the City and the Province That no Abbot shall be admitted to the Regency unless he shall engage and subscribe beforehand to observe the agreements made with the City and to maintain the Rights and Priviledges thereof which was done by the Bishop of Munster as Administrator of Corvay and consequently they had never sworn fealty to him It was concluded therefore because the Regent of the Province of Corvay had robb'd the Citizens of almost all their Cattel to the number of above 450 head of Cows and Oxen besides Horses because he had Arm'd the Country people because he had so many ways Tyrannically oppressed the City and for that the City had earnestly desir'd his protection that therefore the said Duke could not but put a Garrison into the City Which he did not do till he had demanded of the Regents of Corvay restitution of the Cattel offering sufficient caution withal that they should have what they requirâ—d in case the City were found to be in the fault To which they gave no other reply but only that the affair concern'd him not at all but only the Bishop of Munster All this while the Bishop of Osnaburgh meddled on neither side only offer'd his service toward an accommodation testifying by his Envoy how much he was troubl'd to hear these disputes One would have thought the Bishop should have thank'd him for his hind proposal but the Munsterian took it so ill that he held him for his Enemy and threatn'd him with open War if he would not promise not to molest him in the retaking of Hoxter As to the complaints of the City of Hoxter put up to the Dyet of Regensburgh against the Bishop of Munster they were five in number concerning Ecclesiastical matters and thirty two as to Civil affairs That contrary to the Peace in the Year 1649. by which the City was repossess'd of all their Prerogatives both Spiritual and Secular he had introduc'd the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and had by violence taken away from the Protestants the Church of St. Nicolas and given it to the Franciscans That he had erected a Tribunal of Spiritual Catholick Justice as he call'd it wherein he exacted Fines and punish'd those who had been already punish'd by the Council of the City That he cited before his Tribunal the Citizens Counsellers and Ministers of the Protestant Religion and condemn'd them in great Fines which if they refus'd to pay his Officers seiz'd upon their Houses That he constrain'd the Council under severe penalties to elect Popish Burgomasters When they made Holy-day for the Festival of St. Vit at Corvay he caus'd all the Country people of the upper Villages of the Province with their wives children and servants to march through the City Drumming and Singing and carrying about their Images and Baubles to the great scandal of the Protestants If it chanc'd that this Feast of St. Vit happen'd upon an Easter-day he suffer'd the same rabble to come to the Protestant Church-door and there to make such a disturbance that the Minister was forc'd to leave his Pulpit In Civils he had acted directly against the said Peace He had taken from the Magistrate all their Authority as well in Civils as Criminals which they had enjoy'd for many Ages If the Burgomasters and Counsellers offer'd to punish any Malefactor according to their duty he lay'd severe Fines upon them and levy'd them upon their Goods both within and without doors He lay'd an execution upon Burgomaster Wildenborer because he had stood up for the priviledges of the City above sixteen Years before in the time of the deceas'd Abbat He had taken from them their Right of Brewing by which it was granted that all the Beer bought in the Town should be bought of the Citizens only He had refus'd them their antient right of Imposts That he had constrain'd the ruin'd Citizens to quarter three whole Regiments of Horse and Foot and to provide them Fire Salt Meal c. with several other oppressions and breaches of their priviledges too long to recite In the mean while Colonel Bentink arriv'd at the Hague in the month of November 1670. to acquaint the States General of the cause of the Levies made by the Bishop of Munster that is to say to punish the obstinacy of the City of Hoxter in the Province of Corvay adding withal that his Master notwithstanding all the reports to the contrary had no other intention toward the States than to be their good Neighbour and Friend his design being only to maintain his own rights against the Dukes of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel and Lunenburgh After that he departed from the Hague for Amsterdam and Vtrecht to buy Arms for his Master But the States of the latter Province understanding his Errand wrote immediately to the States General desiring that the River Yssel might be carefully guarded more especially that the Garrison of Doesburgh might be reinforc'd because the Bishop of Munster had quarter'd several of his Souldiers about Brevoort which City was in the Road to the Low-Countries and not to Hoxter Thereupon it was resolv'd that the Citieâ— of Guelders Zutphen Trise Over-Yssel and Groningen should be strengthn'd with an addition of 4000. Horse In a short while after the Bishop sent a Letter by a Trumpeter to the States General wherein he wish'd them all prosperity for the ensuing year offering to send them some of his men so soon as the differences between him and the Dukes should be compos'd in regard that the States had been so kind as to offer their mediation in the quarrel In the mean time the King of France made great Levies both Horse and Foot Insomuch that the Spaniards were afraid that he would Quarter his Souldiers upon them but the King of France assur'd them of his sincere intentions to the Queen of Spain However the States of the United Provinces knew not what to think For the King bent his course toward the Conquer'd Cities of Flanders in May he arriv'd at Tournay and in June he turn'd again toward France At last all the world perceiv'd that he had make all his Warlike preparations against the Dukedom of Lorrain for in a short time he made himself Master of all that Country Nevertheless he ceas'd not to raise new Forces continually and at the same time he made ready a certain number of Men of War He was wonderfully offended at the Prohibition against the importing of Wine and Brandy into the Low-Countries though all the world perceiv'd that he intended little good to the Dutch In opposition to this Placaert he forbid his own subjects to lade any Strongwater or Brandy in Dutch Vessells He also laid an Imposition of twenty four Livres Paris upon every eight Tuns of Salt Herrings coming from Holland which afterwards he augmented to thirty two Livers and three months after to forty He laid thirty per cent upon all sorts of Spices beside the former Impositions In April 1671. by the singular diligence of
he let alone the nether County of Benthem and also Schuttorp and Nyenbuys beinâ— a Fief belonging to the Province of Over Yssel Certain it is that the Bishop had had a piquâ— at the Count of Benthem for many years anâ— in the end you find how he brought his designâ— about He writes a Letter to the States General upon this Subject sign'd at Hostmer the 14. of September 1668. that the Souldiers who had been before the Fortress of Benthem were absolutely free from the Oaths of Fidelity which they had sworn to him and Cashier'd out of his service and that presently after they had given their Oaths to his Imperial Majesty to the Holy Empire to the Circle of Westphalia and the Holy County of Benthem which was testify'd by the Count himself in a Letter dated from the Castle the 28. of August and yet the Bishop in the same Letter immediately after the words already recited says We must confess that we did assist the said Holy Count for the security of his Castle and Person Thus hitherto the Flames of War between the States of the United Provinces seem'd to be in some measure extinguish'd and yet upon every slight occasion you might perceive that the Embers were but cover'd up to kindle the materials of a new fire This same Prince altogether given to quarrel never desisted from making his Levies either privately or publickly which gave the States General sufficient occasion and that not without reason to be jealous of his proceedings For they knew him too well to be deluded by his fair words In the Year 1669. he augmented his Levies to a very considerable number Yet no person could dive into his intentions He assembl'd the States of his Diocess and though by his last Wars they were very much impoverish'd for he not only shore his Sheep but flay'd off their skins he demanded of them a considerable sum of mony that is to say that they should furnish him between the Feast of the Purification and Easter with a hundred seventy five thousand Crowns and as much more between Easter and Michaelmass The Estates would by no means agree to this because the Bishop had not dismiss'd certain Troops of Horse and several Reformado Officers without which being done they would not break up their Assembly for they were certainly assur'd that he was meditating some unnecessary War The Bishop to inveigle them and the better to obtain his ends dismiss'd the Lieutenant General of his Artillery a Major General three Captains six Lieutenants and four Ensigns but the deceit of his heart was quickly discover'd by