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
Ground that the Townsmen might have no benefit of their Harvest Or the otherside Monsieur Aitzma earnestly recommended to the States General the care of the Town to which the chiefest part of the Provinces were readily inclin'd but the Province oâ— Holland would by no means consent At the beginning of November the Council of the City sent a Letter in Câ—phers to Monsieur Aitzma earnestly pressing him to put the States General in mind of their promises but notwithstanding all the endeavours of Monsieur Aitzma though Friesland thought it necessary though Guelderland Overyssel and Groningen were of the same opinion yet Holland oppos'd them all Brandenburg also dissuaded the relief of the City So that Munster was now left to itself not a little complaining against the Vnited Provinces The twenty first of Jan. Bernard Zimmerscheyd the Burgomaster with six others of the Council ventured out of Town to the Quarters of the Bishop where they were heard by two of the Bishops Counsellers They implor'd his Highnesses favour toward the miserable Inhabitants of the City and besought him for the love of God that they might be admitted into his presence to understand his resolutions Thereupon the question was put to them whether they did not acknowledg in the presence of God that they were Rebels The Burgomaster shrugging his shoulders excused the Magistracy so far that it was not in their power to curb the violent humour of the Populacy To which he was answer'd in this language Obey then the Emperors Commands disband your Souldiers bring the Keys of the City to your Lawful Prince and receive his Garrisons otherwise your Prince will teach you with a far more numerous force to reverence and obey your Soveraign Thereupon in regard there was no Corn left in the City nor no mony to pay the Souldiers who were already two months in arrears there was a necessity of submitting to whatever the Bishop required which brought them to an absolute surrender the 18. of March upon these conditions That the Gates should be guarded by the Episcopal Troops that the Citizens should refuse the assistance of the States General and of all others That they should pay the Bishop at present 40000. Crowns and afterwards an Annual tribute of 7. or 8000. Crowns upon which consideration they should have their pardons That six persons should be excluded from this pardon who were nevertheless to be free from Corporal punishment or life That they should receive an Episcopal Garrison without limitation That they should surrender the Keys to the Bishop and that whatever concern'd the security of the City should be absolutely at the Bishops disposal Scon after in a great deal of hast he began the foundation of a Citadel call'd Munsters Craw-bone He regulated all the Colledges and Fellowships of the City and set up a new form of Government which began to require an accompt from some part of those who had formerly born Offices Four Receivers were put in Prison upon pretence of having falsified their Trust One of the Counsellers excluded from pardon was constrained to pay the Bishop 2000. Crowns and an Antient Burgomaster as much after which they were both banished the Country Thus Prince Christopher Bernard reduc'd the City of Munster under his subjection And now he might have liv'd in quiet had not his boistrous and râ—stlâ—ss humour stirr'd him up to new undertakings and therefore to find himself imployment he rous'd up quarrels that had lain long a sleep He set on foot an old dispute and publish'd a writing concerning the contest about Borculo in reference to which affair it was by him alledg'd that the Imperial Council of Spiers had given sentence in savour of the Bishop declaring that that Signory was a Fee belonging to Munster and by consequence escheated to him In opposition to this the Count of Stirum had the Decree of the Court of Guelders as being in possession who thereupon a while after caus'd an answer to the Bishops claâ—m to be publish'd in writing This was done in the year 1662. The year following the Bishop sent Monsieur Braybeck Dean of the Cathedral of Munster as his Embassadour to the Hague where he attended the States General with a Memorial desiring them in the name of his Prince that they would favour his just demands and restore to him the Signory of Porculo and its dependencies which the Arms of the States had put into the possession of Count Justus of Limburg in regard it was done by the Province of Guelders in the Year 1616. Moniseur De Estrades also the French Embassadour was very serviceable to the Bishop and smartly put the States in mind of having a respect to Justice and the Alliance between his Master and the Bishop The Deputies of Guelders affirm'd that they took the business upon themselves However certain Commissioners were nam'd but nothing more done that Year Next Year Monsieur Braybeck press'd the same demand again For which reason the States General would have order'd certain other Commissioners to enquire into the affair But the Province of Guelders would by no means consent thereto because they had pasâ—d sentence already as also for that the Signiory of Borculo belonged to their Province and by consequence the business concern'd them in particular and not the Generality At the same time the Prince of Lichtenstien had laid claim to a certain debt which he charg'd upon the Signiories of Esens Stedesdorp and Witmond which his Mother-in-law had enjoy'd by the death of her Brother-in-law This debt was demanded from the Prince of East-Friesland