Don Lewis had order to march with all speed to Berghen op Zoom and to seize upon Emblee the Haven and the two Forts which defended it but whether out of jealousie or otherwise he want and took Steenbergh giging the Hollanders time to re-inforce the Garrison and secure the Isle of Tertollen The Marquis neverthelesse arrived and besieged the Place Berghen besieged but not being able to gaine the possession of the said Haven he wasted a good part of his Army about it We left Mansfeldt and his Bishop at Sedan in consultation with the Duke of Bouillon Minsfeldt at Sedan and let us now call them from thence since we are sure to learn nothing of their private conferences but onely by conjecture The King of France was then before Montauban and fearing least they might serve themselves of the fair occasion to make a strong diversion in fauour of the Hughenots who were very much weakened he commanded the Duke of Neuers The Duke of Neuers to raise speedily a Body of an Army in Champague and entertaine the said Mansfeldt with Treaties till his Troops were in condition to hinder his passage He also wrote to Don Cordona who promised him to come and relieve him in case the Germans made but the least shew of moving against his service Mansfeldt dares not succour the Hughenots Now this proposition of succouring the Hughenots being found most difficult and of too dangerous a consequence and the meanes of returning the same way they came taken from them they resolved to traverse or passe through Brabaus and go to succour Berghen which Spinola attacked both with Mines and Assaults as he had done Ostend and this so much the rather because they were invited thither by the States Generall and the Prince of Orange And so they marched and by their departure freed Campagne from the great oppressions wherewith they had very ill treated the Lasiere Cordona and Anholt followed them and having overtaken them near Floury compelled them to stop and face about The battail began hotly Is beaten by Cordona and Cordona was in danger of losing it if the enemies horse had stood fast and better seconded the foot which was almost all cut off by the Canon But five hundred Peasants of the Province of Liege who presumed to set upon them were cut in pieces and sacrificed to their displeasure which yet was quite forgotten as soon as they came to the Hollanders Camp The Mansfeldians excused their losse by the necessity they had to get the passage which since they had obtained by the sword the Imperialests said they ought not so much to boast of their Victorie The Bishop was hurt in the arme The Bishop loses his arme which was forced to be cut off which gave the Romane Catholicks ground to publish that that arme which made warre against the Priests had deserved to be struck off It is very likely that if the Protestants had not feared to alienate the King from their Party of whose favour they hoped one day to feel some effects they would have made no difficulty at all to set the Hughenots upon their feet again in such sort as that the King could not lay hold of a more opportune season to humble them then during the decline of the affairs of the Protestants in Germany The Duke of Bouillon after the departure of the Germans being quite crazed with age payed his tribute to Nature and it concerns us to speak briefly of his life that so we may come both to the knowledge of his experience and exploits The death of the Duke of Bouillon and of his right also to Sedan Religion and Nature tied him fast to his Kings service whose secrets and savour he enjoyed for a long time His first wife was the Princesse who was heiress to Sedan and notwithstanding that she died without Childrein and that there was another heir of the same House His life he left not to retaine the said Principat by the support of the Kings favour He marries the heiresse of Sedan He keeps the Principate and passes to the second marriage Believed in Germary 1609 Surprizes Sâ—â—â—â—y In his second marriage he had the daughter of Prince William of Orange by whom he had begat two sons who grew very famous afterwards and by this Allyance he acquired a most streight correspondence with the States Gonerall of the united provinces He much molested the Dutchies of Lorraine and Luxenburgh by arms wherein he purchased great reputation He went and surprised the Cittidell of Sâ—endy the very day of his wedding and was alwayes redoubted by his neighbours and in most high esteem with the Princes of Germany and it is believed that it was chiefly he who counselled the Prince Palatine to take the Crown of Bohemia After his designs and Communications with the Marshal of Bâ—ron were blown up he kept himself alwayes close in Sedan till the King at length came to awaken him But his peace was quickly made in consideration of the good which he was to perform and of the high enterprizes whereof he was both the most worthy and principall instrument After the sad death of Henry the Great the Prince of Conde being returned into France he used his utmost endeavour to tye him to the interests of the Hughenots by describing his to him quite otherwise He embroils France then they were to be understood which were in effect to embroil the Kingdome But the Prince would not revenge the injurie which he pretended was done him to the detriment of Religion and the destruction of the poor people which yet not long after he did against his promise to the Queen though yet that promise were quickly dissipated as well as many other which came out of the shop of his brest more for his particular advantage then that of the Publick which he alwayes pretended Now howbeit he had been brought up in the civill wars and factions he yet refused the generalship He refuses the Generalship of the Hughenot Party 1621. Why of all the Hughenot Armies which was offered him by the Assembly of Rochell and that upon very reasonable reasons as first his age then the Gout wherewith he was much tormented and lastly for the difficulty which he was likely to find to govern so many Heads as composed that popular State Let us return to the siege of Berghen Spinola finding his enemy recruited with so great a Body of Horse and his owne Army much diminished with toyle assaults sicknesse and disbandings speedily raised the siege for fear least the way should be stopped Spinola raises the siege and went and encamped himself three leagues short of Antwerp where having put himself in posture and sent away his sick and wounded men he offered the Prince Battell but he contenting himself with having succoured the Place made answer to some French Lords who advised him to accept the offer that it was better to make a
with him against his Nephew the Spaniards and the Jesuits for it was upon them that he chiefly aymed and whom he so much mistrusted who yet peradventure dreamt not at all of him and demanded a speedy succour before the Poles had quite subdued Muscovie He also mentioned the quarrell between him and the King of Denmark offering to referre it to them or any other Neutrall Princes and to acquiesce in their Decision The States also sent theirs to him but he was able to effect nothing with him The King declares a warre upon him In the moneth of April 1611. King Christian declares a Warre founded upon four points The first upon the Fishing of Lapponia or Lapland the third part whereof he pretended to appertain to himself The second a complaint formed upon Charles his having fortified Guttemburgh to the disadvantage of the Sound the third was the redemanding of the Isle of Oesel held by the Swedes And the last that Christian would not suffer him to put in his Arms the three Crownes nor the Title of Lapland and North-land Kings have never any better reason to make Warre then that which is offered them by occasion It is a Royal thing sayes a Disciple of that so much disclaimed Italian to attempt the Possessions of others Colmar taken The Danes seazed Colmar the prime key of the kingdom of Sweden and besieged the Castle both by Sea and land which unlesse it were famished was held impregnable by reason of the situation Neither was it taken now by that way but yeelded up by the levity of the Governour who went to fix his habitation in Denmark That which cannot be digged by Iron is often done by Gold The King of Sweden found work enough to do with two so potent enemies upon his skirts but that which most troubled him was that