to relieve them driven backe and almost so scattered that they were ruined and the seven Cannon which formerly they had wonne were taken from them againe In the meane time the Swedens small Cannon that were planted before the Briggads being righted on the enemies Cannon at the winde-mill whereon also Duke Barnards Cannon which were before his Briggad played on the enemies Cannon towards the wind-mill doing great hurt to the enemie so that they were forced to retire their Cannon a little behinde the Millars house in this meane time his Majestie with some squadrons of horse charged the enemie that was thrice stronger than they charging with their right wing his left wing falling on them with such furie that their Reare-guard or reserve were astonished being so furious that they went through their enemies putting them to the flight But especially his Majestie himselfe having charged too farre with foure Cornets in the midd'st of the enemies troopes being deadly wonded gave up the Ghost fighting for God and for the defence of the true Religion he departed valiantly and happily for him in Christ our Saviour Neverthelesse two great bodies of Crabbats of the enemies left wing stood firme and falling on the right wing of the Swedens horsemen with such a crie and furie advanced so farre that they were Masters of the Swedens Amunition waggons bringing also some of the Swedens horsemen in disorder whereupon incontinent did fall on three squadrons of the Swedens horsemen under whom Lievetenant Colonell Rolingen was one that did second the rest bravely who was shot in the Arme. Neverthelesse the Crabbats were beaten backe againe with losse during which time Duke Barnard of Wymar was not idle with the left wing of the Swedens horsemen but with the commanded musketiers being of Leslies Regiment and with the small Cannon charged the enemies right wing making them retire on their Cannon by the wind-mill and Gallowes and after long fighting they were made at last to give ground quitting to the Swedens fourteene peeces of great Ordinance As the Duke of Wymar did charge the enemie their Amunition waggons tooke fire which did indammage the enemie much but thereafter Papenhaim comming from Hall with a fresh supplie unloâ—ked for the service was begunne againe more sharpe and violent than before which continued for a while very vehement he having recollected the scattered Troopes the Order whereof can scarce bee well set downe by reason it was so neere night before Papenhaims comming yet the service continued hot and cruell so long as he lived till it was past eight a Clocke at night that in end Papenhaim being kill'd the Emperialists losing courage through the assistance of God and the manly and valiant courage of Duke Barnard of Wymar the victorie was come on the Swedens side the enemie having quit the field and burnt off his Leaguer with his whole Baggage and three peeces of Cannon which he could not get carryed away with him hee tooke his retreate againe on Leipsigh There were killed of the Emperialists the Abbot of Fulda the Grave Fon Papenhaim Colonell Lane Colonell Vestrum Lievetenant Colonell Lordâ— Livetenant Colonell Taphim Lievetenant Colonell Camerhooffe Coloneâ—â— Sâ—ves with many other inferiour Officers and Souldiers On the Swedens side were lost with his Majestie Generall Major Isler Colonell Gerstâ—rfâ— Generall Major Grave Neeles a Sweden Colonell Vildesten and divers more were hurt and of our Nation was hurt with the Cannon and musket twice Captaine Henry Lindesey brother to Bainshow who for a time did lie almost dead in the field divers Officers of Colonell Lodowicke Leslie his Regiment were also hurt having behaved themselves well being for the most part old expert Officers and old beaten blades of Souldiers In this Battaile as was thought were killed nine thousand men besides those were hurt whereof many thereafter dyed of their woundes such as on the Emperours side Grave Berhertbold Fon Walestine Colonell Comargo Colonell Browner the old Colonell Viltzleben and others On the Swedens side also dyed of his wounds after the Battaile Generall Major Grave Neeles After his Majesties death there was great and extraordinary griefe and sorrow over the whole Armie yet they never suffered the same to be seene outwardly but prosecuted still the enemie more vehemently and more cruelly than before For the Duke of Wymar and the rest of the Cavalieres of the Armie understanding the great misfortune of his Majestie death resolved all alike it was better to dye on the place with his Majestie than to retire one foote of ground which resolution was the cause that in the end they did crowne the lamentable death of the Kings Majestie with a stately and heroicall Victorie so that his Majestie in the highest degree of glorie may be imagined before any King or Emperour to have dyed and his life doth eternize alike both his prayse and glorie being victorious before death in his death and after death The Duke of Fridland Walestine after the losing of this Battaile retired with his scattered Armie towards Leipsigh and having had no time to continue there he was forced to take his retreate further unto the Hill's of Bohemia and thereafter Leipsigh was freed from the enemies forces by the Duke of Lunenburg and the Saxons that were comming with succours unto his Majestie before the Battaile whose march was too slow their succours being come but after the stroaks were given The Castle of Leipsigh called Plassenburg having holden out long was taken againe together with which all other partes in Saxon that the Emperialists had taken were freed againe by the Swedens the second time as Camnits Fryburg c. For which service the Swedens were evill recompensed by the ungratefull Saxon whose unthankfulnesse to the Crowne of Sweden will never be forgotten In all this time the Swedens Felt-Marshall Gustavus Horne did prosper very fortunately in Alsas not onely in taking in the strong and fast Episcopall Strength Bennâ—nfeld in spight of the Emperialists who had pressed to relieve it all Maiesty to fall But we may say with Salomon in the twenty-eight of the Proverbs and twenty-one verse It was for the sinnes of the Land and our sinnes that he was taken from amongst us and from those poore Cavaliers that did follow him for his Maiesties love and the love of the cause He was shot with three Bullets dead with the last for our sinnes and the sinnes of the Land And what he did before his death for the liberty of Dutch-land and freedome of the Gospell none but knowes it he left his owne Kingdome to bring strangers to freedome in theirs he set light by his owne life for Dutch-land that they might keepe theirs he waked and cared day and night for them as a father for his children that at last he might bring peace for them to sleepe sound he brought the keyes and opened their Church doores that were closed up by the Antichristian Idolaters that the Devills doctrine was banished againe out of the
we did this day rejoyces in the calme when it comes and he is said to merit the Crowne that hath fought valiantly It is also very necessary that at such service as this was if we have time that we be carefull to bring off our Camerades bodies killed on service that died honourably before their enemies to be laid in the bed of honour in burying their bodies as becomes Christians We are also tied in duety to our Camerades that were with us in danger if either they be wounded or mutilated to care for their safeties so far as lieth in our power And we must not preferre the safety of our owne bodies to the publique weale of our Camerades and countrimen dead or living but we ought with the hazard of our owne lives to bring off the dead and hurt An example of this duety we have in the person of the President of Chassangue treating of the Iewes law that did command that the bodies of their dead enemies should not lie unburied Caesar caused to be buried the head of his enemy Pompey and wept at his death as Valerius Maximus reports in his fift booke and sixt Chapter Hercules is thought to have bin the first that ordained to bury the bodies of those killed on service and David calls them blessed that were so thankefull as to have buried Saul Indas Macchabie did cause to bury the bodies of the enemy killed in battaile and Alexander restored unto the mother of Darius the dead bodie of her sonne Hanniball did burie the body of his enemy Marcellus as Valerius affirmes It is also expedient for the common-weale that the bodies of the dead be