must acknowledge his authority These thinges I thought good to certifie you of by way of transition that you bee not altogether transported with Dutch newes and partiality nor confounded with transmutation of time and names nor affrighted with any relation which shall seeme to darken the glory of these affaires or the hope of better successe in the Palatinate busines But to auoyde all doubts questions and oppositions I haue gentle Reader for your sake composed this discourse and in a plaine phrase that you may rely vpon one truth and teach your hearts a song of thankesgiuing to the God of truth and battailes that hath thus begun to bring matters about against all expectation and so to our businesse againe In Lotringhem the Spaniards Commissaries as well as Earle Mansfields met to take vp men and muster Souldiers and were very iealous one of another who should preuaile in their greater numbers how they sped I cannot tell but we were pleased in our accounts For although diuers went to Elnshisem to serue Duke Leopoldus with assurance that more would follow yet we made a strong party and marched forward with 16. peeces of Ordinance leauing 300. men in Germersheim tooke our way to Lanterbergh where wee had a great skirmish and lost some men not without reciprocall damage to the Enemy but before we passed from hence newes came of the Spaniards comming to Germersheim with resolution to make a ship Bridge there and that 600. Bauarian Souldiers were gone out vpon booty whom we watched narrowly to catch in their returne but we failed at this time and were crossed againe with a new report that the Towne of Spiers had entertained 1000. Souldiers to defend the same as suspecting we might come thither and take them at some aduantage and thus were the Catholike Bishops likewise standing on their guards and neither went abroad without a conuoy nor slept in their Pallaces without Courts of guard nay the alarum went as farre as Cullein and all places prepared to delend themselues for the Papists perceiued that Count Mansfield resolued to draw the warre from the Palatinate into the Bishops Countries and were in great feare that the young Duke of Brunswick with diuers Lords in the behalfe of the King of Bohemia would make a strong party on the other side of the Rhine as well as Count Mansfield had done on this side toward Loraine and the borders of France The 20. of Ianuary wee tooke in the Towne and freedome of Hagenaw resoluing to quarter our selues there and so remained quiet a while till his Excellency resolued to prosecute the fiege of Elsas Saberen more throughly supposing that as the Archduke Deopoldus kept there his Court of Chancery he had also beene there in person but the truth was he had not long since retired himselfe into the Valtolina In briefe after we had disarmed all the Souldiers that were in the Townes we tooke spoiled the lewes and forraged the Countries as turning our selues round about without any certaine passage forward or backward Count Mansfield sent Colonell Ouertrant as Generall of this new Army with 3000. foot and 1000. Horse seauen peeces of Cannon some Petards and many Pyoners and Workmen who seated themselues before the Towne making large quarters and yet fortifying themselues after the custome of trenched Camps the first thing they doe was the summoning the place to the vse of Count Mansfield the next thing they attempted was the threatning of the same as farre as demolition if they did not orderly surrender and compound for their quietnesse They of the Towne demaunded three dayes respite they of the Campe murmured at the delay whereupon Onertrant sent a messenger to his Excellency to know his resolution who remembring former grieuances and exasperated for their first reuolt sent 1000. men more with a seuere imposition not to allow them three houres by way of disputing except they determined at the time prefixed to yeeld indeed for haue it he would whatsoeuer it cost him In the meane while all the Bishopricks were spoiled and the Papists had not now so great a cause of ioy and triumph as at the beginning their ostentation shewed So that I will be bolde to say neuer was such an alteration For though Prague is in possession of the Emperour who hath wracked his rage vpon such he named Traytors and the Palatinate is thus sorraged by the Bauarians and our Souldiers Yet marke what followed euen in a manner the deuastation of all Germany and the Papists euery where are set vpon by the Protestants our Enemies opposed with as great Armies and forces For how the Duke of Saxony is turmoiled in Silesia and his owne Countrey is apparant so that in my conscience he wisheth an end of the Warre