his soon after Listing these very Cashier'd Officers again into his service And besides this he kept an exact correspondence at Paris the French mony was also very plentiful at Munster which bred no small mistrust among his Neighbours In the midst of these Transactions the City of Hamborough began to tast of his turbulent spirit Some persons had persuaded him that they could find a quicker passage for the Post-Letters that pass'd and repass'd through his Countries if they might be furnish'd at Haerburgh and not at Hamburgh The Bishop very inclinable to lay hold of this opportunity order'd that all Letters and Pacquets directed into Holland should be sent back and stopp'd up the Post-Road This caus'd the Magistrates of Hamburgh to fix upon their Posts that no person should send any Letters to the Low Countries but by the Post-Masters of their City and because the Bishop would admit no Posts but his own to pass through his Territories and still rais'd great Forces besides publickly giving out that no person should prescribe him Laws in his own Country there was some apprehension that this affair first stirr'd by the Trouble-world of Munster would come to the decision of dry blows the rather because the Dukes of Brunswick were also concern'd At that time the States General began to mistrust the King of France fearing that he would one day invade their Dominions because that by their good management they had prevented him from making himself Master of all the Low-Countries knowing he had no kindness for them ever since As for the Bishop too many things were variously reported of him every day that no body knew what to believe Fear and terror so possess'd the Country of Guelders that many people retir'd into the strong Holds of Doesburgh and Arnheim which caus'd the like consternation in all places through which they pass'd though there were nothing certainly known which way the Episcopal Troops intended their march The Inhabitants of Grol were no less in fear because that some of the Bishopâ— Troops were seen roaving about the Country every day but their dread increas'd upon the report that the Bishops design was upon Borculo Hoogheim Holten or some other place The same thing was reported of Groningenâ— but without any certainty It was also said that some other German Princes were in Confederacy with the Bishop and that when theiâ— forces were joyn'd they would make up a veâ— puissant and numerous Army but that fear haâ— no foundation at that time in regard thingâ— were not yet ripe for action In the Year 1670 he pick'd a new quarrel with Duke Radolph Augustus of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel about thâ— City of Hoxter six Leagues a this side Casseâ— Ever since Martin Luther's time and the Waâ— of Smalcald there had been great contesting abouâ— this place between the Duke of Brnnswick Lunenburgh and the Abbot of Corvay to whom this City belongs with five or six Villages the yearly Revenue whereof amounted to 5000 Crowns But at last this affair was determin'd and the agreement approv'd at a Dyet of the Empire Thus it remain'd till the death of the last Abbot after whose decease the Monks of that fair Abby had chosen the Bishop of Munster to to supply his place though not by a unanimous consent And now was it possible that he who was so little a lover of Peace should let such an opportunity as this fall asleep There were at Hoxter two Protestant Churches of which there was no use made and therefore he wrote to the Duke of Brunswick Lunenburgh to request one of them for the Roman Catholicks But the Duke as Protector of the City made him answer that he would never consent that the Priviledges of the Cities should be taken from them but that he would preserve them according to the above-mentioned agreement and the Peace made in the Year 1649. And thus the business rested till some differences arose about the priviledges of Brewing So that the Duke for the preservation of a Protestant City was forc'd to send some Companies both of Horse and Foot to Guard it The Bishop of Munster was highly offended at the placing of this Garrison in the Town and as he was one that sought all occasions of contention and War he thought he had now found a smart opportunity To this purpose he wrote immediately to all the Electors and Catholick Princes except
themselves upon Helpen side The same day one of the Porters of the City was executed being accus'd of Treachery because he had left open the Haven Gate a whole night together as also a Country-man of Olde Ampt who had corresponded with the Bishop The eleventh they made their first shot at the City but the seventeenth they began to play furiously upon it endamaging several houses and after Dinner the same day several of the Officers and Townsmen shew'd themselves upon the Ramparts where they made merry and drank several Healths the great Guns going off and the Drums and Trumpets sounding at the conclusion of every one The Eighteenth the Bishop and Arch-Bishop for the Bishops of Munster and Cologn who did not very well agree before had now joyn'd their Forces which caus'd some to say that Herod and Pilate were reconcil'd follow'd their business very smartly They shot their Bombs into the City which did much mischief some of them weighing three hundred some four hundred pound The Shell was about three or four fingers thick fill'd within with Pitch Rosin Salt-peter and Gun-powder Their weight caus'd them to break through the Roofs and Tilings of Houses till they met with Combustible matter enough to set whole Houses on fire In the night time they shot great numbers of Granados into the Town which did very much damage in several parts and quarters of the City They were sluft with all sorts of Combustible Matter that easily took fire and they had within them little small things like small guns about a fingers length which discharg'd several Musket-bullets against those that drew near to quench them They were very terrible at first as having wounded several people that came too near them but let them alone till they had spent their Bullets and they were easily manag'd By this time the Bishop wonder'd very much that the City did not send out Commissioners to Treat of a Surrender after he had thrown so many Bombs and Fire-Balls among them But they had too great a love for their Country and their Religion to think of any such thing Nay somtimes they pay'd him with his own Coyn which he had never met with before Insomuch that the Souldiers in the Trenches would cry one to another They in the City make use of the same Devils that we do The 20. they ply'd the City with their Bombs and Fire-Balls The first of which did much mischief but the latter were easily stified The 22. both the Bishops summon'd the City but their answer was both resolute and surly The same day the Enemy made several Attacks upon the Auwerder Zyl but were valiantly repuls'd The number of the slain is uncertain but they confess'd that those Onsets lost them more men than all their Conquests had done Now though the Citizens beheld the ruin of their Habitations every day yet were they nothing dismay'd for all that but as they met one another in the streets their usual questions were How is your house Mine is almost down to the ground So is mine But let us pluck up a good heart this Bishop of Granados shall not have our City for all this The women were no less couragious than their Husbands They were less troubl'd to behold a Fire ball fall into their houses than they were before to see a Clown with dirty shooes come into their Dining-Rooms A certain woman who had but one house seeing a Bomb rowl through it began to fill her Apron with some trifles and a Silver Goblet and retiring into the street shew'd those that came to help her the Goblet saying Yet will I give this to his Excellency Rabenhaupt if he will but keep the City Another Bomb entring into the ruins of her House she cry'd to those that were with her The beggerly Bishop shall not get in this way I am resolv'd All this while the Bishop plagu'd the City with his Bâ—mbs while the besieged ply'd him as warmly with their great and small shot In some of his Fire-ballâ— which they open'd after thâ—y were quench'd they found a small viol full of a white matter which was believ'd to be rank Pâ—yson an abominable way of making war The Episcoparians also shot powder that made no noise and they made use of Great Guns pickt and cull'd for the purpose It happen'd one time among the rest that the Citizens thought that they had perceiv'd the Enemy preparing for an Assault whereupon the Scholars Souldiers and Citizens shew'd themselves upon the Ramparts the women also preparâ—d themselves to carry powder and bullets to their Husbands and because one among the rest more timorous than her Companions talkt of Surrendring the City they beat her well favour'dly and sent her home The last of July in some of the Bishops great Bombs they found a little plate of Copper one side whereof was full of Characters which could not be read from whence it is thought that he expected some Magical Effect upon which a certain Doctor in a discourse upon the Siege and raising of it made this observation That when the Bishop could not take the Town by the assistance of Simon Peter he endeavour'd to have it by the help of Simon Magus For the Roman Catholicks have more