most smiles is then most ready to shoot her inevitable shots of her irradicable hatred against such as love vertue and constance It was necessary to recount this for the greater knowledge of what we are to publish concerning Muscovy which hath selt the tragical effects of Bellona as well as the rest of Europe whereof she is a good part CHAP. IV Of Poland The Government and Religion thereof Henry Duke of Anioii chosen King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battell THis Kingdome was governed by Sigismund of Sweden and had no other enemy at that time then the Swedes for the interest of their Prince But before we give an account thereof we will speak of the manners and Origin of the Country Poland is of very vast distent and takes her name from the great Fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn. The great Dukedome of Lithuania is a part of this Kingdome which is bounded on the one side by Muscovy and on the other Hungary Germany Livonia and Prussia or Borussia to the Baltick Sea there are many Fennes Lakes and huge Forrests Poland full of Forrests and Fennes as there likewise are through all the North where in the Trunks of Trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain Drink chiefly in Lithuania which is most delicate and yeelds not awhit in goodness to Spanish wine Now here well deserves to be inserted the story of a certain Peasant or Countriman who being fallen by accident into one of the Trunks which was full of hony ran great hazard to be drowned The story of is Peasant saved by a strange accident without an almost miraculous succour which came to him by chance And it was a Bear approaching the said place to lick the hony whereof these creatures are very lickorish the poor man layd hold of his tayle and the beast violently endeavouring to run away drew the man out of this sweet but fatall precipice The winter is there very long and sharp against the rigour whereof the Inhabitants who have no want of wood serve themselves of stoves and good furred gownes as all the Northern people do The Nobility is very studious of Warre and desirous of Travell and in short of an humour much like that of the French They express their gallantry in the beauty of their Cloathes Weapons and Horses in the sumptousness of Feasts Weddings Funeralls Christenings and in numerous Trains of servants too when they go a woing They are very stout and decide their quarrels for the most part by encounters so that there are more Fights then Duels They are very good souldiers whereof they have given frequent testimonies against the Turks whom they oppose not with Fortifications and Bulwarks for the defence of their Kingdome and all Christendome but with their Bodies in the Field The Tartars do them much hurt by surprizes who as soon as they have done their feat and find the Poles advancing betake themselves to their heels with their pray and fell their prisoners to the Turks by whom they are made slaves The Polanders anciently called Sarmass were very redoubtable to the Romans and contemned their power they embraced the doctrine of the Gospel and since learning and sciences have been in Vogue amongst them they are extremely civilized as all other nations like wife are which have changed the darkness of ignorance into light and their brutish manners into amiable society The Latin tongue is so common amongst them that there are very few Gentlemen who do not speak it The custome of drawing a sword when the Priest recited the Gospel in the Mass is now abolished for some misfortunes which happened thereby however by this zealous action they signified themselves to be willing to loose their lives for the defence of the Gospel and for the ingrandizement and propagation whereof they have often tought against the Pagans and do protect Christendome to this day against the puissance of the Infidels Though yet they were moved by this very zeal both inconsiderately and perfidiously to break the sworne Peace with the Great Turk and were consequently all cut off together with their King Vladislans near Varne They are very strong and tall and have faces able to imprint the figure of feare in the countenance of the most confident They slight the rigour of the cold and all other obstacles which may hinder them from a glorious death Yet is it also very true on the other side that vice hath placed its dwelling there as well as elsewhere and that the contempt of the Lawes is not lesse amongst them then in any other part of Europe They who travell through Poland and Hungary carry their beds with them yea and sometimes their victuals too to shunne the hazard of an ill supper and a hard lodging These two Nations have a fashion of cloathing almost alike which doth differ very little and they both weare furred Bonnets The Romane Catholick Religion is the chief however there be other also permitted and freely exercised amongst them as namely the Arrian and many other old Heresies which are still croaking there besides the Greck Church hath also a great number of adherents there The Kingdome of Poland is Elective and when the King is dead the Archbishop of Gssue takes the Government of the State and assembles the Senate and the Nobility for the election of another During the Interreign or vacancy there is committed great store of murthers and insolencies which moves such as love the publick Quiet to speed the Election The Nobility hath most high priviledges whereby the Kings authority is much bridled and retained within the Lawes of the Kingdom whereof in a word they are so jealous that they alwayes mistrust their Prince and imagine every moment that he will either take their lawes from them or at least diminish them to make himself more absolute Murthers are not so rigorously punished here as in other parts of Chrislendome For a Gentleman shall be quit for killing of another with one years imprisonment and if the person murthered be of a mean condition for a small forfeit The Ecclesiasticks have huge Revenues for which they are much envied The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senatours whom they call Waiwodes Chatellans and Starosts which are charges of Captains In a word they are all equall like Brothers not enduring any superiority at all The Duke of Anioll elected King The Kingdome being vacant by the decease of Sigismund Queen Katherine de Medicis sent the Bishop of Valence thither for the Duke of Anioll her son who was chosen with applause and the eloquence of the said Bishop prevailed much therein The magnificencie of the Dukes Reception made the French see that the Polanders skorn to fall short of any in gallantry But his Reign proved not very long For hearing of the death of King Charles and preferring the Hereditary Crown of France
