and Piccolomini with 11000 men had opportunity to aide the Prince Thomaso against the French in the Southwest of Flanders Chastillon the French Marshall having passed the Sommer May 8 18 brought his Army to the Castle of Saint Paul May 12 22. The Castles of Saint Paul which he presently summoned and had surrendred unto him upon these conditions that the Governour and the Garrison both horse and foot should march out with baggage and arms half an houre after the Capitulation and safely goe to Bethune that the inhabitants of the place might have leave to do the same with like assurance that they should be conducted by a hundred horse of Cassions Regiment a league upon the way and thence by the Trumpet of the same company with a Pasport to Bethune and that the inhabitants religious persons or others might have liberty to remain there if they pleased taking the Oath of Alleagiance to the Christian King which conditions being signed and subscribed there marched out 120 men above 300 women and children in Waggons and the Fort was Garrisoned with the Regiment of Navarre Halfe a league from thence stood the Castle of Saint Martin de Fresne a passage of importance Saint Martin de Fresne and a ready way for the Spanish to Saint Paul This he summoned the same night and having prepared to assault it the Garrison capitulated upon the same termes as the former and the French Marshall laid into it 50 Musqueties under the command of a Lieutenant the day following May 13 23. the Marshall encamped neere Perne where there was a Fort Perne but abandoned by the people whose hasty flight caused them to leave behinde them great store of beverage corn and cattle The Country about it abandoned with forrage and thither the Marshall sent some of his forces to make provision for the Horse who returned at night with a good booty 600 prisoners able to pay their ransomes besides the Religious persons and women whom dismissed freely yet hanged up some Boutefeue for example sake and so abated their number May 14 24 the French Army came to Theronenna a place famoused by Historians where the remayning Ruines of the buildings are still witnesses of its ancient glory The inhabitants loath to alter their government retired presently into the Church which standeth in an Iland of the River and thence made some unhappy shot against the French but after three volleys of Cannon bullets they yielded and some being slain the rest were taken prisoners Therovenne and other Forts and Abbeyes taken by the French And now the Army May 15 25. tooke up its Quarters betwixt Ardres Blandeck a quarter of a league from Saint Aamers upon the River Aa which falleth down to Graveling Before hee raised any bank against the City or would give order for the Circumvallation thereof the Marshall dispatched 3000 foot and 2000 horse with two Culverings two peeces of 12 pound Bullet and other necessary equipage under Fert Imbaut to cheer the Spanish Forts The siege of Saint Omars betwixt Ardres and Saint Omar that he might have a free passage for his victualers and Convoyes and himselfe with the principall Officers went to scoure the causey-wayes which were filled with armed Peasants and might otherwise have much impeached him in his designe Both these parties did their Offices in the space of two days the Colonel Ferte Imbaut having first taken in three small Forts which stood upon the way then the Castle de Maule which was defended by a good Garrison and some peeces of Cannon and lastly the Fort d' Esper legue which after the departure of 36 Walloons 10 Spaniards and 150 Paysants was committed to the care of the Governour of Ardres who put into it an Officer with 80 souldiers which promised to keepe it eight dayes or till 1000 Cannon shot were made against it though it should be surrounded with the Enemies Army The Marshall himselfe defeated the 700 Peasants which guarded the causey-wayes took in the Fort de Mewfosse or Newdike and the Abbey of Clermarais and to leave no rub in the way Hallier took the Abbey of Watiene where the Count de Fountaine lay and had much ado to save himselfe whilst for a conclusion at the last houre and at the same time the Marquesse de la Ferte took by assault Saubrevit and Chastillon Sommeline by the surprize wherof Saint Omars was fully blocked up A faire house well sited The descripti-of Saint Omars and fitted with competent demesnes never wants clamours in the propriety nor a rich wel qualified Virginsuiters such was the conditions of Saint Omars a place of as much pleasure as consequence yet giving pregnant testimonies of both to compasse which the French left no stone unmoved nor the Cardinall Infant to preserve it This City a part of the Territories of the ancient Morines subdued by Iulius Caesar was begun by a Bishop of Therovenna who built there a Monastery called by his owne name and by his supposed sanctitie devotion in that time of superstition commonly causing a confluence of people made it very populous It is at this present reckoned in the second Ranke of the Cities of Flanders well flankered and fortified being in the territories of France of stately building throughout the Abbey especially which is the richliest endowed of al the Covents in that country The French Marshall that he might have more freedome to settle his Army before it May 18 28. gave order to 1000 horse The order of the siege and 1200 foot to repaire unto his head quarter the same day by noone but his men not