he could not bring the Danes to any Composition Fonce so that in sine having lost Colmar with above a hundred pieces of Canon six ships of Warre the Isle of Bornholm and some other The death of Charles also forced to bow to old age and afflictions caused by these losses he fell sick and coming to die made way for that great Captaine Gustavus Adolphus the very relation of whose victories makes the world tremble Charles was a Prince of great courage and lover of his Law for the only defence whereof the Swedes affirm that he accepted the Crown and not through any ambition he had to be a King He inclined a little towards the Reformates and could not endure to have prayers made in Latin He was speechlesse some time before his death and was much more prone to rigour then moderation yea even to Tyranny it self which is a vice much observed in the successours of Erick after they are past forry years old The Danes sayling with the winde in poupe took many ships near Elsburgh together with the Castle it self But the Swedes were fully revenged upon them by taking their measures well as it will appear in the continuation of this History With patience all things are effected In fine Peace made a Peace was made and Colmar upon agreement of some barrels of Gold restored to the Swedes The Kings were friends and afterwards an Enterview and an Allyance both Offensive and Defensive concluded against the King of Poland But let us go back to the South Italy produced no seed of sedition at all every one keeping himself within his own jurisdiction but the Duke of Mantua being taken out of his by death without sons his Brother succeeded him who assisted by the Spaniards waged a long warre against the Duke of Savoy who was supported by France Since the Truce in the Low-countries and the expulsion of the Mores there passed nothing in Spain worthy of memory but some Fights at Sea against Pirats who were defeated by the Spaniards and the Hollanders The match sought in Spain Queen Mary of Medicis willing to keep her subjects in Peace during her Regencie and prevent all occasions of disorder mediated a double match with Spain that is of her Son and Daughter with Prince Philip and the Infanta his Sister but the marriages were differred in regard of their too tender age though yet this good newes caused great rejoycing throughout all the Territories of the two Crowns with Tilts and Turnaments worth anmiration wherein the French Lords expressed as well the agility and fine disposition of their bodies as the gentilnesse of their mindes Let us now draw back to the Low-countries again which observe the Truce but let not their souldiers rest in favour of their Neighbours For the Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh this being grown a Roman and that a Reformat renewed their old unhappy quarrel either for want of a right and mutual understanding or else for being the object of the ambitious passion of some other Princes The Arch-Duke had sent Spinola into the Field to execute the sentence given upon them of Aquisgrane Aix or Aquisgrane yeelds The Spaniards succour the Duke of Newburgh and the Hollanders the Duke of Brandenburgh who had incurred the disfavour of the Emperour by expelling the Roman Catholick Magistrates out of the Town and their sudden submission gave the Spaniards conveniency to hasten to the relief of the Duke of Newburgh by whom they were expected They took Wesel and some other small places and Prince Maurice on the other side who was sent by the States to succour the Electour took and fortified Emmerick and Rees It is most dangerous to have a Neighbour stronger then ones self for his succour is alwayes dammageable to him who accepts it These two Princes know it as well as any others But what Passion very often prevailes over Reason and the errour of the Hunters gives the Hare opportunity to escape But let us reprize this Webbe contrived of many threds of different colours and woven by divers Weavers The Emperors Authority proving inefficacious and his threats as it wore our of breath and saint as coming from so great a distance with these two Princes who proud of the assistance of two Kings and shouldered by a strong Common-Wealth equally shared the Government of the Dutchy for some time making their Residence together at Dusseldorp But by means of some small jealousies were quickly disunited and the Marriage of the Duke of Newburgh with the Duke of Bavaria's Sisters awakened as great suspicions in the Duke of Brandenburghs breast being a Reformate as the Allyance of the united Provinces in that of the Duke of Newburgh who was become Cathohok The Design upon Dusseldorp had no successe and that which was so prosperously executed upon Gulick by the Governours meanes manifested to the Arch-Duke a peacefull Prince that the Reformates in a fair occasion want no boldnesse no courage The Spaniards took the Allarme so much the more powerfully as the Treaties went on slowly and as the French seemed to favour the Duke of Brandenburgh more to put
them the Oath which he had made to his Father never to bear Arms against the Emperour unlesse he forced him in his Law or Religion and made war upon him and asked them whether in this conjuncture it were lawfull for him to break it without any wrong done him by the said Emperour or any dammage at all brought upon him by his Souldiers They all held the Negative and with this sentence he went to the King at Francfurt and so handsomly represented his reasons to him that he obtained what he asked Whilest Gustave was in doubt whether he should go down the Rheyn where all was full of fear and trembling to seaze upon Colein he receaved newes that Tilly had beaten Horne in Bambergh defeated foure thousand of his men took twenty Pieces of Canon a multitude of Coulers Horne beaten by Til'y and made a shew to attack Nuremberge This was the last favour Fortune did this Darling of hers whom she abandoned to court another Whereupon he instantly marched wich all diligence and Tilly not knowing what to doe was constrained to retyre speedily by a strong accident which was that his powder took fire did a great deal of hurt amonst the Baggage-Waggons and drew this complaint out of the mouth of this old Souldier Let us retyre said hee For it is high time since fortune turns her back to us Indeed he had reason for she was preparing him a bed of honour Who repasses the Danub upon which he was quickly to repose He was followed by the King who entred Nurembergh in Triumph and that illustrious Senate presented him with a Goulden Globe as a Symbol of the Monarchie which they prognosticated for him But he foresaw not the misfortune which he was to suffer that Summer For being accompanyed by King Frederick who came from the Haghe in the middle of Winter to see his Countrey and his Deliverer and after compelments falling to treat of businesse the conditions displeased him and changed the love which the Princes bore him into diffidence which was so much the greater by how much the lesse they durst shew it Oh! the inconstance of things in this world Oh I how subject is all to change Is refulsed He took Donawerdt and passed the River Look in despight of poor Tillyes resistance who though crazed with age left not yet to encourage his Souldiers His death till he was mortally wounded and then they retyred a gallop though with an orderly retreat enough to Ingolstadt where this famous Captain dyed of his wounds His elogies He was by birth a Walloon and a Gentleman He had alwayes been happy til the last year when he tryed the effects of the inconstancie of fortune He was one of the most Valliant and Prosperous Warryers that ever bore Arms. He dyed on a bed of honour for the defence of the Church and his Prince Honours to Gustave at Auxburgh Rain and Newburgh were yeelded to King Gustave and the Citizens of Auxburgh opened their gates singing his praises and exhibiting all the honours and testimonies of amitie that could be given to any mortall man Yea I know there were some who wore his Medall with as much love and reverence as the Roman-Catholicks doe their Relicks or Agnus Dei They took the oath of Fidelity to him as to their lawful Lord and consented to the destroying down of the faire Gardens about the Town to begin the fortifications This done he turned towards Swaveland where the Lutherans who make the biggest party in that Province The exploits of the Swedes