buried and Leonard Darez reports that Cyrus Alexander and Caesar did recommend their funeralls to their friends as Lievetenant Rosse did his to his Captaine and me which we performed in the best manner we could for the time If Pagans had such regard to their burialls Christians should be more carefull whose bodies sometimes were the receptacles of the holy Spirit and of the immortall soule created to Gods owne Image Here also I would report the commandement that we reade in the second chapter verse 23. of the fourth booke of Esdras Where thou findest the dead put them in the grave with a certaine marke and I will give thee the first seate in my resurrection and the wise Ancients said men should looke unto the end My exhortation then is to all my worthy countrimen and women that were interessed in our losses in this dayes service to consider that when these gentlemen and Cavaliers were borne that they were marked and ordained to die honourably fighting in the good cause and for the liberty of our Kings daughter the Queene of Bohemia and her distressed Royall Issue under the magnanimous King of Denmarke our Master who for her Majesties libertie did hazard not onely his life but his crowne let them then that are interessed as said is in this our losse consider againe that they died with great honour and reputation seeing they live eternally in their fame having laid downe their lives as servants of the publique if not for their country yet at least as cannot be denied for the liberty of their Kings Royall Issue It then became them well to have died standing Therefore those mothers friends or Sisters are to be condemned that mourne for them that live after their death in their fame and though their griefe be great let them shed no teares for feare it become of them as became of that Ancient woman called Vicia mother to Futius Geminus who was killed at Rome for having wept at the death of her sonne that had lost his life in the publique service as reporteth Tacitus in his 6 booke of his Annals and our Saviour in the Evangelist Saint Luke doth forbid the widdow to weepe for her sonne that was dead and St. Paul writing to the Thessalonians saith Brethren I would not have you ignorant of the estate of those that are asleepe to the end you do not over-mourne as those do that are without hope Therefore let us forbeare all teares for those departed and if we should mourne let us mourne with teares even those most pretious teares for sinne these are the Christian teares that should be shed from our hearts to reconcile us unto God those teares are as the bloud of the soule hurt and wounded with the sense and feeling of our sinnes before God these are the teares that drawe Gods mercy upon us as David cried unto God in the 36 Psalme Thou hast counted my wanderings and put my teares in thy bottle are they not in thy Register Therefore though we be grieved at the losse of our friends and at the losse of the day Yet ô God make us thankfull unto thee for our deliverance that we may rejoyce at our owne safety The seventh Dutie discharged of our Retreat from Owldenburg unto Assens in Denmarke by Sea HAving thus past the day at Owldenburg the night the friend of Cowards coming on what we durst not have done by day being favoured by the mooneshine when all were wearied with hot service and toyle in the day begun to take rest and refreshment by their fires in the Leager all Guards relieved and centries set out being all of us after a great storme in a quiet calme we begin to take our retreat to the water our Generall being full of feare and suspition goes before and our Colonell also we follow having the avant-Guard according to our Orders for going a ship-board which orders were willingly obeyed perceiving the danger was to follow and in consideration that long before the Lievetenant Colonell Sr. Patrick Mac-Gey and Captaine Forbesse being hurt had retired for their safeties towards the Isle of Feamor and from thence to Denmark to be cured I supplying the place of the Major our Regiment orderly retiring from the enemy Captaine Mac-Kenyee and my brother Obstell who before were companions in the day of danger in the night did march together leading off the Regiment to be secured and I bringing up the Reare accompanied with some other Officers we had no doubt of our safe retreate the whole army being behind us made us halte the oftner taking paines to bring up our hurt and sicke men we marched but softly Py a Pyano at last by ten a clocke of the night we arrived on the shore and drew up in battell attending the Colonells command for shipping who had gone himselfe unto the Roade amongst the ships to provide shipping but could get no obedience the feare was so great amongst the marriners having heard the roaring and thundring of cannon and muskets in the day feare so possest them all that they lacked hands to worke and hearts to obey and the Colonell coming a shore without bringing of ships to receive us we made use of the time our Camerades the horsemen having come before us who ever begin confusion were without orders forcing ships to take in their horses and
of Armes and Novices durst not be so bould as to intrude themselves in this honourable profession in any degree to take command on them without long practise and experience as was requisite to undergo a charge in so high a calling and of such importance as to leade others Neverthelesse the ground worke or foundation of Military discipline once well laid then they were suffered to advance by degrees unto high charges proposing recompence and reward unto those that did merite and to that effect they invented severall sorts of Crownes for the reward of their travells and wisdome Amongst others the Crowne called Obsidionall was ordained for those that entred first the besieged places being of the most esteeme of all crownes which was made of the Roote of the Herbes or graine that had taken Roote within the place besieged also those that first scaled the walls were wont to get a crowne of the Herbe Woodbinde or Parietaria Pellitory growing on the walls and those that first èntred the enemies Ports by force had also a crowne given unto them And the crowne Castean was ordained for him that first entred the enemies Trenches and brake the Palesades making way to enter unto the enemies Leager Also a crowne was given unto those of the Navall Armie that first entred the Enemies Gallies or ships on Sea this Crowne was made of gold representing the Combat and the Generall a foote being victorious had given him a crowne made of Hats and Miters and triumphing in a chariot he carried a Hat made of Lawrell At last these crownes were made of Gold laid over with pretious stones They had also given them for recompence of their travels Chaines and Bracelets all to the end they might accustome themselves to vertue and to the discipline and toyle of warres Who then would not desire to be of this society to get a crowne for well doing On the contrary Cowards Poultrons and Effeminate persons were disdained degraded and put off charge while the valiant were honoured advanced and recompenced as the Turke doth practise to this day to the disgrace of Christians neglecting discipline till they are overthrowne It should then be the duety of brave Generalls to make choice of brave and vertuous Commanders not asking of whom they come but where and how long have they practised to be vertuous Then we see here what was the custome of the Ancient Romans in choosing the vertuous that had past their prentiship and not Novices to be Commanders for we see that the love of the Publique brings honour pleasure and profit to the vertuous who thinke on it sincerely But those that would raise their fortunes by the ruine of others shall never prosper The reason of our coming to this passe of Owldenburgh was to have stayed there in safety from our enemies till we might joyne with our friends but the Enemy prevented us in coming betwixt us and our friends then there was no remedy but to hold him up at the passe till our Army might joyne with us and of this intention we resolved for best to maintaine the passe as we did till Ammunition grew scant and then we were forced to retire to our ships This King is powerfull by Sea and is mightily well furnished of all things necessary for warâ—es of Armes Artillery Ammunition victualls money and what else is requisit to set forwards a warre and which is more a noble and a liberall Master as ever I did serve Here also I observe the slownesse of