conjecture that he was making those Warlike preparations against them Nor did he want the assistance of others For though Francis William Bishop of Osnaburgh and Adolph de Veck Bishop of Paderborn loved their Tranquillity too well to interest themselves in his troubles yet the three Ecclesiastical Electors of Mayence Treves and Cologn sent him some of their Troops Before he came to any Acts of Hostility he dispatched to the City Monsieur de Morien hereditary Marshal to make an agreement with the Inhabitants The Council put in writing the causes why they could not entirely confide in their Prince and what it was that burden'd the City And indeed the Peace would soon have been concluded would his Highness but have remitted or at least abated the burthen of their Taxes Nevertheless a Truce was agreed upon thereby to prevent farther extremities With these hopes the Pacificators parted and M. the Mareschal took with him the Articles propos'd by the City together with their first Declaration At that time Nicolas Dragter Syndie of the City coming from the Hague was taken Prisoner by the Bishops men which yet more exasperated the Townsmen Soon after open acts of Hostility began The City put it self in a posture of defence The Citizens stood to their Arms and took their Oaths at the Council rather to lose their lives than the Liberties and Priviledges of their Ancestors The Bishops Army was reported to be Nine Thousand strong in Horse and Foot He assail'd the City very vigorously shooting continually and threw Fire-Balls into it which set fire on several houses The Ecclesiastical persons ran to the Churches to beseech Almighty God to infuse thoughts of Peace into the hearts of the Bishop and the Citizens The old people and children who were not fit for labour went every day in public Processions from one Church to another accompany'd by the Dominicans The lusty women were divided through the City and had their particular employments allotted them some to fill Tubs of water others carry'd Raw Hides to clap upon the Granado's and Fire-Balls that were thrown into the City There was no place free from the Cannon-bullets which flew thick about their Ears Insomuch that as one of the Priests was saying Mass in the Church of St. John while he was Elevating the Host a Bullet took him away from the Altar Nevertheless the Citizens made a Sally and kill'd a good number of the Episcoparians In the midst of all this roaring of the Cannon the Nobility sought all means imaginable to bring things to a reconciliation To which purpose they assembl'd together at Gueest Thither the Nobility flock'd in great numbers being ill satisfi'd with the Bishops proceedings and some there were that did not forbear to say openly That a Siege so pernicious and violent was not the Act of a Prince but of a Tyrant They also sent to his Highness their Letters of complaint in reference to the said Siege The Contents whereof were That the agreement which he was about to have made before had been prosperously concluded had he not so soon begun open Hostilities That without the knowledg and consent of the Nobility and the Cities in general he had brought Foreign Forces into the Country and rais'd men upon his own particular Authority That he had assaulted the City of Munster like an Enemy contrary to the priviledges of the Country which he had confirm'd himself in these words We will not make any War or Alliance with any person without the consent of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church and other Estates of our Country And expresly against what was concluded at the assembly at Coesweld that all new Levies should be put off c. Then they complain'd that he had put the Country that had not yet recovered the miseries of the preceding Wars into a new confusion that he had shed the blood of the Innocent made many Widows and Orphans whose tears and moans cry'd loud to Heaven And therefore they besought him to raise his Siege and send away his Foreigners and for his own right to stand to the determination of the Imperial Court That he would no more oppress either them the City or the Country but that he would assume the Peaceful thoughts of a Father a Prince a Bishop and a Pastor of the Church Otherwise if he would not lend an Ear to their just complaints they protested their innocence of all the misfortunes that should fall upon his Highness and the Country This Letter was dated the first of September 1657. The Bishop answered fully that he had never other thoughts than to preserve his subjects in repose with the care and fidelity of a Father That he always was for Peace and Union but the City of Munster by its obstinacy had deserved not only this but a far more rigorous punishment That he had proceeded no otherwise than a Prince and Soveraign Lord ought to proceed against Rebels If the City or Country should suffer any damage thereby time would repair it That the City had rejected the Justice of the Imperial Chamber in regard they had desired succours from the Hans Towns and the States of the Vnited Provinces In conclusion he desired the Nobility to assist him as their Prince to reduce a Rebellious City to Obedience In the mean time the Bishop endeavour'd by all manner of means to do what mischief he could to the City Night and day he play'd with his great Guns and sent in his Bombs and Fire-Balls which did great Execution Which so heighten'd the indignation of the Townsmen against the Bishop that because they would not forget the year wherein their houses had been so ill handl'd by Fire they caus'd new Colours to be made with these words GaLen InCenDIt VrbeM The numeral Letters whereof are M. DC LVII With these Colours they march'd about their Streets and these Ensigns they flourish'd upon their Bulwarks As for their Bishop they gave him no other Title than that of Murderer and Destroyer of their City The women themselves at other times mild and tender hearted animated their Husbands against him as an Oppressor and a Tyrant In the mean time the Pope sent a Letter to the Bishop which did not very well please him For that therein he adviz'd him to forbear all farther acts of Hostility against the City or otherwise he threaten'd to Excommunicate him The Electors of Bavaria and Saxony wrote to him also to the same effect but in vain for he still pursu'd his design The sixteenth of September the Bombs caus'd a terrible Fire at Munster which lasted from Midnight till Morning Of all the former Fires this was the most lamentable After which the Bishop made a proposition to the City to receive a Garrison of a thousand men and to Cashier their Commander Wittenburg upon which conditions they might have Peace But they by no means would give their consent The three Electors Treves Mayence and Cologn exhorted the City to submission but all
charges for the retaking of Eyder Sconce which was engag'd to them which when they had done they meddl'd no farther with him That they were surpriz'd at his demand of Borculo as a Signiory which they detain'd from him When it was well known that that dispute had been ended not by Judges interested but by such as had been chosen by both parties In the same manner was the business of the 150000 Crowns which he ow'd to the Count of Styrum brought to determination That it had been always their desire to live in Peace and Friendship with him but since he had attacqu'd their Forts and Places of strength and had begun to harrass their Territories they would not neglect any means that God should afford them to bring him to reason till they had receiv'd full satisfaction for the dammages which they had sustain'd The Bishop was so high and so hasty that he would not stay the return of the Trumpet nor the States answer but of a suddain enters Overysel harrasses the Country with Fire and Sword made himself Master of Euschede Oldenseel Ommersum Almelo and Diepenheim Hâ— found Borculo quitted only there were in thâ— Castle a hundred men Commanded by Ensigâ— Eek who ply'd their Guns so well that he waâ— forc'd to sound a Retreat after he had sustain'â— no small loss But he renew'd the Assault witâ— more men and tir'd the Garrison with numbers till they were forc'd to surrender Afteâ— that follow'd other places which could not defend themselves as Lochum Wildenbergh House Dorts de deutecorn c. so that the passage of thâ— Issel lay quite open The States General were very much disturb'd at an Invasion so terrible and so unlookt for They had to do at the same time with the puiâ—sant King of England and the Bishop of Munster There was a necessity for their Ships to be provided with men and their Forts and Frontier Towns with Garrisons which caus'd so great a scarcity of men that they had hardly enow to withstand the Bishop Thereupon they made new Levies and sent the Count of Waldeck to the Princes of Lunenburgh for a supply of 6000 men But they refus'd without the consent of the Elector of Brandenburgh and he refus'd unless they would suddenly quit Orsoy as also the Castle of Guennip and Emmerick or the Wessel when the Peace should be concluded with the Bishop The Elector also desirâ—d the States that their Garrisons in the Cities of Cleves should forbear to make any incursions into the Country of Munster as he had also requested of the Bishop that those Garrisons should not be molested by him Nevertheless the King of France sent them above six thousand Horse and Foot the choicest men which he had in his service Commanded by M. Despradelles a valiant and experienc'd Captain As for the Bishop of Munsters Forces they committed all sort of outrages imaginable For in regard he seldom paid his Souldiers but left them to subsist upon Contributions and Plunder every one pillag'd and rob'd for himself The Emperor offer'd his Mediation to the States to reconcile the difference but they answer'd that they could not enter into a Treaty till the Bishop had quitted all the places which he had taken They also wrote to the States of Munster to persuade the Bishop to restrain his men from committing those murders and acts of violence and cruelty in that barbarous and unheard of manner and to quit the places which he had taken or otherwise that they should be sound to proceed against them both in general and in particular according to the common Customs of War In the mean time the Bishop had sent a part of his Forces into the Province of Groning They march'd over the Moor or the Bourlang to the Convent of Ter Apellel and made themselves Masters of it Which caus'd a great Terâ—or at first but the fear was soon over The Dutch got together about four hundred Foot and eighty Horse These between Sellinguen and Lipzenbuysen set upon 1600 Episcoparians kill'd a good number and took a hundred Prisoners The rest fled to the Marshes and in great fear quitted Ter Appellel the Dutch in this enterprize not having lost above thirteen men Another Party of the Bishops Forces consisting of five thousand men made an Incursion into the Drenth and march'd directly to Groningen At the Bridg de Punter they were repuls'd with loss but near Suydhaven they got over thinking to have surpris'd Winsschoten and Beylinguerde Prince Maurice came with equal Forces to Scheemte and Miende with an intention to have inclos'd them in but they made a shift to get out another way The most part of the Bishops Army caus'd a continual fear all along the Yssel The Bishop himself lay at Deuteron where he caus'd the Country people of Troent and other Places to acknowledg him for their Sovereign and to come to an agreement with him that two thirds of the Crop should belong to him and one to the Husband man Here the reproach which the Ambassadour of France cast in his teeth in the name of his Master the King of France was a a sharp one That though he were an Ecclesiastical Lord he had falsifi'd his Faith since he had engag'd to France not to enterprize any thing against the Low-Countries without his Masters knowledg which promise he had ignominiously broken He desir'd assistance at the Diet at Regensbergh But it was answer'd him that he had undertaken that War of his own head without any provocation of the Hollanders and therefore even let him end it of himself The Empire did not think it convenient to meddle with needless and unprofitable Quarrels If he had brought his affairs into confusion his best way would be to quit himself as well as he could Several of the Roman Catholick Religion repair'd every day out of Holland to the Bishop some out of hopes of booty others to assist him and to exterminate those that they call'd Hereticks and with an intention to spread the Roman Catholic Religion Whereupon the States issu'd forth a publick Placaet that they should return again within fifteen days upon pain of death or perpetual Banishment The Bishop being repuls'd in the Province of Groningen harrass'd and ruin'd all the Villages that could not defend themselves His Troops that had been in Wischoten and Heyliguerlee for want of Provision were retreated into the Country of Westwoldinger while the States Troops retook Lochum After that the Army of the States increasing and the Lunenburgh Troops approaching the States of Munster began to fear being overlay'd on the one side by the States Forces while the Lunenburghers assail'd them on the other and therefore sent their Deputies to the Bishop and the Bishops Counsellers themselves represented to the Bishop the danger he was in desiring him to think of Peace But he made them answer either in his sury or else in his despair He would hazard all Westphalia in this enterprize Let the worst come to the
with no other advantage to the Hollander than the Peace of Munster But in the Year 1667. that unquiet man of God began again to make considerable Levies both of Horse and Foot The States General having intelligence thereof and no way confiding in him wrote him a Letter to let him know that it was conorary to the seventh Article of the Treaty seriously requesting him to desist and not to give his neighbours just occasion of jealousies and suspicions Thereupon he return'd the States this answer That when he had made a Peace it was his care to keep it But considering the great Levies made by his Neighbours he could not but think it convenient to raise so many men as were allow'd him by the Constitutions of the Empire the Instructions of the Peace and the priviledg of Princes However that he had no design to employ them but only for the security of his own Country and no way to the detriment of his Neighbours more especially of their Lordships the States General What should they do For they then knew not how to rely upon the words or protestations of the Bishop yet they could do no other than seem to be satisfied with his Apology The same Year he caus'd more disturbances by choosing for his Coadjutor Ferdinand de Furstenbergh Bishop of Paderborn Prince of the Holy Empire Count of Pyrmont c. against the consent of most of the members of the Chapter who would fain have chosen the Arch-Bishop of Cologn But the Bishop of Munster spoyl'd their design by excluding some of the members inveigling others with fair promises and menacing others and so by force advancing the Election of the Bishop of Paderborn But to put a specious gloss upon this Election the Bishop publish'd a large relation thereof of which we will give the Reader an abstract only it must be consider'd that this was the Bishops own work and that therefore he fram'd it after the most advantageous manner for himself In the fore-front he places Pope Alexander the sevenths Letter being a serious exhortation to him to take a Coadjutor and a Successor Pope Alexander the seventh Venerable Brother our greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Letters which we have sent you from time to time apparently testifie how much we are overjoy'd to understand with what care you interest yourself in the advancement and establishing of the Catholick Religion and that you have reduc'd to your Obedience the Rebellious City of Munster But in regard that both experience and Histories assure us that the Benediction of prosperity loses its glory when we take no care to Establish what we have acquir'd and do not make use of the means which we have learnt to our cost by the same experience and by which the Vniversal Religion and Peace may remain inviolable Methinks therefore there can be no better means to take away all occasion of disputes that may arise after your death by the Election of a Successor than to think of taking a Coadjutor to cut off all opportunity of discord which may reduce your Country to confusion and misery And therefore we exhort you seriously to deliberate speedily with your Chapter concerning this matter And if you are ingag'd according to the custom of some Chapters in Germany not to take a Coadjutor without the knowledg and consent of the Chapter we discharge you by vertue of this our present Letter from any such obligation and give you withal the Apostolical Benediction Written from Rome the 16. of September 1665. The eleventh Year of our Pontificate J. Florentine There are some who have made the following remarques upon this Letter 1. That the Bishop according to the opinion of those who were acquainted with the business made it his own request to the Pope for this Letter 2. That those who are call'd the Vicars of Christ are of a different judgment Pope Innocent the X. would never confirm nor acknowledge for lawfully Elected Bishop Christopher Bernard But Alexander the VII was no sooner mounted to the Papal Chair but both Confirmation and Legitimation were allow'd 3. How it is possible that the Roman Catholicks should confide in their Princes whether Ecclesiastical or Secular seeing the Pope can so easily discharge and disingage them from their Promises Oaths and Allegiances confirm'd and concluded even among the Roman Catholicks themselves The Bishop receiv'd this Paternal exhortation with a wonderful respect and in regard he had been acquainted with the disorders in the last Election he earnestly desir'd to make choice of a Coadjutor To this purpose he caus'd the Members of the Chapter to assemble the 23. of May where he propos'd his design by two of his Counsellers who in a short speech represented to them that it was not unknown what praise-worthy actions his Highness had perform'd in the beginning of his Government having deliver'd and retaken the Forts and Cities of his Country as Coesweld Veche and Beverguere That he had compos'd several differences with a most pious care and zeal that he had reduc'd the City of Munster to his obedience and so firmly settl'd Peace within his Territories that all his Subjects quietly injoy'd the Estates which God had blest them with But since his Highness was now in the Sixtieth year of his Age and that by consequence he could not expect to live long as also for that to prevent the disorders of Elections his Holiness had adviz'd and exhorted him by his Letters to take the first opportunity to choose a Coadjutor and Successor He was resolv'd so to do He knows said they that there are persons capable of the Employment both here and in other places but his Highness would propose no-person in particular If they had a mind to choose any Neighbour Prince or any other Catholick Prince he would by no means be their hinderance but leave the Chapter to its liberty To which he expected a fair answer Then the Popes Letter to the Chapter was produc'd as follows ALEXANDER VII My welbelov'd Children our greeting to you and our Apostolick Benediction In truth you have not deserv'd a little honor for having assisted your Bishop in reducing and quieting the City of Munster and in the confirmation of the Catholick Religion But you will be thought worthy of a greater honour if by yonr unanimous Counsel you establish upon solid foundations what you have sâ— happily obtain'd But since experience tells us that after a Voyage prosperously perform'd there is most danger to be fear'd at the entry of the Haven itself you have the same reason to fear that after the decease of your Pastor and Bishop if while he is yet living you do not take care to choose another Successour in his place lest the winds of discord should drive your Vessel upon dangerous Rocks and cause you to lose what you have acquir'd with so much labour Therefore We admonish you that in order to Ours and the will of your Protector to whom We have discover'd the
