NAturall reason, though it may ap­prehend much by way of com­position and division, yet in con­tingent Futures, such as are the issues of warre, it can onely con­clude probably, never demonstrate scientifically. The sword, a faith­full Minister to it's supreame Commander, will not returne to sheath it selfe (what ever man can project to hinder it) till recalled from making slaughter by him which first gave it Commissi­on. The Elector of Saxony having concluded a Peace with Caesar the yeere last past, conceived withall, that both his Dukedome and the whole Empire should enjoy a firme universall Peace, and be no longer plundered by any, either intestine or forraine Broyles. But this hope was of no continuance, the Conditions of the Treaty were distasted by the Crowne of Sweden, the Lantgrave of Hessen Cassell, Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymer, and some other Princes of the Empire, and the Electors [Page 2]confederacy, with the house of Austria was the Pro­creatresse of the Swedes hostility with him.

The Marquesse Elector of Brandenburg, and the Duke of Lunenburg stood a while as Neutralls, ceasing from doing offence, either to the Imperiall or Swedish party, till by the instigation of the Duke of Saxon, they at last came in and bore Armes against their late friends and confederates, whose powerfull alliance had preser­ved these three Princes especially from utter ruine by the Caesarean Armies. Magdenburg, a City famous of late by her miseries, was the first city of importance or note, against which the Saxons and Imperialists mar­ched: The city was defended valiantly by the Swedes within it,Magdenburg surrendred by the Swedes to the Saxons. for the space of sixe moneths siege, and then their expected succours out of Swedland fayling, being hindered by a contrary wind, after that by divers sallyes they had slaine many of their enemies, much weakned the two puissent armies which besieged it, fortified their Fort at Werben for their more convenient con­tinuance of the warre in Saxony, and the march. Brandenburg, upon the supplications of the distressed inhabitants rendered it to the Saxons Iuly 4/14 upon good tearmes and advantagious conditions, and marched out with their armes and baggage, and two peeces of great Ordnance. The Swedish garison was conducted to Werben, and three Saxon Regiments were immediately laid into the city, the inhabitants utterly refusing to ad­mit any Imperiall Praesidiaries.

The losse of this city was some prejudice to the Swe­dish proceedings, yet their stout Commanders, who were resolved to forge out their owne fortunes, or pe­rish with their armies, held on play still, sometimes get­ting, and sometimes loosing, till the the maine Rest at Witstock being wonne, againe advanced their cause more then this losse had slackned it. The Lantgrave of [Page 3] Hessen, who alwayes before suspected the Treaty of Prague, and preferred a just war before a perilous and dishonourable Peace: at this time giving care to tearmes of Peace, lost almost his whole countrey be­fore he was aware of it. The Imperiall army under Goetz, Grava, Gleere, and other Chieftaines, did not doe him so much damage when he stood upon his guard, as did his owne security: He had beene often perswaded by the Elector of Saxony, the Duke of Brunswicke, and the Marquesse of Dormstat, to entertaine the Ar­ticles concluded at Prague, yet could not be induced thereunto; The Bishop of Witzburg in the end sent his Agent to the same effect, who not prevailing for the Maine, put in for the Bye, a cessation from Armes for the space of three weekes betwixt his and the Imperiall Forces, whilest the Emperour might be wrought to con­descend to such propositions as he desired.

During the time which he appeared in the Field with his armies, he not onely preserved the Lantgrave from the fury of the Caesareans, but joyning his Forces with those Swedish troopes under our brave Countreyman, the Field-Marshall Lesle (whose merit and memory, for that, and other his valiant atchieuements, will live to after ages, though the circumstances of that particular come not within the verge of this concise History) sheltered also his friends and confederates from the storme which threatned them.

Hanaw, a city in the Weterawe and nursery of the Evangelicall Religion,Hanaw relie­ved by the Lantgraue and the Field-Marshall Lesle and the siege raised. was straitly beleaguerd by foure severall Imperiall armies, and he, by the military skill of Ramsey the Governour, (a man of whom we may glory, in that his actions there spoke him a true Brit­tane, and no stranger to our English Orbe) defended from the insulting Enemy which breathed out threat­nings against it, and had promised himselfe a glorious [Page 4]victory, till the contagion within had deprived him of the one halfe and more of his fellow defendants, and the Imperiall armies without, supplyed dayly with fresh men, made him not despaire of reliefe, but expect it from abroad.

In the height of this necessity, the Lantgrave having joyned his forces, with the Field-Marshal Lesle put in to succour him; and by the prowesse of the Commander within, and their happy successe without, performed their intent so wishfully, that the Imperiall armies, without expectation of gaining the city rose from the siege, and dispersing themselves sundry wayes, left it more free then they found it. The Governour, an expert souldier, made use of his liberty, complyed immediately with the neighbouring city Frankford, and so prevailed there, by tendring it all observant respects of Vitinage, that he made it, if not a friend, no enemy, though formerly they had stood at tearmes of hostility: But thriving men seeke as much to enlarge their estates, by a new addition, as to enjoy their old ones. To stand in a faire correspondence with that Imperiall city, and to doe no more,Ramsey brings the neighbour countreys to contribution. Ramsey thought it not sufficient; want of victu­alls during the siege, made him know how necessary they were, and having engaged the Frankforders, not to oppose him in his course, he then by Armes brought the bordering villages to be his Contributaries.

The Marquesse of Crana and the Lord Lamboy, which had formerly besieged the city, were countermanded by Caesar to attend the Imperiall Generall Gallas,; the Countrey neere him was not pestered with hostile Armes, and the Governour apprehending quickly how a fortune was cast upon him, if he would follow it, invaded the Archbishoprick of Mentz, the Bishoprick of Wertz­burg, and the Territories of the Lantgrave of Dormstat, extorting from them (what they would not have [Page 5]given him willingly) victuals and money. His proce­dings with the boores were complained to the Count of Donaw, who thereupon sent his Secretary to Hanaw, to desire a cessation of Armes, with those neare States, for the space of three moneths, who offered that if hee might obtaine his conditions, that the Garrison in Steinheim, belonging to the Arch-bishop of Mintz, and that in Fridberg also should be cashiered; some few onely reserved for the maintenance of Tillage, the fruit whereof should bee lawfull prize to the Masters of the Field, whether Swedes or Caesareans, on the North­side of the Maine, yet this proposition was not onely refused, the Governour perceiving the hostility brought in more profit than quiet, but hee proceeded further, tooke the Imperialls prisoners wheresoever hee found them, dismissed them not without Ransome, and about the midst of Iuly, And intereeps a Convoy go­ing f ō Brus­field to Lam­boy. some of his Souldiers meeting with the Governor of the Fort at Brunsfield (taken the yeare past from the Imperialists, by the Count Nassaw Dilling­berg, and restored them againe, when hee accepted the Saxons peace) carrying eleven Ensignes made for the Generall Lamboy, with this Motto: ‘Tandem bona causa triumphat.’

They set uppon the Conduct, slew some of the souldiers that guarded them, and carryed away the Colours, saying, That of right they belonged to them in respect of their inscription.

If that Maxime of the Schoole be true, that the first cause is the cause of all the Products in the same kinde: the Lantgrave must share in the Governours honour, his then victorious Armes, giving Ramsey the opportu­nity thus to compasse his desires: Nothing doth man more disparagement, than ungrounded confidence. The [Page 6]Prince in the end, overcome with the Rhetoricke of the Bishops agent,The Lantg: looseth most part of his Countrey. a Cineas that did more with his words, than the Imperiall forces had done with their swords, that he might not appeare the singular man, which did oppose the peace, laid by his Armes, and marched into the Bishopricke of Paderborne, expecting that this small time of truce, might secure his countrey for the present, and establish his tranquility afterwards. His absence from home was quickly reported to the Field-Marshall Goetz, wose Army being in a manner dis-banded, at the raising of the siege of Hanaw, and himselfe gone into Westphalia, was rallyed suddenly upon the report, and appoynted for the spoyle of Hassia. The Poles which came downe the former yeare under the Prince Cassi­mire, had accepted service under him, and were the chiefe strength of his Army. These men, of which there were 44. Cornets, when Hanaw was relieved, mutined upon the rising of the Imperiall Army, and one part taking the way of Binghen, the other of Oppenheim to passe o­ver the Rhyne, plundred both their friends and foes, without respect of any thing but Pillage. Their jour­ney home againe was long, and oft-times they got no­thing by their out-rages but knocks: With these despe­rate reysters, the Imperiall Commander (seeing the Lantgraves confidence) complyed suddenly, promised a months pays which they accepting, returned againe to their colours, and joyned with him in the invasion of Hessen-land, which, no Army appearing to resist them; they were soone Lords of Cassell, Zigenheim and Hum­burg onely accepted.

A Tempest tryeth the Pilot, and apparent danger proves the mettall of a Souldier. The Prince infor­med of his losse, despaired not, but first resolved, with the few forces he had, to give them battaile, and put his fortunes to a day; yet better advising with himselfe, in [Page 7]the end, concluded to goe in person to the united States of the Netherlands, and desire their assistance,And goeth to the States for auxiliary Forces. for Auxiliaries, and till his returne, to commit the care of his Countrey to his trusty servant, the Lievtenant Gene­rall Melander, and he, though his men were farre unequall in number to the enemies, and could not therefore deale with them in open field, yet casting a­bout to surprise them at advantages, made head against them, kept them at a stand, and about the midst of Au­gust, having drawne out the Garison of Cassell, and mu­stered up some of the Boores, surprized and defeated foure thousand of the Field-Marshall Goetz his horse at Hirshfield, slew above one thousand upon the place, got sixeteene Standards, and brought in divers prisoners into Cassel.

It could not be expected that he should recover what was lost, it was glory enough for him to preserve the remainer. Goetz with his maine Army was yet in that Countrey where he beleagured the Fort of Homburg, Goetz march­eth toward Paderborne. a strong place, by the situation upon the top of a moun­taine, before which having lost the Lievtenant Major his brother, the Colonell Stemaker, and many of his Souldiers, to the number of sixe hundred, hee raised his siege, marched toward Freslar, neare Cassel, where lea­ving three thousand men to make good his conquest him­selfe, with the rest of the Army marched into the Bi­shopricke of Paderborne, Septem. 2. old stile.

The Swedes were not ignorant of the calamities which had befalne the Lantgrave, their confederate, so, unex­pectedly, and sympathizing with him for his sufferings, would have come in willingly to succour him, but that a storme threatned them at the same time, and forced [Page 8]them to call home the Field-Marshall Lesle toward the Elve to re-enforce themselves against the approaching enemies.The Treaty at Lubeck commeth to no effect. The gesture of the Caesareans confirmed it selfe to the season of the weather. The beginning of this Sum­mer was attended with a cleare sky, & no clouds appea­red to promise an after raine, yet suddenly the surface of the Aiery element was changed, and water distilled more plentifully from above than was expected, and sometimes so impetuously, that the people made it a question, whether was more prejudiciall to the fruites of the earth, the late long drought, or those violent cur­rents of water which fell from above. His Majesty of Denmarke had laboured much to establish a peace in the Empire, and no enemy appearing so openly against the Imperiall party, as the Crown of Sweden, by consent of Caesar; a supposed Commission was delivered to the Elector of Saxony, to treate with that Nation at Lubeck in the particular: The opening of the sealed Escript discovered, what the Swedes had before conjectured: Iuly 5/15. The agents for both parties met, and the Letters then broken up, restrained the Electour from attemp­ting any thing which might prejudice the Empire, or the Imperiall dignity, but to search out all wayes and meanes, how by force, the Swedes might be compelled to depart from Germany.

Oxenstierne, the Grand Chancellor of Sweden stood awhile aghast at this unlooked for amazement,Oxensterne embarkes for Sweden. and first complayning to his Majesty of Denmarke, of the affront offered to the Queene his Lady their Soveraigne, resolved in the end, to post homeward, that he might ad­vise with the Diet then assembled at Stockholme, for a farther course of pursuing, or ceasing from the warre, leaving order in the interim, with the Generall Ban­niere, to maintaine the glory of the Swedish Nation, and to stand in defierce of Cesar and his adherents, It [Page 9]is no small advantage to be aforehand, the gaining of a place of importance, from a professed foe, may stumble him in the way, though not divert him from his dissigne. Ʋltzen, a City of no great compasse,Ʋltzen taken by the Gene­ral Banniere, but of some con­sequence, did first present it selfe to his fancy: the Impe­riall Allyes held it, and the Swedes intending to take it in the beginning of August, sate downe before it, and upon the 9/10 of the same month, brought it to yeeld upon composition. Thence hee marched to Lumen­burg, accompanied and re-enforced by the Field-Mar­shall Lesle, summoned it, and his conditions being reje­cted by the Senate, and the same night made his aproa­ches to the very Moate of the city, though with some losse of his officers and souldiers, and constrained it to an unwelcome Composition; the tearmes were these: ‘That the Gattenberg should bee delivered to the Swedes, and that the City should receive a garri­son and Commander.’

Both which particulars were obtained, and the Swedish Goetz was accepted the next day after for their Gover­nour. Thence the Generall Banniere conducted his Ar­mies to the Fort of Winsen seated upon the Elve, and tooke it the next day by a stratagem,And the Fort at Winsen. intending first to cleere the river, as being more convenient for his de signes then the firme land (this Relation is written from Lu­nenberg, the Sceane of this designe, and the particulars expressed so precisely, make the story credible) and this Fort he being master of immediately, rather by policy then power, marched thence toward Havelberg and Werben, to prevent the Saxon and Imperiall Armies which were then laying of Bridges over the Elve, in­tending to make an invasion into the Dukedome of Meckleburg.

[Page 10] The time to decide the controversie betwixt them with the sword was not yet come. Neere Werben the Swedish Army was encamped, where not expecting an Enemy so suddenly, the Swedes. kept not the strict watch they used to doe, the Generall himselfe taking his recreation, and his absence, though not authorizing the Officers to leave their places of charge, yet ministring occasion of a perfunctory care, was neere to have brought the Swedes to confusion. The Duke of Saxony having received a Commission from the Emperour, though li­mited was many Conditions; the 13. 23. of the same month was at Magdenburg in person, taking an oath of allegiance from the Magistrate there to himselfe, as to the Generalissimo, at which time being certified by his spies, of the Swedes posture, he immediately sent the Collonel Ʋnger against them with two Regiments,One of the Swedes quar­ters raised at Werben by the Col. Ʋn­gar and Ban­niere like to haue beene surprized. who arriving at the Campe before the Swedes could well Arme, raised one of the quarters, slew some few of the Souldiers, and had neare surprised Banniere himselfe, who was abroad at hunting with his late marryed wife: But the Swedes were soone armed, and in the end cha­sed away the Saxon Commander, and the same day en­countried with a company of Imperiall Bragoones, whom they tooke prisoners, and convayed them to Brandenburg.

Goetz, the Caesarean Field-Marshall, in the time of this preparation, had leasure to pursue his Conquests in Hessen-land, and marched thence into Westphalia, where Paderborn, a City yerst in the Imperial, now in the Has­seans hands, presented it selfe as an object, either of his Conquest or disgrace, if he tooke it not in. It was a Bi­shops See, and a good one too; the King of Sweden gloried, that he had brought it under his government, and the Imperiall Commander in fine, esteemed it as a piece worthy of a siege. He summoned it, and the Hassean [Page 11]Garrison, fifteene companies strong, returned shot for words, to the great vexation of the Field-Marshall, who instantly rounded it with his Army, and after nine hundred Canons shot, and foure assaults, compelled the Garrison to yeeld upon his mercy:Paderborne surrendred to Goetz. And the Garri­son consisted of eight hundred men, under the com­mand of the Collonel Girse, Collonel of the white Regiment, who was detained Prisoner, the Captaines set at liberty, and the inferiour Officers and Souldi­ers compelled to attend the victorious Field-Marshals colours. Melander, and Generall major Beckerman were then at Hamme, with eight hundred Horse, but unable to relieve their confederates, stood rather as spectators and attendants upon the issue, than for­ward assistants to relieve them; and hearing of the fate of the City, dismarched thence to Dorstmund, in Westphalia, giving way to their enemies to march on toward Osnabrug, where they expected, but found not the like successe.

Osnabrug was both well manned and fortified, and Goetz fearing, that if he should besiege it,Goetz onely appearing be­fore Osna­brugge and dis-marcheth presently to Zoest. which is fired and surrendred. he should lose time and waste his Army, onely looked upon it, and returned toward Hessen-land, and in the beginning of September, summoned Zoest, a small City upon the River Lippe, which refusing to yeeld to his words, the eighth of the same moneth, by his Army, was besieged, and the 9.19. almost hurnt to the ground by the Grana­does cast out of the Campe, the Wilde fire taking hold of some thatched houses, whereof there were many in the towne, and their contiguity to the others, dispersing the devouring flame, to the terrour and astonishment of the Garrison and inhabitants, who in this confusion knew no other way to preserve their owne lives, and some small remnant of their goods, than by exposing their estates and persons to the mercy of the Conque­rour, [Page 12]who received the Garrison with condition to serve under him, and caused his souldiers to assist the Citizens in the extinguishment of the consu­ming fire.

The Garrison of Osnabrugge after the departure of this Field-Marshall, and assurance that hee was passed the Weser sent to Minden, advises of a designe they had conceived against Lemgaw, a City kept by foure companies of Imperiall horse, and 300 foote, under the Generall Major Sperrheuter, The Garri­sons of Osna­brug and Min­den take Lem­gaw by Onslat and desired their as­sistance for the prosecution of it. Helpe was sent them, and about the midst of Septem. they surprized the City, put the most part of the Cavallary and Infantry to the sword, apprehended Sperrheuter (who had hid himselfe in a dry Fat, but was found out by diligent search) not as a Prisoner of Warre, but as a traytor to the Crowne of Sweden, a fugative from his naturall Prince, and complotter and publicke practizer with the professed enemies of his Soveraigne,And appre­hend the fugi­tive Sperrheu­ter. and sent him with a Guard, first to Minden, then to Nyenberg, where this dege­nerous spirit, dyed of a sullen griefe, fore-casting the just punishment, which might be inflicted upon him by the Swedish Generall for his treason, and the taunts of the ordinary Souldiers, who detesting his persideousnesse, ceased not to reproach him with the memory of his un­just dealing, and unthankfulnesse toward the deceased King, who had raised him from a common man to beare an Office of eminence in his Army: For the King during the time of his warre in Poland, meeting him, as he came from fight, and seeing his body strooke through with a Speare, or Partizan, gave him the name of Sperrheuter, and afterwards so favoured him, that he raysed him to be a Generall. No Obligation can be a sufficient tye to a Canckred-corrupt rotten-hearted man: An Achitophel will prove false to his Master, [Page 13]though he becrowned each day with new favours, yet in the end the Divine Justice will over-reach him, the ter­rours of a guilty conscience will afright, and bring him to a desperate end.

Goetz, after the prize of Zoest undertooke new ex­peditions against Lunen and Dortmund, which he easily became Master of, the Hassian forces under Melander and Eppen, being unable to withstand him. Dortmund was better manned than the other,Dortmund ta­ken by Goetz. and held out the bet­ter. There lay one thousand Hassen foote, and two companyes of horse, which behaved themselves so stoutly, that they hindred the Imperiall Field-mar­shall two whole dayes from raysing a Battery: The night onely favoured his proceedings, and the darknesse concealing his movements from the Garrison, by the benefit thereof, whilst he deluded the besieged with false fires on the oneside of the City, he raised a mount on the other side, whence he played the next day with his Canon upon the Towne, and by the succour of them made his approaches to the Moate about the walls, where, omitting no time, he cast his fire-workes into the City, which tooke effect, set the houses on fire, affrighted the Women and Children, whose outcryes wrought so upon the hearts of the Souldiers, that they surrendred the place to the Besieger, and submitted to his descretion. Thence hee drew his Army towards Hamme, Lipstat, and Coesfield, not yetresolved where to pitch first, all these places being well guarded, yet before one of these he resolved to set downe, and Hamme in the end was concluded to be the next object of his Armes: This City in the time of the last siege be­ing made a prison for two great Lords of Munster, and the Rit-master Danekel, which September 12.22. were encountred by some of Epens souldiers, which flew their Convoy with the sword, and sent these [Page 14]persons prisoners thither. Hamme put the period to his conquests there, though it suffered the common fate of the neighbour townes, and was compelled in sine to yeeld to the Conquerour; for the Lantgrave by the end of that siege was returned from the Neatherlands, and rallying up his owne Forces, strengthened with 4000. Auxiliaries, made head against him: and a cloud was ri­sen in the North part of Germany, attended with thun­der and lightning, threatned a feil upon the Saxon and Imperiall Armies, who called to him for succour, and by an especiall mandate from Caesar, commanded him to­wards the Lower Saxony, to stop the victorious progresse of the Swedes.

It was a generall time of horrour and tumultuary confusion in Almaine, where ever the Sceane of Warre lay, each party preferring their owne private ends be­fore the publike good, deprived the generall state of the ordinary blessings from heaven: The French Garrison at Coblentz denyed leave to all Traffiquers to carry Wine downe the Rhyne. The miseries about Franck­ford, &c. The Imperiall at Andernach permitted no Corne to be brought up the river, though their friends in Germany wanted more that necessary provision for their lively hood as being the staffe of life, then the strangers abroad did the fruit of the grape, more esteemed perhaps,A lamentable story. but not so needfull. The Divine pro­vidence had forbidden the earth there to give her increase to the Natives (for the Franckforders write it with teares, and every word of the Letter is noted with an ac­cent of sorrow (that their Corne-fields were faire to the eye, in the beginning of the spring, yet when it was bladed, as if a Curse had beene laid upon the ground, an uncouth generation of Vermine, Mice of strange formes, dimensions and colours, appeared and devovred it before it was fit for the Sickle) yet the Governour at Ander­nach hindered the Marchants from importation of any. [Page 15]In Westphalia and about the Weser, and Hessen-land, the Drummes sounded nothing but blood and slaughter, the Boores and Citizens made a prey to all souldiers, not a­ble to distinguish friends from enemies, nor knowing to whom they should adhere, the Evangelicall or Imperi­all Party. There, and in the Dukedomes of Brunswick, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg, the Marquisate of Bran­denburg, and generally the whole Lower Saxony, the swarmes of military men covered the earth; nothing was seene, but taking and retaking of Townes, Forts and Cities, and that without hope of a speedy cessation, Fa­mine and the Pest not being enough to curbe their mad­nesse, which dayly raised warre, and noy sed rumours of future warrs.

