, when he perceived his brave old Souldiers, and Army, which was called invincible, conſiſting of 44000. brave men, thus going to wracke. The chaſe and ſlaughter being done, which continued all the next day, the 10. of September, the King beſieged Hall, which the next day was yeelded unto him. The Caſtle he tooke in September, 12. where he tooke an Imperfall Sergeant Major, and a Captaine priſoners, redeeming a Colonell with ſome others that had been taken priſoners at Magdenburg; The King ſending for the Duke of Saxony, and other the great commanders of his Army, to come to Hall, unto him. A councell of warre was there held, which way to keepe the enemy from gathering head againe, and how to purſue the victory. Anno 1632. Papp • nheim tooke in againe this City of Hall, did not omit that ſpoile, and barbariſine upon the City, as was reported. Part of the Bridge he burned, and blew up ſome of the work es: Clapt a petard to the Caſtle gate, in which then was a Swediſh commander, with a garriſon of 200. Souldiers. However the leader of Pappenheins Salliers was there ſhot dead, and fell, his men forced from the the Caſtle to retyre, being after ſome skirmiſhing beaten into the Towne againe. At which inſtant a meſſenger of Wallenſtns overtooke him, to returne backe with all his forces to wards Lutzen, in which bloody Battell he was alſo ſtrucken with a bullet of a •• lconet.

In the time of the ſiege of Magdeburg a City Captaines wife dying in child-bed, deſires to be ript: the child was found, a boy almoſt as bigA Child taken out of the body of a woman as big almoſt as one of three yeeres old. as one of three yeeres old. He had an headpeice and an iron breaſt-plate upon him; great bootes of the french faſhion: and a bag by his ſide, with two like musket-bullets. This horrible prodigy hath doubtleſſe portended the deplorable deſtruction, and dire abodement unto the ſame City; which fell out the 10. of May, Anno 1631. when a generall aſſault, by the Imperialiſts was made upon the Towne; the walls were in a trice mounted, the Towne entred, and the Souldiers fell to killing. Falckenberg the Swediſh commander therein, after valiant reſiſtance was ſlaine with a ſhot, the adminiſtrator hurt and taken. Whileſt all thus goes to wrack, a mighty fire breakes out (how none knowes) it being a great windy day, all was on the ſudden become one great flame: the whole Towne was in twelue houres ſpace, wholly turned to cinders, excepting few fiſher houſes. Six goodly Churches are burnt: the Cathedrall was by the Monkes, and Souldiers diligence preſerved. Twenty thouſand people at leaſt were herein killed, burned, and ſmothered: ſix thouſand being obſerved to be drowned in the River Elve. Tilly, Wallons, and Crabats never uſe to give quarter, or beg any: So that all were killed. 2. dayes after Tilly came into the Towne, and finding ſome hundreds of women and children in the Church, he gives them their lives, and ſome bread to maintaine them. How inhumane a devaſtation of this ſo ancient and goodly Hanſe Towne, the County of Tilly, and Pappenheim had then made, no Pen can expreſſe it. The cruelty of which fury, no man can diſcover one halfe to the world, that agoodly City ſhould be reduced to ſuch ruines: as if Hannibal had done it, and not Tilly; Hannibal who had the art by fire and vinegar, to moulder away, the Rocks and Mountaines into crumbles; for the forcing of his owne paſſage.