in Sware rendered themselves to him and received Garrisons from him nor was there scarce any but Lindow a Town situated upon the Lesk which remained constant Italy was allarmed by the report of so great prosperitie and Feria the Governour of Milan made an Army to defend the entry Some trembled and others who desired change of State and Money rejoyced But the mischief went no further the Italians had but the feare for their punishment was able enough to fall upon them without expecting it from the hand of strangers The Siege of of Ingolstadt Ratisbone taken by the Bavarians The King having brought so many faire Towns in Swaveland under his Laws whilest the Saxons afflicted Bohemia and Papenheim domineered in Brunswick returned to the Siege of Ingolstadt a fatal Town to the Protestants full of spight to hear that the Elector of Bavaria had craftily seized upon Ratisbone an Imperial Town which he fortifyed as being wholly his own and upon which depended the ruine of that which he went to besiege in vaine The Letters which had been written by the Inhabitants of the said town being intercepted gave the Bavarians opportunity to enter at a Gate which was opened them as thinking them to be Swedes The traitours went to pot the town was saved from pilladge and the Inhabitants condemned to a forfeit of Money and to work about the fortifications They had forgotten gotten their Oath to the Emperour and the Empire and novelty and the triumph of the Swedish Armies had dazled the eyes of the Protestants who like Israel sung their deliverance Ingolstadt in the mean while saw the principal forces of the Protestants before her Walls and if she yeilded farewel Bavaria But the King found work here and this was the first town which taught this great Conquerour that he was to have bounds to his Victories besides that he was very likely to loose his life by a Cannon Bullet The Elector feeling himselfe so roughly attacked by an enemy whom he had never offended unlesse Princes take the occasion to hurt for an offence sent the French Resident Monsieur de Sainct Estienne to the King to remonstrate to him that in regard he was so deeply ingaged in the Allyance with the King of France he could not be assailed by him A notable observation without making himselfe his enemy The Resident spake confidently with him and endeavoured to divert him some other way but the King interrupted him and said I know your Masters intentions better then you do and for the rest I pardon your French liberty for you are not sent to me in the quality of an Embassadour But the President followed his instructions and Monsieur de Carnasse his in such sort as that these two being both Officers of the same Master fell to difference and were very like also to come to blowes This was not the first prank of activity which the Cardinal played in Germany though it were well observed by the Elector and would have been taken for couzenage in another Age but in this for politick craft Howsoever he made his profit of it stood fast with the Emperour and so neately and dexterously retorted the ball upon the French that the Cardinal himselfe was faine to avow that the Duke of Bavaria was the most cautious and subtile Prince in Germany When we have to do with Cheaters we must take heed of all things and
seeking the end of their evills in a happy peace but there was a wind which hindred the sprowting forth of this good seed During the time of their negotiation the Infanta went to enjoy everlasting beatitude with her husband The death of the Infanta with whom she had so religiously lived Her subjects expressed very great grief for the departure of so good a Mother by whom they had been so gently governed and that which most afflicted them was to foresee that these Treaties would produce no good effect as it was easie to judge for the States stood fast upon impossibilities and these could not by any means exclude their Master besides the Prince going to besiege Rhinbergh which he took in three weeks made them conceive that they treated with them almost no other wise then Conquerors use to do with such as they have vanquished For they offered them conditions of advantage enough to testifie that their thoughts were very much inclined to peace but the wind of France quickly cooled that pious heat Charnasse made use of the two most potent wayes in the world to make this Treaty infructuous that is of Eloquence and of that divine Mettall which Inpiter knew to be the strongest In fine he effected so much by his diligent pursuits The Treaty of Peace vanishes and sollicitations that he brake off the whole match and brought the States to take Arms again with his Master The Marquis of Aitona not having force enough to face the Prince before Rhinbergh was content to fortify the Isle of Saint Stephen upon the Moze whereby to have the passage free And the Prince agitating in his mind a greater exploit then that of a Siege went The siege of Rheynbergh and incamped himself beyond Boisleduc or the Bosse and having sent for eighteen or Twenty Troops of Swedish Horse departed with a multitude of Waggons of Victualls and marched directly towards Aitona who though he had also received some Horse from the Imperialists for his defence kept himself upon his advantages as judging it beyond the maximes of a souldier to put the Country into a general joy by hazarding the Battail offered him For if the Prince had gained it he had found no resistance but if he had lost it he had left the Conquerours nothing but the glory of having wonne it without any other profit at all save only peradventure of a Town or two as Wenlo and Ruremund The Prince sent a supply to Mastricht and retyred himself faster then he came which caused the disbanding of many of his men And the Marquis hastened with three thousand horse to defend the Isle of Saint Stephen and thus ended the Field of this year of 1633 upon which the Swedes who had committed unknown insolencies in this Militia and some dissolutions which spoyled the Holland discipline repassed the Rheyn as the Imperialists on the other side also did But let us see the Field following before we repasse with them Some Lords prisoners Aitona having received money from Spain and ranged his Militia in a good state of obedience took some Lords prisoners who were suspected of having complotted with Count Henry of Bergues The Prince d'Espinoy was already fled into France and the Duke of Arscot gone into Spain and so this thick fogge being dissipated and Count Henry's Cause tryed he marched with his Army towards the Moze whether he had already sent the Marquis de Lede who took the strong House of Argenteau and retook the Dutchy of Limburgh and so made a shew of besieging Mastricht to have the passage open into Germany The Prince to divert him from this design went and planted himself before Breda but having received notice that the Spanish Army drew towards him to dislodge him from thence he retyred five dayes after Thus ended this Field in the Low-Countries let us go see other sport in the Empyre much more bloody then this CHAP. XXXIII The Siege of Ratisbon the taking of the Town The death of Aldringer The Cardinall Infanto joynes with the King of Hungary The Protestants draw all their forces together again The Businesse of Norlinghen The victory of the Imperialists The Cardinal Infanto passes into the Low-Countries THe chief of the Protestant Party had so great cause to mistrust Generall Wallenstein whose plots and practises they knew that it was no wonder if Duke Bernard gave no credit to the promises he made to hasten a Conjunction the retardment whereof was fatall to him and all his friends Duke Francis-Albert of Saxony Lailemburgh who was the instrument chosen to tye these two mettals of a different nature together proved not his Crafts-master and so was carried prisoner for his apprentisage to Vienna Ratish me taken by the Sweden Duke Bernard having taken Ratisbone by the good will of the Inhabitants and being assured too late of the intentions of the Duke of Fruhland was advancing already towards Bohemia when he received the newes of the just disaster which was befallen him whereupon he changed course Inpiter is patient but when his goodnesse is too much abused he darts his Thunderbolt and crushes all It is alwayes dangerous to meddle with ones Master and to crack nuts with him This great Symptome was advantageous to the Swedes