the Duke of Nieuburgh complaining of the injury done him and exclaiming against the Duke of Brunswick as a disturber of the Peace who supported his Rebel Subjects against him that was their lawful Soveraign and hinder'd the exercise of his Authority in his own Territories desiring therefore the Catholick Princes to send him their assistance for the recovery of his right and for the reparation of the damage and shame which he had undergone Besides all this he publish'd a Manifesto wherein he endeavour'd to justifie his pretences laying all the wrong upon the Duke making use of very sharp expressions and laying aside all thoughts of composure and accommodation saying that he was resolv'd to prosecutâ— such a disturber of Christendom The said Duke having read the Letter publish'd a Counter Manifesto wherein he declar'd that the Bishop had not touch'd at all upon the most considerable matter and that he founded his right upon an ill grounded process touching the Brewing of Hoxter The Princes of the Circle of Lower Saxony nay the King of Sweden himself had written to the Bishop advizing him to forbear such oppressions and to leave the City the full enjoyment of their Priviledges the same thing did the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh But the more they requested Lenity the more rigorous and tyrannical was he so that the poor people were almost ruin'd He had taken from the Council of the City their Judicial power in Civils so that they only retain'd the shadow of a Magistracy without any Authority and all this under pretence of their having Mortgag'd their Jurisdiction which was false Or granting that were true yet could not he be Judg in his own cause nor assume to himself all the Jurisdiction as a Judg much less to Levy such unheard of and cruel Executions which had hardly left one Beast upon the Lands belonging to the City Nay the Execution Cart had been in every Street in Hoxter where the Bishops Officers took away their very Victuals Bread Meat Bacon their Linnen and Beds from under them c. The Officers of the Council of Hoxter were also imprison'd for executing the Commands of the said Council and new Prisons were made to shut up the Burgesses of Hoxter themselves as fast as they could catch them Now by the Peace of Munster and Osnaburgh in the Year 1649. the priviledg of the Brewing was particularly confirm'd to the Town according to its Antient Rights Though afterwards they were somwhat disturb'd in the injoyment of their Grant because they would not suffer their Beer to be sold by the Province of Corvay which they had always wont to do formerly On the other side the Bishop had permitted the Secretary of Corvay call'd Maule who was neither Brewer nor Citizen to exercise the Trade of Brewing in the City whereby the Citizens were depriv'd of their Livelyhoods contrary to the express engagement made by those of Corvay in the Year 1656. and 1649. Four or five Citizens refusing to obey the priviledges of the Magistrates in the matter of Brewing oppos'd themselves against the Magistrate brake into the Town House and would have kill'd the Syndick if the other Burgesses had not prevented them Beside that they made their complaints to the Regents of Corvay where the Bishops Counsellers heard them very kindly protected them and encourag'd them to farther mischief against the Syndick and others The Council and Burgesses of the City perceiving what the others drove at publickly protested against their Illegal Actions by a Notary and two Witnesses Moreover the Burgomasters and Council of the City wrote to the Bishop of Munster humbly laying before him the Illegal proceedings of the Regents of Corvay requesting him with all submission to provide a remedy against them Which evidently shews that the Citizens of Hoxter had no design to withdraw their obedience from their Soveraign but only to remedy disorders by way of Justice Besides that it was a dispute between Citizens and Citizens and therefore to be decided by the Council of the City But at length after the Inhabitants of Corvay were resolv'd to proceed to execution and had taken away the Citizens Cattel they began to put themselves into a posture of Defence finding also the Country people in Corvay in Arms so that they were afraid of being surpriz'd the Gates and Walls of their City being almost ruin'd T is true the Bishop vaunted in his Manifesto that he had us'd the City of Hoxter very kindly and that he had exacted nothing from them for the support of the common exigencies They answer'd that the world might judg by his actions of the favours he had done them and that therefore his asseveration was not true For so soon as he was enter'd upon the Regency he had laid new Impositions upon Cattel which nevery an Abbot before had done Moreover when the Infantry and Cavalry of Munster return'd from the War of Hungary the City of Hoxter had quarter'd them all without the least Contribution of the Province They had always pay'd the Taxes of the Empire and Circle He had demanded a thousand Crowns of them for his Wars against the Turks He requir'd them to pay their share in the Tax upon the whole Province though he had taken from them their Brewing Trade and remov'd it into the Country quite contrary to the old agreements between the Province and the City and instead of redressing he had rejected their complaints and more and more oppress'd them Therefore they made it out by the Peace of Munster that the City might put itself into a Posture of Defence against all Oppression by the words of the Article which says That if by neither of these two ways that is Composure or Law the matter could be determin'd in three years They who are interested in the instrument of Peace shall Vnite their Forces take Arms and withstand the oppressor By which it appear'd that it was lawful for the Duke of Brunswick to assist the Citizens and the rather because he was their Protector and for that he had no other aim than to defend the priviledges of the City and to guard them from oppression The Bishop indeed had declar'd that it was not for Subjects to seek for protection without the consent of their Soveraign But to that they answer'd by the express words of the Imperial Agreement in the Year 1555. Provided that this shall be no pretence to hinder them who have been long in possession from putting themselves under protection The Bishop had also declar'd that the Protection of the City of Hoxter did not belong to the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh But that was made out to the contrary by the Letters of Protection of Otho and Magnus Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh in the Year 1332. by the Testimony of Timon Abbot of Corvay as also by several examples in the Years 1416. 1434. 1450. 1500. 1517. 1553. 1633. c. To which they added what was expresly concluded in the accord between
the City and the Province That no Abbot shall be admitted to the Regency unless he shall engage and subscribe beforehand to observe the agreements made with the City and to maintain the Rights and Priviledges thereof which was done by the Bishop of Munster as Administrator of Corvay and consequently they had never sworn fealty to him It was concluded therefore because the Regent of the Province of Corvay had robb'd the Citizens of almost all their Cattel to the number of above 450 head of Cows and Oxen besides Horses because he had Arm'd the Country people because he had so many ways Tyrannically oppressed the City and for that the City had earnestly desir'd his protection that therefore the said Duke could not but put a Garrison into the City Which he did not do till he had demanded of the Regents of Corvay restitution of the Cattel offering sufficient caution withal that they should have what they requirâ—d in case the City were found to be in the fault To which they gave no other reply but only that the affair concern'd him not at all but only the Bishop of Munster All this while the Bishop of Osnaburgh meddled on neither side only offer'd his service toward an accommodation testifying by his Envoy how much he was troubl'd to hear these disputes One would have thought the Bishop should have thank'd him for his hind proposal but the Munsterian took it so ill that he held him for his Enemy and threatn'd him with open War if he would not promise not to molest him in the retaking of Hoxter As to the complaints of the City of Hoxter put up to the Dyet of Regensburgh against the Bishop of Munster they were five in number concerning Ecclesiastical matters and thirty two as to Civil affairs That contrary to the Peace in the Year 1649. by which the City was repossess'd of all their Prerogatives both Spiritual and Secular he had introduc'd the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and had by violence taken away from the Protestants the Church of St. Nicolas and given it to the Franciscans That he had erected a Tribunal of Spiritual Catholick Justice as he call'd it wherein he exacted Fines and punish'd those who had been already punish'd by the Council of the City That he cited before his Tribunal the Citizens Counsellers and Ministers of the Protestant Religion and condemn'd them in great Fines which if they refus'd to pay his Officers seiz'd upon their Houses That he constrain'd the Council under severe penalties to elect Popish Burgomasters When they made Holy-day for the Festival of St. Vit at Corvay he caus'd all the Country people of the upper Villages of the Province with their wives children and servants to march through the City Drumming and Singing and carrying about their Images and Baubles to the great scandal of the Protestants If it chanc'd that this Feast of St. Vit happen'd upon an Easter-day he suffer'd the same rabble to come to the Protestant Church-door and there to make such a disturbance that the Minister was forc'd to leave his Pulpit In Civils he had acted directly against the said Peace He had taken from the Magistrate all their Authority as well in Civils as Criminals which they had enjoy'd for many Ages If the Burgomasters and Counsellers offer'd to punish any Malefactor according to their duty he lay'd severe Fines upon them and levy'd them upon their Goods both within and without doors He lay'd an execution upon Burgomaster Wildenborer because he had stood up for the priviledges of the City above sixteen Years before in the time of the deceas'd Abbat He had taken from them their Right of Brewing by which it was granted that all the Beer bought in the Town should be bought of the Citizens only He had refus'd them their antient right of Imposts That he had constrain'd the ruin'd Citizens to quarter three whole Regiments of Horse and Foot and to provide them Fire Salt Meal c. with several other oppressions and breaches of their priviledges too long to recite In the mean while Colonel Bentink arriv'd at the Hague in the month of November 1670. to acquaint the States General of the cause of the Levies made by the Bishop of Munster that is to say to punish the obstinacy of the City of Hoxter in the Province of Corvay adding withal that his Master notwithstanding all the reports to the contrary had no other intention toward the States than to be their good Neighbour and Friend his design being only to maintain his own rights against the Dukes of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel and Lunenburgh After that he departed from the Hague for Amsterdam and Vtrecht to buy Arms for his Master But the States of the latter Province understanding his Errand wrote immediately to the States General desiring that the River Yssel might be carefully guarded more especially that the Garrison of Doesburgh might be reinforc'd because the Bishop of Munster had quarter'd several of his Souldiers about Brevoort which City was in the Road to the Low-Countries and not to Hoxter Thereupon it was resolv'd that the Citieâ— of Guelders Zutphen Trise Over-Yssel and Groningen should be strengthn'd with an addition of 4000. Horse In a short while after the Bishop sent a Letter by a Trumpeter to the States General wherein he wish'd them all prosperity for the ensuing year offering to send them some of his men so soon as the differences between him and the Dukes should be compos'd in regard that the States had been so kind as to offer their mediation in the quarrel In the mean time the King of France made great Levies both Horse and Foot Insomuch that the Spaniards were afraid that he would Quarter his Souldiers upon them but the King of France assur'd them of his sincere intentions to the Queen of Spain However the States of the United Provinces knew not what to think For the King bent his course toward the Conquer'd Cities of Flanders in May he arriv'd at Tournay and in June he turn'd again toward France At last all the world perceiv'd that he had make all his Warlike preparations against the Dukedom of Lorrain for in a short time he made himself Master of all that Country Nevertheless he ceas'd not to raise new Forces continually and at the same time he made ready a certain number of Men of War He was wonderfully offended at the Prohibition against the importing of Wine and Brandy into the Low-Countries though all the world perceiv'd that he intended little good to the Dutch In opposition to this Placaert he forbid his own subjects to lade any Strongwater or Brandy in Dutch Vessells He also laid an Imposition of twenty four Livres Paris upon every eight Tuns of Salt Herrings coming from Holland which afterwards he augmented to thirty two Livers and three months after to forty He laid thirty per cent upon all sorts of Spices beside the former Impositions In April 1671. by the singular diligence of
the Province of Tuent He took without much resistance the Cities of Enschede Oldenzeel Otmarsen Almelo Borculo Lochem Deutâ—chem and other small places He also commanded the Forces of the Elector of Cologn and besieg'd the City of Groll which was well Fortifi'd but was surrender'd the ninth of the same month What relyance is there in those who have only the Title of Ecclesiasticks When Charles the fifth pass'd through France and was Nobly Treated by Francis the first notwithstanding their past bloody Wars the King of France was highly applauded for that he had so inviolably kept his word in reference to the free passage of the Emperor Upon which he gave this answer that though there were no such thing as Faith and Truth among men yet that it was absolutely necessary for Kings and Princes to acquit themselves of their Promises But we found it otherwise for upon the 16. of April the Arch-Bishop of Cologn publish'd a Placaert of Neutrality which nevertheless in six weeks time he utterly broke by open Acts of Hostility Yet there was this difference to be observed between the Bishop of Munster and the Elector of Cologn For the Bishop offer'd himself voluntarily to the King of France and sold himself to make War against the States General but the other was with great difficulty and reluctancy persuaded to break the Neutrality After the taking of Groll the Bishop of Munster made himself Master of Brevoort From thence he march'd to Deventer in which City they had forbid the Trumpet that keeps Watch upon the Tower to found the Tune of the Song made in praise of the Prince of Oranges Great Grand-Father to the present Prince They had also forbid the Organist to Play and the Ministers to Pray for the Prince They had also deny'd the Pulpit to one of the Ministers because that in numbering the sins of the people he had made mention of their ingratitude to the House of Orange The Author of the Holland Mercury relates that the principal Persons of the Province of Over-Yssel because they were much in debt were frequently wont to say at their Meals Come all will go well enough yet I hope to make my Fortuncs as well under the power of the King of France as under the present Government If this be true we need not wonder that by the means of such Rulers this City and so many others surrender'd so easily and with so little resistance to the Enemy The 13. of June the Bishop encamp'd before Deventer for the defence of which place there was nothing wanting The fourteenth he made an attempt to drive off the Cattel which fed round about the City but was repuls'd Upon the sixteenth he open'd his Trenches and had the Townsmen had the sole power in their hands both Munster and Cologn would have sound work enough to have imploy'd them a far longer time but what ever the reason were it was surrender'd the twenty first This put 1 250 Dutch Burgomasters already much in debt to a worse plunge For first they took away from them all that they had and then constrain'd them to pay for their ransome 65000 Livres Those that were in power had broken down the Bridg of Deventer as they pretended to prevent unnecessary Sallies from being made upon the Enemy though several gave their advice to the contrary However it pleas'd the Bishop extreamly who was heard to say that time Now I see that the Traytors have kept their words See the Holland Mercury Part 23. p. 81. The same said the Engineers after the taking of the Town which was surrender'd after the midnight of the day before mention'd without any necessity at all without any notice given to the Council of War and without the knowledg or consent of the major part or as others report of any one of the Burgomasters More than that they very ignobly forgot to make any provision for the Souldiers of the Garrison so that they all remain'd Prisoners of War The twenty second of the same month the Bishops men sate down before the City of Zwoll wherein they carried their business after such a manner that the Enemy found no resistance at all The Author of the Holland Mercury gives this accompt of the Action Part 2. p. 82. Collonel Vnico Ripperda relates that coming the 17. of June with his Regiment to Zwoll he found himself to be but an unwelcome Guest c. The eighteenth the Command of the Troops of Over-Yssel was conferr'd upon the Sieur W. V. Aylan who in the presence of Collonel Bampfield and other Officers adviz'd the Inhabitants of Zwoll to fortifie their City But they gave little heed to him and less to the Deputies of Groningen who would have had them have stopt the course of the River call'd the Black Water so to have drown'd the Country round about To which purpose they brought mony to carry on the work but they talkt to people that would have no Ears The twenty second the Bishops men entrench'd before the Twon at what time a certain Burgomaster of Deventer whose name was Le Espiere with another call'd Benting de Brokelingcamp and a Trumpet from the Bishop enter'd the Town and the said Le Espiere made a long Harangue in the Town House Thither went Collonel Bampfield to see how affairs were manag'd but they lookt upon him with an evil Eye They had as it is reported already in the morning sing'd the agreement to surrender the Town upon Deventer Conditions To make sure of Bampfield they desir'd him to march into the City with his Regiment which he did And then he and Ripperda went to the Town House and entring into the Council Chamber there they saw the Wine and Glasses upon the Table with which they had treated Le Espiere who upon their coming in went out at another door The Burgers would have Treated them but they refus'd it telling them that it was then no time to drink but to defend the Town Bampfield propos'd pulling down the Suburbs and making no agreement with the Enemy without advising with the Officers of the Garrison Offering to lose his head if they had not better Articles six weeks hence than then desiring them not to sell their Liberty and Religion To which it is said that the Burgomaster Crans made answer What likelihood have we to defend ourselves with 1200 Souldiers and as many Townsmen when the Town of Deventer so well Fortifi'd and provided with all things could not hold out six days As to the pulling down the Suburbs they said they could give no answer without consulting the Counsellers of the Commonalty whom they would call together to know their Resolutions The Collonels advised them to do it instantly and to send for the Captains of the City Trained Bands but they refus'd it Then they askt them why they had sent back the Trumpeter Answer was made that Le Espiere had don it Bampfield askt them if they would send Commissioners to the Bishop