our Generall that did not patronize the passe some few dayes before the Enemies coming that it might have beene fortified for it was no time for us to fortifie the passe in the night when the enemie came before us and the next day we were not suffered to worke being otherwise imployed Another oversight was that our Generall did not know certainly how we were provided of Ammunition for though we had Lead in abundance we wanted Bullets in the time of need Whereupon the Generall was accused after our comming into Denmarke and the blame was found in the Commissary that had the charge of the Artillery Et jure for they were all Rogues and deceived his Majestie that trusted them too much Neverthelesse I cannot excuse the Generall of being ignorant of the provisions ordained for the Armie seeing he was certaine of the enemies comming for it is most sure if we had been provided of Ball we were sufficiently bastant to have kept the passe against our Enemy since it came not in the Enemies power till we had left it voluntarily in the night The enemy also retiring from us hearing the Rhinegraves forces were coming behinde him of intention to joyne with us I observed also that the Generall was too slow in the encouragement of his Officers and Souldiers having delayed his exhorâ—ation to the very time of our going on service And it is easie at such time to Prognosticate by the countenance going on service how thâ—y are affected But never men went on service with more chearfull countenances than this Regiment did going as it were to welcome death knowing it to be the passage unto life especially fighting in a good Cause against the enemies of the Daughter of our King the Queene of Bohemia for whose sake our Magnificke and Royall Master did undertake the warres and for her sake we resolved to have followed such a couragious Leader as the Earth this day affords none stouter as mine eyes did witnesse divers times And for her sake I perswade my selfe our noble Colonell did ingage his estate and adventured his person to have â—on her sacred Majesty good service I did also observe this day that the best way to eschew danger is not â—o perceive it for a man well resolved perceives no danger neither doth any thing seeme difficult unto him that may import his credit And the best Commanders in my opinion as they are in measure remisse not seeming prodigall of their lives though resolutely adventurous and for me I love a man that is modestly valiant that stirres not till he must needs for he that is conscious of his inward courage is confident to shew it to the world when he will but a man prodigall of life oft-times indangers himselfe and others for though he have courage to lead them on he lacks wit and discretion to bring them off in case of eminent danger And at such times as I condemne him that runnes away first I cannot allow of him that out of ostentation will stay after all his Camerades are gone till he yeeld himselfe prisoner or die unnecessarily there where he might have preserved himselfe with honour for a better occasion I have also observed that a base fellow hath been killed running away when a valiant Souldier stood to it and came off with credit I did also remarke the invincible courage and resolution of that worthy Gentleman Lievtenant Rosse who having lost his legge wished for a woodden or Treen legge lying on the
remaine standing firme with their Officers guarding them and their Colours as being worthy the glorious name of brave Souldiers preferring vertue before the love of gold that vanisheth while vertue remaineth This vice of avarice is alike common to the superiour Officer and to the inferiour Souldier which oftimes makes the superiour to be despised as well by the common Souldier as by his betters And therefore publique imployments of command should never be given to such greedy persons for as sparing in a private person is commendable being done without hurt to another even so the vertue of liberality is due to him that is publiquely imployed as also he ought to have splendor in his carriage and not to give evill example to others his inferiours if once he be honoured with command in leading of others I must then againe condemne this kinde of avarice that makes men for booty abandon their Colours and their duety they being the cause oftimes of the overthrow of their worthy Camerades standing to fight when they were employed in making of booty for which many time they are contemned and their money taken from them by the multitude with disgrace and danger of their lives for though sometimes they make booty they have not the fortune to enjoy it one quarter of an houre thanking God to be rid of it with their lives though not with their credits It is the duety of valiant Commanders and of brave Souldiers when ever fire entreth into a City strength or Leager suddenly with their Armes to repaire to their Colours lest at such times the enemy being neere hand should be ready to take advantage but here the baser sort of Souldiers neither for obedience to his Majesties command nor for love of their Officers nor of their owne credits would stirre to attend their Colours though the enemy had shewed himselfe to pursue the City Here also the enemy was to blame for leaving provision and Amunition behinde them whose duety it was rather to destroy it by fire or water then to leave it to their enemies But we see there is no counsell against the Lord invented by man able to worke blessed be his name for ever The ninth Dutie discharged of the intaking of Laudsberg on the Wert by accord THE fifth of Aprill 1631. his Majesty having left Francford on the Oder well beset under the command of Generall Major Lesly who had direction to see the fortifications repaired as likewise Generall Bannier was left to command over the Army his Majesty having taken two and twenty hundred commanded musketiers eight hundred horsemen twelve peece of Cannon great and small with Amunition answerable with spades shovels and axes where the Colonell of the Artillery called Leonard Richardson was commanded to goe with them for to attend his charge As also Colonell Hepburne was commanded to leade the party and I was sent as Lievetenant Colonell to second him in this employment Colonell Hepburne having viewed the party and taken notice that all things were in good order commanded the party to march having had a blacke-smith that dwel't at Landsberg for our guide we continued our march the first day being come within foure miles of the Towne we quartered at a passe on the high way and the next morning breaking up we marched forwards till on the way our fore-troopes did meete with a Regiment of Crabbats where after long skirmish and losse sustained by both the parties in th' end the Colonell that led the Crabbats being deadly wounded retired to the Towne casting off all bridges behinde them which hindered us for a day The eight of Aprill we lay downe before a skonce royall built on a strong passe betwixt us and the Towne This skonce well fortified was well provided of Cannon It had also a wide Graffe of running water and a draw-bridge which was taken up at our coming and then they discharged their Cannon on us where at first there were killed some six Souldiers the night drawing on our watches set forth I was appointed by his Majesty to be Captaine of the watch being ordained to oversee the making of the Batteries As also I was commanded to set forwards our workes both for intrenching and for running our lines of approach to the skonce wherein I was so busied that the whole night I went never off my feete but from one part to another having had sundry Alarums though not of continuance His Majestie having taken quarters in the neerest Dorpe he left two Rutters to attend on me that if the â—â—emy should fall out against us incontinent one of them might be sent to acquaint his Majestie who having rested for that night coming before day to visit the workes aâ—d finding them not so farre advanced as he did expect he falls a chiding of me notwithstanding of my diligence used the whole night in keeping the Souldiers still at worke with the small number of materialls we had to worke with But no excuse though true would mitigate his passion till he had first considered on the circumstances and then he was sorry he had offended me without reason But his custome was so that he was worse to be pleased in this kinde than in any other his Commands being ever impatient when workes were not advanced to his minde and the truth is