than once made use of such abominable superstitions When the deceas'd Prince of Orange Frederick Henry in the Year 1629. had besieg'd the City Bois le Duc after the Surrender of the place several Papers were found full of barbarous words and Conjurations and in some places the name of God and several Saints were inserted It is thought that the Priests had sold or given them to the Souldiers and Townsmen to preserve them from the Swords and Bullets of their Heretick Enemies But all his Episcopal Magick did him no good nay the more to fret him the Scholars who guarded the Out-wall and behav'd themselves very bravely had invented several nick-names for the Bishop by some of which he heard himself call'd when he came into the Trenches and bitterly storm'd at his new Titles his Officers also laid the affronts of their Captain to heart and vow'd to be reveng'd when once they got into the City The 15. of August the besiegers shooting continually into the Town a Canon Bullet almost graz'd upon a Hoggs back but did the creature no other harm than only singe the Bristles whereupon the Scholars cry'd out from the Out-wall in the night to the besiegers that the Bishop began to shear his Hoggs now he had fleec'd his Sheep The day before the Bishop and sent a Trumpeter to the Town requiring first that they would let him ransom certain Officers which had been taken Prisoners in a Salley or that otherwise they would use them kindly Secondly that they would send some sweet meats for his mony to Treat certain Ladies of the County of Hessen that were come to the Camp As to the first demand answer was made that it was not the custom to release Prisoners of Importance when
into the Cisteâ—n when the Bomb was broken and quite out she found that her Neighbours had rescu'd the Child out of the Cistern from whom she took it again sound and safe But to return to the Bishop The Frizous laying hold of the opportunity made an attempt with the assistance of the Men of War that guarded the Zuyder Zee upon the Fort of Block Zyl seated upon the said Zuyder Zee between Wallenhaven Kuynder and Steenwick where are two sluces that give free passage to the overflowings of Over-Yssel and Tuent into the Zuyder Zee in Holland This place was the first that was recover'd by the assistance of the Burgers who kept private correspondence with some of the Frizon Souldiers The Commander for the Bishop mistrusting them would have forc'd them to take an Oath of Fidelity to his Master which they refusâ—d to do Thereupon he threatned them hard but they reply'd They would suffer the utmost severity before they would take the Oath which he exacted from them Although the Frizons landed to the number of four hundred and fifty The Commander made a Sally upon them was rudely repuls'd and he would have reenter'd the Fort the Burgers fir'd upon the Episcoparians kill'd the Commander and open'd the Gate to the Frizons and so the Fortress was reduc'd under the obedience of the States At the same time a certain Mennonite put a fair cheat upon the Episcoparians For in regard he liv'd near the South gate when he saw the terrified Souldiers thronging out of the City he offer'd some of them his house to secure themselves which offer of his was kindly accepted by sixty or seventy of them among which were two Lieutenants and a Priest whom he afterwards deliver'd up all together as Prisoners of War Soon after the Fortress of Kuynder also fell into the hands of the Frizons from which time the Bishop prov'd very unfortunate for he got nothing but lost a great deal In the Old Ampter-Mieden the Episcoparians committed several Insolencies and Rapines and it was fear'd that they would have fir'd the Dams of Munterdam Veendam and Wilvank which would have occasion'd very much mischief the Winter ensuing for prevention whereof several Souldiers were sent to Mieden The Country-men glad to be so guarded were so liberal to the Souldiers that they got drunk at what time being surpriz'd by the Munsterians and not being able to rally themselves into a posture of desence they were forc'd to fly for their lives The Country-men however made a stout resistance for some time but being over-power'd they were all defeated and kill'd except some few that sav'd themselves in the Marshes After that came several Troops of Horse and Foot under the Command of St. German Collonel of the Holland Regiment which got into the City of Groningen during the Siege With these Forces he marcht toward Winschoten having a sight of several parties of the Munsterians by the way who retreated upon their approach and quitted not only Winschoten but also the small Fort of Winschoter-Zyl Wedde-House c. and shelter'd themselves under the Old-Fort and new Fort where they thought themselves safe And indeed it seem'd a thing impossible by force to Attack those two Forts in regard all the Country round was overflow'd However Collonel St. Jerman sent some of his men to the places next adjoyning to the Old Fort otherwise call'd Bellingwolderskans to block it up at a distance At the beginning little good was to be done besides that the Collonel was commanded back into Holland Thereupon his Excellency Rabenhaupt took the business in hand ordering Collonel Eybergen upon the same Enterpize who being strengthen'd with a Reinforcement laid Siege to the place About a thousand and four hundred Episcoparians came out of Westphalia passing through New-Fort to relieve the Old but they were ruggedly repuls'd by two hundred and fifty Souldiers under the Command of Major Neylers a brave and experienc'd Souldier who had so advantagiously posted his men that the Episcoparians having made a second attempt retreated to the New-Fort with the loss of eight hundred men slain after which the Old-Fort Surrender'd Of four hundred Souldiers that quitted the place not above a hundred arriv'd at Coeverden the rest deserting their Colours After the Old-Fort was taken the New-Fort was blockt up and upon the arrival of the Auxiliaries of Curland the Episcoparians quitted Dyler-Fort upon the 16. of November For the preservation of which place the Fort of Bourtang sent a hundred and twenty Musketeers under the Command of Captain Aitzema who was a very young man and wrote to the States of Groningen that if the Episcoparians made any Attack upon him they should find that place guarded by a courage not ordinary But when the Munsterians shew'd themselves near the Fort with three thousand men the Captain quitted his Hold without so much as looking the Enemy in the Face who presently repossess'd themselves of Dyler-Fort and from hence reliev'd the New-Fort insomuch that the Dutch were forc'd to raise the Siege the season being pass'd About the same time two hundred Curlanders having march'd too far into Westphalia to Plunder were totally defeated though the Episcoparians bought their Victory with the loss of more men on theirs than on the other side And now the time was come that Westphalia sufficiently plagu'd and oppress'd by its own Bishop must also tast the bitterness of a Foreign Enemy For the Elector of Brandenburgh having declar'd War against the Bishops of Munster and Cologn and the rest of the Neighbouring Confederates his Souldiers began to over-run the Country Plundering wherever they came and putting the Inhabitants under Contribution They also took some Waggons laden with Cloth Mony Provision and Ammunition Thereupon the Bishop gathers his Forces together withdraws his men out of his new Conquests and falls into the Countries of Bergue and La Marche doing great mischief He also took Lunen the City of Vnna and the Castle of Beda Nevertheless he was soon after forc'd to quit Vnna upon the approach of the Brandenburgh Troops and presently after that all the rest of the Country The King of France finding that the Bishop thriv'd so ill in the Province of Groningen was somwhat jealous lest he should change his side according to his usual Custom and therefore to oblige him to be Faithful he promis'd him the Abby of St. Germans de Esperees so that he kept firm to his Interests In the mean while the Bishops Garrisons of Steenwick and Coeverden committed several extortions and disorders in the Drenthe which those of Groningen were not able to prevent For though they sought every where to meet with them they could never light upon them in regard the Episcoparians being still advertiz'd by their Spies retreated in time to their Forts Nor was there any way to remedy these mischiefs so long as the Cities of Steenwick and Coeverden were in the hands of the Bishop Of the Fortifications of Coeverden we have already spoken
