with their lives and the rest finding a frown from their Generall for leaving a fortified City to seeke safety in his Army The Captaine which remayned with so small an handfull of men to keep the City withdrew into the Castle A noble act of a Swâ—thsh Captain whence though once summoned he would not out till he had given the Eylenburgers and Hatzfieldt good testimony of his loyalty to the Crown of Sweden and enmity with the Saxon by casting severall fire-balls into the City and then unable to hold out longer yielded to the Victors mercy or fury who being thus possessed of this City consulted for the recovery of Hall and the Sconce at Wittenberge first and then for conquest of the Swedish Army Ghleen who was called out of Westphalia and Hessen purposely to assist Hatzfieldt and his Colleagues against the Swedes by the way had an eye at Ertford the greatest City in Thuringen taken by Banniere the year last past Ertford besieged by Ghlein and determined to besiege it The Imperiall Councell of Warre had decreed to recover it the Elector of Saxony ceased not to incite them to it and though all the Princes and neighbour-states of that great Citie foreseeing the inevitable ruine which attended their own Estates though they were of the Imperiall party if that City should be besieged were earnest suitors to the Elector that it might not be beleaguered they could not divert him from that resolution no not to forbeare it for a season till harvest was over and they had gotten in the fruits of the ground upon which the hopes of that Province almost made desolate by famine then consisted Ghleen therefore authorized by him and the Imperiall Councell of Warre being come within a league and half of the City in a Bailiwick properly belonging to Duke Bernhard of Weymar neere the Cloyster of Icterhausen measured out severall quarters to lodge his Army fortified his Campe with Retrenchments and lines of communication able to receive 15000 men made hutes for his souldiers and had prepared for the siege when sodainly a Courier came unto him posting from the Electo of Saxony who had changed his mind not upon the entreaty of his neighbour Princes but a designe upon the Swedes in Misnia with order to the Baron to rise from thence The siege suddenly rayâ—ed and with a speedy march to haâ—â—e to Eylenburg Banniere whose provident eye was not fixt only upon his own Campe at Torgaw but looked after his Confederates in all places had notice of Ghleens designe and to relieve the City drew out of his Army five Regiments of Horse and a 1000 Dragoons committed them and the busines to the care of the Generall Lesle who brought them as farre as Eisleben but there being certified that Ghleen had raised his siege and was gone towards Saxony stayed his journey and marched after them to observe their posture and intention The Baron being joyned with the other Imperiall Commanders the desigue against the great Fort at Wittemberge was first put into execution The Sconce at Wittenberg The Fort was guarded by 400 men who for a time defended themselves bravely spent divers shot upon the Campe made out sundry sallies omitted nothing that could be expected from besieged resolute men But the Imperiall Army which was before it with its ful strength and the Saxon-vitzdumb who commanded in the City returturning 20 Canonadoes upon the Fortfor one so battered it that May 1â— 301 the Garrison was brought to capitulateâ— and upon condition to depart with baggage and armes about 10 in the Evening they marched out yet the common men were constrained to take service under Hatzfield and the Officers only were dismissed Colonell Osterling who commanded there for the Swede and was a native of Hall being carried as a prisoner to Dresden The Sconce was no sooner surrendred but a Swedish Musquetier came with tydings of succours from his Generall to the late Governour the purport wherof was that 10 Squadrons of horse by Land and five ships loaden with Musquetiers by water were come to relieve him and come indeed they did though too late to that service yet time enough to embroyle the Imperialists in a new adventure The Imperiall Generall had notice of theiâ— comming and prepared to receive them he knew they were come to the black Elster planted eight Ordnances against them upon the Elue kindled great fires along the way which they were to passe the better to discover them commanded Lieutenant Colonell Wache to expect them in the field and sent out strong parties to succour him yet fayling in one particular circumstance either of intelligence or direction Besieged and taken by the Imper. this Avantguard thus sent out was no better then a foâ—lorn hope though they escaped with out that losse to which their Generall confessed afterwards they had been exposed upon his better information The Swedes march was not like that of an Enemy but a Friend they met the Imperialists and saluted them by the names of fellows in Armes Friends Comeradoes profest themselves to be Saxons that they came to tender their respects to the Imperiall Generall to congratulate his good fortune at Eylenburg and to assist him against the Swedes the Enemies of their Prince and Country at Wittemberge and with these oily words having deluded the first watch surprized them suddainly and went on in confidence of this auspicious beginning But Omnia in se redeunt fictam personam nemo potest ferre diu though this fucus served them as a Gyges ring to make them invisible to the first the second watch discovered them but they giving notice to Wache by discharging their Musquets of the Swedes approching advertized the Swedes also to make a fair retreat as they did and so escaped the trap which was laid for them Wittemberge Sconce was lost yet Banniere neither lost his judgment credit or fortunes therby He accounted it but as a piece of Copper for besides the place which he had made use enough of for impoverishing the Saxons subjects about it he lost there but eight Ensignes and three peeces of Ordnance and got a piece of Gold for it a convoy of wine A convoy of provision surprized by Banniere and other provision was sent from Dresden to Hatzfields Army that hee surprized put the Guard to the sword and retained the store It had been a good purchase if hee had wanted it but his wants were supplyed otherwise and that more abundantly and more gloriously Lucka a Citie of note in the lower Lusatia Lucka sutendred to Lesle the Magazine of that Province was about the same time surrendred to the Field-marshall Lesle and the Generall Pfal whom his Excellency had sent thither to make provision for his Army and there they being furnished with more then the whole Swedish Campe could well spend in three moneths besides what they got in the Villages and divers other Market Townes which they pillaged and spoyled