our Country Souldiers cannot endure to worke like the Dutch neither when they have taken paines can they worke so formally as others Our batteries being readie against the morning the whole day our Cannon played on the Skonce so fast as they could be charged but to no purpose the earthen wall being so thicke and so well set together that they scorned us and our Cannon both His Majestie seeing nothing to be effectuated this way resolved to try a second way by the advise of the Black-smith that knew all the passages towards the Towne notwithstanding that the whole land on that side was covered over with water This Black-smith advised his Majestie to cause a Float-bridge to be made and then setting over the water he would lead us through shallow passes where we might come behinde the Skonce cutting off their passage from the Towne and then the Skonce wanting reliefe might be ours According to this plot his Majestie commanded Lievetenant Colonell Dowbatle with two hundred and fifâ—ie Dragoniers for foote and me with two hundred and fiftie Musketiers to follow the Black-smith and to surprize the enemies Guard which being done by us we were commanded to make the place good till Colonell Hepburne with a thousand Musketiers should be sent after to second us Dowbatle and I having fortunately surprized the Guard making them retire to the Towne leaving the Skonce in our power Colonell Hepburne being advanced towards the Skonce tooke it in on accord and the Souldiers were made to take service and their Officers made prisoners In this time Dowbatle his Dragoniers having followed the enemy with hot skirmish within shot of their walles his powder being spent desired
Colonell Musten Major Monypenney Major Sinclaire and Lievetenant Colonell Iohn Monro with divers others Cavaliers of valour experience and of conduct who thereafter were suddainely advanced unto higher charges The victory being ours we incamped over night on the place of Battaile the living merry and rejoycing though without drinke at the night-wake of their dead Camerades and friends lying then on the ground in the bed of honour being glad the Lord had prolonged their dayes for to discharge the last honourable duty in burying of their Camerades Our bone-fiers were made of the enemies Amunition waggons and Pikes left for want of good fellowes to use them and all this night our brave Camerades the Saxons were making use of their heeles in flying thinking all was lost they made booty of our waggons and goods too good a recompence for Cullions that had left their Duke betrayed their country and the good cause when as strangers were hazarding their lives for their freedomes Our losse this day with the Saxons did not exceede three thousand men which for the most part were killed by the enemies Cannon of principall Officers we lost a number and chiefely our horsemen as Colonell Collenbagh Colonell Hall and Addergest and of the foote Colonells the Barron Tivell being all of them brave and valorous gentlemen we lost also foure Lievetenant Colonells together with a number of Rutmasters Captaines Lievetenants and Ensignes Of the Saxons were lost five Colonells three Lievetenant Colonells with divers Rut-masters and Captaines and of inferiours Officers many To the enemy were lost on the field neere eight thousand besides Officers of note such as the Felt-marshall Fustenberg the Duke of Holsten the Count of Shomeberg old Generall Tillie hurt and almost taken a number of other Officers of the Field were killed and taken prisoners They lost also thirty two peeces of Cannon with three score waggons of Amunition and their Generall and Papingham were chased towards Hall and from thence were forced with a small convoy to take their flight for refuge to Hamell on the Waser The sixteenth Observation FIrst then we see here the goodnesse that followes on that laudable and Christian custome used by those that doe first begin the workes of their calling with their true humiliation to God by prayers in acknowledging their sinnes and unworthinesse and in renouncing trust or confidence in any thing but in God alone knowing their owne wisdome strength and valour to be of no moment without the speciall aide and assistance of the Almighty and powerfull God who alone can teach our fingers to fight giving victory with few as with many And therefore it was that this Magnanimous and religious warriour with his whole Army publiquely did call on the Lord praying for his assistance against his enemies and for a happy event of the day before he begun to set his Army to worke against their enemies the enemies of God and the true Catholique and Apostolique faith which they had endeavoured to subvert with the professors of the truth to hold up and maintaine the man of sinne and his erronious doctrine by the power of the house of Austria and of the Catholique League We see then this duty being religiously and piously discharged by his Majesty and his Army the fruite was answerable to their desire having obtained victory over our enemies by the good command of his Majesty and the ready obedience dexterity and valour of his Majesties supreme Officers of the field who in all charges did direct those under them to the ready discharge of their duties every one of the whole united body of the Army following the example of their head and Leader the magnifick and Magnanimous King for to abate and lay downe the pride of the house of Austria and for to teare and strip naked that old proud and Ambitious Generall Tillie of his former glory and honour for having bragged and vainely gloried he had conquered two Kings before here now the Captaine of Kings and King of Captaines doth victoriously Triumph having robbed him of glory and clipped the wings of the Empire with his little Royall Army Likewise next unto God a second helpe unto this glorious victory was the great execution made by his Majesties Cannon and though ever before Tillie did pride himselfe all his life time in the course of the warres in his dexterity of his great Cannon here from a Master he was turned againe unto a prentice being cunningly over shot with Cannon so that his Cannon and three score waggons belonging thereto were taken from him by Gustavus the first and most valiant Captaine of the world with the helpe of the nation which was never conquered by any forraine enemy the invincible Scots whose prayers to God were more effectuall through Christ then theirs through the intercession of Saints The third cause of this glorious victory was his Majesties good discipline houlden over the Army horse and foote not suffering them without great and extraordinary punishment to oppresse the poore which made them cry for a blessing to his Majesty and his Army The enemy on the contrary provoked the wrath of God against themselves and their Army for their cruelty used in torturing the poore and forceing their monies from them did further their punishment and his Majesties glorious victory The fourth helpe to this victory was the plottons of Musketiers his Majesty had very wisely ordained to attend the horsemen being a great safety for them and a great prejudice to the enemy the Musket ball carrying and piercing farther then the Pistolet As also the great celerity used in charging and discharging of our small cannon brought the enemies battaiâ—e in disorder to the furtherance of this victory As also the extraordinaâ—â— care and diligence that was used by his Majesty and his Officers in seeing and foreseeing of the defects and disorders amongst our selves which being suddenly remedied was also a helpe to this victory And last of all the invincible courage and resolution both of Officers and souldiers in standing firme Notwithstanding of the fury of their enemies and which was more they were no wayes dismayed or discouraged at the flight of the Saxons but thought it their greatest glory to be victorious without them standing resolutly till they saw the backe of their enemies the undoubted tokens of their glorious victory His Majesties Army on this service as at all times might be called truely valorous for those are called valorous Captaines and holden for such that when their Camerades are flying they notably with hands voice and wounds if wounded sustaine the fight doing at once the duty of Souldiers and of Captaines by those meanes bringing backe and restoring the suspected losse unto victory for their credits For as ignorance doth easily precipitate men into danger even so to a generous heart nothing can seeme difficult or fearefull being once resolved to fall on though towards the mouth of the cannon but before resolution flesh and blood have their owne disturbances