In the midst of this confusion,An Electorall Diet called at Regerspurg. the Emperour called an Electorall Diet at Ratisbone, which was long before it began, the Electors delaying their comming thither be­yond the appointed time, pretending severall excuses up­on their sundry engagements. The Emperour himselfe was the first that appeared at the place of meeting Au­gust 7. new stile, about 7. in the evening he arrived at Regenspurg and was received at the gate of the city by the Magistrate, under a Canopy, the people present fal­ling upon their knees, where he was entertained with an Oration made by the Syndicke of the city, and then rode away in his Coach to the Cathedrall, at the entry where­of the Bishop met him, did him the like obeisance which the people had done at the gate, presented him with his Crosier, which he kissed; conducting him first into the Church singing Saint Ambrose his Hymne, and after­wards to the Episcopall Palace the place where his Ma­jesty intended to reside during the first Sessions of the Diet, finding his spirits decayed and his strength of body to be abated, though no evident cause of his weakenesse could be assigned. Two dayes after, the Duke of Bavae­ria, [Page 16]pretended the Title of Elector by donation from the Emperour and right of succession,The meeting of the Princes came thither also ac­companted with his Dutchesse, and attended with 500. horse, to give his Vote in the Electorall affembly; and was lodged as neere the Emperour as might be. The Elector of Mentz appeared in person the day follow­ing; and the Elector of Colen by his deputies the Counts of Meternick and Romseck: The Elector of Mentz tooke up his lodging in an house appointed for the Arch­bishop Elector of Triers, who being under guard at Na­mur, was conducted like a prisoner, not a free Prince, to­wards Regenspurg about one moneth afterwards, by a Convoy of some hundred horse, commanded by an Im­periall Collonel called Gonzaga; And being arrived at Donawerth, as he was upon his journey, he there fled in­to a Cloyster called Saint Crosse, otherwise Saint Iohns Hill, in hope in that place, of particular priviledges to remaine free as in a Sanctuary; Vpon Letters received from the Emperour (to whom Collonel Gonzago had sent word thereof) the said Commander did attempt to neglect those priviledges, and would have drawne the Elector out by force: But upon better thoughts and counsell, the Popes Nuncio was imployed unto him, who with faire words and promises perswaded him to come out voluntarily, and so he was againe taken and carryed on his journey to Passaw: Passing neere Ratis­bone, or Regenspurg, he desired much to bee suffered to come in, and to be admitted into the presence of the E­lectors and the Electorall Colledge, but all in vaine. From Passau he hath bin carried further to Lintz, where he yet remaineth; His cause having lately bin discussed, & himselfe condemned to be diskeyed from his Electorall dignity & Bishoprick, and to be kept betwixt 4 walls in prison all the rest of his life. What from divers places was written concerning this Prince, & particularly that he had [Page 17]sent his Vote in writing to the Colledge, is all a fiction: For knowing that all his Papers and Letters, with his Chancery, were in his enemies hands; whereby did suf­ficiently appeare, what he had treated with forraine Prin­ces in prejudice of the Empire, and specially of the house of Austria: He did not stand upon high tearmes of his justification, but rather in all humility offer and promise his Vote and himselfe to the Emperours command and pleasure.

The Marquesse of Brandenburgh appeared by the Count of Swartzenburgh his assigne, and the Duke of Saxony his by Frederick Lebselder, his Chamberlaine both by Agents, but not authorized by any commission, as his Deputy in the Electorall negotiation. The absence of the Saxon somewhat displeased the Emperour, who sent Duke Henry Iulius of Saxon Lawenberg to the Elector, to require his personall appearance, and that speedily, but was returned by the Elector, with an ex­cuse for himselfe, and a commission to his Agents, to giue his vote in that Parliament: The King of Bohemia was onely wanting, he had beene visiting the Army un­der Gallas, upon its march to ward Burgundy, and after his labour reposed himselfe somefew dayes in Brissach, and thither a Currier was dispatched, August 13.23. with letters, requiring his speedy, and personall pre­sence, which he received, and posted thence to Ra­tisbone.

Some prodigies, as it is related from Ratisbone, hap­pening in sundry places of the Empire, before the mee­ting of the Princes, had dis-heartned the common peo­ple, and made them despaire of any good issue by that treaty: One was at Wels, the suddaine uncovering of the Emperours house of pleasure, there where hee was lod­ged, (it being seated in the midst of a Moorasse) by a vio­lent tempest, and this was accompanyed with two o­thers at Lintz, the first whereof, was the suddaine [Page 18]fall of an Arch of the Bridge made over the Danuby, Some feareful accidents be­fore the Dyet, esteemed pro­digious. which his Imperiall Majestie had no sooner passed over, but it tumbled into the River; The other this; Three carved Eagles, placed upon the house of a Burgesse of Lintz, being broken downe by the fury of the Tempest; were mounted by the same violent blast into the Ayre, scattered three sundry wayes, and the one in the end fell upon the house appointed for the assembly of the Pro­vince, the other upon the State-house, and the third upon a Publike Aquae-duct.

Distracted wits, upon every light occasion, project terrible things. These conceits were fond, and Supersti­tious, not rationall and sound. The harsh beginning of the first Session, was more to be feared as a fatall Prog­nosticke of no happy conelusion, then those antecedent accidents. Some dayes were spent in private visites, Complements and conferences, each of the Princes fa­thoming the others breasts in their retiring Chambers, before they met at the publike place.

September the 15.5. The first Sessions of the Diet be­ganne, though somewhat inauspiciously,A difference falling out be­tweene the Saxon Depu­ties, and the Elecctor of Mentz. the Saxon De­puties being much discontented with the Elector of Mentz, who had summoned the Princes to meete, pre­tending that Office to belong to the Duke of Saxony, and his Deputies, in the absence of the Marshall of the Empire. The Controversie, like all others in point of honor, was not so soone appeased, as raysed. The Empe­rout to quiet them,Is composed by Caesar. in Person heard their differences in his Privie Chamber, and in a short Oration, declaring that the intent of that mecting was for the publike good of the Empire which might suffer more by such civill dissensions, then forraine Enemies, desired the Saxons to complie with the Times, and gave his notes openly to the Archbishop of Mentz. containing the Propositi­ons Considerable in that Parliament; His Majesties au­thority [Page 19]siding with the Archbishop, did not extinguish the flame at the first, but make it breake out more fierce­ly; the Archbishop followed Caesars directions, and began to propound his desires; The Saxons for the time broke off his discourse, and as jealous that they were not equally interessed with him in the Imperiall Grace,The Arch­bishop of Mentz makes the propositi­ons in the Diet. pro­tested against him, that hee incroached upon the Electo­rall priviledges, and ingrossed the grace of the Diet to himselfe; Yet afterwards somewhat cooled by his Oratory, and a president in the last Diet at Mulhausen, wherein, as Chancell or of the Empire, hee was the spea­ker to the Electorall assembly, they heard him, and hee spake to this purport.

The Deputies of the Elector of Collen were silent, and neither assented, nor opposed the proposition, the Arch-bishop himselfe being then in person upon his way toward Regenspurgh, and having commanded his assigned Committees, to prepare the businesse onely a­gainst his comming,The votes of the Electors for nomina­tion of a King of Romans. and not to meddle further. The Committees for the Elector of Saxony and Branden­burg, and the Duke of Bavaria, shewed a willingnesse to condescend to the Motion, but demurred upon it for a time, the Ambassadors in the behalfe of the Electorss desiring, that first the Lutheran Religion might have a free passage without opposition, as it had done former­ly in the Empire, and that an Act may be drawne up, and made to confirme the liberty thereof: and the Duke of Bavaria propounding for himselfe, first a confirmati­on of the Electorall dignity, by the whole Electorall Colledge, as also desiring, that the Countrey of the up­per Ems should first, as it was promised, be surrendred to him by Caesar, and then these three Electors would bee ready to give their voyces for Ferdinand King of Hungary.

Triers was still absent, and it was questioned, whe­ther he should appeare in that assembly, as a free Prince to give his vote, or as a Prisoner at the Barre, (for the Em­perour had commanded to force him from Donawerth, and to bring him prisoner to Steir, a village neare Re­genspurgh, and it had beene done, if the Electorall Colledge, and the Popes Nuntius, had not strongly oppo­sed it) yet not dejected with his present state, nor fearing what might follow,Tryers giveth his voyce to the King of France. he sent his vote in writing to Regen­spurgh, which was read in the open Session, and was for Lewes, the most Christian King, not for any private [Page 23]respect to his person, but the publicke good of the Em­pire, which he said, having beene swayed so long by the Austrians, whose polity in their life, was to make the Rex Romanorum of one of the same family, was like to suffer by this continuated succession, and in time might be claymed by succession and inheritance, not election: the Princes at this day being rather called for forme, than otherwise, and preseribed to whom they should suf­fragate before they appeare in Parliament. He omitted not to set forth the power of the Christian King, which being united to the strength of the Empire, neede feare no forraigne invaders, nor did he slightly passe over the happy condition of the State under Charelemaigne, Lewes the Debonaire his sonne, Lotharius, Lewes the second, Charles le chaunce, Lewes le begne, Charles le grosse, the French Kings suecessively, whom, hee said, it was no doubt, but that this present King would imitate in the administration of the Empire, not refusing the counsels of the Princes, and not compell them in the end to put the scepter into the hands of any of his friends or favourites, but leave it to their free arbitration, accor­ding to their wisedome. Though this had beene a true relation, these remonstrances were of no effect, the Diet being inclined to the King of Hungary, though they deferred the day of his nomination till November the fourth, new stile.

The Duke of Bavaria could not attend the Dyet longer than the beginning of October, the Dutches big with childe, being to depart to Munchen to be dis-bur­thened of her carriage, and his desire to see the issue of his body, drawing him to accompany her, made him get license to absent himselfe for two moneths,A young son borne to the Duke of Ba­varia. in which space, a sonne, and apparant to the Dukedome, was borne at Munchen, and christned October 22. old stile, by the name of Firdinandus, Maria, Franciscus, Ignatius, [Page 24]Wolfgangus, by the Bishop of Frysing, to the great joy of the Court and City, expressed by the ringing of Bels from five in the morning till night, and the bone­fires blazing before every private doore.

Whilst the Princes of the Empire were thus bu­sied in counsaile about the Danuby, the Elver and adjacent Territories, were filled with the sound of Drummes and Trumpets, speaking not peace but hosti­lity. Bauditz, Bauditz gives over his Ge­neralate. the late famous Generall; had resigned his office, pretending his wounds received at the siege of Magdenburgh, had dis-abled him for future service, and many other prime Officers following his example, did the like, which moved the Elector of Saxony, whose late confederacy with the Swedes was changed to open enmity, to goe himselfe in person, as Generalissimo of his army, Marazini the smperiall Generall in Po­merania united his army to the Saxons, and with the Imperiall army, commanded by the Field-Marshall Hatzfield, and Bannier the Swede. wasre-enforced with the powers of the Field-Marshall Leslec, and the Gene­rall Major Stalhaus. Bannier pre­pareth to give the Saxons battell. These puissant armies thus prepa­red for Battell, each sought their advantages, and yet neither started farre from the other, both parties inten­ding to put their fortunes to a day of tryall. Bannier was instructed by letters from Stockholme, and directed by order from the Crowne of Sweden, to force the Saxons to a fight, the issue whereof, might either be an encouragement to the Swedes, for their further procee­dings in War, if it proved fortunate, or the withdrawing of their Armies, if otherwise, yet this avisoe was added withall, that hee should make good Stralzund fora place of retreat, if the day did not fall out favourably, He followed the direction, and causing his Souldiers first to store up the best part of their baggage in forti­fied places, marched against the united armies under [Page 25]Elector Hatzfield, and Marazini, onely with such utensells as were absolutely necessary: The E­lector presuming of a victory went to the Campe, fur­nished as for a progresse, his plate, bedding, and other things, as if hee had beene still at Dresden, cumbring many Waggons with his carriage: Et inter turpe signa militaria sol aspicit coropeum. So confident was he in defeating his enemy.

The game was playd cunningly on both sides: the Saxon Colonell Klitzing, was sent abroad with a flying army, and he, September 4.14. first tooke in Ratenaw by assault, putting one hundred Finlanders, wich were garrisoned therein to the sword,Ratenaw and Banderburg taken by Klit­zing. and after­wards marched against Brandenbergh, wherein lay eight hundred Swedish Dragoones, whom he forced to surrender upon composition of departing with their high and low weapons. The Field-Marshall Wrangell was dispatched abroad with another flying army on the Swe­dish side, and he, first securing the Oder, and breaking downe the bridges which the Saxons had laid over it for their more convenient passages upon all occasions, marched thence, first against Pritzwald, which hee plundred, then against the little City of Swedt, which he found abandoned by the Imperialists, before his com­ming, and afterwards directly against Gertz, a City in Pomerania, the Imperiall Souldiers whereof did much spoyle upon the bordering places, under the Swedes protection, stragling oft-times to the very gates of Stetin, and returning loaden with booty. To deliver the Countrey from these Boote-halers, September 24. old, he brought his army before it,Swedt and Gertz surren­dred by Wran­gel. raysed up three Batteries against it, and played upon it the two next dayes so furiously, that the Imperiall Commander within it, Don Foelix or Philips, (the French call him by the first name, the Germans by the second) sent out a [Page 26]Trumpet about nine at night, with covenants of surren­dring, which, as being too advantageous for the Garrison, were rejected by the Field-Marshall, who renewed his battery, played incessantly upon the City with his Ca­non till the next morning, and then having made his approaches to the very Walls, and ready to give an as­sault, the Flagge of Parley was hung out, and the Garri­son consisting at that houre, of above twelve thousand able men, was dismissed peaceably upon these con­ditions.

All which was prescribed at the Campe by the Impersall Commanders, and observed by the Field-Marshall Wrangell faithfully. And yet the Swedes remembring the proceeding of the Imperialists at Franckford, the yeare last passed, and mentioned in that History, play­ed tricke for tricke with them, spared the Persons and estates of the Citizens but demolished the Walls which rounded the City, and slighted their fortifications, that it might no longer be a shelter to the Imperiall spoy­ling bands.

This purchase was but the attendant to Banniers glo­rious victory; if the beginning of the day of battell, and the defeate of the Saxons armies might terminate his Conquest but a concomitant, and of no younger birth, if we take the Swedish Generalls glory not in the blos­some, but full perfection. The Field-Marshall ended his designe upon Gertz, Preperations for a battaile. September 30. October 10. upon which day the Generall Major Stalhause returned to the Swedish campe at Witstocke, if not overbur­thened, [Page 28] yet loaden with the spoyles of the flying enemy. An happy day it was to the Swedes, and to be recorded to the remembrance of them of that Nation which are to come.

The Proscaenia of the Play was skilfully and; subtilly laid on both sides, the Imperiall and Saxon Armies took all before them, Bannier giving the storme leave to spend it selfe, yet omitting no opportunity which might be for his advantage.Havelsberg taken by the Saxons. And Werben surrendred by the Swedes. The City of Havelsberg, sited where the Havel looseth his name, in the more famous streame of the Elve, and the Castle too, were taken by the united Imperial and Saxon armies, from the Swedes, upon their March; the strong Fort of Werben on the other side of the River, became theirs also by right of conquest, yet neither of these was assured them for tearmes of yeares, nor scarce of dayes, a short li­ved conquest it was, and soone extorted from them by the Swedes. The story is deliverered from all hands thus.

The Swedish Generalll Bannier re-enforced with the bands of men, under the Field-Marshall Lesle, the Ge­nerall Majors, Stalhanse, and Vitzthumb, who the last yeare commanded in Franckford upon the Maine, ac­cording to the order from Stockholme before mentio­ned, intending to draw the Imperiall and Saxon Armies to a pitcht battell; to omit other his severall ineampings, and discampings, remooved from Parcheim, September 13.23. attended with his whole army, and came to Perlerberg, where the united forces of his enemies were well and strongly entrenched,Bannnier martcheth af­ter the Saxon Army. thinking that their late victories gotten by them on both sides the Elve, would have encouraged them to have put their Armies in Battel aray against him, who ceased not to out-brave them too, by many affronts and offers of skirmishes to the same intention. But the wary Hatzfield, Morazini, [Page 29]and the Saxon Armies, not being to be allured out of their hold, by hopes of uncertaine glory, by a doubtfull fight in open field, lay still, and would not permit their Souldiers to stirre out of their workes, commanding onely that they should stand ready within their earthen walls, to entertaine the Swedes if they should assault them. Bannier seeing this project faild, ranged his Forces into an orderly body,Retaketh Ha­velsberg. and marched in the sight of his enemies towards Havelberg, and Werben, the first of which, by the indiscretion of the Garrison, was forced to submit to his discretion; for mistaking the Sweds for their confederates, and not supposing them to have had the way open for their march thitherward, they let them come to the very Walls of the City and Castle, where at once, the Garrison having discovered their persons and their strength, found it vaine to stand out, and surrendred the Towne and Fort to their mercy.

Havelsberg thus surprized, the Swedish Generall plyed Werben so close with his approaches and batteries, that by the judgement of his Counsaile of Warre, it was not to be questioned, but that hee had carryed it within the space of 24 houres,Besiegeth Werben, but leaveth the siege upon new Avisoes. had hee continued his siege, which left for the present not unadvisedly, nor doubting of suecesse, but upon a wise deliberation, pro­jecting a better gaine, and more glory else-where, than could be got by that petit victory, deferring onely in the meane time that pursuit, and concluding to perfect it afterwards.

Advisoes, and certaine too, were brought him, that the Elector of Saxony, Marazini and Hartzfield were risen from their trenches at Perlerberg, Septemb. 19.29. and marched towards Pritzwald, with an intention to goe to Witstocke, and thence to goe over the Havel at Zedenick: And the Swede to give them as little rest as might be, thereon left the siege at Werben, and pur­suing [Page 30]the enemy at the heeles, made head toward the Campe of the Imperialists and Saxons, by the way of Westerhousen. That which is apparantly evill to the eye of humane reason, by the wisedome of Divine provi­dence often proves a blessing, and of happy consequence: Such was the prize of Brandenburg, by the Saxon Klitzing; the Swedes esteemed it no small losse, the Saxons no little advantage, but the losse of the Towne was gaine to the Swedish army, and the prize thereof by Klitzing was in probability the ruine of the Imperiall and Saxon armies.The passage of Zedenick secured. The passage at Zedenick might have served as a posterne for Klitzing to have come with his forces upon the backe of the Swedes, had it beene left open for him; so much was Bannier accquainted with, by the late Commander in Brandenburg, who was instantly commanded by the Generall to-make good that passage with those old souldiers which were condu­cted from Brandenburg to Rupin, against the excursions of the Campe at Witstocke, or in roads of Klitzings Ar­my, which he did accordingly.

How many severall changes are there in one Military Dance? All these preparations were to meete with the Electors, and Hatzfields armies in open field upon their Martch, and now suddenly a Currier poasted to the Swe­dish Campe with new avisoes, that the enemies were strongly incamped neare Witstock, having the City on the one side to defend them, the Cloyster or Monastery called the Holy Sepulchre, situate upon a Mountaine, called Sherpen Hill fortified, 16. redoubts on the o­ther side, under which stood their Battaglie, ranged for fight, and a Forrest behinde them, serving as a Coun­termure for their safety. The newes somewhat perplex­ed the Swede, as falling out contrary to his expectation, yet altered not his resolution. A purpose he had to give them battell, and though the misfortune of his confede­rates [Page 31]at Nordlingen, fighting against the Imperiall Ar­my upon the like disadvantage,A Counsaile of war called. and common reason did disswade him from it, yet all this could not change his determination, he had ingaged himselfe so farre by his faith to the Crowne of Sweden, that he would not now recede one title from the resolve. Valour is most apparant when the Danger is imminent, either an ho­nourable grave or glorious conquest, were the things he aimed at; neither of these were in his owne election, and he referred him selfe to the fortune of the day for ei­ther. And yet, as his great heart could not entertaine timidity, so his fore-casting spirit avoyded temerity, hee would not presume upon his owne wisedome, though the commands of a Generall bee not to be controverted by the inferiour Officers, but called first a counsaile of Warre, where he discovered the state of his owne army, and conjectured at that of the enemy, whose often a­voydings and tergiuersations from proffered Battell, were tokens, sayd he of timerous soules, or weake bodies, unable to grapple with his forces, and the covnsaile, as one man crying out, Let us goe on, and assault them in their trenches, he put his project into practice. One impediment there was, which might have stopped him in his speedy March, if it had not beene remooved, a nar­row way at Fresdorpe, through which the Army and the luggage must necessarily passe, and that guarded too by some Imperiall companies: The enemy was not so terrible as the streightnesse of the way, for he beate the guard away immediately upon his first arrivall, and clea­red it of them, but both the sides of it being Moorasse,The passage at Fresdorpe eleared. he was constrained to guard it from the Sunne-setting of the third of October, new stile, with one thousand Musquetiers under the leading of Colonell Gunne and two Regiments of Horse, whilst the maine body of his Army was passed through it, till about noone the [Page 32]next day ensuing. That day he appeared in the view of the Imperiall and Saxon armies, and his appearance caused them to change their postures, the Intantry be­ing drawne up to the Hill toppe, neare the Artillery, and their Cavallary placed on both sides of it, the out most skirt of it being fortified with the Waggons. Bannier ordered his army for assault accordingly, the forme whereof, may be evidently seene in the Map annexed, and leaving the avantguard of his right wing,The Swedish army appeares before the Sax ons at Wit­stock. consisting of sixe hundred Musquetiers, Life-landers, and Curlanders, and sixe squadrons of reformed troopes drawne out of the Regiments of Duke Henry, Francis of Saxon Law­enberg, the Colonels, Crakaw and Slang, and the Sar­jeant Major Giese, under the command of Collonell Gun: he himselfe followed in person to charge the left wing of the Imperiall and Saxon armies with his bat­talia, consisting of eight Brigads, Pikes, and Mus­quetiers, whilst the left Wing of his Army, under the commands of the Field-marshall Lesle, and Stalhans wheeled about through the Forrest, to assault the right wing of the enemy. Both parts prepared to fight, their souldiers were made discernable to the eare and eye of their friends and foes by private instructions. The Swedes word of Battell being,The battels joyne. God with us, and the Imperialls and Saxons God willing, and severall colours, as re­monstrances under whom they fought; the Swedes wea­ring greene Ribbands about their armes, and the Saxons white Ribbands, some with hand-kerchtrs upon their hats. The Swedish Cavallery was lyned with Musque­tiers, and that devise was of no small effect to the obtai­ning of the victory.

Gun came on bravely, and with his avantguard main­tained the battell in an equall balance by the space of two houres, beating off eight severall charges made up­on him by the enemy in that short space, and then him­selfe [Page 33]wound, and his Troopes wearied began to recoyle, to the great joy of the Saxons, who assured themselues instantly of Victory, and proclaimed it by two Trum­pets, through the Armie; But the fight was as yet scarce begunne; The Generall Banniere, The order of the fight. having placed his Ca­non with all advantages to play upon the Campe, came in to the rescue of his weary avant-Guard, with his Bri­gades, & after some charges given, began to make them breake their rancks, the Field-Marshall Lese and Stal­hans, having brought about the left wing through the Forrest in the meane time,Long doubt­full. and therewith at the same time so charging Hatzfeldt, who led the right wing of the Saxon Armie, that the scale began to turne, and the silver wings of Victory might be discerned to hover over the Swedish Army. It was hard fought on both sides, the Elector of Saxony using all the Rhetorick hee could to encourage his Souldiers, with remembrance of the condition of those men, against whom they fought, and the faire advantages, which they had gotten in his short time of Battell; the Ordnance on both sides, vomiting out their fiery bullets, whilest the Generalls were spea­king and the swords of the Military men, being brandi­shed as nimbly as the Commanders words.

By this a Swedish Reserve of 4. Brigades, under the Command of the Generall Major Verdun, The victory falleth to the Swedes. which served as the Arneri gnard to the left wing, was joyned to the Rield-Marshall Lesle, and Stalhans, and their appariti­on proved so formidable to the Saxons, which feared a cōtinuail sipply of fresh enemies, that they betook them­selves insta tly to a consused flight, though the Elector with teares, in vaine disswaded them from it, & that con­fusion concluded the battell; almost the whole Camp be­ing therby exposed to the fury of the Swedes, to be put to the sword, or mercy, in sparing of life, and making them Prisoners of warre.

[Page 34] It was a glorious victory, but purchased deerely with the lives of 1000 Swedes, The victory was got with blood. and up wards, amongst which were many men well deserving, but some offpeciall note, by name the Colonells Berghawer and Conigham, the Lieutenant Colonell to Francis Henry of Saxon Lawen­burg, and three others of that order here unnamed, and sundry Ritt-masters, Captaines and under Officers. The Colonelle Crakaw, Linse, and Gun were wounded, but not mortally, and either the joyfull newes of victory made them lesse sensible of their wounds then they should have beene otherwise, or they were not wounded dangerously. The Sweedish Generalls escaped shot-free, but 2 of the Imperialls chiese Commanders were slaine out-right. The two Generall Majors, Wilsdorp, & Goltz, and Marazini himselfe, was said, deadly wounded, and 5. Colonells slaine, whereof three are particularized by name, Wildberger, young Hottzfeldt, and Kunigell; besides Rit-Masters, Captaines, and Officers, who were accompanied in their deaths by 7000 of their partners in Armes, Common men slaine upon the place of battell, and attended with many other,The numbers of the slaine. which fell by the swords of the Swedes in the prosecution. The present losse, was it not expressed particularly, as it is, could not be accoun­ted lesse then 6 whole Regiments, viz. Coloredoes, Wen­densales, Walsteins, the Goltz, Eracts and Pappenheims being totally ruined, and the forces under the Generall Major Dehne, the two Countts of Talkenstein, Wilbe, Winse, and Wilbrecht, being not to be supposed to have escaped their share of that misfortune, their Comman­ders being desperately wounded.