The Hungarians forrage euen Silesia it selfe and spare none who haue beene opposite to the King of Bohemia Bethelem Gabor takes it ill that the Emperour will raise Souldiers out of Poland to disturbe his friends and so procured the Turke to send a Chause vnto him to certifie his pleasure of misliking the same and withall watcheth Morauis and those parts Generall Ieggendorff followeth Don Baltaser at the heeles and sent word to Count Mrnsfield that if he would returne into Austria now the Emperour was gone to Inspurg they would order the matter so to intercept his returning to Vienna The young Duke of Brunswick hath plaid also his Masters prise against the Bishop of Haluerstat who hath forsaken his Countrey to looke for shelter in other places so that the Elector of Montz was compelled to fortifie Amenburg and put a Bauarian Garison in the same yea such is the turmoile of these Countries that no place is free of of disturbance nor person assured of his estate For the Prince ELectors are so iealous of these affaires that as farre as they durst they called the 〈◊〉 of Hess in question for permitting the Duke of Brunswick to come so farre and peaceably into his Countrey vnrefisted and sought withall but he neither denied it nor they durst prosecute the matter To conclude Prague it selfe the Emperour hauing banished all the Procostant Ministers and proclaimed them Traytors who shall any way affist them is ready to muteny and the Garisons that keepe them in awe suspect one another and the reuolt of the place if euer there come an Army before it While these things haue their seuerall passages in the remoter places Count Mansfield prosecuteth his determination against Elsas Saueren and the whole Countrey of the Archduke Leopaldus so that diuers Swiss haue offered him their seruice and the Archduke is much molested to see such a fire raised against him whereupon by the Bishop of Strasburgs inticement he sent three persons of reputation by the way of an Ambassie that if he would leaue the Diocesse of Strasburg and his Countrey vnmolested he would restore the Veltolina againe and make a perfect peace with the Hesuetians Count Mansfield replied he must haue other composition ere
great losse and trouble to winne and demolish before he can come neere our Townes and in this estate standeth the Palatinate it selfe at this houre both our selues and the Enemy well fortified in euery place and resolued that if they come not to an orderly rendition it will be now a matter of great difficulty to put the possessors out of their holds and fortifications especially if the Souldiers be well paid and take notice of the Officers care to supply their wants For although the Countrey be much forraged yet for money prouision will come on all sides and the riuers can send downe their Boats and Punts from remoter places with corne cattell wine and other necessaries as occasion shall serue While we thus busied our selues in the Palatinate and lay watching one another to preuent the mischiefes which might be taken vpon aduantages his Excellency grew stronger and stronger and had planted himselfe as it were in a new Countrey whereupon the spirituality of Mentz and the confines of Loraine yea some say of Metts likewise desired with one consent a truce for two moneths either expecting reliefe which I know not from whence it should come or resoluing to buy out their peace which is that Count Mansfield desired as knowing money to be the very sinewes of his strength and binding cords to keepe all strongly together or fearing his forces and protestations For concerning the one they saw apparantly that as the Scriptures said of Iehu he came or marched furiously so did this Champion of Honor whirle vp and downe their Countries with violence and added forces to forces to firme himselfe the stronger Concerning the other seeing the Spaniards and Bauarians had led him the way and taught him a lesson of intrusion and vsurping another mans right why should not he doe the like paying them with their owne money and prizing the ballances with their owne weights nay if they were so ready to rob and spoile the Protestants in the Palatinate why should not hee be as willing and propence to forrage the Papists wheresoeuer they recided or he could finde them These considerations made the Bishops and other Clergy men suspect their estates and resolue to compound for their quietnesse For as I said they saw no forces ready either to oppose or expell the Mansfildians as I may call them nor could indeed coniecture what would be the successe of these affaires or whether this glorious Army would march much lesse in what attempts it might be prosperous For