strong salves and fresh bleedings King Charles of Sweden having crowned himself and renewed the War in Livonie made use of this intestine sedition Sigismund made a brisk opposition as well to him as to the Swedes and Muscovites also whose Empire was then full of factions The siege of Smolensko He besieged Smolensko and after two years siege carried it This was a second Ostend if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the dead which if those authors who gave us the description thereof be worthy of credit amounted to more then twenty thousand men There was another Polish Army imployed to force the head City called Mosco whilest the rest of the Troops got huge victories and took the Yown of Novogrode and the great Duke Suiskie together with his two Brothers prisoners The the great Cham of Tartarie astonished at so many high Victories offered to submit himself to the King of Poland But Sigismond returned and the confederated Muscovites to be payd their Arreares followed him and being satisfied they were a further meanes to get yet more Victories The Muscovites rejell Uladislaus upon the adverse Party In fine the Muscovites tyred and vexed by a forraigne Rule rejecting Vladeslaus whom they had formerly chosen elected a new Emperour and endeavoured to compose their difference with Sigismund but in vain for they were chased away from before Smolensko and payed for their perfidie Now the King of great Britaine being the spectatour and very often the Arbitratour of the Controversies of his Neighbours lived in peace and his subjects of the Romane Catholik Profession were reduced to some discresse upon the discovery of that abominable conspiracy The son in England discovered against him his children and the whole Parliament For it seemed not enough to extend the punishment upon the guilty who received it according to their mâ—rit but all the whole body of them also mast be made feel it It was then that the doctrine of the Iesuites was carped and reviled and their Order brought into horrour through the whole Island as it was in France upon the death of Henry the great though yet they could not be convinced of having any hand in that as they evidently were in this But what shall we say of the English Puritans whom King Iames himself accused of having attempted to stifle him in his Mothers womb I know there are also some who make the Iesuites the cause of the Tragicall death of King Charles so great an aversion hath the contrary party from this Society I neither accuse nor excuse any but onely make a plaine and simple relation of what is passed and blame the rash judgement of such as are too passionate Whilest other Kings were in extream jealousie of their interests King Iames amuses himself with playing the Philosopher and the Divine by composing books of controversies against Cardinall Perronn and Monsieur de Coeffetean Bishop of Marseilles And since he had no warr with any body else he raised one against the Puritans and the Iesuites as making declamations against them both and their Doctrine which he said was most pernicious to the Potentates of Europe Take heed my son sayes he in his Book intitled the Roy all Present of these Puritans meer Plagues both in the Church and state a race not to be obliged by any benefit nor tied by any Oath or promise breathing nothing but seditions and calumnies And a little lower You will not finde amongst any High-way Robbers more ingratitude or more lyes and perjuries then amongst these Fanatick Spirits c. The Duke of Savoy demanded his Daughter Elizabeth for his eldest Son and offered him his for the Prince of Wales but in regard of the difference of Religions it was honourably refused Fate had reserved this Princesse for Prince Frederick Palatine of the Rheyn who arriving in England Frederick Prince Palatine marries Elizabeth Princesse of England married her and carried her to the Palatinat through Holland where they were received and regaled all along their passage being accompanied by Prince Maurice as far as Colein 1614. The never sufficiently lamented death of Henry the great one of the bravest Princes that ever wore the Crown of France was like to put Paris and all France into great tumults for the prevention whereof the Queen-Mother was declared Regent of the Kingdome and Lewis the thirteenth succeeded him at the age of nine yeers being consecrated at Rheims and all this great preparation for war was dissipated either because the Kings design was not known or else to say better because it could not be executed except the reserve of ten thousand men who were sent into the Dutchy of Gulick under the command of Marshal de la Cateres as we have lately expressed Now some time after all these embroiles and perturbations both in Bohemia and Austria were past the Emperour Rodolph either through vexation and trouble or otherwise Death of the Emperour Rodolph the twentieth of January 1612. for death hath alwayes a cause departed out of this fraile life to the immortall one He was son to that good Emperour Maximilian whose steps he followed He was a lover of sciences and chiefly of the Art of Painting He passed his time much in distilling he was fearfull and by consequence little undertaking and little feared by his enemies who knowing his nature did many things to the diminution of the Imperial Authority He died at Pragut in the year 1612. upon the 20 th of Ianuary The Empire had no need of a distillator but rather of a good Operatour to act powerfully against the ill plants which cast forth strong roots both under him and his successour and which have given so much pains and troubles to the Empire CHAP. XIV The Warre between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double Marriage in Spain The Town of Aix or Aquisgrane taken and Newburgh relieved by Spinola Chules Duke of Sudermain and afterwards King of Sweden sends an Embassadour into Holland CHarles Duke of Sudermaine took the Crown away from Sigismund his Nephew and possessed his States quietly enough but there rose a huge warre between him and the King of Denmark who very much disturbed his rest and whereof in his complaint of King Christian he takes the Jesuits for the Authors They are the Atlases who must bear upon their shoulders all kinds of Calummes and Detractions They must swallow down the faults of others He had had many conflicts with the Polanders and had tried the various effects of Fortune But this of Denmark touched him so much to the quick that they two came from complaints to brawles and reproaches and thence to the lye yea and at last to desie one another A strange thing that men disapprove in others what they do themselves Charles a little before had sent an Embassadour to the States-General to beseech them to make a close Allyance
George besieged it in August and carried it in September following but General Bannier caused the Governour to be beheaded for not having done his duty Galasso marched out of Pomerania and passed the Elbe Glitznigh the General of Brandenburgh stormed Gariz and he of Saxonie the Fort of Varnemont neer Rostock where he lost his life Now who would believe that the Swedes being forsaken in apparence by all the States of Germany droven back to the Baltick sea beaten in many Encounters despoiled of the Isle of Vsedon and many other with considerable losse should ever have been able to rise any more But General Hatsfelds sicknesse made them take courage though General Bredaw defeated them and made them start back again into theit Islands And yet all this was not able to hinder them from afflicting Germany yet more and that with more confusion then it had been before The feaver required yet greater blood-lettings which made this Body once so puissant and formidable grow faint and languish Let us accompany them to the banck of the Danub and to the Gates of Ratisbone Bannier having received from Sweden a supply of eight thousand men and ruined Gartz passed the Elbe in the Dutchy of Luneburgh which might have been hindred by the Princes of that House had they not taken newtrality and confirmed the good opinion of them at Venice But he marched into Misnia where he found great facility every where and very little aversion any where so strong was the zeal of Religion even yet amongst those people It was to much purpose to prohibit the Germans from taking part with the Swedes under paine of being declared Traytours to their Countrey The Sweeds againe in Misnia in Bohemia and Silesia for the hatred they carried to the Catholicks their inclination to the Swedes and the desire to plunder made them slight the ruin of the Empire but it was chiefly in Saxony 1639 that they declared their sence concerning the Peace of Prague Bannier went into Bohemia Torstenzon into Lusatia and Stalhans into Silesia and God knows into what condition they put that Country where they found more friends then the Imperialists did in Pomerania He defeated General Marizim neer Chemniz and incamped before Prague where he also defeated General Hoskirck Beats the Impeâ—alists All the world was amazed at this progress which was against all apparence and all expectation and which cost so much blood so much desolation and so many inflagrations throughout all Saxonie and even to the very Gates of Prague Fortune had again turned her back upon the Imperalists who changed their Commander For the Archduke Leopold was declared Generalissimo or Chief-General and Piccolomini his Lieutenant Many encounters hapned in which the Swedes had almost still the better and Fortune accompanied them even to the last according to the assurance which was given Bannier by a certain Peasant who was become his Prophet He marched into Thuringe 1640 to joyn with the Weymarians Hassians French and Luneburghians who returned to his Party The Imperalists incamped themselves neer Salfeldt and the Swedes over against them so that there was no other separation between them then that of the little River Sale from whence as the French writers affirm The famous Salick Law derives its name and Origen The businesse passed on both sides with some small Skermishes and with looking upon one another In sine the Swedes departed and took their way towards Brunswick and the Imperalists theirs towards Hassia where they carryed themselves no better then the others had done in Bohemia But the Duke of Weymar ruins the Lawrel winns the Rheyn therefore let as retire that way CHAP. VIII The Duke of Weymar repasses the Rheyn and besieges Rhinfeldt John de Werdr beaten and taken prisosoner The Duke of Rohans death Duke Benrards many Victories he takes Brisack his death SInce we have carried on the progresse of the Swedes to the year 1640. Let us go see what the French and Weymarians do for their part Indeed after General Gallasso departed the Burgundians were alwayes much afflicted and their constance wraher brought misfortune upon them The Burgundians ill treated then diverted it from them They refused to admit of Garrisons from him and the Lorrianers were not able to defend them The Waymarians in Alsatia beaten so that they were beaten neer Besanton and that Victory opened that way for the Weymarians again into Germany who with certain Barks which they sound passed the Rheyn made many Forts and a Bridge to keep the River at their devotion John de Werdt having notice of it omitted not to come and charge them and made them turne their backs so that he quickly got possession of the said Forts and Bridge delivered his Masters this second time from the fear which was given them by the Duke of Weymar in those parts and then sent his Troops into Winter quarters However the Duke of Weymar were much astonished at his losse yet did not he loose his courage For it is in the crosses of Fortune that great men shew vertue and testify that they are never able to despaire of good successe He repassed the Rheyn Repasse the Rheyn 1638. and besiege took Lanfenburgh and besieged Rheynfelt in the moneth of March 1638. Iohn de Werdt knowing the importance of this place marched with all speed attacked the Enemy raised the Siege beat some Foor and took two Field-pieces But this Victory having cast the Imperilites into a kind of dull security and the said Duke having gotten to himself the Duke of Rohan with five Regiments he came and charged them so happily that he routed them Iohn de Wedrt defeated and taken prisoner is sent to Paris and took Iohn de Werdt and the Duke of Savelly who afterwards made his escape prisoners besides Enkefort Sperrenter and many other Officers together with sixty Standards and Coulours This was a great blow for it brake open all the bars of the Rheyn and Iohn de Werdt with Enkefort was sent to Paris to witnesse it and was lodged at Bois de Vincennes where all the world flocked to see so renowned a Souldier in such fort as had he been an Emperour A daâ—â—â—ageable loss to the Hause of Austria there could not have been more crowding This defeat was the cause of great trouble to the House of Austria as the losse of Alsatia and the taking of Brisack but upon the other side it brought no lesse joy to France especially to such as were tyed to the interests of that great Cardiual the main mover of this low world The Duke of Roham death the Duke of Rohan being grown old under the burthen and toyle of Arms dyed of his wounds He was newly come back from the Valieline where he had archived new Lawrel which he besprinkled with blood in this last battail Rhinfeldt yeelded Rotued followed Friburgh made a shew of defence but the Governour quickly flinched Duke Barnard marched to Brisack the