The principall Check fell upon the Insantry, the hors­men following the Example of the Elector (who seeing the battell lost,The victory prosecuted. spurred away to Werben, accompanied onely with 50 Cavalieres, and there passing the Elve, made haste towards Wittenberg) to save themselues by [Page 35]flight, and yet slaughter overtooke them as they were flying: Stalhanse was sent to pursue them with 6000 horse, and he returned not from execution till 3 dayes after, and then naving left the way strewed with dead Corps from Witstocke, even to Werben (almost as many being slaine upon the way of the flight, as upon the place of battell) he came backe to the Campe with 1500 pri­soners, and 30 Coronets, and 5 Ensignes of Dragoones, which being added to the Ensignes gamed in the field, made up the number of 143 Coronets and Enngnes, be­sides those which still remained in the hands of private men, and were not then brought in to the Generall, who proclaimed a reward to every one that should bring in his private attchievement, to make his conquest more ilustri­ous. The Elector, Hasfeldt, and they which escaped, sa­ved their persons onely, but left their Canon,The spoyles taken from the Saxons by the Swedes. 41 in num­ber, and their baggage to the Conquerour: the Electors owne Waggons loaden with the glorious title, and rich moveables of his Chancery (the titles not recorded by the quill in partehment; buting raven in rich mettals) his instruments of hunting his plate, in generall, and that fa­mous great silver Bowle, wherein he used to carouse to his best friends, and the baggage of the whole army be­came lawfull prize to the Swedes, with 8000 Waggons, whereon it was mounted, to the enuching not of the souldiers onely but the very boyes of the Swedish army.

Three dayes were spent by the Swede after hisvictory, partly in piety, partly in polity, yet piety proceeded, and polity followedas the Hand-maid. First hee assembled his companies to give thankes to him, who had covered their heads in the day of battell,Thanksgiving for the victory and blessed the enter­prize with so good and great successe, singing te Deum after their manner, and supplying the want of Organs, & other Church musicke, with Drums, Fifes, Trumpets, Canonadoes and Musqutadoes intermingled, not to the [Page 36]disturbing of the fouldiers devotion, but the raysing of their spirits, who reioyced that they had now oportunity to spend their powder in triumph, not in an uncertaine fight against the enemy.

Thanksgiving done,The dead bu­ryed. hee tooke order for the buriall of the dead, as well for foes as friends, a worke of difficultie, their bodies being scattered in sundry places, in great multitudes, and the Boores, which should have assisted to their interment, being fled for feare, not knowing how either party, if he proved victor, might deale with them; yet this taske was performed too. And then the Gene­rall taking a view of his Army, not so much decreased in number by the fight, as increased by thousands of priso­ners, who offered themselves to his service he found 1500 yet which were not come in to his party, amongst which were 170 Officers,And a new muster made of the Army, with some ex­pressions of Court-ship to the prisoners. and 146 women of quality, wives to the Caeserean and Saxon Colonels, and their officers. The deiected countenances of the women expressing sorrow, partly in regard of their present estates, and part­ly for the losse or imprisonment of their bosome friends, moved him to compassion; and he to sweeten their cap­tivite, and the rigour of his Armes, and to cheare up these disconsolate spirits, made them a feast neere Witstock, in the middle of a great plaine, for the distinction of the services intermitting three severall vollies of Canona­does from the great Artillery, which hee had gotten in the battell. And the feast ended, he first disposed of his prisoners males and females, sent the gained artillery down the Elve by shipping,Bannier ta­keth Werben upon discretiō with the Electors plate, which fell to his share, as the baggage lately belonging to Hazfeld, was then in Lisles possession, and Maraci­nies in the hands of Stalhanse, as a present to the Queen of Sweden, and afterwards marched first with his Armie against the Fort at Werben, intending to go forward, but first to have all safe behinde him. And this Fort he took [Page 37] October 13.23. forcing the Garrison to submit upon discretion. And after having fortified it for the Crowne of Sweden, drew his Army over the Elve, on that side towards Halberstadt: amusing for a short time, the Sax­ons and their confederates, sometimes seeming to looke towards Saltzwedell, as if he intended towards the coun­trey of Lunengburgh. Sometimes towards the Earldome of Mansfieldt, alwayes intending to goe to Misuda and Thuringen, which in fine he did, and thither though the history now cannot, it shall follow him hereafter.

The Sconce at Werben being thus possessed againe by the Swedes, the Saxon Garrisons at Ratenaw, and Brandenburg, seeing their late co-partners forced to serve under Bannier, Brandenburgh and Ratenaw forsaken by the Saxons & Garrisond by the Swedes. & knowing themselves too weak to make any resistance if he should cast a bank against them and without hope of succour, though they might be able to hold out for a season, willingly forsooke the places of which they were appoynted guardians, and left them to the Swedes administration, who furnished Branden­burg with 600 presidiaries, and Ratenaw with 250. whilst the Swedish Colonel Geyse, marched towards Berlin, happened first upon three hundred Brandenbur­gish souldiers on the way, surprized them, and put as ma­ny of them as would not serue the Swede to the sword.

At Wolgast and Gripstald, in the meane time arived 3500 fresh men out of Sweden, able men to the eye, and yet they proved better souldiers than was expected, be­ing joyned to Wrangels flying army, which with this accrewt supplyed from Sweden with Armour, Canon,Wrangel soul­dereth the Vekker-marke. Powder, Match, and the like materials of War, being now growne 12000 strong by the end of October, cleered the Oder from Frankford downeward (to the joy of the Ste­tineers, who saw the adjacent Countrey incumbred no more with the Imperialists, and found the wayes open againe to Da [...]tzick and Rostocke, the chiefest Cities of their Commerce) invaded the marke Brandenburg, infor­ced the Towne of Barlen to a contribution of 30000. Rix-Dollers, which was payed part in ready money [Page 38]part in merchants wares, brought the whole Veker-mark to the Swedes obedience, and drew from thence 26000 Rix-dollers, to preserve it from pillage, confiscated lands, the goods belonging to the Count of Stwarzenburgh, tooke an oath of fealty of the subjects in his owne name, affirming the Countrey to be given him by the Crowne of Sweden, and thence marched against Land. bergen to surround it with his army, projecting a future designe in Silesia, where some of the peeres falling off from the Saxon, and weary of the Caesareans, waited for his com­ming, not as enemies to oppose him, but friends to assist him, so fearefull were the neighbouring principalities of the Swedes power, and ready to comply with the Con­queror.

The Elector of Saxony, who October 7.17. was come to Lipsech, and Hazfeld, who arrived about the same time at Halsberstadt, prepared in the meane time to rally their forces, but were not so quicke it as they sup­posed they might have beene. Of all their late army, 3000 men onely,The Elector prepares to forme a new army. or thereabouts, were found, and to forme a new one, required more time for preparing new Artillery, raising new men and money, and this could not be done neither without much regret and heart-burning of his subjects, to feele the burthens of new impositi­ons, and weakning of Some his Towne, being constrai­ned to take downe the Ordnance, which was appoynted for the defence of his Cityes, and to bring them into the field. The last of these were complained of by the Lipsickers, and the first had like to have made a muti­ny amongst the people. In this destration, Hazfeld advanced now to the Imperiall Generalate, sends unto Goetz the Field-marshall, to bring his forces, and to conjoyne with him against the Swedes, which he did ac­cordingly. The Elector drew out three regiments from the Garrison Silecia, [...]nds for Auxiliaries. and they both joyntly sent to the Marquesse of Dormstat, and George Duke of Lunenberg to the same purpose, the last of which was then besieging Minden, but hearing of the Swedes [Page 39]attchivenrents left it, whether for feare of the Swedes, and care to preserve his own Country, or affection to the Saxon, it is yet uncertaine, for yet I find him not come into his aide, and the o­ther, though afterwards hee yeelded to their desires, for the pre­sent would have excused himselfe by letters, which because the containe a briefe expression of the State of the Swedes, and the Empire, I have here set down, as the conclusin of this history. The letters bare date Octob 14. old stile, and runne thus:

Your Electoral highnesse cannot be ignorant, withwhat affe­ection I have alwayes implored my selfe to the avancement of your affaires,A Letter written to the Elector of Sax. by [...] M. of Dorm [...] declaring e­state of the Empire. to which I have not spared to contribute al means possible; yet because I know the strength of the Swedes which are already in the Empire, is concealed from you, & extenuated too much by some neare your highnes. I shall succinctly de­scribe unto you the estate of their affaires in Almaigne, that the truth being knowne, some better way may be devised for the publicke good, than by continuation of this Warre.

The Swedes had an Army lately in Pomerania, under the Field-Marshall Wrangel, which being re-enforced with 600 lately come out of Sweden, having possessed themselves of Gartz & Swedt, 2 principal passages upon the Oder, subjected the whole Vetter-marke, and pillaged Barlin, have now, as it is reported, a dangerous designe up on Silesia. I neede not speake of the other army under Banniere, the puissance thereof is too fresh, and of bleeding memory.

But I would not have your excellency ignorant, that besides their forces in open field, the Swedes have yet in garrisō, neare 20000 men, in those places which they hold: In the higher Germany they hold only the Fort of Benefeldt, and their lye 1000 men. For the lower Germ. they have in Pomerania, Col­berg, Stalsundt, the Isle of Rugen, Stetin, and Griffenhagen, in the Dukedom of Mekelberg, Wismar, which is the best port of the Baltike sea and Demitz upon the Elve, which City alone they raise every yeare, 50000 Rix-dallers for custome. Rostock stands in neatrelity by consent of both partyes, but in the March they have Havelsberg, Werben, Brādenberg, Ratenaw, Tangermund, & the 2 famous passages of Ferberlin and Crenis, all which, they have upon a suddaine snatched out [Page 40]of the hands of your highnes, & Allies in the Dutch Lunen­berg, they hold the Cities Luneburg, Winsen, & Ʋltzen, in Brunswick-land, and upon the Weser, the Forts Newburg & Stoltenaw, with the Cities of Minden, and Hamellen; in West­phalia, upon the River of Ems, the Cities of Meppen, & Osna­brugge, with the Fort of Petersburg, & many other places of this side of Ems yet in possession of the Lantgrave their friend & Alley. To which if you please to ad the succours of forraign Princes & estates, who have already declared themselves their confederates, & of others who are about to make their like league with them (his Maiesty of great Britt, being reported to have recalled Lesle & Redwin his subjects to no other end than the recovery of the Palatinates by warre) they will appeare no despicable enemy. I neede not speak what small hope of suc­cours you can expect from G. D. of Huneburg or the Elector of Brandenburg, Caesar having testified, that he knowe th not whether they be his friends or enemies, I shal conclude briefly, there will not be found in all Silesia, Bohemia, Austria, Fran­conia, and Swaben, one Imperiall souldier to assist you, if you should receive a new defeate, therefore I beseech you, rather to labour for a settled peace, than a continued War, that so these miseries, which have befalne the Empire by this permitious warre, may be removed, Germany may againe reiovce to see their former tranquillity, the Princes and estates of the Empire may be maintained in their rights and priviledges, and no mis­prision (as at this present is) laid upon the Electoral dignity.

It was good advice, but the Elector desired not his Counsell but present assistance, nor were the Swedes to be dealt withall by perswasions, the Spanish agent had before offered them 250000 Rix-dollers to depart the Empire, but they refu­sed it, & resolve to continue the warre, what condition soever shal be offered them, unlesse all their Allies, the Princes of the Empire, the neighboring estates, & the Christiā K. particularly, might be included in the treaty with whom they had made an especial offensive & defensive league, & who had already recei­ved as much benefit by their late victory, as thēselves had got­ten glory; that being supposed one meanes to recall the Impe­riall armies from theinvasion of France, whither they were ad­vanced by the way of Burgundy.

TT is a question yet controverted betwixt the French and Spanish Statists,Italy and Provence. and was canvased in the Consistory of Cardinalls, by the comprotectors of both Kingdomes, whether the Allyes and Sub­jects of the Christian King, or the confederates and subjects of Caesar, and the Catholike King, were most to be blamed for the broyles lately commenced in Italy. The Cardinall of Savoy, a man powerfull in speech and somewhat surmounting the Cardinall of Burghese, Comprotector of Almaygne and the house of Austria, in the favour of the Conclave by reason of his high birth, being brother to the Duke of Savoy (who is dignified by Patent, by the Title of the Administrator of the fiefes in the Italian Em­pire, in the vacancy, as the most Illustrious Prince, the Electour Palatine, is in Germany) from the first beginning of the warre till the end of this present summer, stood stiffely in Iustification of the Christi­an King, against the Catholike Kings favourites, and so farre prevailed with the Pope himselfe, that he procured especiall letters from that Bishop, to the Duke of Medina, the Marquesse of Leganez the Spanish Generall, and the Cardinall Trivultio principall procurator for the Imperiall and Spanish Armies, to forbeare and cease committing such out­rages, as they dayly did in the Dukedome of Parma, [Page 42]though the Prince had joyned with the Christian King,The Cardinal of Savoy relin­quisheth the Comprotecti­on of France and adhereth to Caesar. his Countrey being a Fee appendant to the Church of which (said he) I have the tuition. But in fine the French Advocate, the Savoyard Cardinall, wonne with large promises, (the King of Spaine offering to confirme unto him, 40000. crownes of yearely revenew in Church living, and a pension of twenty five thousand Crowns, if he would relinquish the King of France, and adhere to Caesar) he ac­cepted the proposition to the incredible joy of the Spanish, and displeasure of the French, not so much for his losse as his disloyalty. A golden cosse­way pleaseth the eye, though the pavement is not of sure footing. Philip of Macedon by this false light bleared the sight of the Graecians, and the Iberian King Philip, made the same Minerall Sunne to dazell the eyes of this great Cardinall, who (as the French both at home and abroad at Rome relate it) not re­garding the sleights which the Spaniard put upon the deceased Cardinall O [...]sino, once Comprotectour of France, but taken off in the end by the like allure­ments from the Christian King to serve the Catho­like) turned away his principall servants, best ac­quainted with his French negotiations, his late Se­cretary, and Auditor, ceised upon their writings and accounts, whilest they were walking upon the banks of Tyber for their recreation, forbad them his house, and as quite eloigned from the King of France pul­led downe the Flower de-Luces, which the day be­fore, garnished his gates, and at night set up in their stead, the Armes of the Pope, the Emperour, the Kings of Spaine and Hungarie: This project was intended further, then the gaining onely of the Car­dinall, who might promote the French affaires in the Consistory, and could doe no more, the Duke of Sa­voyes [Page 43]Armes in the field, joyned with Criqui, and the Parmesan; were more to be suspected, then the Car­dinall of Savoyes words in the Counsell, and the maine aime of the devise was to take off the Duke by the meanes of his brother the Cardinall,The Spanish polity in gain­ing the Cardi­nall. but the Spa­nish Artillery, could not reach so farre, the shaft fell some bowes short, the Embassadour of Savoy then at Rome, received the Secretary and Auditour into his house, though the Cardinall had casheered them, and the Duke of Savoy himselfe, with as much zeale as ever, doth yet prosecute the warre in Italy, neither sparing his owne personall paines, as being General­lissimo of the confederate Armies, nor purse in making necessary provisions of warre, to secure his owne men, and offend the enemy.

Had the Cardinall stood firme to France, yet his negotiation in the consistory could not have proved so prejudicious to the Imperiall and Spanish States, as the mutiny of some malecontents, and the appea­rance of the Galleys of Bizerta (a port towne of the Kingdome of Tunis) upon the coast of Italy, were formidable to the Catholike Kings subjects in his Kingdome of Naples. The Histories are thus reported. The Count of Monterey Viceroy of Naples, A mutiny in the kingdome of Naples. zealous for preservation of his authority, and the dignity whereunto he was advanced, offended with an En­signe of his Guard, which let fall his colours upon the arrivall of the Duke of Medina de las Torres, who came to visit the Viceroy at his Palace, Iuly 6. new stile (that ceremony of honourable observance being usu­ally exhibited to none, but the Kings Vice-gerent) imprisoned the Ensigne, with his Serjeant Major, and casheerd the Captain of the company. The Duke con­ceiving that the Viceroys sentence against those offi­cers of his guard, trencht on his honour, & his esteeme [Page 44]of the people might suffer some prejudice, if he did not beare up and carry himselfe like a Grandee, im­mediately thereupon, provided his Caroch to be drawne with 6 Horses, and rode in the state of a Viceroy through the streets of Naples, to the discon­tent of the Count, (that being the proper garbe of the prorex and permitted to no other) who first sent his monitory letters to the Duke, forbidding him to appeare so magnificently, and those not prevailing, commanded him immediately to depart the King­dome, and returne to Spaine. His order was obeyed by the Duke, whose dismission wrought severally on the fancies of the Friends and Allies of the young Princesse of Stigliano lately married to the Spanish Duke: each of them according to the capacity of their judgements, projecting how to be avenged of the Viceroy. The old Princesse, Mother to the Dutchesse, in melancholy betooke her to a Cloister, and bequea­thed all her goods, money, plate, and Iewells, after her decease, to the Church of S. Peter at Rome. The young Gallants of the Dutchesses Family tooke up Armes, drew many of the Commons (already offen­ded with the Count, for his government, which they supposed to be somewhat tyrannicall, and the heavy impositions, which by reason of the present occasi­on, were not unnecessarily laid upon them) to their party, elected the Duke of Matalona, one of the Peeres of the Kingdome, for their Chieftaine, and had gone further, to the plundering of the Spanish Families dispersed in the Kingdome, had not the Cardinall Aldobrandino a popular man,Appeased by the Cardinall Aldobrandino. and Vnckle to the Dutchesse by the Mothers side, interposed him­selfe, and disswaded the hot-spurrs from such a rebel­lious insurrection, promising to write to the King of Spaine, in the behalfe of his grieved Neece and the [Page 45]State, and giving them an assurance of a gracious an­swer, prevailed so farre that they laid downe their armes: and write he did, but received this onely summary answer from his Majesty, that he was igno­rant of the marriage of the Princesse with the Duke: and that the necessity of his affaires so requiring it, He could not alter the courses of his Viceroy, in that Realme: Yet in the end, the Catholike K. moved with the importunate complaints of the Friends and Al­lyes of the Princes, and willing to compose the diffe­rences which the Dukes absence had caused, returnes the Duke to Naples in the beginning of September, with letters to the Viceroy, to permit him his state, and dispatched soone after him, the Marquesse D Alcaniza with a commission to establish the Duke of Medina Viceroy of Sicilie. The Duke thus au­thorized, shewed his state,Quite settled by the King of Spaine. riding to the Court at Naples in a Caroch of blacke Velvet imbroydered with gold, and drawne with sixe Horses, and the Princesse his Wife, being carried in a stately Sedan, in the like equipage, yet with this devise, in thanke­fulnesse to his Majesty, Philippi Quarti Munificentia.

Before the returne of the Kings answer, the Muti­neers grew cold, laid downe their Armes, and retur­ned to their severall dwellings, to the joy of the Nea­politane Court, as being past feare of that seditious commotion. The Pyrats were the onely people they feared, The Galleys of Bizerta were seconded with an accreut from Argiers, and first roaving about the coasts of Calabria, they landed at the Cape of Pali­nudo a great number of Turks, which ransacked the Country adjacent, and carrying away 700. Christi­ans prisoners, returned to their Ships, fearing least the Viceroy, who was mustering of his Forces to se­cure the Maritine Townes, should come upon them [Page 46]with his Army, and surprize them: But their going from land,The Gallyes of Bizerta cause great feare in the Kingdome of Naples. and launching could not remove the feare of the people, the cloud still hovered about the Sea­coasts, and where it might fall was uncertaine; The Mart at Messina was drawing on, the customes wher­of by the frequent recourse of Merchants thither, and the great trade, were of no small consequence, the Viceroy therefore sent in the end of Iuly to the Great Master of Malta for his Galleys, for the secu­ring of the Sea-coasts of Naples and Sicilie against the incursions of the Turks during the time of the Fayre. But before the Maltezan Gallyes could be dispatched, the Turkish Pyrats understanding that the Prince of Bisignano was sent by the Vice­roy, with some Cavalliers and many Foote-souldiers to Putzoli and Pausilippo, to defend the sea-townes thereabouts, hoysed sayle, and with 10 Gallyes, and 2 Brigantines rode before Vico, a towne just oppo­site to Naples, on the other side of the Baye, and be­gan to land some of their Rovers, to the great affrightment of the inhabitants, which instantly left the towne and their goods, fled to the Mountaines to save their persons, and had beene ransacked by the Mahometans,An excellent and valiant act of an English Merchant. had not an unexpected accident fallen in fortunately for their succour. An English Marchant comming from Sicilie loaden with powder, and o­ther Ammunition having past the Ilands of Vulcan was discovered by the Turks, who presently defer­ring their former designe, though meaning to prose­cute it afterwards, haled the Marchant, who percei­ving the condition of those whith whom he was to deale,He is reported by our Sea­men, to be the younger Ellis. Infidells and robbers, prepared to fight, and was quickly rounded with the Turkish Gallyes. The fight was fore for the time, 50 Canons shot in a small space were discharged by our brave country man, the [Page 47]last of which cutting off the Turkish Admirals poope, made the rest retire, to the glory of the English Ma­ster, who wrought out his owne way with shot and powder, and cleared the coast thereabouts, of that enemy, deserving better of the Spanish Viceroy for this service, then he found his requitall being onely a Court-smile, and a cup of voydance. His name is worthy to he recorded, but I find it not expressed in the letters from Naples, in which I find this history Aug. 5/13. Soone after this the expected Gallyes from Malta put to sea, and abode there the space of 50.The Gallyes of Malta scoure the Le­vant of Tur­kish pirats. dayes, scouring the Levant, and sayling up and downe by the coast of Barbarie, and in the begin­ning of September, returned to their owne Iland, carrying along with them two Gallyes, and two o­ther bottomes, taken at Negrepont with 150. Turkes prisoners, and other booty esteemed at 100000. Crownes.

The Neapolitans, thus happily delivered from their Mahometane enemies by sea, prepared for the Ca­tholike Kings service, against the Christian by land. The Viceroy,The Neapo­litans taxed by the Viceroy. that there might neither be want of men, money, nor ammunition, laid an hard taxe upon the officers of his Courts of Law, and Iustice. Bills were sent to all the Tribunalls, charging every prime Regent of the Courts, to set forth 8. souldiers, every President, Counsellour, and Iudge, either civill, or criminal 4. every Procurator to the Fiske, or Au­ditor 2. each Register, Advocate, or Doctor one, or 40. crownes twelve pound sterling English, in stead of a souldier, and that he might not seeme partiall in his impositions, gave commandement to all the Nobles & Gentry of the Realme, to bring him a true particular of their horses and plate, that they might be employed in his Majest, service, if the necessity of his [Page 48]affaires should require it. This done, he appointed the Prince of Botero Grandchild to the Constable Colonna to be Generall for the Campe, and Cavallary of the Kingdome, and the Marquesse of Terra-zana for the Infantery, and sent Melchior Borgia Generall of the Gallyes of the Squadron of Naples, with the Galleys of Ligourn to releeve the Ilands Margarita and Honoria, whilest the Gallions, and other vessels for warre, were made ready, and brought to Porto­longo, in the Ile of Elbe, that place being designed for their generall Randevouz.