They reply'd If we send Commissioners the rest of the Troops will not march toward the City What then said the other must we be Prisoners of War The answer was They that sign'd the Commission will be exempted To which the Collonels reply'd they would neither do that nor be Prisoners of War neither and so they return'd to the Trenches saying that they would make another manner of agreement One of the Magistrates cry'd If you return you will lose the benefit of the Capitulation But Bampfield answer'd it would be better to dye than make such an agreement And so both the Collonels the next night left the City and preserved their men The Magistrates made their advantage of the Collonels retreat saying that being abandon'd by the Souldiery they were sorc'd to surrender as they excus'd themselves in their Printed Apology Whether sudden consternation or Treachery were the cause of these things is only known to God But most certain it is that the Bishop with little or no hazard made himself Master of the Cities of Deventer Zwol Campen Hassels Swart-Sluys Blochzyl Steenwich Moppel Fort de Ommen and also of Kuynder in the Country of Frize Thus in a few days he had subdu'd the whole Province of Over-Yssel being assisted by the Arch-Bishop of Cologn who shar'd their Conquests after the following manner Deventer fell to the Elector of Cologn The King of France was to keep the Cities of Campen and Elburgh during the War which being ended he was to surrender them to the Bishop of Munster who kept all the rest except Zwoll which was to be Garrison'd by the French as well as by him On the other side the King of France had in a few days taken Doesburgh Zutphen Arnheim Wiick Montfort Oudewater Yselsteine Amersfoort Vtrecht and Woerden in Holland Some people misinform'd have very much blam'd the City of Vtrecht for surrendring but all persons that have any knowledg of affairs will rather lament than blame them Their ill-willers falsly reported that they would not admit the Prince of Orange into the City for it is known that they made it their request to him and that he had granted their desire They sent great quantities of Bread Beer and Cheese to the Souldiers that quarter'd about the City They offer'd to receive as many men as he should think necessary for the defence of the City with whom they would hazard their estates and lives to the uttermost peny and the last drop of blood But the Prince receiv'd Orders to retreat with the Army into Holland They desir'd him to leave the four Regiments that were paid by them but he could not spare a man because of the Orders he had receiv'd All their powder in the Powder-Mills was carry'd away by the Army The States also before these things happen'd had sent a considerable quantity of powder to Nimighen and other places so that they were destitute of necessaries and abandon'd by the Army and cut off from the other Provinces But more than this a considerable number of the Townsmen were in Garrison at Nimighen and in the Forts upon the Yssel He that would see more of this let him read the deduction of the States of Vtrecht Printed in the Year 1673. To this we may add for another reason the great number of the Roman Catholicks who being irreconcileable Enemies to the Reform'd Religion would have risen and Massacred them so soon as the King of France had appear'd with his Army They who will not credit the accompt which we give of things may read the Sieur Valkenieâ— in his Europe Troubl'd page 620. Many Roman Catholicks says he gave it out publickly in the streets Let France live rather than Orange If Orange comes we will shut our doors against him but we will open them to the French as soon as ever they arrive being then at Utrecht I often heard them speak thâ—se words to my great grief Let them also read what the same Author writes p. 621. c. and there they shall see how undeservedly aspersions have been cast upon this City But to return to the Bishop After he had furnish'd the Cities of Over-Yssel with good Garrisons and also left a good strong party upon the Frontiers of Friseland he march'd toward Coverden But before we speak of the taking of that City it behoves us to mention somthing of the little Town of Haltem not to deprive the couragious of their due praises Their Ramparts were very weak and defective being decay'd by time The Garrison did not consist of above 76 Souldiers and 180 Burghers who had earnestly desir'd the Inhabitants of Zwoll and other Neighbouring places to send them assistance but all in vain Their Ammunition also was very inconsiderable nevertheless they resolv'd to hold out The nineteenth of June the Episcoparians shew'd themselves before this Town and the Bishop sent them his summons threatning what he would do if they did not forthwith submit themselves He had very much affrighten'd great Towns by his thundering hard words but this little place answer'd him very couragiously contrary to his expectation that they would remain faithful to their Country till death Their deeds were answerable to their words for they made so stout a resistance and ply'd their small shot with that vigor that the Bishops whole Army that lay at Deventer were forc'd to be sent for to lye before this little place At length being out of all hopes of relief they were constrain'd against their will to submit and give entrance to the Bishop who was amaz'd at the small number of the Garrison knowing that he had lost in the Siege above 700 Souldiers besides a great number of stout Officers The Bishop before he laid Seige to Coeverden was marching toward Frise But upon his march he received advice that the States of Friesland and Groningen had put themselves into a posture of defence and that they were resolv'd to make use of all the strength they had Upon that in a great rage against the Frisons he cry'd out The Devil take the Priests meaning the Ministers of Leeuwarden in regard they shew'd their Zeal for their Religion and Liberty For which reason he alter'd his design and march'd to Coeverden He had the good fortune to take in the Fort du Deel the Old Fort the New Fort Wenschoter Zyl Wedd House and all the places round about In the Fortresâ— Bourtang was one Captain Prat. The Bishop labour'd to have had the place betray'd to him by the contrivance of his Commissary at War whose name was Marsel who offer'd the Captain 200000 Livres or one of the fairest Castles in Westphalia and for the other Captains 50000 Livres a peice But the generous Captain desir'd Marsel but to bring the Bishop and his followers to confer with him and he would give him as many Bullets as he offer'd him Livres And he behav'd himself so well that Marsel having laid Siege to the place was forc'd to raise it again in a short
themselves upon Helpen side The same day one of the Porters of the City was executed being accus'd of Treachery because he had left open the Haven Gate a whole night together as also a Country-man of Olde Ampt who had corresponded with the Bishop The eleventh they made their first shot at the City but the seventeenth they began to play furiously upon it endamaging several houses and after Dinner the same day several of the Officers and Townsmen shew'd themselves upon the Ramparts where they made merry and drank several Healths the great Guns going off and the Drums and Trumpets sounding at the conclusion of every one The Eighteenth the Bishop and Arch-Bishop for the Bishops of Munster and Cologn who did not very well agree before had now joyn'd their Forces which caus'd some to say that Herod and Pilate were reconcil'd follow'd their business very smartly They shot their Bombs into the City which did much mischief some of them weighing three hundred some four hundred pound The Shell was about three or four fingers thick fill'd within with Pitch Rosin Salt-peter and Gun-powder Their weight caus'd them to break through the Roofs and Tilings of Houses till they met with Combustible matter enough to set whole Houses on fire In the night time they shot great numbers of Granados into the Town which did very much damage in several parts and quarters of the City They were sluft with all sorts of Combustible Matter that easily took fire and they had within them little small things like small guns about a fingers length which discharg'd several Musket-bullets against those that drew near to quench them They were very terrible at first as having wounded several people that came too near them but let them alone till they had spent their Bullets and they were easily manag'd By this time the Bishop wonder'd very much that the City did not send out Commissioners to Treat of a Surrender after he had thrown so many Bombs and Fire-Balls among them But they had too great a love for their Country and their Religion to think of any such thing Nay somtimes they pay'd him with his own Coyn which he had never met with before Insomuch that the Souldiers in the Trenches would cry one to another They in the City make use of the same Devils that we do The 20. they ply'd the City with their Bombs and Fire-Balls The first of which did much mischief but the latter were easily stified The 22. both the Bishops summon'd the City but their answer was both resolute and surly The same day the Enemy made several Attacks upon the Auwerder Zyl but were valiantly repuls'd The number of the slain is uncertain but they confess'd that those Onsets lost them more men than all their Conquests had done Now though the Citizens beheld the ruin of their Habitations every day yet were they nothing dismay'd for all that but as they met one another in the streets their usual questions were How is your house Mine is almost down to the ground So is mine But let us pluck up a good heart this Bishop of Granados shall not have our City for all this The women were no less couragious than their Husbands They were less troubl'd to behold a Fire ball fall into their houses than they were before to see a Clown with dirty shooes come into their Dining-Rooms A certain woman who had but one house seeing a Bomb rowl through it began to fill her Apron with some trifles and a Silver Goblet and retiring into the street shew'd those that came to help her the Goblet saying Yet will I give this to his Excellency Rabenhaupt if he will but keep the City Another Bomb entring into the ruins of her House she cry'd to those that were with her The beggerly Bishop shall not get in this way I am resolv'd All this while the Bishop plagu'd the City with his Bâ—mbs while the besieged ply'd him as warmly with their great and small shot In some of his Fire-ballâ— which they open'd after thâ—y were quench'd they found a small viol full of a white matter which was believ'd to be rank Pâ—yson an abominable way of making war The Episcoparians also shot powder that made no noise and they made use of Great Guns pickt and cull'd for the purpose It happen'd one time among the rest that the Citizens thought that they had perceiv'd the Enemy preparing for an Assault whereupon the Scholars Souldiers and Citizens shew'd themselves upon the Ramparts the women also preparâ—d themselves to carry powder and bullets to their Husbands and because one among the rest more timorous than her Companions talkt of Surrendring the City they beat her well favour'dly and sent her home The last of July in some of the Bishops great Bombs they found a little plate of Copper one side whereof was full of Characters which could not be read from whence it is thought that he expected some Magical Effect upon which a certain Doctor in a discourse upon the Siege and raising of it made this observation That when the Bishop could not take the Town by the assistance of Simon Peter he endeavour'd to have it by the help of Simon Magus For the Roman Catholicks have more than once made use of such abominable superstitions When the deceas'd Prince of Orange Frederick Henry in the Year 1629. had besieg'd the City Bois le Duc after the Surrender of the place several Papers were found full of barbarous words and Conjurations and in some places the name of God and several Saints were inserted It is thought that the Priests had sold or given them to the Souldiers and Townsmen to preserve them from the Swords and Bullets of their Heretick Enemies But all his Episcopal Magick did him no good nay the more to fret him the Scholars who guarded the Out-wall and behav'd themselves very bravely had invented several nick-names for the Bishop by some of which he heard himself call'd when he came into the Trenches and bitterly storm'd at his new Titles his Officers also laid the affronts of their Captain to heart and vow'd to be reveng'd when once they got into the City The 15. of August the besiegers shooting continually into the Town a Canon Bullet almost graz'd upon a Hoggs back but did the creature no other harm than only singe the Bristles whereupon the Scholars cry'd out from the Out-wall in the night to the besiegers that the Bishop began to shear his Hoggs now he had fleec'd his Sheep The day before the Bishop and sent a Trumpeter to the Town requiring first that they would let him ransom certain Officers which had been taken Prisoners in a Salley or that otherwise they would use them kindly Secondly that they would send some sweet meats for his mony to Treat certain Ladies of the County of Hessen that were come to the Camp As to the first demand answer was made that it was not the custom to release Prisoners of Importance when
into the Cisteâ—n when the Bomb was broken and quite out she found that her Neighbours had rescu'd the Child out of the Cistern from whom she took it again sound and safe But to return to the Bishop The Frizous laying hold of the opportunity made an attempt with the assistance of the Men of War that guarded the Zuyder Zee upon the Fort of Block Zyl seated upon the said Zuyder Zee between Wallenhaven Kuynder and Steenwick where are two sluces that give free passage to the overflowings of Over-Yssel and Tuent into the Zuyder Zee in Holland This place was the first that was recover'd by the assistance of the Burgers who kept private correspondence with some of the Frizon Souldiers The Commander for the Bishop mistrusting them would have forc'd them to take an Oath of Fidelity to his Master which they refusâ—d to do Thereupon he threatned them hard but they reply'd They would suffer the utmost severity before they would take the Oath which he exacted from them Although the Frizons landed to the number of four hundred and fifty The Commander made a Sally upon them was rudely repuls'd and he would have reenter'd the Fort the Burgers fir'd upon the Episcoparians kill'd the Commander and open'd the Gate to the Frizons and so the Fortress was reduc'd under the obedience of the States At the same time a certain Mennonite put a fair cheat upon the Episcoparians For in regard he liv'd near the South gate when he saw the terrified Souldiers thronging out of the City he offer'd some of them his house to secure themselves which offer of his was kindly accepted by sixty or seventy of them among which were two Lieutenants and a Priest whom he afterwards deliver'd up all together as Prisoners of War Soon after the Fortress of Kuynder also fell into the hands of the Frizons from which time the Bishop prov'd very unfortunate for he got nothing but lost a great deal In the Old Ampter-Mieden the Episcoparians committed several Insolencies and Rapines and it was fear'd that they would have fir'd the Dams of Munterdam Veendam and Wilvank which would have occasion'd very much mischief the Winter ensuing for prevention whereof several Souldiers were sent to Mieden The Country-men glad to be so guarded were so liberal to the Souldiers that they got drunk at what time being surpriz'd by the Munsterians and not being able to rally themselves into a posture of desence they were forc'd to fly for their lives The Country-men however made a stout resistance for some time but being over-power'd they were all defeated and kill'd except some few that sav'd themselves in the Marshes After that came several Troops of Horse and Foot under the Command of St. German Collonel of the Holland Regiment which got into the City of Groningen during the Siege With these Forces he marcht toward Winschoten having a sight of several parties of the Munsterians by the way who retreated upon their approach and quitted not only Winschoten but also the small Fort of Winschoter-Zyl Wedde-House c. and shelter'd themselves under the Old-Fort and new Fort where they thought themselves safe And indeed it seem'd a thing impossible by force to Attack those two Forts in regard all the Country round was overflow'd However Collonel St. Jerman sent some of his men to the places next adjoyning to the Old Fort otherwise call'd Bellingwolderskans to block it up at a distance At the beginning little good was to be done besides that the Collonel was commanded back into Holland Thereupon his Excellency Rabenhaupt took the business in hand ordering Collonel Eybergen upon the same Enterpize who being strengthen'd with a Reinforcement laid Siege to the place About a thousand and four hundred Episcoparians came out of Westphalia passing through New-Fort to relieve the Old but they were ruggedly repuls'd by two hundred and fifty Souldiers under the Command of Major Neylers a brave and experienc'd Souldier who had so advantagiously posted his men that the Episcoparians having made a second attempt retreated to the New-Fort with the loss of eight hundred men slain after which the Old-Fort Surrender'd Of four hundred Souldiers that quitted the place not above a hundred arriv'd at Coeverden the rest deserting their Colours After the Old-Fort was taken the New-Fort was blockt up and upon the arrival of the Auxiliaries of Curland the Episcoparians quitted Dyler-Fort upon the 16. of November For the preservation of which place the Fort of Bourtang sent a hundred and twenty Musketeers under the Command of Captain Aitzema who was a very young man and wrote to the States of Groningen that if the Episcoparians made any Attack upon him they should find that place guarded by a courage not ordinary But when the Munsterians shew'd themselves near the Fort with three thousand men the Captain quitted his Hold without so much as looking the Enemy in the Face who presently repossess'd themselves of Dyler-Fort and from hence reliev'd the New-Fort insomuch that the Dutch were forc'd to raise the Siege the season being pass'd About the same time two hundred Curlanders having march'd too far into Westphalia to Plunder were totally defeated though the Episcoparians bought their Victory with the loss of more men on theirs than on the other side And now the time was come that Westphalia sufficiently plagu'd and oppress'd by its own Bishop must also tast the bitterness of a Foreign Enemy For the Elector of Brandenburgh having declar'd War against the Bishops of Munster and Cologn and the rest of the Neighbouring Confederates his Souldiers began to over-run the Country Plundering wherever they came and putting the Inhabitants under Contribution They also took some Waggons laden with Cloth Mony Provision and Ammunition Thereupon the Bishop gathers his Forces together withdraws his men out of his new Conquests and falls into the Countries of Bergue and La Marche doing great mischief He also took Lunen the City of Vnna and the Castle of Beda Nevertheless he was soon after forc'd to quit Vnna upon the approach of the Brandenburgh Troops and presently after that all the rest of the Country The King of France finding that the Bishop thriv'd so ill in the Province of Groningen was somwhat jealous lest he should change his side according to his usual Custom and therefore to oblige him to be Faithful he promis'd him the Abby of St. Germans de Esperees so that he kept firm to his Interests In the mean while the Bishops Garrisons of Steenwick and Coeverden committed several extortions and disorders in the Drenthe which those of Groningen were not able to prevent For though they sought every where to meet with them they could never light upon them in regard the Episcoparians being still advertiz'd by their Spies retreated in time to their Forts Nor was there any way to remedy these mischiefs so long as the Cities of Steenwick and Coeverden were in the hands of the Bishop Of the Fortifications of Coeverden we have already spoken
them toward the Province but all the Gates were so fast bar'd and so well guarded that there was no good to be done On the other side his Excellency Rabenhaupt march'd with his Frizons through the City of Coverden toward the County of Benthem At his first arrival he took the City of Northorn wherein he left 16 Colours of Horse and 6 of Foot From whence he advanc'd toward Nyenhuys but receiving intelligence by the way that Episcoparians had again begirt the City of Northorn and beat off the Out-Guards his Excellency marcht back toward them with seven Troops of Horse and five Regiments of Foot and set upon them the fifth of April but they still Retreated leaving behind them Sixty Slain and Fifty Prisoners with the loss only of three men Two days after Rabenhaupt took the Castle of Nyenhuys by force and thereby opened his way into the Bishops own Territories Upon that the Bishop began to fear lest he should be forsaken by the French who had already quitted the Province of Vtrecht and several other places in the other Provinces and so the flame of the War would blaze out in his own Territories For indeed the Imperialists had plunder'd several of his Towns and the Friselanders had fairly begun on their side Upon these considerations he began to forget the Alliance which he had made with France from whence he had received such considerable sums and for all that the King promis'd him the utmost of his Assistance And therefore by his Envoys at Cologn he sought to be restored to the favour and to be admitted into the Alliance of the Emperor which at length he obtain'd and a Peace was concluded between him the Emperour and the States General As for the Emperor he promis'd to submit to him to renounce the Alliance with France and to be regulated according to the Resolutions taken at Regensburgh for the defence of the Princes and Circles of the Empire The agreement made with the States General was to this effect That there should be a perpetual Peace between them That there should be a reciprocal Amnesty and Act of Oblivion for all things past since the Peace of Cleves unless for such as were guilty of Treason That the Bishop immediately after the Ratification should restore all the Places Towns Cities and Villages without any exception which he had Conquer'd or taken from the States and that he should restore to the Subjects of the States all their Lands Signiories and Houses which he had detain'd from them during the War That the Peace of Cleves should be of full force and effect in all things not contrary to this present Treaty That the Count of Benthem his servants Vassals and Subjects should also be compriz'd in the General Amnesty That the Emperor and the King of Spain be desir'd to be Cautionaries for the observation of this Treaty The French in their Conquer d Cities having intelligence of this Peace durst not hazard themselves there any longer though they extorted great sums of mony from the Inhabitants before they departed from Woerden 16000 Livers Bommel 36000 Vtrecht 45000 Campen 80000 Thuel 22000 Zutphen 70000 for Contribution and 70000 to save their Fortifications Anberm 14000 for the Governor and 100000 for the King Nimmeghen 55000 and the Upper and Lower Betuwe the same sum As for Wesel Enmersch and Rees the King of France had given them to the Elector of Brandenburgh so that he retain'd in his hands nothing of his Conquests from the States but Graef and Mastricht the first of which places was valiantly recover'd by the Prince of Orange and the latter restor'd by the Peace At what time the French quitted their Conquests the Elector of Cologn quitted also the City of Deventer after he had made an agreement for 42000 Crowns for Contribution mony The Munsterians also in pursuance of the Treaty quitted the Cities of Hasselts Swartsluys and Zwoll after they had committed several disorders in the Country This turn of the tide no way pleas'd the Roman Catholicks At Vtrecht and in several other places they were in hopes that the French would return and that then they should be put into possession of the Government of the Province nay they gave it out so in publick They were so obstinate at Otmarsum that they would not surrender their Churches to those of the Reformed Religion which caus'd some disorders at first though they were quickly appeas'd But though the Peace between the Emperor the States General and the Bishop of Cologn were thus concluded yet the Elector of Cologn did not so soon forsake the French Interest being still incens'd by the Bishop of Strasburgh However his Imperial Majesty had prescrib'd him a time to declare himself which was near expiration One main obstacle was that he could not brook that the Emperor should keep a Garrison in the City of Bon. He also demanded of the States as the price of his Friendship the County of Meurs the City of Rynbork and forty thousand Crowns toward the expences of the War But the States would allow him none of his Pretensions only they were willing he should put a Garrison into Rynborck but that he should renounce all his claim to the County of Meurs He had also demanded free exercise of the Catholick Religion in the Province of Over-Yssel but the Emperors Embassadors well knowing it would never be granted declar'd to him that it was not a reasonable request For that the States General never permitted the exercise of the Catholick Religion in any of their Territories Thereupon seeing the Cloud coming he quitted all his pretensions and upon that a Peace followed between the Emperor and him as also betwixt him and States General the chief Articles whereof were That there should be a firm and lasting Peace that after the Ratification of the Treaty the Elector should restore to the States all the Places which he had taken from them during the War in the same Condition as they were before they were taken without any wast or spoil or any demand of Contribution That he should keep the sums already paid but that he should release the the Hostages which he detain'd for the payment of such sums as were demanded That all Lands and Signiories taken from the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces shall be restored them On the other side that the State should quit all their pretensions to the Town of Rynbork and the Fortifications thereof The County of Lingen should be restor'd to the Prince of Orange Certainly the two Bishops never dreamt that the Face of Affairs would have alter'd after so strange a manner and that they should be forc'd to beg for Peace from the States More especially the Bishop of Munster was deceiv'd who in the month of July before sent to the City of Embden to send their Deputies to him to New-fort there to consult about such things as tended to their repose and security The Inhabitants of Embden had set themselves in an