as giving them opportunity to take Towns in Swaveland and towards the Lake of Bregants in such sort as that the terrour which King Gustave had cast into Italy was now renewed more strongly then ever The King of Hungary having cured the Army with a sweet shower of Gold and taken a new Oath from the souldiers made them march towards Ratisbone For since the servant had betrayed the Father of the Family it was necessary to sond the childe who was received by all of them with incredible joy and alacrity I will not stay upon the particulars of this famous siege which cost very much blood but content my self with only saying that newes being come to the Camp of a notable victory gotten by Arnem upon the Imperialists in Silesia and of his moving towards Prague the King sent so strong a supply And retaken by the Imperialists that the said Armens was constrained to raise the Siege and retyre himself into Saxony Aldringer 〈◊〉 at the very same time that Ratisbone began to parly and capitulate which was near the end of July and some dayes before the famous General Aldringer was slain near Lanshut He was born in the Country of Lâ—xenburgh and his vertue had drawn him out of the obscurity of his birth to raise him to so eminent a Charge He had fought happily with John de Werdr and his death was much regretted by the principal of his party Donawerds followed Rarisbone and the Cardinal Infanto who had now staid long enough at Milan passed with the old Spanish Italian and Burgundian Bands through Swisserland into Germany where they quickly taught the Swedes what it was exactly to observe Military Discipline The Armyes joyned and marched into
George besieged it in August and carried it in September following but General Bannier caused the Governour to be beheaded for not having done his duty Galasso marched out of Pomerania and passed the Elbe Glitznigh the General of Brandenburgh stormed Gariz and he of Saxonie the Fort of Varnemont neer Rostock where he lost his life Now who would believe that the Swedes being forsaken in apparence by all the States of Germany droven back to the Baltick sea beaten in many Encounters despoiled of the Isle of Vsedon and many other with considerable losse should ever have been able to rise any more But General Hatsfelds sicknesse made them take courage though General Bredaw defeated them and made them start back again into theit Islands And yet all this was not able to hinder them from afflicting Germany yet more and that with more confusion then it had been before The feaver required yet greater blood-lettings which made this Body once so puissant and formidable grow faint and languish Let us accompany them to the banck of the Danub and to the Gates of Ratisbone Bannier having received from Sweden a supply of eight thousand men and ruined Gartz passed the Elbe in the Dutchy of Luneburgh which might have been hindred by the Princes of that House had they not taken newtrality and confirmed the good opinion of them at Venice But he marched into Misnia where he found great facility every where and very little aversion any where so strong was the zeal of Religion even yet amongst those people It was to much purpose to prohibit the Germans from taking part with the Swedes under paine of being declared Traytours to their Countrey The Sweeds againe in Misnia in Bohemia and Silesia for the hatred they carried to the Catholicks their inclination to the Swedes and the desire to plunder made them slight the ruin of the Empire but it was chiefly in Saxony 1639 that they declared their sence concerning the Peace of Prague Bannier went into Bohemia Torstenzon into Lusatia and Stalhans into Silesia and God knows into what condition they put that Country where they found more friends then the Imperialists did in Pomerania He defeated General Marizim neer Chemniz and incamped before Prague where he also defeated General Hoskirck Beats the Impeâ—alists All the world was amazed at this progress which was against all apparence and all expectation and which cost so much blood so much desolation and so many inflagrations throughout all Saxonie and even to the very Gates of Prague Fortune had again turned her back upon the Imperalists who changed their Commander For the Archduke Leopold was declared Generalissimo or Chief-General and Piccolomini his Lieutenant Many encounters hapned in which the Swedes had almost still the better and Fortune accompanied them even to the last according to the assurance which was given Bannier by a certain Peasant who was become his Prophet He marched into Thuringe 1640 to joyn with the Weymarians Hassians French and Luneburghians who returned to his Party The Imperalists incamped themselves neer Salfeldt and the Swedes over against them so that there was no other separation between them then that of the little River Sale from whence as the French writers affirm The famous Salick Law derives its name and Origen The businesse passed on both sides with some small Skermishes and with looking upon one another In sine the Swedes departed and took their way towards Brunswick and the Imperalists theirs towards Hassia where they carryed themselves no better then the others had done in Bohemia But the Duke of Weymar ruins the Lawrel winns the Rheyn therefore let as retire that way CHAP. VIII The Duke of Weymar repasses the Rheyn and besieges Rhinfeldt John de Werdr beaten and taken prisosoner The Duke of Rohans death Duke Benrards many Victories he takes Brisack his death SInce we have carried on the progresse of the Swedes to the year 1640. Let us go see what the French and Weymarians do for their part Indeed after General Gallasso departed the Burgundians were alwayes much afflicted and their constance wraher brought misfortune upon them The Burgundians ill treated then diverted it from them They refused to admit of Garrisons from him and the Lorrianers were not able to defend them The Waymarians in Alsatia beaten so that they were beaten neer Besanton and that Victory opened that way for the Weymarians again into Germany who with certain Barks which they sound passed the Rheyn made many Forts and a Bridge to keep the River at their devotion John de Werdt having notice of it omitted not to come and charge them and made them turne their backs so that he quickly got possession of the said Forts and Bridge delivered his Masters this second time from the fear which was given them by the Duke of Weymar in those parts and then sent his Troops into Winter quarters However the Duke of Weymar were much astonished at his losse yet did not he loose his courage For it is in the crosses of Fortune that great men shew vertue and testify that they are never able to despaire of good successe He repassed the Rheyn Repasse the Rheyn 1638. and besiege took Lanfenburgh and besieged Rheynfelt in the moneth of March 1638. Iohn de Werdt knowing the importance of this place marched with all speed attacked the Enemy raised the Siege beat some Foor and took two Field-pieces But this Victory having cast the Imperilites into a kind of dull security and the said Duke having gotten to himself the Duke of Rohan with five Regiments he came and charged them so happily that he routed them Iohn de Wedrt defeated and taken prisoner is sent to Paris and took Iohn de Werdt and the Duke of Savelly who afterwards made his escape prisoners besides Enkefort Sperrenter and many other Officers together with sixty Standards and Coulours This was a great blow for it brake open all the bars of the Rheyn and Iohn de Werdt with Enkefort was sent to Paris to witnesse it and was lodged at Bois de Vincennes where all the world flocked to see so renowned a Souldier in such fort as had he been an Emperour A daâ—â—â—ageable loss to the Hause of Austria there could not have been more crowding This defeat was the cause of great trouble to the House of Austria as the losse of Alsatia and the taking of Brisack but upon the other side it brought no lesse joy to France especially to such as were tyed to the interests of that great Cardiual the main mover of this low world The Duke of Roham death the Duke of Rohan being grown old under the burthen and toyle of Arms dyed of his wounds He was newly come back from the Valieline where he had archived new Lawrel which he besprinkled with blood in this last battail Rhinfeldt yeelded Rotued followed Friburgh made a shew of defence but the Governour quickly flinched Duke Barnard marched to Brisack the