The French Navy under the command of the Earle of Harcourt and the Archbishop of Burdeaux, was under sayle long before the Neapolitane Fleete could be ready to incounter them. The 16. of Iune New Stile, they put forth from Saint Martins roade, yet reached not Marselleis till August 24. September being oft becalmed, and constrained to hull in stead of sayling, their way being long about the coasts of Spaine and Portugall, and sometimes forced to slacke sayle upon severall occasions. The 7/17 of the same moneth the Fleete arrived at the rode of Belle-Isle, where a particular muster was made of the Mati­ners, Provisions, & Ammunition, and it was listed as followeth. The Squadron of Bretaigne, consisted of 16.The list of the French Navy. vessels for service. The Admirall of 1000. tunne, under the command of Goutes, a man of eminent authority under the Earle of Harcourt, who was in person aboard that Ship with the Archbyshop of Burdeaux, their Families and Volunteers, and carri­ed 54. peeces of Cannon. The Reere-Admirall commanded by Poincy of 550. tunne, carried 34. peeces. The Swanne, the Ʋnicorne, the 3 Kings, the Corall, the Cooke, the Saint Michael, the Saint Guinever, the Pearle, the Margarite, each of 500 [Page 49]tunne: the Hermine of 300. tunne: the Saint Marie of 200. tunne: the Rose of 120. tunne: the Petit Saint John of 60. tunne: and the Aigrette of 120. tunne, made up that number. The squadron of Nor­mandy consisted of 17. vessels for service, besides 10. great shippes, and as many laden with victuals, and serving as a Magazine for maintenance of the Army, in which were also transported 28. companies of the Islanders, each Company consisting of 120. men, under Saint Estienne, a Limosin Gentleman, and Lievetenant Colonell to de la Porte. The Magda­lene of Haure du grace, of 300. tunne: the Saint Anne of 200. tunne, the Margarite of 100. tunnes, the Eagle, the Leveret, and the Neptune, each of 150. tunnes, the Griffon of 200. tunnes: sixe vessels of fire-workes, (two whereof were each of 200. tunnes, two of 150. and two of 100) and foure great Flemish Floytes, provided of 60. beds for the sicke and wounded men, Physitians, Apothecaries, Chirurgians, necessary attendants, and medicines, and viands, made up that number. The squadron of Normandy consisted of 14. bottomes. The Vice-Admirall of 500. tunnes, carrying 40. pieces of Ord­nance, and commanded by Manty the Vice-Admi­rall, the Lowis of Saint Iohn de Luz, of 500. tunnes, the golden Lyon, the Saint Iohn, the Lowis of Hol­land, and the Lievetenant, each of 300. tunne, the Hope, the Lyon of Houfleur, each of 250. tunnes. The Saint Francis, the Salamander, each of 200. tunnes, the Margarite, the Cardinall, the Frigat of Gascoigne, each of 150. tunnes, and the Angell of 300. tunnes, made up that number.

It was a gallant Navy, furnished with Artillery in a fit geometricall equipage, the vessels of 500. tuns, carried each of them 32. pieces of Canon, those of [Page 50]300. 20 pieces, those of 150. and 200. 6 pieces each. The two Frigates of 200. tunnes, each 12 pie­ces, the tenne Flemish Floytes, each 14 pieces, and the eye of France was fixed upon the good successe of these Argonauts. The Admirals Cōmission exten­ded no farther, than the scowring of the Seas from Pirates, the recovery of as many Christians as stood not enemies to the Crowne of France, from the Ma­hometans and Turkes (if they met with any such) the securing of the coast of Provence, and the landing of some Auxiliarie land-men, for the service of the Duke of Parma, and the confederate Armies in I­taly.

An Hollander a renegado, habited like a Sally­man, was the first Pyrate they met with. Hee was discovered,An Holland renegado ta­ken in the ha­bit of a Sally­man. July the first, new stile, by one of the Frigates, chased, and forced to yeeld with conditions to save his ship of 200. tunnes burden, and to yeeld the Christian slaves, which he had taken, to wit, 29. English, and 4. French men. This happened at Cape-Ortigall, thence the Fleete put forward, sometimes with a faire winde, and sometimes becalmed, with­out opposition or discovery of any enemy till the end of August, at which time the Navies of the great Duke of Florence, and the Duke of Tursy, sent from Ligorne under the command of Melchior Borgia, to vittaile the Islands Honoria and Margarita, with their perspectives beholding the gallantry of the French Fleet, and in hast hoysed up sayle, as know­ing how unable they were to grapple with so puis­sant and well furnished Navy, and retired to the port of Alagon.

Some pillaging rovers appeared behinde when the French Fleete was gone, and those such onely, as might dammage a Merchant, not encounter with a [Page 51]man of warre: one of which being a Spanish Pinnace, well provided both of men and ammunition,A Spanish Pa­rate taken by Saint Nazare. and warranted by letters of Marque from the Catholike King to pillage the Coast of Bretagne, after a sharpe conflict with a French Merchant, and the death of the Captaine of the Pyrats, and some of his compli­ces was taken neere 8. Nazare, and brought up the Laire into the harbour at Nantes, (the prime City of that Dukedome) with 12: surviving Spaniards, his whole Artillery, and a pavilion, enriched with the Armes of Spaine, that eing the onely wealth which the vessell (ordained for spoile, not traffique) carri­ed. And the ill successe of these adventures dishearten­ed their co-partners from attending longer therea­bouts.

The Fleet as it sailed along the coast of Provence, was fortified daily by a new supply of Souldiers and Marriners, 100. Tartanes vessels, of the burthen of 500. each carrying 8. land men, & 5. Pirats, men, ves­sels, and Ordnance, which they tooke by the way, being added thereunto by the Sea townes,The Fleet increaseth. Marseil­les and the rest, and by the helpe of their small Barks, the Admirall first landed 5000. men at Nissa, an har­bour and Citie under the Duke of Savoy, for the aide of the Prince, sent some shipping to Marselleis for 8000. others, which he dispatched after the first 5000. to the same intent, and then put to sea againe towards the Principality of Norgues, The inhabi­tants of Men­ton & Roque­brane, flee for feare, and are recalled by the French Admi­rall. where the in­habitants of Menton and Roquebrane affrighted with their comming, forsooke their houses generally, and fled to save their lives: the religious persons, whose more ingenuous education made them conceive wel of the Admirals goodnesse, onely excepted. Sixe of these Capuchins by their order, came in all submis­sion to the Count, offering him the keyes of those [Page 52]places which the amazed people had abandoned, and wrought by this voluntarie humility so farre upon the Generall, that he not onely assured them of all gentle usage, but restored them the keyes, and char­ged them to seeke out and recall the lost inhabitants, promising to secure them from any manner of vio­lence, which they could expect, or feare might bee offered them by his Army.

The faire promise of the French Admirall,Monaco is the usuall name, it is in Liguria. wrought effectually with the poore inhabitants of the Coun­try: they returned quickly upon the credit given to his word, to their several dwellings. But the strong Port of Morgnes, or Monaco, stood in defiance of his power, and shewed all testimonies of hostility with him. The weather then was calme, and the Navy could not put forth to Sea, and the Count partly to avoid idlenesse, and partly with desire to be avenged of the Turke, drew out of the shippes sixe Pieces for battery, and a convenient number of Pioners to make way for his approches thitherward, promising him­selfe to winne the place, before any other urgent oc­casion might call him thence, or the cessation of the calme might serve the Fleet to undertake an expedi­tion by Sea. The Spanish Galleys, (38. in number,) which at that present were in the Bay of Savona, in the Signiorie of Genoa, apprehending that the still face of Neptune would bee favourable to their Gal­leys, which moved better upon the water by the strength of the Oares, then the breath of winde, the next day appeared neere the French Fleete, and be­gan with some volees of Canon-shot to play upon the French Gallions riding at anchor neere Menton. This unexpected offer of combat altered the Counts designe against Monaco, his desire was then to put to Sea, but the ordinary shipping was winde-bound, [Page 53]and the Galleyes embarred by the Spanish and Flo­rentine Fleete within the Harbour.Three Sea. fights betwixt the French and Spanish Fleets. An unexpected helpe came in this extremity, some French Galleyes taking advantage of the calme, made haste from Ville-Franche, a Sea-towne in Liguria, but under the command of the Duke of Savoy, to the French Ar­mado, carried out the Admirals Gallion, who having got sea-rome, and attended still with these new­come friends, spread all his sailes to recover the little winde that then blew, and in fine, having got the ad­vantage of a breathing ayre, made up to the Spanish Galleyes, and discharged upon them so furiously, that one of three, which had gotten neerest the French Navy, was so shattered, that her two other attendants were constrained to relinquish their intended fight with the French men in the Bay, and to wait upon their companion, which was onely busied in dischar­ging her burden of Sea-men and Souldiers, into the other bottomes, fearing lest they should perish with the vessell.

And now the fight began betwixt the two Na­vies,The first. those in the Baye, though unable to stirre, were not altogether unserviceable to their confederates abroad at Sea; the Spanish Fleete was betwixt both, and did both gall them both, and was galled on both sides. Three hours the combate lasted doubtfull, till at the last the Patron of Florence a galley of 1200 tunne, being sunke by the French Artillery, the Spa­nish Navy in an orderly retreat, made way towards Genoa, the French by reason they wanted those Daedalian wings, oares, being for the present unable to pursue them.

The Spanish losse, was not great by this battell, nor the French atchievements of much consequence, yet the newes thereof being speedily brought to Naples, [Page 54]the Viceroy, sent the Prince D'Ascoli to fortine Gaeta, and Baia, who at the last place, because it might the more easily command the Sea, levelled a great hill, which interposed it selfe betwixt the Ci­ty, and the sait water, and with the earth choaked up the Harbour called Mari-Morto, that so he might hinder the French from comming thither. And for the security of the other coasts built sundry Forts from the Baye of Saint Mary Magdalene, till the Tower of the Annuntiate, and the Castell à Mare.

Two houres after the fight neere Monaco was ended, a faire gale of wind blew from West-South-West, and then the French hoysed up sayles to follow the Duke of Ferandina, Admirall of the Spanish Gal­lyes, who rowed by the shoare towards Genoa, often sounding for feare of splitting the crazed vessels. To­wards evening, the wind fell, and the Spanish Gal­lyes ancred at Saint Rheme, perceiving the French Fleete, which was seven leagues from them, was not able to reach them for lacke of wind; A councell was then held by the Earle,The second. the Archbishop, and the chiefe Captaines what was to be done; they conside­red, that they were unable to bring up the whole Navy against the enemy, some part of the Fleete be­ing carried backward towards Monaco by violence of the current, yet unwilling to give the Spanish Sea­men time to breath, they concluded to make up to them with 24 Gallyes, which they had in the Navy, from Marselles, and Villa-Franca, and with those to play with them, whilest the rest of the Fleete might conveniently come in to give them battell. It was speedily put in practise, and their intent as soone dis­covered by the Spanish Generall, who to welcome the French, placed some of his bigger Gallyes be­hinding the Cape de Bordiguere, out of the sight of [Page 55]the French-men, intending by force of his oares to overrunne some of their smaller vessels, and so faci­litate his victory. But the devise tooke not, the Alarme was given to the whole French Fleete too suddenly, and at his first appearance, they so saluted him with their shot, that they severed his Gallyes, the Captaine of Sicilie being forced to take the Baye of Savona for safeguard, and the Royall of Spaine, in danger to have beene surprised, had not the brawne of the Rowers beene better, then the force of the Souldiers and Marriners. This victorie, though it was not very honourable, as being got without much opposition, was of good consequence to the French. The Levant was cleered of their enemies, and the Navy was as still and quiet as the becalmed sea, till the 27. of September, old stile, at which time 14. of the best ships, were commanded to attend the ene­my, who at that time lay in Vado, with 35. Gallyes. That night they loosed from Arasse, The third. where they had rode at Anchor all day, 11 launching into the maine, and the other 3. making up towards the Vay, to dis­cover the posture of the enemy. These 3 were the Reere-Admirall of the Squadron of Bretaigne com­manded by Poincy, the Vice-Admirall of the Squa­dron of Gwienne commanded by Mantye, and the Lewis of Saint Iohn de Luz commanded by Gyron. The sentinell upon the tower of Genoa, perceived their sayles, and to give a signall to the Gallyes, kind­led 3 fires, and discharged 3 severall Canonadoes. The Gallyes mistaking the signall, prepared not to fight, but flye, thinking that the whole power of the French Navy, was comming upon them, and flye they did so confusedly to the very walls of Savona, to save themselves, and their shipping under the pro­tection of that Canon, that the French overreached [Page 56]some of the slowest ships with their Ordnance, and slew above 300 men. This is the last passage, betwixt these two great Armadoes: winter grew on, and the Seas being unfit to ride longer in, both the Na­vyes were recalled home, by their severall Princes, the Spaniards thinking themselves honoured enough by releeving the Ilands, and the French by preserving Provence from invasion.

Both Navies hovered about the Levant till to­wards the end of October, without attempting any further upon one another, and then they seemed to repaire to their winter roads,The Navyes leave the Sea, and retire to Harbour. those of Naples, to Naples, those of Genoa, to Savona, those belonging to the great Duke to Ligorne, and the French to Mar­seilles, where they reported, the retirement of the Spanish Fleete, to the great joy of the Maritine townes, and the neighbourhood of Provence, who with alacritie, of the Nobility, and peasants, consi­dering the weakenesse of the enemies in the Iles, joyned themselves to tenne Regiments, which the Christian King had sent, to recover Honoria, and Margarita, promising an happy issue to their designe, but how it prospered, it is not to be expected in this 4. moneths History.

The Confederate Armies by land found more trou­ble in their enterprises, then the sea-men did in their expeditions. Famine and pestilence diminished their forces daily, and dis-heartned their souldiers, to the advantage of the Caesarean and Spanish Armies, which were better supplied both with men and ne­cessaries, then their enemies. The Duke of Rohan, who should have come in to their succours, was first stopped in his passage at the River of Ticino, about the beginning of August, in returning into the Vel­toline, fell sicke himselfe of a double Tertian, which [Page 57]though it kept the ordinary paroxysmes,The Duke of Rohan despe­rately sicke; re­covereth un­expectedly. by the vio­lence of the fits caused a kind of Lethargie; and not himselfe onely, but the prime Commanders of his Army, to wit Laniere intendant to the Iustice and Policie, the Marshalls of the Campe, and many other Officers were affected in like manner, to the dis­couragement of the French forces both in the Vel­toline, and in Millanois. The Imperiall and Spanish Armies, received the newes of his sicknesse speedily, and soone after of his death, (which though false was not improbable nor incredible, the same relation be­ing brought to the French Court at Paris by an or­dinarie Carrier) and prepared for the winning of the Fort of Riva, And frustrates the designe upon Riva. judging the designe to be easily feasible, by reason of the Dukes weakenesse. But his recovery frustrated that attempt, that happening upon the 17th. day of his sickenesse by a Fortu­nate Crisis which put a period to his maladie, and inabled him to hold what he had got in the Ʋelto­line, though not to joyne with the confederate Ar­mies in Italy.

The Sceane of warre by land had divers changes. The forces under the Duke of Savoy and Crequi by the end of Iune had gotten sundry places of strength in Lombardie, and the third of Iuly old stile, Varese taken by assault, by the Confede­rate Armies. having taken by assault the City of Ʋarese in the Signiory of Genoa (betwixt Savona and Volti) and put the Ger­man garrison in it to the sword by reason of the in­fection, left those parts and marched towards Ca­stelleto and Sesto, where they demolished Trino, the house of pleasure to the Count Cerbellone: But then the dye turned, and it was enough for them to keep, what they had gotten, no time to adventure upon further Conquests. The Spanish Army had received no small losse the moneth passed in the battell at [Page 58] Navile, but then was reenforced by some Regi­ments newly come out of Germany, the Neapoli­tane forces, and many Milanois, for the Marquesse of Leganez Governour of Milan, Leganez ralli eth his forces. and Generalissimo of that Army, Iuly 16/26 had mustered up the Inhabi­tants of that great City, from 20. yeeres old to 60. and drawen out as many as he thought necessary for the present service, under the command of 6. Field Marshalls, viz: the Prince Triultio, the Marq-Gro. Maria Visconti, Don Philip Sfondrato, Alessandro, and Marcellino Visconti, and Giacomo Fugani, and the Generalate of Don Francisco Mautiques, & with this Army confisting of 14000. Foote, and 5000. Horse, made head against the French forces, which then consisted onely of 8000. Foote at most, and 2000. Cavalliers (the pestilence having destroyed almost the one halfe of the confederate Hoste) he marched towards them. The combined Armies were at that present enquartered by Bourguemenier upō the river of Ticino, intending there to unite their troopes, part whereof were lodged upon the way, by which their victualls were brought from Piemont, to secure the convoy upon their passage,The Confede­rate Army en­quartereth at Romagnano. and the Spanish Army, marched directly towards Romagna­no, to seize of that quarter, and intending to cut off the provisions from the French Armies, lodged them­selves betwixt that and Piemont. Though money be the Sinewes, yet victualls are the vitall spirits of warre, and the Duke of Savoy the Generall, with the Lieutenant Generall Crequy, understanding the Spa­nish designe, to prevent it, rose speedily, and by a quicke march arrived at Romagnano, where they en­trenched themselues to waite upon the enemies pro­ceedings,The Spanish at Carpignano. who lay from them about 8 English miles upon the bankes of Sesia, in a place called Carpignano.

[Page 59] The French expected that the Spanish forces would advance towards them, and set upon them in their Quarter, and to that purpose kept a carefull watch, sometime shewing themselves before thee­nemy, which stirred not from his Quarter, as if they meant to outbrave him, but moved not thence till they were certified that the Field-Marshall,The French remove to the Lomeline. the Count du Plessis Praslin, whom the Generall had sent to the Castle de Fontana, with 1000. horse, and as many Muskettiers, to fetch soure great Canons which be had left there for his more speedy march, was returned to Romagnano, and then because the whole territory thereabouts was wasted by the pres­sure of his and the Spanish Armies, himselfe resolved to take up his Quarter in the Lomeline by Candy, neer the Fort of Breme, and the Spanish Commander for want of forrage, removed his Campe into the centre of Millanez: all the Country thereabouts, to wit, that part from Alexandria to the principality of Pie­mont, on both sides the River Taner, (the Lomeline onely excepted whether the French Army was marching) all the Novarois from the valley of Sesia, The Spanish to Millanez. and the river of Ticino, till within foure leagues of Milan, and all the high Country betwixt Ticino and the River of Ada, being already forrag'd by the means of this warre, which like a Basiliske burnt up the grasse and corne where it crawled, and like an Army of Locusts, devoured all the fruit of the earth.

Three severall inducements moved the Duke of Savoy to entrench himselfe in the Lomeline: the first was the vicinitie of the royall Fort of Breme, which was built by him, at that place,The royall Fort of Breme built by the Duke of Savoy where the river of Se­sia disgorgeth himselfe into Poe, betwixt Casall and Valentia, and the security he received thereby for his Army, the Fort commanding both the Rivers gene­rally, [Page 60]and the Poe particularly, and more especially; and so yeelding the Army a liberty of free commerce upon both the streames, maugre the forces of the ene­my, the second was to hinder the inroades of the Spa­niards upon the Villages and Frontier Townes of Piemont, where they had formerly practised all man­ner of hostility, burning the Townes, putting to the sword both old and yong, women and infants, espe­cially at Gatinara, where neither the professed or­ders of religion, nor the Sanctuaries could secure such as retired to those places of refuge, from the ene­mies fury; and lastly the vicinity of Piemont, from whence hee might speedily and conveniently be re­lieved with men and victuals upon all occasions. So now the French and Savoyards Armies were rather imployed in a defensive then offensive warre.

The Caesarian and Spanish forces perceiving how things stood, omitted no opportunity, nor left any stone unmoved which might serve to advance their designes.A treasonable purpose upon Villa-Franca discovered and prevented. It was not questioned by the enemy, whe­ther was more lawfull, power or policy, open warre, or private practises to attaine their ends. Both were practised, and the last though most dishonourable, was not refused. yet the issue was fatall to the instru­ment, and no way advantagious to the abetters or ap­provers. A male-contented traiterous heart, forget­ting the duty and loyaltie which he ought his natu­rall Lord, and seduced by the golden promises of the Spanish Generall, undertooke to deliver him Villa Francha, a Sea port, where there stands a Towne and Castle appertaining to his highnesse of Savoy, in his Estate of Nissa, chalked him out the way by which his forces might come privately and without suspition, if discovered, and promised an easie admit­tance into the Towne and Citadell. But his treason [Page 61]being discovered, and confessed by himselfe upon the wracke, the Marquesse of Bagnasck, Governour of that state, assisted with some French Souldiers, made good the passage first to prevent the dange­rous consequences of that enterprise, and afterwards by a Court of justice, put the perfidious traytour to a deserved shamefull death. Hee was a gangrenated member of the Common-wealth, and providence called upon lustice to use her sword for his rescission, who otherwise had exposed the whole body to pu­trifaction.

It is counted a master-piece in the Science of De­fence, to beate another at his owne weapon, and in warre, to blow up the Miner by his owne worke, or to make use of a like project or stratagem, to the ru­ine of the first deviser. The Duke of Savoy received intelligence in the Camp of the Spanish designe, and posted thence to Turin, to give order for the defence of Nissa, and the territory about,The Garison of Spaniards in Crevecaeur driven out, and no blow given. where being infor­med of the arrivall of the French Fleete, and conje­cturing by probable arguments, that the state of his Sea-townes was now secure, hee returned with as much speed to the Campe at Candie, for perfor­mance of his charge, having stayed but two dayes onely at his Courtat Turin. In the time of his neu­trality, he had laid a Spanish Garison in Crevecaeur, a Towne in Gallia Cisalpina, to defend it against all forraigne invadors, but now not without cause jea­lous of the presidiarie Souldiers fidelity, which at first were brought in to prevent a feared mischiefe, which by this overture was taken away: Hee sent to the Prince of Masseran to avoid them, not by violence, but subtiltie, unwilling to expose his Subjects to the danger of intestine broyles, if it might be effected o­therwise. The project was not trayterous, but de­lusive, [Page 62]the Spanish Souldiers were not amuzed to betray any of their Soveraignes Forts into the hand of a stranger, but to relinquish their forcible posses­sion, and resigne it quietly to the right owner. The Prince followed the Dukes directions, and whilest one part of the Spanish Garison was abroad without the Castle, sporting after the condition of mad yong blades, the Prince privately brought in some hun­dreds of his men, whom he prepared for his turne, who caused the remainder of the old Garison to quit the place with a still silence, glad that they could keepe in their tongues when noyse and clamour might have beene prejudiciall to their lives. And thus the Duke of Savoy got an assurance of one of the principall Frontiers of his dominion.

Leganez the Spanish Generall, to regaine the losse of Creuecaeur, Rotofredi ta­ken in by the Spanish Army. or to equalize it with a parallell at­chievement, first attempted upon the Fort of Breme, and failing thereupon the first adventure, unwilling to spend the remainder of the summer without action, turned toward the Fort of Rotofredi sited upon the Poe, distant from Piacenza, about 6 Eng­lish, or Italian miles, under the Dominion of the Duke of Parma, and tooke it by composition in the space of three dayes.

The Duke was then gone to Mantua to crave 4000. men of the Mantoese, and sent to the state of Venice, to desire as many voluntary auxiliaries to helpe him in his extremity. His voyage was not al­together fruitlesse; the Duke of Medina by mediati­on of friends laid down armes, the Mantuan and the Ʋenetians granted his desire, and at his returne fin­ding Rotofredi yeelded to the Spaniards, & Valditaro surrendred to the Prince Don Iohn d'Auria, he first chopt of the heads off both the Governours, and then [Page 63]divided his Army into two bands, with the first in­tending to avenge himselfe of D'Auria, by the siege of Saint Stephano, Valditaro ta­ken by Iohn d'Auria. and with the latter to recover Ro­tofredi (if it were possible) out of the hand of the e­nemy, the place being the Key of his Country, and fit to yeeld no small succour to Piacenza, if that City should happen to be attempted by the enemy.