meeting at the peremptory houre hee deferred his designe till the day following his intention being to be master of a Ferry by which passengers were transported into the City It was an attempt of a great spirit with so small a number without defensive coverture to encounter with almost as many who had immured themselves with earthen walls and were by that meanes almost shot-free Two Regiments of Scots and Walloons were appointed by the Prince Thomaso to guard the place which perceiving the French almost upon them spent their powder prodigally against the assaylants which in fine forced them to leave their Trenches and cast themselves disorderly into a Ferry-boat and seven or eight other Bottomes which they had prepared for their use and so prevented them of their purpose which was to entrench themselves there that they might keep the way open for importation of men and victuals into the City This Rub thus taken away and the French Army re-enforced with 27 new Companies the lines of circumvallation were drawne out Iune 2 new stile which though they were of so large an extent as five leagues in compasse the pioners with the help of the common souldiers promised to finish or at the least make defensible in the space of eight dayes if they were not disturbed by the Spanish Army Five or six days passed
a daring enemy An handfull of souldiers armed with resolution will doe more than a timorous multitude Mulheim was sufficiently provided for by the care of the Duke who to secure the city layd in an accrewt of 500 men but exposed to the pillage of the Imperialists by the remisse cowardise of those to whom the keeping therof was committed who yeelded upon the first sight of the Roman Eagles and had the reward of their falsehood and cowardise beeing stript starke naked and expelled by the Caesareans who immediately began to plunder the city and had utterly spoyled the Inhabitants had not the Generall Major Lamboy expressely forbidden them to goe on so roughly against that people to whome they came for succour in extremity without any commission to use them as enemies Santen a smaller City and not so strongly guarded stood upon its liberty and maintained it The Presidiaries there were fewer in number than those at Mulheim yet of more valour and better fortune they punctually denied to admit any part of the Caesarean army to be billited there and when Piccolomini would have forced them to it they took up their armes stood upon their defence and twice repelling those troupes which came to compel them made them seeke their winter station elsewhere and here the Polemicke occurrences betwixt the Prince Cardinal of Spaine and the States of the United Provinces and Allyes have their period Only about Artois and Henault something was done betwixt the cardinal of France and Infant of Spain the Duke de Candale surprising the little city of Semay three leagues from Avennes November the nineteenth or twenty ninth and the Infant recovering it soone after as also Beaumont which in the Summer had bin taken by the French Forces but was now regained by the Spaniard in Winter Policy was now the object of all their studies preparation for war reforming the regiments execution of justice and other attendants of a peaceable state as marriages and triumphs the cold breath of Winter giving some time of respit from military actions a short resemblance of quiet The Prince of Orange to settle himselfe in a sure possession of Breda more fearing the practice of intestine then forraigne enemies first commanded all those of the Roman Religion to depart the City and the order not prevailing soon after effected it upon this occasion Novemb. 15 The Romanists banished from Breda 25 being Saint Katherines day the Romanists which lurked in the City undiscovered intended a Masse in the Cloyster of the Capuchines assembled together and for feare of apprehension in the very act barricadoed the doors shut up all the windows and so fell to the service Their Counsell and their act were both discovered to the Governour and Sheriffe of the place who in that nick of time commanded a party of the Garrison to attend them marched to the Cloyster forc't open the doores and windows laid hands upon the Priest that sung Masse and by him discovering the rest of that Religion which lay secretly there banished both him and them immediatly The Liegois though of the same profession with the Elector of Collen yet rather affected the Christian King then him and upon pretence of their liberty and revenge of the death of their late affected Governour Ruelle published a Placard December 7 17 against certaine spirituall and civill persons whom they suspected more to adhere to the Elector of Collen then their State the tenor wherof is as followeth Upon the proofs given in Court of the number of the late Magistrate of this City and about the seditions conspiracies sieges blocking up and other violent attempts against this City Some persons proscribed by the Liegois and Territory the Counsell hath condemned and judged as Traytors and Enemies to their native Country the Lord de Iehen de la Capelle Godfrey de Bocholt Horion de Heele the Burgomaster Rausin the Sheriffs Dormael and Zorne Lambert Tournaco Anthony de Marets Ernest de Marets Iohn de Henneff Francis Bertrand the Major of Hoy Kelenis the Quartermaster the Baron of Hollinghoven the Lord Chancellour Blocquerie Chockler and Proces both Canons of the Church of Saint Lambert and