and then returned loaden with the spoyles of their Enemies A well regulated fortune crowned him with happy successe in another Enterprize Iune 6 16 Meurer Lieutenant Colonell to Sleintz lying as the Governour of the Saxon presidiaries in Meyssen the Metropolis of Misnia sent certain Companies of his own Foot-regiments with thirty Waggons abroad on forraging Banniere who earst had a designe upon the place was then casually abroad with 3000 Horse 600 Musquetiers and 200 Dragoons and attended with this retinew lighted upon those Saxon purveyors Meyssen surprized by Bannier by a stratagem enclosed them with his Army and put them all to the sword not leaving one to carry news of his fellows misfortune This done hee arrayeth some of his souldiers in their clothes and then loading the carriages with hay and corn covered some other of his men and their arms therwith causing the metamorphosed people to drive the Waggons to the City Their disguises deceiving the Corps du guard which kept the gate the port was opened and the Carters and their loads let in It was not required that the imposture should be long concealed nor was it the Actors exprest themselves to the Guard and the Inhabitants neer the gate in bloudy characters they which lurked under the coverlets of hay discovered themselves and with their swords imprinted their minds in the flesh of the Warders mayntayning the Gate till Banniere who attended close after them came in with his Cavallary and six peeces of Canon who by this device not unlike the Turf-boat at Breda Anno 1590 made himselfe master of the City putting all to the sword some few only excepted which saved themselves in the great Church of humb and Castle with Mewrer the Governour Banniere left not thus but prosecuting his new atchievement began to batter the Castle with his Canon and thundred upon it by the space of two houres and then hearing that the Imperiall succors were marching against him discreetly considering that it was rashnes not valour to stake his honour upon unequall termes or hazard the spoyls he had gotten there which amounted to the moiety of what he had gotten before at Lucka marched back to his Campe more comforting his souldiers with sight of his presence upon whose well being the well being of the Army consisted then his waggons loaden with viands though the last could not be unwelcome being the true restaurative of dejected spirits in time of need The Sun and the Swedes glory seemed at once to be both in the Summer Solstice the Planet was then looked upon by the Northern Nations with admiration the long days which he brought and short nights made some ignorant people which knew no other apprehend it for a Deity but soon afterwards declined Southward and changed the length of light and the season and perhaps the darknesse of the night hapning by its annuall retrait might teach them reason the Swede was by this successe grown terrible to the Commons of the Empire some accounted him as an authorized executioner of divine justice upon the Saxon whose jugling dealing had brought this misery upon his Dukedome others perceiving the Imperialists growing in strength and seeing the Swede ingaged though disadvantageously conjectured that all this was but a cloud which might easily be dispersed or dissolved by the Swedish Sunne others concluded and here rightly that his fortunes were then declining and yet but conjecturally that he being so long acquainted with the extrem frosts of the frozen Islands and surviving them a good winter souldier good because hardy would recover all and return with the Sunne when the Planet had reached his Winter station and retire he did but whether with a mind and power of returning future time may this History cannot discover The King of Hungary was certified in the interim of the Swedes proceedings and how the Dukedome of Saxony being almost laid desolate by their invasion his own Dominions which were by him challenged as an inheritance and suffered to passe with that title by the Triumvirall Treaty at Prague the Kingdome of Bohemia and Dukedome of Moravia The King of Hungary at Prague were like to be ruined by the same Enemies if more Forces were not raised and imployed with all haste to oppose them The news interrupted his repose in Austria where he stayed after his progresse towards Gratz whitherward he went to conduct his mother the Empresse and Widow Dowager of his Father and removed his Court from Vienna to Prague he having assigned that royall Citie as a place of meeting with the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg to advise with them and his Councell of warre for a timely and speedy course to be taken against the Swedes who notwithstanding the powers of two great Armies were already imployed against them though they went not on victoriously were as yet no losers And here whilest hee was taking care for the preservation of his new Confederates estates In danger to have bin murdered by a traytour his owne life was endangered not by an open Enemy but the Diabolicall practice of a murthering assassinate an Italian Bandito who armed with pistoll and sword had crept secretly into the Kings lodgings where hee was apprehended with those instruments of death about him and after severall tortures many of which he indured with a kind of Stoicall unsensiblenesse in the end confessing that an old woman had given him a draught which he no sooner took but his fancy was troubled with horrid conceits of murther and the delusion wrought so powerfully that he found no rest till he had undertaken that execrable course for murdering his Majesty upon which he was sent to Vienna to be proceeded against juridically Heaven abhorres treason and will not suffer those miscreants to thrive nor doth the murder of a private man ever escape the divine justice though mans justice perhaps may not punish it The Generall Gallas attending the King at Prague his Majesty being gone to Brandys on hunting made a Feast for the Commanders which attended at Prague to know the Kings pleasure and receive instructions from him and amongst the rest invited Gordon Lesle Anderson and some other of the assasinates whose hands were dipped in the bloud of Wallenstein at Egra Their hearts being warmed with wine and stomacks well filled with meat the grinders being wearied Gordon â—â—ain Lesle Andersâ—n dangerously wounded at a Feast their tongues began to walke the table-talke was of Wallenstein and his fatall end where Gordon Lesle and Anderson as proud of that action ascribing the glory of it to themselves after they had well drunk Gallas and Gordon first fell to words and afterwards to blows and in the conflict the servants of the Generall comming in Gordon was slain outright as is written and parts being taken Lesle was mortally wounded and Anderson hurt in two severall places the people ascribing all this to the Justice of Heaven the wisdome wherof had sodisposed of each particular circumstance
they shall please XVIII For assurance of this accord and that it shall be faithfully pâ—rformed of both sides there shall be two Copies drawn the one to be signed by the Marshall Chastillon the other by the Governour Stassin Made at the Campe before Damvilliers The Town yielded Octob. 25 Signed Chastillon and countersigned de la Haye This was the Capitulation which the Garrison in the end faithfully observed Don Andrea Cantelmo seeks to hinder the Accord though it was much opposed by Cantelmo who knowing of what consequence the place was though the accord was concluded betwixt the Assaylants and defendants endevoured all he could to break it and Munday the 16 26 sent Canton a Captaine of Brony'es Regiment from Luxemburg with expresse order to releeve the Citie upon what tearms or price soever This bond of Auxiliaries presented themselves before the City next morning by the dawning of the day They were seen both by the Campe and Garrison at once but with different eyes and aspects the Garrison hopefully thinking that Cantelmo had followed him with the long expected succours and began to retire into the town hoping of relief the other with distracted and divided looks betwixt anger and scorne angry to think themselves deluded of their covenants and scorning the small number of forces which appeared against them Canton a Captain sent with a strange commâ—ssion and therfore encircling them put some few to the sword and took all the rest prisoners to the grief of the Garrison which surrendred the place therupon according to the Articles The Captain being one of the captives was searcht and a Commission was found about him the worst clause wherof he put into execution Is taken prisoner and no other It ran thus as the French write Captaine Canton of the Regiment belonging to Bronze the Camp-master is to march this day Munday Octob. 