they saw plainely the Bishoprick of Spiers was spoiled and that the Towne it selfe had agreed with him and in a manner promised not to entertaine any Spanish Catisons though Don Cordona and Monsieur Tilley importuned the same yet for all this did the Bishop retire with certaine Cornets of Horse to Idenheim where Monsieur Tilley was resident and his Excellency perceiuing the Papists onely to temporise was the vnwillinger to come to any composition with them but would rather aduenture on the spoile but at last his resolution was to be contented with so much money ready paid You haue heard before that there was some controuersie betweene the Spaniards and Bauarians about points of honour or if you will tumors of vaine-glory and ambition which now burst out againe For about the 7. of Ianuary while the Bauarians were resolued to attempt some places Don Cordoua against all expectation would endure the field no longer nor hazard his Souldiers in the extremity of Winter which now came vpon them and so retired himselfe to Winter his troopes in better lodging whereby wee had the more leasure to surprise such Marchandize as passed to and fro the Countrey yea his Excellency commanded the Rhine at Germshem and had diuers Ships and Boats ready either to make a Bridge ouer the same or to transport his Army and Prouision to such places as he determined to lodge in but he went presently as you heard into the Bishoprick of Mentz and they of Strasburg gaue liberty to his Captaines to muster men and take vp SOuldiers in his name though the Archduke Leopoldus had sent an Ambassadour to diuers Townes by way of countermaund and prohibition But alas Ambassies will doe no good where men are Masters of the field and Armies lye ready to prosecute any tyranny contradicted or in the heat of fury and reuenge For such was the successe of Earle Mansfields affaires that he tooke vp men in all places and so went directly to Elsas a Towne of great expectation for although some two moneths before he had possession of the same as he thought hauing receiued some Souldiers into the Towne whereby it was confidently giuen out that Elsas or Elsas Saueren was his owne being a fortified place subiect to the Archduke Leopaldus who is Lord of that Countrey they call Alsatia lying betweene Switzerland and Mentz arriuing by the Bishoprick of Spiers and the Palatinate full of Riuers and extraordinary commodities and euery way conuenient for his Excellencies affaires yet they reuolted againe and put out all his garisons standing firme for their owne Lord the Archduke Leopoldus so that much exasperated against them about the 17. of Ianuary he sent most part of his Army either to besiege or surprise it who in the march tooke all the Bishops Booers with their Horses and Waggons and made good booty But before I proceed any further you must consider that in all your Dutch Currantoes this word Elsas is taken for the whole Countrey of Leopoldus as much as for the Towne it selfe and therefore may bring confusion to the Reader that he supposeth sometimes the Country is taken when it is but the Towne and the Towne is taken when he is onely marching in the Countrey Another error ariseth from these Currantoes in confusion of time by stilo nouo yea by many antidates and postdates so that they place that first which should be last and that last which had a passage of former time Thirdly that they build too much vpon heare-sayes and reports and so trusting vnto various opinions huddle all newes together because they would be thought to know something Last of all your Dutch Letters haue a strange custome of partiality to set out the glory and renowne of their owne Countrey-men and scarce to mention either the English or any other Nation who are indeed the best Actors in such seruices As for example in the discription of the fiege of Franâ—kendale not an English-man in any Curranto or Dutch Letter is named but onely Captaine Ouertrant and such like when yet the English deserued better then any Nation Againe in the gouernment of Heidelberg onely the Dutch Gouernour is commended but the English are sparingly past ouer with naming of two English Companies in the Towne Nay in the description of Mainhem it selfe the Generall Vere is slightly charactered when yet by commission from the King of Bohemia he is the great Commaunder of the whole Countrey and Count Mansfield himselfe while he is resident there