conjecture that he was making those Warlike preparations against them Nor did he want the assistance of others For though Francis William Bishop of Osnaburgh and Adolph de Veck Bishop of Paderborn loved their Tranquillity too well to interest themselves in his troubles yet the three Ecclesiastical Electors of Mayence Treves and Cologn sent him some of their Troops Before he came to any Acts of Hostility he dispatched to the City Monsieur de Morien hereditary Marshal to make an agreement with the Inhabitants The Council put in writing the causes why they could not entirely confide in their Prince and what it was that burden'd the City And indeed the Peace would soon have been concluded would his Highness but have remitted or at least abated the burthen of their Taxes Nevertheless a Truce was agreed upon thereby to prevent farther extremities With these hopes the Pacificators parted and M. the Mareschal took with him the Articles propos'd by the City together with their first Declaration At that time Nicolas Dragter Syndie of the City coming from the Hague was taken Prisoner by the Bishops men which yet more exasperated the Townsmen Soon after open acts of Hostility began The City put it self in a posture of defence The Citizens stood to their Arms and took their Oaths at the Council rather to lose their lives than the Liberties and Priviledges of their Ancestors The Bishops Army was reported to be Nine Thousand strong in Horse and Foot He assail'd the City very vigorously shooting continually and threw Fire-Balls into it which set fire on several houses The Ecclesiastical persons ran to the Churches to beseech Almighty God to infuse thoughts of Peace into the hearts of the Bishop and the Citizens The old people and children who were not fit for labour went every day in public Processions from one Church to another accompany'd by the Dominicans The lusty women were divided through the City and had their particular employments allotted them some to fill Tubs of water others carry'd Raw Hides to clap upon the Granado's and Fire-Balls that were thrown into the City There was no place free from the Cannon-bullets which flew thick about their Ears Insomuch that as one of the Priests was saying Mass in the Church of St. John while he was Elevating the Host a Bullet took him away from the Altar Nevertheless the Citizens made a Sally and kill'd a good number of the Episcoparians In the midst of all this roaring of the Cannon the Nobility sought all means imaginable to bring things to a reconciliation To which purpose they assembl'd together at Gueest Thither the Nobility flock'd in great numbers being ill satisfi'd with the Bishops proceedings and some there were that did not forbear to say openly That a Siege so pernicious and violent was not the Act of a Prince but of a Tyrant They also sent to his Highness their Letters of complaint in reference to the said Siege The Contents whereof were That the agreement which he was about to have made before had been prosperously concluded had he not so soon begun open Hostilities That without the knowledg and consent of the Nobility and the Cities in general he had brought Foreign Forces into the Country and rais'd men upon his own particular Authority That he had assaulted the City of Munster like an Enemy contrary to the priviledges of the Country which he had confirm'd himself in these words We will not make any War or Alliance with any person without the consent of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church and other Estates of our Country And expresly against what was concluded at the assembly at Coesweld that all new Levies should be put off c. Then they complain'd that he had put the Country that had not yet recovered the miseries of the preceding Wars into a new confusion that he had shed the blood of the Innocent made many Widows and Orphans whose tears and moans cry'd loud to Heaven And therefore they besought him to raise his Siege and send away his Foreigners and for his own right to stand to the determination of the Imperial Court That he would no more oppress either them the City or the Country but that he would assume the Peaceful thoughts of a Father a Prince a Bishop and a Pastor of the Church Otherwise if he would not lend an Ear to their just complaints they protested their innocence of all the misfortunes that should fall upon his Highness and the Country This Letter was dated the first of September 1657. The Bishop answered fully that he had never other thoughts than to preserve his subjects in repose with the care and fidelity of a Father That he always was for Peace and Union but the City of Munster by its obstinacy had deserved not only this but a far more rigorous punishment That he had proceeded no otherwise than a Prince and Soveraign Lord ought to proceed against Rebels If the City or Country should suffer any damage thereby time would repair it That the City had rejected the Justice of the Imperial Chamber in regard they had desired succours from the Hans Towns and the States of the Vnited Provinces In conclusion he desired the Nobility to assist him as their Prince to reduce a Rebellious City to Obedience In the mean time the Bishop endeavour'd by all manner of means to do what mischief he could to the City Night and day he play'd with his great Guns and sent in his Bombs and Fire-Balls which did great Execution Which so heighten'd the indignation of the Townsmen against the Bishop that because they would not forget the year wherein their houses had been so ill handl'd by Fire they caus'd new Colours to be made with these words GaLen InCenDIt VrbeM The numeral Letters whereof are M. DC LVII With these Colours they march'd about their Streets and these Ensigns they flourish'd upon their Bulwarks As for their Bishop they gave him no other Title than that of Murderer and Destroyer of their City The women themselves at other times mild and tender hearted animated their Husbands against him as an Oppressor and a Tyrant In the mean time the Pope sent a Letter to the Bishop which did not very well please him For that therein he adviz'd him to forbear all farther acts of Hostility against the City or otherwise he threaten'd to Excommunicate him The Electors of Bavaria and Saxony wrote to him also to the same effect but in vain for he still pursu'd his design The sixteenth of September the Bombs caus'd a terrible Fire at Munster which lasted from Midnight till Morning Of all the former Fires this was the most lamentable After which the Bishop made a proposition to the City to receive a Garrison of a thousand men and to Cashier their Commander Wittenburg upon which conditions they might have Peace But they by no means would give their consent The three Electors Treves Mayence and Cologn exhorted the City to submission but all
charges for the retaking of Eyder Sconce which was engag'd to them which when they had done they meddl'd no farther with him That they were surpriz'd at his demand of Borculo as a Signiory which they detain'd from him When it was well known that that dispute had been ended not by Judges interested but by such as had been chosen by both parties In the same manner was the business of the 150000 Crowns which he ow'd to the Count of Styrum brought to determination That it had been always their desire to live in Peace and Friendship with him but since he had attacqu'd their Forts and Places of strength and had begun to harrass their Territories they would not neglect any means that God should afford them to bring him to reason till they had receiv'd full satisfaction for the dammages which they had sustain'd The Bishop was so high and so hasty that he would not stay the return of the Trumpet nor the States answer but of a suddain enters Overysel harrasses the Country with Fire and Sword made himself Master of Euschede Oldenseel Ommersum Almelo and Diepenheim Hâ— found Borculo quitted only there were in thâ— Castle a hundred men Commanded by Ensigâ— Eek who ply'd their Guns so well that he waâ— forc'd to sound a Retreat after he had sustain'â— no small loss But he renew'd the Assault witâ— more men and tir'd the Garrison with numbers till they were forc'd to surrender Afteâ— that follow'd other places which could not defend themselves as Lochum Wildenbergh House Dorts de deutecorn c. so that the passage of thâ— Issel lay quite open The States General were very much disturb'd at an Invasion so terrible and so unlookt for They had to do at the same time with the puiâ—sant King of England and the Bishop of Munster There was a necessity for their Ships to be provided with men and their Forts and Frontier Towns with Garrisons which caus'd so great a scarcity of men that they had hardly enow to withstand the Bishop Thereupon they made new Levies and sent the Count of Waldeck to the Princes of Lunenburgh for a supply of 6000 men But they refus'd without the consent of the Elector of Brandenburgh and he refus'd unless they would suddenly quit Orsoy as also the Castle of Guennip and Emmerick or the Wessel when the Peace should be concluded with the Bishop The Elector also desirâ—d the States that their Garrisons in the Cities of Cleves should forbear to make any incursions into the Country of Munster as he had also requested of the Bishop that those Garrisons should not be molested by him Nevertheless the King of France sent them above six thousand Horse and Foot the choicest men which he had in his service Commanded by M. Despradelles a valiant and experienc'd Captain As for the Bishop of Munsters Forces they committed all sort of outrages imaginable For in regard he seldom paid his Souldiers but left them to subsist upon Contributions and Plunder every one pillag'd and rob'd for himself The Emperor offer'd his Mediation to the States to reconcile the difference but they answer'd that they could not enter into a Treaty till the Bishop had quitted all the places which he had taken They also wrote to the States of Munster to persuade the Bishop to restrain his men from committing those murders and acts of violence and cruelty in that barbarous