Saint Stephano was taken in by his forces,St. Stephano taken by the Du. of Parma. and the Prince d'Auria, and the Duke stood upon equall tearmes, in point of martiall honour, and military gaine, yet not without an hostile emulation, and to reconcile them, the state of Genoa sent first Alessan­dro Santy, a man of note in that City, to mediate a peace, the Prince being a Citizen and free Burgesse of Genoa, and he not prevailing, the Pope sent out a Patent Edict, thereby commanding the Prince to re­store Valditaro to the Duke, and the Duke to restore Saint Stephano to the Prince, but whether their swords were blunted by his Keyes, it is yet un­certaine.

Rotofredi was well manned both for number of the men and resolution,Rotofredi re­besieged by the Parmesans. and though there wanted not re­monstrances of difficulty, and danger, to disswade the Duke from besieging it, yet he knowing of what perillous consequence it was to have the Spaniards to hold it, resolved to beleaguer it, and if possible to recover it. The Garison within spared no cost to for­tifie it, and if art could doe it, to make it impregnable. The Army without resolved to relieve it, and (if their complices in the Fort were necessitated) to suc­cour the Garisons. And yet the Duke changed not his first counsell, on he went, and about Iuly 17/27. sate downe before it, planted his batteries, blockt up the passages, by which the Spanish succours should passe, and played upon the Citadell with his Artillery, ho­ping [Page 64]in the end to carry it. The Garison answered him by their Canonadoes, and the shot fayling, to endammage his well entrenched Army, the Souldi­ers tooke up their lesser Armes, and frequently sallied out upon the Campe, still returning with some to­kens of gaine, and though in one which happened August 4. new stile, they were chased back to their very walles, by the Marquesse Hannibal, third sonne to the Count Fabiano Scoti, an hopefull yong Gen­tleman, not above 18. yeares of age, yet they shot him then with a Spingarde, (a kinde of Musket char­ged with many bullets) and slew him; and in another fally afterwards killed the horse under one of the Marquesses brethren, who desiring to avenge his bro­thers bloud, was ranging his forces to encounter them, and somewhat too boldly pressed upon the fleshed enemy. Sixe weekes the Dukes Forces lay before the Fort, enduring many shockes by the Spa­nish Garison, which then beginning to be in extre­mity, was fortunately relieved in the beginning of September, by their confederates in the Campe of Leganez, who first sent the Colonell Geldas with 2000.Relieved by the Spanish Army. horse, to discover the Parmesans posture, and afterwards followed himselfe with the maine body of the Army, to raise the siege, and relieve the Cita­dell. It was a piece of hot service, and the Spanish Ge­nerall shew'd himself to be both a discreet and valiant Commander. His way was to be cut out with the sword, or he could get no passage. The Parmesan however inferiour to him in number, yet had the ad­vantage of place, and that notwithstanding Lega­nez assaulted him at once in all his Quarters, and by the helpe of the presidiaries, who acted their parts well in the prosecution of the adventure, that they killed 600. of the Parmesans common men, and sixe Commanders, tooke 300. prisoners, put the rest of [Page 66]the bsieegers to a confused flight, releeved the Fort, and that they might neither lose time nor opportu­nity, marched speedily into the Camporemotto, in the territory of Piacenza, and there tooke the Forts of Fircuzola, Borgo, Saint Domino, Buseto, Monticella, Divers Forts taken from the Parmesan. Rivalgar, and the salt pannes of Sassio, some by as­fault, and some by composition, the country paying downe 50000. Rixe-dollers to be spared from pil­lage.

The Parmesan was now, reduced to a wonderfull streight, his territory wasted, his Forts surprised, and Piacenza the onely Citie he had of note upon the Poè first blockt up, and then straightly besieged by the enemy. Had that place yeelded slightly, nothing almost had been left him but Parma, and that too had beene exposed to the mercy or fury of the adverse party. The Prince to adde Spirit to the Citizens and presidiarie souldiets there whilest the Spanish Army was in Campo remoto, The Citie of Piaceusa is, besieged. knowing it to be a pleasing morsell, and that Leganez would not spare either la­bour or cost to get it, went thither in person, and not concealing the danger which might, and was to be expected to ensue, desired the Souldiers and Ci­tizens to stand firme, and to follow his example, in withstanding the assaylants, assuring them that suc­cours would come from the King of France, and timely too to deliver both that Citie and the adja­cent territory from the Eagles talons. His words gave some comfort to the Citizens and his exempla­rie actions in his owne person, more, it was resol­ved to attend the good houre of reliefe, and to en­dure all extremities before they would surrender. The Spanish Generall knowing the strength of the place to be such as either he must take it by famine, or not at all, and how easily it might be releeved [Page 66]from Parma, at least by the benefit of the Poe, if not by land, at once caused a royall Fort to be built at Longina, upon the River, and fortifièd the Castle of Sartanino, betwixt the two sister Cities, that no sūp­plies either of men or victuals might be brought from Parma thither by land or water, and in the space of five or sixe weekes, reduced it to such want, that though the Magazin within was sufficiently stored with corne, yet there wanted milles to grinde it, and the besieged could get no other meale, than what the hand-mils could afford them; yet still remained they constant to the Duke, expecting the French suc­cours, which came up happily: Septem. 21. Octob. 1. though not to their present delivery, yet to the qua­lification of their misery.

Besides the 8000 auxiliaries landed at Nissa, as is before related,Sundry auxili­aries sent to the Duke of Parma. the Christian King dispatched some thousands of men, by the way of the Dolphinate, and Provenze, and made over a good summe of money to the Marshall Crequy for the paiment of his Souldi­ers, and these new Souldiers added to the small for­ces the Duke of Parma had abroad, made an invasion into Montferat, forced Fontanetto and Percerola, two strong Forts belonging to the King of Spaine, to yeeld, and tooke up the winter Quarter for their horse in that dominion. The Generalissimo of the confederate Army about the same time, being adver­tised that the Fort of Breme was much annoyed by 200 Spanish presidiaries which lay in the Towne and Fort of Castell-novetto, Make an in­roade into Montferrat. three leagues distant from Mortara, gave order to Montgalliard, Commander of the royall Fort of Breme, to attempt if he could take it by onslat, and he attended with 150. Musket­tiers, drawne out of his owne regiment, and 100, o­thers selected out Ferons, 50. Corflets, 2 companies [Page 67]of horse, and one of Dragoons, undertaking the ad­venture, Octob. 12. two houres before day, marched thither, applyed his Petards to the gates, (which an­swering his entendments) entred immediately, put 80. of the Garison Souldiers to the sword, took some prisoners, constrained the rest to flye, and giving his souldiers first time to pillage it, soone after burnt it to the ground, and returned to Breme the same day with his prisoners and booty. And these two fortunate attempts, and the sacking of the Fort Ot­tobiano soone after by the same Montgalliard, mee­ting together, mooved the Spanish Generall to rise with a good part of his Army from the siege, and to leave the City slenderly blocked up, taking his head Quarter at Pavye, neerer home, least the French and Parmesan forces should make a fresh in-roade into Millanez, to the joy of the Piacenzans, who con­ceived that they themselves alone, were then able to hew out a way for their liberty, though their friends abroad should not come in to assist them. But whe­ther their hopes, grew up to fruit, or were nipt in the blossome, it is yet unknowne, and we must re­ferre it to our next discovery.

Whether it was the jealousie of the Genoois, a people suspicious by nature, and more by reason of their treasure, which is commonly kept with feare, and lost with sorrow, or the thing endeavoured truely by the Spaniards, it is not worth the dispute, yet soone after the Spanish Generall was remooved to Pavye, he rose from thence, and went to Noni, Icalousie be­twixt the Ge­noeses and Spaniards. with 4000. Foote, and 2000. Dragoons, and the Duke of Ferandina at the same time, viz. Novemb. 2/12. would have brought in the Spanish Fleete into the harbour of Genoa. Curriers sent from Venice and other parts to the same intent, certified the Genoeses, [Page 68]that the Generalls by Land and Sea, meant to sur­prize the City, that Leganez intended to lay these souldiers in the towne, whilest the Admirall having made all sure by sea, might secure him of holding it, to the use of the Catholike King his Master, and the state taking notice first of the Land-Armies secret march thither-ward, and afterwards of the arrivall of the Fleete at the same time, chained up their Ha­ven, mustered up their Land-men, and to the old traine band, added 49. new Companies consisting each of 90. souldiers, and 10. Gentlemen, under se­verall Captaines to defend the City, from the vio­lence of the Spanish Armadoes, which they conclu­ded, must speedily be effected. The Admirall was the first, and onely Commander which appeared, and he finding the Haven barred against his Gallyes, went in person to the States assembled in their Towne-house,The Spanish Fleete forbid den the har­bour of Genoa desired them to give entrance for the Fleete into the Harbour, it being driven thither by contrary winds, and if forced to abide at Sea in dan­ger to be re-encountred by the French, who had not yet left the coast of Italy. His Oratory could not pre­vaile, but in stead of an expected grant, they gave him an absolute deniall, yet seasoned with this cold excuse, that it was not the custome of that Common­wealth, to admit any armed vessels into their Har­bour. Ferrandina not taking this for a full answer, began to be instant, and urgent, shewing the affecti­on of the King his Master, to that state, and how ill, he might take it, to be denied, such an ordinary cur­tesie. The chiefe Magistrate answered, that the state was not behind him, in mutuall offices of love, that he had beene supplyed out of their chamber yeerely with great summes of money, and this present yeere assisted with their Gallyes; and that now in stead of [Page 69]a friendly requitall, it was more then suspected, he meant to spoyle them of their liberties, adding in fine, that if the Fleete did not retire quickly, they would sinke his Gallyes, beginning with the Admi­rall, the bottome wherein the Duke commanded, presently giving order to the prime Canoneere, to levy the Ordnance, point-blanke upon the Spanish Fleete, and discharge upon it,The friends of Carlo d'Au­ria arrested. if the Mariners retired not speedily. It was no time to stay. The Duke de­parted immediately, returned to the Fleete, and sought an harbour else-where, and Leganez unwil­ling to provoke the Genoois any further, marched backe againe. The Genoeses, delivered from their present feare, inquired further into the businesse, and Don Carlo d'Auria being accused that he favoured the conspiracy; they sent to Savona, to arrest his pa­rents, friends, and servants to discover the truth, commanded Lucas Giustiniani, Commissary of the Port, and the other lodge in their Gallyes, and to keepe a carefull watch, concluding with the Hi­storian, quod sanctius antiquitus gerebantur bella quam nunc coluntur Amicitiae.

The Pompeiopolitanes, or Pampelonois, subjects to the King of Spaine, in that part of Navarre, which he at this day holdeth, in October, had a designe up­on the Territory of Bearne, The Viceroy of Navarre his designe upon Bearne preven­ted. which still remaines un­der the Crowne of France, though it lye in Navarre: The Marquesse of Val-Paraiso the Spanish Viceroy, levyed as many men, and as secretly as he could in the moneth of September, to that purpose, but his Musters being not to be concealed, by reason of the violences done by the Chiefetaines to the common souldiers, who still more affect the Government of the Christian, then the Catholike King, he gave out, that the forces were raysed for the defence of Dun­kerke, [Page 70]Genoa, and other places, which stood in a friendly relation to Spaine. But the first Sunne in October discovered his purpose, newes was brought to the Bearnois, that the Viceroy was ready to march through the Valley of Roncevall, and thence to passe into the valley of Barentons, to surprise, pil­lage, and burne the townes of Saint Mary, and Ole­ron which lay not above two houres going from the Spanish Randevouz. Hereupon the Baron of Mes­ples without delay, beate up an Alarme, armed 200. Musquetiers of his owne Companies, and drew 300. others out of the two townes, and marched directly to the passage by which the Viceroy should come, and at the first sight discharged upon them, which by nature, being a warlike people, for all that started not, but prepared for their defence. The French Commander seeing their resolution charged, and discharged againe upon them, and in the end ha­ving slaine some few, and wounded many, forced them to returne homewards, it being in vaine to at­tempt further, the whole Militia of Bearne, as many as could beare Armes, being by this time, ready to entertaine them.

The Viceroy seeing this enterprize faile,He taketh and pillageth Iohn de Luz. wheeled about to Guiapuscoa, a Province in the North-East of Spaine, and thence, by the river of Hendaye, and artiued at Saint. Iohn de Luz a port towne in Gui­enne with 2000 horse and about 8000 Infanterie. The towne is unfortified, though it be neere the Frontiers of Spaine, save onely by a bridge over which they must necessarily passe that come into it. This place, his Army assaulted, and was five times beaten off the bridge by the inhabitants; yet in the end, they carried it, and having plundered it, march­ed towards Bayonne, a City of strength, and conse­quence, [Page 71]thinking to surprize that also. But they were met upon their march, by the old Duke d'Espernone, Is forced to retreat. the Duke de Valette, the Count of Grammont, and the Marquesse of Duras; and by their forces were forced to retreat towards Spaine, yet not without doing some damage to the French, for they burnt the towne of Ascaine upon their returne, as they had done Rogne, at their arrivall. And thither wee must leave Grammont pursuing them, for here this present relation hath a full period.

THE fable of Achclous, as it is mora­lized by that sublimed wit of the late viscount Verulam, in part lively represents the state of France in the late Invasion, though the issue be not altogether answerable. The vaince Cardinall, corrivall for honour with the Christian King, brings a great Army into his dominions, takes some of his townes, and appeares in field, as if by battell he meant to put the Kings armies to flight, and so get the Amalthapan horne his Countrey. The King to suppresse the growing storme, mu­sters up his forces, fortifies the passages, gives sundry directions to his severall Commanders; and in the end himselfe appeares in field in per­son to stop the progresse of his professed ene­mie.

The Infant Cardinall, to avoyd the calumny of an un­iust quarrell, and vexatious warre, first published the cause of his invasion by D'ensuing declaration.

[Page 80] And then leaving a flying Armie with the Count de Feria, for the safeguard of the Provinces under him, immediatly, as if hee would not give time to his Maje­stie to arme himselfe against his furie, viz. about the end of Iuly appeared before Roy, a small piece in Picar­die, with 14000 horse, 10000 foot for service, and 3000 others which were to bee imployed to bring in forrage for the Cattell, and bread for the Armie. A prodigious Comet never appeared more formidable; a sudden feare of his power so surprized both the Citizens and Peasants generally, that not onely the inhabitants of those Fron­tiers abandoned their habitations, but some peeces of strength,La Capella and Catelet delivered up trayterously. as la Capelle a Catelet (the Commanders more ready disloyally to take part with the forreigne Invader, then to hazard a blow for their Liege Sove­raigne) yeelded to the Spanish Prince, and so facilitated his enterprize against Corbie, a Citie of some impor­tance upon the river Soame; which being commanded by as false a man as either of the other, and followed their example, and surrendred it before the French Ar­mie could come to secure it.

His Majesty in this confusion, knowing himselfe to be the man, to whom the care of so many people was committed, slept not, but advising with his Councell in the beginning of August, raysed a puissant Armie for the recovery of his Countrey, and expulsion of his enemies. His goodnesse to the inhabitants of his Frontiers in Pi­cardie, Champaigne, and Burgundie, in releasing so ma­ny from their taxes, and contributions for the space of three yeares, as should voluntarily serve in this expedi­tion; and his wisedome in commanding those Gallants which ruffled it in the streets of Paris, when they should have beene before the face of the enemy; whether Com­manders or ordinary Gentlemen, to repaire to their co­lours within foure and twenty houres, the one upon the [Page 81]penaltie of the losse of their places, the other upon for­feit of their Gentry, and losse of their goods to bee em­ployed to his Majesties necessary use, and charging the superfluitie of unnecessarie Artificers to attend his ser­vice, by his Edicts published August 15/5, speedily suppli­ed him with a puissant Armie of fiftie thousand foote, and fifteene thousand horse, well mounted to hinder the Cardinals progresse.

And yet before the Army should march forth, his Ma­jesty not relying meerely upon the multitude of his host, nor the strength of his horses, proclaimed a solemne Fast: wherupon the Romanists, the Archbishop of Paris, the Sorbonne, and the Curates of the severall parishes, made prayers for the good successe of his Majesties Ar­mies in the Citie: and the Protestants met together at Charenton in faithfull devotion for their Soveraigne. Where after supplications made for his Majesty and the Kingdome, Drelincourt, the Protestant Preacher, made a Sermon to admonish his auditors of their faithfulnesse and duty to their Soveraigne.

This being past,Du Beck and S. Leger. Governours of La Capelle, and Catelet. to strike terrour into all treacherous hearts, which might by the impunity of perfidious dis­loyall men, take courage in after time to conspire with the enemy against their Soveraigne and the publicke State, his Majesty in a full Councell of warre, proceeded against du Beck, late Governour of la Capelle, and St. Leger, Commander in Catelet, for their base Cowar­dise and treason (a coward is seldome loyall) in surren­dring their places of charge to his Majesties and the king­domes adversaries. Their severall crimes were first pub­lished, and upon examination Du Beck was found to have delivered up La Capelle within seven dayes after it was first surrounded by the Spanish Army, the Moates and Ditches about it being then full of water, and him­selfe not constrained thereunto by any private sedition, [Page 82]as he had falsly rumoured it, that on the contrary, the Officers and inhabitants were zealous to preserve the Ci­tie for the Kings use,Arraigned. and that he had compelled them to signe the written capitulation which hee had published for his owne justification, threatning them, that if they refused to subscribe, hee would deliver them into the hands of the Spaniards, without quartier. That hee had not brought one handfull of earth to fortifie the Citie since the siege began, and that hee kept two Flemings privately in the Citadell. Catelet was found to have been delivered up within three dayes after the enemie appeared before it. That the Governour kept but one Canonier in the Citie. That hee was able and provided sufficiently, having fiftie Carabins, three hundred men in Garrison, and sixtie payes in his hand to have main­tained the place good for the King. That he alone made the Capitulation, and in fine both these Commanders being proved to have been negligent in walking their rounds, and doing the other offices belonging to their charge, and having sufficient Amunition for their de­fence, and yet to have surrendred their Cities without a breach made in the walles, had this horrid sentence pro­nounced against them following.Sentenced. That the bodies of the sayd Du Beck and S. Leger should bee bound to foure horses in the Grive, and drawne into foure pieces, that their quarters should be planted upon severall posts in the way to Picardie, their heads set upon Poles upon the Port St. Denis: All which they should suffer in per­son if they could be apprehended, or otherwise in effigie. And because the sayd Du Beck, and S. Leger, in stead of repairing to his Maiestie to give an account of their fact, as finding themselves guiltie of so capitall a trea­son, have absented themselves from the justice of the King, His Maiestie ordered further, that whosoever should bring in either of their heads, should have for a [Page 83]reward sixtie thousand Livers. That the sayd Du Beck and S. Leger, and their posteritie, should for ever be de­graded from their Nobility. That the Armes of their fa­milies should bee defaced, their principall houses ra­zed, and for a perpetuall memory of their detestable trea­son,And execu­ted in effigie. in the place where their principall houses stood, a pillar should bee erected, with a brazen table appendant thereunto, wherein this sentence should bee ingraven, That all their goods should be confiscate, That not onely those, which should after this sentence give them any re­liefe, should be accounted Traytors, and so proceeded a­gainst, But that whosoever should make any proposition for revocation of this Confiscation, should bee held as a Conspirator against his royall Maiestie. And in fine, this iudgement was put in execution Munday Aug. 18. the Commanders being executed upon the place of the Grive in picture, and their Armes razed.

This decree against these his disloyall subiects, was seconded by another carefull Ordinance for the welfare of his faithfull people the Merchants, the Merchants ad­venturing upon the Rivers of Aisne and Oyse, who were enioyned under paine of the losse of their bottomes and merchandize, to have their boats well manned, and armed against the stragling enemies. And that decree be­ing past,The Queen made Regent of France, during the kings absence the King himselfe having left the politicke go­vernment to the Queen, and some selected Counsel­lors, during his absence, September 15 marched with this Armie Royall toward the enemy, the Avantguard being led by the Cardinall Duke, and the Marshall Chastillion, the Battell by his Maiestie, and the Monsieur his brother,The Kings Army mar­cheth for­ward. herre apparant to the Crowne; and the Rere-guard by the old Marquesse de la Force, an old Souldier of singu­lar experience, and knowne fidelitie.

This somewhat abated the feare of the Natives, who now began to gather heart upon discovery of the Kings [Page 84]care over them, and inverted the designes of the Cardi­nall Infant, who though he had taken Corby before, with as much ease as he had done la Capella and Catelet, by the corruption or cowardise of the Governour and in­habitants (for though the Lord of Premi August 16. having got secretly into the towne, omitted neither in­treaties nor good Remonstrances to perswade him and the Burgesses from rendring it, and the Souldiers both Swedes & French therein, vowed their constancie to the King, yet neither of these could alter their resolution from giving up the place) though the Prince had former­ly dared the Count of Soissons to a set battell, which hee wisely, contrary to the fiery nature of the French, avoy­ded, expecting his Maiesties succours; yet upon the ap­pearance of his Maiesties Armies, yet he now attempted no designes, but fell to fortifying the townes hee had ta­ken, as intending onely to keep what he had gotten, and not adventure further to enlarge his victories.

And yet now began the time of action, for the Infant Prince Cardinall seeing himselfe in a strange Territory, and his numbers unequal to those of the Christian King, imployes his Crabats to spoyle the countrey, sent for two new Regiments to the Duke of Feria, imployed his spies to discover the woods & passages, how they were guarded, and where the river was passable. But the Cra­bats found it not so easie now as they had done former­ly to rove about that Province, the Garisons of Amiens, Abiville and Peronne, who before had enough to doe to defend themselves, now secured by the Kings neere Army, being at leasure to attend these voleurs, and the spies being watched, taken and hanged, seldome retur­ned to give an answere of their message. The French Ar­my incouraged by the Infant Cardinals not pressing for­ward, began now to expect his retrait backward, and in that confidence were divided, the one part under the [Page 85]Monsieur, whom his Majesty returning for a short space to Chantiley, had made his Lieutenant Generall for the siege of Roy, another for Corby, under de la Force, and the third under the command of the Count Soissons, to attend the Infant, whose numbers were now much aba­ted, partly by pest and famine, and partly by their sepa­ration for the fortification of Roy, La Capelle, Catelet and Corby, of which they were yet masters.

The Monsieur appeared before Roy, September 8. 18.Roy taken by the Monsieur. when and where the Gentry of the kingdome in an ho­nourable emulation began first to shew their valour, and to expresse that there was nothing they would not dare to doe for their Soveraigne, in the view of the Sonne of France. The place being but a little one, could not long hold out; yet such was the fidelitie of the Spanish Gar­rison to their Prince, that they endured a whole dayes battery by a dozen Canons, and would not surrender it till they perceived a breach in the walles, nor then nei­ther, but upon these honourable conditions, That the Captaine and the Souldiers should march out with the armes and baggage which they brought into the towne, and bee conducted with a safe convoy to their army; which being granted, Weslaus Kaye, governour there for the Emperour, surrendred one of the Ports that night, and the towne next morning. The Souldiers had their conditions truely kept; but the Magistrate of the place, being a new created one, and one that received his place from the Spaniards, was hanged the 10. 20. of the same moneth, and some other of the inhabitants accused and arrested for having had correspondence with the enemy. This was the first advantage the French had gotten a­gainst the Cardinall Infant, since his first entry into the kingdome: which though it was not glorious in respect of the place, yet was of good consequence in respect of the issue. For there was found corne enough to supply [Page 86]the whole Armie for many dayes, and the Spaniards were deprived of that sustenance, which might have relieved their pressing necessities.