of that learned writer the Imperial Crown upon his brothers head because he would rather have had it upon his Sonnes and the Germans will not see it upon that of a Spaniard How then shall these instruments be tuned I conclude that she hath been moved to act by Interest only to uphold her self and not to hunt aster this chimericall Monarchy The Emperours which have been since have manifested no excess of ambition and Philip the third made no stir at all So that it must be either Fâ—rdinand the second or Philip the Fourth Let us examin the grounds which may give these jealousies and authorize these opinions The said Ferdinand the second had War with the Bohemians and the Prince Palatine every one knows for what He would have the three Episcopal Townes had he not right to them The Victories he got in Low-Saxonie moved him to restore and re-established his Authority there was he out of reason Here-demanded as Soveraign Judge the Ecelesiasticall Lands and Goods according to the tenour of the contract at Passavia was he ill-grounded The Lutherans themselves will not say so Shall we therefore suffer this House to swallow up all Now it is that we must have recourse to the interest which every body ought to have in commendation and not stray from the path of Justice As for Hypocrisiy whereof he accuses them of this Family by comparing their piety to the colours of the Rain-bow which are but deceipts and illusions it is acalumnie which confutes it self and a malice convinced by the testimonies of the Lutherans who have frequented the Imperiall Court A calumny convinced and have wished that all the Courts of the Protestant Princes were regulated like that Indeed the words which he uses to cure as he sayes the mindes of such as are praeoccupated by errour are not strong enough to make them passe for good even in his own opinion For a may be cannot form a determinate truth of future things Yet it is not my intention to approve all the actions of this House and defend her ends and much lesse to deliver the Bordering Princes from the fear which they may have of her greatnesse by the refutation of those arguments but only freely and plainly to lay open the justice of her Arms and the strong necessity of her interests to maintain her self against so many enemies I combat no Soveraign Family but reverence them all without exception and praeoccupation I only demonstrate the practices cheateries and effects of ambition together with those of self-advantage which render whole Provinces desert and breed general calamities In the Treaty of peace at Manster we shall discover the intentions of all the Princes without amusing our selves any more with the words of interested Clarks But we must first consider why France which hath always restored to the Dukes of Savoy such of their States Why France wi keep Lorrain as she hath seazed upon by arms doth now yet so obstinatly retaine Lorrain as she also did the three Bishopricks I answer that she hath done the former to avoide giving jealousie to the Princes of Italy whole good correspondence she holds necessary for her so to maintain her interests there But she will not let Lorrain go in regard of her conquests made in Germany and because the Princes of that Country being divided into Parties are not sourgent for the restitution of the losses of their Neighbours as those others are France calls the Princes of the House of Austria and all such as are tyed to her interests her Enemies and in regard that this irreconcitiable-hatred is not very ancient we shall quickly finde out the source thereof During the English Warrs in France the Spaniards being then great friends and Allyes with France always succoured her and there were some Lords of that Nation who possested great Charges in the said Warrs Yea in that memorable assembly of Arras where to the confusion of the English the Peace was made between the King and the Duke of Burgundy a certain Spanish Knight in a contention of honour took the White Cross without giving any other reason for it then that it was a sign of Amity But now The causes of the hatreds between France and Spain the said House being annexed to Spain the first spark of division sprung up in Italy the second and the greatest was about the Imperial â—â—â—â—n and jealousie of State which lasted til the death of Henry the second a 〈◊〉 as a wakened again under Henry the third by the counsell of the Hughenots and his brother the Duke of Alencon sudddenly made Duke of Brabaâ—t Philip the second of Spain did the like for him by favouring the Heads o the League to the deminution of his Authoritie and the Hughenot Party Henry the fourth took his revenge advanced the hatred always contraried opposed and laboured to weaken this power which gave him jealousy And then it was that not only the Hughenots but the Catholicks also began to hate that Nation Not did the Spaniards remain their debtors therem In such sort as the hatred of the people is formed by that of State But this kings death stopped the currnet of those partialities that double marriage seemed quite to stifle them out in vain for these two proud Nations the most potent of Christendom have many pretensions upon each other and cannot endure any praeeminence at all In so much as that when the one makes any progresse the other endeavours to stop it besides sides the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambition and desire to raise their Families have from time to time kindled these suspitions which have hatched these fatall wars to the destruction of all Europe The one of these Houses styles her selfe most Christian and yet meddles not much with the businesse of Religion for she ordinarily attracts the Reformates to her interests who are enemies to the Pope and by consequence to the other House which suffers not their Doctrine in her Dominions The other is tearmed Catholick and abandons not the interests of Religion no more then she doth her own unlesse it be by force proceeding from the necessity of State-affaires through some new conjuncture as we shall see in the sequell of this work Lewis the thirteenth shocked this House with so much authority and power and procured her so many Enemies that she had very much adoe to keep her self up in such sort as that great Cardinal the Angel-Gardian of France by his puissant Allyances begat an opinion in the Soules of many Politicians that he sought the Universal Monarchy In effect by this great Conquerours means he hoped to overthrow the Emperour and had already devoured the possession of the Low-Countries by the help of the Hollanders But man purposes and God disposes But let us withdraw our selves out of this Labyrinth since we have already gon round about it and if we enter into it we have not a sufficient thred of
Emperours consent who alone together with the Duke of Bavaria entertained the Minstrills of the Revel but his Companion danced better then he For had he abandoned the Party at the perswasion of the French he would not have danced much longer and had he been willing to hazard any more neither the Swedes nor the French had danced so well but he chose rather to dance sure for feare of tripping Let us now withdraw our selves from the Labyrinth of Germany and see in what condition the affairs of Flanders are for as for those of the Emperour they are sufficiently afflicted and have almost no other support then that of the justice of their Cause besides that so many fine actions as are performed in those parts away from hence CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the Low-Countries under obedience The taking of a great number of strong Towns in Flanders AFter so remarkable a Victory as that of Rocroy which hapned after the death of Lewis the thirteenth and so many losses in Germany which had so peeled the Eagle that there was no more apparence or possibility left of herflying farre after the defection of Portugal and so many Battels lost in Catalonia it was conceived that the King of Spain would have neither power nor will to succour the Obedient Provinces as having work enough at home and that the first Field following the French and Hollanders would carry all yea that the people being abandoned would revolt and to hinder a total ruine joyne themselves with the Conquering Party In effect the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility cast their eyes already upon France in regard of the Religion and the people turned their heads to wards Holland for love of the Traffick but the onely deprivation of the exercise of their Faith made them as it were weeping follow the Spaniards Peace was necessary for them and for that they held up their hands but the Treaties walked too slowly on Nothing but the rigour of the Placarts of these Provinces and the preaching of their Priests made them resolve to endure all the extremities of war rather then submit themselves to the Reformates For if we must needs change our Master said they let us range our selves under the French so to have and retaine our Religion rather then under the Hereticks who destroy Souls The Plenipotentiary Embassadours of France passed by the Haghe renewed the Offensive Allyance for three years more The League renewed for three yeares spake in the behalfe of the Catholicks of Holland but obtained nothing it being too ticklish a matter For where the Reformates are Masters they give no liberty to them of that Profession and will not have them amongst them not being able to suffer Idolatry and the Papistical Ceremonies shook their over-tender Conseiences Let us leave them going to Munster to begin a work which they will not perfect and let us go see the bloody fruits of this Field The Duke of Orleans being declared Lieutennant-General of all the King his Brothers Armies sent La Meillieraye Gassion and Rantzow towards Flanders who made a shew of going to Dunkerke but sate down before the strong Town of Graveling and seized upon all the Forts about it and Admiral Tromp came and ranged himselfe before the Haven The French take many places in Flanders 1645. to shut up the passage This Town was taken in lesse then two moneths and thereby made the Spaniards avow that there is nothing impregnable when mens lives are not spared For the French lost above six thousand before it and all the industry of the Spaniards could not save this Bulwark of their State Don Francisco de Melo who hindred the Prince from passing the River into Flanders hastened with all the best of his Forces gave the Hollanders meanes come over The Sass of Gaunt taken 1945. and take the Sass of Gaunt with many other Forts and the losse of the said Sass and Graveling the two maine defences of the Country laid it open to an entire Conquest The Duke of Orleans followed his Carriere and all stooped to him he took Bourburgh the Fort of Linck Lens Bethune St. Venant Lillers Armentiers and Mening and put all the rest into Contribution besides that Mardyke was also surrendred after a Siege and so this Field of 1645. ended The Victories of the French were little lesse splended in Italy by the taking of Piombino and Portolongòno 1646 to wipe away the affront of Orbitello where they were beaten and constrained to discamp and many other places were also taken besides the defeate of the Spaniards at the passage of Mora. Count Harcourts Victory in Catalunia 1645. The Count of Harcourt who was not wont to be idle when any thing was to be done got a glorious reputation by winning a Battel and taking some Towns in Catalunia 1645. Notwithstanding that Flanders was almost quite conquered the Subjects remained firme in their fidelity amongst so many troubles Mardyke surprized by the Spaniards and the surprizing of the Fort of Mardyke in the Winter made them take fresh courage This Place cost but ten or twelve mens lives to retake it and had cost above five thousand to teare it out of the Spaniards clutches Let us see the begin-of this Field of 1646. The Duke of Orleans being entred into Flanders with a tertible Army resolved to compel the Enemy to a General and final Decision or to take some Towns of importance in the heart of the Country which might give the State a mortal blow And though the Spaniards were too wise to hazard the former yet could they not hinder the latter Courtrack taken which was the taking of Courtrack in the middle of Flanders seven leagues from Gaunt But the enemy making a Defensive war onely forced them for want of victualls to draw back towards the Sea side where they took Berghen St. Wynock and besieged Mardyke which they hoped to carry by many assaults before the Holland Fleet arrived but their temerity was so well chastised by the supply which entred every Tyde into the said Fort that Monsieur de la Trisllerie who was newly come out of Denmarke was constrained to complain to the States of the delay of their Fleet. And they who walked a slow pace and observed the falling back of the French with their bravado of saying that this Field would make them Masters of Flanders and the next after of all Holland judged by the rash discourse of the Souldiers of the intention of their Master and shewed themselves very cold in the pursuance of the designe to come to the concluded Stake sharing for in this knot it is that the best friends become foes and this was the stumbling-block as it shall shortly appeare However at length they sent Admiral Tromp who was no sooner come then they lowed their colours to signifie that they would render themselves up and so the Garrison of three thousand men marched out Mardyke retaken by the French and