the Souldiers either to be delving or shooting So that they lov'd his room much better then his company Sometimes he stay'd two or three hours in the Trenches hazarding his person in the most dangerous places Nevertheless he was prudent for all that for he never expos'd himself to those dangers but he was attended by nine or ten persons habited like Footmen in the same Livery as himself which prevented his being discover'd by the Enemy Thus our Bishop shew'd himself to be a brave and vigilant Captain but such a one as undertook unnecessary Wars and such as the occasions thereof were sought by himself Should it be objected that the Sword of a Prince and the Bishops Crozier have no correspondence together it may be answered that he was not only a Spiritual but Temporal Prince Should any one go farther and ask the same question as was asked the Bishop of Cologn upon the same occasion If the Devil take the Secular what must become of the Spiritual Prince We can give no answer till we hear what the Bishop said for himself His restless humour has been sufficiently apparent He never could be at quiet but there was a necessity for him to be in Arms or in some contest before the Chamber of Spiers somtimes against his own City and Subjects somtimes against the States General the Dukes of Lunenburgh c. No person that had any intricate and perplex'd cause needed have done any more then gone to him for he never denyed them his Assistance especially if he perceived any advantage accrewing to himself All the world knows how inconstant he was in his words and his actions The Alliances which he confirm'd by solemn Oath and his Episcopal Cross endured no longer than stood with his Interest and Convenience He never continued long in Friendship with any Prince whom he did not either leave in the lurch or else become his Enemy England France the Low Countries and several others can well testifie the same His Avarice was a great if not the principal cause of his Inconstancy For when he had got the sum agreed upon he offered his assistance to another to make a new profit to himself though it were to the disadvantage of him that was the first purchaser He was so much a slave to his Covetousness that it was usually said of him that he would serve the Devil for mony he would willingly have had all the mony that was in the world for gain was the chiefest part of his Religion Neither did he spare any deceit or act of violence which was profitable to him For which reason he was a continual stumbling-block to his Neighbours and a thorn in their Eyes so that the Emperour never durst put any confidence in him finding him to be of the disposition of Ishmael whose hand was against all the world The Sieur Valekenier has very well observ'd that profit had the only Ascendent over him as being the only thing whereat he aim'd The words of that famous Writer are these For saith he Whatever filled and crammed his Chests and Coffers was his Interest as he has openly confessed himself and has given the world reason to believe by his actions And indeed as he is an Ecclesiastical Prince that cannot leave his Bishoprick to his Kindred and will therefore be nothing endamaged by the ruin of it for that reason be only endeavour'd to heap together vast Treasures for his Heirs who could expect from him nothing but ready mony So that if the States of the United Provinces had offered him more mony then the French he would have soon laid aside his old Antipathy and have become their choicest Friend Though he knew well that if by the uncertain chance of War be should happen to be expell'd his Bishoprick a rich Abbey in France well deserved by his Faithful services might prove more profitable to Europe troubl'd p. 183. him then all his Bishoprick whose Inhabitants were so impoverished Beside what we have already said he was altogether void of pity He is accused to have pocketed up the mony which has been sent by other Princes or Kings to make a divertive War for their convenience and then to have laid insupportable burthens upon his own Subjects That he quartered Souldiers continually in great numbers upon his Subjects who made no sin of violating married women ravishing Virgins and committing dayly Robberies the relations whereof never moved his heart When a considerable person and very aged belonging to the Chapter of the Cathedral Church laid before him one day the miserable sufferings of his Subjects as well by their Taxes as the Insolence of the Souldiers he made answer That it was not for him to suffer himself to be insulted over by his Neighbours but to defend his Honour Which could not be done without a War and to make War there was a necessity for mony and Souldiers The first he could legally demand from his Subjects as being set over them for their safety and honour For the other it was impossible to Discipline them so exactly If his Subjects did fuffer any hardship he was sorry for it But as these inconveniences were the companions of War he hop'd ere long for better times That if they considered what others suffered they had reason to count themselves happy and to thank God that they had a generous Prince that would take no affront but was mindful their Honor. He suffer'd his Souldiers to commit those insolencies in his Enemies Countries that the people dreaded the very name of Munsterians The French were rigorous enough in those Places and Cities of the Low-Countries where they had their Garrisons but not to be compar'd with the Bishops men for cruelty It is credibly reported that at the Siege of Groning some of his Chief Officers expressed their sorrow for the loss of so many brave and valiant persons and desired him to have pity upon the miserable cries of the wounded beseeching him at the same time that care might be taken of them to which he returned for answer How Are you one of my Officers and suffer your heart to melt upon the sight of a few dead men or the sight and groans of the wounded A good Souldier ought to have as little Compassion as the Devil However he would sometimes disguise his Natural Cruelty and appear tender and pitiful for fear of distasting his Souldiers and being also afraid lest his Subjects should have an utter aversion against him There are some perhaps who having read thus far may accuse me of prejudice and partiality But they must know that as yet we have not begun the History we have only made a preliminary description of the humour and disposition of the Bishop in respect of whom we thought ourselves not so much confined to the Duty of a Historian as to the bounds of Truth wherein we have follow'd the best relations of the time as well in High German as Dutch Ferdinand Duke of Bavaria Arch-Bishop of
Cologne Bishop of Hildesheim Paderborn Liege and Munster dyed in the Year 1650. The Archiepiscopal See fell to Maximilian Henry Duke of Bavariae after he had been eight years Coadjutor to his Uncle A while after he was also Bishop of Liege and Hildesheim The Bishopprick of Munster fell into the hands of Signor Christopher Bernard de Galle though by vertue of an Election altogether confused and extraordinary caused by the dissension between the Dean and the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Munster of which more in due place Historians differ as to the employment which Monsieur Christopher Bernard enjoyed before he was Elected Some will have him to have been Warden of the Chapter Gotfred Schultz in his Chronicle of the Year 1650. p. 23. writes thus ' At Munster the Chapter of the Cathedral put by several considerable persons that stood for the Ecclesiastical Dignity and at last chose for their Bishop Monsieur Christopher Bernard their Warden In the beginning of the little Preface there are these words A Warden was advanced to be Bishop But in the eighth part of the Theatre of Europe Fol. 91. we find that his Uncle Malingcrot Dean of the Cathedral had advanc'd him in the Chapter Both the one and the other may be true that is to say that first he might have been only Sacristain and after that preferr'd higher and so by his Uncles means attain the Bishoprick Monsieur Christopher Bernard was scarcely advanc'd to the Chair but word was brought him every day that the Citizens of Munster not being satisfied with his Election talkt of him with a great deal of scorn and contempt that they continually divulg'd bitter Lampoons and reproaches against him and that they gave little respect to his high Dignity Part of this indeed was true but his Flatterers had added much more then was really so and this it was that exasperated the Bishop against them however he concealed his hatred for a time Many of the Magistrates were willing to have punished the Authors of those Satyrs but others privately favour'd them so that they could not agree upon that point among themselves It is reported that this discontent among the Citizens on the one side was this that after the Chapter had in such an irregular manner passed by so many persons of worth they should advance to so high a Dignity not only the son of a private Gentleman which was tolerable enough but the son of a Criminal which was insufferable On the other side because they well enough understood by several actions of Christopher Bernard in his mean Estate what they were to expect from him when he came to be a Prince Monsieur Bernard Malingcrot his Uncle a very learned man as most Writers affirm but very self-willed withal became his mortal enemy after his Election and prosecuted him publickly every where not only in his common speeches but his writings reproaching him that his Election was neither regular nor just that it was faulty both in the manner and the person and that Christopher Bernard ought not to be acknowledged for lawful Bishop All which more incensed the people against him as being a person that had never been in any credit amongst them whereas Malingcrot had lived in long Reputation within the City And now it will be time for us to declare the reason why the Uncle so hated his Pupil as also to relate the manner of the Bishops Election and what happened before and after It is a thing well known by the Popes Bulls or Right Ecclesiastical that when the Episcopal See happens to be vacant it is the Deans duty to assemble a Chapter within six months for the choice of another Bishop otherwise after the expiration of that time the Pope has Authority to supply the vacancy by putting in any one of his own choice Malingcrot would willingly have been Bishop himself and indeed deserved to have been advanced to that Dignity as well for his wit and learning as for his extraction which may seem improbable considering the meanness of the Bishops birth but is allowed however for truth in regard that Malingcrot was related to the Bishop by the Mothers side and not by the Fathers Malingcrot therefore aspiring to the Mitre delayed the Election much longer then was pleasing to the Canons so that the fifth month was already at an end and no day yet prefix'd whereby he thought more easily to have attain'd his ends But many of the members of the Chapter especially the younger sort had little or no kindness for him For he was a severe man and one that while he was Dean had not only sharply rebuk'd them in words but also inflicted rude Penances upon them So that they fear'd he would be more rigorous when he came to be Bishop Thus while he delayed to call the Chapter notwithstanding the importunities of several the Members of the Colledg met Christopher Bernard de Galle the Deans Nephew at a Feast near their Colledg They were there very frolick and at length in the height of their jollity they began to cry aloud Long live Bishop Bernard Which acclamations when they came Malingcrots ears he took them for a good Omen in regard his name was also Bernard believign himself to be the person intended But soon after he was inform'd that the Chapter had proceeded very far toward the Election and that they had nominated his Nephew Monsieur de Galle to be Bishop of Munster which Election they besought him to consent to and confirm with his signet The Dean was very ill satisfied with what had been done he upbraided the Canons with their ill and disrespectful language towards him according to his usual custom and for that contrary to their duty towards him without his knowledg and consent they had assembled together in an improper place to make a Bishop That it belonged to him as Dean according to the Ecclesiastical customs and priviledges to call a Chapter and take their voices in order Which not being done but having acted contrary to Rules with a premeditated design the Election was illegal and void and for that reason he would never approve of it Nevertheless the Chapter would not alter the resolution which they had taken and made their Applications to the Pope to confirm the Bishop newly Elected Malingcrot vigorously oppos'd it alledging among other reasons that their Election was altogether illegal being done contrary to Law and Form without his knowledg as Dean without any necessity or apprehension of danger when there was time enough to have proceeded legally besides that they had chosen a person not fitting or proper to be admitted to so high a calling which ought to be undertaken by persons of irreprehensible conversations Now it was known to all the world that the Father of him who was Elected to the Bishoprick had killed another Gentleman for which reason he had been deprived of his Estate and dy'd in Prison The Chapter alledg'd on the other side that
necessity had compell'd them to pass to this Election The needless delay of the Dean put them in danger of losing their great priviledg of a free choice there being so much time elapsed As for the Criminal act of the Father of the Elected Bishop they excused it in this manner saying that it could not be accompted a Capital Crime since it was not punish'd with loss of life and therefore that could be no impediment to keep his son from the benefit of their Election Malingcrot reply'd that then when they made their choice there was time enough to have proceeded according to due form That it was in his brest to appoint the time so that he left time enough for the Election That he would not lose his priviledg of limitation of time that a particular favour to let a crime go unpunished did not justifie the action At length by his writings he so far prevail'd with Innocent the X. as to forbear the Confirmation of Christopher Bernard till the fifth year that is to say for so long time as the Pope should live But when Alexander the VII came to the Chair in the Year 1655. he forthwith confirm'd him in his Dignity and so Christopher Bernard prevail'd at length So long as Malingcrot liv'd at Munster he never ceased giving out invective speeches against the Bishop and many as well of the Council as of the people gave credit to him For in regard that he had bred him every one believed that he could not chuse but know his Genius and Disposition better then another And certainly the preceding life of the Bishop had not been so void of blame but that he had given occasion enough to let the world see several of his vices This was that which engag'd the Bishop who resided at Coesweld to Excommunicate the Dean his Uncle who after that retired to Cologn where he met with Sanfelicio the Popes Nuntio at that time to whom he made out his business so well that he was not only freed from his Excommunication but also had liberty granted him to return to Munster This very thing did not a little contribute to the ensuing troubles particularly then when upon the Feast of St. James the Apostle he shew'd himself in all his Ecclesiatical Robes Old and young men and women in short all sorts of people crouded to see him overjoy'd at his return Insomuch that there was a universal cry among the multitude Lâ—t Malingcrot stay with us and let Galle go where he pleases And this was that which made the business worse and excited a stronger inveteracy in the spirit of the Bishop not only against the Dean his Uncle but against all the Citizens of Munster He imagined and perhaps not without reason that he should from time to time become more odious to them and therefore he could not hope for much good from them For this reason he required the Townsmen that for the security of his person they would receive an Episcopal Garrison and because they gave him a denyal he sought how to attain his ends by force Before we go any farther we will give the Reader a description of his Town which is seated in Westphalia This Diocess contains twelve Cities whose Magistrates are all of the Roman Catholic Religion of all which Munster is the Metropolis The Inhabitants are particularly addicted to Tillage they also breed and feed great store of Cattel and Sheep but especially Hogs of which they make great advantage by reason of the vast quantities of Westphalia Hams which they send abroad into Forrain Parts The Nobility govern the Country and live in their Castles but the Country and their Herds and Flocks afford them their maintenance Only for their Agriculture they have the priviledg to be served by the Country people that are under their jurisdiction being as it were their slaves and whose duty it is at the first word to be at their service The place where now the City of Munster stands was formerly called Mimgarde in the Dubigines or Dulgumnies It received the name of Munster from the Latin word Monasterium signifying a Cloyster or Convent which Bishop Armaud the first in the Reign of Charlemain in the Year 785. when this Province was first made a Bishoprick caused to be built there in honor of the Holy Virgin Mary The Land round about it no way to be despised no more than is all the rest of Westphalia The City has nine Gates well provided and guarded with Bulwarks and Bastions There are three to the East that of St. Maurice St. Servaise and Horst Gate Two toward the South St. Ludgers and St. Giles's Two to the West St. Maries Gate and that of the Jews field Two to the North that of the Cross and Newburgh Gate The City is encompassed with a double Wall and a double Moat which the River Aa fills with water and then discharges it self It contains also five Colledges that of St. Pauls the Cathedral St. Ludgers St. Maurices St. Martins and one more The Bishop therefore not being able to incline the Citizens to answer his expectations adjourned the Chapter of the Cathedral and the greatest part of the Nobility to Coseweld There the business was variously consulted but they could not come to any agreement so that the Assembly brake up In the mean time Malingcrot from whom the Bishop had taken away the Office of Dean and who lived as an exile at Cologn resolved one day to revisit the Town of Munster and to celebrate the Feast of St. James But before he could get into the Town he was discovered by the Bishops men taken Prisoner and carried before the Bishop who seriously exhorted him to quit his Rebellious humor and not to envy him the honor wherewith God had favoured him But these calm words took no effect On the contrary he began to upbraid his Nephew with what he had done for him after his Fathers misfortune and how he had preserved him from the jaws of misery that he had made him a Canon and then a member of the Chapter But that after all his kindness he had rewarded him with nothing but ingratitude Thereupon the Bishop made sure of him ordering the Jesuites and other Ecclesiastical Persons that were at his Devotion to persuade him but all to no purpose So that at length he dispossessed him of all his Dignities and put him under a Guard of Souldiers in a certain house in the Country and in that condition he ended his days He shewed himself however very Liberal to all the poor Students that came to visit him of which his bounty drew a good number But he received them all civilly and never dismissed them but with a handsom gift telling them withal this Lesson When it shall be your turn to come to preferment said he remember me in your writings and consider what it was reduced me to this condition Now in regard the Bishop continued his Levies the City of Munster could not but easily