Doctour Dawuns Pastor of the 11000 Virgins Promising that if any of those condemned persons can deliver his fellow or any one of them though hee were one of those who had a hand in the murther of the Burgomaster la Ruelle he shall have besides his particular pardon 200 * A Patacoon is a Royall of eighth four shillings sterling Patacoones for his guerdon and if any of the Citizens can apprehend or kill any of the lay proscribed men hee shall have 300 Patacoones but who ever can bring in one of the Spirituall persons hee shall have 500 Patacoons and whosoever can deliver up Iohn de Werth or bring an authentike attestation that hee hath killed him shall have for his recompence 1000 Patacoons withall prohibiting all and each person to support mayntain or lodge any of these proscribed men upon paine of suffering the same punishment which is sentenced upon them Subscribed H. le Clercy Thus they expressed their love to the memory of their late Magistrate but their care in preserving their franchises more The name of a deceased Patriot yields a sweet odor to the survivors but stands in no equipage with the love that is justly challenged from every Citizen by the Common-wealth The Liegers declared both though in a different measure according to their severall objects Ruelle was reverenced for his care in preserving the publike state the state for it selfe and the publike good of the Denisons The Placard was proclaimed instantly and two Prebends of Saint Lambert were presently dispatched to Hoy a City upon the Maze 28 English miles West and by South from Liege with authority to command the Governour there to surrender up the place into the hands of the Liegers who without deliberation returned first The Liegois require the Governour of Hoy to submit and come in this doubtfull answer that he would first be paid 25000 Gilders which he was out of purse for maintenance of the Castle and Garrison and then a Categoricall deniall of the proposition adding that he was bound by oath to hold it for the Elector of Collen and with that answer dismissed them All this was done by word of mouth another course was followed advised and concluded of by the Governour the Senate and the Counsell of Warre Decemb. 17 27 and that was by way of retaliation to return Placard for Placard and proscription for proscription the Governour of Hoy or Huy being declared guilty of treason by the Leigois the tenor wherof runneth thus The Senate and Counsell of Warre at Huy who have taken a solemne Oath to live and die in the Neutrality which hitherto they have happily mayntained cannot but wonder at the barbarous proceedings of the Senate and Counsell of Warre at Liege The Senate of Hoy returne their answer and proscribe the Liegois
held there December the 7 17. without authority or reason and concluded meerly out of passion against all Humane and Divine Laws the fundamentall Statutes of the Diocesse and against the peace and power of Caesar and the Archbishop Elector of Collen to whom they owe obedience not only by dishonouring the present Governour with the false imputation of treason against his Country but also by tyrannizing over the consciences of their Christian brethren by continuing their inhumane and cursed bloud-shedding and exposing the life of the now Commander at Hoy to sale for the prize of 300 Patacons And now because that neither the Law of Nature nor Nations can give any security for the proscribed persons it is resolved to proceed against them by way of Retorsion Wherfore after a solemne protestation before the whole World of their unwillingnesse to take this course if any other meanes for their safety might happily be devised they the Governour Senate and Counsell of Warre at Hoy judge likewise all Colonels Captains Lievtenants Ancients and others of the Counsell of War at Liege apprehensible and guilty of treason and promised 200 Patacons for each of those Colonels 150 for each of those Captains and 100 for each of the rest so apprehended and brought in either alive or dead Reserving withall all other Retorsions for our use if the Counsell of Liege do prosecute their late Placard or invent any new one pronouncing all those which shall lodge or receive any of the fore-mentioned and condemned men lyable to the sentence pronounced against them and admonishing all good Patriots and wel-wishers to their Native Country to continue faithfull to their Prince Subscribed By order of the Counsell of Warre at Hoy and a little lower Le Recht Secretary Thus the Condrusii Agrippinenses or Luicklanders were divided but the capitall City which should give the law to all the rest and the major part of the Province held out for the Christian King levied forces for his Majesty supplyed them with arms The order taken by the Liegois to defend their Country against the Spaniards necessaries and the King again to confirme his amity with them understanding the distraction of their state by his Agent Ian 30 old stile and letters signed by himself offered the forces which were levied there for him to their service promising to assist them with more if need required it and to pay them out of his own Exchequer It was a gracious offer and worthy of so Royall a King but the Liegeois were not so distressed they provided sufficiently for their owne safety both by a Martiall and Politike way Daniell de Rive a valiant and experienced Souldier was made Generall over 4000 men whom they armed against all such as