watered with most fair and great Rivers which would make her most flourishing if she had not the Turk in her bowels But she hath an ayer a little too rough for strangers She hath produced a huge number of great Emperours most Religious Kings most holy Persons and men most learned in all kinds of faculties Atilas that scourge of God came from them with his Huns for the affliction of Europe and many other Tyrants who have often rended Germany and made the Emperours pay them tribute a long time to save their Country from the fury of their arms But vice reigns there now with so absolute an Empire as it renders the Hungarians very odious and despicable Ambition made them loose a King a saire Army and Buda the capitall City of the Kingdome Avarice hurries them blindfold upon all wickednesse and makes them sometimes sell the Christians prisoners to the Turks and Tartars without sparing so much as their own neer kindred when the insatiable hunger of mony hath vayled the eyes of their understanding Their Kings have had frequent experiments of their perfidie the Turks of their loosenesse and the Germanes of their cruelty treachery and hatred dangerous both to the one and the other as having made many Fields unfruitful and brought much profit to their enemies The Hungarians saith an old Bishop writing to the Emperour Frederick the first have ugly faces hollow eyes low of stature and barbarous both in manners and speech And yet it must be avowed that there also dwells vertue amongst them as well as amongst other Christians that they defend Christendome and that their bodies are such Bulwarks as the Ottomans have not hitherto been able to leap and which they must first cast to the ground if they intend to assayle Germany They are almost alwayes on horse-back and upon prey with them and they serve themselves of calamity for an aliment to their vertue And indeed that of the valiant Count de Serin amongst so many others shined with so much glory and constancy at the siege of Sigot that it purchased him everlasting praise The Hungarians with their Light Horse do more hurt to the Turks then to the Germanes and in this last Warre of Bohemia they offended more by surprises then by standing Fights In the Battel of Prague not being able to support the rough onset of the Walloons and Germanes they quickly gave ground and so were partly the cause of that remarkable Defeat CHAP. III Of Russia or Muscovia Their Religion The History of Demetrius THis Province which stretches it self to the Icie Sea is of a very large extent governed by an Emperour or Great Duke with most absolute authority after the manner of the Eastern Countries however it lye very near the North. The Muscovits follow the Greek Religion The Greek Religion under a Patriarch though yet it be mingled with very many superstitions which will never be corrected because the Great Duke suffers none of his subjects to travel and see other Countries This people is much tormented by the Turks and Tartars They have likewise waged great warres with the Polas and Swedes but with many losses They were very tyrannically governed by their Prince John Basil who was succeeded by his son Theodore a Prince of small sense for he let both himself and his Country be ruled by his wives brother called Borits Fedorits He died without children and his Brother-in-law was Great Duke after him He had a brother named Demetrius who as many Authors worthy of credit have written The History of Demetrius with great apparences of truth was stolne away in his infancy so to be saved from the evident danger wherewith he seemed to be threatened by the authority of the said Borits and another very like him put in his place was exposed dead to the view of the people Now this Demetrius being brought up in Poland with the Palatine Sandomir after he had travelled in Germany and Italy for the space of twenty yeares gave himself to be known for the son of Basil Brother to Theodore and by the assistance of the said Palatime the Jesnits and the favour of the King himself he entered the second time into Muscovy well accompanied by Germanes Poles and Cosacks Borits raises a most puissant Army to oppose him but the infidelity of his people together with some losses deprived him both of courage and desire of life And so he died the 13 th of April in the year 1605 not without suspicion of having voluntarily prevented his misfortune by despaire His son was received by such as were of his faction But the City of Mosco together with all the Country having admitted Demetrius for their Prince he was forthwith cast in prison Now Demetrius had no sooner made his entry into the said City but they began to murmure and say that he was not the true Demetrius The Lord Basil Chimouskie for having said that he had caused the right Demetrius to be buried brought his head upon a scaffold which yet by special favour he brought back again to weare the Crown and succeed the unfortunate Demetrius O strange effect of Fate The aversion of the people from poor Demetrius appeared yet more when they understood that he had acknowledged the Pope and introduced the Jesuits to work-about a Reformation He married the daughter of his Foster-Father who made her entry into the head City the 26 of April in the year 1606. The persidy of this treacherous people was clearly discovered a moneth after namely the 27 of May and their rage began its first effect upon the Poles and other strangers who yet sold their skins dear enough and others passed on to the Court there to finish the last Act of the Tragedy The Prince hearing of the tumult left the company of his wife wish whom he then was got away and leapt down from the top of a Tower through a window at the foot whereof being found yet alive he was forthwith dispatched This was done under the pretext of Religion He was a Prince of a great wit a lover of hunting and warre he had read much was very ambitious and went much in quest of the allyances of the Kings of Europe and nominatively of that of the Great Henry of France Thus unhappily ended Demetrius his dayes in the very April of his age and the cruelty of the barbarous multitude continued even upon his dead body which they tore in pieces so violent is hatred stirred up by Religion against such as endeavour to change it when fury has gotten the upper hand He was accused by a Declaration to have been a Monk an Heretick and a Witch and to have endeavoured to change the Religion of Russia supplant the Nobility of the Country and introduce that of Poland to have layen with his wife in the presence of an image of our Lady and many other things which are tedious to rehearse A memorable example of the instability of Fortune who when she
That mad League of the Pope the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain would have invaded any other State but theirs so much amazement did it strike into those Areopages who yet by their rare industry were able to untangle this fatal conjuncture and save their Common-wealth from the shipwrack wherewith she was much threatned In fine after that peace which they had made with the Turk and which followed close upon the glorious Battel but with small fruit of Lepante they finished that Age and began this present in good intelligence with their Neighbours The King of Spain enjoyes in Italy the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily and the Duchy of Milan upon which States the French have also their pretentions which often cause frequent warres between the two Crownes whereof we shall speak towards the end of this Treatise in the revolution of those last tumults The Grand Duke of Tuskany the Dukes of Mantua and Parma keep their Seates in peace and the Common-wealth of Genoa hers tyed fast for her profit to the interests of Spain Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy a Prince as subtle as inconstant but yet unlucky enough for having seized upon the Marquisat of Salluces found himself forced to put on his harnesse and to leave his rest in the first year of this age as we shall hereafter shew neither his journey to Paris nor all the politick craft he could use being able to warrant him from this check The Dukes of Savoy are very potent and often seen to make the skale hang towards that Crown to which they leane France seeks their friendship to have the gate open into Italy in the intrigues whereof she finds her self passionately concerned Lorraine was governed by Duke Charles a milde Prince who still complained of the wrong which the enemies of the League whereof the Princes of that house were the chief had made him suffer This Province which divides Germany from France is very fruitfull and takes her name from the Emperour Lotarius and her Princes their Descent from Charlemagne They have alwayes been great Warriers and Godfree of Bouillon through zeal of piety went and conquered the Holy Land The Dukes of Lorraine for interest of State keep good correspondence with their Neighbours and the last misfortune which happened in this Duchy was caused rather by the decline of the Emperours Affayres and the ambition of him who thought all lawfull to him then by the fault of the Prince who could not shelter himself from that storme which had already shivered both Masts Sayles and Helme These States aforesaid in regard they never knew any Religion but that of Rome suffer not any other so much as to bud or spring there and if peradventure there be any one found in Lorraine who hath embraced the Protestant Religion he retires himself to Metz or Geneva and they of the Country of Luxenbourgh to Sedan Diversity of Religions parts humours gives desire of motion to such as are ambitious and makes a Prince very little loved by them who are not of the same opinion We have already gone round about Europe therefore let us now enter into the middle and speak of those great Monarchies which by their motions have shaken all other States as being governed according to the influences thereof and accommodating their interests to the ballance of their greatnesse For since Warre hath been declared between Spain and France very few Princes have stood Neutrall some having joyned their forces to the party most necessary for them and some others though but spectators have not yet forborne to poise more to the one side then the other But none have been willing to have either of these Crowns suppressed by the other for the apprehension and fear wherein they all are of a Generall Monarchy CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy NOw to get entire knowledge of the interests of these two Crownes of the Causes which so often arm them to the great detriment of Christendom and the apprehensions which they give of aspiring to a general Monarchy though by unequall and different wayes we must goe up to the source and so come quickly down again drawing from thence a true explanation for our subject which we will follow as our guide to the end of our Course France being delivered from the warres with England and wholly restored to her self as well by the help of forren as the help of her Neighbours and even the very Spaniards themselves with whom she had a close friendship at that time Having I say shaken off the yoke of the English who were expelled from Guyenne and Normandy she became the most puissant Monarchy of Europe King Charles the 8 th went to feaze upon the kingdom of Naples which was no sooner got then lost by his departure thence Lewis the twelfth having made an Alliance with Ferdinand of Castile for the recovery of the kingdom enters Italy surprises Milan and the unjust usurper Sforce and so retakes the said kingdome of Naples But it sometimes happens that the sharing of stakes makes friends foes for these Allyes fell to oddes and Consalve having in many Encounters routed the French setled the kingdome upon the Castilians and the power and reputation of the Spaniards encreased much by the valour of the great Captain The first reason of the hatred between the Spaniards and the French Francis the first having broken the Swissers in a great Battail easily made himsel Master of the Duke dome of Milan and consequently of the kingdom of Naples But Fortune smiled upon the French only to betray them For she suddenly turned to the Spaniards who took King Francis prisoner and established themselves in the said kingdome and in the State of Milan Now from hence proceeded the hatred between the two Nations which hath since been augmented according to occurrences of State-jealousies and other considerable accidents whereof we will here give a short hint The second reason But there is a second and a more pregnant reason for which not only France but the neighbouring States also have conceived apprehensions of jealousies which is that of the Union of Spain by marriage with the houses of Austria and Burgundy and the latter of these began thus Philip de Valois none to John the sixth King of France for having well defended his Father in a Battail against the English was by marriage made Duke of Burgundy and Prince of the Low-countries and John his sonne succeeded him not onely in all the Provinces of his Parents but in the hatred also which he bore to the House of Orleans Now this young Prince going with a great force of the Nobility of France and the Low-countries into Hungary against the Turk fell into the hands of Bajazet who would have caused him to be beheaded as well as the rest of the prisoners had he not been advised to put him to a Ransom and send him home and this because it was
had so much adoe to awaken In sine Whatsoever is profitable in matter of State seems lawfull But what we do our selves we ought not to condemn in others the Peace made 1506. The suspicion daily encreased and that chiefly because Count John of Ritsbergh was become a Roman Catholick But at last by the intercession of the King of England and the States-Generall the Peace was made at the Haghe in the year 1606 as also that of the Christians and Turks and all jealousies which could come from thence quite take off CHAP. XIV Of the Changes which happened in precedent Ages about matter of Religion and the motives of our Design drawn from these revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants of Germany THe differences which have happened amongst Christians upon the diversity of Religions the distrusts which have sprung from thence as the fire from the flint and the reasons of State precious covers for manifest wickednesse have proved the cause of the greatest part of all our present mischiefes and languishments Therefore let us seek out the true root of it and leave passion to such as cannot receive any other impressions then those by which they are utterly blinded My purpose is not to dyve into questions of Divinity but only to search in History after the causes of so many alterations and so much hatred drawn from so holy and innocent a subject Pope Julius the second We will therefore begin with Pope Iulius the second who died in the year 1513. This Pope more carefull of the Temporall then of the Spiritual and more studious of propagating the Jurisdictions of the Church then the kingdom of God made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain to the utter ruine of the Venetians But he quickly changed his Cards forsook the Allyes reconciled himself with his enemies animated Henry the Eighth King of England against the French and Ferdinand against the King of Navarre whom he spoyled of his kingdom for refusing him passage He embroiles Europe He also dissolved the Allyance between the Emperour and the King of France and called the Swissers into Italy to drive the French out of the Milan In fine having sunk all Europe into inexplicable confusions and scandalized his Flock he made place for Leo the 10 th a man who loved rest and was lesse a souldier then Iulius of whom is written this great praise that he once cast some Keyes into the Tyber saying that St. Pauls Sword should have more power then the Arms of St. Peter The duty of a good shepherd is to keep his sheep in peace and feed them and not scatter them and send them to the shambles Whilest these warres lasted which ruined the