to no purpose The Citizens exasperated would not be reappeas'd The Commonalty encourag'd one the other and lifting up their hands cry'd aloud Be of good Courage Munster be of good Courage the Hollanders are coming to thy assistance For the States General had sent them some succor Nevertheless they were much endammag'd by the Bombs and Granado's Two Churches and above two hundred Houses were already reduced to Ashes Afterward the Bishop made a general Assault but was repuls'd with loss The seventeenth of October a Truce was made for four days Which so enraged the Citizens that they openly revil'd the Council and were within a little of laying violent hands upon them All this while the Deputies of the Chapter of the Cathedral of the Nobility and the Town did all that lay in their power so that at length an agreement was made the twenty first of the said Month. That no person should be call'd to accompt for the troubles past neither in Munster nor without the City nor suffer either in Body or Estate That the Prisoners on both sides should be releas'd That the Council of the City should retain in their service three hundred Foot and admit of five hundred Episcoparians as also the ordinary Guards of the Bishops Body both Horse and Foot That their Commander should take an Oath not to act any thing contrary to the Priviledges of the City That when the Bishop was in the City he should give the Watch-word and in his absence that the Citizens Council should appoint it That in regard the Dispute about the Keys was before the Imperial Chamber the issue of their sentence should be expected In the mean time that the Citizens and Council should open the Gates of the City to the Bishop at all times when by him requir'd or thought convenient and that they should give him all the honor and respect due to his Person and Quality On the other side the Bishop promises to preserve the Priviledges of the City and the Burgomasters and Council promise to keep their Oaths inviolably The Bishop would not have consented to Conditions so favourable had not the forces of the States General been upon their march for the relief of the City They consisted of forty five Troops of Horse and ninety seven Companies of Foot This Army made an alteration in the Bishops thoughts who in the beginning of December made his Entry into the City He was receiv'd as became him by the Council The Townsmen were in Arms all along the streets as he pass'd But not a person would uncover to him as he rode in his Coach nor give him those Volleys of honour which are customary their outward behaviour being correspondent to the inward thoughts of their hearts And this was the end of the Siege Of the besieged about fourscore were slain but the Bishop lost above two thousand This was also the second agreement between the Bishop and the City concluded in 1657. The former being made in the Year 1655. Though the Peace were concluded the Bishop still retain'd in his service several Troops and Regiments and he enter'd into Alliances with other Princes without the knowledg and consent of the Estates and by consequence contrary to their confirm'd Priviledges Which caus'd both suspition and hatred so that there was no good intelligence between the City and the Bishop The Burgomasters mistrusted the Bishop and the Bishop had no affection for them This was the occasion of new differences which increas'd from day to day from whence might easily be discover'd the flames of a new approaching War Whereupon the City sent their Deputies to the States of the Vnited Provinces who return'd with a favourable answer About this time a report was divulg'd over all Westphalia that the Munsterians were resolv'd to admit the public exercise of the Reformed Religion into their City to oblige the States General But the Council publish'd an Edict wherein they declared this report to be a meer Invention And thus things pass'd on till the Year 1660. at what time the flames of a new War burst forth again By the Treaty in the Year 1657. It was concluded that the old and new differences between the two parties lying before the Imperial Chamber at Spiers should remain as they were At length the Chamber came to a Final determination to this purpose that since the City could not sufficiently prove their rights pretended in reference to the Garrison that the Keys Walls Gates Bulwarks and Watch-word should be at the disposal of the Bishop as their Prince The Burgomasters and Counsellors were much dissatisfi'd at the sentence and crav'd a rehearing On the other side the Bishop complain'd that they refus'd to submit to the sentence of the Chamber and demanded Mandate of Execution which was granted him if the City at the end of two months did not fairly comply In regard then that they did not submit but sought for Foreign assistance upon the tenth of Jan. 1660. the Council receiv'd an Order Imperial that they should recal their Deputies out of the Low-Countries and cancel whatever had been treated upon under penalty of Excommunication Neither had they above two months time to shew their submission to the Chamber and their promise of amendment and obedience for the future And this affair the Bishop manag'd so well that all things went according to his wish The City trusted in the succours that were promis'd them by the States General who had assur'd them of assistance in pursuance of the League made with the Hanse Towns wherein Munster was compriz'd So that at the same time the States sent a Letter to the Bishop desiring him that he would either pursue his action at Law or make a fair agreement lest they should be forc'd to concern themselves in the business Nevertheless a little while after the Munsterians sent Orders to their Deputies at the Hague to return home and desist from Treating any farther This was after the Imperial Command The Bishop made great complaints against the City at the Emperors Court sharply accusing them of disobedience to the Emperors Orders withal requesting that the Emperors Orders might be put in Execution The Council wrote to the Emperor that they had obey'd and had Commanded their Deputies home from the Hague upon which their being Excommunicated was put off Thereupon the Bishop not being able any longer to curb his unquiet humor began to block up the City with his Forces The Emperor sent to let him know that he expected he should desist from all Acts of Hostility and permit the City a free Trade But he slighted the Emperors injunctions and prosâ—cuted his own affairs Whereupon the City for the maintainance of their Libâ—rty put themselves in a Posture of Defence The States General endeavour'd to composâ— the differences and to that purpose sent their Deputies to Munster but without any success It the mean time the Bishops Souldiers exercis'â— all Acts of Hostility spoyling and burning thâ— Corn upon the
Ground that the Townsmen might have no benefit of their Harvest Or the otherside Monsieur Aitzma earnestly recommended to the States General the care of the Town to which the chiefest part of the Provinces were readily inclin'd but the Province oâ— Holland would by no means consent At the beginning of November the Council of the City sent a Letter in Câ—phers to Monsieur Aitzma earnestly pressing him to put the States General in mind of their promises but notwithstanding all the endeavours of Monsieur Aitzma though Friesland thought it necessary though Guelderland Overyssel and Groningen were of the same opinion yet Holland oppos'd them all Brandenburg also dissuaded the relief of the City So that Munster was now left to itself not a little complaining against the Vnited Provinces The twenty first of Jan. Bernard Zimmerscheyd the Burgomaster with six others of the Council ventured out of Town to the Quarters of the Bishop where they were heard by two of the Bishops Counsellers They implor'd his Highnesses favour toward the miserable Inhabitants of the City and besought him for the love of God that they might be admitted into his presence to understand his resolutions Thereupon the question was put to them whether they did not acknowledg in the presence of God that they were Rebels The Burgomaster shrugging his shoulders excused the Magistracy so far that it was not in their power to curb the violent humour of the Populacy To which he was answer'd in this language Obey then the Emperors Commands disband your Souldiers bring the Keys of the City to your Lawful Prince and receive his Garrisons otherwise your Prince will teach you with a far more numerous force to reverence and obey your Soveraign Thereupon in regard there was no Corn left in the City nor no mony to pay the Souldiers who were already two months in arrears there was a necessity of submitting to whatever the Bishop required which brought them to an absolute surrender the 18. of March upon these conditions That the Gates should be guarded by the Episcopal Troops that the Citizens should refuse the assistance of the States General and of all others That they should pay the Bishop at present 40000. Crowns and afterwards an Annual tribute of 7. or 8000. Crowns upon which consideration they should have their pardons That six persons should be excluded from this pardon who were nevertheless to be free from Corporal punishment or life That they should receive an Episcopal Garrison without limitation That they should surrender the Keys to the Bishop and that whatever concern'd the security of the City should be absolutely at the Bishops disposal Scon after in a great deal of hast he began the foundation of a Citadel call'd Munsters Craw-bone He regulated all the Colledges and Fellowships of the City and set up a new form of Government which began to require an accompt from some part of those who had formerly born Offices Four Receivers were put in Prison upon pretence of having falsified their Trust One of the Counsellers excluded from pardon was constrained to pay the Bishop 2000. Crowns and an Antient Burgomaster as much after which they were both banished the Country Thus Prince Christopher Bernard reduc'd the City of Munster under his subjection And now he might have liv'd in quiet had not his boistrous and râ—stlâ—ss humour stirr'd him up to new undertakings and therefore to find himself imployment he rous'd up quarrels that had lain long a sleep He set on foot an old dispute and publish'd a writing concerning the contest about Borculo in reference to which affair it was by him alledg'd that the Imperial Council of Spiers had given sentence in savour of the Bishop declaring that that Signory was a Fee belonging to Munster and by consequence escheated to him In opposition to this the Count of Stirum had the Decree of the Court of Guelders as being in possession who thereupon a while after caus'd an answer to the Bishops claâ—m to be publish'd in writing This was done in the year 1662. The year following the Bishop sent Monsieur Braybeck Dean of the Cathedral of Munster as his Embassadour to the Hague where he attended the States General with a Memorial desiring them in the name of his Prince that they would favour his just demands and restore to him the Signory of Porculo and its dependencies which the Arms of the States had put into the possession of Count Justus of Limburg in regard it was done by the Province of Guelders in the Year 1616. Moniseur De Estrades also the French Embassadour was very serviceable to the Bishop and smartly put the States in mind of having a respect to Justice and the Alliance between his Master and the Bishop The Deputies of Guelders affirm'd that they took the business upon themselves However certain Commissioners were nam'd but nothing more done that Year Next Year Monsieur Braybeck press'd the same demand again For which reason the States General would have order'd certain other Commissioners to enquire into the affair But the Province of Guelders would by no means consent thereto because they had pasâ—d sentence already as also for that the Signiory of Borculo belonged to their Province and by consequence the business concern'd them in particular and not the Generality At the same time the Prince of Lichtenstien had laid claim to a certain debt which he charg'd upon the Signiories of Esens Stedesdorp and Witmond which his Mother-in-law had enjoy'd by the death of her Brother-in-law This debt was demanded from the Prince of East-Friesland who was by the Imperial Chamber condemn'd to pay it The Bishop of Munster altogether for having his Oar in every Boat had so brought it about that the Emperor offer'd him a Commission to put the Imperial sentence in Execution In the mean time he labour'd to make the best use of the Opportunity and to bring his matters about to his chiefest advantage To this effect he so wrought it that these two powerful Neighbours the Prince and he under a pretence of hunting the Wild-Boar should meet together in Westphalia in August 1663. The Bishop was very urgent with the Prince to deliver him up Eyderland promising in lieu therâ—of to take upon himself the whole debâ— of Lichtenstein and that he would satisfie the clamer Had this proposal succeeded according to hiâ— wish he would have order'd it so that the Princâ— of Lichtenstein should have gotten little enough But in regard this request of his was look'd upoâ— as prejudicial to the States General this Proposal did nothing please the Prince of Friesland and therefore he objected several Obstacles particularly that the said Eyderland was under the protection of the States General and engaged for a certain sum of mony So that no such thing could be done as well in respect of his Brother as in respect of the States who had a share and interest in this affair Nevertheless he took time to consider of it as
worst he had nothing to lose The States had a design to visit the Bishop in his own Country for which purpose they had already 17000. men upon the march but the fierce cold of the Winter then approaching stopp'd their progress so that the Souldiers were forc'd to retire into their Garrisons The Bishops Troops also quitted the field after they had offer'd Battel to the Hollanders Between Delden and Enschede they attacqu'd 1200 Horse and Foot who were sent to make themselves Masters of the Castle of Wickelen and put them to a considerable defeat and thus ended the Year 1665. The next Year the Elector of Brandenburgâ— had taken the States part upon certain conditions and labour'd to reconcile the differencâ— between the States and the Bishop The State were altogether for Peace and the Bishop saw that the Fortune of the War began to turn foâ— he was wholly expell'd out of the Province 〈◊〉 Groningen and the Commanders for the Statâ— General were preparing to lodg their Troops iâ— his Territories so soon as the season would permit which made him bend his Ear to an accord to which end he desir'd nothing more than a meeting at Cleves In the mean time some attacques were made by parties of both sides but of little consequence till at last a Peace was concluded in April upon several conditions The chief of which were That there should be an Act of Imdemnity for all except Traitors That the Bishop should quit all places which he had taken during the War That he should withdraw his Forces out of all the Territories of the States Dominions That the Bishop should disband his Troops after the Ratification on both sides and should retain no more than what the Mediators should determine to be sufficient for his Garrisons which was 3000 Horse and Foot and that he should not raise any new Levies unless it were for the security of the Empire or of his Alliances provided also they were not prejudicial to this Treaty That the Bishop should quit all Alliances prejudicial to this Peace and never make any new War against the Republick The States for their parts oblige themselves to perform the same promises on their parts That the Bishop shall quit his pretences to the Signiory of Borculo and its dependencies without prejudice to the rights of the Empire That neither the Bishop nor his successors nor his subjects should intermeddle with any affairs that concern the States General That the Emperor the King of France the Electors of Mayence Treves Cologne and Brandenburgh the Bishop of Paderborn Pal Nieubergh and the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh shall be Cautionaries for the observation of these Articles This was the sudden conclusion of this War so suddenly enter'd into The confirmation and publication whereof was made by the Bishop the 20. of April with these words Promising to observe and inviolably to follow in all points and clauses the said Instrument and not to suffer any proceeding or act to be done against the said Articles But within a few years after it appear'd how well he kept his word The Bishop had also sought to pick a quarrel with George William Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburgh concerning the Office of Herbstad and other things As also against Ernest Augustus Bishop of Osnaburgh touching the City of Hoxter But these things were also adjusted in the Treaty with the States so that the Bishop was constrain'd to quit his unjust pretensions The time agreed upon for the Bishop to quit those places which belonged to the States General being come the Bishop rais'd still some new Cavils first in regard of the Prisoners and then as to the Contributions touching the quitting of some particular places concerning East-Friesland and as to some dammages which he had sustain'd This was the occasion of another meeting at Noordhorn in the Country of Benthem and another Treaty in the month of June He evaded after a strange manner some words of the Peace by which it appeard that it was sorely against his will that he quitted Borculo for he kept that place as long as possibly he could And being press'd to performance by M. Syburg the States Envoy he cry'd out My City of Borculo my City of Borculo that belongs to me both by the Law of God and men Than after a short sinlence he added I will take care that it be quitted After the conclusion of this Peace the States recall'd to mind the inconveniencies they had suffer'd upon the Frontiers of the Spanish Low-Countries not only from the Munsterians but also secretly from the Spaniards themselves under the name of Munsterians For that reason they resolv'd to make their complaints at the Court of Madrid and to demand satisfaction by M. Rensmoude then their Ambassadour in Spain To which purpose they send him a Letter to this effect for his Information At what time the Bishop of Munster was designing to a attacque this Common-wealth he was known to have made publick Levies at Brussels Lovain Anwerp Gaunt Bructelst Guelders Santvliet Lier Gueel and other parts Some of the Governours and Officers of the King of Spain were so kind as to Cashier their own Troops and Companies and suffer them to List themselves in the Bishops service which was the reason that so many Robberies and Violences were committed against the subjects of this State by those that quarter'd in the Spanish Frontiers Gentlemen of Quality were massacr'd in their Houses and Castles many were taken Prisoners beaten put to ransoms or caried away with their goods These Munsteriaâ— Birds of Prey always made their retreats to those places where they had been rais'd under the Jurisdiction of the King of Spain There they were in safety there they sold their stolen good belonging to the subjects of this State not iâ— huggermugger but publickly as if the Frontiers of the King of Spain lay only for a convenient prejudice to the Low-Countries The States had made their complaints by theiâ— Deputies to the Spanish Ambassador requirinâ— satisfaction and security for prevention of thâ— like disorders for the future but yet no recompence was made to their content and satiâ—faction On the contrary the Levies coâ—tinu'd publickly and several places were assignâ— within the Jurisdction of the King of Spain fâ— the Rendesvouz of those Levies Whole Coâ—panies march'd out of Brussels for Willeâ— broeck and all by the connivance of the Maâ—ques of Castel Rodriguez Governour of the Low Countries In the said places they had form'd designs against several of the most important Frontier Cities and Garrisons belonging to the States of Breda Clundert Willemstad Lillo c. Of these and several other vast injuries and dammages they had often complain'd but could never obtain satisfaction These and many more complaints the States order'd their Ambassadour to exhibit to the Court of Spain to which the slow Spaniard had not time to give an answer this Year So that the so long talkt of Year 1666. made its exit