16 26 with the men already appointed for him and shall goe toward Damvilliers His instructions and Commission into which he shall conduct all his men or so many of them as he can and though any of them shall think it improbable that he should performe this designe and shall thereon resolve to returne Yet the said Canton obeying no person but conforming to this present order shall leade on toward the City and either carry his forces into the towne or be taken prisoner by the enemy or loose his life if he faile or doe otherwise he shall be punished irremissibly even with his life which he shall lose ignominiously as being the losse of the said Damvilliers a place of so great importance for the service of his Catholique Majestie But executing this order he shall gaine honour and reputation for performing so excellent a piece of service with his said Majestie and his Highnesse shall have notice of and will reward Given at Virton the said â—5 â—6 of Octob. 1637. Signed Cantelmo It is a certaine evidence of true magnanimity neither to complaine of fate nor grieve for misfortune but to comply with the first and labour to amend the other by endeavour The Cardinall Infant did both he saw the French Lillies planted and sprouting in those gardens of the Netherlands which were committed to his keeping and though he endevoured to weed them out but could not now he meant to use all his art to eradicate them His late defeat at Maubeuge made him not heartlesse The Cardinall Infante encamped at S. Iulians nor heedlesse to Bolen and Saint Iulians he then conducted the remainder of his dispersed forces where he rallyed them fortified himselfe and lay encamped till a new supply of old soldiers was brought unto him from the garrisons of Flanders and the other adjoyning Provinces with which as soone as he was re-enforced he marched again towards the River of Schambre The French Armies were then againe divided the Duke of Candales forces lay about Maubeuge under the command of the Marquesse de Turenne and the Cardinall his brothers at Long-Faurill where the Duke himselfe was also by reason of the indisposition of his body a fit of sicknesse which surprized him there about the end of September when he went thither to advise with the Cardinall about the joyning of their two Armies It was concluded that their forces should be no longer divided the Cardinall of Spaine beginning to appeare so strong that it was conjectred neither of their forces singly could stand before him though they needed not to feare him being reunited The Infante had a suspition at first of what they intended but was afterward assured thereof by some prisoners taken in an Ambuscadoe addressed for Gassion who was often imployed as an internuncius betwixt the Duke and the Marquesse of Turenne to prevent it Octob. 7. new stile And re-enforced resolveth to keepe the French Armies from joyning Piccolomini and Don Iohn de Viveros Lieutenant Generall of the Spanish horse were sent with 4000 horse and as many foot the most tryed and choyeest men of the Spanish Army to encampe at Pont-Sur-Sambre and Pont de Vaux two Villages upon the River distant each from other almost an English mile in the mid way betwixt the two Erâ—uch Armies purposing to famish the French â—orces at Maubeuge by cutting off the convoyes of victuals which should be transported to them from Landracy Their comming was not unknowne to the inhabitants of the neighbour-Villages which more affecting the Spanish the French Cardinall there is no trust in new friends though they had taken an 〈◊〉 to be faithfull to the Christian King concealed it till they were so strongly entrenched that it was an hard adventure to remove them and then they sent to Long-fâ—â—â—â—â—â— to enforme the Generall thereof The newes startled the French Cardinall and the Duke his brother who though scarce recovered Sendeth Piccolomini to Pont de Sambre betooke himselfe to Armes as well as the Cardinall and that they might not give the Spanish troops a longer time to fortifie themselves Octob. 8. new stile at midnight marched from the Quarter at Long-faurill against the enemy at Pont-Sur-Sambre having sent the Count de Guiche the Field-Marshall two houres before with the avantguard consisting of 500 horse and 2000 Musketiers to assayle the Spanish Quarter at Pont de Vaux The next day about 4. in the evening the combat began which was well fought and lasted doubtfull at Pont-Sur-Sambre by the space of five houres the Spaniards having set up their rest to hinder the conjoyning of the two French Armies and the French being resolved to â—eleeve their associates at Maubeuge which must needs be famished otherwise But at Pont de Vaux the assaylants found most resistance the other combat was ended before night The Spaniards there gave ground and retreated to these their confederates the darknesse onely parted this last fight which was to be renewed the next morning had the Spanish Commanders stood to it and not left their station Both parties were weary but could
at last as by enforcement but voluntarily with the consent and approbation and for the use of the Princes for whom hee kept it and with profit and honour to himselfe maugre the malice of his Enemies must now be recorded Our English-Scottish Colonell by the departure of the Bavarians having got a little time of breathing was not idle but spent the few dayes of respite he had in repayring the fortifications revictualling the City abating the power of his ill affected neighbours Provideth for a siege About Iune the twentieth old stile the fields being white with Corn hee sent forth such harvest-men as could manage their Armes as well as the Sickle and reaping where he never sowed brought in good store of corne into the common Granary Iune the foure and twentieth another party being abroad met with some Waggon of Frankford loaden with materials for building of a Sconce to impeach the City under his command guarded with seven Musquetiers beat the souldiours broke their Muskets sent back the hot-shots and took away thirteen fair draught-horses and carried them into the City It was time that hee should look about him a new Army was raysed sodainly against him the Elector of Mentz the Bishop of Wertzburg and the Imperiall City of Frankford joyned their forces together under the Baron of Metternich and resolved to compell him to yield and surrender the City But the fire burns hottest in coldest weather and their Armies environing him made his courage more active Is blockt up in Hâ—uâ—w They could not pin him up so straitly but that he found a way free for him at pleasure to sally forth for the endamaging of the Army Two days amongst the rest are most remarkable Iuly 20 30 upon which he broke into the Generals own Quarter slue above a hundred horse and brought as many prisoners into the City and Iuly 27 old stile they broke out as far as Retstat cut off many of the Caesareans and carried away twenty horses In the midst of these turmoyles an unexpected peace was wrought for this City The Earle of Hanaw who had been under the Imperiall Band The Earle of Hanâ—w makes his peace with the King of Hungary and was proscribed amongst other Euangelicall Princes by the Triumvirate at Prague being entertained at the Hage by the Vnited States whither he fled as to a Sanctuary from the fury of Ferdinand the Second late Emperour by the mediation of friends in the Court at Vienna had then happily made his peace with the now King of Hungary was re-admitted by him to his