they imagined would offer to infringe their liberties and he performed his charge so well by keeping a carefull and strong watch in the Countrey and Hesbay that he secured them from the private practices of the Malecontents and publike injuries which might otherwise have been put upon by their professed Enemies One thing still remayned which was to take order for the common Magazine of victuals that the Natives might not want bread and that the Chapiter of Liege which pretends a dominion over the whole Province provided for by an Edict dated Ianuary 17 27 commanding all the Boors to thresh out their corn and to bring it to the capitall City where it should be laid up in the publike Granary and be delivered out at a certaine rate for the use of the people And this order took so good effect that the peasants reserving only so much as was necessary for their owne use brought the remaynder to the publike storehouse whence the seller was supplyed with mony and the buyer with bread for his family The Cardinall Infant at Bruxels though not then imployed in Acts of warre was busie in preparing for it against the spring and because men and mony are principally required for such expeditions The Cardinal Infantae's preparation for warre hee sent to his brother the Catholike King for both the King answered his desire and in a Fleet of 32 sayles of shipping sent him 45 tuns of gold if the figures deceive me not and 4000 fresh souldiers all which arrived successefully at Dunkerke about the midst of December where the gold is to be coyned save one Frigate loaden with Salt which stragling from the Fleet fell into the hands of Swartk a Statish man of War who surprized it and brought it into Zeland Decemb. 7 17. Occurrences in the Netherlands CHAP. II. THe new yeare came in with a new dresse A Tournament intended at the Hage at the marriage of the Counâ—â—â—â—e of Solmes The rough habit of war was put off for a season and a solemne Tournament more usuall in peace then in War was performed at the Hage by some noble personages designed therunto The occasion was this Monsieur de Brederode Generall of the States Artillery a man of so noble a house that the old Marquesse Spinola accounted him the only Gentleman in the United Provinces was to marry with Madamoselle the CouÌ„tesse of Solmes sister to the Princesse of Orange And to honour these Nuptials the gallantry of the Batavian Court to shew themselues not meer Courtiers but Souldiers also did not content themselves with bare Revels but resolved to run at the Ring And the Bride again to gratifie them designed a rich jewell for him that could oftenest take it in three courses To make the action beare some forme with the bravery of old times they divided themselves into parties one wherof stood as challengers and the rest as defendants The Cavalliers divide themselves into parties The Challengers were five Batavian Knights who under the disguised names of Bator Classicus Arminius Civilis and Mandrubace being indeed Monsieur de Bredode the Bridegroom the Vicount de Manshaw Monsieur de Verneul a Major of Horse the Baron de Vaustar and Monsieur de Chart published first a generall challenge in these words The Batavian Knights having for 3 years space given notice by their Heraulds Five Batavians send out the Challenge whom they have sent abroad to that end to all the Knights of the World that Feb. 6 16. 1638 they would keep an open Camp at the Hage in Holland their ordinary Randesvouz where every Knight that would return an answer to their Challenge might safely enter and try with them at 3 courses with the Lance or sharp Sword or what other arms they pleased with assurance that he got the victory might safely carry away the prize that the Ladies of the Court had designed to him which could winne it Now finding that the renown of their valour knowne through all the World hath struck a terrour into the hearts of those that would oppose them to the end that the Ladies might no longer expect the event they have agreed that 3 courses at the Ring shall suffice to give a testimony of their
the Archbishop of Burdeaux assisted with 30 other Bishops came thither also who hindred the importation of any succors into the City by Sea and hee seeing the place not surrendred after so many assaults told the Prince of Conde that he appear'd an unexperienced Souldier to make so many assaults from the Baletta with so small reputation intimating that he would have the place assaulted vpon the Birth of our Lady by 4 of the clocke in the morning but the Prince opposed saying that the Arch-bishop was Generall at Sea and that it did not concerne him to intermeddle with the affaires by Land Hereupon ensued more contention occasioned by the Duke and d' Espernon siding with the Archbishop and vpon the overture the Prince of Conde hasted to renew the assault for the respect he gaue the Archbishop but his Highnesse entring into a more serious consideration and judging not without reason of the various events of Warre especially our men being couragious and well fortified intending to disingage himselfe from the obligation wherin he was involved in an angry moode replyed to the Archbishop that being generall at Sea it did not concern him to giue the assault by Land and that he would not loose the glory of the assault which properly belonged to his place To appease all his Highnesse prepared a mine which he intended to spring vpon the Vigill of our Lady and placed