Newes from the PALATINATE A true and comfortable Relation of the wonderfull proceedings of Count MANSFIELD from his first comming into the PALATINATE vntill this present Moneth Wherein to his eternall memory he hath set out Gods glory and enlarged his owne renowne by being honest to the King of BOHEMIA and a constant maintainer of the Gospell of Christ Likewise relating the true and admirable manner of raising of the fiege of Frâ—â—ckendale by Sir HORATIO VERE with the rest of his proceedings vntill this present Faithfully Translated and extracted out of a Dutch Letter sent from Franckendale by a great Commander who hath beene an eye-witnesse of the same Printed at the Hage 1622. Repetunt proprios quaeque recursus Redituque suo singula gaudent Nec manet vlli traditus ordo Nisi quod fini iunxerit ortum Stabilemque sui fecerit orbem Boetius Metro 2. lib 3. THE VVONDERFVLL PROCEEDINGS AND progresses of Count Mansfield in the PALATINATE c. I Must needs now remember the returne of the explorators of the Land of Canaan who terrified the people with a report of Enachims and Giants yron gates and high Towers strong walles and impregnable Bulwarkes great Armies and formidable Soldiours onely Caleb and Ioshua opposed themselues with a contrary discouery of a plentifull Countrey and large inheritance for which the people had like to haue stoned them Thus haue they dealt with the King of Bohemia euer since the losse of Prague and Spinola's entring into the Palatinate geering and deriding his attempts as if it were impossible to prosecute any enterprise against the House of Austria and withstand the King of Spaines Armies with such auxiliary Princes as depend vpon his Soueraignty whereupon they haue not onely scorned his Election but taught their tongues a lesson of defamation and their hands a cunning of deciphering his weakenesse and temerity in many calumnious Pictures and scandalous reports neuer remembring Ahabs little cloude and what an inundation of raine it grew vnto nor the childrens of Israell making of Bricke in the Land of Goshen and what a glorious Nation they came vnto nor the deridings of Sanbolet and Tobias when they re-edified the Temple and how they preuayled in despight of opposition nor in a worde how the Church of God for all the watchings of the Dragon in the Wildernesse hath beene still delinered like that woman and flourished in the end for all her hard beginnings and outragious aduersaries and why may not time bring foorth the like birth for the happy deliuerance of the Palatinate and her Master for all this thicke hanging cloud ouer her head threatning a tempest of vtter destruction and desolation But my meaning is not to trouble you with repititions or vnbinde the fardell of tumor concerning former matters wherein you shall finde her garment be-painted with many tongues on the outside and as many hearts on the inside to intimate thus much that men will be talking according to the disposition of their hearts some like Papists some like Polliticians some like irreligious Neuters some like Hispaniolized instruments some like true Protestants and euery one as their fancy induceth Nay I will not speake a worde of former preparations nor how the Duke of Bauaria proued so good a Seruitour to the Emperour that vpon his comming into the Palatinate the Papists about Vdenhem in the vpper part of the Bishoprick of Spires made a Comedy of the lost King of Bohemia as they tearmed him and vsed many vnseemely speeches against him in that Interlude with such vndecencies that England it selfe escaped not their scandalous minortiues but it passed not away with that succesfull jollity as they pretended for the comming downe of Count Mansfield quickly stopped all their mouthes and quenched the heat of these burning reproches as for those vnsauory vntruths of making composition of agreement with the Emperour or Duke of Bauaria there neuer was such a thought nor motiue either of reuolt from the King of Bohemia or reconciliation to them and therefore of him onely and his proceedings according to the Poet Arma virumque vno I will now speake and shew you by Gods grace the successe of his affaires and then iudge your selues what possibility he stands in and whether fairer dayes may come in the stead of tempestuous weather yea I make no question according to another Poet Saepe premente Deo fert Deus alter opem The 14 of October 1621. his Excellency for so we must stile him or Generall with his whole Army came out of the vpper Palatinate toward Hâ—â—delberg being eight Regiments of foote containing 108. Companies and 56. Cornets of Horse somewhat weake and wearyed with long Marches yet were they 10000. strong by Pole but hearing of the siege of Franckendale they stayed not long there as resoluing to raise it and releeue the Countrey to which they were the rather animated because that Generall Vere sent Colonel Ouertrant out of Mainhem with fixe Cornets of Horse