he let alone the nether County of Benthem and also Schuttorp and Nyenbuys beinâ— a Fief belonging to the Province of Over Yssel Certain it is that the Bishop had had a piquâ— at the Count of Benthem for many years anâ— in the end you find how he brought his designâ— about He writes a Letter to the States General upon this Subject sign'd at Hostmer the 14. of September 1668. that the Souldiers who had been before the Fortress of Benthem were absolutely free from the Oaths of Fidelity which they had sworn to him and Cashier'd out of his service and that presently after they had given their Oaths to his Imperial Majesty to the Holy Empire to the Circle of Westphalia and the Holy County of Benthem which was testify'd by the Count himself in a Letter dated from the Castle the 28. of August and yet the Bishop in the same Letter immediately after the words already recited says We must confess that we did assist the said Holy Count for the security of his Castle and Person Thus hitherto the Flames of War between the States of the United Provinces seem'd to be in some measure extinguish'd and yet upon every slight occasion you might perceive that the Embers were but cover'd up to kindle the materials of a new fire This same Prince altogether given to quarrel never desisted from making his Levies either privately or publickly which gave the States General sufficient occasion and that not without reason to be jealous of his proceedings For they knew him too well to be deluded by his fair words In the Year 1669. he augmented his Levies to a very considerable number Yet no person could dive into his intentions He assembl'd the States of his Diocess and though by his last Wars they were very much impoverish'd for he not only shore his Sheep but flay'd off their skins he demanded of them a considerable sum of mony that is to say that they should furnish him between the Feast of the Purification and Easter with a hundred seventy five thousand Crowns and as much more between Easter and Michaelmass The Estates would by no means agree to this because the Bishop had not dismiss'd certain Troops of Horse and several Reformado Officers without which being done they would not break up their Assembly for they were certainly assur'd that he was meditating some unnecessary War The Bishop to inveigle them and the better to obtain his ends dismiss'd the Lieutenant General of his Artillery a Major General three Captains six Lieutenants and four Ensigns but the deceit of his heart was quickly discover'd by his soon after Listing these very Cashier'd Officers again into his service And besides this he kept an exact correspondence at Paris the French mony was also very plentiful at Munster which bred no small mistrust among his Neighbours In the midst of these Transactions the City of Hamborough began to tast of his turbulent spirit Some persons had persuaded him that they could find a quicker passage for the Post-Letters that pass'd and repass'd through his Countries if they might be furnish'd at Haerburgh and not at Hamburgh The Bishop very inclinable to lay hold of this opportunity order'd that all Letters and Pacquets directed into Holland should be sent back and stopp'd up the Post-Road This caus'd the Magistrates of Hamburgh to fix upon their Posts that no person should send any Letters to the Low Countries but by the Post-Masters of their City and because the Bishop would admit no Posts but his own to pass through his Territories and still rais'd great Forces besides publickly giving out that no person should prescribe him Laws in his own Country there was some apprehension that this affair first stirr'd by the Trouble-world of Munster would come to the decision of dry blows the rather because the Dukes of Brunswick were also concern'd At that time the States General began to mistrust the King of France fearing that he would one day invade their Dominions because that by their good management they had prevented him from making himself Master of all the Low-Countries knowing he had no kindness for them ever since As for the Bishop too many things were variously reported of him every day that no body knew what to believe Fear and terror so possess'd the Country of Guelders that many people retir'd into the strong Holds of Doesburgh and Arnheim which caus'd the like consternation in all places through which they pass'd though there were nothing certainly known which way the Episcopal Troops intended their march The Inhabitants of Grol were no less in fear because that some of the Bishopâ— Troops were seen roaving about the Country every day but their dread increas'd upon the report that the Bishops design was upon Borculo Hoogheim Holten or some other place The same thing was reported of Groningenâ— but without any certainty It was also said that some other German Princes were in Confederacy with the Bishop and that when theiâ— forces were joyn'd they would make up a veâ— puissant and numerous Army but that fear haâ— no foundation at that time in regard thingâ— were not yet ripe for action In the Year 1670 he pick'd a new quarrel with Duke Radolph Augustus of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel about thâ— City of Hoxter six Leagues a this side Casseâ— Ever since Martin Luther's time and the Waâ— of Smalcald there had been great contesting abouâ— this place between the Duke of Brnnswick Lunenburgh and the Abbot of Corvay to whom this City belongs with five or six Villages the yearly Revenue whereof amounted to 5000 Crowns But at last this affair was determin'd and the agreement approv'd at a Dyet of the Empire Thus it remain'd till the death of the last Abbot after whose decease the Monks of that fair Abby had chosen the Bishop of Munster to to supply his place though not by a unanimous consent And now was it possible that he who was so little a lover of Peace should let such an opportunity as this fall asleep There were at Hoxter two Protestant Churches of which there was no use made and therefore he wrote to the Duke of Brunswick Lunenburgh to request one of them for the Roman Catholicks But the Duke as Protector of the City made him answer that he would never consent that the Priviledges of the Cities should be taken from them but that he would preserve them according to the above-mentioned agreement and the Peace made in the Year 1649. And thus the business rested till some differences arose about the priviledges of Brewing So that the Duke for the preservation of a Protestant City was forc'd to send some Companies both of Horse and Foot to Guard it The Bishop of Munster was highly offended at the placing of this Garrison in the Town and as he was one that sought all occasions of contention and War he thought he had now found a smart opportunity To this purpose he wrote immediately to all the Electors and Catholick Princes except
the Mediators George William and John Frederick Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh the King of France the arch-Arch-Bishops of Mayence and Cologn an agreement was concluded between Duke Radolph Augustus and the Bishop of Munster upon the following conditions That the Duke of Lunenburgh should quit Hoxter to the Bishop The Bishop promis'd for his part not to injure the City nor the priviledges belonging to it by the Antient Constitutions and the Peace of Munster and Osnaburgh That the Citizens might make their complaints where it was proper or else to the Bishop himself who promis'd to hear their complaints by indifferent Judges In case the Citizens found themselves aggriev'd by the sentence they might Appeal to another Judg c. Thus he promis'd much but did nothing It was accorded by this provisional agreemeent that the Bishops Garrison which he should put into this City should not consist of above sixty or seventy men at most But the Lunenburghers had no sooner quitted the City but he sent thither above 250 persons their Wives and Children being comprehended in the number Which caus'd an immediate grudgâ— because they were a great charge to the City The Citizens cry'd out that they had capitulated only for a Garrison of sixty or seventy men and not for their Wive and Children whereby they saw that the Bishop sought all the ways he could to ruin a Protestant Town the Souldiers being allow'd to commit great disorders beating the Burgesses and spoyling their goods whereas the Lunenburghers payd to a farthing for what they call'd for And now it appear'd every day more and more that the Bishop was hatching new mischief against the States which was verily thought could not be long conceal'd Prince Maurice of Nassaw being then at the City of Wesel wrote to the States that about 800 of the Bishops Horse were come to Quarter in the Village of Dingen which belonged indeed to the Territory of Munster but was not above a League and a half distant from the City of Wesel and that for that reason he had taken orders for the defence of that City At the same time news was brought of a Shepheard that had been taken sounding the depth of the Moats about the City of Wesel In the mean while the Bishop had conven'd the States of Munster who had promis'd him 100000 Crowns to be paid at four payments by equal Portions in four months About the same time also several Officers flockt to him most of which he took into his Service and gave them Commissions to raise men in his name This excessive Levying of men not only disturbed the States General but also all the Bishops Neighbours and the report went that Cologn should be first attack'd our Bishop having an Army of above 32000 men Besides he had caus'd 600 Chests to be made of Firr Wood fill'd with the Bullrushes every Chest six foot square and to be fasten'd together with Iron Hooks so that in a little time he could make a Bridg over any River though never so wide But while he laboured to inflame his Neighbors Territories with the fire of War a fire of another nature seiz'd upon the City of Munster itself to its considerable damage This fire began in April at a certain Covent in the City which it not only burnt down but also consum'd to ashes about three hundred sixty Houses more In Autumn the same year the King of France sent a large sum of mony into Germany of which the Bishop had his share And now the States General thought it time to look about them England still stuck upon their skirts and therefore they resolv'd at length to raise a numerous Army and fortifie their Strong Holds But these Resolutions of theirs could not well be put in execution because they could not agree in the Election of their Captain General For some of the Provinces stood for the Prince of Orange but others would by no means consent to that Election In the Year 1672. the designs of the State began to manifest themselves more clearly And yet the Bishop of Munster who well knew to whom he had sold himself was so confident as publickly to assure the Sieur D'Amerongen of his intentions inviolably to observe the Treaty last concluded between him and the States but however he could not in civility deny a free passage to the Forces of his Allies For all thâ— while he suffer'd the French to croud into his Diocess pretending streightness of Quarters but in truth to be near the places upon which they had their first Eye At length in the month of April what had so long time been with so much care and policy concealed from all the world disclosed it self to the view of all men The King of France had joyn'd with the King of England and both declar'd War against the States General in one day The King of England in his Declaration gave his reasons that induc'd him to it But the King of France gave none but his own humour and his discontent The Dutch being thus beset the Duke of Luxemburgh accompany'd with the Bishop of Strasburgh takes a journey into Westphalia to the Bishop of Munster there to consult the best way to Master the Provinces of Over-Yssel Guelders Vtrecht and consequently Holland Toward the end of April 1672. the Bishop rendevouz'd his Forces and in May he publish'd his Declaration against the States containing nothing but Accusations which indeed were no more than suppos'd and false pretences He accus'd the States for having dealt under hand partly by promises partly by offers of ready mony with the Officers of his Forts and Cities to have fir'd his Magazines to have stirr'd up his Subjects to Rebellion the more easily to make themselves Masters of his Towns and Territories That they had caus'd several attempts to be made upon his person That several fires had happened in his Towns Signiories and Villages not without strong presumption that they were done by the States Emissaries And therefore because such Barbarous actions were detested by the very Turks themselves it behov'd the Bishop to take care as well of his own Person as of his Subjects For which reason he commanded all his Officers and Governors to have a vigilant eye upon all such kind of persons and to apprehend them as Spies Boutefeus and Traytors and lastly he forbad all manner of Commerce with the Inhabitants of the Low-Countries under penalty of Confiscation Thus we see this Grand Mercenary for so he was generally call'd now in a readiness to invade the Territories of the States contrary to his Oaths his Promises and Alliances In that month of May the King of France began to put his designs in Execution The first day of the month the Towns of Rinborch and Orsoy were invested early in the morning by the King himself Wesel by the Prince of Conde and Burich by Monsieur de Turenne Just at the the same time the Bishop quitted the Country of Benthem and march'd into
time In the mean time the Bishops whole Army arrived before Coeverden which was as it were the Key of the Provinces of Friesland and Groningen It was lookt upon formerly as impregnable by reason of the Marshes and Fens that surround it and which may be easily overflow'd so that there is no coming near the Town but by three narrow passes which were guarded by seven Bulwarks by the name of the Seven Provinces with seven Ravelins seven half Moons and besides that an out-Wall a high Counterscarp deep double Motes two Gates and a Castle Fortified with five other Bulwarks and a deep Moat next the City This noble Fortress after the Peace with Spain was fallen much to decay through neglect as were many other of the Fortresses belonging to the States and beside that it was not over provided with Ammunition The 30. of June the place was invested by 1100 French Horse and six thousand Foot who most unmercifully pillag'd and plunder'd the Inhabitants of the Flat Country some also they put to torture and others they murder'd The seventh the place was summon'd but the summons was rejected The tenth it was summon'd again whereupon the Governour sent out Commissioners and made an agreement The Enemy being enter'd the Town were amaz'd that they should take so strong and so considerable a Fort in so short a time The Commissioners who were sent to capitulate with the Bishop were the Captains Rosiers Bachman and â—er Hâ—eve But here the Bishop that thought nothing in the world so Sacred but that he could prophane and sacrifise it to his advantage and ambition not only violated his word given by M. General St. Paul but also the Law of Nations For he declar'd two of the foremention'd Captains to be Prisoners of War suffering only the third to return to the Town to know whether they were inclin'd to surrender or no. This was not all for contrary to the Capitulation sign'd with his own hand he would noâ— permit the Garrison to go to Harlington according to the Articles but where his fancy thought most convenient The two pieces of Canonâ— which they were to take along with them hâ— would not permit to be stir'd out of the Town Nor would he suffer the Garrison to march oâ— with Drums beating and Colours flying and besides all this several of the Souldiers were plunder'd and constrain'd to take his party The rest were convey'd to Over-Yssel instead of Harlington from whence they march'd to Almelâ— where the Bishop gave peculiar command to the Inhabitants under pain of Confiscation of their Goods and other Corporal penalties not to supply the poor weary Souldiers either with meat or drink though they should pay for it After the Enemy had taken Coeverden they held a great Council of War to consult what was next to be done whether they should march into Frise and besiege the City of Greninger or whether they should Attack the Fortress of Delf-zyl But they were divided in opinion some believing this some that to be more expedient The Bishop would have follow'd their advice who were for the Attacking the place last nam'd had not Schulenburgh and Broersma two Traytors to their party as most Writers call them vigorously persuaded him to besiege Groningen While they were upon the debate the Elector of Cologn came into the Council who demanded smiling what they had agreed upon and perceiving that some were still for Attacking Delf-zyl No no said he we must go to Groningen that City will be ours in five days I have my Confidents there But he fail'd in his assurance Till this time a favourable Gale had swell'd the Sails of the Bishops hopes He had undertaken no enterprize wherein he had not prosperously succeeded No place was so strong or so well fortifi'd but that he made his way through either through the Cowardice or Treachery of the defendants His Master to whom he had Mortgag'd himself had penetrated even to the very Center of Holland So that in forty days the Confederates had taken fourscore Cities Forts and Fortresses from the States General As for the Conquests of the Bishop of Munster he thought himself sure enough of his prey not believing that the Vnited Provinces would ever reunite again but that he should injoy the places he had taken and which still remain'd to be taken Now said he to one of his Counsellers their High and Mightinesses may be callâ—d their Low and Lowlinesses Thus the Hereticks are to be dealt with The King of France is beholden to me for without my Assistance he never could have Conquer'd so fast nor so much At his request he obtain'd of the Pope the Government and absolute Authority to conser all Ecclesiastical Benefices in the Territories by him Conquer'd He constrain'd the Gentry of Over-Yssel to subscribe an agreement wherein they abjur'd the Union of the United Provinces in these words That they both in General and Particular being better instructed do absolutely abjure the Vnion of the Vnited Provinces and that they shall undertake for themselves and their Posterity to be separated from them for ever And that they do acknowledg the Bishop of Munster for their Lawful Soveraign voluntarily and without any constraint that they will never revolt from him but will hazard their lives and fortunes for him and with him as their Lawful Soveraign The King of France never impos'd so much upon the Province of Vtrecht but on the contrary Capitulated with them that the said Province should be comprehended in such agreements as he should make with the States General But the wheel of Fortune if it be lawful for Christians to make use of the Phrase began to turn so that from this time forward the Tide of the Bishops prosperity began to Ebb. It pleas'd God that he follow'd the worst Counsel of them that adviz'd to lay Siege to the City of Groningen and to inspire the Inhabitants of that City with courage and resolution to repel the victorious Bâ—shop and to force him to rise from before their Walls with loss and shame After which he never did any thing that brought him either profit or honor but all his enterprizes prov'd destructive to him Groningen then was the place which he design'd to besiege for by the taking of this City which they imagin'd would have been an easie matter they had made themselves Masters of two Provinces that and Friseland The Place was sufficiently strong but the Garrison was too weak not consisting recruits and all of above one thousand and two hundred Souldiers But the valor of the Townsmen and Scholars supply'd that defect as also the Conduct of the Commanders among whom the Sieur Charles Rabenhapt was the chief The Burgers were divided into Eighteen Companies besides Four Companies of them who had been formerly excus'd The Company of Scholars consisted of a hundred and fifty The 19. of July the Country people brought word that the Enemy appear'd on every side of the City The 20. they shew'd