therein 29. barrels of Gun-powder by which no doubt a great part of the wall would haue fallen it being torne by other mines and batteries To effect it the Archbishop commanded out the ablest Souldiours in the Nauy and promised 4000 Doblons should be destributed amongst the adventurous which should first make the assault the most couragiously and readily The assault was made in 4 places the French being confident that the Towne would be rendered when the mine was sprung by reason the defendants were but few and they grew weary by toyle and unable to hinder their approaches Hitherto God was pleased that wee should suffer but vpon Sunday at 5. of the clocke the raine ceased and the weather holding vp our Generals placed all their forces in the same posture wherin they had beene formerly ranged a League from the Enemy Vpon Munday at night the Generals assembled at the place called Lezo desirous to succour the Towne with all expedition for the day before some sallied out of it to certifie them that if they were not relieved within 3 dayes the French would bee Masters thereof and thereupon they resolved to assayle the Enemies vpon Tuesday the Vigill of our Lady The time did not then serve to muster the forces but it is supposed that 3000 were lost by the deluge of raine and waters Vpon Tuesday in the morning the troopes were devided into 3. squadrons By the descent of the hil which runneth from the passage to the City was the Marquesse of Mortara with 2000 of the Conde Duke the Irish and others 1000 Navarrois and Provincials who were so ordered and quartered that the right wing of the Vantguard should consist of a third part of the Conde Duke his Regiment The Battaile and Reare should take vp the other people amounting in all to 4000 with some Companies of Horse At the lowest part of the hill to the Southward lay the Lord Admirall of Castile and the Marquesse of Veles with the grosse of the Army with the Master of the Campe Generall the Marquesse of Torrecusa with 2000 selected and choyse Souldiours of Don Fausto de Ludioso The ablest Souldiours were disposed in the most eminent places that the Enemy might not bee able to cut off our forces On the other side of Irun marched Don Pedro Giron with 2000 men the most of them Castilians with the Campe-master Sebastian Granero Generall of the Artillery and a troope of Horse to possesse the most eminent places about Irun and to hinder the succours which might come from any of the French Quarters at Fontarabie We that were Capuchns devided our selves into 4 parts distributing our selves with our companies of the Religious which were then there In this posture we advanced towards the Enemy in front the same day by 4 of the clock in the afternoone and the Marquesse of Mortara immediately gayned the ascent of the hill whereof hee had beene Master before but had then willingly abandoned and now compassing the little hill above he gayned the eminent places untill he approched within Musket shot of the Enemies trenches from whence hee received some round charges The Horse and Irish wheeled to the left hand towards the Sea to secure themselves from the offence of the Enemy which lay behind the hill The Marquis of Torrecusa immediatly seated himselfe in the secure place below the Hill after hee had gained two Quarters from the Enemy over against a Redoubt scituated at the end of the Trench which was the greatest Fortification the Enemy had His troopes immediatly assaulted their Enemies some with Pikes others with Sword and Target and others with Muskets which brake into a troope of French Horse forcing them twice to recoyle But the Camp-Master Generall drawing up the Corslets caused his Companies to renew their charges and joyning their Musketiers together they charged the Enemy so forcibly that he was not able to endure the assault but gaue ground In this first encounter foure or 6 men entred the Redoubt fighting like Lyons but the Enemy overmatching them in number enforced them to retire But wee returned with such fury to the assault of the Redoubt that having killed many French wee regayned the place at the very point of the Fortification and though they were many and well defended with artificiall and intricate trenches and a ditch of very great depth yet they abandoned the place The Enemies Campe removed it selfe a Musket shot the Horse before and the Foote behind where they stood amazed whilst you will repeate the Creed 6 times determining as farre as wee could perceiue to beate us backe driving them back out of the Redoubt and assaulting us by troopes But our men being Masters of the place grew so couragious-instant they charged them so roundly that they were enforced to turne their backes with much losse at one instant none of the French appearing aliue in their Trenches but leauing many dead therein and some Canons of a middle size wherewith they had much endamaged us Our forces followed the chase Some of the Enemies that is the Cavallary flying towards Iran other towards the Sea the most whereof were drowned the Tide running with great force and more then ordinary because of the Land waters wee flew many of them when they were up to the middle in water when they who had entered the small Boates and could not row against the Tide rendred themselves and with folded hands and mournfull voices cryed Vive le Roy de Espagne God quarter for Gods sake Our Companies hastned towards the Sea in extreame danger to the judgement