The 18. and 19 of June, Anno 1631. at Aſherleben in the lower Saxony, towards evening a terrible prodigy was ſeene, and obſerved in the Heaven. Two ſtrong Armies met together, • Strang-Armies met in the Ayre, one out of the South, the other out of the North. and prepared themſelves to a pitcht Battell. One came forth out of the South, and the other marching up out of the North. After a long fight the Northern Army obtained the victory from the other. This Prodigy was ſeene the ſaid two dayes for the ſpace of an houre in the cleere heaven. After the Battell was ended, a Man in a long coate appeared two ſeverall times, bearing a bow, ſhooting and proſtrating the leader or commander of the Southern Army. Betwixt this Towne Aſchertlben, and Tangermund, in the moneth following, July the 8. happened a ſharpe conflict betwixt the Swedes and Imperialiſts, Pappenheim then Commander of 4. Regiments of Crabats, and others, and the expulſed Garriſons thereabouts being ſent by Tilly to hinder the King of Swedens proceedings in thoſe places. The Rhinegrave therefore with ſome Swediſh Forces being there abroad, Pappenheim falls upon on them; of whoſe approach the King having intelligence with all the horſe he could make, and ſome 2000. Muskettiers came time enough to make one in the Battell. Pappenheims Foot were almoſt all cut off, moſt of the horſe ran away. Himſelfe eſcaped firſt into Aſherleben▪ from whence hee haſted towards Magdenburg, there to expect his maſter the Generall Tilly. It was ſaid that ſome 20. Companies of the Imperialiſts were here defeated, and ſome 14. Enſignes taken. Tilly being come backe unto Wolmerstad, few leagues from Aſ • herleben, upon the 16. or 17. of Iuly, he firſt of all diſpatches away 4. Regiments of Horſe for his vant Curriers, to ſtay the King whileſt himſelfe with his whole Army might come up to him and to tempt the King to a pitcht Battell in the Field. Theſe gallant troopes, moſt of them old Souldiers, were Pappenheims men, and very forward therefore now to revenge their followes, marching towards the Kings leaguer, and tooke up their quarters about Tanger. The Swediſh charging preſently tumbles down a many of the Imperiall Curaſſiers; Colonell Bernstin, who was their leader, himſelfe being ſlaine, thus were 1500. ſlaine, all the 4. Regiments defeated. This defeate was given, Tilly himſelfe being in the ſight of it. Tilly reſolving now upon a revenge, Iuly, 21. forwards hee ſets towards the King brought ſome 26000. men along with him, and all theſe full of anger, reſolution and deſire of revenge; 3. ſeverall times aſſaults the King in his trenches, but was beaten off, and with ſuch a tempeſt of ſhot, chaine-ſhot, murthering ſhot, and what ever was cruelleſt to doe execution, ſhowred in amongſt the Imperialiſts out of the Kings campe, that there was made a miſerable butchery. Tilly at length retyred from the King, leaving five hundred ſtarved horſes behind him. Some report him to have loſt 6000. or, 7000. men: perchance in all theſe 3. great defeates of P • ppen • eims, Bernſteins and his own. Upon the fatall ſeaventh of September, this 1631. yeare in the bloody Battell of Leipſig, Generall Tilly himſelfe was twice or thrice wounded with Piſtall-ſhot, and his whole Army ſlaine, and rowted, as is already mentioned. Upon the place of Battell which the enemy had left for the King of Sweden, there ſate a • locke of Birds; which being ſprung by the Kings comming, tooke their fight directly over Tillies Armie; and fetching there a circle about (and that alſo the Romanes would have accounted an happy preſage) they turned againe towards the Kings Army: as who ſhould ſay, we went to fetch you victory. But the King had a better preſage on his ſide then a ſlight of Birds, God with us, which was the watch-word; and that which the Romane Generall ſometimes preferred before the Birds: Romano milite dignus, Enſis adeſt augur; his valour namely, and his ſword. Generall Tilly, Anno 1632. received alſo another, but more mortall ſhot of a Muſket in the thigh, a little above the knee, in the conflict at Lech betwixt him and the King, whereof he afterwards April, the 20. dyed within the Towne of Ingolſtad, after the taking of 4. ſplinters out of his thigh▪