and unheard of manner and to quit the places which he had taken or otherwise that they should be sound to proceed against them both in general and in particular according to the common Customs of War In the mean time the Bishop had sent a part of his Forces into the Province of Groning They march'd over the Moor or the Bourlang to the Convent of Ter Apellel and made themselves Masters of it Which caus'd a great Terâ—or at first but the fear was soon over The Dutch got together about four hundred Foot and eighty Horse These between Sellinguen and Lipzenbuysen set upon 1600 Episcoparians kill'd a good number and took a hundred Prisoners The rest fled to the Marshes and in great fear quitted Ter Appellel the Dutch in this enterprize not having lost above thirteen men Another Party of the Bishops Forces consisting of five thousand men made an Incursion into the Drenth and march'd directly to Groningen At the Bridg de Punter they were repuls'd with loss but near Suydhaven they got over thinking to have surpris'd Winsschoten and Beylinguerde Prince Maurice came with equal Forces to Scheemte and Miende with an intention to have inclos'd them in but they made a shift to get out another way The most part of the Bishops Army caus'd a continual fear all along the Yssel The Bishop himself lay at Deuteron where he caus'd the Country people of Troent and other Places to acknowledg him for their Sovereign and to come to an agreement with him that two thirds of the Crop should belong to him and one to the Husband man Here the reproach which the Ambassadour of France cast in his teeth in the name of his Master the King of France was a a sharp one That though he were an Ecclesiastical Lord he had falsifi'd his Faith since he had engag'd to France not to enterprize any thing against the Low-Countries without his Masters knowledg which promise he had ignominiously broken He desir'd assistance at the Diet at Regensbergh But it was answer'd him that he had undertaken that War of his own head without any provocation of the Hollanders and therefore even let him end it of himself The Empire did not think it convenient to meddle with needless and unprofitable Quarrels If he had brought his affairs into confusion his best way would be to quit himself as well as he could Several of the Roman Catholick Religion repair'd every day out of Holland to the Bishop some out of hopes of booty others to assist him and to exterminate those that they call'd Hereticks and with an intention to spread the Roman Catholic Religion Whereupon the States issu'd forth a publick Placaet that they should return again within fifteen days upon pain of death or perpetual Banishment The Bishop being repuls'd in the Province of Groningen harrass'd and ruin'd all the Villages that could not defend themselves His Troops that had been in Wischoten and Heyliguerlee for want of Provision were retreated into the Country of Westwoldinger while the States Troops retook Lochum After that the Army of the States increasing and the Lunenburgh Troops approaching the States of Munster began to fear being overlay'd on the one side by the States Forces while the Lunenburghers assail'd them on the other and therefore sent their Deputies to the Bishop and the Bishops Counsellers themselves represented to the Bishop the danger he was in desiring him to think of Peace But he made them answer either in his sury or else in his despair He would hazard all Westphalia in this enterprize Let the worst come to the
with no other advantage to the Hollander than the Peace of Munster But in the Year 1667. that unquiet man of God began again to make considerable Levies both of Horse and Foot The States General having intelligence thereof and no way confiding in him wrote him a Letter to let him know that it was conorary to the seventh Article of the Treaty seriously requesting him to desist and not to give his neighbours just occasion of jealousies and suspicions Thereupon he return'd the States this answer That when he had made a Peace it was his care to keep it But considering the great Levies made by his Neighbours he could not but think it convenient to raise so many men as were allow'd him by the Constitutions of the Empire the Instructions of the Peace and the priviledg of Princes However that he had no design to employ them but only for the security of his own Country and no way to the detriment of his Neighbours more especially of their Lordships the States General What should they do For they then knew not how to rely upon the words or protestations of the Bishop yet they could do no other than seem to be satisfied with his Apology The same Year he caus'd more disturbances by choosing for his Coadjutor Ferdinand de Furstenbergh Bishop of Paderborn Prince of the Holy Empire Count of Pyrmont c. against the consent of most of the members of the Chapter who would fain have chosen the Arch-Bishop of Cologn But the Bishop of Munster spoyl'd their design by excluding some of the members inveigling others with fair promises and menacing others and so by force advancing the Election of the Bishop of Paderborn But to put a specious gloss upon this Election the Bishop publish'd a large relation thereof of which we will give the Reader an abstract only it must be consider'd that this was the Bishops own work and that therefore he fram'd it after the most advantageous manner for himself In the fore-front he places Pope Alexander the sevenths Letter being a serious exhortation to him to take a Coadjutor and a Successor Pope Alexander the seventh Venerable Brother our greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Letters which we have sent you from time to time apparently testifie how much we are overjoy'd to understand with what care you interest yourself in the advancement and establishing of the Catholick Religion and that you have reduc'd to your Obedience the Rebellious City of Munster But in regard that both experience and Histories assure us that the Benediction of prosperity loses its glory when we take no care to Establish what we have acquir'd and do not make use of the means which we have learnt to our cost by the same experience and by which the Vniversal Religion and Peace may remain inviolable Methinks therefore there can be no better means to take away all occasion of disputes that may arise after your death by the Election of a Successor than to think of taking a Coadjutor to cut off all opportunity of discord which may reduce your Country to confusion and misery And therefore we exhort you seriously to deliberate speedily with your Chapter concerning this matter And if you are ingag'd according to the custom of some Chapters in Germany not to take a Coadjutor without the knowledg and consent of the Chapter we discharge you by vertue of this our present Letter from any such obligation and give you withal the Apostolical Benediction Written from Rome the 16. of September 1665. The eleventh Year of our Pontificate J. Florentine There are some who have made the following remarques upon this Letter 1. That the Bishop according to the opinion of those who were acquainted with the business made it his own request to the Pope for this Letter 2. That those who are call'd the Vicars of Christ are of a different judgment Pope Innocent the X. would never confirm nor acknowledge for lawfully Elected Bishop Christopher Bernard But Alexander the VII was no sooner mounted to the Papal Chair but both Confirmation and Legitimation were allow'd 3. How it is possible that the Roman Catholicks should confide in their Princes whether Ecclesiastical or Secular seeing the Pope can so easily discharge and disingage them from their Promises Oaths and Allegiances confirm'd and concluded even among the Roman Catholicks themselves The Bishop receiv'd this Paternal exhortation with a wonderful respect and in regard he had been acquainted with the disorders in the last Election he earnestly desir'd to make choice of a Coadjutor To this purpose he caus'd the Members of the Chapter to assemble the 23. of May where he propos'd his design by two of his Counsellers who in a short speech represented to them that it was not unknown what praise-worthy actions his Highness had perform'd in the beginning of his Government having deliver'd and retaken the Forts and Cities of his Country as Coesweld Veche and Beverguere That he had compos'd several differences with a most pious care and zeal that he had reduc'd the City of Munster to his obedience and so firmly settl'd Peace within his Territories that all his Subjects quietly injoy'd the Estates which God had blest them with But since his Highness was now in the Sixtieth year of his Age and that by consequence he could not expect to live long as also for that to prevent the disorders of Elections his Holiness had adviz'd and exhorted him by his Letters to take the first opportunity to choose a Coadjutor and Successor He was resolv'd so to do He knows said they that there are persons capable of the Employment both here and in other places but his Highness would propose no-person in particular If they had a mind to choose any Neighbour Prince or any other Catholick Prince he would by no means be their hinderance but leave the Chapter to its liberty To which he expected a fair answer Then the Popes Letter to the Chapter was produc'd as follows ALEXANDER VII My welbelov'd Children our greeting to you and our Apostolick Benediction In truth you have not deserv'd a little honor for having assisted your Bishop in reducing and quieting the City of Munster and in the confirmation of the Catholick Religion But you will be thought worthy of a greater honour if by yonr unanimous Counsel you establish upon solid foundations what you have sâ— happily obtain'd But since experience tells us that after a Voyage prosperously perform'd there is most danger to be fear'd at the entry of the Haven itself you have the same reason to fear that after the decease of your Pastor and Bishop if while he is yet living you do not take care to choose another Successour in his place lest the winds of discord should drive your Vessel upon dangerous Rocks and cause you to lose what you have acquir'd with so much labour Therefore We admonish you that in order to Ours and the will of your Protector to whom We have discover'd the