Imperialists victualled the Town but the magazine being spoyled by fire they were constrained to send other Provisions which happily arrived but Fortune smiled upon them to deceive them For they were furiously attacked which they sustained with advantage and the fight was stubborn the Generals being both old Souldiers but the inconstant Goddess forsook them and so their Army of twelve thousand men was utterly defeated The besieged had patience The Imperalists beaten again Brisack besieged till another was raised where with Lamboy made such a happy assault that he got possession of a Fort neer the Bridge but not being soon enough seconded he was forced to quit it again The Duke of Lorrain who took to heart the praiservation of this place had no better luck then the Imperialists General Goetz being suspected of having too much temporized was made prisoner And Reinaker the Governour after having combated a desperate famin was compelled to surrender with a huge magazine Renders by famin in the maneth of December 1638. And the Weymarian goe into Burgundy and much riches the said Town of Brisack the very pillow upon which the House of Austria reposed and the best key of the Empire If this Victory were glorious to France it was so much the more dammageable to her Enemies and Duke Bernard to take off all impediments from the French in Germany fell in upon the Free County of Burgundy which he so quelted with Sieges Encounters Picories or Robberies that he reduced in almost all under obedience to them by whose power he had fubsisted after the Battail of Mortlingen He did also as much in Lorraine and it looked as if fortune would never abandon him Duke Berrard refuses to go to Paris The King in the mean while invited him to Paris under pretext to thank him for so many Victories obtained but he chose rather to stay at Brisack which was his heart the center of all his praetentions and the inestimable Pearl of all his conquests His refusal though coloured with some reason pleased not the Cardinals palat who desired to asture himself of that Gate whatsoever it cost him In matters of State interest is only observed and all other affections pass not beyond civility This brave Prince wanted no judgment and knew well of what importance this place was and therefore had no mind to give it the French but he had to do with a man who was more cunning then himself In fine he fel sick and after having made his Wil died in the flower of his age in the midst of his Victories and of his Army Some Germans published Falls sick and dyes hat he dyed of poyson wihich was sent from afar off as if a naturall death were not as well to be found in Armies as a violent one His life This Prince was desended from the Electoral House of Saxony which dignity was taken from his Praedecestors by Charlos the fifth and transferred upon them who have and dopossess it ever since upon which account he was always an enemy to the house of Austria even to the very last gasp of his breath After the King of Sweden no Prince was more lamented by all the Protestants then he and indeed withour lying he was one of the most valliant and prosperous Captains of this Age. The King sent forth with a hundred thousand Dublous to pay the Army and keep it in his service and the Duke of Longueville went out of Burgundy to command it who left the Germans the possession of Brisack Let us leave them to untwist their jealousies and make a turne through Germany to see what passes in Westphaha since it is all in trouble again Our right way thither is by Hannaw a strong Town neer Francfurt which being well seated and considerable was in the hands of the Earle of Ramsey a Scotch Coronel who commanded there like a petty Tyrant without sparing any yea not not so much as the Count himselfe who was Lord of the Place But this domination of his proved short Hannaw taken for as good a Souldier as he was he found himselfe attacked upon a faire occasion and taken in it though he left not his small Empire but with his life The Count of Dillingburgh was chiefe of this Enterprize and of all the Associates who had interest in it Pâ—terbone by the Swedes Meppen by the Imperialâ—â—ts The Hassians upon the other side took Paterborne by force and the Baron of Velleen the strong Town of Meppen by an enterprise upon the Prince Palatin His Army was defeated by Hatsfeldt neer Lemgow and Prince Robert his brother taken prisoner and carried to Vienna Which blow made him returne to the Haghe and confesse that Fortune was not yet weary of afflicting his Family and let us go the same way with him let us be gone I say out of this poor Empire all tottered by a Tyrannical war to see another beâ—tâ—r disciplined Indeed if Evils grow worse Prodigies went also multiplying and Christian vertues being ecclipsed gave way to all forts of impâ—etiâ—s horrours blasphemies and sacriledges CHAP. IX Breda renders it selfe to the Prince of Orange Venlo and Ruremund to the Cardinal Infanto Landrecies taken The French beaten from before St. Omers and Fontarriby The Queen-mother goes into England returns to Colein and dyes The defeate before Theonuille and that of the Hollanders before Callò The ruine of the Spanish Armada or Navy The revolt of the Normans ALbeit that these two unfruitful Fields and these huge Armies on both sides made more noise then effect as it ordinarily falls out yet could not the Popes exhortations dispose the Soveraâ—gne Heads ever the sooner to a good peace but that they would needs begin again the yeare following 1037. The Prince of Orange having affronted the Spaniards with his Fleer went unforeseen and unexpectedly to besiege Breda which in eleven weeks space he took Bredà besieged and taken and Charnasse the French Embassadour was killed there with a Musket bullet The Spaniards defeated before Leucate This year was happy for France by the defeate of the Spaniards before Leucate a strong place in the County of Rossillion which was both beleaguered and succoured on Michaelmasse Eve by the Duke of Alvin and by reprize or retaking of the Isles St. Margaret and St. Honorat which had been held by the Spaniards two years by the brave Count of Harcourt with but a handful of men Landrecies a most strong Town in the County of Hemâ—nwlt The French take â—â—â—y Towns in the Low-Countries was taken by the Marshal of Chastillon after a Siege of six weeks and many other small and untenible places followed it Capell was also retaken and Danvilliers having sustained some assaults yeilded to the Count of Soissons The Cardinal Infanto not being able to succour Bredà marched towards the Moze took with small trouble Venlo Ruremund And the Spaniards Venlo Ruremund and a great Magazine appointed for
fatal to the French as Casal had been to the Spaniards nor was all that great preparation both of men The Prince of Comde in Catalunia and money able to save him from it For thinking to overcome a Place which had in vaine been attacked by two so great Warriers he besieged it whilest Harcourt was at Paris in great esteem where his vertue had already so far triumphed over all such as envyed him as that nothing was wanting but the issue of this Siege The King of Sweden when he was going to give the brave Count of Tilly battel was heard to utter these words If Fortune be against me it will not have been any grent affront to me to have lost against a man who hath alwayes been victorious but if she look upon me with a propitions eye what glory will be due to me for having surmounted a Mars who hath been alwayes invincible Besieges Lerida in vaine This young Alexander swolne with Victories continued the Siege but meeting with the same impossibilities the same disbandings and the strong relief which was near at hand he was faine to with draw himselfe from a place which was so disasterous to the French God hath limited Conquests and therefore let him come back into France Leaves the Country where he was reserved for great affairs For the horrible Change which hapned at Neaples the Comedy mingled with blood and the Tragedy interlarded with ridiculous accidents will not suffer us to stay any longer in Catalunia whether the King sent the Marshal of Schoonbergh who by a remarkable felicity repaired these disasters THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I The tumu'ts at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The History