foure Demy Cannons and two Pieces of sixe pound bullets vnto him who were welcommed accordingly and so his Excellency with 2000. in his owne Regiment Colonell Mersen with 1200. Colonell Waldmans Hawsen with 2000. and part of a new Regiment vnder Colonell Bandshaw being 1000. with foure Pieces more besides those which Colonell Ouertrant brought marched presently to Franckendale but the Enemy hearing of his approach disbandied themselues and left the siege retiring toward Wormes yet first possessing the Bridge they had made right ouer against Steine But this was not so couertly done but they of Franckendale had notice of the same and made a braue Salley wherein the English whom Generall Vere had left in Garison there performed their partes like honest men and worthy Soldiers for there were forty of the Enemy slaine an Italian Captaine with â—n Ensigne taken prisoners and many others ouertaken in the flight by which occasion they were freed of the siege and deliuered from the feare of vtter destruction For although the Towne was well fortified and had many Bulwarkes and Trenches which Generall Vere before his departure had ouerseene and prepared yet were they not so perfected and warrantable but such an Army as the Spaniard had of 9000. at least might in time either batter or enforce considering the Garison decayed and prouision failed but God was their protector and as you haue heard sent this supply to put new life into their courages and relieue their distresses Now the siege of Franckendale was in this manner the Enemy taking aduantage of Generall Veres retiring to Mainhem came with 9000. before it and for foure weekes continually battered the Bulwarks but by reason he had not taken in any of the Sconses nor dismantled the principall out-works he could not endamage the Towne it selfe Nay when he had valiantly and fortunately got into the Counterscarfe he was forced out againe with the losse of 100. men and taught to know that a stronger arme putteth out the strong man yet not altogether
he desisted what was his owne or knew he could make his owne he would keepe vntill the Palatinate were restored and the Bauarians and Spaniards departed he would either diuert the Warre to other places or enrich his Army out of other mens purses as for the name of peace it had an ill accent in these times confidering their owne examples For what did he any more then was taught him and could he doe lesse then set on foot some reuenge If the Spaniards and Bauarians vnder the colour of the Emperours seruice had set vpon the Palatinate and Protestants there the auncient inheritance of a religious Prince and Elector of the Empire why might not he for the seruice of the King of Bohemia iâ—seâ— other Countries who were irreligious Papists and held those Diabolicall positions of murthering and deposing of Princes This answer was much displeasing to Leopoldus but he saw no remedy For to adde vnto his discontentment the Switzers resolued not to admit of his gouernment and so sent word to the Duke of Millane of the same who could doe nothing without the King of Spaines resolutions but they would not tarry his answer but sought all the meanes they could to free themselues and assist the Grizons for the recouery of the Valtolina againe whereupon they certified Count Mansfield of all their affaires who resolued to follow Leopoldus whether soeuer he went and to presse him to make an end of the Warre and that intrusion In the meane while the Towne of Elsas is now befieged and the three dayes they demaunded expired so they reso lued to fight it out and sent word to the Castle of He genbart standing vpon a very high rock to annoy the Army as they could which they did night and day For the Mansfildians lay within shot and the Towne thought vpon nothing but rescue but neither did the Artillery doe any great harme to the Army nor could Leopoldus preuent the mischiefe which followed For about the 27. of Ianuary the Army gaue a braue affault vpon the Towne and with diuers batteries and the losse of 400. men with two principall Captaines they tooke the same as also Mours Menster where were slaine 300 but in both they found sufficient riches with 300. Tunne of Wine and many thousand measures of Corne but neither spoile not rapes were committed For vpon small payments their houses stood with their Houshold-stuffe and Vtensels vnstirred and none were ransommed but the honest Papists For the Abbot and diuers others were faine to flye and dispierce themselues into Lotteringhen and sundry places of security yet could not preuent great disbursements of mony nor in a manner ransomming themselues For the Markgraue of Tourlack tooke his