The King, who during the short time of his retire­ment from the army, had given order by a counsell of state, to his Mint-masters, to enhaunce the price of mo­neyes, after the rate of gold,The price of money raysed in France. from 320 livers to 384, and silver from 23 livers and ten souses to 25 livers for the better paiment of his Souldiers. Being certified of the successe at Roy by Poitrincourt an esquire of his body, September 10.20. within two dayes following returned to his Army at Roy; where, having given direction for the establishing of all things there, himselfe and the Monsieur marched toward Corby, to bring that place a­gaine to his obedience.

Corby being now in the Infants power, was strongly fortified, as being reserved for a winter quarter, for such Spanish Souldiers, who were both able and willing to sally abroad sometimes for pillage, and molest the in­habitants of Picardie. One thing onely was wanting, convenient hand-mills for grinding of their corne, which neither the Garrison could make, for want of materials, nor their friends abroad supply them with, by reason of the circumvallations made about it, though yet farre off by the Kings forces. The onely helpe the Garrison and towne had, was the Mill at Fovilloy, upon the side of the Moorasse, neere the Citie. Hereupon Beaufort, a Dau­phinois, a Gentleman belonging to the Cardinall Duke, then imployed upon the Kings service at Amiens, A bold and prosperous adventure upon the Mill at Corby. Sep­tember 16. intending to deprive his Maiesties enemies of that advantage, with a chosen company of an hundred men, about nine at night, tooke sixe Boats, and therein imbarqued his friends, who about two in the morning ar­rived at Dours, a village upon the Soame, a league and halfe from Corby, where they landed, and leaving eigh­teene [Page 87]of their company, to guard the Barkes, the rest were conducted by three Peasants over a great plaine; on the right hand whereof in a Village named Vigni, were lodged seven hundred of the enemies horse, and on the left hand in an hamlet neere Dours, the Corps du guard of his Infantery. The beginning of the adventure was full of hazard, yet the issue was prosperous. They passed on over the two bridges at Corby, and came to the halfe Moone without any encounter by the enemy. Good for­tune attended the hardy Gentleman, the Spaniards were then upon their watch, and the French Souldiers e­spying the severall fires made by the enemy upon their Corps du guards, grew timorous, and would have reti­red, had not the valour of their commander, and forward­nesse of seven voluntiers, which ingaged themselves with him in the action, beene a whetstone to sharpen those spirits which feare had dulled. But he enjoyning the rest to follow his example, in a discreet silence led on to the Barricadoe at the head of Caus-way, where he broke the chaine with Axes, fell furiously upon the Corps du guard, and put them all to the sword, and thence mar­ched to the Mill, where they found another Corps du guard, the Commissary for provisions, and sixtie Soul­diers which were come to bring meale to the Armie; all which in one quarter of an houre they out in peeces, and then burnt the Mill, and wagons provided for the Por­tage of the grists, with foure thousand crownes worth of corne and meale; and then making a bravado before the towne of Corby, distant from the Mill about two hun­dred paces, returned safe to Amiens.

The Duke de Chaunes, Commander for the King in Amiens, before the designe of Beaufort, had conceived a like project for the recovery of the Fort at Morevill, from the Spaniards fingers, a place strong for situation, and a convenient hold for the invaders, who sallying [Page 88]from thence, plundred the circumjacent countrey, even to Cleremont, and hindred the trafficke up the River of Morevel to Amiens, The Fort of Morevil taken by Onslat. and now esteeming it more fea­sible, by the successe of Beaufort at Corby, then he had done formerly, resolved to put it in executi­on. The Trophees of Miltiades rowsed up the slug­gish spirits of Themistocles and Previl, a young gen­tleman, and Captaine in Amiens, not envying the for­mer Cavilaries glory, but desirous to share in his honour, with 120 musquetiers selected out of the Garrison, and commanded by chosen officers, and one company of light horse, and another of the Dukes Carabins, Sept. 7. 17. undertooke the adventure. The speech concerning the enterprize, and the prosecution, were almost contemporaries, the Embryo was not long in forming, but as soone produced, almost, as conceived. Preüil had his desire, and the 8.18. he arrived with his followers at the Mill neare the Fort, where he encontred a Corps du guard of the enemy, and put them all to the Sword. Thence the forlorn hope conducted by a Serjeant (who was slaine by a Musquet shot from the Castle) passed the Ditches, though in water up to the Arme­pits, and a Petardior amongst them fixed his engine of devastation to one of the gates, which being fired, made no bigger a breach, than for two men to enter in Front: The Garrison who had discovered the French, using their best art and meanes to abate the force if they could not altogether prevent and hinder its opperation.

But the rest of the adventurers perceiving now this small gap open for their admittance, ran through the wa­ters to assist their companions, Bel-castle, and Souland, 2 Gentlemen and Captaines, the first of De Breze his re­giment, the other of Vigans, being the first that entred, met happily with the Lorraine Captain, the prime com­mander there, who demanding Quarter, had it given him, but Preüil entring immediately with [Page 89]the rest of the forces fell upon the Garrison, slew 50 of the 120 Souldiers, which kept the place for the Spaniard, and tooke the rest prisoners, not refusing to give Quarter to any that begged it: Thus farre he went by commission which could not limit him, who being in­couraged by his fortune, marched to another Mill, guar­ded by some of Iohn de Werth his Cavellary, whom he slew, and tooke their provisions for his owne use, depri­ving the Caesarean Commander by that meanes of part of the sustenance ordained for his retinue.

Newes of both these last attempts and the consequen­ces, was sent to the King by speciall Curriers, and came ere looked for to the Infants Campe, who cōsidering the strength of the Kings army, and the necessities to, which hee was lyable in a forraigne land, in an orderly retreate tooke the way of Peromud, toward Bapaume, for the re­freshing of his forces, and better conveniency. His Ma­jesty of France, now in a manner quit of that enemy, gave instant order for the strait siege of Corby, which being held by a strong Garrison, much annoyed all Picardy, and upon fryday, Septemb, 16. 26. being his Birth-day, by his order given to the Marquesse de la Force, to whose care he trusted, and of whose fortunes by the prefedent actions hee had more than a good ex­pectation.The out­workes at Corby taken by La Force. The Marshall observed the Kings orderance, and happily executed what was injoyned him. A good director, who is neither Foole-hardy, nor nicely time­vous, hammers out the way for himselfe and his depen­dants. And such was this old Commander, who in per­son viewed the enemies guards, observed their intrench­ments, which worke was best secured, which more ea­sily mastered, where the Sentinels were vigilant, where negligent, and having not without hazard thus begunne his round, the same night beate his enemy from his Horn works, made [...] with the sword upon the greater [Page 90]part of the souldiers attending in the out-workes, and forced the rest to retyre within the walls of the city.

This his Majesties birth-day was crowned with a vi­ctory, and this victory might have been an Omen of per­petuall successe to the Kings enterprises, had not the Ra­ven croaked from the hollow Oake, and this honey been mingled with bitter Myrrhe and Aloes, But the wisest men are sometimes caught in a snare, and though the eye of providence would be ever watchfull, yet there wants not a Mercury to charme this Argus to sleepe security, or on overweaning opinion of each mans severall abili­ties, deluding the ablest understandings to their owne ruine. A fortunate attempt a-against the French, by Iohn de Werth The French army being now masters of the Spa­niards works, without the city, were so far from feare of being assaulted by the Prince Cardinals forces, that they intended to make an attempt upon them, and to this purpose, September 23. Stilo novo, sent out a party to descry the Quarter of Iohn de Werth, which they meant to surprize the next day ensuing. But the strange vicissi­tude of fortune, which mis-led the Conductors of the Werth out of his way, when he was going with 1800 horse to make adventure upon the French Campe, brought him directly upon the French espyals, who mistaking him, for a party of their owne, revealed to him their purpose, whither, and to what end they came abroad. The Baron heard their discourse, and be­ing as well versed in the Poleticks, as the Polomicks, hid his Lyons skinne, and shewed the Foxes, told them, he could give them a particular information of the state of things there, and desired them to conduct them to the French Quarters, whither hee was going, though misfortunately hee had mistaken his way. The spies, whom otherwise hee would have forced to obey him willingly, brought him to Montign, a village betwixt Corby and Dours, where lay 3 Regiments of horse, 2 Re­giments [Page 91]of foote, and 5 companies of Dragoones. There needed then no exhortation to encourage his Souldiers, the present condition of the French souldiers cryed out against themselves, though their tongues were locked up in silence. They were generally at rest, not suspecting an enemy, and severed in three severall Quarters, as con­fident of their owne ability, to defend themselves sing­ly if occasion should require it. The Almaine Generall stayed not to bid them arme, but fell upon them as hee found them, slew many which were not able to defend themselves, tooke 800 prisoners, carryed away 1500 horses for service, and might have beene possessed of their Baggage too, had not the devouring fire which he cast a­mongst them prevented him. The young Duke of Wir­tenberg who was lod ged in that Quarter scaped mira­culously, taken he was, but mistaken.

How welcome the report of this pety conquest (not gotten by a manly fight, but cast upon the Caesarean Commander by fortune, as himselfe told the Infant Cardinall) was to the Spaniards, it is to be judged by the Bone-fires which were hereupon made in Flanders, and the reward of 6000 Crownes, which the Infant sent the Baron the next day for this service, by Charoletto his Secretary. The Christian King accounted it as a scratch, not as a wound, and with a countenance shewing anger, more than sorrow proceeded, to the straite blocking up of the City. To this purpose, his Majesty the 28 of the same moneth, went to Amiens, whither he had caused some of his principall Commanders to repaire, and there consulting with the Count of Soissons, the Duke of Angoulesme, the Marshalls Chastillon, and La Force, Hallier, and young La Force Marshal of the Campe;Corby straitly beleagured. the maner of it was thus concluded, and put into execu­tion speedily. Fontenay Marivil one of the Fielde-Marshall, with 1000 foote, and 2000 horse were to [Page 92]incampe in a wood, on that side toward Bargoyne. The Marquesse de la Force, and the Field Marshall Lambert to guard the workes on that side towards Paris, and the rest of the Army to be under the command of Monsieur, and the Count of Soissons, who were to bee inquartered at Buicy, and Lon-villey a league and halfe from Corby, on that side toward Dours: All which was done accor­dingly the same day: His Majesty tooke up his quarter at Demvin, a village upon the River of Soame, and distant from the City one league, not being able to come nea­rer, the village in the valley upon the Soame, being burnt up by the Spanish army, and those upon the hils, not onely inconvenient to reside in for want of Water, but infected with the Pest also, increased by the Corpes of dead men and Carrion, which were left there uninterred, the Spaniarde having filled up most of the pits, with the bodies of dead horses and other nastinesse.

It is almost beyond beleefe to admit the reports which are given out of his Majesties vigilance in this occasion; yet it is sure, that he performed the part of a right. Ge­nerall, and Father of his Countrey, without giuing or admitting the least opportunity for them within to make any dangerous sallyes forth, or those without, his enemies and their confederates,The King of France his vigilancy. to relieve them, Octo­ber the 9. new stile, himselfe tooke horse to discover the Spaniards order in his Campe neare Bapaume, and the countrey of Artois, and to see what passages were left open for the forces to bring reliefe to the besieged. Hee was attended by his brother the Mounseur, the Count Soissons, the D. of Angolesme, the Marshall de la Force, the D. of Beaufort, and others, who after 12 houres travaile held a Counsell on Horse-backe, wherein it was concluded to give the Infant Cardinall battell in open field, if hee should returne to succour those in Corby. The tenth, himselfe surveyed the workes, [Page 93]and caused 200 Canon shot to be discharged against the City: The twelfth, made a Muster of his army, to see the number of his people, how many were slaine, how ma­ny sicke, how many departed without licence, and thus continued in his unwearied paines, till he had so straitned them within the City, that they were hopelesse to a­voyde him, the P. Cardinall being gone to Cambray, Prince Thomas, and Iohn de Werth abiding at Arras, e­very one taking order for his Winter-quarter, and then his Majesty, who had all this time behaved himselfe like Catoes Gardiner, Cujus vestigia, whose presence alone was able to expell all offensive vermine, at the speciall supplication of the Cardinall, returned to Chantilly to breathe a better and more wholesome aire for the space of some few dayes, his owne quarter being infected with the contagious Pestilence, giving first order to the Mar­shals de la Force, and Chastillon, to prosecute the en­terprize.

These Chieftaines performed their trust faithfully, and omitting nothing that might be advantagious for his Majesties service, that the besieged, straitned for victualls, hopelesse for succour, and seeing the French prepared for an assault, the last of October, old stile, they sent a Drum to desire termes of Capitulation, and their Commanders putting forth a flagge of Truce, appeared upon the walls, desiring Commissaries with whom they might enter in­to treaty.

The Couut of Soissons, The Garrison in Corby capi­tulates. who at this time was come to the Campe, gave a willing and gentle eare to their pro­positions, which were briefly couched in these few words, that they desired a cessation of armes till No­vember 4.14. at ten in the morning, at which time, if they were not relieved by the Infant of Spaine, they would surrender upon faire quarter for themselves, and the loane of 100 wagons to carry away their luggage. [Page 94]Many inducements there were, which moved the Count to assent to their desires, the goodnesse of the place, and speciall care of the lives of the Kings subjects, which must have been endangered, if hee should attempt the assault. Assent he did, and imploying both his eyes, the one to looke behinde him, to prevent their expected suc­cours: the other before him, for a continuall watch up­on the towne, expected the day and houre appoynted. The measurer of time, the Sunne, had run his course, and yet no reliefe appeared. But then the wise Commander sent an officer to remember them of their conditions, and the besieged returned an answer, that they were ready to performe their covenants. An houre lost cannot bee re­called. The Count instantly dispatched the grand master of the Artillery, with the wagons, which were admitted in, and loaded by 2 in the after-noone. Then the Count advanced with his Forces to one of the ports: the garri­son in the interim departing the same way, they came in by the Ancre-port.

The garrison consisted of divers nations, Spaniards, Italians, Wallons, Lorraines and Almanes, and observed a kinde of state in their going out. First the horse, where­of there were 3 Companies. Next them followed the wagons, loaden with 600 sick men, and 400 women. Then 2 Canons and 3 wagons fild with amunition. Af­ter all these came the foot, the Walloones and Germans, with their Commanders afore them;Corby surren­dred to the Swedes. the Italians after them, but without their chieftaines, because they would not assent to the surrender; and lasty the Lorraines and Spaniards, who were all safely conducted to Behancourt 2. leagues from Corby, that night; and had a stronger convoy the next day (upon giving of hostages) to bring them into Artoys, for feare of the Pesants, which being enraged against them for their cruelties, would other­wise have taken a sharpe revenge upon their persons.

[Page 95] Tydings of this atchievement were dispersed abroad speedily, and came to the King at Chantilly, Novemb. 5. 15. by 4. in the morning, who instantly went to church to give thanks for this conquest, and directed his Letters to the Duke of Moubazon, one of the Peeres, Governor and Lieutenant-generall for the King in Paris, and in the Isle of France, to the same effect, the tenour whereof was as followeth.

Corbye, being thus recovered by the King, and the formidable Spanish Armie (consisting of 45 Regiments of horse, 6 Regiments of Dragoons, 29 Regiments of Infantry, with the fresh supplies, and as well provided of Artilery) being retired homeward, His Majestie put his Anrmie into severall garrisons, to secure his frontiers, providing sufficiently for the presidiarie Horse-men and injoyning them, not to exceede the proportions. The al­lowance for each Gindarme by the day, was 4. pounds of bread, betwixt white and browne, well baked and wholsome, 3 pounds of flesh, Beefe, Veale, or Mutton; [Page 96]two pints of Wine Paris measure, growing upon the place, or in liew thereof; 4 Pints of Beete or Cyder; 40. pounds of Hay; and 7 Pecks of Oates; The Captaine to haue 6 shares, the Lievtenant 4. the Ensigne 3. the Quar­ter-master 2. the Farriets, and under-officers each as one Man at Armes. Each Light-horse was allowed 3 pounds of bread conditioned like the former: 2 pounds of flesh Beefe, Veale, or Mutton. 3 Chopines of Wine, or 3 pints of Beefe, or Cider, 30 pounds of Hay, and 5. pecks of Oates. The Captaine to have 6 shares, the Lieutenant 4 the Cornet 3. the Quartermaster 2. and the Farriers, and under-officers, each for a man and halfe. Each Carabin, and Dragoon was permitted to share the moyetie of a light horse, the Captaine to have 6 shares, the Lieute­nant 4. the Cornet 3. the Farriers & under-officers, each the proportion allotted to a Carabin, or Dragoone. All which was to be delivered presently, and really upon the Muster of the Troops, and their entrance into their assi­gned Garrrisons, in the presence of the Governors, Ma­jors, and Sheriffes, which should take a list of the Soul­diers, and renew their Muster every 10. dayes. This pro­vision to be paid in specie, and not to be exchanged into money upon any pretence whatsoever. It was ordered also, that the Souldiers receiving these provisions, should exact nothing else of their Hosts, save only custo­mary Vtensels as a Bed, Table-linnen, a Pot, a Gridiron, a Spit, a Chimney, and a Candle-stick; and hee which would be better accommodated, should pay for it out of his purse, upon paine of exemplary punnishment. To which Conditions, all the Captaines and Officers were to subscribe their hands, upon paine to answere for their defaults in their owne persons.

MVltiplicity of Businesse cannot be ef­fected without many hands, much ex­pence, and diligence. The Christian King was at once imployed in sundry occasions: there was not a postern Gate whereby an Enemy might enter into his Kingdome, but the opening thereof was attended either with the Imperiall or Spanish Armies, which were ready upon the least opportunity to make their entrance therby. The Imperiall Forces under the Earle of Gallas and Lamboy, were ready to take their way into France through Alsatia, Lorrain, and Burgundy: the Neapoli­tans and Spanyards prepared to do like by the way of Provenze, and to that purpose furnished out a Fleet to Sea: the Pampelonois and other Navarrois subject to the Catholick King, would not be behinde therest, but addressed themselves to make an inroad into Guiene, and the Country about Bayon; and either to repell them which had entred into his Kingdom, or prevent them which intended it, required both a full Magazin of Am­munition, and multitudes of men: To supply his neces­sities with Ammunition, his Christian Majesty though [Page 98]he had formerly restrained the making of Gnn-powder in his Dominions,The Patent given by his Majesty to some peculiar Powder-ma­kers reversed. and committed the care for that to some peculiar Patentees, yet now Aug. 1/11 by a pub­lick Proclamation signed by himselfe, and Sublet his principall Commissary for open Edicts, and sealed with the great seale of the Kingdom, hee not only permitted, but injoyned all Salt-peter men, and those which had beene sellers, or makers of Powder throughout the Realm formerly, to use their former Mystery; and the Powder-makers especially to repaire their Engines, and make as much store of that sort of provision as they could possibly, forbidding expresly the Patentees to molest them in their work, his designes both for the present and to come, being such as should require not their hands only to furnish him sufficiently, but the help also of all such like Artists, under his obedience: and for men he raysed divers armies, and disposed them severally under sundry Commanders. The Earle of Harecourt, and the Archbishop of Bordeaux being de­signed Generals of his Navy for the defence of Pro­venze by Sea, and offence of the Neapolitan and Spa­nish Navy: the Duke of Valette intrusted with the care of Gascogne and Guien; and the P. of Conde, D. Bern­hard of Saxen Weymar, and the Cardinall Ʋalette, se­cond sonne to the D. d'Espernon, being ingaged joyntly and severally, as occasion served, to attend his affaires in the County of Burgundy, Lorrain, and Alsatia.

The P. of Conde in the beginning of May had layd a strait siege to Dole a City upon the Ledan, Dole beseeged by the Prince of Conde. strong by situation, but more fortified by Art; and so plyed his businesse, that though it was built upon a Rock of in­credible hardnesse, Aug. 4. new style, he had brought a Myne therein to such perfection, that upon the twelfth of the same month he gave an assurance to his Army it should be sprung to the purpose, and admonished his [Page 99]fouldiers to prepare for the Assault.

In this extremity the besieged sent their Agent first to the Catholike Cantons in the King of Spaine's name, to desire their succours. The Agent discharged his office faithfully, neither his labour in travelling from one place to another, to speak with those States severally, nor not prosecuting any remonstrance (as their confederation made with Spaine in the yeere, 1634.Sendeth to the Cantons for succour, but is denyed. nor the puissance of the King of Spaine, as able, or his known justice, which would spurre him on to stand for them if they stood in need) to move them to condescend to his desires. The Helvetians besides their private answer given to the Garrisons Agent, willing to give them what satis­faction they possibly could, without giving offence to the French, dispatched speedily a Colonell to Dole, who comming as an Embassador from the Swisse, was per­mitted to passe through the Campe peaceably and ad­mitted into the Towne, where he declared the causes why the States of Helvetia, could not assist the Citie against the King, and was heard patiently; and dis­missed quietly, but before he could go out of the reach of Musquet-shot, a bullet shot from the Citie, whether at randome or by aime, it is uncertaine, hir him in the necke and slew him. The French souldiers tooke up the body, and buried it with their Millitarie Ceremonies at Auxonne a City upon the Some, distant from Dole five French miles, the Prince of Conde himselfe attending up­on the Herse to honour his Funerals.

The besieged thus deprived of their hopes, grew des­perately valiant, and resolving not to quit the place, but with losse of their lives, made divers fallies upon the Campe, though with manifest hazard in the attempt, and losse in the execution, assayed to burne the French Galeries made of wood, and though the issue did not answer their expectation, concluded to stand upon their [Page 100]defence to the utmost,Is releeved by the Duke of Lorrain. without admitting a thought of agreement with the assaylants. The Events of warre are probable & no more. The French conceived already a certain victory, but the Dye turned, an unexpected releefe came to help the Garrison, & they who were for­merly confined to the precinct of their wals, got liber­ty not only for their recreation and refreshment, but for inlargement also of their spoyles and victories.

Charles Duke of Lorrain, a tributary Prince to the Crown of France, dispossessed of his Countrey by the Christian King, and succoured by Caesar, being now the Commander of an Army of 12000 men, came be­fore he was looked for, to visit the Camp, and sending first 2000 Crabats, all horse-men, for discovery of their enquartering, about the end of Iuly, by them alone, sur­prized first Pontalier and Castelein belonging to the P. of Conde, which he burnt to the ground, and slew both women and children with the edge of the sword, and in fine did the like to Marcilly, Vouge, and La Marche, villages which were not able to resist them. The Crabats thus fleshed with blood, returne immediatly to their Leader, informe him of their successe, and hee with his whole Army marched strait forward to Dole, where he assaulted the trenches, & by a bloody & doubtful battel, beat the French from their Earth-burroughs, raysed the seege, and caused the Prince to retire towards Aux­onne; and S. Iohn de Loone, leaving behinde him some of his Canon, and amongst the rest, a Peece called by the name of the King Lowis, carrying a bullet of 45 pound weight, 500 loaves of bread, 200 hogsheads of wine,Verdun taken by D. Charles, is retaken by Gassion. and having raysed the siege, marched to Verdun a town then unfortified, which he took in, and might have kept to the use of Caesar, had not Gassion a French Colo­nell appeared before it, before it could bee prepared to make resistance: but his sudden comming made the Lor­rainers forsake it, & yet it is under the Kings cōmand.

[Page 101] No flying Bird hath so nimble wings as Fame, the Valleys suddenly reported this Conquest to the neere Mountain Vosogus, and that transferd it again to the nigh bordering Dales with such swiftnesse, that the next day after the newes arrived at Cambray distant thence about one hundred English miles, to the joy of the Walloons, and Spanyards there, who for testimony of their great content in this happy adventure at Dole, made Bon-fires, and spent their Gun-powder in tri­umph, discharging all the Canons upon the Wals, as if that day had not been the beginning, but Period of their victories: And the Period it was indeed, for though this Army being within few dayes after re-en­forced by the Troops of the Imperiall Lievetenant Ge­nerall, the Earle of Gallas, who was accompanied with the old Earle of Coloredo, and the Earle of Ritbergen, was thirty thousand strong horse and foot, and well furnished with Artillery, carrying with them forty pee­ces of Canon, the least whereof shot a Bullet of twenty three pounds, and in this bravery had resolved to passe through Besanson, or the Province of Bessigin against Bresse and Lionnoys: yet their jollity was stop'd in the full careere by the vigilance of Duke Bernhard of Sax­on Weymar, and the Cardinall Valette, who attended them at the heeles, and raised them from the Siege when they were set downe before Iean-de-Lonc, whi­ther this Narration must follow them.