Publick and Human Laws the Divine ones were also very ill kept The ignorance of the Prelates caused superstitions and their loose and vicious lives together with their great and vast possessions the hatred of the people The learned desired a redresse in the Ecclesiastical Policy as well as Peace required in the Secular Divorce which continues to this day with as little apparence of Reunion as there is of seeing the Rivers run back to their springs And it is that the Pope published a Iubily for the collection of monies to resist the Turk which was most necessary at that time But the impudence of a certain Monk called Teâ—zel exceeded so farre as to presume to sell the Indulgences or Pardons for the sinnes committed and to be committed I have horrour to recite this cheaâ—erie the companion of superstition ignorance and avarice and forthwith to draw soules out of Purgatory Martin Luther Martin Luther opposes Tyrzel Dector of Divinity at Witembergh and Monk of the Order of St. Austin briskly opposed this Impostor made a Thesis or General Position which he dedicated to the Pope himself to testify the will he had to relye upon his definition But through excess of indignation he passed the limits of Christian modesty and Catholick Truth Insomuch as that at length he grew to write against the Popes authority wherein he was impugned by a Divine called Eckins See Florimoud of Remond He is excommunicated Now Pope Leo desirous to quench this spark excommunicates Luther but that was to cast oyle into that fire and put poison to the wound For Martin raises his Batteries against him and calls him Antichrist which the Pope too much slighting applyed all his thoughts to warre Those enemies who are most despised are very often most hurtfull But the God of Peace drove him out of this world to make room for another more worthy and more vâ—â—tuous though lesse politick then he However Policie be a very convenient Science for such as govern great States and Empyres Pope Adrian the Preceptor or Tutor to Charles the 5. was born at Vâ—rick and promised to bring a wholesom Balsom to the diseases of Christendome For he had already elevated the hopes of the Good by abolishing Simony punishing sins against nature and not alienating the possessions of the Church But his too suddain death declared that God had otherwise disposed of him that his two Predecessors had too much embroyled the Flock that the sicknesse must have its course and that the Body was filled with too many bad humours to be cured by one single purge or one Blood-letting onely His doctrine in Saxony Now Luthers doctrine passed from Saxony into Sweden King Gustave and Frederick of Denmark being leagued together against Christian who deserted by his people was fled and they also forsook the Pope as well as their King and much ranged the authority of the Bishops of their kingdomes And as Luthers Doctrine grew to be received so diffidence and hatred grew equally up with it together with a desire also to maintaine it against all who endeavoured to suppress it There was besides another accident which very much troubled the Church and it was that Charles the Emperour and King Francis the first had very often entreated the Pope and Cardinals to call a General Councill for the reformation of abuses in the Church and Clergy But this song was little lesse unpleasant then the opposition of Luther And so these two Princes laying aside that care they being too nearly tyed to their own interests meditated nothing but warre upon each other Pope Clement successor to Adrian seeing the King of France prisoner made speedily a secret Allyance with his own subjects and almost all the Princes of Italy so to put a limit to the power of the Emperour who in revenge thereof abrogated his Authority in Spain surprised Rome and took him prisoner who was very ill treated by the Germans as being for the most part Lutherans Now these two Monarchs being the chief Pillars of Europe ought to have favoured a Reformation and hindred a separation But what The impiety of the people whets the sword of the Almighty who comes slowly to vengeance though
Church of Rome and taken up their Quarters apart to be very different from that of the Primitive Christians amongst the Pagans and Gentiles those remaining in the Predicament of Passion onely and these adding also that of Action True it is that ambition and desire of novelty both in the one and other State have been the efficient causes of these great changes If they who have cried out with a loud voice for the reformation of manners had been heard as well as they who have called in doubt many Maximes of Faith we should really now live in the Golden and not in the Iron Age. They assault the Images Zisca tames Bohemia The first warr they made was upon the Images the Prelates the Cloisters and the Magistrates who opposed their unbridled licentiousnesse A Truce was made and no sooner made then broken Zisca that famous Head of the Faction made himself Master of Bohemia and commanded all the Churches dedicated to the Saints to be battered down alleadging for his reason that they must be consecrated onely to God He defeated all the Armies that oppugned his Designes like a Torrent which carries away and destroyes all whiles Fate made him loose that one eye which was left him He marched into Austria and quite blinde as he was left not nevertheless to crush his Enemies and arrived time enough to chastize the Citizens of Prague who were revolted from him because of the demolition of the Churches and Imaâ—es In fine Fortune by an occult mystery of the great God averted the Prelates from their duty and humbled the Emperour so far as to bring him upon his knees before this blind man yea and constrained him moreover to offer him the Government of the Kingdom and the Militia But that Eternall power having served himself sufficiently of this scourge drew him out of the world by a contagious sicknesse though even at his death His death he signified his martiall humour and the passion he yee had to further mischief for he commanded that after his decease a Drum should be made of his skin saying that his enemies would fly at the very sound thereof Let Divines discourse upon these mysterious chances where they will finde work enough to entertaine themselves The Hussits continued the warr under the orders of a certain person called Procope at the very report of whom whole armies were suddainely terrified yea fourty thousand men being entered into Bohemia and having taken some towns through a certain panick or phantastical fright threw down their arms and betook themselves to their heels Zisca's skin works miracles to save their infamous an I cowardly lives even before the Bohemians appeared Perhaps Zisca's skin wrought all these miracles and would have merited a Temple if he had not demolished those which were dedicated to the Saints It is therefore no wonder if in this last Age there have hapned such strange changes proceeding from causes so little foreseen or wholy contemptible in regard that a handfull of men at that time rendered themselves Masters of a Kingdome and beat the forces of the Emperour as often as they durst encounter them besides that their meer reputation put their enemies to flight as much as their arms Athists open your eyes confess these changes proceed from an infinite power The Turks a barbarous and despicable people have subdued a great part of Asia and destroyed the empire of Greece Tamberlaine from a shepherd Tamberlaine being become a souldier was the instrument whereof God served himself to abate the pride of that great Emperour Bajazet These are revolutions the reasons whereof are not discovered to man It is lawfull to seek the causes of them by probable conjectures but not to pronounce a definitive sentence or conclusion upon them I was willing to relate a part of this History because I find therein a great similitude or resemblance with that of our Age as well in order to Causes and effects though not successes for a proof of this instability of the things of this world CHAP. II. The Bohemians arme and why All the Princes interest themselves in this Warr. Ferdinand chosen Emperour NOtwithstanding the licence granted to the Bohemians by the Fathers of the Councell of Basill to receive their Communion under two Forms or Species there ceased not still to be Factions amongst them against the authority of the Pope and favour to such as oppugned it Now because the greatest Rivers draw their Origin for the most part from some small abstruse and unknown springs just so this deplorable war of Bohemia which being once kindled and diffused in that Kingdome grew to skatter and sly up and down like wilde fire throughout all Europ and is not extinguished even yet began at first from so contemptible a spark as might have been quenched by one single tear had it but chanced to fall right upon it But it must needs draw deluges of blood and general destruction of Christendom Where Sins are great Repentance must be proportionable And why In the year 1616 the Hussits layd the foundations of a Church at Brunaw The Abbor who was Lord of the Place opposed them and complained to the Emperour Mathias who commanded the Magistrates to appear before him and to suspend the building till the Cause were decided but in vain for the Church went on and was finished without answer as if it had suffised that it pleased them who loved novelty to build it Whilest this passed Mathias finding himself without issue by the consent of the House of Austria adopted his Cousin Ferdinand and Crowned him King of Bohemia with the general applause of the Bohemians Which done it was shewed to the abovesaid Hussits that the States onely had power and authority to build Churches and so they were all condemned and such as presumed to resist imprisoned and their Church demolished And this was the first motive of this war and this the leaven which hidden for two years together under the Past of ambition of the chief of that Kingdom made it rise and sharpen so much as that there was nothing expected but onely the hour to put it in the oven The Lutherans Jubily The year following the Lutherans by way of a generall thanks giving to God for having already preserved their Religion the space of an hundred yeares made a Iubily as they also did some Leagues amongst themselves at Heilbron against the Roman Catholicks which proved advantageous to the Bohernians as seeming as it were to give them the Signe or Watch-word to which all their humours were disposed and prepared for in regard that after so many Books composed and so many Disputes held there could be no Accord made in matter of Religion there seemed a necessity to try the strength of their Arms All tends to Warre and come from words to blowes The demolition of the aforesaid Church was of hard digestion to the Hussits and so it caused murmurations Monopolies or private
Camp being suddenly staggered after the resistance of some Regiments the whole Body fell into confusion and such as could save themselves got into Prague There perished more by water then by the sword and the terrour was so universall that there was no other thought left for the conquered but to flye towards Silesia King Frederick not daring to trust himself in the Places of strength which remained nor yet to his new Subjects neither retired speedily towards Breslaw where entring into conference with the States of the Countrey and finding neither forces nor safety to stay there he put himself upon the way towards Holland This Generall Decision fell out upon the eight of November 1620. the very day upon which was read the Gospel of Give Casar that which is Caesars and God that which is Gods And indeed it was manifested by the Augures or Signes from heaven to whom Godthad determined to give the victory The number of the slain and drowned was very great as being related by some of the most moderate writers to have amounted to six or seven thousand The Conquerours lost but very few of theirs but Count Godfree of Papenheinâ— was found lying amongst the dead so extremely wounded that he could hardly declare his own name But his hour was not yet come as being reserved for exploits which were to fill the whole distent of the world with his glory The number of the prisoners was not equall to that of the dead the City being near enough for the retreat of such as were timely spurred on by fear Prague being abandoned by the principall Heads of the Party remained the price of the Victory The nest was there but the Birds flowne The Duke of Bavaria after this Master-blow retired himself to Munâ—â—ken leaving the Command of his Army to Monsieur de Tilly and the rest of the Businesse to the Conquerours who quickly brought all the Places of the kingdome to the Emperours obedience One and the same cause often produces very different Effects The Bohemians being of the race of them who had defeated so many Armies not only with the sword but even with the very noyse of their names fighting now for the same Cause and upon the same pretexts obtained not the same good issue It is true that those others had to do with people who in respect they had lived long idle in peace had not any knowledge or understanding of armes and these here with men who came out of a School where Mars praesided where the best Lessons were taught and where experience had made them Captaines Let us now return into France CHAP. IV. Warres against the Hugenots and why A new difference between the House of Austria and the Venetians THe Hugenots not being able to digest the reduction of Bearne which was performed more by the venerable luster of the Kings Majesty then by that of the sword which remained unsheathed and fearing to be one day overwhelmed by his good successes through the instigation of their good friends the Jesuits discovered their distrust A second warre against the Hugenots by Assemblies in divers parts of the kingdom and last of all at Rochell where all the Churches met to consult and provide for their Businesse The King being informed that this Generall Convocation of theirs without his knowledge and permission too visibly checked his Authority that that which he had granted them at Londun proved prejudicial to him and that it was to his Grace and not to Arms that they were to have recourse gave them to understand his Royall Will which was that they should separate themselves within a few dayes under