Excellencies part and got many people and Souldiers to be retained in his Excellencies Army which was mustred anew and so he marched backe againe toward Loraine with all the Peeces which he had at Hagenaw who were faine to disburse 10000. ricks dollers to buy out their peace yea the Duke of Lottinghem himselfe came to a composition of 100000. ricks dollers that he would paffe quietly without forraging his dominions which order he obserueth with all the places that doe quietly surrender as for those that oppose against him either Village or Towne he leaueth to the spoile of the Souldier and when they haue no spoile he payeth them out of his treasury Now you must consider that how euer Elsas Saueren was taken yet there was a composition made and conditions of agreement ratified betweene them for the payment of 300000. Ricks dollers which were demanded the first of February and for want of disbursing much vnkindnesse and threatning followed yet had they fine dayes longer respite in which interim Count Mansfield retiring himselfe to Hagenaw gaue the Army leaue to visite the Countrey and such places where they might imagine any booty was to be gotten or Enemy to be met withall and so about the third of February 9. Cornets of Horfe passed Strasburag Bridge to intercept the Bauarians who were gone vpon some designe to Swatwood And vpon the fourth of-February many Companies went out another way and burned foure of the Bishops Villages watching the Markets and taking many Bauarians prisoners who lye vpon the Countrey as well as themselues and take one another at aduantage as opportunity feiues their turnes The fift of February the speech was that the whole Army would rise and march forward to Hemses Heim Brifac and Friburg but hearing that the Bauarians were going to new lodging they desisted for that time and did not meane to stirre till they were assured where the Enemy would dispose of himselfe While these things were showne on the Stage of Variety and all Christiandome stood looking on to behold what scenes these seruants of Bellona would act Letters both of gratification and direction came from the King of Denmark and all that fauoured the cause of the Palatinate wherein he had particular intelligence that the Protestant Princes were resolued vpoÌ„ an Army of their own that is to say to be paid at their owne charges vnder the commaund of the Earle of Tourlach and to that purpose Murterbergh taketh vp 3000. Foot and 500. Horse the Barrons Messairs de Bounoies and Frandecount two Regiments the Marcâ—graue of Baden and Duke Weymaren 3000. Foot and 500. Horse Duke Magnus 1000. foot and 400. horse Hemsteder 3000 foot the Rheien Graf Oue 500. horse Fleckensteine 600. horse and Golstein 3000. foot and 400. horse all which with diuers others shall march vnder the standard of the Princes of the Vnion For although they vnderstand of great preparations from Sauoy Naples Millaine Spaine Poland Austria and the Princes combined vnto the Emperour and his seruice yet they are assured that the Switzers haue leagued themselues both Protestants and Papists to cast off the yoke of the Spanish gouernment and to moue in their owne free Orbes as they did before yea Leopaldâ—â— himselfe doth much repine at the Spaniards intrusion into the Valtolina or any territories of the Grizons for the gouernment did euer belong vnto a younger house of Austria and one of the Archdukes in former times lost his life about the same and with much adoe it was obtained And thus much of Earle Mansfields proceedings to the 12. of February last whose comming downe into the Palatinate besides the running away so fortunately with his owne actions hath made the passage the casier for Generall Veres care and diligence to fortifie such principall places as lay open before to the daring approches of a strong Enemy and the fearefull batteries of a Cannon or other stratagems of Warre but now Heidelberg with many other Townes are well fortified the passages haue Sconses the confines are garrisond the riuers haue Bridges which they can take away at their pleasure and the very Boores though labouring like Pyoners returne to their Villages with the reputation of a Souldier so that in my conscience if Spinola himselfe were now to take possession into this Countrey he would finde it more difficult then he did and whosoeuer may conceit by the same argument that therefore the Bauarian and Spaniard being now fortified will hardly be compulsed out without rendition or composition I answer plainely I thinke so to For so I am assured the behalfe of the Bauarians that they will hardly get any further places of account then they haue but if the Warre be diuerted to