Saverne a town in Alsatia neere Hagenaw the Maga­zin of the Imperiall Army thereabout for victuall, be­ing taken in by Duke Bernhard about the midst of Iuly,Saverne taken by D. Bernhard and the Car­dinall Valette. upon Composition one part of the provision there found was presently reserved for reliefe of the Army, and ano­ther for the revictualling of those places in the Country, as Strasburg, Colmar, Hagenaw, & the Fort of Benefeld, which sided with the Christian King, & Crown of Sweden; The Camp removed the next day to Onfelet intending to [Page 102]visit the Imperiall Generall who was entrenched at Dru­senheim, and if it were possible to draw him out to bat­tell before he could strengthen himselfe with a new re­treat, the French, and Germans, being superior to the Caesareans, both in number and spirit, the Imperiall Army consisting only of five thousand foot, and eight thousand horse, and those miserably necessitated by Fa­mine and Pest, the other amounting to thirteen thousand foot, and seven thousand horse, lusty, and prepared to fight: Duke Bernhard, and the Cardinall Ʋalette con­ceived their project to be more feasible because the King of Hungary was supposed to be in the Camp, whose presence might addecourage to the Caesareans,The French provoke Gal­las to fight, but he avoyds them. and spur them up to any dangerous adventure. But the King was gone foure daies before to Brissack, and the wary Gene­rall would not appeare in Campania, but kept close in his trenches, though the French Cavaliers by the space of eight houres together, (two thousand first appea­ring, then one thousand five hundred, and lastly one thousand only) braved him, and dared him to the Combat. It was bootlesse for the two united Armies to attend him any longer; and partly to draw him from his hold, and partly to assist the Prince of Conde, they marched in a faire Equipage towards the Frontiers of France, giving order for transporting of the aforena­med provisions to Culembach, and Podebus, two Ger­man Colonels, who not without danger and opposi­tion, discharged their Offices faithfully and happily.

Culembach followed the Army with his Waggons,Three Com­panies of Cra­bats defeated by Culembach. and though the neerenesse of the French Bands might have secured him from any attempt against him by the Caesareans, yet three Companies of Crabats watching opportunity, set upon the Convoy, and had surprized it, if he had not behaved himselfe both wisely and vali­antly against them; but their comming being discove­red [Page 103]by his Scouts, he prepared to entertaine them, and in the first conflict slew 100. of them upon the place, forcing the rest to flie for their safety to the Campe at Drusenheim, where they found more content in their se­curitie, though without gaine, than in their late designe for pillage.

The other Convoy wherein Podebus, the Count de Guiché and Aiguebourne Gouernour of Hagenaw, were ingaged joyntly, the two Generals forecasting to what hazards they might be exposed, was in more danger, but came off as happily as the former. These three Com­manders by order from their Excellencies, being to march from Haguenaw Aug. 4/14 with an hundred and fifty Waggons loaden with Corne, were manned with five hundred Musquetiers, the Company of light horse belonging to the Governour, and two German Regi­ments of horse for releefe of the confederate places in Alsatia, were encountred upon their way by 1500 Caesarean foot and horse, part of Gallas his Army, who lay still encamped at Drusenheim, their necessity prick­ing them forward to gain so good a booty. The Cur­riers which marched in the head of Podebus his vant­guard, met at first with sixty Crabats, which appeared alone to the first view, but were seconded with the bo­dy of this Imperiall partee, in which were three hun­dred Cuirassiers, who kept a narrow passage by which the Convoy must necessarily go. This report being noysed abroad in the Army, certain Officers and volun­tary Swedes ran without any order given to assault them, but were repulsed though without losse of their lives, yet to the prejudice of their discretion. The Co­lonell Podebus thereupon sent a Quarter-master with forty horsemen to discover the posture of the Enemy, but he comming too neere, was slaine, and the rest for­ced to retire to the Convoy. In the mean time, whilst [Page 104]this small partee was absent, a Councell was held by the Count de Guiche and the two Colonels, what was to be done, and in what manner they should fight with the Caesareans; and in the end it was concluded, that the Count should passe on with the waggons, whilst the Colonels gave them battell. Five hundred German Reysters or Horsemen of Podebus his Regiment were assigned for the conflict, and the rest to attend the car­riages.1500 Caesareans rowted by Po­debus in Alsatia The two Colonels shaking hands, put forward immediatly in the head of the Cavallary, and com­manding twelve Trumpets to sound a charge, fell so furiously upon the Caesareans, that they put them to a disorderly flight, slew many upon the place, the num­ber is uncertaine, took 24 prisoners, amonst whom was the Captain of the Crabats, with his Commission, and letters of instruction for this occasion. But they gained more in the pursuit, than in the fight, the high wayes being strewed with Curasses, which the flying Enemy had cast away in his haste, and one hundred Barbed horses gained, which were sent afterwards to his Excellency, Duke Bernhard, who was yet incamped at Brompt (expecting that the Imperiall Generall would rise) as a Monument of this victory.

The joynt Armies under the Generals Saxon Weymar, The French armies march from Alsatia. and Ʋalette, began their march from Alsatia, Aug. 2/15 and put forward Marsar a Towne in the Frontiers of Lorrain, whence the Cardinals Army foure dayes after, under the conduct of the Vicount of Turenne, marched towards Luneville, the Cardinall himselfe going the same day to Metz: the Army under Duke Bernhard abode at Marsar till Aug. 6/16, which day the Duke himselfe led one part of his forces towards Luneville, and committed the charge of the other part to Colonell Ohem, who according to the direction given him, went went towards Blamont a small Citie, manned only with [Page 105]sixty Snaphanses, yet much troubling the French in Lor­rain, being commanded by a vowed Enemy to the Kings government, & being one of the retiring places for those Boutifeaus the Crabats, after they had roved abroad to pillage & plunder the Country. The Colonel, first summo­ned the place by a Trumpet, but could obtain no fairer an answer, than that he must expect nothing there but pow­der & shot, & not staying to reply with words, he char­ged them with the same materials, battered the Town and Castle with the Canon, made a breach in the wall by the afternoon to the terrour of the Governour, who with his Garrison retired to the Castle, leaving the Town not to the spoyle of the Dukes Army,Blamond taken by D. Bernh. and the Governour hanged. himselfe a worse Enemie to the place, than could bee expected from a­broad, having strowed the ground of the Citie with loose powder, which taking fire, according to his ma­litious desire, destroyed a goodly Church, devoured the goods of the Inhabitants, and turned all the houses in the Citie, (which were generally stored with Corn & provision, six only being saved) to heapes of Ashes. The report of this wicked Act, was by a nimble Currier, car­ried to the D. at Luneville, who incensed thereat, took horse speedily, posted to the Camp at Blamont, and pre­pared to assault the Castle, but changed his designe, seeing a flag of treaty hung out, being more willing to spare the lives of his Enemies in the Garrison, than the Commander was to save the substance of his late friends, the Citizens. The Garrison at first began to stand up­on termes of agreement, as unwilling to submit them­selves to the Duke, or leave the Fort, without an assurance of mercie signed by himselfe; but the Duke perceiving the weaknesse of the place, would not stand to indent with them, and again prepared for the assault, the conclusion whereof ministering just occasion of feare to the Enemy, the Garrison yeelded upon dis­cretion, and the souldiers were permitted to depart [Page 106]with white staves, but the Governour being a Major, was justly hanged for his detestable treachery.

Thence the Duke himselfe,Ramberville ta­ken by Duke Bernhard. with those forces mar­ched to Ramberville, where another of the Enemies Garrisons lay, and having summoned it also uneffectu­ally, Aug. 21. September 1. he presently skaled it in foure severall places, and by foure the next morning took it. The Commander within, and the Garrison retreated to the Castle, and stayed not thereto expect a summons, but yeelded presently upon discretion, and had this mercy shewed them; liberty to depart with their low weapons, but sans baggage, or any other ac­comodation. The Town was given for pillage to the souldiers, yet with this speciall charge given by the Generall, that the religiours houses should bee spared, and the honours of the Women be preserved; the Queen of France intreating this respect to be given to those in Orders, and the weaker sex, at his departing thence, and his promise being past to her Majesty to observe it.

The rising of the Confederate Armies from the Camp at Brompt, The Imperiall Army reenfor­ced, marcheth towards Bur­gundy. gave opportunity to the Imperiall forces under the Croatian Commanders, Isolani, and Forgats, the Germans Lamboy and Muse, the Spani­ard, the Marquesse of Grana, and Charles Duke of Lorrain to repaire to Gallas his Army, who expecting the Irish Butler, but not waiting his comming; marched speedily towards the Dukedome of Burgundy, and the Frank County, being followed close by the Cardinall, and Duke Bernhard, which reenforced their Armies with the forces of the Prince of Conde, and six thou­sand fresh souldiers under the command of the Field­marshall Ranzaw, all ready in battell aray, to fight with the Caesareans upon the first opportunity: The Imperiall Army made on to their journies end, with all the haste they could, they passed by Montbelyard, [Page 107]and Beffort, and yet but only summoned them, threat­ning the Inhabitants (as Gideon did Succoth and Pe­nuell) but not with the like successe, upon their returne from France, to visit them. But their haste was not with that good speed it was pretended, for the Count of Suze, Governour of the Country thereabouts, stop­ped the Crabats under Isolani, which marched in the reare, cutting off the Bridges by which they should passe, and skirmishing with him by the space of foure dayes together, though with the losse of his Sarjeant Rennovill, and Montplaisier, one of his Guard, (which were slaine by the Crabats) yet with gaine of two hundred and fifty prisoners, one hundred horse, and many Waggons loaden with ammunition.

Whilest the Cardinall Ʋalette was attending with his Army upon the designes of Gallas, Marange a rich Town in Lorrain, taken by Roquespine Lievetenat Generall to the Cardinall Valette. Roquespine his Lievetenant, Governour in the Town and Cittadell of Metz, and the Country adjacent, seeing that the Inhabitants of Marange (a Town then subject to the Spaniards, situate betwixt Metz and Theonvelle,) did not only much oppresse the neighbouring Villages, but that also; part of the Garrison of Theonvelle in a discontent were gone thither also, intending to plunder the Country, hee resolved to prevent them, esteeming it better to deale with an Enemy at his own home, than to expect his comming abroad. To this purpose, about the midst of September hee mustered up a convenient Ar­my, about nine hundred horse and foot, consisting of one halfe of Bovillons, and Bussy's whole Company, which was left by the Cardinall for defence of the Country, two companies of light-horse, one drawn out of the Garrison, and another raysed by the Citi­zens of Metz, three hundred other foot, part of his own souldiers, and part Citizens, and with these hee appeared before the Towne at noone day, striking [Page 108]such a terror into the presidiary souldiers, that they instantly left their out-works, and retreated into the Town, the one part using the Church which was strongly built, the other a strong house in the Town, as Citadels to secure them from the As­sailants. Men in danger of drowning, catch at every Bulrush, and are like Beasts in a storme, which runne to a rotten hedge for shelter, yet finde none. These timerous Soule apprehended some hope of safe­ty by those stone Wals, yet were plyed so close by the French souldiers, that before the night, in both places, they hung out a white Flag, and yeelded to the discretion of the Conquerour, who sent the most part packing away without ransome, but re­served twenty eight of the principall, whom hee sent prisoners to Metz. It was an atcheivement; though not of a glorious appearance, yet of spe­ciall consequence, the Villages about it being, secu­red from further spoyle, by two French Compa­nies, which were layd in Garrison there immedi­atly after it was taken, and the Town it selfe be­ing a wealthy one, affording to the Souldiers, be­sides much rich pillage, five hundred Hogsheads of Wine, and great quantity of Corne for provision.

Culembach the Alman Colonell,Two regiments of Crabats sur­prized by Col. Culembach whom Duke Bernhard left behinde him, to guard the passages be­twixt Saverne, and Hagenaw, about the same time surprized two Regiments of Crabats, which Gallas had left neere Weissem-burg with Commission and charge to use all the meanes they could, to disturbe the garrison and Inhabitants of Hagenaw. Egger the Croatian Colonell commanded both the Regiments, and to deale with him in plain field, the Alman selected one thousand Musquetiers out of the Garrison which he joyned with his own Regiment, and then gave him [Page 109]battell, the issue whereof was crowned with conquest, the gaine of seven hundred horses, many Waggons la­den with baggage, and other good booties; all which were transported by the Victor to Hagenaw.

Montalont Governour for the Christian King in Barroys, about the same time (as if that time had been fatall to the Grabats, and fortunate to the French) happened upon the like adventure.300 Crabats surprised by Montalont in Barroys. Advice was brought him of three hundred Crabats which were met in a wood, to strengthen their bands with such straglers as they should meet withall of their own nation, and afterward were to have their Ran­devouz at Momplome a village two leagues from Bar. To surprize this crew, himselfe attended with eighty foot, partly French, and partly Helvetians; and fifty horsemen of his own band, and accompanied with the Baron of Angluce, Captaine of the Hungarian horse under the Regiment of the grand Master of the Artillery, marched all night to discover the Enemy, yet heard no newes of them, till the next night (these Reysters not using to continue above foure in place) and then understanding that they were retired to Mon­tior upon Saut, thither he poasted, caused his Infan­tery to enter the village, and assault the Crabats in their lodgings (himselfe with the horse-men guarding the back-lanes and outgoings of the village) which they did so suddenly, that their enemies being unarmed, could not defend themselves, and so furiously, that as many as could, betook them to their heeles, thinking to save themselves by flight, which did but bring them from the talons of the Hawk to the Vulture; the French horsemen making slaughter upon all the fugi­tives, whilst the footmen gave quarter to them which begged it submissively: eighty of these Crabats were slaine by the Cavallary upon the place, and besides the [Page 110]slaine, ten made prisoners of warre by the Infantery, amongst which was the Lievetenant, and Cornet of the Company, which were carried captives to Barr, and esteemed as good prize, as a hundred and od horses, which were gained by the French at the same time, from that Enemy. In this attempt, a French Ensigne was slaine from a window, as he was pursuing the Captaine of the Company, though he escaped for the present, and got off with a kinde or victory, carrying with him as a captive, a yong gentleman of Barroys, yet he was taken the next day by the Sieur de Mihell, father to the youth, whose former griefe for the losse of the child, was sweet­ned with a double comfort; the surprizall of such an Enemy as was rallying up the small number which es­caped, meaning with them to plunder the Country, and the recovery of his darling son.

The Caesarean and French Armies about the same time,The French & Caesarians se­veral Quarters had taken up their severall quarters about the Frank County, and the County and Dutchy of Bur­gundy, each about one league from the other; Gallas and his retinue neere Champlite, Duke Charles about Gray, the Duke of Weymar at Monsavion, the Cardi­nall Ʋalette at Cussey, and the Troops of the Prince of Conde, commanded by the Feeld-Marshall Ranzaw, were enquartered, betwix the Quarters of Duke Bern­hard, and the Cardinall. The Imperiall Generall in person lodged in the Priory of Champelite, two leagues from Channite, where Picolomint's horse were lodged, his own foot being placed about the Moun­taines betwixt Champelite and Montelot, and his Ca­vallery at Rigin, and thereabouts: Isolani and Forgats with their Crabats lay at Leffons and Ponyssons, Lam­boy at Iussey, Colonell Meuz at Mons, and the Mar­quesse de Grana at Meure; both the Armies obser­ving their severall advantages for attempting upon [Page 111]the other, either by surprizall, or raysing of their Camps, but neither of them putting any thing as yet to the hazard. The Caesareans were expected to have made the first attempt, as comming not only to secure the Dukedome of Burgundy, and the Frank County, from the French, but to invade the Kingdome, yet stirred not, till hee was spurred to it by the confe­derate Generals, who fell first foule upon, and pro­voked him to seek revenge. The Cardinall Valette October 9, new style, fell upon Isolani's Quarter at Lessons, a great Town in the Frank County, choosing the silence and obscurity of the night to conceale his march thitherward, and commanding the Fieldmar­shall Ranzaw to charge the one part of the Crabats Quarter, whilest himselfe did the like to the other. Night was secret, and their Guides expert and faith­full, which brought them a little before day-light to the place designed,Isolani's Quar­ter raysed by D. Berwh. & the Cardinall de Valette. and then they gave such a furious Camisado to the whole Quarter, that it was raysed speedily, the tents burnt, three hundred Crabats slaine upon the place, and the most part which es­caped were wounded, and put to their heeles; one thousand two hundred horses, the Waggons for the Luggage, and the Officers Caroaches being taken from them, and amongst the rest Isolani his owne Caroach, in which was found his chaine of gold, and his Ladyes Monkey. Thus I finde this History de­livered in a French Extraordinary, though nor with that probability of truth as is expressed in a Letter from Duke Bernhards Camp at Monsavion, the contents whereof follow thus briefly:

The two Generals having framed a designe for the raysing of the Crabats Quarter at Lessons, the Car­dinall de Valette, attended with the Count of Gui­che conducted thitherwards one thousand five hundred [Page 112]horse, and as many Musquetiers, all which were layd in an Ambuscado by the way. The D. of Weymar, who had that afternoon been skirmishing with the Enemy, to no other end but to make him not suspect the de­signe, returned at Evening, and marched in the head of 3000 horse, of his own, on the side of the French, which were layd in Ambuscado, and the Field marshall Ranzaw, with the Prince of Conde his Cavallary marched on the other; the Ambush then rising, and putting forward toward Lessons: the three French partees marched severall wayes, yet all met about one minute at the Enemies Quarter, October 10, new style, at the point of day, and charged upon it at once in three severall places. The Crabats were then on horseback, having had some notice of the French de­signe, gave an alarm to Gallas his Camp, and were answered thence with three Canon shot, as a signall to the whole Army, to stand upon their guard, and keepe good order. But the French prosecuting this beginning, charged the Crabats againe more rough­ly than before, forced them to a disorderly flight, pursued them to the gates of Champelite, which be­ing kept shut against the fag-end of these run-awaies, for feare lest the French should enter pell-mell with them, exposed above 100 of them to the sword, and many to the mercy of the pursuers, who by this time were ingaged with the Avantguard of the Imperiall Army, consisting of eight hundred horse, and beat these Caesareans to their very Palizadoes, with some slaughter, but more affrightment, many of the Ca­valiers leaving their horses to save themselves, upon the Mountain, where the Infantery, and Ordinance was placed, others posting to their trenches, to avoyd the blowes which they met withall in open field. The greatest losse fell upon the Crabats, of whom [Page 113]three hundred were slain, as many taken prisons, which lost all their baggage, even to their very Tents, and Huts, and two thousand horses, to the great ad­vantage of the French Army, and damage of theirs, who living ordinarily by roving and pillaging, were deprived of their horses, which were of principall use in those expeditions. The whole losse was valued at more than one hundred thousand crownes, befides the ransomes of the Women, amongst which was Isolani's Mistresse, who with her Caroach and six horses, and Plate, became a prize to the Ritmaster Schomborn.

This was a glorious designe, being against an E­nemy in open field,A Convoy of 25 Waggons taken by Ma­nicamp Gover­nour of Colmar and Manicamps happy adven­ture about the same time, against a Convoy carry­ing twenty five Waggons loaden with Powder and Bullets, and fifty Cowes, to an Enemy-Garrison at Brissack, was not despicable. A Company of light horse belonging to the Baron of Reinack, Governour of Brissack, and sixty Musquetiers drawn out of the Gar­rison at Ensisheim were appointed to guard this carri­age from the Abby of Lure (the siege whereof was left by the Imperialists about tenne dayes before) to Brissack: To surprise this booty, six Companies of light horse, and Dragoons, a Company of Carabins, and foure hundred and fity foot were drawn out of Colmar, by this French Commander, who ordered the light horse, and twenty Masters, with some sew others to assault the Conduct, and they behaved themselves so bravely, that after the slaughter of six, and captivating tenne others, they chased the rest into a Wood betwixt Solse and Ensisheim upon Manicamp and his souldiers, which lay in Ambush for them, who beat them, pursued them to the gates of Ensisheim, and carried the booty to Colmar.

Gallas the Imperiall Generall thus provoked to [Page 114]action and his Army strengthned by a new retreat under the Irish Colonell Butler, resolved to re­paire his honour, and to put somthing in practice against the confederate Armies, and some places under the Kings obedience. And yet like a wise Commander, that would not adventure desperately, hee watched his time, causing divers reports of his returne to Alsatia to bee scattered abroad, loading withall some Waggons with baggage, as if he was instantly dismarching, to amuse the Duke and Car­dinall, and intending to fall upon such places as were least able to hold out, that he might do some­thing before his departure out of the Dukedome. The united Commanders supposing his purpose did not suit with the pretence, commanded the Armies to double the guards, and to have speciall eye upon the Imperials progresse.Gallas seeming to be about to dismarch. The Officers followed the su­preme directors instructions; kept a carefull and strong watch, and the first night Oct. 19. new stile, encountred with some of Duke Bernhards Almans, whom the French taking for Enemies because of their language,The French army doubleth their watch, & mistake some of their friends for enemies. assaulted, and slew fifteen of them upon the place, as many others of the company not escaping unwounded. The conflict indured the space of halfe an houre, and might have lasted longer, if they had not then happily discovered them to bee their friends, but then the fight ended with sorrow to both parties, for their mistakes, and mutuall com­plements for their (at last) successefull meeting.

This misadventure was paraleld with another in Alsatia about the same time;The Swedes of Benefeld mista­ken for ene­mies by the French Garri­son in Schlestadt a party of the Swedes in the Fort of Benefeld, had beene abroad for Salt, which they having gotten in a great quantity, at their returne lodged in Ketenholt a Village neere Schlestadt whither some malitious peasants ran pre­sently, [Page 115]telling the French presidiaries there, that an Imperiall Convoy lodged in that Village with good Booty; hereupon the French souldiers betook them to their Armes, surprized their friends for ene­mies, flew some, wounded the Ritmaster, and car­ried away some horses. But in the morning per­ceiving their error, sent to excuse the fact, and re­stored the Booty, not omitting to enquire out those false informers that they might punish them according to their merit.

The Imperiall Generall perceiving the warinesse of the Duke, and Cardinall,Mirchaw a weak place in the County of Burgoyne taken by Gallas. being neither able to surprize them in their severall Quarters, nor draw out any part of the Armies to an unequall fight, Octob. 23.13. pursued his second designe, and brought his Army before Mirebeau a Town a little fortified by the Inhabitants, and two companies of the Ttrain-band of the County then in the Town, since his first appearing in those parts, but not of strength to make any resistance, having no ditch nor draw-Bridge, nor Parapet to the Wals, which in sight were rather like the Mound to a Garden, than de­fenced Wals of a City, this place hee at once be­sieged, and assaulted, and the defendants trusting more to their swords and valours, than their tren­ches, came to handy-strokes immediatly with one part of his Army, whilest the other part (as they might with ease) broke down the Palizadoes, burnt the Gate, and addressed the scaling ladders to the Wals.

The Combat lasted doubtfull for the space of twelve houres, and then the defendants oppressed with numbers of the assaylants, were forced to retire to the Castle, a place fortified only with a small Moat, being not flankered, and after a whole dayes [Page 116]battery with many hundreds of Canon shot, were constrayned to capitulate and surrender it with con­ditions of saving their lives and livelihoods.

Secrecy is of as much availe in an Army, as valour. The confederate Armies as yet were ignorant of the Enemies designe,Saint Iohn de Loone besieged by Gallas and remayned in their own Quar­ters, till the losse of Mirebeaw (and that was not till three dayes afterward) was reported to the Cardi­nall, and then the Imperialists being upon a new de­signe against St. Iohn de Loone, a small town upon the Some, consisting of about three hundred fa­milies, and distant from Chaloon about five French, ten English miles, the united Armies made after them.