Discourse having wondered at their carriage that had such externall showes with so few inward giftes of the minde The night thus past the day peeping every one that missed a loving friend or a Camerade went neere to the ground on which they sundered making diligent search to finde them either dead or alive sundries of both were found the dead were put under ground being honourably buried like souldiers that had given their lives for the weale of the publique the wounded were convoyed unto Dorpes where Chirurgians were appointed to attend their cure By nine of the Clocke the Armie was drawne up in Battaile where the difference was great betwixt our show then and the sight of the day before His Majestie having overviewed the Armie he tooke the most part of the Horsemen with him and commanded to march towards Leipsigh with the rest of the Armie to be rested there till further Orders and His Majestie with the Horsemen advanced after the enemie prosecuting the victorie in taking Order with those they had left behind for making their Retreate sure whereof there were left at Leipsigh three thousand men whom His Majestie in his by-going gave Orders to pursue and advanced to a Castle called Morshberg where there were a great many of the enemie who rendred themselves and tooke service Our March continuing to Leipsigh at our comming there we found a well provided Leaguer for our hungrie stomackes of all sort of good victuals where about the Leaguer there were feeding Kine Sheepe Calves Geese Hennes they left also Corne in abundance and flower in readinesse which was the more acceptable being found at hand without travelling for it and to avoide strife and disorder before we entered the Leaguer it was divided proportionally amongst the Regiments as we would part quarters where no man was suffered to take any thing out of an others quarter but it behoved him to be content with his lot whither good or bad so that being quartered they were happie to their meate having come as they say to a peeld egge where we laie two nights refreshing our selves till our bagage was come after us from Diâ—en during which time the Saxons were comming together their feare being past at Leipsigh where Felt Marshall Harnam was appointed with the Dukes forces to take in both the Towne and Castle which immediatly were given over on accord The seventeenth Observation HEre we found the Proverbe verified that they never had an evill day who got a merry night after and the long expectation of this our happinesse made our joye the more welcome for wee helped with great labour toyle and travell to have brought this dayes worke to a good end we rejoyced that the labour and danger being vanished the good of it remained with us and though our Commons were but short our mirth was never the lesse for we ought not to care how laborious or painefull our actions are if the fruite be honest and good for though the paines be first tedious yet betime they will yeeld content What matter is it then of our toyle and travell or what care should we take of trouble or danger so our joyes may be enlarged Iob was not so miserable in his affliction as he was happy in his patience Which should teach all men of our Profession to beare their disturbances and troubles patiently that in end they may come to their wished for credit and honour For he is not worthy the sweete that cannot suffer the sower neither is he worthy to be made participant of such mirth as we enjoyed this night that ranne away in time of danger Here also we see that it is the dutie of the longest livers to see to the honour and credit of their dead friends in taking care of their burialls as the last dutie as also to shew their compassion to their hurt Camerades alive who perhaps received their wounds in rescuing of others whose skinnes were kept sound though theirs torne Here also we see that death is fatall unto all both to feeble and couragious but a glorious death is onely proper unto the valiant who oftest doth eschew death when the fearefull perisheth in an instant and therefore it is that the valiant man doth choose rather to die honourabâ—y than to live in ignominy as the feeble doth but these died here valiantly the brightnesse of their Actions done in their life time remaines firme in the minds of men unto all ages And to their posterities in writing never suffering their memories to rotte with the time whose burialls though meane on this place of Battaile yet they are commemorations of their vertuous lives to posteritie whose killing was no punishment say the world what they list but rather the beginning of their glory And therefore how ever a man dies he dies well that dies in Christ ending his dayes with honour At this dayes service I was rich in friends that helped to the obtaining of this victory with credit but soone after we found the fruits of mortalitie death having seased more on our kindred than on any other Family of our Nation that were employed in this warre and the unthankfulnesse of those we served hath beene such that those who suffered most were least rewarded as we may justly say having lost our Master and King who did see our actions and had rewarded them had he lived And though I will not vaunt neither of my friends nor of our travells none can blame me to say as the Puppie said wee Dogges kill'd the Hare since we were with the rest at Leipsigh the center of Germanie which was and is and shall be â—edes Belli till the cause be wonne and those we fought for be restored and then I would bee content to lay up my sworde and live a retired life serving God and the Publique at home as we did abroade The eighteenth Duty discharged of the intaking of Hall and of the Castle and of our March from Leipsigh to Hall HIS Majesty having left Felt-marshall Harnam with the Dukes forces to accord with Leipsigh and the Castle the eleventh of September we continued our march towards Hall and coming at the appointed Randezvouz we halted in the fields where we were to quarter over night his Majesty accompanied with a great and honourable traine of Cavaliers lighted from his horse on the head of our Briggad the Officers whereof coming together about his Majesty in a Ring his Majesty made a speech in commendation of the Briggad thanking them for their good service and exhorting them for the continuance thereof promising as he was a Royall King he would not forget to reward them and turning him towards the supreme Officers they in all humility did kisse his Majesties hand in confirmation of their loyalty in time to come the whole inferiour Officers and Souldiers cried aloud they hoped to doe his Majesty better service then ever they had done His Majesty taking horse againe with his Royall traine he directed Generall Bannier to goe and
Paltz and Christs Gospell preached and the Sacraments duely administred which I saw and was partaker of singing thankes unto God for their deliverance He it was and none other under God who helped them to their liberties He it was and none other releeved Israell Notwithstanding whereof the unthankfulnesse of the people was so great that with my eares divers times I did heare some of them say he might as wel have stayed in his own country till they had sent for him so great was their unthankfulnesse Likewise they said if he had had much at home he had not come unto them over seas such a farre Iourney Was not this to recompence good with evill Was not this right the chiefe Butlers part that did not remember Ioseph but forgot him Was not this Ioas his part to Iehoida his Father O then this was the poisonable bullet of ingratitude of the people for which our King and Master was taken away Oh would to God the people had never bin so unthankfull that our King Captaine and Master had yet lived Moreover as these people were unthankfull so they were Godlesse many of them in the time of their troubles as I did behould oftimes with mine eyes a carelesse security amongst them thinking their victories were so frequent and their owne power so great they needed not the assistance of the Swedens nor of strangers and their pride was so great that disesteeming of strangers in their pride they led a life very insolent and deboist being given to the workes of the flesh adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry c. In a word it was even amongst them as it was in the dayes