other Countries as you saw how the Romanes dealt with Anniball to draw him to defend Carthage that had been 17. yeares in Italy and could not be startled from thence by force or pollicy then it may be these intruders will be glad to goe home againe to keepe their Countrey from the cruell Armes of deuastation or if some thundring troopes come vpon them with a well disciplined and gouerned Army then may the stronger arme put out the strong man As for their obiection that would commend the piety of the Enemy in not ouer-running the Countrey at his first entrance into it What hath hee done better then Count Mansfield hath done in many Countries but I will answer more particularly peraduenture he could not after the Noble Vere came to intercept his forwardnes peraduenture he was willing to taste of the Grapes and fruits many dayes and then it had beene folly to haue made an vntimely Vintage and deuoured all in one day Peraduenture he was loath to goe too farre for loosing himselfe in a Wood or hazard his returne when he would if such came behind him as would make him leape ouer their Pikes or peraduenture he had limitation least by prouing too cruell he might stop vp the gap of all piety and commiseration if euer the wheele of Fortune would turne about and leaue the triumpher himselfe in the hands of compassion as in all ages and chances of Warre hath happened where many a time the Sonne hath beene stabbed for his Fathers cruelty the Generall reconciled by finda noble aduersary But here me thinks I am answered with peremptorinesse that these Countries haue such mighty aduersaries that there is no possibility of extenuating their greatnesse much lesse of bringing them to the barre of a new examination Be not too presumptuous nor runne away so fast with ouer-confidence of any worldly stability remember rather what Mordecay said to Hester That if she did not goe in to the King for the preseruation of her people God would raise some help another way to bring his purposes to passe so say I of the Palatinate when we runne away with an opinion of inuincible Armados and for euitable Armies the windes and weather may discipate the one and very weake opposition ouerthrow the other For the God of windes and battailes hath a trick to humble vs with hard beginnings at the first that prosperity may be the better welcome when it is hammered out as it were on the Anuill of toile trauaile wants disgrace contempt and other fearefull endurances FINIS
many times The 29. of Nouemb the Burgomaster Nonnelts of Spiers was sent vnto his Excellency with gratification and assurance that they would take vp 1000. men and giue them three moneths pay and so send them well furnished to his Excellency by which example the Townes of Landaw Weisenburch and Hagenaw haue done the like according to proportion of Inhabitants but Strasbourg hath beat vp the Drums for 4000. with her Villages who are ready to come vnto vs so that we encrease daily and finde the Protestants to their power willing to supply vs with men money and munition whereupon we returned to Dieteshen againe and repossessed the place putting the Enemy out and so left 300. men as a Garison in the same which was done the 12. of Decemb. we did the like to Fridelshem but that fell into the Enemies hand as soone as we departed For you must know that these places are neither fortified nor walled but as the stronger forces possesse them and make them seruiceable to their vses The 16. of December wee marched from Bernshen to Hagenaw and so to Wantzenaw by Strasburch and at last tooke Elsaz-sauoren without any great hurt but most chiefly we forraged the whole Bishoprick to the supplying our wants and enriching the Souldiers For when Strasburg vnderstood what was done and that we were going away with the spoiles they sent vnto vs and redeemed the same with the disbursing of 200000. Ricks dollers whereby our Souldiers full of money and courage cryed out for the Rhine and the riuer of Maine For we now mustered 16000. foot and 6000. Horse hauing honest and probable certificate that the Bauarians and Spaniards were not 14000. and so stood in feare of his Excellencies comming vpon them which no question he would haue done like thunder if they would any manner of way had endured the triall but they had learnt the tricke of entrenching and so expected the good houre of supplying their Armies both from Sauoy and Italy The 6. of Ianuary Monsieur Bonni Court a Baron of Loraine came to Hagenaw to his Excellency with 600. horse and the Baron Bouo with 4000. foote so that it should seeme his Excellency is much feared in Loraine For many of his Companies haue already tasted the fruits of the