Few yeares before the long, cruell and bloody Battell was fought at Lutzen, the water in the Towne ditch of Lutzen, was turned to blood, which prodigy was fullfilled upon the 6. of November▪ Anno 1632. wherein the bloody encounter in continuall exerciſe laſted from 9. in the morning untill night; in which the Swedes did overthrow the whole Imperiall Army with ſlaughter of 9000. men upon the place: many a • rave man dyed of the anguiſh of his wounds miſerably; who might otherwiſe have beene cured. The King of Swedens Majeſty himſelfe, (as was ſayd) out of the greatneſſe and heat • of his courage, having made a charge upon the Imper • all curaſſiers, was there over-laid with a number of men, and did receive a ſhot in the left arme, which▪ he ſcarce feeling at firſt, would needs have led on ſtill. But perceiving by and by his royall blood to guſh out abundantly, in his retreate was ſhot thorow the body. Whoſe death indeed is never enough to bee lamented, and ſo this dying Conquerour did ſeale the Religion, and liberty of the Germans Nations with his blood; and to whom the more ingenuous Imperialiſts at Prague, were heard to give this honourable Teſtimony, that he was the braveſt enemy, and the beſt Captaine, that ever was in Chriſtendome. And ſo the Swedes, and proteſtants Army found themſelves to have gotten • ut a dolefull and a wofull victory; loſn • g that incomparable Conquerour who was, alone, worth 2. Armies. But he is dead; and that as heartily bemoaned of the Germanes (to ſpeake of him no more) as of his owne ſubjects, who yet profeſſe their loſſe to be unſpeakeable. And in both their Chronicles ſhall his Sacred memory be made famous, and his Name ſhall live in their mouths, and be honored. About the death of this glorious King of Sweden, ſome ſingular, and miraculous Prodigies happening alſo, had affrighted the people in Swedland: amongſt others, in the ſelfe ſame houres and times, when this Battell of Lutzen was fought appeared juſt over the Caſtle, and Royall Seate of Stockholm A Virgin with a Candle, & Hand • ercher. a Virgin or Damſel at night, holding in one hand a burning Candle, in the other a white Handkercher, which ſhe caſt about. Beſides it was noted and obſerved, that all the doores in Caſtle, although they were ſhut and lockt, three ſeverall times did open themſelves. A River not of ſmall account in Swedland, loſt the ſame time his water, inſomuch that all the day long a man might goe thorow with a drie foot. In Smaland a Province of that Kingdome, the Bells without helpe of man began to ſound, with great diſhartning and terror of the Inhabitants.

At Buſhein a village betwixt the Townes of Frawenſtein, and Fribery, in the dominion of the Sheter of Saxonie happened a ſtrange Prodigic in the beginning of April, Anno 1623. where firſtA double • ai • e-bow, one white, the other black. in the Ayrc was ſeene a ſigne of a two-fold Rain-bow, the one white as Snow, the other exceeding blacke: beſides this another ſigne appeared of a fiery colour. The next day from eleven till two of the clock in the afternoone, another aſpect of a high white colour reappeared. Beſides all this, at Frawenstein a woman having bought ſome Loaves of Bread, and turning homewards to her dwelling place, as ſhe was dividing the Bread, bloud came thereout.Blood running out of a loafe of Bread. This Frawenſtein, being a pretty Towne upon a Hill ſome 16. Engliſh miles to the South of Dreſden, was taken by the Imperialiſts by a bloody aſſault, the 3. Of October following, in the ſame yeare 1632. For finding ſome oppoſition, the Imperialiſts doe carry the Towne by Scaladoe, and put all both Souldiers and Inhabitants moſt miſerably to the Sword for it. October the 4. they aſſault Friberg, a handſome Towne upon the River Mulda, ſome 10. Engliſh miles to the Weſt of Frawenstein. The Towne alſo was hard laid at by the Imperialiſts, being no way able to hold out a generall aſſault, which was the next day threatned them, and a generall deſtruction withall, if they yeelded not; which the 5. October was done. Neere this Friberg, Holcks men, who was then chiefe Commander of thoſe Imperiall Forces, taking, (I know not what) high diſpleaſure at a certaine Miniſter of the Country (a man of rare learning) firſt of all hewed him miſerably in peeces with their ſwords, and then ſung him to their Dogs to bee eaten. But the Dogs, as aſtoniſhed at ſuch ſavage cruelty (ô ſtand, and wonder) would not ſo much as touch, or licke a droppe more of his blood. VVhereupon his friends the next Homo 〈◊〉 • u • u • day gathered up his pieces, and interred them. And leſt this ſhould ſeeme incredible, the Authour of Le ſoldat Su • dois avowes, that the Crabats Men metamorp oſed into Vipers. ſhewed themſelves ingenious to invent new torments for the poore Inhabitants: and that it was frequent with them for want of Dogs-meate, to feede their Curres with humane fleſh. This if it may be true, though the Dogs were the Man-eaters, yet the Crabats ſurely were the Cannibals.