who was by the Imperial Chamber condemn'd to pay it The Bishop of Munster altogether for having his Oar in every Boat had so brought it about that the Emperor offer'd him a Commission to put the Imperial sentence in Execution In the mean time he labour'd to make the best use of the Opportunity and to bring his matters about to his chiefest advantage To this effect he so wrought it that these two powerful Neighbours the Prince and he under a pretence of hunting the Wild-Boar should meet together in Westphalia in August 1663. The Bishop was very urgent with the Prince to deliver him up Eyderland promising in lieu therâ—of to take upon himself the whole debâ— of Lichtenstein and that he would satisfie the clamer Had this proposal succeeded according to hiâ— wish he would have order'd it so that the Princâ— of Lichtenstein should have gotten little enough But in regard this request of his was look'd upoâ— as prejudicial to the States General this Proposal did nothing please the Prince of Friesland and therefore he objected several Obstacles particularly that the said Eyderland was under the protection of the States General and engaged for a certain sum of mony So that no such thing could be done as well in respect of his Brother as in respect of the States who had a share and interest in this affair Nevertheless he took time to consider of it as
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
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
in memory of a French Ship that he had taken upon the Coast of Friesland though others say 't was only a small Barque made Use of for the Unlading of Greater Vessels So soon as the breath was out of his body every one seiz'd upon what they could snatch carrying away not only his mony but also all the gold and silver Moveables in his Chamber nay they stript him of the meanest things that were in the Chamber leaving him alone as it were in a ransackt Room He had Govern'd the Diocess twenty eight years though the accompt of his Age is variously reported some allowing him seventy one others seventy two years In the year 1667. at the Election of his Successor he acknowledg'd himself in the sixtieth year of his Age from which time to his death we reckon full eleven years which is the truest accompt we can give of his Age. The present Bishop his Successor soon after his Death publish'd a Pious Exhortation to all his Subject to betake themselves to their Devotions and Prayers for the Soul of the decas'd in these words Ferdinand by the Grace of God and the Apostolick See Bishop of Munster and Paderborn Vicount of Strombergh Prince of the Empire Count of Pyemont and Borkelo c. To the Venerable Clergy and well beloved People of the City and Bishoprick of Munster perpetual Greeting in our Lord. IT hath pleased him who takes away the Souls of Princes when he pleases to call from this life to a better our dear Brother Cousin and Predecessor the Sieur Christopher Bernard Bishop of Munster Administratour of Corvey Lord of Borkelo after he had Govern'd the Diocess of Munster to his immortal praise with a care truly Paternal And though we make no doubt but that his Subjects who in his life time lov'd him as a Father and reverenc'd him as their Prince will not be wanting in their Christian Duties and Prayers which they owe to the Deceas'd Nevertheless we have thought fit to admonish and ordain with the advice of our Reverend Chapter That all Priests as well Secular as Regular depending upon the Diocess of Munster in the dayly Oblation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and others in their dayly Prayers do with all humility recommend the Soul of this great Prince to the abound Mercy of our Lord to the end he may obtain Eternal Salvation among the Blessed Souls whom he had made himself known upon Earth by his Vertues and Heroic Acts. And whereas it has pleas'd the Omnipotent to lay the burthen of the Succession upon our shoulders after a lawful Election approv'd by the Apostolick and Imperial Authority We knowing the importance thereof and deeply sensible of the present Troubles and Evils that threaten us on every side earnestly desire the Prayers and Charity of our devout Subjects that our weakness being supported by the Power of God may be able to support the Charge committed to Vs through the Merits and Common Prayers of our people c. Ferdinand L. LS. Vr. Alpen Vic. Gen. Thus we have seen the death of the so much renowned Bishop of Munster the Sieur Christopher Bernard full of years yet enjoying the vigour of his senses to the last gasp And as it was his chance to be advanc'd just after the Peace made with the Emperor France Spain Swedeland and the United Provinces so he also happen'd to dye presently after the Peace made between France Spain and the States General His death restor'd both Quiet and Repose to all his Neighbours who were still afraid that so soon as the Emperor and France should be agreed he would be cutting out new Employment for himself for he never fail'd of a pretence But Providence has better provided for them For they may now assure themselves of security under the Government of his Successor the present Bishop and his Subjects may hope for an Age of Silver after that of Iron as now passed off with the precedeing Bishop For it is affirmed that he is a Prince mild and pacifick an Enemy to all sorts of trouble and one that abominates the Desolations of War and besides all this a lover of Learning and Learned men and it is Generally observ'd that those Provinces are usually most happy whose Princes prefer