pain of the crime of High Treason But in vain They whose courages are so inflamed by the clattering of Arms as to hold it for pleasant musick are not to be terrified by threats They send their Deputies to Paris to make protestation of their fidelity and excuse the necessity of their affaires But the King required nothing but obedience and so he advanced his Troops towards Saumur which was delivered him up by Monsieur de Plessis Saint Iohn d' Angeli after having suffered some Attacks implores the Kings pardon Benjamin Duke of Soubise comes and casts himself at his Royall feet and promises him to wear his sword no more against his service though afterwards he quickly forget that promise The Walls were demolished upon which the choler of Lewis the just was stopped and his elemencie extended upon the Inhabitants This good successe made him resolve to march into Gascony nor did a whit disanimate the Gascons who had determined on the other side to sell their liberty at as dear a rate as they could Many Townes were constrained to humble themselves to the victorious Arms of their Prince The women were often seen most desperately fighting upon the Breach of the Walls and really if the chief of the Party had shewed as much stability as the Common people did zeal the prize had not been gotten so good cheap nor their Republick the foundations whereof they were suspected to have already laid so easily destroyed The prosperity of this vertuous Prince together with the promptitude he used to surprise the Hugenots before they could have meanes to put any considerable forces into the Field facilitated to him that which could not be denied to his justice and since hath declared that his will was to command his Townes and not the consciences of his People for the Hugenots who put all their confidence and security in the fortifications of theirs were at length constrained to rely only upon his Royall Word His exploits against his Subjects of the Reformed Religion are amply described by many Authours and therefore it suffices me to take notice only of the course or Current of them insert the misfortunes briefly follow my way and return with him to Paris there to hear his victories sung by the one and see the displeasure done to the other The siege of Montaubanc The liedge which was laid before Montaubanc a Town of superlative strength at the beginning of Autumne was raised by the great resistance of the Besieged seconded by continuall raine and diseases which much afflicted and diminished the Kings Army not without the losse of many brave men The Dake of Mayenne killed as the Constable de Luynes and the Duke of Mayenne who was lamented most of all Now these two Lords who had most excellently acted their parts upon the Stage or Theater of France and danced a Gig Round most different in cadency to one another as they were of a very contrary humour so had they likewise a very distinct death And in regard that all the most tragical and most memorable accidents which happened are found annexed to their lives we will succinctly passe through them The Castle of Amboise gave the beginning and the Birds laid the foundation of the fortune of Monsieur de Luynes Reletion of the life of the Constalle Luynes His credit glittered
of the Emperours Generals repaired and raised his Authority to so much splendour that every body desired to keep himself fast with him and gaine his favour there remaining none who durst openly act for Frederick but such as were droven by despaire For the Duke of Anholt finding the gate open to a reconciliation stooped to get in and many Townes also did the same And the Landgrave William sonne to Maurice of Hassia who finding Bellona too hard and rigorous a Mistresse betook himself to the society of the Muses followed the example of the former and was received with the same benevolence yea and adorned with a new Title of Honour besides We are forced in a scorn to make a good Part which when the danger is past we do not value Mansfeldt recollected fragments of the Armies found means to repair his losses Mansfeldt uses deceit in the Palatinate and grew likely to restore things to the point from whence they were fallen In effect not being able to get into Bohemia he wheeled about towards the Palatinate where by the taking of some places and fighting some prosperous skirmishes he raised the courage of his souldiers and struck astonishment into his enemies But the Duke of Bavaria seased upon the upper Palatinate reduced him to such extremity that upon the condition of a summe of mony and some very high title of Honour he was content to seek Peace with the Emperour however it were intended by him but onely to save his Army and so to kill two birds with one stone Foul play or cheaterie when it succeeds well passes for a gallant piece of warlike craft and wickednesse never seeks long before it findes an occasion For as soon as he arrived in the Lower Palatinate he threw off his Vizard broke his word took many Towns which served for a Fee to his hunger-starved souldiers sacked Alsatia Takes Hagenaw and surprized Hagenaw Frederick upon the noise of these successes left Holland passed incognito through France and not without huge paines and danger got to the Army There happened a surious Encounter near Wisloch The Bavarians beaten where the Bavarian lost abost above two thousand men a great number of Colours and four Field-Pieces which were testimonies that the victory was not coutemptible But Tilly was not long before he found meanes to revenge himself of this affront It is good to lend to such as are alwayes read to render For having joyned his Troops with Don Cordocia and being informed that the Marquis of Baden was separated from Mansfeldt he followed him so close that he overtook him neer Wimpfen where after a stubborn fight of some hours he put the Cavalry to flight But the Infantry or Foot finding themselves abandoned with a masculine resolution mingled with despair and desire of an honourable death fought very valiantly and made Tilly know that he should not have their lives at so cheap a rate They have their revenge as not to wrangle stoutly for them howbeit by an unlucky chance they were deprived of the meanes though not of the will Victory of the Imperialists near Wimpson to continue it For by the perpetual playing of the Ordnance the fire got into the powder which sprung the Waggons with so unfortunate hurt that all the Foot fell into disorder and was cut in pieces And eight and thirty Pieces of Canon a great deal of Baggage and money with six score Coulors falling into the hands of the Conquerours made the Conquered confesse that they received a huge and most sensible losse The Field was strewed with dead Bodies and the perishing of six thousand men upon the place gave cause to count this for one of the greatest Battails of this Age. The Bishop of Halberstadt in the interim was not asleep but having contracted great forces The cruelties of the Bishop of Halberstadt in Westphalia he went ravaging and pillaging all Westphalia sparing neither Monkes Nunnes nor Ornaments of the Church it self to satiate his cruelty leachery and avarice Indeed the scandall he gave was too great for his proceedings were blamed even by them of his own Party and he purchased the name of the Mad Bishop But the Catholicks were too much tyed to the Emperours service and therefore he thought fit to chastise them since there was no other means to hurt their Victorious head and besides the disgust of their so often singing Te Deum was too sharp and hot to be endured At Paterborne he took a Statue of Sains Liborius of massive Silver and melted it into Rex Dollars which he signed with an Arm stretched out and a sword with this motto A Friend to God and an Enemy to Priests The youthfull insolencies and unreasonable actions which he committed in a certain Cloyster of Nunnes must be buried in silence for the like could not happen but in a corrupt Age. This Army cast the greatest bulk of the war Warre again the Ecclesiasticks upon the Ecclesiasticks nor can there be imagined any kinde of sacriledge which was not perpetrated by them neither went they in fine very farre before they received the Crown of their works For being coasted or overtaken by the Count of Anholt who was now joyned to Tilly they were strenuously assaulted near the River Maine and endeavouring to passe in confusion the Bridge brake and made fine sport for the Imperialists who cut off such as were stopped and the River conspiring to their destruction thruzled a great many more so that only they who could swimme escaped and through their great diligence made a shift at length to reach the Avantguard of the Army where their Bishop marched and so ranged themselves under the wings of General Mansfeldt so that the River shared stakes with the Imperialists in the honour of this victory as having drowned about three thousand of them Frederick after this so rough a check having no means at all left to maintain his forces any longer disbanded them and retired himself back to the Hague there to expect the issue of the Treaty at Brussels by which Frankendal with the consent of King Iames of England was sequestred into the hands of the Infanta Tilly went afterwards and took Heidelberg by force and Manhein by composition and that great renowned Library Heidelbergh taken and the Library carried to Rome was transported to Rome for the Pope would have also his part of the booty to the great trouble of all the Electorall Family but who can resist against Fate Mansfeldt and his Bishop marched on towards Lorrain through which they passed without any repugnance the Duke being surprized by their unexpected approach and stayed some weeks at Sedan and Cardâ—â—â—a who was at their heels incamped himself at Ivoy We will leave them there to plot new Designes with the Duke of Boâ—â—llon and return into Poland to see what great body of Nobility march so briskly on to face that potent Emperour Osman CHAP. VIII The continuance of the warre
between the Poles and the Turks The tragicall end of young Osman The death of some Lords THe Polanders being resolved to revenge the affront done their Embassadour received besides some kind of check in Moldavia but Prince Vladistans hasting thither with a puissant Army defeated the Turks in a ranged Battail which kindled so great fury in the young Emperour Osman that he swore he would be revenged and destroy the kingdom of Poland with that terrible Army whereof we have spoken already King Sigismund received the Alarme and sent his Embassadours to all Christian Kings imploring their assistance against the Common Enemy King James aforesaid sent five thousand men whom the King of Denmark would not suffer to pass in respect of the Allyance between him and the King of Sweden In fine the Polanders finding nothing but excuses every where were fain to get all on horse-back together with their King and go to deliver their Prince who was so ingaged that he had almost no means left him to escape evident danger It was a worthy object They make all the Nobility march to succour â—ladâ—slaus to see a King march at the Head of two hundred thousand Gentlemen whereof the Grand Signor being advertised sent to offer a Peace to the Prince who embraced it as an Embassie come from heaven because the third part of his Troops of sixty thousand men which were left to defend the Confines against this huge multitude was quite consumed partly by continual attacks The Yeate made and partly by diseases as having been compelled for want of victuals to eat many of their own horses The Tucks after having wanted half their Army made their retreat which together with the Peace was about the moneth of October 1621. Let us follow them to Constantinople where we shall see the tragical and pitifull end of their Prince Osman the aforesaid young Prince by some deportments of his gave suspition to the Innisuries of his having a mind to transferre both the Treasure and seate of the Empyre from Constantinople under pretext of making a pilgrimage to the Sepulcher of their Prophet Mahomet Osman strangled and Mustapha clâ—â—led in his place Whereupon his ships were stopped his Favorites massacred in his presence and himself after having endured a thousand indignities from the Souldiers strangled by the command of his Uncle whom they had drawne out of his Hermitage to succeed him But he did not long enjoy those honours whereof indeed he was unworthy Happy are they who live content in the lownesse of their Condivion and are not exposed to the blowes of the Thunderbolt at those Captaines also are who for sake the Armies to return to the Plough without I stening to the voyce of the charming Syrens of ambition But it is not only here that we have seen unheard-of changes Now these fatall Tragedies were advantageous to the Christians who were so divided by the two so often mentioned Passions The Count de la Tour obtaines sucoâ—â—â— of the Turk that there was no appearance left to reunite them The old Count de la Tour and the Marquis of Lagerendorf were knocking at the Grand-Signors Gate and displaying both their Rhetorick and their Presents seconded by the Embassadours of the inconstant Gabor so much were they seazed by desire to ruine the House of Austria which almost all Christendome banded together hath not been able to effect hitherto no nor so much as to deprive it of the Imperial Crown Sâ—â—ks Moravia However they obtained some succour sackaged Moravia and joyned with Gabor but the Turks were defeated and their Mustapha compelled to yeeld up his place to Amurath Is beâ—◠〈◊〉 Brother to Osman And these Tragedies were the cause of the warre which chanced between the Turks and Persians to the great good of Christendom and gave occasion also to the Gossacks to make a Cavalcada or Inroade to the very Gates of Constantinople The Cossacks at the Gates of Constantinople For after they had passed many great Forrests and vast Deserts the Alarme grew so hot that if the said Cossacks had not speedily retreated with their prey the poor Christians in the Town had had their throats cut it regard that it was published that they had intelligence with them Let us now take leave of the Countries of the Half * The Turks Moon for many yeares and return by the Mediterranean into those of the * The Roman Catholick Countries upon the Mediterranean Sea Crosse which being momentarily sprinkled with blood cannot