Earldome Himselfe being then sick sent an adviso thereof to the Christian King who had formerly relieved him in his extremity and lately during the time of his sicknesse at the instance and upon the intercession of the States sent him 200000 Florins desiring his Majesties consent for his peaceable enjoying his ancient possessions and his Letters to Ramsey for the relinquishing of the City and resigning it to the Earles use The King granted his suite and gave order to Ramsey to restore the place but with a proviso of satisfaction for his care in the conservation of it and assurance of all this being brought to the Colonell about the end of July with order and Letters Patents from the Earle directed to his Brother in Law the Count of Solms Lawbach to administer the Government during the Earls absence the old Governour made a cessation of Arms with the asseegers with declaration of the cause for a time of conference about the sum which hee expected as a requitall of the offices hee had done that City and they as willing to be rid of one who with a small power had often pillaged their Territories as desirous after the mischiefs of War to have a glimpse of the much desired rayes of peace not only willingly condescended therunto but when the Colonell had sent his Agents to the Eector of Mentz to treat about his satisfaction Ramsey resignes his governmeÌ„t upon honorable terms the Frank forders sent theirs also to the same effect and the Marquesse of Darmstat who had then made a truce with the Colonell interposed himselfe as an umpire or at least mediatour in that negotiation Some time was spent as it is ordinary in matters of such nature about the summe to be paid and the persons from whom it was to be expected yet in the end by the earnest solicitation of the Marquesse both were agreed on and 50000 Rix Dollers were appointed the Commander from the Moguntine the Bishop of Wirtzburg and the Imperiall City of Frankford the summe in our English account is 15000 pound sterling and the Commander resigned his authority to the Count of Solms Lawbach with conditions to stay in Hanaw as a private man till the money was paid in and then to have a safe conduct to the Swedish Army or to what other place himselfe upon more deliberation would nominate for his safetie Nunc est bibendum nunc pede libero Pulsanda tellus The Weterauians were now all in jollitie by Ramseys resignation they feared no future unhappinesse Strange prodigies and the memory of all former calamities was almost extinguished when suddenly the hearts of the superstitious people wâ—re daâ—â—â—ted by strange prodigies yet not strange to that Nation no yeer since the war first commenced being baâ—â—â—n of such portents the water at Weymar again being â—urned to bloud a strange Worm in the shape of a man with perfeâ—â— lineaments and a golden Crown upon of head being found in a Sallad at an Herb-woâ—â—â—â—s shop at Coblentz and which if not prestigious was most terrible a Woman appearing in a mourning habit in Saint Stephens the Cathedrall Church-yard at Vienna Iune 18 28 which with an accent of sorrow as they write from thence having from 11 to 12 at night yelled out wo unto you woe unto you often repeating those words and nothing else the Bels without the helpe of man rung sodainly to the great affrightment of the people which descanted upon the omen doubting such horrid consequents would ensue it as presented themselves to their several fancies Now began a new time of trouble fire and sword raging in many parts of the Empire not only casually but by the arbitrement and wile of such as used that devouring element to the damage of those with whom they were at enmity Part of the D. of Bavaria his Palace at Munchen burnt casually The Duke of Bavaria had some losse at Munchen casually Iune 19 29 at the entertainment of the Extraordinary Embassadour for the King of Denmarke the Count of Pentz being then arrived at the Bavarian Court to shew his magnificence the Duke would have the night to emulate the day atque ex Cyclope diurno Nocturnus tunc Argus erat strange fire-works were devised and used but one of the Squibs fell unhappily upon the Tennis Court adjoyning to the Palace and burnt it to ashes and thence ranging to the Princes
no sooner given but himselfe advanced with his Avant-gard consisting of foure Regiments of Horse and two Regiments of Foot and charged the Crabats which were in the head of the Bavarians Battalia so furiously that they scarce endured the first shock but fled The Cuirassiers stood to it something more stifly they came on twice with a great bravery but in the end were constrained to follow the Crabats over the Bridge in a tumultuary confusion The Bridge was too narrow to give them a free passage nor could they well reach it the way being pestered with men and horses overthrown and they which reached it justled each other into the torrent the Baron himselfe being shouldred over in that hurly-burly and was in danger to have been lost had he not been quickly drawn out of the mud by the care and labour of eight of his own Cavaliers The Duke still pursued them but the darknesse of the night over-taking him preserved such as had escaped for the time present from his fury the next morning he renewes his pursuite and then overtaking the Reare of the Bavarians Army hee slue and routed 500 of his foot and three Squadrons of his Cavallary their Generall who had regained his trenches at Offenburgh not offering to come and assist them The Duke was there honorably victorious having slaine above 1000 of the Bavarian souldiers the most of them Cavalliers with the losse of lesse then 100 of his owne yet not secure the Die of warre being subject to severall chances and for the better managing of the Province which he had undertaken sent out September 6 new stile a strong party againe to discover his Enemies actions which fortunately meeting with 300 Crabats sent abroad by the Baron to have the like eye upon the Duke whom they encountred slue a 100 of them brought 50 prisoners back to their Generall Forgaâ—z his message to D. Bernh And here I could wish to conclude this Act but the Scene was not yet full at what time the Captives were presented to the Duke a Trumpet came to his Highnesse from Forgatz croking out this bloudy note that his Master intended not to give any quarter to what prisoner soever he took hereafter and that already de facto in cold bloud he had slaine some of the Almaine Dukes men which incited him again to make slaughter of his new prisoners And the direfull issue excepting such only as appertained to another Colonell CHAP. II. PEace the benefits wherof have not for many late yeers been sensibly discovered to the Germans was the Generall desire of the people the Boores which lived by tillage and feeding of Cattle hoped that this yeer the swords would be turned into Plow-shares and the Pikes into Shepherds Crooks the Merchants whose free traffique was stopt by these Military broyls began to feel poverty comming upon them more then the armed men against their Enemies and longed for an open trade and severall persons according to our humane condition qui facile credimus quod volumus upon each slight occasion gave out that a truce for time of years if not a certain and firm peace would now be concluded betwixt the Crown of Sweden and its Allies and the King of Hungary and his adherents Two or three days respite from acts of hostility betwixt the opposite Armies severally eneamped at Torgaw and Meissen made the Elve Eccho to the votes of the common people about a cessation of Armes and the conceit of the Earle Brandestein his commission to treat with the Austrian in Aprill was taken by the vulgar as an