of Conradine Prince of Swaveland His death The Sicilian Vespers or Even-Songs The History of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples PEace is an effect of Gods Grace and War another of his just Choler For since Charity is grown cold Faith almost dead and the wickednesse of man universall we must not wonder if the punishment of this present time be extended upon the whole Body of Christendom without exception of Age Sex or Condition But that which is most insupportable is the wicked have the winde in poupe and prosper and as the exhalations are ordinarily drawne from the vapours which offuscate or darken the Sun just so impunity of offences causes this disorder The Kingdom of Naples had been oft enough advertised of a scourge which was prepared for it by that Mountain near it which so often vomited up lumps of fire and sent it snowes of ashes but the Preservatives hindred not the disease The strange accidents happened in the kingdom of Naples in former ages The strange accidents which happened in this kingdom in the twelfth and thirteenth Age make us confesse that wickednesse parricides and perfidies were already known in those times but not so universally as in these For if there were found great vices amongst some great persons there were also found more vertues more piety and a quick and lively Faith in generall through all Christendom But at present Justice is trodden under foot mony does all vertue is made a laughing-stock even by them who boast to have drawn their Origin from it and vice being a la mode or in fashion is esteemed yea many sin rather by example then by inclination in this depraved Age and more to please the vicious then for that they approve of the vice By how much the more the Great ones retyre themselves from the Commons by so much the more do the Commons endeavour to withdraw themselves from their service But let us stay at Naples The infamous death to which Charles of Ainoâ—ü put Frederick Duke of Austria and his young Cousin Couradine the last Duke of the most ancient Imperial House of Swaveland for having sought his own Right which was taken from him by the Pope and given to the said Charles teaches us that this is not the first time that Soveraignes have ended their lives by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and that a good cause hath not alwayes a good issue For the three hundred French Gentlemen who were sacrificed to the spirits of these two Lords and the Torches of the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs which were extinguished in the blood of the same nation tell us that vengeance hath alwayes been sweet and that it is most dangerous to put an irritated people into fury This Gatenesa from a mean Landress being grown the Nurse of a Prince and afterwards Governess of six Princesses one after another with such an absolute power upon their mindes and chiefly upon that of the last that she grew to dispose of the greatest Charges and Offices of the kingdom and distributed the best part thereof amongst her own children saw her self at last with all her family dragged to the execution Yea a King was hanged at the Grate of a window by consent of his wife and she some years after strangled by a just judgement of the Great Judge These were the miracles or rather the prodigies of those Ages which hapened all in the said kingdom with so many other as make us conclude that usurped possessions seldom pass to the fourth Heyr or else alwayes cause troubles Towards the end of the fourteenth Age this kingdom being revolted from Alfonso of Arragon the States thereof offered the Crown to Charles the eighth King of France who easily got it into his possession and the Neapolitans with the same facility shook off that yoke afterwards for being frustrated of their Charges and recalled the aforesaid Arragonian The French returned thither by the commandment of Lewis the twelfth who ought to share it with Ferdinand of Castill but they could not agree about the spoyles and so Gonsalvo rather by might then right drove them both our It hath been attacked since but not subdued and so remaines to the King of Spain Now the wars being grown hot both in Germany and the Low-Coumtries and the House of Austria finding her self taken to task by so many enemies the State of Neaples was oppressed by so many Imposts or Taxes that that House being strong and vigorous before became so lean and feeble that he could not longer carry so heavy a burthen This mischief began first to operate almost throughout all Sicily where the people constrained the Vice-King to take off the Imposts From thence it passed to Neaples and by that good success made the Ne politans take the same resolution and that by such meanes as you shall forthwith understand The beginning of the troubles at Neaples The tears of the poor peeople the advices and admonitions of some great ones the libells and burning of the Custome-Houses were all able to draw but faint promises of ease without any effect at all Whereupon a certain Fellow of the very dregs of the People who had dyed in the obscurity of his birth had
no more he had sent Count William of Nassaw to put all in quiet that so that which he had yet to propose for the Countries service might not be hindred by such as were ill affected Let us returne to the Hague The Prince having made himself sure of the aforesaid Lords sent for the Pensioner Gatz and acquainted him with his having secured them and told him that he had sent sixty companies of Horse and Foor to Amsterdam under Count Williams conduct whom he believed to be infallibly already The States separated themselves in the Town which being reported by him to the Assembly of the States they forthwith retired and the Deputies of Amsterdam having taken a cow ple of Waggons went by the way of Harlem and arrived at Amsterdam The gard invirons the Court at eight of the clock in the evening and about eleven the Princes Gard with five companies more invested the Court. There were so great changes that they made some murmour and others blame the Peace with the Spaniards and cast in fine all the Hollanders into such astonishment that they knew not how to free themselves from it The Peasants fly The Country people about Amsterdam fled and no body knew either what to hope or feare The rich were silent and the dreggs of the People spake What State can be sure of being free from War since Holland being in the middle of the Water sees her self precipitated into these disquiets in full peace God who governsall knows why since nothing is done without his providence The reasons why those Lords are detained they are carried to Louvestein The Prince gave the six other Provinces to understand upon what grounds he had seazed upon the aforementioned Lords whom he sent with a good Gard to Louvestein the last of July and having received notice of what had passed he transported himself on Sunday to Amsterveen a Village neer Amsterdam In the mean while Souldiers flocked thither from all parts and it looked as if they would besiege the Town in good earnest which being perceived by the Inhabitants they opened the Sluces and made a shew of breaking the Damms The Slucer open in case they were put to greater extremity so that by little and little the Country began to be covered with water when the Inhabitants of Harlem observing the Prince was come to lodge with some companies neer the banck between their Town and Amsterdam took a fright and resolved at the same time to dispatch their Deputies towards him who returned with answer that they should be quiet and that he had nothing at all to say to their Town But they of Amsterdam seeing his resolution forgot nothing which concerned their liberty In fine the third of August the accommodation was made with articles of advanrage enough to the Prince who withdrew his forces The peace is made and the forces withdraw and thereby rendred Peace to all Holland and indeed had this Siege lasted yet some dayes longer it would have caused an irreparable dammage which was grown already by the interruption of commerce to be of some millions to the besieged The Siege knows before We must not omit to take notice here of a very remarkable things which is that some Marchants some weeks before this Siege received advertizements from London Dantzick and Genna that Amsterdam was besieged by Prince William The States in this conjuncture determined