the Enemy was before their Walls and as for their usage they were sure they had better than any the Bishop allow'd and for his second request they reply'd that being taken up with Powder and Bullet they minded little of their Shops at present Soon after the Bishop perceiv'd that his Enterprize upon this place would not have the same success as he had had in other places The Elector of Cologn though he had adviz'd the Siege began to look upon his Colleague with an evil Eye and they began to quarrel already about the expence of the Siege and the wast of their Countries Cologn upbraided Munster with his boasts he made of his Souldiers his Artificial Fires and his Miners and yet that after the Moat of the Curtain was fill'd up with Fagots he durst not venture the Onset for fear of losing his men In the mean while the Young Prince of Nassaw had written a letter in French from the Camp before Groningen dated the 20. of August N. S. and directed to the Duke of Luxenburgh to this purpose The Face of the Affairs of our Camp changes every day Wednesday morning last our Câ—non plaid so fortunately that we ruin'd five Batteries and silenc'd all the rest Which gave us some hopes by reason of the Consternation which we observ'd in the City and for that a certain Monk who had escap'd out of the City reported to us that the Catholick Burgers would desire to be excepted from Plunder if we took the City by Assault M. de Munster is confident that he shall say Mass in the City upon St. Lewis ' s day But my Faith is too weak to believe those miracles and I very much doubt our entry into the City till his Prayers have silenc'd Eighty pieces of Canon that continually play upon us and have ruin'd his Strongest Battery of seven pieces notwithstanding all that we can do because the Traverses of our Battery are so narrow that we can play but upon one side The 17. A Forlorn of Gentlemen sally'd out of the Town and found that the Enemy had quitted their Approaches Upon news whereof several of the besieg'd went forth and found in the Enemies Trenches great store of Warlike Ammunition as Bombs Fire-balls Granados Bullets Hatchets Shovels and the like of which every one took as much as they could carry away Their Retreat was very sudden and the Infantry were in such a fright that the Horse were commanded to recure them from flying All this while the Bishop lay behind the Gallows Hill but the 21. he fully and wholly quitted the place which caus'd a Universal joy among the Inhabitants of the Town This Bishop dislodg'd his Army for two principal reasons The first was for that his great Guns were no longer serviceable and his Morterpieces were most of them spoil'd The second was because his Army was half in half wasted As to the first reason his Artillery was almost all spoil'd and broken so that he had not above ten or twelve Guns left by reason of his continual firing upon the Town As for his Morter-pieces he had not above five or six left For the Bishop impatient of the Protraction of of the Siege order'd them to be double charg'd so that some of his Morter-peices broke and others were greatly indammag'd As to the second cause it could never be certainly known what number of men he brought to the Siege but t is thought that they amounted to between twenty and thirty thousand and he did not march off with above thirteen thousand This was afterwards confirm'd by a Muster made by the Bishops Officers by which it appear'd that his Army when they first came before Groningen consisted of above twenty four thousand men but that he carry'd off no more than twelve thousand nine hundred sixty eight So that he had lost eleven thousand two hundred thirty two To these two reasons that oblig'd the Bishop to quit the Siege may be added three more 1. The coming of the Auxiliary Forces of the Emperor and the Elector of Brandenburgh 2. The want of Ammunition and Victuals 3. The Rain that fell at that time whereby his Approaches were quite overflow'd with water However it were the City was at liberty and the Bishop was no more in a condition to make any farther attempt We cannot here pass over in silence the most barbarous cruelty that was ever exercis'd upon poor sick and wounded men who were carry'd to Helpen into a Barn where they lay without straw being lookt after by six French Chirurgions The Bishop perceiving that their number every day increas'd askt the Chirurgeons which they thought to be curable and which not and those that were judg'd incurable were presently dispatch'd with a Bullet shot into their heads to make room for others The besieg'd had not lost above fourscore persons notwithstanding that vast number of Bombs Stinking-Pots and Fire-Balls which were thrown into the City the number of which was said to have amounted to above four thousand for as for the Canon-shot it was not to be counted And indeed the effects of Divine Providence were most apparently to be seen in reference to some persons considering the prodigious deliverance from eminent danger A Fire-ball meeting with the Wall of a House was beaten back and falling pass'd between a Mennonites Breeches below the Codpiece without doing him any other harm than only singing his Breeches One of the Sheriffs of the Town whose name was Bothenius being just risen out of his Bed a Fire-ball presently came and falling in his place burnt the Coverlet Mat Bedstead and all The Widow of Anthony Van Essen being in Bed with her Daughter a Fire-ball pass'd between them and being resisted by the Beds head return'd the same way without doing any more hurt than burning the Bed A woman sitting upon a bench before her own house a Fire-ball flew between her legs and carry'd away a piece of her Coats both before and behind without any farther mischief The same thing happen'd to one of the Proposers who sitting in his Study a Fire-ball came and carry'd away the Seat from under him without any farther damage A Servant of James Warnholts a Brewer was just drinking but before he had ended his draught a Fire-ball came and struck the Glass out of his hand without any other prejudice Another Bomb lighted into the Chamber of a certain person who not liking his Bedfellow took it and flung it to the ground where it broke and spoyld all his goods but did the man no harm A woman being a sleep in her Bed by break of day was awakn'd by a Bomb that fell through the Cieling just before her Bed The woman ran out into the street in her smock and seeing her house a fire cry'd out Though my house be burnt the Bishop shall not have the City Another woman having a little child in her Arms perceiving a Bomb to be fallen into her House all in a fright threw her infant
the strength whereof was such that in the Year 1594. Verdugo the Spanish General lay before it one and thirty weeks and at length was forc'd to raise his Siege But no sooner had the Bishop taken it by Treachery in four days but he brought his Magazines thither and from thence perpetually infested the Frontires of Friseland Groningen and Drenthe And for the better preserving a Garrison so Commodious and of so great importance he not only repair'd the Old Fortifications but made an addition of New Works to strengthen the former yet notwithstanding all this care and foresight necessity compell'd the Dutch to seek to regain it This being resolv'd luckily for them it fell out that Maynard de Thynen a good Ingeneer and formerly Church-Warden of the Town gave a hint to his Excellency Rabenhaupt that the Town might be surpriz'd in regard the Bishops Garrison was very much wasted by sickness and that they who were well confiding in the strength of the Fortifications kept but very slender Watches Besides that he gave him a plat-form of the place and of all the Fortifications shewing him where he might get over the Marshes when they were Frozen His Excellency approving the proposal the 16. of December 1672. caus'd all the Gates of the City of Groningen to be shut at three of the Clock after Dinner he sent Orders for such and such parties to meet at a place appointed He chose out of every Company in the City thirty six men giving the Command of the whole party to Lieutenant Collonel Eyberghen an experienc'd Officer The foot were Commanded by Major Wylers the Horse by the Valiant Major John Sickinga All the night they spent in loading Waggons with Bridges made of Rushes Ice-Spurrs and all other things requisite for an Onset The 17. about One of the Clock the Cavalry marcht out at Steenwick Gate and three hours after the Foot follow'd out at Steenhil Gate to the number of nine hundred sixty eight among which were several Volunteers of the Gentry Burgesses and Scholars Advancing near the Gallows Mount he observ'd a Trumpeter coming out of the Town of Helpen who seeing such a Force immediately gallop'd back taking the Road to Halrem But Major Sickinga being well mounted follow'd him took him and sent him away to Groningen This was one of the Bishops Trumpetters or as others say belonging to the Prince of Fustenburgh who was in the Bishop of Cologns service who was carrying Letter to the Council of the said City The Cavalry march'd toward Gieten there to stay in expectation of the Infantry From Gieten they marcht to Exfield Emmen Sleen Erren Wachlen and Dalen taking all the care imaginable to prevent being discover'd and yet three Dragoons made a shift to slip away and give the Enemy notice of the whole design which piece of Treachery was enough to have spoil'd all but Providence was pleas'd to order it otherwise For after that the Garrison kept a constant watch day and and night and were continually in Arms which hard duty so tyr'd the Souldiers at length that when the Asault was given they were most of them asleep thinking it had been but a false Alarum Upon the 19. the word and signal of Attack being given every Souldier having a wisp of Straw in his Hat Collonel Eyberghen Commanded six hundred men to march directly toward Tellinckhuysen and from thence to Poppenhaer carrying with them twelve pieces to make a Bridg of Bullrushes and so to possess themselves of the Counterscarp with as little noise as might be and break down the Pallisados Eyberghen himself with three hundred Souldiers undertook the Castle a hundred and fifty of others were to assail the Guelders Bulwark and another hundred and fifty to force the Guard in the Citadel before the Gate of the Castle Major Wiliers with three hundred men was to undertake the Holland Bulwark and another Captain to force the Guard of that Bulwark Two hundred more were to assail the Holland and Zealand Bulwarks fifty to seize upon Benthem Gate Major Sickinga was order'd to attack the Bulwark of Over-Yssel and take care of the management of the business in that quarter Which Orders being thus given and a Council of War call'd between Eleven and Twelve a Clock at night about three a Clock in the Morning they got close to the works Eyberghen and Wylers though good Souldiers found the execution of the Enterprize very difficult but Thynen the Engineer hearten'd them on and marcht formost to shew them the way By and by they heard the Sentinels calling Who is there Thynen made no answer which made them redouble the Who is there with a thousand Westphalia Oaths At length the Onser began and they that marcht first got upon the Counterscarp beyond the first Moat to the very Pallisadoes The Enemy fir'd very furiously but the Dutch advancing couragiously cut down the Pallisadoes and open'd a passage for themselves and so Eyberghen and Wylers mounted the Rampart and at length made themselves Masters of the Castle John Moor who Commanded it being kill'd at the beginning of the Onset with a Musket shot Major Sickinga aquitted himself with no less Valour on the other side and having won the Counterscarp and got over the Pallisadoes and Moat to the top of the Rampart forc'd the Enemy to throw down their Arms and cry Quarter Captain Clingh also by this time forc'd the Guard of Friseland Gate which got open by the assistance of one of the Burgesses and so made way for the Cavalry A party of the Enemy made a stout resistance for a good while in the Market place but finding themselves over-power'd threw down their Arms and surrendring themselves Prisoners of War were shut up in the Church The Town thus won the Victors fell to Plundering and found good store of booty It is observable that some of the Townsmen overjoy'd to see themselves freed from the Tyranny of an insulting Enemey abandon'd their own houses to the Souldiers Many of the Enemies had their Pockets full of mony their Coats Embroider'd and the Hilts of their Swords of massie Silver The Enterprise being thus prosperously accomplish'd the Officers soberly considering the strength of the place could not choose but look upon one another with astonishment crying one to another How could this possibly be behold the band of God When the news of this success arriv'd at Groningen the joy of the Inhabitants was not to be express'd The next day was solemniz'd with a publick Thanksgiving in all the Churches The Courrier that was sent with the News to the States was laden with Letters and yet all the way upon the Road he was lookt upon as a Reporter of falsities At Leâ—uwarden he was almost crouded to death by the throng of the people and at Amsterdam it was lookt upon as a thing impossible and therefore incredible A certain Person of Quality in his answer to a Letter which gave an accompt of the News from Groningen wrote these words
I am resolv'd never to give my mony for a Letter that contains such untruths We have false reports enow in Holland we have no occasion of having them sent from Groningen The Catholicks laught at the stories of the beggarly Hereticks as they call'd us but when they found the news to be true we could perceive that they were nothing pleas'd with it It is remarkable that whatever was thought would have prov'd an obstruction of the design was that which chiefly promoted it The Forces arriv'd later than they were order'd But that made the Enemy believe that the Dragoons had abus'd them The Onset should have been given at midnight which was delay'd till three of the Clock in the morning But thereby it happen'd that the Souldiers tyr'd with watching were gon to sleep There fell a great mist so that Thynen who was their guide lost his way But that conceal'd them from the view of the Enemy so that they were not perceiv'd till it was too late So that through the continual noise of the Sentinels crying Who goes there and the others answering the Round the Assailants had the opportunity to cut the Pallisadoes without being heard Now as the retaking of this Town inspir'd a Universal joy and courage into the dishearten'd people of the Low-Countries so it bred a general consternation in the other party The Garrisons of Nyenhuys and several other places in the County of Benthem and the Province of Tuent quitted their Ports In Zwoll Deventer and other Towns of Over-Yssel they were in a panick dread So that had a small Army appear'd those places might have been easily retaken But when the news of this loss came to the Bishop of Munster he was all in a fume against the person that brought it as if he had gone about to make him believe false reports and impossibilities But when after a serious examination of the circumstances he found the thing to be real his thoughts were in a strange confusion I fear me said he I shall suddenly lose all that I have got since I have lost my little Candy His rage and discontent was such that he lookt with a surly Countenance upon all that came near him for some days afterwards and curs'd in the Devils name more than once He call'd the Officers of the Garrison Dogs Rogues and Traytors and those of Groningen damn'd Hereticks nay he could not refrain from lamenting his loss with Tears About a hundred and fifty of his men were slain outright and four hundred taken Prisoners with six Captains eleven Lieutenants fourteen Ensigns and three Church-men In his Magazine were found sixty one great Guns Brass and Iron twenty four Morter-peices thirty Petards nine hundred forty nine Muskets seven hundred and eighteen Pikes five hundred and six Barrels of Gun-powdur one thousand two hundred seventy and seven Bombs ready made up one thousand seven hundred and sixty not finish'd two thousand one hundred and thirteen Stinking Pots one thousand seven hundred seventy and two Granadoes and twelve thousand eight hundred fifty and two Canon Bullets great store of Sulphur Saltpeter Rosin Oyl Turpentine and Pitch besides Cordage Carriages Waggons Hatchets Saws Spades and the like But now the Emperor seeing that the Tempest which had pour'd it self upon the Low-Countries would not end there but that it threaten'd also the Air of Germany thought himself oblig'd to provide against it in time and to prevent Holland from being ruin'd Thereupon both he and the Elector of Brandenburgh sent several Auxiliary Troops to assist the States to support them in their Wars as also to divert the War from their Frontiers thereby to preserve the Empire which the French already had attackt at the same time that they endeavour'd to lull it asleep by pretending nothing but Neutrality Propagation of the Catholick Faith Eversion of Heresie and observation of the Old Treaties He was much displeas'd to see that so many Princes of the Empire had ingag'd in the Interests of France especially the Bishop of Munster whose humour he well knew He understood that for mony he was become the slave of France That upon the first opportunity his Imperial Majesty and the Empire should find the Effects of his ill nature That by his example and at his instigations so many Princes of the Empire had taken part with the French and that perhaps many more would follow the same president Thereupon he caus'd the Electors of Brandenburgh and Cologn as also the Bishop to be solemnly summon'd and the question to be demanded of them in case of a War between the Empire and France to which side they would adhere threatning to ruin their Countries if they did not resolve within fifteen days But the Bishop of Munster laught at the Emperor his Masters summons and at all his menaces and threats Thereupon the Duke of Burnonville in the month of February 1673. by order of his Imperial Majesty caus'd a Paoclamation to be fix'd upon the Posts commanding all Officers and Souldiers who were Subjects of the Empire and in the service of the Bishops of Munster and Cologn to quit the service of those Princes and to repair to the Colours of his Imperial Majesty upon pain of his high displeasure c. Here the Bishop of Munster shew'd not only a particular disobedience but also an extraordinary Pride accompany'd with a cautious arrogance and his wonted wiles For he publisht a Counter Proclamation wherein he declar'd that the Proclamation that went under the Emperors name was none of his but only a Stratagem of the Duke of Burnonvilles That his Souldiers were Imperialists and in the service of the Empire and at length he promis'd to save them harmless from breach of that Command He thought himself upon sure grounds For now Turenne having joyn'd his Forces with those of the Bishops of Munster and Cologn bent his march toward the City of Ham which the Elector of Brandenburgh had enforc'd with a Garrison of two thousand men but they not finding themselves sufficient to resist so great an Army quitted the place of themselves There the French stopp'd but the Episcoparians advanc'd farther as far as the City of Weser demanding contribution wherever they came At the same time certain Frisans and Groningers making up a party together took possession of the houses of Schuylenburgh and Rechteren both seated upon a little River that runs to Zwoll not far from the Fort de Ommen These are two old Castles surrounded with thick Walls and deep Moats by the seizing of which they very much disturb'd the Episcoparians having thereby the opportunity to keep them in continual Alarams Much about this time also there was great talk of a design which the son of one Keete a Captain of Horse and Secretary for the County of Harragh had against the Bishop of Munster which was to betray both him and the City of Munster into the hands of the Emperor but in the end it prov'd but a bare report Nevertheless the