undeniable argument of a growing reconciliation betwixt those high mighty Princes But the misery of that Nation was not yet come to the height Brandestein was surprised by the Saxon Bâ—ankslein a prisoner at Dresden and stayed and lastly close imprisoned at Dresden with his Lady whose burden being ready to call for a Midwife for assistance without prayers or oratory might have got a fairer respect of an Enemy then shee found from the Elector though shee begd it with an humble language and that smal desistance from imploying their offensive arms betwixt the hosts was but a preparation to a greater expression of their hostility Each party enabling it selfe with all its might to endamage and impeach the other Banniere though oppressed with multitudes the Saxon and Austrian forces doubling his numbers lost nothing of his spirit but went on as daringly as ever A Colossus holds the same dimensions though placed in a deep pit and a right valiant man is ever like himself undaunted though he be surrounded with apparant danger Hall Eylenburge and the great Sconce before Wittenberge were garrisoned still with Swedes who were enjoyned by their Generall to defend them against the Saxon and his Allyes himselfe intending to proceed further in pursuire of his late victories and to begin sent out some troops of horse and foot against Oshitz with instructions to take it by a sodain Onslat or if they failed to return with all speed to the Campe it being no convenient time for them to abide in the field the Enemy then growing stronger daily by a new accesse of severall Armies An assault on Oshitz fayling the suburbs are fired by the Swtdes not troops but Armies under severall Commanders which were upon their march and scoured the Country about them The City had in it a Garrison of 500 horse who being informed by their Scouts that the Swedes were comming expected and prepared for them yet though by their care they saved the place from surprizall they conld not preserve it from damage the retiring Swedes chafed to be thus prevented fired the Suburbs and the Windmils burnt them to the ground and returned To have stayed there longer had been no point of providence the Austrian and Saxon Army was upon their rising from Meysen Ghleen was already in Thuringen with his Army and the Leipsichers growne confident upon these new approching succours A Swedish party surprized at Bitterfield began to send out strong parties to surprize the straggling Swedes and did it once fortunately at Bitterfieldt where a 100 Swedes which had been plundering and burning the Villages therabouts were assaulted by them unexpectedly and with some slaughter rowted Hatzfield and Goetz were no sooner risen from Meyssen but they marched directly towards Eylenburg on both sides the River of Mulda and their comming was so formidable to the Swedish presidiaries there that all of them one Captaine Eylenburg forsaken by the Swedes and sixty men only excepted left the City by night and betook themselves to flight by their cowardize besides the brand of ignominy which attended it exposing their lives to more danger then perhaps they had undergone if they had held the place according to their Generals direction their departure being discovered to the Austrian CoÌ„manders who pursued after them made the hindmost whom they overtook before they could reach Torgaw pay for their folly
that the end of the assasinates did quadrate with their wicked act against their late Generall to whom they had given an Oath of allegeance and fidelity they which had slain him at a feast perishing by the sword at a feast in the same Territory It was no season for the King to proceed in the way of legall justice against those military men The King of Hungary consults with Gallas Picolomini and de Grana by whose commotion this effusion of bloud was caused he had need of their service both in counsell and action The Electors though often sent to nor did nor could attend him and Gallas Picolomini and the Marquesse de Grana were used both for advise and prosequution of the conclusions in the consultation Gallas was with all speed to return to the Rhine and Dukedome of VVittenberge to fetch up his eight Regiments which had wintered there and to adde those forces to those under Hatzfield and Goëts and the Saxons in Misnia Gallas made Generaliss of the Imperiall army to the end that with this great Army wherof hee was made the Generalissimo Banniere might be blocked up in his Fortifications at Torgaw The Generalissimo winged with desire of atchieving a new conquest mounted presently on Horsebacke plyed his spurres more then his rains and returned into Misnia with his auxiliaries as speedily as could be hoped The Confederate Imperiall and Saxon Armies had prepared the way before his comming it now remayned for him only to polish the work which they had already scabled Pomica the Governour in Hall for the Elector and the Garrison of Wittemberge undertooke the siege of the Fort Morizburg at Hall and that being undertaken there was no impediment there to hinder him Furstemberg with 3000 Crabats attending him lay higher upon the Elve to stay the Swede from breaking out that way the Ship-bridge which lay before Wittemberge over the Elve was presently after the surrendry of the great Sconce removed higher to Pretch though not without strong opposition Banniere with his Ordnance so playing upon it that hee sunk a great ship in the day time and the Imperiall Army being forced to repair that losse in the night Laboureth to take Baâ—nicre at Torgaw they did it so effectually that the next day the Infantery passed the Elue by the bridge whilst the Cavallary did the like by a Ford they lay encamped from Pretch as farre as Leichtenberge within a league of Torgaw the Swede was already blockt up and there wanted nothing but proseqution of what was so happily begun And now Pendentem summâ capream derupe videbant Casuram sperant decipit illa canes The Northern Rat which like that of Egypt had shot himselfe through the jaws of the Crocodile into his bowels and there torn the entrails of Germany was concluded to be caught in a trap which could not be avoided the supposed captives and their ransomes were staked and played for upon the Drum heads The Almayn Armies were dividing the spoyles of which they had not got possession but with a successe not altogether unlike that of Sisera in his mothers expectation dividing the prey of the Hoast of Barak the Swede neither flying nor fighting against them but playing with them and in a wise mediocrity deluding their hopes Ludere cum liceat currere pigritia est Keeping his Fortifications which they durst not attempt till constrained for want of forrage for his horse the chief strength of his Army when his head as full of policy as his heart was of valour found out the means for his safe retreat Bannierâ— resulving to discamp from Torgaw which in fine he put in practice and performed not without victory It is related thus Banniere who in Aprill had possessed himselfe of the Citie soon after caused all the Burgesses and inhabitants that he might weaken their hands and disable them from taking armes against him to bring their armes to the Guild-hall or State-house and afterwards having thus subjected them to his will extracted from them severall summes of mony 12000 Rix-dollers to spare the City from pillage 48000 Rix-dollers to maintain his retraits and other monies upon severall occasions and in the end determining to leave the place gave the wealth thereof as a spoyle to his souldiers Pillageth the City who spared not to load themselves with the baggage they had thus gained But what availed this largesse what could the goods thus gotten profit them