the Duke of Nieuburgh complaining of the injury done him and exclaiming against the Duke of Brunswick as a disturber of the Peace who supported his Rebel Subjects against him that was their lawful Soveraign and hinder'd the exercise of his Authority in his own Territories desiring therefore the Catholick Princes to send him their assistance for the recovery of his right and for the reparation of the damage and shame which he had undergone Besides all this he publish'd a Manifesto wherein he endeavour'd to justifie his pretences laying all the wrong upon the Duke making use of very sharp expressions and laying aside all thoughts of composure and accommodation saying that he was resolv'd to prosecutâ— such a disturber of Christendom The said Duke having read the Letter publish'd a Counter Manifesto wherein he declar'd that the Bishop had not touch'd at all upon the most considerable matter and that he founded his right upon an ill grounded process touching the Brewing of Hoxter The Princes of the Circle of Lower Saxony nay the King of Sweden himself had written to the Bishop advizing him to forbear such oppressions and to leave the City the full enjoyment of their Priviledges the same thing did the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh But the more they requested Lenity the more rigorous and tyrannical was he so that the poor people were almost ruin'd He had taken from the Council of the City their Judicial power in Civils so that they only retain'd the shadow of a Magistracy without any Authority and all this under pretence of their having Mortgag'd their Jurisdiction which was false Or granting that were true yet could not he be Judg in his own cause nor assume to himself all the Jurisdiction as a Judg much less to Levy such unheard of and cruel Executions which had hardly left one Beast upon the Lands belonging to the City Nay the Execution Cart had been in every Street in Hoxter where the Bishops Officers took away their very Victuals Bread Meat Bacon their Linnen and Beds from under them c. The Officers of the Council of Hoxter were also imprison'd for executing the Commands of the said Council and new Prisons were made to shut up the Burgesses of Hoxter themselves as fast as they could catch them Now by the Peace of Munster and Osnaburgh in the Year 1649. the priviledg of the Brewing was particularly confirm'd to the Town according to its Antient Rights Though afterwards they were somwhat disturb'd in the injoyment of their Grant because they would not suffer their Beer to be sold by the Province of Corvay which they had always wont to do formerly On the other side the Bishop had permitted the Secretary of Corvay call'd Maule who was neither Brewer nor Citizen to exercise the Trade of Brewing in the City whereby the Citizens were depriv'd of their Livelyhoods contrary to the express engagement made by those of Corvay in the Year 1656. and 1649. Four or five Citizens refusing to obey the priviledges of the Magistrates in the matter of Brewing oppos'd themselves against the Magistrate brake into the Town House and would have kill'd the Syndick if the other Burgesses had not prevented them Beside that they made their complaints to the Regents of Corvay where the Bishops Counsellers heard them very kindly protected them and encourag'd them to farther mischief against the Syndick and others The Council and Burgesses of the City perceiving what the others drove at publickly protested against their Illegal Actions by a Notary and two Witnesses Moreover the Burgomasters and Council of the City wrote to the Bishop of Munster humbly laying before him the Illegal proceedings of the Regents of Corvay requesting him with all submission to provide a remedy against them Which evidently shews that the Citizens of Hoxter had no design to withdraw their obedience from their Soveraign but only to remedy disorders by way of Justice Besides that it was a dispute between Citizens and Citizens and therefore to be decided by the Council of the City But at length after the Inhabitants of Corvay were resolv'd to proceed to execution and had taken away the Citizens Cattel they began to put themselves into a posture of Defence finding also the Country people in Corvay in Arms so that they were afraid of being surpriz'd the Gates and Walls of their City being almost ruin'd T is true the Bishop vaunted in his Manifesto that he had us'd the City of Hoxter very kindly and that he had exacted nothing from them for the support of the common exigencies They answer'd that the world might judg by his actions of the favours he had done them and that therefore his asseveration was not true For so soon as he was enter'd upon the Regency he had laid new Impositions upon Cattel which nevery an Abbot before had done Moreover when the Infantry and Cavalry of Munster return'd from the War of Hungary the City of Hoxter had quarter'd them all without the least Contribution of the Province They had always pay'd the Taxes of the Empire and Circle He had demanded a thousand Crowns of them for his Wars against the Turks He requir'd them to pay their share in the Tax upon the whole Province though he had taken from them their Brewing Trade and remov'd it into the Country quite contrary to the old agreements between the Province and the City and instead of redressing he had rejected their complaints and more and more oppress'd them Therefore they made it out by the Peace of Munster that the City might put itself into a Posture of Defence against all Oppression by the words of the Article which says That if by neither of these two ways that is Composure or Law the matter could be determin'd in three years They who are interested in the instrument of Peace shall Vnite their Forces take Arms and withstand the oppressor By which it appear'd that it was lawful for the Duke of Brunswick to assist the Citizens and the rather because he was their Protector and for that he had no other aim than to defend the priviledges of the City and to guard them from oppression The Bishop indeed had declar'd that it was not for Subjects to seek for protection without the consent of their Soveraign But to that they answer'd by the express words of the Imperial Agreement in the Year 1555. Provided that this shall be no pretence to hinder them who have been long in possession from putting themselves under protection The Bishop had also declar'd that the Protection of the City of Hoxter did not belong to the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh But that was made out to the contrary by the Letters of Protection of Otho and Magnus Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh in the Year 1332. by the Testimony of Timon Abbot of Corvay as also by several examples in the Years 1416. 1434. 1450. 1500. 1517. 1553. 1633. c. To which they added what was expresly concluded in the accord between
the Province of Tuent He took without much resistance the Cities of Enschede Oldenzeel Otmarsen Almelo Borculo Lochem Deutâ—chem and other small places He also commanded the Forces of the Elector of Cologn and besieg'd the City of Groll which was well Fortifi'd but was surrender'd the ninth of the same month What relyance is there in those who have only the Title of Ecclesiasticks When Charles the fifth pass'd through France and was Nobly Treated by Francis the first notwithstanding their past bloody Wars the King of France was highly applauded for that he had so inviolably kept his word in reference to the free passage of the Emperor Upon which he gave this answer that though there were no such thing as Faith and Truth among men yet that it was absolutely necessary for Kings and Princes to acquit themselves of their Promises But we found it otherwise for upon the 16. of April the Arch-Bishop of Cologn publish'd a Placaert of Neutrality which nevertheless in six weeks time he utterly broke by open Acts of Hostility Yet there was this difference to be observed between the Bishop of Munster and the Elector of Cologn For the Bishop offer'd himself voluntarily to the King of France and sold himself to make War against the States General but the other was with great difficulty and reluctancy persuaded to break the Neutrality After the taking of Groll the Bishop of Munster made himself Master of Brevoort From thence he march'd to Deventer in which City they had forbid the Trumpet that keeps Watch