to draw the difference to the Haghe The Libels run and malicious Pens lest not to vomit up their venim against them of Amsterdam for a certain Libel ran up and down of articles ordered with them of the Parliament of England In brief ill tongues were as busy as ill Penus and the Prince himself was not spared Thus passed this first attack which was but precursory to a pernicious war whereof weshal make mention in fit place Albeit it seemed that the poison was taken off and all pacified distrust increased daily Distrust and they of Amsterdam had alway es an eye upon the Country The Prince sent the reasons of his proceedings to the Assembly of the States in writing but the Paper was sent back without being opened and the Prisoner's released without any other condition then that of being thenceforth deprived of Publick Employments The Prince goes to the Assembly of the Stares of Guelders He went to the Assembly of the Dutchy of Guelders where having by his prudence scattered some disorders between the Nobility and the Towns Returns is the Haghe he returned to the Haghe in some indisposition of health the twenty nineth of October was let blood the thirtieth the day following the small pocks appeared upon him and the sixth His death against the opinion of all the Physitians his sicknesse being augmented he departed out of this world in the four and twentieth year of his age leaving behinde him a young widow with childe who being afterwards delivered of a young Prince delivered the House of Nassaw and such as were well affected to it from part of the grief which was caused by his death The vecital of his life He was a Prince of a great wit which he testified in the Conference he had with the Deputies of Amsterdam as also in many other occasions He was handsome of body and given to such vices as are ordinary companions to youth Above all he was infatigable on horse-back and sooner tired his horses then himselfe He was already his Crafts-master in war to which he much inclined and promised to follow the steps of his Ancestours He knew well how to make himselfe both feared and obeyed Let us now see the miserable end of the brave Earle of Montrosse CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the magnanimous Earle of Montrosse The War of the Polanders against the Cossacks Brave Montrosses praise VErtue was never so universally oppressed as in this miserable Age Witnesse Montrosse a Souldior of merit and illustrious extracton who had rendred his Master so considerable services in the Kingdom of Scotland that his enemies effectively feared him and after he had laid down Anns by his said Masters commandment he did him yet such other services by Embassyes as made him admired for the dexterity of his wit During the Treaty of the commissioners with Charles Sinart his young Master at Breda he went into Scotland contracted some Forces to such as he carried with him from abroad and entred the Kingdom upon hope of the good successe of the said Treaty Is beater But his Troops were defeated he escaped by swimming and lay hid some dayes amongst the Reeds In fine after he had been forced by hunger His mistry which drives the Wolfe out of the Wood to eat his gloves and the very flesh of his Arm he was discovered by a Peasant taken prisoner brought before the Parliament at Edenburgh and accused of entring into the Kingdom against the order of his bannishment and other crimes
in adversity onely that we are apt to remember him and such as were not content to live in such delicious idlenesse betook themselves to the warre either in Germany or the Low-Countries King Chales will have a Conformity of the Chu ches of Scotland with that of England King Charles made Proclamation for a Conformity as well in Ceremony as otherwife of the Churches in Scotland with these of England The Puritans opposed iâ— a tumult was raised against the Bishops and principall parsons of quality and a new Allyance or Covenant amongst the Puritans The King warned them to renounce it â—ut they on the other side persisted published scandalous Writings made a League abrogated the Episcopall Authority fortified some places and constrained him to leave his rest and take arms The Scots arms The Scots having gotten possession of the Castle of Edinburgh entred in to England took Newcâ—stle and Durham The King called a Parhament which being for the most part composed of Puritans he found them inclined to favour the Scots Whereupon he marched with an Army towards the Botders where he slighted the advice of one of the chief of his Kingdom who told him that if he would be a King and were not weary of raigning he must hazard a Battell But he preferring a pernicious peace before a necessary warre made an accommodation and at the same time called a Parliament which forth with assembled and the Scots after having finished a fine Master-piece of businesse whereof they felt excessive inconveniences after wards returned home The Deputy of Ireland prisoner his death The King gave this Parliament all full and absolure power provided that in any wife it touched not his Preroâ—ative nor such as were near it an individuall point by verâ—ue of a Law made in Henry the seventh's time But the first thing they did was to imprison the Lord Deputy of Ireland who could not be saved by the Kings requests nor his own defence but that he must needs be sacrificed to the hatred of the ignorant people who expressed their brutality by demanding his death and their folly by being moved to compassion at his firm and immutable constance to the last The Prince of Orange in England The Prince of Orange having demanded the eldest Princesse for his Son and obtained her he sent him thither to espouse her where he heard the said Deputies arguments and saw him brought upon the Scaffold and after his departure the Queen conducted her Daughter to the Haghe where she was received with very great honours but found the States more inclined to Neutrality then to meddle with that intestine warre For the King finding his Authority sensibly checked was already retyred to York where he set up his Standard sent for the Knights of the Garter and having neither Ships nor money sought some support in the affections of his subjects but too late for the forces whereof he had dif-invested himselfe were in the Parliaments hands however he was succoured by the greatest part of the Nobility The Malignants and Round-heads who and Gentry upon whom was imposed the name of Malignants as that of Round-heads was upon the Parliament souldiers The Queen having received some money upon her Jewels and drawne a good summe from the Prince of Orange repasted into England War between the King and Parliament but was cast back by a most horrible tompest upon the Coast of Holland though yet some weeks after she arrived in safety with all the Munitions which she had been able to purchase and afterwards retired into France leaving her husband in this storm wherein he was swallowed up S r. Thomas Wentworth c. Lord Debuty of Ireland sould by P. Stent In sine understanding that the English had called in the Scots by vertue of the Covenant concluded and confirmed by Oath on both Parcies wherein they swore the destruction of the Bishops he dispatched Prince Robert against them The Royâ—lists beaten by the Scots who joyned his forces though not his opinion with the Earl of Newcastle for he would needs venter a Battail which he lost and the said Earl fled into Germany and all the Kings felicity with him During these interludes the Earl of Montroffe did wonders for the King in Scotland for with a very small Army he gained a Battail came off with advantage in many encounters and repayred in fine the Kings affaires there Montrosse for the King in Scotland whilest they impayred in England for having lost another victory to Fairfax he was compelled to retyre to Oxford where he was besieged Whereupon his Son went into France and himself fled disguised to the Scotch Army The King flies to the Scotch Army and is sold who received him at first with great honour and complement though afterwards they delivered him up to the Parliament Army for a summe of mony He was made passe amongst the people for a Papist and a Tyrant and that he had a design to annull all the Priviledges of England c. Ah ungratefull People Ah Scotch Captains You who have the renown of being Souldiers how could you consent to such a basenesse