which had not assurance to hold them Banniere provides for all and though all wayes for his escape were intercepted Marazini with eight Regiments keeping the passage at Landsberg Klitzing the Brandeburghish Chieftaine preoccupating his way by the Oder with 12 of the Electors Regiments Danben the Saxon with the Saxon Regiments re-enforced with Swartzemburghs Crabats cutting off the way into Thuringen whilst Hatzfield and Goetz blockt him up on the one side of the Elue and Gallas and Ghleene on the other by a stratageme he made his way when his sword could not hew it out amuzing the Imperiall armies with a delusive finesse first and then in a wel ordered and quick march hasted towards Wrangell that by their united forces he might be better strengthened against those swarmes of Enemies His processe was thus Two Letters were indited by him and directed to the Governour of Ertford Devisethâ— stratâ—gen to word the Impertal the purport wherof was that he intended to leave Torgaw and come by the way of Thuringen to relieve that City which was daily threatned with a siege and that done to advance into Hessen and conjoyne his army with the Lantgrave These notes of instruction so expressed as if they had bin resolved of by the Generall Councell of Warre were sealed up closely and put into the bellies of a couple of Ducks and delivered to two Boores or rather souldiers in the habits of Boores which were sent out three severall ways and from sundry quarters of his Campe. His device was hitherto something like that of Harpagus in Iustine conveying his Epistle to Cyrus in the belly of a garbaged Hare but the severall intentions made them dislike Harpagus used that trick to conceal his papers Banniers purpose was to have his come into the hands of the Imperialls and so disposed his project in each circumstance that by a counterfeit privacy he might be thought desirous to have them passe undiscovered and by their discovery might bee supposed by the Adversaries to have had his plot prevented yet took such order with his messengers that they must needs be surprized by the Imperialists and their Letters made Patent to each perfunctory inquisitor the souldiers when once apprehended were taught to fall down and beg mercy and before they could be searched to offer upon conditions of sparing their lives to reveale that secret with which they were entrusted by their Generall Puts it in practice deludes the Generaliâ—â— and did their parts so well that the over-credulous Imperiall Commanders
trash which he might have preserved longer with his owne honour respective love from the Swedish Generall his Commander and the approbation of the Caesarians who upon his extremity would have condescended to so well a modified agreement to the great disadvantage of the Swedes and emolument of the Imperialists and Saxons who by this purchase had advanced their own cause so farre that Demitz was the onely place of importance upon the Elve which held out against them and thither they led their forces and gotten such a store of provision for their Army that now there was an apparance of great oddes betwixt theirs and the Swedish forces plenty of food in the Swedes Army having given as much courage to the small number of men therein as the vastnesse of the Caesarian campe had ministred to it selfe upon the conceit of the strength it had in their many thousands covering the face of the earth 〈…〉 which before necessitated and wanting this staffe of bread promised it selfe in confidence of its massie greatnesse a victorious progresse and now re-animated with this supply pursued it farre more impetuously't then formerly All is not gold that glisters a fraudulens contract is commonly conceived for valuable but prove not such by a covert avoyding one danger a gulled hope falls upon another The bird that escapes the pownces of the Eagle may and doth often hap to be the Faulcons prey and the cowardly Swedish Commander which in a bravado cast out Ampullas sesquipedalia verba though he escaped the Caesarians fury The late Commandeâ— imprisoned avoyded not the Swedish Generals justice but was there apprehended as a delinquent transmitted to the censure of the military counsell confined to the streight limits the provost Marshall would assigne him and reserved to the judgement of the Counsell of warre whose delay in conclusion is yet more terrible then the pronunciation and execution of his sentence Werben thus surrendred Klitzing with his Army reinforced and increased with a new supply of men and Artillery commanded by the Saxon Generall Major Vitzthumb surrounded Domitz Domitz surrendred to Klitzing upon composition which the Swedes then held and kept till the garrison which by many sallies made not without much slaughter on both sides reduced to the small number of 80. men upon evident remonstrance of imminent utter ruine if they did otherwise were forced to capitulate The City it self was no place of strength nor could the garrison defend it against the asseegers and therefore the Swedes forsooke it as soone as Klitzing was sate downe before it yet left it not fit to doe the Imperialists any service but burnt it and betooke themselves to the Citadell The Fort was a place of strength land-ward especially and though maintained couragiously by the space of 14. dayes against the force of the enemy August 24. Sept. 3. a Mine being sprung under the principall Cullion head was surrendred to the beseegers upon a faire composition and the garrison dismissed without any affront done to it or question for burning the City the Imperialists thinking that losse to be sufficiently restored in the great store of provision which they found in the Castle it causing an admiration in the victors to see the large quantity of corne 2100. Wispels which the Swedes had placed there as in a granary besides Bacon Lings and other victuals Lune-burgh at the same time was blocked up by the Baron of Reusctenberg who came before it with 12. regiments whereof 8. were raised by George Duke of Brunswick and Lune burgh and 4. by the Elector of Saxony The Swedish Praesidiaries within made preparation to abide a siege and expected when the mounts should be raised for battery The Swedes at Lâ—â—â— burgh compound with the Duke for the Citie â—â—d the Fort of Win ex But the Duke at whose instance these forces were imployed against the Citie remembring his late alliance with the Crowne of Sweden and unwilling to impaire the beauty of that goodly City the Metropolis of that Dukedome came to the Campe himselfe in person and before any expression of acts of hostility fell to parlee with the Swedish Commander there and so farre prevailed that for a summe of money the Swede condescended and upon payment performed it to redeliver him both that City and the Fort of Winsen to the satisfaction of both parties all pretext of further quarrell betwixt them and the Duke being by this meanes taken away and these Swedes gaining liberty to assist their friends in Pomerania to whom they might be more serviceable in their personall attendance upon the Army then they could by lying still in Winson and Lune-burg The accord was made thus Vpon the motion of the Duke the supplications of the inhabitants of Lune-burgh and the intercession of the neighbour Princes and Cities these conditions were agreed on betwixt the Swedes in the Cittadell of Kalberg which commands the City of Luneburg The conditions betweene the Duke of Luneburgh and the Swedes and in the Fort of Winsen and the Duke that the Duke should continue and hold the City in Neutrality with the Crowne of Sweden That the Duke should demolish the Fort at Winsen and pay content and upon the nayle unto the Swedish Governour