upon the Tower to found the Tune of the Song made in praise of the Prince of Oranges Great Grand-Father to the present Prince They had also forbid the Organist to Play and the Ministers to Pray for the Prince They had also deny'd the Pulpit to one of the Ministers because that in numbering the sins of the people he had made mention of their ingratitude to the House of Orange The Author of the Holland Mercury relates that the principal Persons of the Province of Over-Yssel because they were much in debt were frequently wont to say at their Meals Come all will go well enough yet I hope to make my Fortuncs as well under the power of the King of France as under the present Government If this be true we need not wonder that by the means of such Rulers this City and so many others surrender'd so easily and with so little resistance to the Enemy The 13. of June the Bishop encamp'd before Deventer for the defence of which place there was nothing wanting The fourteenth he made an attempt to drive off the Cattel which fed round about the City but was repuls'd Upon the sixteenth he open'd his Trenches and had the Townsmen had the sole power in their hands both Munster and Cologn would have sound work enough to have imploy'd them a far longer time but what ever the reason were it was surrender'd the twenty first This put 1 250 Dutch Burgomasters already much in debt to a worse plunge For first they took away from them all that they had and then constrain'd them to pay for their ransome 65000 Livres Those that were in power had broken down the Bridg of Deventer as they pretended to prevent unnecessary Sallies from being made upon the Enemy though several gave their advice to the contrary However it pleas'd the Bishop extreamly who was heard to say that time Now I see that the Traytors have kept their words See the Holland Mercury Part 23. p. 81. The same said the Engineers after the taking of the Town which was surrender'd after the midnight of the day before mention'd without any necessity at all without any notice given to the Council of War and without the knowledg or consent of the major part or as others report of any one of the Burgomasters More than that they very ignobly forgot to make any provision for the Souldiers of the Garrison so that they all remain'd Prisoners of War The twenty second of the same month the Bishops men sate down before the City of Zwoll wherein they carried their business after such a manner that the Enemy found no resistance at all The Author of the Holland Mercury gives this accompt of the Action Part 2. p. 82. Collonel Vnico Ripperda relates that coming the 17. of June with his Regiment to Zwoll he found himself to be but an unwelcome Guest c. The eighteenth the Command of the Troops of Over-Yssel was conferr'd upon the Sieur W. V. Aylan who in the presence of Collonel Bampfield and other Officers adviz'd the Inhabitants of Zwoll to fortifie their City But they gave little heed to him and less to the Deputies of Groningen who would have had them have stopt the course of the River call'd the Black Water so to have drown'd the Country round about To which purpose they brought mony to carry on the work but they talkt to people that would have no Ears The twenty second the Bishops men entrench'd before the Twon at what time a certain Burgomaster of Deventer whose name was Le Espiere with another call'd Benting de Brokelingcamp and a Trumpet from the Bishop enter'd the Town and the said Le Espiere made a long Harangue in the Town House Thither went Collonel Bampfield to see how affairs were manag'd but they lookt upon him with an evil Eye They had as it is reported already in the morning sing'd the agreement to surrender the Town upon Deventer Conditions To make sure of Bampfield they desir'd him to march into the City with his Regiment which he did And then he and Ripperda went to the Town House and entring into the Council Chamber there they saw the Wine and Glasses upon the Table with which they had treated Le Espiere who upon their coming in went out at another door The Burgers would have Treated them but they refus'd it telling them that it was then no time to drink but to defend the Town Bampfield propos'd pulling down the Suburbs and making no agreement with the Enemy without advising with the Officers of the Garrison Offering to lose his head if they had not better Articles six weeks hence than then desiring them not to sell their Liberty and Religion To which it is said that the Burgomaster Crans made answer What likelihood have we to defend ourselves with 1200 Souldiers and as many Townsmen when the Town of Deventer so well Fortifi'd and provided with all things could not hold out six days As to the pulling down the Suburbs they said they could give no answer without consulting the Counsellers of the Commonalty whom they would call together to know their Resolutions The Collonels advised them to do it instantly and to send for the Captains of the City Trained Bands but they refus'd it Then they askt them why they had sent back the Trumpeter Answer was made that Le Espiere had don it Bampfield askt them if they would send Commissioners to the Bishop
They reply'd If we send Commissioners the rest of the Troops will not march toward the City What then said the other must we be Prisoners of War The answer was They that sign'd the Commission will be exempted To which the Collonels reply'd they would neither do that nor be Prisoners of War neither and so they return'd to the Trenches saying that they would make another manner of agreement One of the Magistrates cry'd If you return you will lose the benefit of the Capitulation But Bampfield answer'd it would be better to dye than make such an agreement And so both the Collonels the next night left the City and preserved their men The Magistrates made their advantage of the Collonels retreat saying that being abandon'd by the Souldiery they were sorc'd to surrender as they excus'd themselves in their Printed Apology Whether sudden consternation or Treachery were the cause of these things is only known to God But most certain it is that the Bishop with little or no hazard made himself Master of the Cities of Deventer Zwol Campen Hassels Swart-Sluys Blochzyl Steenwich Moppel Fort de Ommen and also of Kuynder in the Country of Frize Thus in a few days he had subdu'd the whole Province of Over-Yssel being assisted by the Arch-Bishop of Cologn who shar'd their Conquests after the following manner Deventer fell to the Elector of Cologn The King of France was to keep the Cities of Campen and Elburgh during the War which being ended he was to surrender them to the Bishop of Munster who kept all the rest except Zwoll which was to be Garrison'd by the French as well as by him On the other side the King of France had in a few days taken Doesburgh Zutphen Arnheim Wiick Montfort Oudewater Yselsteine Amersfoort Vtrecht and Woerden in Holland Some people misinform'd have very much blam'd the City of Vtrecht for surrendring but all persons that have any knowledg of affairs will rather lament than blame them Their ill-willers falsly reported that they would not admit the Prince of Orange into the City for it is known that they made it their request to him and that he had granted their desire They sent great quantities of Bread Beer and Cheese to the Souldiers that quarter'd about the City They offer'd to receive as many men as he should think necessary for the defence of the City with whom they would hazard their estates and lives to the uttermost peny and the last drop of blood But the Prince receiv'd Orders to retreat with the Army into Holland They desir'd him to leave the four Regiments that were paid by them but he could not spare a man because of the Orders he had receiv'd All their powder in the Powder-Mills was carry'd away by the Army The States also before these things happen'd had sent a considerable quantity of powder to Nimighen and other places so that they were destitute of necessaries and abandon'd by the Army and cut off from the other Provinces But more than this a considerable number of the Townsmen were in Garrison at Nimighen and in the Forts upon the Yssel He that would see more of this let him read the deduction of the States of Vtrecht Printed in the Year 1673. To this we may add for another reason the great number of the Roman Catholicks who being irreconcileable Enemies to the Reform'd Religion would have risen and Massacred them so soon as the King of France had appear'd with his Army They who will not credit the accompt which we give of things may read the Sieur Valkenieâ— in his Europe Troubl'd page 620. Many Roman Catholicks says he gave it out publickly in the streets Let France live rather than Orange If Orange comes we will shut our doors against him but we will open them to the French as soon as ever they arrive being then at Utrecht I often heard them speak thâ—se words to my great grief Let them also read what the same Author writes p. 621. c. and there they shall see how undeservedly aspersions have been cast upon this City But to return to the Bishop After he had furnish'd the Cities of Over-Yssel with good Garrisons and also left a good strong party upon the Frontiers of Friseland he march'd toward Coverden But before we speak of the taking of that City it behoves us to mention somthing of the