At Kempten in Swabeland, a ſtrange Prodigie,A ſtrange Abortive and abortive was borne of a Citizens wife in the moneth of August, Anno 1632. his head was altogether fat, and without eares; the hands ſtretcht out all bloody twixt the fleſh and skin, whoſe left hand held a rope, the belly thereof having too prickt wounds, and the left knee twice broken, a corde being about it.

This goodly Towne was held by the Imperiall Commander Bray, and being ſtrongly beſieged, and many times furiouſly aſſaulted by the Swedes, at the end of ſix dayes it was ſurrendred upon compoſition in the moneth of May, in the yeare 1633. The Commander went to Reitaw, where he was beheaded, becauſe he ſo ſlightly ſurrendred the ſaid Towne. The 18. of March, Anno 1634. was this Towne of Kempten the ſecond time taken by Guſtavus Horn by aſſault; and whereas the Imperiall Colonell with his Carriſon had retyred themſelves into the Caſtle, both place and men were enforced the next day to yeeld upon hard conditions. Many bloody ••• irmi • es are fallen out about this Towne, where the Imperialiſts were often times beaten to the very gates of Kempten. What miſery the yeares following this Towne felt, and the Country thereabouts, when it was beſieged and taken by the Imperialiſts againe, cannot well be expreſſed. It was brought to ſuch extremity of famine, not much inferiour to that of Samaria, and Ieruſalem, recorded in holy Scripture, or Saguntus in Spaine, and Peruſium in Hetruria, or Tuſcany a Province in Italy, mentioned by prophane Hiſtories; many brave Citizens out of, this and the neighbour Townes were compelled by neceſſity to beare Armes, thereby to get their lively-hood. Horſe-fleſh was ſold for high priſes, Dogges, Cats, and Vermine, were as good as Veniſon: all commerce being cut off, Bread-Come was not onely at an exceſſive rate, not to be purchaſed with money: ſo that the ſpruce Citizens, which formerly held the Country people as Boores and Clownes unfit for their ſociety, might well diſcerne that their labours were not to be deſpiſed, their dead wares ſtanding in no parallell of Uſe with the Fruit of the Field, gotten by the induſtry of the rough handed Plow-man, and the bleſſing of God.

In the moneth of February. Anno 1633. at Dobenſhutz, a Village in the territory of Althenburg Blood ſpringing out of a fiſh▪pond. in a fiſh-pond ſprang forth blood which cauſed an exceeding ill ſtinke, ſo that if paſſengers had touched it, they could not waſh off the ſtinke in 3. dayes. This Country indeed hath been this yeare and the others following lamentably ruined and plunged: the Souldiers licentiouſneſſe, God puniſ ••• th f • thy thy beaſtly ans with ſtenches, & •• thy •• vots. exerciſing their wonted cruelty and beaſtly raviſhing, hath beene unheard of. Many faire Townes were forced, ſpoiled, and burnt to aſhes for reſiſting, and divers of the Villages, as well as the foreſaid Dobenſchutz, put on fire, and the Inhabitants thereof moſt miſerablyFriday and 〈◊〉 ••• cleann • ſſe. ſlaughtered. Here were the women, yea, Ladies, Gentlewomen, and others like beaſts and dogs yoaked, and coupled together, to be ſent into the Woods and raviſhed: who for reſiſting had their cloaths ſtript off, their bodies whipt, their eares cut off, and ſo ſent home againe. Hereabout gat the Souldiers and Crabats together ſome thouſands heads of Cattell, andSavage ••• city. what beaſt ſoever could not, or did not readily follow them, they either houghed or killed; leſt (as they ſaid) it ſhould ſerve ſome hereticks. The reſt I omit, not ſo much for Frevities ſake, as for horror: not liſting to relate the Barbariſmes, and ſheddings of blood committed by the Crabats as if they had falne in not to make warres, but deſolations; or as if they had beleeved, that a Country was never thorowly conquered, till it were utterly by ſword and fare deſtroyed.