and the garrison 500000. Rixe-dollers which done the Citie and Forts were resigned over to the Duke the Swedes therby giving a plain attestation that the end of their warfare was principally the welfare and liberty of the Empire One Firmament is not capable of two Sunnes nor one Army of two Generals the equality of authority cannot long be continued with amity Bannier and Wranghell met at the first lovingly but soone after they began to squabble and the difference was such that their Armies were againe divided to the advantage of Gallas the Generalissimo whose Army being much abated by the departure of the Crabats formerly and now of the Field-Marshall Iohn Goetz who was sent by order from the King of Hungary towards the Rhine might perhaps have been much endangered by a set battell if they had continued in their union But now he makes use of their division and intending to surprize the Field-marshall Wrangle about the midst of August led up his whole Army towards Anklam Gallas leades his Army to Anklam where the Swede with his forces lay By the way he fals upon the Castle of Veckermund where the yong Lievetenant Colonell Wrangle lay takes it by assault puts the Swedes to the sword and whiles his men were hot with this conquest marched to Anklam hoping as easily to vanquish the old Field-marshall as hee had done his kinsman At Anklam the Generalissimo found a tougher piece of service then he expected the old Field-marshall knew both when he must and how he ought to ward and the manner and time of striking advantageously and though there was a great imparity of their strength the Swede vyed with him in resolution and military skill Banniere
reuniteth his forces with those under Wrangle and held him play Besides Banniere who had not laine idle all this time at Stetin but reformed his Army and filled his Regiments with veterane Souldiers drawne out of the Garrisons in Pomeren and put his new accruits into the Cities seeing a clowd moving towards Anklam and fearing lest the Caesarians should oppresse the Field-marshall by their multitude the feare of so powerfull an adversary such a terrour as the most polite Romane historiographer observes in the like case being the firmest bond of concord waved all former controversies with colleagues and marched thitherwards for his succour And now began those hot services which more resembled so many pitched fields then light skirmishes or velitations wherein though neither side could boast of an absolute victory Gallas assaults the City five times and is so oftâ—repulsed with losse there appeared a more sensible losse befalling the Caesarians then the other Both parties played their Master-prizes Gallas at the first onset thought to have surprized Wrangle and carried the place but Wrangle who had a vigilant eye upon his intentions knowing the oddes which was against him avoyded the fury of the first conflict gave way to the ingruent storme retired with his forces through the City wherein he left his Infantry and encamped on the other side with his Cavallary to keep the passage open for the Generall Bannieres accesse unto him being advertized formerly that he was marching up for his reliefe Plato that divine Philosopher enjoyned his Auditors not to adde fire to fire but what avayle his theoremes the man of warre will not give attention to his morals Nature insults there over either Ethicks or Politiques the spleene which is warmed onely in the first motion by continuated action begins to boyle and nothing can extinguish the burning heate but the opened conduit pipes of his owne or the enemies bloud Gallas more inraged then discouraged by Wrangels retreat planted his batteries against the Towne made five severall assaults in all of them was beaten backe with notorious losse the advisoes from Hamburgh Stetin and Berlin specifie a particular number of sixe thousand and more men and having fayled of his project there deviseth a new one to passe the River of Beinah and to assault the Swede in his trenches No paines were spared no hazard avoyded which might conduce to effect his designe there thrice he attempted it at three severall passages but never without great losse at the last especially at Damine a place betwixt Pomerania and Meckleburg Attempts to passe the River of Behne is beaten by Banniere and discampeth where the Generall Banniere encountred him and though hee had built a Fort there to secure his passage and guarded it with foure hundred of his ablest men yet the circumspect and valiant Swede as well to be observed for his circumspection which would leave nothing behinde him that might doe him any prejudice as his valour assaulted it tooke it in put the major part of the praesidiaries to the sword made the rest prisoners their captivity being graced with the society of a great Spanish Commander named Don Faelix to the great affrightment of the Imperiall Army which suddenly thereupon discamped and marched towards the Elve disheartened by the union of Banniere and Wrangell who then appeared in field together and made shew of readinesse to deale with Gallas for decision of the quarrell in a set battell CHAP. I. The Actions Occurrences and passages Polemicall and Politicall in Picardy Artoys Henault c. IT was high time for the neighbour Princes which stood in opposition to the house of Austria to look about them and the Christian King particularly proximus arsit Vcalegon The Swedes fortunes concerned him the Kings of Spain and Hungary when those his Confederates appeared in probability able to hold them tugge with severall strong Armies invaded his Kingdome put him to much trouble The Frtuch Kings preparations though his royall heart affecting the good of his subjects and the people in a respective obedience conforming their gestures to his commands with an unanimous courage made head against them and sent them back without any notable evidence of victory Some places of strength pieces of importance were then taken by them and some of them recovered again by the King and now to cry quittance with those invadours he prepares not only for regaining his owne but by transmitting his Armies into the places under their Dominions to draw the stakes from them and engage his adversaries in a defensive warre Severall Armies were raised at the Kings charge and committed to severall Generals to do their service in such places as his Majesty directed them The Prince of Conde was appointed to draw up all the troops which were quartered in Champagne Loraine and Burgundie and to lead them into the French County he being constituted the Generalissimo of those forces and the Duke de Longeville his Lieutenant Generall The Marshals de la Force and Chastillon had a joynt Commission for keeping the River of Mosell and the places thereabouts but the old Marshall a true Miles Emeritus of the age of 72 yeeres 60 of which hee had spent in the service of his King and Country was soon after rude donatus had his Writ of Ease and Honour too and in the Parliament of Paris Iuly 24 August 3 was received by the honourable title of Duke of Madurant and Musidan his Lands of inheritance The Marquesse de la Force made a Duke and Peâ—re of French and Peere of France being presented by the Kings Attourney Monsieur Ioubert in the presence of the Prince of Conde the yong Duke of Anguieus the Duke of Montbazon and Rochefoucault and other persons of State and Dignity and Chastillon alone with 6000 horse and 12000 foot marched into Luxemburgh as was said though other did write he had never half so many men the King having sent before by Monsieur Daniel de la Rue a great summe of money to Leige to raise some more men there for his service entertained Ruelles sonne whose memory is still deer to the Liegois in his Court at Paris and consigned him a place of Honour and given a good Pension to the Massacred Burghers Widow to confirme the amity betwixt his Majesty and that State Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymar accompanied with Roderick the yong D. of Wertenberg the Marquesse of Baden his Lieutenant Generall Hallier and many other men of quality attended with an Army of about 10000 horse and foot 2000 horse to carry the Artillery and furnished at first with a thirteen hundred thousand Franks to pay his Army was assigned to invade the Empire beyond the Rhine Crequy with his forces was ordered to joyn with the D. of Savoy for opposall of the Spanish forces in and about Lumbardy The Earle of Harecourt was to scowre the Seas and the Cardinall de Valetto and the Duke of Candale his brother had their Province assigned