French taking an occasion from them plaid the Marquis of Grana the Emperors Resident at Cologn but a scurvy trick sending him a counterfeit Letter Seal'd with the Seal of the Baron of Schwerin the contents whereof were that the City of Munster was taken by the Elector of Brandenburghs Souldiers Now the Baron was the said Electors chief Minister of State from whom this Letter was so contriv'd as to relate all the Circumstances of taking the Town he that brought it also alledging himself to be an express Messenger so that the Marquis of Grana never dreamt of any device put upon him but immediately sent away the News to all the Courts of his Masters Allies and it was joyful news at first till the Cheat came to be discover'd In the mean while the Friselanders and Groningers shew'd themselves very vigilant and did the Episcoparians much mischief The Garrison of Coeverden intercepted a Convoy coming from Zwoll laden with provisions to the Fort of Ommen which they made bold to carry to their own Garrison and there to share the booties which were not all the Bishops losses at that time For the Fort of Bourtang met with a party of his men and kill'd above two hundred upon the place and which was worse the Elector of Brandenburghs men had met with two of his Regiments near Minden which they so absolutely defeated that very few escap'd their hands which was the loss also of the City of Hoxter On the other side the Episcoparians took the City of Hervoort leaving therein eight hundred Souldiers who tormented the people after a most inhuman manner The same outrages they also committed in the Province of Minden but they durst not meddle with the City But these were small refreshings to the Bishops his heart mourn'd still for Coeverden and therefore he endeavour'd by all ways to make himself Master of that City once more to which purpose he try'd all the tricks of underhand dealing but all in vain These failing he had some design of Force and therefore to make the ways passable for his Souldiers he caus'd the Country-men under his jurisdiction to provide a great number of Hurdles twelve foot long and six foot broad made of Sparrs bound together with Osiers to lay where the Ways were deep and otherwise impassable by means whereof he caus'd a strong party of his men to march to Gransberghen a house about two Leagues from Coeverden and guarded by a Lieutenant and fifty six Souldiers who bravely twice repuls'd the Enemy but being over-power'd surrender'd upon Articles contrary to which and Faith given they were made Prisoners of War Relief was sent by the Garrison of Coeverden but it came too late for their own but too soon for the Bishops men For the Dutch having laid an Ambush in the way by which the Enemy was to retreat they made a great Massacre of the Episcoparians and brought away their Prisoners It was an ill time to vex the Bishop after all these miscarriages as one of his Quarter-Masters found by woful experience who coming to ask the Bishop for mony put him into such a fury that he commanded the Officer to be shot to death which was executed accordingly An action which alienated from him very much the hearts of his Souldiers insomuch that three whole Companies with their Officers quitted his service and marcht to Groningen But his Excellency Rabenhaupt found himself other work to do than to murther his own Souldiers He had already for some time kept the New Fort blockt up at a distance But now taking along with him the Cavalry of Groningen and a good party of Foot out of Block-Zyll and other places together with six pieces of Canon and having forc'd the Fort Aux Feres to make his way through he laid close Siege to the Place The Bishop well knowing the importance of the Fortress prepar'd with all diligence to relieve it And first he sent Collonel Meynertshagen with a thousand Dragoons and Foot to get into the Fort but they were beaten off After that he endeavour'd with a small Army of five thousand men under the Command of the Count of St. Paul not only to have reliev'd but also to reinforce the Garrison He furiously assail'd Collonel Aquila's Quarter but he was so warmly receiv'd that he was forc'd to retreat in the night after a considerable loss The next day he renew'd his Attack but with the same success leaving four hundred of his men behind him slain and taken Prisoners Among the slain were Collonel Wedel and Calkar Majors Swante and Kesse Eighteen Captains and two Lieutenant Collonels Soon after the Victors having taken the Redoubt which lay above the Dike of Stocsterhorn gain'd the Fort where he found good store of rich Pillage both in Gold and Silver and took the Commander two Lieutenant Collonels five Captains and four hundred Souldiers Prisoners The richness of the Plunder shew'd that Country was not very kindly dealt with but among all the Bishops Impositions he had one that was particular which he only levy'd upon those of the Reformed Religion They that made profession thereof in the City of Otmarsum were to pay a thousand Crowns in the City of Goor a thousand six hundred Crowns and so proportionably in other Towns and Cities and besides this he took from them the use of their Churches The King of France nor his Governour the Duke of Luxemburgh were never so severe to the Inhabitans of Vtrecht though they were rigorous enough Their Impositions were grievous yet they were equally lay'd as well upon the Catholicks as upon those of the Protestant Relipion the Ecclesiasticks not being exempted One of the most eminent of that order went to the Duke of Luxemburgh requesting him to spare the Catholicks and to burthen only the Hereticks as well in their Contributions and Quartering of Souldiers but he gave them a refusal in these words As ye live eat and drink together so ye must pay your Taxes every one a like Upon the same errand also the new Bishop of Vtrecht went to the King but he found never the better reception Nay some observ'd that the Roman Catholicks were rather favour'd than those of the Roman Religion which caus'd some of them to say our Master seems to be a thrice Christian Devil rather than a thrice Christian King It was now toward the Latter end of the Summer when the Bishop thinking he had been too idle all the year before he randevouz'd his Forces between Hasselt and Swoll to the number of seven thousand Horse and seventy Colours of Foot which joyn'd with the Episcoparians at Roveen immediately they took their march toward Steenwich wasting all the Country of Drenthe as they went which inforc'd the Garrison of Groningen to send forth nine Troops of Horse and two of Dragoons for the security of the said Province In the mean time the Enemy was advanc'd as far as Schoten with a design to make themselves Masters of the Heeren Veen and
so to break that way into Friseland Upon which the States of Friseland Muster'd together a little Army of about eight thousand Foot and a hundred Cornets of Horse and sent them toward the Heeren-Veen to oppose the Episcoparians who finding such provision made against them and that they could not force their passage retreated and marcht with all their forces toward Steenwick There the Munsterians and the French parted the latter retiring into their Winter Quarters at Zutphen Arnbeim Doesburgh and other places having lost in all eight hundred men in this march Certain it is that the Bishop promis'd himself great matters could he have made his intended Incursion into Friseland for the Elector of Brandenburgh being now enter'd into an Alliance with France he had nothing to fear from that side of the world though by the care and diligence of the Friselanders he made no other advantage of it than the loss of eight hundred men already mention'd The Emperor all this while observing the Alliances made with the King of France by his own subjects and members of the Empire to the common prejudice thought it now but time to send a considerable force toward the Rhine and for the satisfaction of the world publish'd his reasons for so doing which consisted of these heads First for that the King of France had marcht his Forces through the Territories of the Empire to Assail the Low-Countries and taken many places in the same Territories contrary to the Peace of Munster Secondly Because the said Souldiers still quarter'd upon the subjects of the Empire at their own pleasure committed several Extortions and Rapines upon them and particularly had burnt the Bridg of Strasburgh Thirdly Because the French had made themselves Masters of the Arch-Bishoprick of Treves where they did nothing but burn plunder and spil Fourthly Because the Elector of Cologn and the Bishop of Munster contrary to the Peace concluded at Cleves in the year 1666. had undertaken an Offensive War against the States of the United Provinces with the consent of the Emperorr and Empire and rejecting the Emperors commands to the contrary During these Paper Skirmishes the French were got into the heart of the United Provinces though soon after the face of their success began to change The Inundations in Holland had put a stop to their Conquests there The Bishop of Munster had been repuls'd in the Provinces of Friseland and Groningen insomuch that he despair'd of doing any good in those parts though he did all he could to regain Coeverden To which purpose all the Summer long he had very much distress'd the said Garriâ—on by stoping the course of the River Vecht so â—hat it was fear'd the place would have been â—orc'd to yield for want of water The Dam that carry'd off the water was wonderfully strong two Leagues and a half in length and three or four Foot broad at the Bottom and â—ight at the top Besides the Episcoparians had built two Forts to Guard it and planted above sixty pieces of Ordnance upon the Dam to prevent any coming near it So that when the Bishop understood how high the water was risen Now said he to some of his Officers the Devil cannot hinder me from taking Coeverden But upon the first of October arose such a terrible storm as destroy'd all the Labour and Travel of the Episcoparians and made such a gap in the Dam that all the Art and Industry of the Enemy could never repair again And after that the Tempest continuing brake down three gaps more and drown'd four or five hundred Souldiers that were upon the Guard of the Dike and carry'd away Collonel Horstmans Coach with several Ladies in it A little before this the Prince of Orange had taken Narden from the French which caus'd a great consternation at Vtrecht But that which troubl'd them more was that the Prince began to bend his march toward Germany where being reinforc'd by the Imperial Troops he had besieg'd the City of Bon which he also took together with some other places which made the French at Vtrecht afraid lest by making farther Conquest he should cut off all Commerce and Correspondence between them and the Enemy And it appeared by the offer of Neutrality which they made in behalf of the City and Province of Vtrecht in what a pannick dread they were though the proffer would not be accepted They also offer the Bishop of Munster to change their Province with him for that of Over-Yssel nay they offered to give it him provided he would joyn with the Forces which were in Germany but he did not accept their kindness whether the Bishop considered the turn of Affairs or whither he had not time sufficient to Consult and Treat However it were the King of France was constrained to quit all the places which he had Conquer'd of which Woerden was the first and after that the City of Vtrecht though very much impoverish'd by the exactions of her new Masters T is thought that the main reasons which induc'd the King of France to quit his new Conquests were first the March of the Prince of Orange into Germany 2. The Alliance between the Emperor the King of Spain and the States General 3. His despair of gaining any thing upon Holland without which his other Conquests were but a burthen to him 4. He consider'd that the King of England was ill satisfi'd with his proceedings and fear'd lest he should make a Peace with the States General as he did in the year 74. 5. He was afraid lest the Bishops of Munster and Cologn should change their sides â—â—nding such a turn of their good Fortune which jealousie of his was not ill grounded for they perceiving the King not to be so victorious as he was desir'd a reconciliation with the Emperor to avoid a total ruin Though because they stood upon too favourable Conditions they were not listen'd to at that time while the Subjects of the Elector were punish'd on both sides for the miscarriage of their Prince For after they had been sufficiently tormented by the French in thunder'd the Hollanders taking from them their Cities and putting the whole Diocess to pay Contribution And it was but reason to think that the Hollanders would carry the War into their Territories who had open'd their dooâ—s to let in France both into Germany and the Low-Countries Soon after in the beginning of the year 16â—4 the Peace was concluded between the King of Great Britain and the States General which was to them a great lightning of their burthen in regard they were freed from the charges of such a vast Navy All this while the Bishop had a longing desire to be Master of Groningen not that he was in hopes to gain the place but that he had a design to Plunder the Country and to gratifie his murmuring Souldiers with a good Booty which was all the Pay they received from him To which purpose in February he Muster'd together 4000 Horse and sent
in memory of a French Ship that he had taken upon the Coast of Friesland though others say 't was only a small Barque made Use of for the Unlading of Greater Vessels So soon as the breath was out of his body every one seiz'd upon what they could snatch carrying away not only his mony but also all the gold and silver Moveables in his Chamber nay they stript him of the meanest things that were in the Chamber leaving him alone as it were in a ransackt Room He had Govern'd the Diocess twenty eight years though the accompt of his Age is variously reported some allowing him seventy one others seventy two years In the year 1667. at the Election of his Successor he acknowledg'd himself in the sixtieth year of his Age from which time to his death we reckon full eleven years which is the truest accompt we can give of his Age. The present Bishop his Successor soon after his Death publish'd a Pious Exhortation to all his Subject to betake themselves to their Devotions and Prayers for the Soul of the decas'd in these words Ferdinand by the Grace of God and the Apostolick See Bishop of Munster and Paderborn Vicount of Strombergh Prince of the Empire Count of Pyemont and Borkelo c. To the Venerable Clergy and well beloved People of the City and Bishoprick of Munster perpetual Greeting in our Lord. IT hath pleased him who takes away the Souls of Princes when he pleases to call from this life to a better our dear Brother Cousin and Predecessor the Sieur Christopher Bernard Bishop of Munster Administratour of Corvey Lord of Borkelo after he had Govern'd the Diocess of Munster to his immortal praise with a care truly Paternal And though we make no doubt but that his Subjects who in his life time lov'd him as a Father and reverenc'd him as their Prince will not be wanting in their Christian Duties and Prayers which they owe to the Deceas'd Nevertheless we have thought fit to admonish and ordain with the advice of our Reverend Chapter That all Priests as well Secular as Regular depending upon the Diocess of Munster in the dayly Oblation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and others in their dayly Prayers do with all humility recommend the Soul of this great Prince to the abound Mercy of our Lord to the end he may obtain Eternal Salvation among the Blessed Souls whom he had made himself known upon Earth by his Vertues and Heroic Acts. And whereas it has pleas'd the Omnipotent to lay the burthen of the Succession upon our shoulders after a lawful Election approv'd by the Apostolick and Imperial Authority We knowing the importance thereof and deeply sensible of the present Troubles and Evils that threaten us on every side earnestly desire the Prayers and Charity of our devout Subjects that our weakness being supported by the Power of God may be able to support the Charge committed to Vs through the Merits and Common Prayers of our people c. Ferdinand L. LS. Vr. Alpen Vic. Gen. Thus we have seen the death of the so much renowned Bishop of Munster the Sieur Christopher Bernard full of years yet enjoying the vigour of his senses to the last gasp And as it was his chance to be advanc'd just after the Peace made with the Emperor France Spain Swedeland and the United Provinces so he also happen'd to dye presently after the Peace made between France Spain and the States General His death restor'd both Quiet and Repose to all his Neighbours who were still afraid that so soon as the Emperor and France should be agreed he would be cutting out new Employment for himself for he never fail'd of a pretence But Providence has better provided for them For they may now assure themselves of security under the Government of his Successor the present Bishop and his Subjects may hope for an Age of Silver after that of Iron as now passed off with the precedeing Bishop For it is affirmed that he is a Prince mild and pacifick an Enemy to all sorts of trouble and one that abominates the Desolations of War and besides all this a lover of Learning and Learned men and it is Generally observ'd that those Provinces are usually most happy whose Princes prefer Learning before War and Books before Armies True it is that upon his Election to be Coadjutor and Successor several Quarrel and Contentions arose between the Bishop deceas'd and a good part of the Members of the Chapter but we are assur'd that the present Bishop had never any hand in those Disputes nor ever afforded the least Fuel to foment them Neither was it a thing ever sought by him or desirâ—d of Christopher Bernard who carry'd on his Design altogether without his knowledg So that those disorders are no way to be imputed to the present Bishop An Authentick Letter touching the Birth of Christopher Bernard Bishop of Munster Sir BEcause there are various Reports concerning the affair of the truth whereof you desire me to inform you I thought my self oblig'd to give you the best satisfaction I could In order to which I have discoursed the most Ancient and most knowing persons in these parts who all agree that the Bishop of Munster was conceiv'd in Prison at Bevergeerde but that he was born in his Fathers Castle of Bispink For it happen'd that the Father of the Bishop whose name was Gaten Bispink had â—ad several Quarrels with Marshal Morien Lord of Noorkirk his Neighbour about the priviledg of Hunting Which continuing one time among the rest the Marshal seiz'd Gatens Huntsmen and Dogs and shut them up so long till they eat one another for want of food Soon after they both came to Munster where Gaten meeting the Marshal ask'd him when he would send him his Huntsmen and his Dogs home To which Morien reply'd very suddenly and withal told Gaten that he had certain Papers about him that concerned the business but instead of shewing the Papers threw off his Cloak and drew his Sword Gaten though be had been Drinking hard drew his Sword half out and parly'd a while till necessity constrain'd him and that his Servants call to him to have a care of himself at what time he drew his Sword quite out and slew his Assaylant The Fact being thus Committed Gaten never absented himself and was therefore Imprison'd in the Castle of Bevergeerde and when his Judges allowed him to choose an Advocate he refused to do it but pleaded his own Cause and carry'd his business so well that at length his Wife was permitted to come and live with him and so it came to pass that our Bishop was Begot and Conceived in Prison True it is that his Father was at length acquitted but he had vow'd not to stir out of Prison till his Prosecutors had paid him all the Costs of his Imprisonment and his Suit which had lasted thirteen years so that his Wife being near her time return'd to Bispinck where she lay in After the Father was dead the Son was made a Canon of Munster and being much enclin'd to War and well versed in Military Affairs he was made first Commissary at War and at length after the death of the last Bishop advanced to the Episcopal Dignity Another Letter to the same Effect Sir AFter I had Read your Letter I made all the Enquiry I could to satisfie your Curiosity but because there are few alive that were living at that time there is very little of truth and reality to be reported Certain it is that the said Bishop was begot in Prison to which his Father was Committed for Murther But Opinions are various touching the Right of the Occasion whether it were on his side or no. The Favourers of the deceased Bishop will have his Father to be innocent though others believe that no man durst say otherwise while â—e lived and that length of time has caused it to be granted for truth Most certain it is that there were desperate Quarrels between the Bishops Father who was call'd Gaten Bispink from his Castle of Bispink and the Marshal Moâ—iâ—n about their priviledges of Hunting whereby the former very much prejudic'd the latter who because the other would take no warning seizâ—d his Dogs and shut them up so long â—ill they were starv'd to death A while after they met at Munster and Gaten being in drink asked Morien for his Dogs in very sharp and abusive terms threatning the Marshal withal B. Morien being a person of Courage and not able to brook such Language laid his hand upon his Sword and told Gaten that he was ready to answer him with his Sword in his hand Some say that Gaten declin'd the Combat and that he was at length compell'd to fight in his own defence others affirm that he immediately drew and fell on However it were the Marshal was slain and Gaten Imprisoned at Bevergeerde where he dy'd in some few years after It is reported that his Judges had given him leave to go home after they had examin'd the Fact but he refus'd to stir till the Kindred of the person slain should pay him all the Charges of his Imprisonment Though others believe that to be very improbable and an Invention only to free him from Scandal and Ignominy of a tedious fourteen years Thraldom After Gaten had been some time in Prison his wife was allowâ—d to go and live with him and thus in happened that the Bishop was begot and conceiv'd in Prison though his Mother lay in at her Castle of Bispink Thuâ— in Generals all agree though there may be some incertainty in the Circumstances which aggravate or mitigate the Offence of which people take the Liberty to judâ— according to their affections for the Bishop Which is not to be wonder'd at in a Fact committed so long since in regard we our selves have frequent experience that Murders are by some highly defended and pleaded for by others as much exclaim'd against and condemn'd which proceeds from the various judgments that affection or hatred makes upon the Causes and Circumstances of the Crime THE END