before the flood as if the Lord had forgotten them or could not see their villany so it behooved God to have punished them by his Majesties death For in their hearts they said there was no God so that their mischiefe came on them unawares and this the peoples carriage caused his Majesties untimely death being shot the second time O would to God they had done otherwise and served God more truely that we might have had the presence and conduct of our Magnanimous King longer till the pride of Austria had bin more humbled and the whore of Babylon brought unto repentance of her Idolatries O would to God I could enough lament his death As also lament my owne sinnes and the wickednesse of the people that was the cause of this untimely death through their sinnes And his Majesties selfe also being a sinner as he himselfe oftimes confessed wishing that God would not lay to his charge the greate respect and reverence the best sort of the people did give unto him being but a sinfull man as they were for which he feared the Lord was angry with him shewing by his cōfession he did glory in nothing but in the Lord ascribing ever all his victories unto God and nothing presuming of himselfe For I dare be bould to say he was a man according to Gods minde if there was one on earth Such was our Master Captaine and King As was Abraham the Father of many so was our Master Captaine and King Was Noah in his time unreproveable So was our Master Captaine and King Was Iob in his sufferings patient So was our Master Captaine and King Was Ionathan true and upright in keeping his word So was our Master Captaine and King Was Iehosaphat in his warres penitent and busie craving the helpe of the Lord So was our Master Captaine and King Was Simeon good and full of the spirit So was our Master Captaine and King Was young Tobias mindfull all his dayes of the Lord in his heart and his will not set to sinne So was our Master Captaine and King like unto a stone most precious even like a Iasper cleere as Christall ever and ever And truely if Apelles with his skill in painting and Cicero with his tongue in speaking were both alive and pressed to adde any thing to the perfection of our Master Captaine and King truely the ones best Colours and the others best Words were not able to adde one shaddow to the brightnesse of his Royall Minde and Spirit So that while the world stands our King Captaine and Master cannot be enough praised Alas then it was our sinnes and the sinnes of the Army and the Land was the cause of our punishment in losing of him with that unhappy last bullet of the three shot through his head who was the head of us all under God our Father in Christ that did undoe us it was we I say that sinned against the Lord and his Anointed It was our misdeedes did thus grow over our heads that made us lose our Head and Leader Woe woe then to us that left the Lord till we made the Lord take him from us that was our guard and comforter under God in all our troubles What then ought we to doe that one day we may raigne with him in glory While it is to day we must cast off the workes of darknesse and embrace the light in newnesse of life repenting of the evill and turning away from our wickednesse by repentance not like unto Cain not like unto Saul not like unto Achitophell not like to Iudas Iscariot who all doubted but like those of Nineve in dust and ashes to fast and pray beleeving in the Lord and with David to say We have sinned against thee and against the Heavens be mercifull unto us o Lord like unto Peter let us ô Lord Weepe bitterly let us then repent and beleeve the Gospell beleeve yea and turne to the Lord with all our hearts with fasting and praying and mourning with Saul that said Thou art more righteous then I in shewing me good for evill much more ought we to lift up our voices and with teares of repentance mourne for the losse of our Master Captaine and King through our sinnes and unthankfulnesse Therefore to day while we have time let us acknowledge our sinnes before the Lord and repent lest a worse come unto us and that then we be cast into prison till that we pay the last farthing for if the Lord spared not his owne Sonne who was blamelesse and without sinne while he tooke on him our sinnes what shall then become of us No otherwise but except we turne from our sinnes we must also die the death Let us not then close our eares as at Meriba and at Massa in the wildernesse but with the forlorne Child cry Father we have sinned against thee and against heaven and are not more worthy to be called thy Sonnes Lord therefore be mercifull unto us and enter not into judgment with us Then let us all weare mourning and lament the death of the valiant King Gustavus Adolphus while we breath Yet what helpe Res est irrevocabilis et quod factum est infectum fieri nequit what is done cannot be recalled and should we mourne like unto those who have no hope Farre be it from us seing it
Major being an Irish-man commanded the men But another Dutch Major called Mountague was left to Command the Garrison Where those that entred first the Towne did make good bootie of horses and other goods But the most part was seazed upon by the Generall Persons taking the benefit unto themselves though not the paine Where we did first finde missing of our former Leader the invincible Gustavus who not onely respected Cavaliers of merit at such times but also was ready to reward them by his bountie allowing Cadducks unto them as he did unto Lievetenant Colonell Gunne The next day a partie of a thousand Horse with eight hundred Musketiers were commanded out toward Minchen to get intelligence of the Enemies designes getting Orders to fall into their Quarters if conveniently they could But beside their expectation the Enemy being together and in readinesse in a Wood unawares our partie was ingaged amongst them so that with difficultie having lost prisoners they were forced to retire and the Enemy getting intelligence that the Towne was given over to prevent us they continued their march towards Rhine on the Leacke to take it in in compensation of the losse of Lansberg The partie being retired and the Generall understanding the Dukes Army had marched on Rhine he brake up with our Armie and marched on the other side of the Leacke towards Ausburg And fearing the Skonce at Rhine and the bridge might be taken by the Enemy he did direct Captaine Iames Lyell with two hundred Musketiers as a supply to the Skonce being ordained at his comming thither to take the Command of the Skonce on him Who being come finding Colonell Wornbran there shewing his Orders he was made welcome by the Colonell being hard pressed by the Enemy and mightily afraid so that the Captaine had no difficultie in getting the command which he gladly accepted being more ambitious of credit than of gaines directly opposit to the Colonels humour The Armie having come in time for the reliefe our Horsemen were left on the side of the River next to Donavert except my Cosen Fowles his Regiment which marched over the Bridge with the Infantry being ordained the first nights watch to second the foot And immediatly after our over-going there were five hundred Musketiers of supply sent unto the Towne in despite of the Dukes Armie And then we begun to make up our Batteries and to run our lines of approach towards the Towne advancing our Redoubts and Batteries as our approaches were advanced The second night our Batteries being readie there were mutuall interchanges of Cannonading amongst us where Ensigne Murray was shot dead with the Cannon his thigh bone being broken who was much lamented being a daintie Souldier and expert full of courage to his very end On Sunday in the afternoone the Enemy having heard certaintie of his Maiesties death they drew up their whole Armie Horse Foote and Cannon before the Towne and rejoycing at the Newes they gave three salves of Cannon Musket and Pistoll Which we not understanding made us admire the more Neverthelesse the Generall resolved to get some prisoners of them to cause to make an out-fall the next morning and to that effect five hundred Commanded Musketiers were sent under the Command of Lievetenant Colonell Lesly who had Orders to fall out before day upon the Enemy Which he did and beating them from their Posts there were above threescore killed and thirtie taken prisoners which revealed the reason of their salve As also by them it was found the Armie had been broken up at midnight and crossed the Danube having made over a Ship-bridge thinking