no other termes then the lives of the souldiers to be spared with an expresse remonstrance that they should all without exception be made prisoners of war and the preservation of the womens honours they being to be protected from ravishment and other violence which hard conditions were accepted by the Garrison and all the males the old and diseased persons only excepted the Curat in the mean time in tokeÌ„ of joy for his prosperous negotiation in the womens preservation making a solemne procession and clevating the Pix attended with the Matrons married wives and Damosels of the Fort whom the Count shut up in a place of safety by themselves the Count prohibiting his people to do them any violence either in their persons or the wealth they had about them whilst himself and men seized of the horses kine cattle and other wealth which was then in the Fort and manacled the men whom he intended to carry captives to Corbie Miserere jam victor Galle parce tandem Is not this captivity a sufficient trophee of the Conquerours glory thus the Genius of the place did seeme to plead in the faces of the disconsolate women But rasech the Citadell which were not so much revived by their owne freedome as dejected by their friends bonds and restraint But the fate of the place was not yet come to be actuated thirty Musquetiers were laid in by the Count to keep it till his return from Fovillier which hee next intended to attempt the finall sentence and the execution therof being reserved untill that Enterprize was brought to perfection Thither hee came the next morning and soon forced it to accept the same termes as the other had done and then the French Commander loden with spoyls inriched with a booty of above 200 kine and horses and other baggage and giving the Law to above 200 prisoners The Castle oâ— Fovillier yieldeth to the French discharged his petite Garrison of 30 Musquetiers which he had left at Ebuterne demolished and razed the Forts down to the ground that they might no longer be offensive to the Kings subjects in Picardie and returned to Corbie with his own retinue booty and prisoners As in a glasse face answereth face or the eccho replyes to the voice so the conquests of the French in Artois and Haynault were seconded by the victories of the Marshall Chastillon in the Dukedome of Luxenburgh the places of note there which before the warre Anno 1542 betwixt the French and the house of Austria were thought impregnable being so shattered then that though they have since bin refortified yet they never attained to their former strength and so facilitated the Marshall's designes Assoone as Ivoy was taken in the French Generall observing some â—â—te directions sent unto him from his Majesty by Aiguebonne the Field-marshall for advancement of the Kings Affaires and unwilling to omit any advantage which might further his attempts August 6 16 lent his Lievtenant Feuquiers with 2000 horse and 3000 foot to blocke up Danvilliers and to cleere the wayes from Metz to Verdun by taking in some small Forts which being Garrisoned by the Enemy hindred the free commerce betwixt the two Cities and the Colonell Bovillon with 300 horse and 200 foot to take in the Fort of Cheney situated upon the River of Semoy asmall place but of good consequence being new fortified by the Enemy and guarded with 200 men Feuquiers did his part happily Roquepine Lievtenant Governour for the Cardinall de Valette having brought the Forts to his hand and Danvilliers only left to his care and so did the Colonell Bovillon too Divers small Forts surrendred to Chastillon in Luxemburgh though not with such speed as the other he finding more opposition yet with as much glory He summoned the Citadell and was refused played upon it with his Ordnance and was answered from thence in the same Dialect till the Garrison supposing that the Marshall was comming in person thitherwards with the mayn body of his Army and Artillery surrendred it upon these termes that the two Captaines and their Lievtenants which commanded there should have liberty to depart with their swords by their sides and the souldiers with white staves only which done the Colonell judging the place to be too strong a piece to be left to the Kings enemies having occasion to imploy these troops which he had elsewhere burnt down the houses and demolished the Fort to make it unserviceable Whilest these Forts were taken in The Spaniards make an attempt the grosse of the French Army lay encamped along the River of Chier each regiment being disposed of in a severall quarter The light horse of Angoulesme Polie and Buzanoye were lodged at a village called Olizy where having barricadoed up the townes end to keep the enemie from making any sudden incursions upon them they kept a carelesse watch neither having any corps du guard without nor any sentinels upon the advenues A souldier is least secure when he is most secure The Spanish party by their scouts were made acquainted with their negligence and hasted to them not as friends to reprove or chastise them but as enemies to surprize them Foure companies of horse 300. Arquebusiers and 200. Musquetiers of the Spanish traine band in that Dukedome Aug. 10 20 set out from Arlon a place about 30 English miles from Olizy and came that night to Mommedye where they reposed themselves whilest 200. other Musquetiers were drawen out of that garrison to accompany them in this expedition and then marching all night an houre before day they arrived within a Carabins shot of the Village where the French Cavillary lay without any discovery The manner how to carry the businesse Vpon the French quarter at Olizy was resolved on by the way as they came it now remained onely to put their counsell into action The directions given by the Leaders to the common Souldiers in private were as good and more usefull then any charge could have been which was to be given from the longlowd throats of the Trumpets or sonorous bellies of the military Pythons the drums without any alarme they surrounded the Village removed the barricadoe and then having slaine some of the French Cavalliers they placed the Musquetiers in divers places of the Village whose frequent charging and discharging in the street brought no small amâ—â—ement to the French Cavallieres when their thought being as full of confusion as the Village was of horror knew not how to behave themselves to stand upon their guard being surprized so unexpectedly The Count of Polie was the first which mounted on horse-backe to rallye up his dispersed squadron and something he did by fortune which assisted him for his own and some of his souldiers preservation though nothing to offend the enemy One of the Spanish troups of horse came in by a by lane into the Village with them he intermingled his owne men not as an enemy for thereof he made no shew by giving