Countrey and with reciprocall gentlenesse been welcommed amongst them yea it is certaine that France her selfe suspects his approch and the Protestants euery where pray for his successe and comming amongst them because it is rumoured that the King of France hath taken the Sacrament to ouer-runne them all Thus is the mustring of Souldiers and taking vp of men on all sides for as his Excellency encreaseth his Company with the inhabitants of Loraine who willingly suffer his Muster-masters among them and hath at least 1000. subiects of Spiers likewise to attend his seruice so doe the Bauarians Spaniards seeke daily to augment their troopes and besides great hopes out of Italy and Sauoy haue the helpe and assistants of the Catholike Bishops Princes Gentlemen and Townes so that the Earle George van Lowesten hath taken vp a Regiment of foote and 600. horse who all lye in and about Landaw Colonell Tilley quartereth with 500. men by and in Landeburg hath his other troopes dispiersed in seuerall places For some 14. dayes since he tooke Wimphen and as we heard many of Heidelberg retired themselues to Mainhem being full of feare that in the absence of Count Mansfield the Bauarians would come backe againe to Heidelberg it selfe but wee hope it is too strong and well peopled for them and they dare not as yet leaue the other places wherein they abide naked and abandoned besides Count Mansfield is not retired so farre but he can come againe vpon them to preuent further mischiefe for Captaine Cheuit lying in Dielsberg about the end of December tooke in a little Towne by the meanes of a playing Petard and slew many of the Bauarians spoiling and burning the place yet did yet belong to our Colonell Landshat who is a natiue of that Countrey In this manner are all these Countries turmoyled and the people in Armes so that his excellency groweth stronger and stronger and the Palatinate is much comforted and expecteth a faire recouery For in Heidelberg lyeth Colonell Mersen as Gouernour and hath foure Companies in his Regiment with him is ioyned Colonell Landshat with foure Companies and two English Companies who are well appointed and the Generall Vere is very carefull and industrious that the Bauarians take him not at any aduantage whereupon Franckendale was also newly relieued so that there are now in it 12. Companies besides the Burgers and many hundreds of Pesants who serue for Pyoners and to set forward the workes nay they are so strong and cheerefull that they sent a conuoy with diuers Gentlemen and well appointed Companies of foot to conduct the Palsgraue Corne Wine out of Attenbergs Schonauer and Niewhausen hoof with other places which belonged to his Royalties to bring all safe to Franckendale but they of Wormes denied vs passage and shut their gates keeping their Sconses against vs because they pretended a treaty and capitulation with the Bauarians and either durst not yeeld to our requests or were indeed disaffected to vs in their hearts whereupon Generall Vere not thinking it meete to endure such neutrality or giue way to affronts which might disparage his Honour sent vs Commission to maleprise all the commodities and Marchandize that came from Wormes and intercept the Wagons of all sorts that passed and repassed too and from them whereby we quickly tooke 100. Fat 's of Wine much Corne Horses and many other commodities teaching them a better lesson of friendlinesse and constancie so that euer since they haue agreed and bound themselues to be more seruiceable and at that time bought out their Corne and Wine againe at reasonable rates though with great losse to the Marchant who in the bargain disbursed 1000. Dollers extraordinary which were deuided amongst the Souldiers who brought themselues and that they went for quietly to Franckendale After this we grew bolder and bolder and made diuers out-roades and in-roades into the Bishoprick of Spiers where we obtained good booty and faw the misery of these places which were preyed vpon on all sides and made subiect to the vsurpation of strangers who were not dainty to disrobe her of her best ornaments For as I said before euen at Franckendale it selfe we were enforced to cut downe the goodly Woods round about it and many thousand trees in other places because they serued only as a shelter for the Spaniards to lye in Ambuscado and so breake vpon vs vnawares or if you will lye continually shooting at vs to our great losse and hinderance without any endemnity to themselues but now God be thanked it is otherwise though to the Countries damage and defacing and we are preparing for to raise out-works and cast rafts and trenches which will questionlesse put the Enemy to