with expedition to haste unto Saxonie to supply the Imperialists that were retiring after their defeat at Leitzen unto Boheme Notwithstanding of the advantage we had to prosecute the Enemy being divided by the River our Generall would not suffer to pursue them though Generall Major Ruthven with the whole Officers offered to doe good service The Generall fearing they might be brought to fight through despaire he would not permit to follow them but choosed rather to lose a golden opportunitie Within three dayes afterwards we marched towards Ausburg where we lay two moneths in open Feilds in the extremitie of cold without houses or buildings which undid the Army being idle without hostile imployment our Generalls giving time to our Enemies to gather strenth to beat us againe out of the Country which formerly we had subdued by his Majesties valouâ— and good Conduct During this time I remained on my Muster place at Webling Cloister giving out patents to my Officers and money to recrue and strengthen their Companies But the enemy having taken-in the Passe and Towne of Landsberg which was given over upon accord by Colonell Hugh Hamilton who was prisoner and kept almost three yeares so the enemie getting the Passe unto Schwabland they marched towards Menning and from thence to Brandenburg on the Eler and chased mee over the Danube Being forced to quit a good Muster place we retired unto Ausburg having set the Danube betwixt us and the enemie where on our march unfortunately my horse fell on my leg and being six weekes under cure I continued still with the Armie on all occasions commanding on horse-back being unable to travell a foote The next day after our comming to Ausburg Generall Bannier did breake up with the Armie to march towards Vlme on the Danube there to joyne with the Felt-marshall Gustavus Horne who was to come with a strong partie of horse foot and Artillerie from Elsas with whom was come Major Sidserfe and the whole Musketiers of Sir Iames Ramsey his Regiment who being valourous and expert old Soldiers they were commanded on all exploits of importance being conducted and led by a discret Cavalier their Major The enemie before our joyning with the Felt-marshall had taken in Landsberg Kaufbeyre Kempten and Menning where their Armie did lie while as we joyned with the Felt-marshall at Vlme Palsgrave Christian being directed to command the Armie on the Rhine Generall Bawtishen having left them voluntarily to goe for his wedding unto Denmark Generall Bannier being also sickly not yet fully cured of his hurt that he did get at Nurenberg he was directed to the Steifâ—t Madeburg to collect new Forces there to joyne with the Duke of Lunenburg and the Saxon who all this time after his Majesties death were pursuing hard the Imperialists conjunctis viribus assisting the Duke of Wymar and the Swedens Armie At which time the Rex-chancellour Oxestern made offer after his Majesties death to the Duke of Saxon to be made and chosen Directour of the Armies who was neither willing to accept it himselfe nor yet willingly would condescend to be directed by any other so that their division did by time fully ruine the Armie and almost lost the good cause few or none looking to the weale of the publique but all pleasing their owne fancies suffering the enemie to take advantage every one looking to their particular
enemie on walls within Townes or Forts they are very commodious for service providing they resolve to fight well and to abide by their Officers and in my opinion being well led they may beate Musketiers accidently off the Feild and being well lined with shot they are a safeguard against Horsemen having the least advantage of ground Thus much in briefe for the use of the Pike the most honourable of all weapons and my choice in day of battell and leaping a storme or entering a breach with a light brest-plate and a good head-piece being seconded with good fellowes I would choose a good halfe-Pike to enter with CERTAINE OBSERVATIONS VVORTHY THE YOVNGER Officer his consideration being short and practicall for his Highnesse speciall use I. THIS life is a Comedy or a Play wherein every one doth his part we should presse to passe it over with moderate affections that the end be not cruell or dolefull as in Tragedies but full of mirth like a Comedy II. Vnto the Victor the life is sweete and happy but to those that are overcome nothing is more bitter then to put their hopes in their Enemies mercy III. As unto Champions of old lots gave fellowes and not election with whom they should fight so every one of us hath destinâ—s in our times where with to strive IIII. As he who goeth a journy doth reckon the miles so he that hath entred the way of this life shall not determine of his yeares For as from the spring flow the Rivers from the roote the branch so from the first education cometh the rest of mans life And if thou wouldst live truely thou must presse to profit thy country to defend the Common-wealth and to live well without liberty thou must preferre death before ignominious shame or slavery For as this life is Rosie so it hath flowers mixed with thornes the one to be plucked up the other to be eschewed so farre as we may V. It is a part of victory to trouble the enemy before we fight and as it is laudable to overcome an enemy it is no lesse praise worthy to have pitty on the miserable For as courage doth merit infinite glory so the love of all and the good will of all merits mercy and meekenesse VI. The feeble and weake minded man is ever pridfull in prosperity for he thinkes his vertues are such as can maintaine the Fortunes which he hath gotten and thinks still he is able to attaine and acquire more and more but when the tempest of adversity doth arise then is he so farre afraid that he becomes voide of all hopes and this oftentimes is the cause of the suddaine change of his fortunes VII Nothing doth diminish more the publishing of praise then when one continually casteth up his owne successe in actions of warre and oftimes striving to get abundance of honour men show their riches of swelling pride for disdaining his former friends he misknowes his acquaintance pressing to goe before he is greevous or displeasing to all his familiars Our care then should be to want this arrogancy ostentation or pride and pray for humility being more acceptable unto God then detestable pride which is an unprofitable evill a secret poyson a hidden pest the ingenier of deceipt the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the beginner of vice the moth of holinesse the blinder of hearts breeding sicknesse out of remedies and begetting langour out of medicine VIII There is ever some fatality incident unto those that desire vaine-glory or ostentation and those that are proud rejecting the prayers of the humble with disdaine they often incurre the indignation of God and fall oft into calamity except they take heede unto themselves IX These spirits are bentest on ambition that are of great and sharpe wits and of high minds being ready to thinke on great matters and to undertake them but Heroicke spirits on the contrary considering the worthy acts of others are stirr'd up unto vertue while as others with glory of succession becoming more insolent and negligent make Tragicall ends being oppressed with small things they die unworthily X. The duty of a good man is to reserve himselfe for the well and use of his country and friends being wary lest he should be lost rashly as my deere and only Brother was who did not neglect his duty neither in word nor deede but to his death served God in his calling though his death was sudden being the condition of mortall men that are still subject unto such changes that oftimes in their greatest prosperity comes adversity and from their adversity their prosperity againe God hiding the cause of both from us It were better then to prevent a wound then out of time to seeke remedy for in the middest of evill is not the time to be merry and those hurts are most which we receive unlooked for Therefore it were much better to prevent then to suffer and it were much better to enter in danger being guarded then out of time to grow pale Vaine then are the counsells of mortall men when we see no humane happinesse to be permanent since the Roots are taken up before they come to maturity except they be confirmed by the divine providence And chiefely in warres as being most uncertaine as we see by the untimely death spoken of but no man can forbid Gods decree Neverthelesse men