Guſtavus Horn, Swediſh field-Marſhall, with the Rhinegrave, and a Landgrave of Heſſen, being come to Bibrach the 6. of March, Anno 1633. a portentuous Prodigie appeared about 8. clocke in the evening right over the Towne; two long Swords were ſeene in the Ayre, the one fiety, the other red as blood. Many hard e • counters fell out about this time, and about this place, betwixt the Swedes and Imperialiſts. Hornes people were ſuppoſed to have killed 600. Crabats in a few dayes, neere and about this Towne of Bibrach: and ſo many of Duke de Ferias men, who had a new Army of Spaniſh and Italians brought to aide the Imperialiſts, dyed by the way, by froſt, ſword and famine, that betwixt Vlm, and Bibrach were found 1000. dead carcaſſes. And ſo the Catholick Generalls were then glad to make towards Bavaria, having ſcarce brought away the third part of their Army; Spaniſh, Jtalians, Germans, and Burgundians. This Towne of Bibrach, not long after Guſtavus Horns departing, was retaken by the Imperialiſts by aſſault: the Garriſon laying downe both Armes and Enſignes, to have their bare lives ſaved. Some moneths after foure Regiments of the Imperialiſts, betwixt this Towne and Iſne, were ſurpriſed and ruinated by the Swedes, which invaded their quarters, tooke a Colonell with many Officers priſoners, putting a great many to the ſword: 600. other Imperialiſts having been abroad, were alſo overtaken and killed the moſt of them.

In the moneth of March, Anno. 1634. Guſtavus Horn beſieged the City of Bibrach againe, in the which lay 1300. men, offering upon his firſt approaches a faire agreement, which the Imperiall Governour of the Towne refuſed: then planting his Ordnance, hee battered the Towne ſo long, till he won the enemies works, and made a breach into the walls. Then the Governour ſending a Trumpet out of the Towne, deſired reaſonable conditions; elſe that he would defend the Towne to the laſt man; And that firſt of all he would burn and blow up all the Proteſtant Citizens, which he had already lockt up into the Towne-houſe, and into a cellar. This being refuſed, for that he had already denyed firſt good offers. After all this, when as all things were ready for the aſſault, and the Swediſh troopes advanced towards the breach, the Evangelicall Miniſters together with divers women came foort • of the Towne making a moſt pitifull cry and entreaty to the Swedish Generall, ſignifying it would coſt all their lives, for that the Town-houſe was already undermined, and the Myne filled with powder, and that they certainly expected to be blown up immediatly. Out of commiſeration therefore to thoſe poore people was offered another agreement unto the Governour, and granted them liberty to march out with their ſwords onely: which was accepted.

At Dreſden Iune, the 23. Anno 1634. happened another Prodigy; where towards evening at five of the clocke, the Sun was firſt ſeene as white as Snow, and then ſuddainely becomming darke, as if a miſt went over it: It appeared firſt in forme of a Crowne, and then like a Feather; red as blood, in which poſtures when it had continued by the ſpace of halfe an houre, it returned to his orbicular ſhape, but retained the ſanguine hew till it went downe, and the Moon at her riſing, retained the ſame bloody aſpect till ſhe was not to be ſeen in that Horiſon. I know not whatſoever the Phyſiologers bable of naturall cauſes, yet ſuch alteration in the Heavenly and Ayry bodies is alwayes prodigious.

Memorable was that obſervation of the ancient Aſtrologians to this purpoſe. Speaking of the fearfull blazing Star ſeene 1618. that it did preſage—1. Violenta et ſuperba Conſilia, diſſidi • , proditiones et rebelliones.