little Town of Haltem not to deprive the couragious of their due praises Their Ramparts were very weak and defective being decay'd by time The Garrison did not consist of above 76 Souldiers and 180 Burghers who had earnestly desir'd the Inhabitants of Zwoll and other Neighbouring places to send them assistance but all in vain Their Ammunition also was very inconsiderable nevertheless they resolv'd to hold out The nineteenth of June the Episcoparians shew'd themselves before this Town and the Bishop sent them his summons threatning what he would do if they did not forthwith submit themselves He had very much affrighten'd great Towns by his thundering hard words but this little place answer'd him very couragiously contrary to his expectation that they would remain faithful to their Country till death Their deeds were answerable to their words for they made so stout a resistance and ply'd their small shot with that vigor that the Bishops whole Army that lay at Deventer were forc'd to be sent for to lye before this little place At length being out of all hopes of relief they were constrain'd against their will to submit and give entrance to the Bishop who was amaz'd at the small number of the Garrison knowing that he had lost in the Siege above 700 Souldiers besides a great number of stout Officers The Bishop before he laid Seige to Coeverden was marching toward Frise But upon his march he received advice that the States of Friesland and Groningen had put themselves into a posture of defence and that they were resolv'd to make use of all the strength they had Upon that in a great rage against the Frisons he cry'd out The Devil take the Priests meaning the Ministers of Leeuwarden in regard they shew'd their Zeal for their Religion and Liberty For which reason he alter'd his design and march'd to Coeverden He had the good fortune to take in the Fort du Deel the Old Fort the New Fort Wenschoter Zyl Wedd House and all the places round about In the Fortresâ— Bourtang was one Captain Prat. The Bishop labour'd to have had the place betray'd to him by the contrivance of his Commissary at War whose name was Marsel who offer'd the Captain 200000 Livres or one of the fairest Castles in Westphalia and for the other Captains 50000 Livres a peice But the generous Captain desir'd Marsel but to bring the Bishop and his followers to confer with him and he would give him as many Bullets as he offer'd him Livres And he behav'd himself so well that Marsel having laid Siege to the place was forc'd to raise it again in a short
them toward the Province but all the Gates were so fast bar'd and so well guarded that there was no good to be done On the other side his Excellency Rabenhaupt march'd with his Frizons through the City of Coverden toward the County of Benthem At his first arrival he took the City of Northorn wherein he left 16 Colours of Horse and 6 of Foot From whence he advanc'd toward Nyenhuys but receiving intelligence by the way that Episcoparians had again begirt the City of Northorn and beat off the Out-Guards his Excellency marcht back toward them with seven Troops of Horse and five Regiments of Foot and set upon them the fifth of April but they still Retreated leaving behind them Sixty Slain and Fifty Prisoners with the loss only of three men Two days after Rabenhaupt took the Castle of Nyenhuys by force and thereby opened his way into the Bishops own Territories Upon that the Bishop began to fear lest he should be forsaken by the French who had already quitted the Province of Vtrecht and several other places in the other Provinces and so the flame of the War would blaze out in his own Territories For indeed the Imperialists had plunder'd several of his Towns and the Friselanders had fairly begun on their side Upon these considerations he began to forget the Alliance which he had made with France from whence he had received such considerable sums and for all that the King promis'd him the utmost of his Assistance And therefore by his Envoys at Cologn he sought to be restored to the favour and to be admitted into the Alliance of the Emperor which at length he obtain'd and a Peace was concluded between him the Emperour and the States General As for the Emperor he promis'd to submit to him to renounce the Alliance with France and to be regulated according to the Resolutions taken at Regensburgh for the defence of the Princes and Circles of the Empire The agreement made with the States General was to this effect That there should be a perpetual Peace between them That there should be a reciprocal Amnesty and Act of Oblivion for all things past since the Peace of Cleves unless for such as were guilty of Treason That the Bishop immediately after the Ratification should restore all the Places Towns Cities and Villages without any exception which he had Conquer'd or taken from the States and that he should restore to the Subjects of the States all their Lands Signiories and Houses which he had detain'd from them during the War That the Peace of Cleves should be of full force and effect in all things not contrary to this present Treaty That the Count of Benthem his servants Vassals and Subjects should also be compriz'd in the General Amnesty That the Emperor and the King of Spain be desir'd to be Cautionaries for the observation of this Treaty The French in their Conquer d Cities having intelligence of this Peace durst not hazard themselves there any longer though they extorted great sums of mony from the Inhabitants before they departed from Woerden 16000 Livers Bommel 36000 Vtrecht 45000 Campen 80000 Thuel 22000 Zutphen 70000 for Contribution and 70000 to save their Fortifications Anberm 14000 for the Governor and 100000 for the King Nimmeghen 55000 and the Upper and Lower Betuwe the same sum As for Wesel Enmersch and Rees the King of France had given them to the Elector of Brandenburgh so that he retain'd in his hands nothing of his Conquests from the States but Graef and Mastricht the first of which places was valiantly recover'd by the Prince of Orange and the latter restor'd by the Peace At what time the French quitted their Conquests the Elector of Cologn quitted also the City of Deventer after he had made an agreement for 42000 Crowns for Contribution mony The Munsterians also in pursuance of the Treaty quitted the Cities of Hasselts Swartsluys and Zwoll after they had committed several disorders in the Country This turn of the tide no way pleas'd the Roman Catholicks At Vtrecht and in several other places they were in hopes that the French would return and that then they should be put into possession of the Government of the Province nay they gave it out so in publick They were so obstinate at Otmarsum that they would not surrender their Churches to those of the Reformed Religion which caus'd some disorders at first though they were quickly appeas'd But though the Peace between the Emperor the States General and the Bishop of Cologn were thus concluded yet the Elector of Cologn did not so soon forsake the French Interest being still incens'd by the Bishop of Strasburgh However his Imperial Majesty had prescrib'd him a time to declare himself which was near expiration One main obstacle was that he could not brook that the Emperor should keep a Garrison in the City of Bon. He also demanded of the States as the price of his Friendship the County of Meurs the City of Rynbork and forty thousand Crowns toward the expences of the War But the States would allow him none of his Pretensions only they were willing he should put a Garrison into Rynborck but that he should renounce all his claim to the County of Meurs He had also demanded free exercise of the Catholick Religion in the Province of Over-Yssel but the Emperors Embassadors well knowing it would never be granted declar'd to him that it was not a reasonable request For that the States General never permitted the exercise of the Catholick Religion in any of their Territories Thereupon seeing the Cloud coming he quitted all his pretensions and upon that a Peace followed between the Emperor and him as also betwixt him and States General the chief Articles whereof were That there should be a firm and lasting Peace that after the Ratification of the Treaty the Elector should restore to the States all the Places which he had taken from them during the War in the same Condition as they were before they were taken without any wast or spoil or any demand of Contribution That he should keep the sums already paid but that he should release the the Hostages which he detain'd for the payment of such sums as were demanded That all Lands and Signiories taken from the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces shall be restored them On the other side that the State should quit all their pretensions to the Town of Rynbork and the Fortifications thereof The County of Lingen should be restor'd to the Prince of Orange Certainly the two Bishops never dreamt that the Face of Affairs would have alter'd after so strange a manner and that they should be forc'd to beg for Peace from the States More especially the Bishop of Munster was deceiv'd who in the month of July before sent to the City of Embden to send their Deputies to him to New-fort there to consult about such things as tended to their repose and security The Inhabitants of Embden had set themselves in an