that through age and long experience have obtained wisdome before they enter in a businesse they should looke unto the event and unto that which by all expectation may happen for it is ever the greatest wisdome to use the present time best we ought then on all occasions we are employed on to strengthen our minds with vertue that we may be safe overcoming all incumbrances that once we have condemned in the judgment seate of wisdome which alwayes is accompanied with praise and glory when we not only equall our selves with those that excelled in vertue but also presse to goe before them XI Wisdome goeth before all other things in esteeme as the most pretious Iewell we can possesse being spread she is gathered given away shee returneth being published groweth greater by her the Noble treasure of conscience is spread unto the secrets of the minde the fruit of inward joy by her is attained unto this is the Sunne wherewith the light of the minde doth shew it selfe and appeare in darknesse being the eye of the heart the delightfull Paradise of the soule the Heaven upon Earth immortall changing man into God through knowledge deifying him this fellow is invincible against all strokes he stirres not a foote for poverty griefe ignominy paine he is afraid of nothing and is ever full of joy merry pleasant and untouched living like a God Who desireth then to be wise and partake of this goodnesse that is so excellent they must not use themselves to vanity but they must thinke on that which is most profitable for them being not forbidden to use bodily exercise moderatly they may
become wise first by thinking what is past and in whose time of their Predecessours things were best governed Secondly he must diligently observe the good to come what can be profitable for him and what not that he may eschew the evill to come and embrace the good Thirdly he should observe the good customes and lawes past being provident mindfull understanding reasonable diligent tractable expert and cunning and he must consider foure good things What is his aime The way and manner he aimes at The person aiming And those he governes XII A Souldier without letters is like a ship without a Rudder or like a bird without feathers but having letters he findes wherewith he can be made wiser finding out by letters courage and many other great helpes to governe and direct those aright whom he commands neither is that fortune in the world to be had where out of letters his knowledge may not be bettered if he be but painfull for being lettered he can strictly keepe under the cruell and defend lawes without terrour temperating them to his minde the meeke also he can civilly admonish and the deceitfull he can wisely goe about and the simple he can handle with lenity shewing his prudency in all his actions foreseeing all dangers which may happen Therefore we see that science to a man of warre is a brave Mistresse teaching him to doe all things as they did in old times XIII It is a hard matter when the diligent and industrious Souldier is disappointed of his hire and that he is rewarded with injury who did merit better This of all evills is most insufferable that he who deserveth a reward should be frustrate of his hopes for reward is due unto valiant Captaines and Souldiers that were instruments in chiefe of victory glory and honour as Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton were in forcing the passage to the Castle of Vertzberg who neverthelesse were frustrate of reward and therefore I cannot but allow of the resolution of Sir Iohn Hamilton being no Souldier of Fortune that tooke his Passe of the Sweden for being frustrate of the reward of his vertue seeing those disdained that did merit best Where we see that a gentle heart being crossed contrary to reason doth presently resent his wrongs pointing out to the world that he is not the man that can suffer or swallow a seene injury done to him and his Nation XIIII It is better to feare evill preparing our selves for danger then through too much security and contempt of the enemy to suffer our selves to be overcome for it is dangerous to have to doe with a desperate body seeing necessity maketh those that are fearefull to become stout and those who feare no dangers are easily lost as witnesseth the death of the Invincible King of Sweden and those dangers ought to be eschewed from whence ariseth greatest evill and experience hath taught us that nothing is more dangerous in warres then to fight great battailes on unequall termes as witnesseth the dolefull battaile fought at Nerling in August 1634. After which losse those that should have fought for their country their wives and children did prove feeble cowards viz. the German Princes Saxon Brandeburg Lunenburg with the rest of the Gentrie giving occasion to others that came to helpe them for to leave them It is no wonder then they be plagued themselves wishing helpe another time when justly they cannot have it having rewarded their helpers so ill as they have done and through their covetousnesse and niggardly sparing bin the cause and instruments of their owne overthrowes and of the losse of the cause being I feare the fore-runners of their Successours punishment which I wish may not happen XV. Before the fall of Kingdomes arise dissensions that overthrow the confederates more than their enemies as it happened here in our late warres of Germanie after the death of his Majestie of Sweden the Dutch Princes especially Saxon slighting his Excellencie the Rex-chancellour of Sweden and his Directorium as Supreame calling him disdainfully a Pedant or a Penman So that wee see that dissension or discord amongst the Superiours was the first cause of the suddaine losse of Nerling Next wee see that the Countrie was destroyed not onely for their sinnes but also for not punishing of sinne For after his Majesties death what punishment was to be seene in our Armie none at all when our owne horsemen plundered their friends not being punished they began to intercept Letters and to robbe the common Poste and to hinder the Countries correspondencie and common traffique which being overseene and winked at by our Generalls they begun then to plunder the Chancelours owne waggons abusing his servants and taking his baggage thereafter the strongest amongst themselves set the weakest party to foote taking away their horses till at last the whole Armie refused to obey the Director and his Concilium formatum lying idle for three moneths in Donavert Leaguer suffering the enemie to over-runne the Countrie and all because that the Officers alleadg'd after his Majesties death that the Scriveners who followed the Chancelour were in better esteeme than the Cavaliers that had done notable good service unto his Majestie so that through this jealousie the Armie came in disorder being the first change and the rest piece and piece did follow till at last the whole Armie was lost through the number of wrongs that went before in the end custome and use of wrongs infected the nature it selfe and the lacke or want of punishment and the libertie and freedome which was given to offend at last the ruine of families that were famous did follow for not punishing of sinne We see then when a potent King and Heroique as Gustavus was in the time hee did live all things florished in a good order but he once gone the CoÌ„mon-wealth was punished for their former sinnes committed in time of their plentie and peace when they had their heaven upon earth as other Nations â—ave now who ought to looke unto themselves in time lest that the Lord raise not up an other Heroique to make them to be punished as other Nations have bin to the eversion of great Cities as Magdeburg and divers others for when the publique burthens doe grow then Governements doe change as wâ—s seene here for lawes being cast away and discipline put in fetters then suddenly did follow change and great ruine after the Kings death of worthy memorie XVI Nothing loses more as we see the common cause than the want of authoritie in one person as was formerly said of the Saxons jealousie over the Rex-chancelors Governement Also the same fault was seene in the Armie under Commanders as at Nerling betwixt Supreme Officers as also betwixt their inferiours who for want of one Supreme Commander as Gustavus was they could not agree among themselves Likewise the dissension and jealousie betwixt Duke Barnard and the Rhinegrave helpes nothing to the furtherance of the good cause being both brave Commanders though