2 Latrocinia, et ſubſeſſiones viarum, ſolicitudinem Auxietatem que Animorum.

3 Regum et Principum interitum, bella, pestem, et morbos varios.

4 Religionis legum, et inſtitutorum mutationem, novarum rerum inexplebilem cupiditatem.

I ſhall not diſpute of the effects but expect them: a Luxuriant wit may happily play on either ſide, and preſage probably good or evill to either party. I dare not medle here; my wiſh is—Deus omen in hoſtes Convertat—and my prayer ſhall ſtill be: Powre out thine indignation, O Lord, upon the Heathen, and thy wrath upon them which have not called upon thy name.

Blood and Brimſtone from Heaven. About the midle of Iune, Anno 1634. at Berlin in the marquiſdom of Brandenburg it rayned Blood, and Brimſtone. The next yeare following in the moneth of November, before the gate of Itzeho, a Towne in Holſtein it rayned thick blood; whoſe droppes inſtead of inck have repreſented right naturall Blood in writing. How many bloody conflicts and encounters the ſame yeare and the next following happened betwixt theſe two Countries, no man can fully apprehend or beleeve, unleſſe ſuch as have ſeen it with their eyes. And to avoide all other bloody paſſages, whichhave raged moſt cruelly in thoſe parts, yet ſtill in remembrance is the laſt bloody and ſore Battell, which was fought in the moneth of October, Anno 1636. at Witſtock, in which were ſlaine 7000. of common Souldiers upon the place, on the Saxon and Imperiall ſide, and many others more, which fell by the ſword of the Swedes in the proſecution. 6. whole Regiments being totally ruinated, beſides thoſe great Commanders who loſt their lives alſo, namely the two Generall Majors, Wilſdorp, and Goliz, 5. Colonels, beſides Rittmaſters, Captaines, and divers Officers both of Horſe and Foot 1500. priſoners taken, amongſt which were 170. Officers, 143. Cornets and Enſignes, 14. peeces of Ordnance, and 8000. Wagons were leſt to the Swedish conquerours. Of the Swedes were alſo ſlaine upon the place of Battell 1000. and upwards; amongſt which there were of account two Colonels, 4. Lieutenant Colonels, and ſundry Ritmaſters, Captaines, and under officers.

At M • lnick where the Randevouz of the Saxon Army was, in time of prayer, Iuly the 24. Anno 1634. was a ſtrange apparition in the Ayre, which is thus delivered by Letters bearing date the ſame day—That about evening, when our Electors Chaplaine was at prayers, there appeared a ſigne in the Skie, like a fiery Beame: when he had finiſhed his courſe, and the Lieutenant Generall Arnheim his ChaplaineScepter ſeene red, and fiery. did his Office, there appeared another in a forme of a Scepter fiery-red, juſt over the houſe where he made his ſermon, aſſoone as prayers were done, and the Chaplaine had ſpoken Amen, the ſigne vaniſhed: It was ſeene of many after this. The Crabats, like Vermin in a Warren, worſe then Bandetties, have ranſacked, plundered, and pillaged what places ſoever they came unto, in theſe Countries, this yeare, and the other following: they ſpared neither Noblemens Houſes, Churches, nor Cloyſters, but robbed, and diſmembred the Country people, raviſhed the women, defloured the maids, burnt the Villages, and Townes, and did ſuch miſchievous inſolences, as thoſe Rhodopes, and Dolopes would have ſtarted at.

Man and beaſt, and Fowles of the Ayre, all ſeemed now to be at an irreconciliable difference, and Germany muſt be the ſtage whereupon they played their prizes: at Heſſen, in the moneth of March, Anno 1635. there met together2 Armies of Birds fighting two Armies of ſtrange Birds, which fought, as it were, in a ſet Battaile: and neere Straubinge, upon the Danubie multitudes of Dogges had their randevouze, which fought ſo eagerly, that the whole vicinage was not onely affrighted by the Prodigy, but, as if they would not admit of any agreement, but ſuch as themſelves liked of, when the Governour of Ratisbone had ſent out againſt them 4. companies of his Garriſon, with Muſkets and other Military inſtruments to aſſault and ſlaye them, they left their hoſtility, a ſtrange Enemy comming upon them, ſet upon the Souldiers, and in deſpite of their ſhot and weapons devoured nine men.