choose but multiply abundantly The Venetians were very attentive to the successes of the Bohemian warre and being more propense to their own interest then their Religion occultly favoured the Bohemians But the rest of the States of Italy leaned more to the other side however Peace remained amongst them just as they did in Spain where they received the newes of a great victory upon the King of Maroco and saw after the expiration of the Truce some Holland Vessels brought into their Ports which came from Venice and were taken in the Sreights of Gibelaltar This year 1621. in the moneth of March deceased Philip the third King of Spain and was followed some moneths after The death of Philip the third King of Spain and of and Cardinal Bellatmine by the pious Arch-Duke Albert who left the Country to his Isabel and the Command of the Militia to the Marquis Spinola That famous Cardinal Robert Bellarmin so well known by the Books he left written both against the Reformats and others paid likewise his tribute to Nature this very year being above fourscore years old England continued in Peace and therefore we will step into the Low-Countries CHAP. IX Sadnes in the Low-Countries for the bad successe of the Affaires of Frederick The Warre begun again betwixt them and the Spaniards Gulick and Papemutz surrendred Count Henry suspected and why HOlland was full of loy upon the termination of the Domestick Disorders and the condemnation of the Arminians a great part whereof withdrew themselves out of united Provinces some others embraced the doctrine of the confession of Auxbourgh and the rest fought so long against their Crosses that they surmounted them at length by obtaining in many Towns free Exercise of their Faith But this joy was quickly turned into mourning by the arrivall of the newes of the unhappy successe of King Fredericks Arms and the losse of his Kingdom which he had already had some moneths in his possession Though yet the Gazets sung alwayes of his victories and of the decline of the Emperours Affayres yea and the Painters represented him already sitting in the Imperial Throne Ferdinand on his knees before him and the Eagle all peeled and debilitated The Eagle peeled It was also published that the Battail before Prague was wonne by him and the contrary tidings contemned as suspects and given out by the Papists till himself arrived and brought the naked Truth with him and
the Administratour of Magdeburgh and the Bishop of Bremen subscribed also to it The Emperours forces in the mean while grew strong and Tilly began to smell that under the mask of amity there were some new designes a brewing however they protested that they were doing nothing against the Emperour But he answered that the Embassadours of the States of Holland were not there Tilly in Hastis to thred pearles and that he was sure that nothing was treated to his Masters advantage where they had any credit and consequently for a greater testimony of his diffidence he sent for Wallâ—stain with an Army to come and succour him Causes lye hidden under pretexts drawn from necessity and justice but they are easily discovered by people of the same profession Many Prodigies preceded the fatall warres as Armies fighting in the Ayre raining of Blood great Tempests bearing down Trees Houses and Dammes But that which was by all interpreted for an ill Augure or Token was that the King going one evening to walk upon the Rampars The Prodigies or Walls of the Town of Hamelen to visit the Sentinels his horse stumbled at a plank and threw him into the Mote or Ditch out of which he was drawne two houres after and conceived to be dead for more then three dayes together In the mean while they who laid most to heart the love of their Country and Rest employed all diligence to find a means to reconcile this Difference thereby to divert the misfortune wherein all Lower Saxony was likely to be involved To which effect a Treaty of Peace was held at Brunswick and it was already agreed that the Armies should be licensiated They treat of peace in vain by Regiments to wit that the King should casheer the first Tilly the next and so consecutively by turnes to the end But this Treaty was broken off by ambition and so such advantages as could not be reaped thereby were sought by way of Arms. The Gamester is more willing to hazard another mans money then his own I will note only the principal actions of the warre and content my selfe with saying that it is very probable that the Emperour had a design to make his Authority and Religion flourish afresh in those Countries where there was no more left then a faint and languishing knowledge thereof and The ayne of the League that mingled with coldness contempt and hatred But as for the contrary Party they endeavoured not onely to repell the aforesaid Guest but also by vertue of the Allyance to restore the Prince to his States by force of Arms since it could not be done by intercessions and so in fine deliver all the Princes from the jealousie which was given them by this House puffed up with so many victories The King retyred with his Army as farre as the Bishopprick of Werden and thereby gave the Imperialists opportunity to seaze upon many places But Fortune varied at Niemburgh from which Town after the losse of a very great number of their men they were constrained to retreat though yet the said losse were repayred shortly after by the taking of Calembergh and the defeating of some companies of Dragoons Tilly followes the River of Weser and Wallenstein that of the Elbe Wallenstein followed the River of Elbe and Tilly that of Weser who having occupated the Bishopprick of Hall entred the Dutchy of Anholt and fortified the Bridge of Dassaw Mansfeldt attacked this Fort and being repulsed joyned with the Administratour of Hall to besiege that Town Wallenstein hastened thither so they fell to work and the Fight as well through the valour of the souldiers as the experience of the Generals was long time dubious enough but at last the Horse giving ground the Foot found themselves reduced to the necessity of doing the same and such as could not save themselves by flight were either killed or taken Mansfeldt beaten near the bridge of Dassaw In this memorable Battell at the Bridge of Dassaw all Mansfeldts glory was buried howsoever he lost not his courage by so furious an overthrow but having gotten on foot a fresh Army of sixteen thousand men for Germany and the Septemtrion were yet full of brave Souldiers he drew towards Silesia took in some places passed thence into Transylvania where he gave up his Army to the Duke of Wimar and accompanied by some of his principall Officers put himself in the way towards Venice but a Dysentery or Bloody Flux or rather according to the opinion of some a Potion stopped the course of his journey His death designes and life altogether and delivered the Emperour from a troublesome Enemy and the Duke of Wimar also a short space after followed him not to Venice but to the other world Thus ended the life of this famous General who had been fortunate enough in raising Armies but not in fighting Battels Wallenstine having stifled the War of Transylvania marched back into Silesia dissipated Wimars Troops and retook the occupated places And Baudis and Holck being sent to joyne with the said Duke were cut off by Merode and Beckman So that Wallenstein having put an end to all their disorders returned towards Brunswick Tilly being intent upon the occasions of hurting his enemies went and unexpectedly attacked a Quarter commanded by that Valiant Souldier Obertrawt who together with one of the Dukes of Anholt and some hundreds of Souldiers Obertrawt killed was slaine in this encounter and when Tilly went to visit and comfort him he answered him Monsieur de Tilly in such waters are taken such fish Now the King finding himself in great danger by the losse of Mansfeldt and the Bishop of Halberstadt who died at the same time at Wolfenbottel after he had vomited up a Worm of about four ells long did not yet lose his courage The death of the Bishop of Halbersiadt Nature shews her strength in despair and Vertue hers in extremity He saw two Armies upon his skirts to be opposed by him and therefore he resolved to attack the one of them being more inflamed to vengeance by the losse of Munden which he slighted and the furious blow which was given his Cavalrie by Count Furstembergh But he was a little too tardy in going to drive Tilly from the siege of Gothing Besides that he stayed at Luther against the advice of his Lieutenant Generall Fucks and Tilly thereby to make himself as glorious as Wallenstein desired nothing more earnestly then to slight I fine the Battell was given with so much obstinacie that the old Bands which had been accustomed to vanquish Battell of Luther the twenty seventh of August 1626. began almost to stagger towards flight but their time was not yet come and the puissant Gemus of their Generall had a great advantage upon that of the King who perceiving his Horse fly and not being able either by his presence or exhortations to detaine them was compelled to abandon his Foot to the mercy of
received by all the Subjects of the King as a speciall grace sent them from God but that which was deplorable in it was that he was forced to abandon the cause of his Cousins the Dukes of Meckelenbergh who for having embraced his and followed his Party or rather for having conjoyned their armes with all the members of the Circle were proclaimed Out-lawes The Dukes of Meckelâ—nbergh excluded from Peace Their Dutchy given to Wallenstein and their Dutchy ingaged to Wallenstein who was afterward put in possession thereof as true Duke by the Emperour This proceeding as being very rigorous against Princes of so ancient and so illustrious a Family and totally contrary to Ferdinands clemency made the House of Austria suspected not only of intending to establish her Authority in the North but of making also the very Empire it self Hereditary and to go yet farther too if occasion were offered And this upon the matter was partly the cause of the Swedish warre as we shall shortly demonstrate But let us go into Austria where we shall find very fine house-keeping CHAP. IV The Warre of the Peasants in Austria VVHilest all the North trembled at the Imperial Eagles and that nothing but the salt ayer of the Ocean was able to stop either their flight or their victories behold a little spark in Austria both contemptible and contemned raised within a few moneths such an embarasment as frighted that invincible Monarch at the same time that all the Princes began with good reason to apprehend him through the constant felicity of his Generalls These disorders were caused by diversity of Religion and the Politicians together with such as aspired to change moved them on to that point which we are now going to describe The cause of the Revolt of the Peasants Ferdinand being a very zealous Prince thought it his duty to draw either by fair meanes or foul all his Subjects to the Roman Catholick Religion and his Councell alledged that his Authority would still be wavering as long as there should be any Hereticks in his States And so it was facil to perswade him to a thing which hè conceived to depend upon his conscience Whereupon he commanded all his Subjects either forthwith to embrace the Catholick Religion or depart out of Austria within a certain term prescribed them A bold resolution and found strange opposition He declared in his Letters Pattents that Heresie under the pretext of Liberty of Conscience and Priviledges hatched nothing in her bosome but Revolts Sedition and Devices to shake off the yoke of Soveraigns and lawfull Magistrates Princes look upon the interest of State and the People that of Religion which once lost farewell all respect with it The Peasants must therefore be stirred up to try if luck would turn and whether Fortune would be alwayes fixed with a Diamant-Nayle Complaints were rejected Count Hebersdorf the inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command was first chased away with stones and afterwards fury affoarded other weapons For the said Peasants to the number of ten thousand cut off his forces seazed upon many Castles and small Places and being at lenth re-inforced by forty thousand men and forty Peeces of Ordnance pillaged all Austria sparing neither Priest Monk nor Gentleman The Clergy hath ever served as Fee or prey to the seditious The Emperour wrote to them but they endeavouring to obtain by force what was denied to their supplication disdained to answer him Upon which he dispatched other Embassadours to endeavour to reduce them gently to their duty but they retained them and sent some from themselves to Vienna to demand free exercise of their Religion dismission of the souldiers and a generall pardon for what was past All which they had obtained had not their prosperity by the defeat of some of the Duke of Bavaria's Troops made them undertake more If any grow blind by happinesse it is chiefly the abject sort of the vulgar which waxes temerarily bold when it thinks it self feared But the Town of Lintz which they besieged cowed their courage and speeded the punishment which they had deserved by their rash Rebellion They assaulted it often but were still repulsed with huge losse so that Papenheim who was appointed to chastise them effected it not with so great facility as Trucses and some other Generals had done that of the like seditious Rabble above a hundred years before For he was fain to combat them at least seven times before he could vanquish them so chearfully and stoutly would they rally and defy their victorious enemies even in the fight The Romans found themselves once in great trouble by the revolt of their slaves and yet they more easily quenched that fire though it were even within the Walls of Rome then the Imperialists were able to do this because here was more combustible matter But under what Heads or Leaders Their Generals a Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith did this desperate Crew fight A Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith With what weapons Sticks Stoones Whips Forks and Muskets And what more Potion and Enchantments To what end If we must judge Effects by their Causes it was for the exercise of Religion and to beat out their Soveraign Magistrate Who were those Aeoluses who letting loose the windes disturbed the Calm and raised their storms It is more easie to conjecture and believe then to prove They are at last defeated in many Encounters by Papenheim After the last defeat the most mutinous of them ran away and the rest pent up at home like slocks of sheep Thus ended this dangerous warre which teaches us how perilous a a thing it is to endeavour to command mens consciences We must contend with the word of God and not with the sword or to say better we must pray with charity for one another and not persecute our selves with arms unlesse we be commanded by Politick necessity The holy Scripture sayes Let the rares grow fear lest you root out the good corne Papenheim acquired no lesse glory nor merited lesse to Triumph then the two other Generals And thus was the Emperour delivered from a most apparent danger by the remotenesse of his Armies Let us now make a leap to the Low-Countries and see what passed there at the beginning of the year 1625. CHAP. V The death of Prince Maurice and of the King of England The Siege of Groll The State of Lorraine The Jubily at Rome Bethleeem makes warre upon the Emperour and obtains peace The death of Maurice 1625. PRince Maurice being returned to the Hague expressed no more then a certain pensiveness and melancholy proceeding from age and as it was believed from the errour committed in that memorable Enterprise upon Antwerp which grew to augment his feaver and brought him at length to his grave His reputation is too much known to speak much of him and the United Provinces would have had cause to be infinitely afflicted at such a loss had he