Had avarice more power over your soules then respect vertue and duty For though you had an opinion that the King were a Papist is it lawfull for subjects to act against the Annointed of the Lord that which they would not have done to themselves As soon as the news of the Deputies imprisonment arrived in Ireland The revolt in Ireland the Irish took Arms to free themselves from the Captivity of the English as they called it but with so much barbarity and cruelty that they rendred themselves detestable thereby especially to such as knew how they had been treated by the English But what will not people undertake which from a long time are grown brutish and savage when they crush the head of their Governours with their own Chaines The Collections which were made in Holland for the succour of the Reformates in that Country The Collections in Holland for what begat as well the admiration of the Charity of that Nation towards their Brethren as doubt also on the other side whether such large summes ever arrived there The King being near London found himself reduced to the extremity of granting them of the Parliament whatsoever they asked and not being able to suffer some inconveniences which were cast upon him he made his escape to the Isle of Wight where he was treated like a prisoner But in fine being led back again to London and the Vpper House being abolished The King is executed the 30. of January 1649. he was accused by the Army and brought before a High Court of Justice where he was tryed condemned to be beheaded and executed the thirtieth of January 1649. There have happened enormous accidents in this Age but none which hath so much astonished the world as this strange proceeding Such as are curious have made a shift
to pick out some kind of similitude of his death to that of the Saviour of the world but for my part I will be silent Since that time the English have fought prosperously against the Irish and Scots But let us now end the war and the difference between the King of Spain and the States Generall and see the success of the Armes of France CHAP. XIX The continuance of the Exploits in Flanders The Battail of Lentz THE Prince of Orange made his last Field in the year 1647. when he passed into Flanders and received a supply of six thousand French conducted by Marshall Gramment who did nothing but plunder and gave proof of their courage and irregular Discipline to the souldiers of this Common-wealth He took a Fort before Antwerp which he presently after lost again He found so much repugnance in the States against the Siege of this Town that he changed his design Hemy Prince of Orange sick His death 1648. and marched towards Venlo but after the loss of many men there he retyred to the Haghe where he fell sick and died in the moneth of March 1648. and was interred at Delft by Prince William his Father This generous Prince gave so many testimonies of his valour in so many perilous Sieges that he made himself admired by all the world Armentiers and Landrecies taken 1647. The Arch-Duke Leopold being arrived in the quality of Governour of the Low-Countries besieged Armentiers the thirteenth of May which the French had fortified and made a Magazine there which he gained the twenty sixth of the same monoth But Gassion being intrenched with eight thousand men near Esterre hindred him from any further attempt upon Artoise and chiefly Arras upon which he seemed to have cast his eye Wherefore he went and invested Landrecies and brought it under obedience in less then three weeks The French take La Baneè Diemude end Tortoza But Gassion recompenced the first loss by the taking of La Baneè which he effected by an Assault only without a siege as Rantzow also did Diemude In such sort as Piccolomini was forced to lay a formall Siege to it and tear it our of the hands of Monsieur Palvaw the Governour Rantzow had an enterprise upon Ostend which being discovered was hurtfull to the Enterprisers Nor had that of Beck upon Courtrack any better success and La Baneè remained as a Curb to Lile But the Arms of France had better luck in Catalunia where the Marshall of Schoonbergh recompenced the loss which the Count of Harcoart made in raising the Siege of Lerida in doing the like for the Spaniards before Flix and by easily taking Tortoza From whence the name of Hibernia to Ireland a Town situated at the mouth of the River Ebro called by the Romans Iberus But Terragona was a stumbling-block for them as well as Casal had been to the Spaniards The next years Field must do miracles and shew the Hollanders that without them they were able to beat the Spaniards out of Flanders Indeed the Army was very great and the General had both luck and courage enough to undertake impossible things The French take Ypers and the Spaniniards Courtrack 1648. The fair and strong Town of Ypers was attacked and taken in twelve dayes and Courtrack retaken by the Spaniards in five Indeed the want of Victuals was so great that if Ypers had held out four days more the Army had been in danger of suffering much The forces of both Parties met near Lentz a Town though small yet famous for brave Gassions death Gassion killed who was killed by a musket bullet in the Approaches to the Town The Sraniards were about seven thousand and the French much sewer The Foot did their duty well enough The Battail of Lentz and especially the Lorraines but the Horse according to their custom sled and would not hearken to General Becks exhortations who was taken and died rather of vexation then of his wounds In sine the Spaniards lost the Battail and had almost lost the Imperiall Prince too had he not been succoured by the Prince of Ligne The victory of the French who remained in pawn for him For want of Foot the French were fain to be content with the Town of Fuernes which was afterwards retaken by the Spaniards to guard Dunkerk It was conceived that this victory would have been a means to ingrandish the French Monarchy but it was likely on the other side to make it stumble and indeed it gave it such a shogg that it hath not been able to recover it self wholly hitherto For this great Body being strong and nimble is fallen into a feaver which makes it frantick It is like a Watch the principall wheels whereof being broken keeps no true course or measure But let us go and finish the war of the United Provinces since the news thereof is already come for if we should stay to note all things we should never have an end CHAP. XX The Peace made betwixt the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable Siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate THe last Field having produced no remarkable effect at all was taken by many as the shooting off of a Musket without a bullet rather to content the Allyes then to advance upon the enemy rather to drive away the time then to make use of advantages and rather to tyre the French then to come to share stakes with them Indeed the Hollanders had a fine game of it for the enemy not being able almost to stoop was fain to avow that all their defences being taken away in Flanders they had nothing more left to oppose against them then the Walls of Amwerp Gaunt and Bridges for Guelders was half conquered Brabant open and Flanders almost quite subjugated so that there remained but one and the last Bowt to come to the sharing of stakes In the mean while the Embassadours which last arrived were the first dispatched for they found so much inclination in them of Spain that the Proposition for a Truce being changed into that of a Peace all their demands were granted them In such sort as more then a twelve moneths time was spent in attending and uniting the two Parties howbeit they had brought them so far already that whatsoever the French had gotten by conquest of the Spaniards and other enemies was to remain as their own for perpetuity and they had confirmed it amongst them by a sure and fast League in order to which Monsieur de Seruient had taken great pains at the Haghe yea he indevoured under this pretext to draw the States to a continuation of the war The Peate made between the Spaniards and the Hollanders and the utter expulsion of the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries and therefore it was no marvaile if Prince William leaned that way with him For this young Eagle being newly received as Governour and Captain Generall desired to accomplish what his Predecessors