A strong suspition the French and their Allies had, that Saint Iean de Loone was the next place,Before it was known to the French armies at which the Caesareans aymed, being induced hereunto by the menaces which the Imperiall forces had given out against it, but were not assured of it till Octo­ber 31, new style, at which time a generall report of the siege arrived at the Camp, and that being secon­ded by a particular relation of the day, and manner of the siege, confirmed them to beleeve that which before they only suspected. A Souldier of the Train­band of the County, having scowted about the Im­periall Army, was sent that day by Machant his Captain to inform the Generals with the summe of his discovery. The heads of his report were these: That October 12/28 in the morning the enemies had surrounded Saint Iohn de Loone. That the Garri­son in two sallyes had slain threescore of the asseegers and brought ten prisoners into the Town (amongst which was the Lievetenant of the Horse, which with threats affrighted the Town with a strong and strait siege) and had beaten the Imperialists from their [Page 117]Quarter at Saint Vsage. That the Garrison at the first consisting of eight Companies of the Trainband belonging to the County, was diminished by the Pest to the one halfe, Saint Point the Commander being also extremely sick of the disease, and yet were resolved to stand it out to the last man: the inhabi­tants able to beare Armes (being about the num­ber of two hundred) first decreeing that whosoever should talk of capitulation, should be cast into the River, and then concluding, rather to fire the Town, if they could not keep it, than render it upon any tearmes to the Caesareans, that so they might pre­vent his spoyles, and keep the viands therein from him. Each word was truth. The Imperiall Army marching from Mirebeau October 15/25 16/26 17/27, passed the Rivers of Beze, Tilly, and Ousche, with much hazard and inconvenience, and the next day appeared before the Town,The Towne summoned. sommoning it with a Trumpet to yeeld to the Earle of Gallas, as the Imperiall Gene­rall, the King of Spayn, and the Duke of Lorrain, a Cavalier seconding the Trumpet, and telling the Of­ficers upon the wall, that unlesse they shewed their obedience speedily, they should be beleaguerd with an Army of forty thousand men, and batterd with twenty six peeces of Canon. The Garrison retur­ned no answer, but prepared for defence, and the Caesareans for battery. Three dayes were spent by the beseegers in raysing of mounts and preparation for battery, without any shew of open hostility, save only that daily summons were sent by Drums and Trumpets for their surrendring; and Novem­ber 1, new style, the Imperiall Canons were dis­charged against the city,Battered. that violent thunder being thought more availeable for the conquest, than ver­ball Rhetorick.

[Page 119] A Consultation was held in the meane time by the Prince of Conde, Duke Bernhard, and the Car­dinall, for releefe of the Town, and in fine Ranzaw the Fieldmarshall with the men at Armes belonging to the Duke of Anguyen, the Light-horse under the Prince of Conde his command, seven other Compa­nies of Light-horse drawn out of the Regiment of the Cavallery of Anguyen his own Horse-men, and seven or eight hundred Musquetiers, was sent to suc­cour it. His Expedition commenced the same day the Enemy began his batteries, and (though with much hardinesse the foot wading in water up to the neck, and some losse, ten of his Cavalliers being drowned) hee past that day over the Tille, arrived the next morning by seven of the clock to Auxonne a city upon the Sone, distant from Saint Iohn de Loone ten leagues, where hee was furnished with victu­als for his army, and boats to ferry down his men, and thence hee sent a little Barge with six Oares to enforme the beseeged of his auxiliary forces. Dan­ger and hope presented themselves together to the be­seeged. The Imperiall Army hearing of Ranzaw's approach, November 3, new style, played upon the Town incessantly with eight Peeces of Canon, from break of day till three in the afternoon, and then drew out two main Battalions into the meadow, the one whereof was sent against a small breach which their Canon had made in the wall; the other against the Terras at the Dijon Gate, a weak peece, defended only by one Horn-work, and without other forti­fication.

Sixty Musquetiers were brought into the Town the day before from Bellegarde, Releeved, and the siege rai­sed. and the Townsmen and Garrison animated with these small succours, resol­ved to meet the Caesareans at the severall places, and [Page 118]to adventure their lives for defence of the Burgh. The assaylants at the breach came on courageously, and the defendants stood to their tacklings as man­fully; the very women with a masculine spirit com­ming in to releeve the wearied men, bringing mate­rials to repaire the breach, and hurling stones and whatever came next to hand, fury supplying them with weapons to offend the Enemy. The valour of the defendants and the unfitnesse of the gap for an assault, the wall yet standing firme twelve foot high, made the assaulters recoyle, who seeing their attempt if not desperate, extremely dangerous, could not be induced by the words and strokes of their Comman­ders to renew their adventure, and go on againe. The Terras was in more danger, and thither upon the retreat of the Imperialists, the most part of them which were designed to make good the gap, hasted to help their copartners, and their comming was so happy, that the Battalion there seeing a new accrew of opposers certified, and their losse already in both places of above foure hundred men slaine outright, besides those which were wounded, turned tayle too, and gave over the Enterprize.

Gallas who all this while had stood as a specta­tor to the play,Gallas his dis­orderly retreat and great losse gave the signall to his army to pre­pare for a generall assault, but Ranzaw entering in the meane time, about ten aclock at night, and his comming made known to the Imperiall Generall, al­tered the designe. The French Colonell the same night sallyed forth and slew as many more of the besiegers as the Garrison had done in the day, and then the Caesarean Generall either doubting of a long winter siege, or recalled by the Emperour to attend the Swedes, which began to triumph in Po­merania and lower Saxony, since their victory at [Page 120] Wistock, or both, for both these reasons are assigned, the same night raysed his siege, and retreating disor­derly, incouraged the besieged and the confederate Armies, who were soon informed thereof, to pursue him, which fell upon his reere-guard, and in divers conflicts, especially at the passage of Ʋigenne, cut off six hundred of his men, took from him some Ordnance, and so much baggage, that his losse since his first encamping at Champlite being summed up, amounted to nine Peeces of Canon, foure hun­dred wagons loaden with ammunition, eight thou­sand men slaine and drowned, besides the de­fection of eight hundred of his Horse, who forsook the service and in­rolled themselves under Duke Benrhard.

THe State of the Vnited Provinces, Chap. 5. was almost brought ad Triarios, by the losse of Skenken-sconce the last Summer, but that being regained from the Cardinall Infant upon Ea­ster Tuesday last, by the vigilancy, and great expence of this industrious people, which endured all injurie of weather, the frosts, snowes, and raines of Winter to that intent, they found more rest this last yeare, then they expe­cted, being usually ingaged in warre with the Catho­like King, and the Lieutenant Governours under him. No banke was raysed against any of their townes, no spoyling bands of enemies invaded their Countrey; The Duke of Feria only appeared with a flying Ar­my in Brabant and Flanders, to secure those parts in the absence or the Cardinall Infanta, raysed divers Sconces upon sundry passages, and blocked up the wayes with timber, by which the Armies of the States might come upon him, intending more the preservati­on of the people under the Spanish Government, then the disturbance of the people under the Aristocratie of the Siates; and the Prince of Orenge Generall for the States mustered up a like number of souldiers to [Page]the same intent, both the Commanders, rather by starts, and parties sent abroad upon severall occasions, seeking an advantage of petty gaine, then by battell in the open field, or beleaguering any place of strength, or note, getting the glory of a victorie.

August 20. the Prince of Orange marched with his land forces, 122. Companies of foot from Heus­den to the Hecken-sea, and thence Aug. 28. Sept. 8. removed his Campe towards the Long-straten, the Horsemen under the Generall Stacken-brocke being already met at their Randevouz in the Hog-straten. The order of his March was this: The Princes Life­guard marched in the front, his Excellencie himselfe following, attended with the English, Scots, and French, the Frieslanders, High-Germans and Swit­zers, which made up the Avant-guard; the Reare consisting of English and Wallons, was followed first by the Waggons, which carried ammunition, then by the Victuallers and Subtlers of the Campe, and their carriages, and lastly by the Gunners, and the field­peeces, the greater Guns, being still aboard the shipping before Heusden, Alburgh, and below Hemmert. The Count de Feria was in the field above a fortnight be­fore, Aug. 6.16. with his Army of about 8000. horse and foot, departed from Antwerpen toward Lyer, and thence tooke their way by Geel, Voorst and Merhault plundered by the Count de Feria. Bael, and Moll, where he mustered his Army, called a Counsell of warre, and thence advanced to Voorst and Merhault two small townes, belonging to the Prince of Orange, which though Iohn de Nassaw desired him to spare, yet were plundered by the Spaniards, who had the absolute command in that expedition.

The day was somewhat omminous to both sides; a selected Company of the States garrison in Bergen­op-zome made out toward Herentals for pillage, and [Page]without an encounter of an armed enemy, tooke 90. great beasts and drove them towards Bergen, when suddenly the cry of the Boores, whose livelyhood de­pended upon the profit of their cattell, overtooke them, and then the souldiers which more respected their coine then their beasts, suffered the poore people to redeeme them for a summe of money. This was but a small thing, and of no comparison with the better fortunes with which 15. souldiers of the Sconse Frede­ricke Henry were crowned the same day; To get a pur­chase by boote-haling, may bee profitable, but it can­not bee glorious, especially, when the bootie is ra­ther stollen surreptitiously, then gotten manfully; But to encounter an armed Enemie, to deale with him up­on unequall tearmes, and vanquish him; this is honou­rable, true valour being seene most apparantly, where danger sheweth it selfe most hideously. Such was the happy fate of these 15. adventurors; Mecheln, a Cap­taine of one Companie of Presidiarie souldiers in Sant-vliat, Mecheln a Spanish Cap­taine taken by the Garri­son of Fred. Henry. had a designe upon the little Sconse of Sluisken, and to effect it, drew out 20. Musquetiers out of his Garrison, and conveyed them thitherward with as much secresie and silence, as was possible; but by the way, the fifteene mentioned souldiers, met with him and his retinew, fought with them in plaine field, and by the slaughter of five of his souldiers, by the first volley of their shot, and the wounding of some others, forced him to yeeld, and brought him his Ser­geant, and fifteene of his men prisoners to the Fort.

Honour admits a magis & minus and private under­takings, how fortunate soever the issues bee, come not off with such a luster as those which are commenced by publike authoritie. The Ritmaster Anthony Crock Sept. 3/11 had order from the Prince of Orange to take some troopes of expert, and valiant Horsemen to dis­cover [Page]the posture of the Spanish Campe, to cleare the Countrey of such rovers as he should find abroad,A Spanish Convoy of 600 Horse defeated; and if it might stand with probabilitie of successe, to make head against such troopes of the Enemie as hee should meete withall vpon the way. An opportunitie to de­clare both his loyaltie and valour offered it selfe, before it was sought for. A Spanish Convoy of 600. Horse­men under the commaund of foure severall Leaders, men of qualitie and ranke by birth and note in the Ar­mie by their places, the Earle and Colonell Ritzbergen Sonne to the Earle of East Vrieslands, the Baron of Wesmaell Sonne to Grobendonck, who once comman­ded in the Bosch the Cornet Beest, and the revolted Captaine Herwerden, who had lately served under the States,And 4 Com­manders of note taken by the States Rit-master Crook. and upon the discovery of a traiterous practice he had, to deliver vp the strong towne of Ʋenlo to the Count of Feria, fled, and was entertained by him; was sent from Antwerpe, to carry a moneths pay to the Garrison in Breda, and to re-enforce the Praesidiaries, it being rumoured (though onely upon cojecture) that the States forces intended to besiege that City. The Ritt-masters Scouts discovered them as they were marching over the Plaine, and instantly returned to the Commander, reporting both the order of their march, and the number of the men as neere as they could gesse. Crock upon the relation sends out 300. Horse, with instructions first to skirmish with the Convoy, and then by a kind of orderly confusion, betwixt plaine flight, and a well ordered retreat, to seeme to flye, that the E­nemie pursuing them, might fall into an Ambuscadoe, which himselfe with the remainder of his troopes had laid for them. The Cavaliers transgrest not an haires breadth from his direction, after a bravadoe or two, and the discharging of their Pistolls upon the front of the Convoy, they hasted towards their fellowes, being [Page]followed by the Spanish Commanders, with an assu­rance of a victory. But the haste the Spaniards made after them was to their owne losse, they were sudden­ly so farre ingaged, that they could not returne; The Cavaliers which seemed to flye, made a stand, gave a signall to the Ambuscadoe, to rise, and they appearing presently upon the backes of the Enemie, rowted the Convoy, got 200. Horses fit for service, their Riders being slaine; tooke the foure Commanders as Priso­ners of warre, and carried them and their monies, or­dained for the Souldiers of Breda, to the Campe in the Long-straten: glorying not so much in their conquest over the other three, as in the apprehension of Herwer­den; the Divine Justice, which never suffereth trea­son to goe unpunished, having made them the Instru­ments to apprehend this perfidious traytour.

Vlyssingen was in some danger, in the former mo­neth by the false practises of another Cattline, Lamott plot­teth to deli­ver Vlissingen to the Spa­niard. a bird of the same feather with Herwerden, by name La Motte a Walloon, and Captaine of a Fregate under the States, who being taken by the Dunkerks, and clapt in prison, plotted a way to betray the towne to the Spaniard, and promised to performe it, upon con­dition of his enlargement. His project was thus car­ried. The Fregate, in which he commanded former­ly, being restored to him, and armed with a 100 men, he sayled towards Calais, where another Fregate of Dunkerke charged onely with foure great peeces, but well furnished with Pistols, and engines for fire­workes, was to attend him, according to his owne di­rection. The treason had beene too palpable, if these Bottomes appertained to professed enemies, at the first should have greeted each other friendly, and the States sea-men which were in the vessell being resto­red with him to liberty, might have discerned his jug­ling, [Page]if there a mist had not beene cast before their eyes, to conceale his Leger-demaine. To carry it therefore clearely, he made some apparance of hosti­lity, haled the Dunkerker, which making a shew as if he meant to fight,Prepareth to execute his designe. put up his wast-cloathes, and having made small or no resistance, yeelded to the Ʋlissin­guer, (yet he was so reputed) immediatly. This done, he writes to his friends at Vlissingen of his prize, tells them that he expected two other Frigates which were comming from Dunkerke loaden with the like charge of Armes, and that he hoped very speedily, to bring them all in triumph into that habour. The Statish Sea­men began presently after the supposed prize, to re­sent the action.3 The Dunkerkers whom he had taken by his feigned fight, were taken into his owne vessell, and used not as prisoners, but friends and confederates, engaged in the same action; The Zealanders which were still aboard that Fregate (the major part being removed into the Dunkerker) began to whisper to each other, that their Captaines words, and actions did not resemble each other, and the Captaine whose jealous eare, was listening to their private conferences, perceiving that his plot was revealed, caused the Dunkerkers to fall upon those with the sword whom he suspected to have smelt out his designe, and being by their assistance cleared of that societie, and assured of the rest, he returnes to the Port of Dunkerke, his owne ship being covered with the sayles, that it might not be discovered whence it was. Here, hee loaded his owne ship with Dunkerkish souldiers, and sayled thence to Ostend, where 2000. other Spanish souldi­ers, were embarqued in sixe severall Bottomes to at­tend him, two dayes before his comming thither, the harbour, and the gates of the Citie, having beene kept lockt up, by that space of time, to keepe the ad­venture [Page]private. All this while the irons were but heating, now was the time when they must be formed upon the Anvlle; The maine of the designe was hi­therto concealed from his confederates; the Admirall Colart knew not of it, but in generals, but now being ingaged in the action, he was made acquainted with the particulars, which were, that hee would bring in two of his Frigats into the old Port and send the other two into the new one at Vlissingen, and by these vessels, keepe them open, till the Admirall was en­tred with the rest, by whose united forces,And suspect­ed by Colart of a double treason is im­prisoned at Dunkerke. he doubted not to bring the secure City to the Spaniards com­mand. The Admirall listened to his story, and seeming not to apprehend him fully, desired him to goe into Ostend with him, and that there they would conferre further upon the designe. But the Admiralls intend­ment was otherwise, he suspected all the Captaines discourse to be like Sinons tale, and that he meant not to deliver the City to the hand of the Dunkerkers, but that he meant to deliver the Dunkerkers into the po­wer of the Vlushingers, and having got him to shore, arrested him of a double treason, sent him to Dunkerk, and clapt him in irons, wisely considering, that the Protean condition of a traytor will conforme it selfe to all advantages, and that he which will make no bones to play false with his old friends, can giue no assurance of remaining firme to his new alliance.

Thus the linkes of this project falling in peeces of themselues, the Vlushingers were ridde of that present danger before they knew it, yet soone after it came to their notice, and then they doubled their guards, and kept a strong watch upon their harbours, to secure the City against such kinds of unkind undertakers.

The Spanish Armie in the field, was the onely thing the United States were now jealous of, but the vigi­lancy [Page]of the Prince of Orange, The Armyes returne to their Winter Quarters removing his Campe, when the Count dislodged, and keeping a watchfull eye upon him, cleared all doubts, the Spanish Com­mander, from the midst of September, till Novemb. following, at which time both the Armyes went to their Winter Quarters, attempting nothing further against the Vnited Provinces, nor the Prince of Orange against them.

But whilest their forces were in the field to pre­serve their Native Countrey in quiet,Count Mau­rice of Nassaw Elected Go­vernour or Brazill. and from spoyle by warre. The States at home met in counsell, how they should order their dominions in Brazill, and re­duce them to that forme of Government, used in the Netherlands; and at last it was concluded, that the Count Maurice of Nassaw, should bee declared, and received by the Company of the West-Jndian Mer­chants as Governour of Brazil, but with a restriction of Conditions, and such limitations as might restraine him from any absolute authoritie, some selected Commis­sioners being appointed to attend and advise with him in cases of materiall consequence, and hee to proceed according to their Votes, and advisoes. The Conditi­ons were offered by the Merchants, and accepted by the Count Aug. 4. new stile, and they runne in this tenor.

1. By the Commission of the States Generall, the Prince of Orang, and the West-Indian Company, the name and qualitie of Governour, Captaine, and Admi­rall Generall of the places already conquered in Bra­zill, and which shall be conquered hereafter by the said Company, shall be conferred upon the said Count, as also the Command of the forces both by sea and land, which the said Company, hath there already, or may have hereafter. II. The said Count shall sit in the qualitie of a Governour, in the assembly of the [Page]Counsellours of State,Is bound to the West-In­dian Compa­ny by Arti­cles. which shall receive a joynt commission with the said Count, to consult with him concerning the ordering of the common affaires, the finances, and what ever else may depend upon the publike Government, which Counsellours shall re­solve, and conclude with the said Count about all ex­ploits to be done by sea or land, the raysing of new fortifications, or demolishing of the old, provided al­wayes that if the votes of the assembly bee found e­quall, the Count shall have a double voyce. III. The dlace of residence for the Counsell and the Colledge, shall be at Samarica or in some other such place, as the said Count, and the Counsellours shall thinke more convenient for that purpose. IV. The said Count and the Counsellours, shall take speciall care to procure the common quiet, of all the subjects to the state of the Vnited Provinces there, whether they be such as are imployed in any publike offices, or such as follow their owne peculiar negotiations; They shall be carefull to rectifie all abuses, neglects or disorders, which have privily crept in already, and what ever else may be discovered hereafter, to be against the good of the Countrey and the Inhabitants there, following the in­structions, rules and ordinances, concluded of in this present Senate, and the Customes already used in the Countrey, provided alwayes, that they thwart not the private instructions, now given to our Counsellers of state. V. The said Count shall absolutely dispose of all Militarie offices, & charges which shal be vacant, while the Army is in the field, even to the Ensigne inclusive, the under offices remaining in the disposition & dona­tion of the Captaines, but if any office shall fall, whilest the souldiers be in garrison, then the said Counsellours shall have the nomination of three persons, out of which the Count shall choose one, except that when [Page]there shall be an election of a Captaine, Lieutenant, or Ensigne, by reason of a place vacant, their votes shall not bee given at randome, to elect strangers to that Companie, but they shall be bound to proceed accor­ding to the custome of the countrey.

VI. All publike offices both by Sea and Land, shall be disposed of by the said Count, and the Privie Coun­sellours joyntly; or in the absence of the said Count, (the affaires of State admitting no delay) by the said Counsellours onely: except onely the office of Vice-Admirall, which if it happen to be vacant, either by the decease, or dismission of the Antecessour, shall be gi­ven by the Count alone, with the approbation and al­lowance of the nineteene; and that upon the treatie formerly ordered, or to be ordered afterwards in the Assembly of the nineteene. VII. The said Count shall have no power to erect any new offices, to the charge of the said Company, whether they be Militarie, Po­liticke, or Maritine; nor shall He augment the ordina­ry Salarie of any Officers, which are there already, without the advice and over-sight of the said nineteen, except it bee by the ordinarie preferment of the per­sons, from an inferiour, to a superiour office, according to the militarie ordinances. VIII. Neverthelesse as concerning the Brazilians, and Inhabitants of the Countrey, it shall be free for the Count, and the sayd Counsellours, to reward them after their owne discre­tions, according to their severall imployments; Provi­ded alwayes, that it be done to the remarkeable advan­tage of the Company, and not contrary to the customes now used. Lastly, the sayd Count shall doe all things, which a Governour, Captaine and Admirall ought, and is to doe. And yet the Company reserveth to it selfe, the donation of the places of Privie Counsel­lours, ordinary Magistrates, and charges of that condi­tion, [Page]which shall receiue their Commissions and instru­ctions in the Nether-lands. Notwithstanding the sayd Count shall have power to dispose of the high Milita­ry Offices, by the consent and approbation of the nine­teene: And in case, that if it happen, that one, or more of the nineteene Counsellours of State shall decease, then the sayd Count shall have power to take unto him so many others, and place them in their stead, that the sayd number may be still kept full.

By these conditions,5 the Count was bound to the Company, and that obligation of his to them, re­quired another from them to him, and that was cou­ched in these three following Articles.

I.And the West-Indian Company to the Count. The said Companies shal at their own proper char­ges maintaine one Minister, one Doctor of physicke, and one Secretary for the Count; and pay to each of his houshold servants for salarie, which is allowed to each of his life guard. II. The Company shall give him for his aequipage, and furniture for this expediti­on 6000. liuers, which is 600. pounds sterling, and 1500. liuers monethly, besides diet for himselfe and his retinew, which two last allowances shall then begin to be due, as soone as he is imbarqued for the journey. III. As soone as the Count shall arrive at Brazill, hee shall have two out of hundred, which the people un­der that Government, shall gaine from the enemy, by land or water in the extent of that dominion, as soone as the prize shall be valewed, according to the Milita­rie ordinances, and the order hitherto used in that Country. To the performance of all which Conditions, stipulations, and promises, the said Count was bound to the West-Indian Companie, and they againe reci­procally to him for the space of five yeares, to begin at his arrivall thither, and his beginning of the executi­on of his office of Governour, Captaine, and Admirall [Page]Generall of the Territories, and places already con­quered by the said Company, and which hereafter may be conquered by the mutuall signing, and subscri­bing to these Articles; The Deputies for the nineteene for the one part, promising that they would maintaine, and make good the conditions above written. In te­stimony whereof, the Articles were signed at the Hage, Aug. 4. 1636. Maurice de Nassaw. Ioannes de Laet, & Pr. I. Dwelland.

These Conditions thus agreed upon, the Count pre­pared for the voyage,The Count puts to Sea for Brazill. and Octob. 9. 19. went from the Hage, towards the Texell to attend the Brazilian Fleete; and thence Octob. 15. 26. (taking with him 1500. Land-men) he put to Sea with the Ships, Zut­phen, Farnambuck, the Nassaw, the Adam and Eve, the rest of the Fleete being to follow him with the first faire wind. And thus farre our present discovery reacheth, there is yet much Terra incognita remaining, which we shall within few weekes describe topegraphically.