the King of Denmark and all the Protestants of his Party after having so often chastized Bethleem Gabor destroyed the dreadful revolt of the Peasants of Austria and pardoned such as were too deeply ingaged in the Prince Palatines patty who was deprived of his Stages and fled for resuge into Holland and after the death of Mansfeldt and his faithful Bishop the Emperour resolved She complaints of the Catholicks to satisfy the complaints of the Roman Catholicks who demanded justice upon such as by usurpation detained many Possessions and goods after the contract of Passavia For being the Head of justice he could not deny them and the Bishops are as well members of this great Body as the other Princes but it was to move a stone which threatned the fall of the whole building It was represented to him that the Prorestants had very ill observed the Peace and that the Catholicks had not dispured with them what was already granted them by the said contract however it were done by force and for the establishment of firme repose but that they not being glutted with those Prebendries had leapt beyond their bargains and against the Signed Promise violently ravaged and taken many other But we must not keep our word with Hereticks Who must be upbraided with this maxine he who sayes it or he who does it The Emperour upon mature deliberation finding the equity of the cause slighting the danger which yet was most vilable for he went about to shock the Electours Princes States and Towns of the Empire who would not suffer such dainty bits to be plucked out of their mouths with out contesting and hazarding all even though they were forced to call in strangers A command to rander all eccle siesticell goods taken after the Controll of Passavia Wherefore upon the sixth of March 1629 he sent a most expresse command from his good City of Vienna to all the Princes and Towns of the Empire forthwith to restore all ecclesiasticall Lands or Goods seazed or occupated after the composition of Passavia upon pain of losse of all Pâ—â—viledges Rights Immunities and the Imperiall Eccommunication The Thunderbolt which falls before the feet of the travayler doth not so much astonish him as this sentence did all the Protestants But before we passe to this disasterous War let us see the motives and reasons of both patryes I have already shewed upon what Right the Emperours command was grounded There son why the execution whereof was assured him to be facil enough by so many victorious Armies which it would be no less then evident temerity for them to oppose since he had already ventered to expel the Heriticks out of his own Haereditary Countries had brought the sedition of the Peasants to a good issue But the occult causes were that he could not better fix his Authority then by this way in regard that it he would be generally adored and root the Imperial Crown fast in his Family he must needs first resorm and re-establish the Roman Catholick Religion every where That he had a fooring in the Bahick Sea and that since he had so well begun he ought to prosecute and finish That he was obliged to God the Church and the Holy See and that at serves for nothing to undertake without perseverance and the Iron must be struck whilest it is hot c. Now the Protestants found this Command of as hard digestion as the Belgicks or Low-country people did the exaction of the Tenth Penny A hard Proposition imposed upon them by the Duke of Alva Men fight sometimes sayes a learned Writer with more resolution for the Harth then for the Altar Wherefore Pro arri focis it was held sit to oppose it by some Protestation and so they beseeched his Majesty to suspend the execution thereof till it were decided in a Generall Diet. But in the mean while there grew murmuration and grumbling every where the hatred for Religion was renewed and a most manifest aversion of the people discovered The Emperour granted them a Generall Assembly at Ratisbone The Assembly at Rathbone and transported himself thither at the same time that the newes was brought him that the King of Sweden was entred with an Army into the Territories of the Empyre Whereupon the Protestant Embassadours even ravished with joy required not only a Revocation of the said Edict or Command in order to the Ecclesiasticall possessions but also that all might be restored to the same state wherein it was before the Revolt But Ferdinand would not hearken to this for either he must make himself obeyed or leave to Command Hereupon the Embassadors sneaked away And at Leppsick and assembled themselves at Leipsick The Neighbouring nations seeing this alteration were not a little glad to understand that there was a preparation made to give this Majesty a general check in the very foundation and root thereof In a word Leagues and Confoederations were concluded and strangers who by occult wayes helped to fabricate this fire called in and embraced the ambition of Spain not forgotten which aymed at nothing but the Universal Monarchy the Inquisition canvased and the Jesuites as Parricides Incendiaries Enomies to peace and Authours of all sedition coupled The Roman Antichrist carried also his pack by the writings of such as whose whose party was supby the cruell lot of Armes and in fine by all the Protestants The Imperial Majesty it self was exposed to the rage of the people which wished for nothing but a change Yea even the Imperial Townes which suspected that Majesty and which by the licence of the change of Religion had appropriated to themselves all the aforesaid Lands and Goods thrust on the wheel augmented the distrust and offered the profusion of their treasures thereby to hinder the drawing of the principall source thereof It was also alledged that the Princes and States had had ground and cause to employ the Ecclesiasticall Lands and Goods to better uses and that the Priests and Monks lived ill fatted themselves like hogges and gave scandal to the whole world That they had peacefully enjoyed them above sixty years and that such of them as were left them by their Ancestours might be retaken by them to provide for their children In fine complaints reasons and libels were not wanting And after a great wind commonly sollowes rain so all here being disposed they came from words to blowes CHAP. XVII The Assembly of Ratisbone where Frithland is dismissed from his Charge The Allyance of the Duke of Bwaria with the King of France 1630. DUring the Assembly at Ratisbone in the year 1630. Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and Electour made a League Defensive and Offensive with the King of France whereby his Majesty promised to maintain the Electorat in the House of Bavaria and defend it against any who might be so bold as to attack it with an Army of fifty thousand men and he promised the King to succour him
King of Poland going into Spain to be Vice-Roy of Portugal was beaten by a tempest into a Port of Province where being stayed prisoner and conducted to Paris he was detained a very long time there and not enlarged till after many reiterated Embassyes from the King and Common-wealth of Poland Charles Prince Palatin having in England received the news of Duke Bernards deceaseâ— and conferred with the King and the Spanish Embassadour there departed secretly and passed through France to winne the favour of that Orphan-Army and take possession of Brisack but he was discovered at Moâ—â—lins in the district of Burbon and carried prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes The Duke of Lorraine fought very unhappily against Monsieur du Hallier saw himself quickly stripped of the rest of his States and his poor subjects very ill treated The distressed Burgundians had also their share of the mischiefs of war and sufficient cause to repent themselves of having refused the Troops offered them by Galasso The Spanish Fleet beaten in the Downes 1639. We will finish this year with the huge victory which the Hollanders got of the great Spanish Armada or Navie upon the Coast of England which was almost all burnt and ruined the twenty one of September 1639. and a good number of ships carried into Holland The account of the dead and wounded men was very great and Spain resented this wound a long time by the dispeopling of her Inhabitants It hath not yet been known upon what design this Navie came into the North and all the discourses which have been held thereof have been founded but upon simple conjectures A Revolt in Normandy and in Pâ—â—ou The Normans fell into Commotions and seditions which quite ruined their Province The people were so oppressed by Gabells and Taxes that they had nothing left them but their miserable lives and those full of despaire too To what purpose is it to take some Townes upon the Fronteers of their enemies if it be done with the blood and ruine of the poor people I would take Towns enow saida certain great Warrier but they would cost my subjects too dear I desire to winne them not to buy them In fine not being able to support so many exactions they took Arms under the conduct of a certain Jean Vanuds-pâ—eds in English â—ohn Goe bare-foot At first they were despised and slighted but finding favour credit and intelligence it was needfull to send forces to defeat them which was done and Generall Gassion entring into Rouen disarmed the Inhahitanâ—s and used them as if it had been a Town taken upon the Spaniards without carrying respect so much as to that Illustrions Company some whereof he ignominiously casheâ—red Oh Times Oh manners If the reverence which we ought to bear to Justice be taken away in what esteem think you can the Lawes be The Inhabitants of Caen had almost the same treatment The revolt of the Croquans in Boiâ—oâ—â— had no better issue and all such as would endeavour to check this Great Cardinals authority made ship-wrack of both body and goods It was not lawfull to complain for that blinde Goddess had perhaps taken up her lodging in the head of this great Minister who could not faile It is said of the French that they Ride and not faile In effect were their potency so great upon the one of these Elements as it is upon the other and they as prudent to preserve as they are generous to atchieve they might openly pretend to an universal Monarchy For they have manifested in these last wars that they know how to correct their defects and that they can as well defeat Navies at Sea as Hosts ashore and Monsieur de Brezè with the Arch-Bishop of Bourdeaux shewed no less address and dexterity in the conduct of his Vessels then he had done in that of the Army which he led into Brabans so that work was every where cut our for the King of Spaines Subjects CHAP. X The revolt of Catalunia and Portugal The taking of Arras The Spaniards beaten beaten before Cazal The Hollanders beaten before Hulst THe House of Austria was not enough afflicted yet by so many losses and so many Plots and Treasons but she must be yet more tottered by other disasters and rebellions Spain was indeed within her singers breadth of destruction by the revolts which are yet in durance and which it was believed would make her loose the Low-Countries and her States in Italy But as a great Oak agitated by the windes resists strongly and raises it self up against them just so does this House which men labour in vain to overthrow For there are too many Allyes to maintain her It is in the deepest misfortunes that she shewes least apprehension and in the most imminent dangers that she makes her valour known This year of 1640 was almost fatall to her by the defection of Catalunia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and the unhappy success of her Arms in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish war to the bank of the Danub Let us take notice in due order as much as brevity will permit us of the motives of these stirres King Philip the fourth who now reignes in Spain being a milde Prince and a little more addicted to his pleasures then the state of his affaires required left the administration thereof to the Count of Olivares who as changes grow not without a cause rendred himself odious to almost all his Masters Subjects yea and complaints came of him even from the Low-Countries themselves besides that the Grandies who ordinarily pry upon all occasions to get themselves rid of a potent Minister so well fomented the grievances of the people that they brought them to open revolt upon these pretexts He had great forces of Spaniards and Walloons in Catalunia ordered to guard that Province against the invasion of the French But Rule and Discipline was not so exactly kept but that the licentiousness of the souldiers made the Inhabitants murmur who suddenly rising up in Arms slew their Guests and beat such as came to revenge the sedition Yea upon Corpus Christs-day it self The revolt of the Cataluniaâ—s 1640. they cruelly murthered their Governour With a mutinous people there is nothing sacred no more then there is reason The King was not able to stop this torrent by mildness and clemency and so since the Sluce was broaken the water must be let run For the very Bishops and Priests themselves wore plain Incendiaries and Don Ioseph of Margarita with some other great persons made them subtract themselves from the obedience of their Prince to embrace the protection of France A certain great Politician of this Age discoursing one day upon this matter said that the Catalunian took Armes for their Priviledges and to be succoured by a Nation which made profession of observing none at all The Marshall of Schoonbergh desirous to advantage himselt by this occasion offered them his forces and obliged