Learning before War and Books before Armies True it is that upon his Election to be Coadjutor and Successor several Quarrel and Contentions arose between the Bishop deceas'd and a good part of the Members of the Chapter but we are assur'd that the present Bishop had never any hand in those Disputes nor ever afforded the least Fuel to foment them Neither was it a thing ever sought by him or desirâ—d of Christopher Bernard who carry'd on his Design altogether without his knowledg So that those disorders are no way to be imputed to the present Bishop An Authentick Letter touching the Birth of Christopher Bernard Bishop of Munster Sir BEcause there are various Reports concerning the affair of the truth whereof you desire me to inform you I thought my self oblig'd to give you the best satisfaction I could In order to which I have discoursed the most Ancient and most knowing persons in these parts who all agree that the Bishop of Munster was conceiv'd in Prison at Bevergeerde but that he was born in his Fathers Castle of Bispink For it happen'd that the Father of the Bishop whose name was Gaten Bispink had â—ad several Quarrels with Marshal Morien Lord of Noorkirk his Neighbour about the priviledg of Hunting Which continuing one time among the rest the Marshal seiz'd Gatens Huntsmen and Dogs and shut them up so long till they eat one another for want of food Soon after they both came to Munster where Gaten meeting the Marshal ask'd him when he would send him his Huntsmen and his Dogs home To which Morien reply'd very suddenly and withal told Gaten that he had certain Papers about him that concerned the business but instead of shewing the Papers threw off his Cloak and drew his Sword Gaten though be had been Drinking hard drew his Sword half out and parly'd a while till necessity constrain'd him and that his Servants call to him to have a care of himself at what time he drew his Sword quite out and slew his Assaylant The Fact being thus Committed Gaten never absented himself and was therefore Imprison'd in the Castle of Bevergeerde and when his Judges allowed him to choose an Advocate he refused to do it but pleaded his own Cause and carry'd his business so well that at length his Wife was permitted to come and live with him and so it came to pass that our Bishop was Begot and Conceived in Prison True it is that his Father was at length acquitted but he had vow'd not to stir out of Prison till his Prosecutors had paid him all the Costs of his Imprisonment and his Suit which had lasted thirteen years so that his Wife being near her time return'd to Bispinck where she lay in After the Father was dead the Son was made a Canon of Munster and being much enclin'd to War and well versed in Military Affairs he was made first Commissary at War and at length after the death of the last Bishop advanced to the Episcopal Dignity Another Letter to the same Effect Sir AFter I had Read your Letter I made all the Enquiry I could to satisfie your Curiosity but because there are few alive that were living at that time there is very little of truth and reality to be reported Certain it is that the said Bishop was begot in Prison to which his Father was Committed for Murther But Opinions are various touching the Right of the Occasion whether it were on his side or no. The Favourers of the deceased Bishop will have his Father to be innocent though others believe that no man durst say otherwise while â—e lived and that length of time has caused it to be granted for truth Most certain it is that there were desperate Quarrels between the Bishops Father who was call'd Gaten Bispink from his Castle of Bispink and the Marshal Moâ—iâ—n about their priviledges of Hunting whereby the former very much prejudic'd the latter who because the other would take no warning seizâ—d his Dogs and shut them up so long â—ill they were starv'd to death A while after they met at Munster and Gaten being in drink asked Morien for his Dogs in very sharp and abusive terms threatning the Marshal withal B. Morien being a person of Courage and not able to brook such Language laid his hand upon his Sword and told Gaten that he was ready to answer him with his Sword in his hand Some say that Gaten declin'd the Combat and that he was at length compell'd to fight in his own defence others affirm that he immediately drew and fell on However it were the Marshal was slain and Gaten Imprisoned at Bevergeerde where he dy'd in some few years after It is reported that his Judges had given him leave to go home after they had examin'd the Fact but he refus'd to stir till the Kindred of the person slain should pay him all the Charges of his Imprisonment Though others believe that to be very improbable and an Invention only to free him from Scandal and Ignominy of a tedious fourteen years Thraldom After Gaten had been some time in Prison his wife was allowâ—d to go and live with him and thus in happened that the Bishop was begot and conceiv'd in Prison though his Mother lay in at her Castle of Bispink Thuâ— in Generals all agree though there may be some incertainty in the Circumstances which aggravate or mitigate the Offence of which people take the Liberty to judâ— according to their affections for the Bishop Which is not to be wonder'd at in a Fact committed so long since in regard we our selves have frequent experience that Murders are by some highly defended and pleaded for by others as much exclaim'd against and condemn'd which proceeds from the various judgments that affection or hatred makes upon the Causes and Circumstances of the Crime THE END