easily annihilated and then the Conquerours would have all or nothing The Plempotentiary-Embassadours had already treated at Munster and Osuabrugh the space of four years when it pleased at length the Father of light to dissipate the darkness of ambition and to send back peace into poor Germany which was so much tottered dispeopled and desert that it was not any more to be known The Tragedy both began The war begun and ended in Prague and ended in the City of Prague Great God grant this Peace may last tul the coming of thy Son our Lord Amen It is here to be marked that after the death of King Gustave of Lewis the thirteenth and the Landgrave William the Daughter of the first and the widowes of the two others continued the war against the Emperour by their Generals with so great constance prosperity and glory that he had very little less trouble and loss then he had before Moreover the hatred which the Conquerours shewed towards the Hollanders for the Composition which they had made rendied their design evident enough The Peace was conlud d ordered and signed at Munster and the Instruments there of sent to the principall persons concerned to be ratified which was effected and a Diet convocated at Nurembergh The Peace made at Mâ—â—stâ— 1649. there to treat about the restitution of Places and the disimission of the Armies as also of the meanes to content the Swedish Militia Such as had their swords in their hands were not ill handled The kingdom of Bohemia was declared Hereditary to the House of Austria and put out of dispute with Silesia and Moravia The upper Palatinat and the Electorall Dignity to the Hâ—use of Bavaria The Crown of Sweden retaines Pomerania except only that part which is called the Hâ—nder-Pemerama and the Archbishoprick of Bremen which is secularized into a Dukedom Item the Town of Wismar The gain of the Conquerours and Meckelemburgh The Marquis of Brandenburgh hath in recompence the Bishoprick of Magdeburgh which is also secularized and some other besides There are most ample Treatises written of this Peace to which I reser the Reader but I will first tell him that there are eight Electors and that the Prince Palatin is re-established in the lower Palatinat France hath Brisack and a good part of Alsatta with the renunciatton of the Empite to the pretensions of the Bishopricks of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Complaints of the House of Burguady and the Duke of Lorraines affairs were remitted to a particular Treaty between the two Crowns Thus ended the great Revel or Dance in Germany which lasted about thirty years wherein all the Nations of Europe had their pate Thus was the Emperour Ferdinand the third delivered from so many troubles and vexations who sits yet at the Helme of this noble Vessel Thus every body was contenred in apparence at least however there be some who could have wished to dance longer Thus was the Maske laid aside and the design of the French and Swedes discovered who vanted that they took Arms only for the liberty of Germany Thus were the Germans in excessive joy and in some care also to finde mony to pay the Charges content the Minstrills and the Dancers and take their leave Let them go to Nurembergh so weary with having danced so much that they can hardly stand upon their feer and let us transport our selves into Italy to see whether that prudent Nation dances with better grace and more judgement CHAP. XXV Pope Vrbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia THe war which was made upon the Emperour by the Swedes had so divided the people of Europe that there were very few persons to be found who shewed not themselves either glad or sad upon the issue of any remarkable Battel The Lutherans who looked upon it only for the interest of their Doctrine were afraid least if the Emperour grew victorious he should deprive them of the exercise thereof by a Reformation and retake from them all the Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions The Catholicks guided by zeal were inwardly afflicted at the decline or decay of that Great House which alone sustained the hatred of the Protestants and could not forbeare to murmur and cry our aloude against Pope Vrban The Complaints of the most zealous Catholicks whom they conceived to be tyed to the Interests of France How is it possible said they that the Common Father of Christians should either by secret agitations plot the ruin or resist the designes of a House by which he is so powerfully propped She hath raised a just quarrel both for her own interest and that of the whole Clergy is grown odious to the contrary Party and bath hazarded her States And not with standing all these essential reasons he depended wholly upon Cardinal Richelieu What can he expect after the destruction of the Empire but another inundation of the Goths in Italy who will sack Rome and evert the Holy Chaire He prefers the advancement of his Nephews before the care of the Church whilest the Protestants and some feigned Catholicks are labouring to abolish and overthrow her The praises which the Protestants gave him by saying that he was a most learned and able man and a good Politician and that he did very well to contribute to the humbling and abasing of this House which if she could once come to her end would make but a simple Chaplaine of him and take away part of his Authority augmented and grounded their complaints yet more But he in despight of all these noises Pope Urban affellionate to France leaned alwayes towards France For the interests of States enter as well into the Conclave as those of the Church He forbore not for all that to exhort the Princes to Peace and to promise Ferdinand some succour whereof there appeared some effects now and then This unhappy Age could not produce but miserable fruits since the Ecclesiasticks as well as the Seculars forsook Gods Cause to serve their own irregular Passions and evil Customes Some instead of quenshing this fire kindled it on every side and in Italy it selfe yea they were the Minstrills themselves of this Universal Revel or Dance The Cardinals the Minstrilis of the great Ball. which hath violated the Church and her Sacraments destroyed the Theological and Cardinal Vertues and utterly extinguished Christian Charity This good Pope left this mortal habitation the nine and twentieth of July 1644. after having held the Chaire about two and twenty years The Popes death 1644. a very knowing man and a goot Poet. A little before his decease he had almost all Italy in arms against him for the Dutchy of Castro and some other pretentions of divers partyes but by the King of Frances intercession all was accommodated for this war being dammageable to the Catholick Doctrine and advantageous to the Protestant was quickly lulled asleep and so St. Peters Ship hath not quite made Shipwrack yet by the tempest of scandals
how much apparence soever there were of repaying the affront received before it the precedent year The time passed in contest the Garrison of the Town reinforced and the Knight after two dayes sickness The knight of Guises death dead which death for the Violence thereof was suspected of some malignity as well to the Soule as to the body The suddain deaths of great persons give occasion of talke but those of mean ones are put into common necessity However it be one of his Masters drew profit from it and the other disavowed it Commandments are dangerous to such as execute them for not having their Commission in writing This unforeseen accident amazed such as were cleer sighted filled his most illustrious House with mourning cansed great alterations and designes which made more noyse then effect During these irresolutions the Arch-duke departed from Brussels and arrived at the Army neer Cambray to advice how and with what advantage the Field should be finished The siege of Rocroy Rocroy glorious by the defeat of the Spaniards was a subject which deserved to be brought under obedience wherefore the resolution was taken to besiege it and the French who had coasted their enemies to the Frontiers without hazarding any thing went and incamped themselves before Mouzon And of Mouzon I will say nothing in particular of these two Sieges though I were present at one of them but that Heaven being angry to see the two most generous Nations that ever bore the Christian Name ceased not to outrage or vex one another to their mutuall disadvantage powred down so many teares and the windes raysed so many stormes Ill weather that both men and horses felt excessived stresses It parted the victorres to open their eyes for Rocroy which was the first attacked These two Towns renders themselves yeelded two dayes after Mouzon i. e. the thirtieth of September and the Armies being fatigated by the over much wetness of the season went to seeke shelter almost naked The French being very impatient and desirous to be lodged more at large unnestied the Garrison of St. Menehout and the Lorrains And St. Menchout conducted by their own Master the Duke went to affict the Bishoprick of Liedge The Lorraines in the Bishoprick of Liedge The small success of the three last Fields in respect of the great advantages which were promised by the disorder caused by the discontentments of the Princes of the blood at least a second Peace of Vervins made fools talke who open their mouthes when the wise or at least the wary a most usual maxime in these present times keep them shut There was a misfortune foreseen and it fel upon the Abbot of Mercy and the Count of Bassigny who were cast in prison The Count of Bassigay and the Abbot of Mercy prisoners and their imprisonment gave such as were curious ground to scrue into the cause thereof and made others believe that it would discover some great mistery for which the lovers of novelty longed much This first Thunderclap struck but one only steple but before it was dissipated it crushed a Rock which so many Mariners in this Sea of miseries both doubted and feared and against which so many Vessels made Shipwrack For the Liedgers took an Alarme as also a resolution to make an Allyance with the French against the House of Spain Which blow must needs be fatall to his Catholick Majesty if not prevented and Cardinal Mazarin ful of joy to see himself at the Helme of the Ship began to hope that the webs which he had woven in that Country would be more difficult to untangle then it was to unty the Gordions knot The Duke of Lorraine was sent for to Brussels taken prisoner and carried to the cittadel of Antwerp And the Duke of Lorrain Neither the exploits of Mas-Aniello nor the death of the King Charles brought more astonishment to all Europe then this detention which gave things another countenance brake the neck of many designes sent back the great Faber with his forces to Sedan and retained the Liedgers in their liberty which they were about to loose together with their Peace The Imprisonment of this Soveraign Prince smothered all his Counfels which seemed to be great and was taken for one of the strangest accidents of the time and discovered that he was beloved by almost no body He is suspected to have imitated the constable of St. Paul Suspected to imitate the constable of St. Paul and to have sought his profit in this pernicious War where he danced better then he did in the great Ball or Revel which was made at Paris 1642. France blamed this proceeding more for her own interest then for that of the Prisoner his Troops expressed so great discontentments and fell into such disorder Prince Francs arrives aâ— Brussels that it was needful to send for Prince Francis to put them into the state of obedience who having taken leave of the Emperour and all the Court departed from Vienna being well received and cherished every where and principally at Brussels where he arrived with his two Soanes Whilest the Count of Fuensaldania in busy about securing the Lorrains to his Masters service and assigning them good Winter-quarters to the great displeasure of the Inhabitants of Lile we will go down a little lower Promps last battail The last Battail in the moneth of August wherein the valliant Admirall Tromp lost his life proceeded partly from disgust by seeing the Enemies brave or domineer so long upon the Coast before the havens of Texel and the Moze hindring the going out of the ships obstructing the commerce The Hollanders who had made so many bravadoes throughout all the whole Ocean and imagined that the Lordship of the Sea belonged without controversie to them were even almost dead with spight and displeasure to see themselves so highly and grossely affronted even at their own doors This baâ—tail Isay whereof I have hitherto made very little mention declared in the beginning the addres of both Parties by striving for the advantage of the winde and at the end their generous and obstinate resolution to overcome The losse which the Hollanders sustained was of about fifteen or sixteen Vessels and that of the English little as to Vessels but many were extreemly indammaged on both sides In this surious fight as also in all the former the English Vessels by reason of their hight and their number of bigg Brass Gunns had almost the same advantage upon the Hollanders which Curasseers In which as in many former many Captaines did not their duty or Corsler-Horsmen have upon the Light Horse Besides that many Dutch Captains did not their duty in such sort as that the Hollanders reaped no other profit of their valour then that of removing their Enemies from their Coast and were forced themselves into the Texel The English considering in what equipage their fleet was and fearing the violent storms that