departure the States were advised by the Kings of England and France with both whom they had made a most streight Allyauce for the maintaining of the Peace in case it were concluded to renew the Treaty of a Truce And to this effect it was again taken into deliberation by the said Embassadours at Antwerp in the moneth of March The Treaty renewed at Antwerp whether the States likewise sent their Deputies namely Count William of Naffaw and the Lord of Brederode the â—5 of the same moneth and they concluded a Truce for twelve yeares upon the ninth of April 1609 which caused great rejoycing every where as well amongst the Neighbours as the Parties themselves concerned Truce made and the Embassadours were regaled and honoured with great presents During this Treaty many libels were made and dispersed some with reasons to countermine this sweet Peace and others to advance it Birds of mischief seck the dark and like Owlas blame the light as hurtfull and discovering their actions And so their fluttering was despised And here we see the end of this war for a while which sprung up at the beginning of the reign of King Philip the second and that upon divers pretexts as namely that of liberty of conscience and priviledges and under various Governours of different humours fomented by ambition Religion and diffidence under the Princess of Parma the Duke of Alva Don Lewis Don Iohn of Austria on the one side and Prince William and the States-Generall on the other the latter whereof made a strong union amongst themselves at Vtrick the Articles of which namely for the free exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion have been much altered They formed their Common-Wealth under the Arch-Duke Matthias and the Duke of Alanson under the Prince of Parma they begged the assistance of the King of France and the Queen of England They continued the Warre with much success against Count Mansfeld and Cardinall Andrew They repaired what was amiss in their Republick by the factions which arose under the Earl of Leicester They valiantly defended themselves against the Arch-Duke Albert and the Brave Spinola even till the very publication of the Truce We will now stay awhile and repose our selves in the rest of the Low-countries which we so much desired as being the part where the War was so long time carried on with so much expense and no lesse industry then good discipline though it were often disturbed by the frequent mutinies of the Spaniards for want of pay from whence the Confederares knew how to draw most considerable advantages CHAP. IX The State of France The King goes to Sedan Troubles in Austria and Bohemia A Conjuration discovered in Spain and the Mores banished thence THe hast we had to see an interruption of the misfortunes wherewith the Belgick * The Low-countries Lion had been tormented above fifty years together and his roaring heard throughout the whole Universe to the astonishment of all the greatest States of the world made us slight the reasons of them who partly out of hatred to the House of Austria and partly for the Roman Catholick Faith the utter abolition whereof they passionately desired endeavoured to hinder the Truce We will therefore turn back a little towards France which flourished now as if there had never been any warres at all Courtesie the essential vertue of that Nation together with the Beauty Bounty and Fertility of this kingdome founded upon most excellent Lawes fine Sciences and laudable Exercises attracted the Nobility of all Europe thither as to a School of vertue and glory In effect there was no remarkable Commotion able to give any apprehension or disturbance to the Publick Rest For the Warre of Savoy and the conspiracy of the Marshall Biron were almost as foon smoothered as known It was a kind of Terrestrial Paradise where they who were enemies about the difference of Doctrines lived in friendship by the authority of their Master who maintained peace both abroad The death of Charles Duke of Lorraine and at home Charles Duke of Lorraine a Prince loaden with age adorned with singular vertue and piety lest his Sonne Henry his Heyre to retire himself to the Coelestiall lerusalem in the yeare 1608. The King of France goes to Sedan with an Army In brief the fruits of Peace were most delicious when the King suddenly raised a great Army and conducted it to Sedan For there were some misunderstandings between him and the Duke of Boüillon which were taken away by the intercession of the forrain Embassadours However this Cavalcada gave no small jealousie to the Spaniards who found themselves obliged thereby to put strong Garrisons through all the country of Luxemburgh and the Confederates reaped great profit from it For it made men believe that it was but a fiction or rather a prelude of that huge preparation which we shall shortly relate However much talke there was of it and great indagation into the reasons thereof by men of curiosity The Duke of Boüillon feeling the pulse of the Protestant Princes his neighbours judged it not necessary to draw blood yet and that which was differred shall be found in sit time LEWIS THE XIIII KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARR Now these divisions between Brothers and Cousin-Germans of the same House were taken by such as meddle not a little to pick out the actions thereof but for artifices or tricks and men said it was the only right way to preserve Hungary Moravia Bohemia and other Provinces depending upon the said kingdome from falling into the hazard of a new Election A conjecture grounded upon probabilities of consideration enough Spain in the mean while looked not only upon the troubles of the Low-countries and means to bring them to an end but she had likewise a particular care to steer her Indian Fleets into a good Port For as for the rest there had in some years passed nothing which could disturb the tranquility of that kingdom But in the year 1609. there was discovered a Conjuration which had it taken effect would have involved it in a totall ruin supplanted Christian Religion and reduced the King to fly for Sanctuary elsewhere But the greatest storms are those which often do least hurt and are diverted by slight causes Yea a gentle rain often allayes the most furious windes The Mores implored the assistance of the Grand Signior The Conjuration of the Mores discovered in Spain and other Mahometan Princes the Doctrine of whom they followed in effect though in apparence Christians and they had also for a long time been heaping up Arms and with the slight succour of twenty thousand men they being already at the least a hundred thousand in Spain combatants they promised themselves to bring all Spain under their subjection But being detected They are banished into Africa the King of France having refused them his ayde they were all embarked in the kingdom of Valencia and transported into Barbary by the Kings
Fortifications The end of the Party Page 112. CHAP. IX The death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Successour The marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spaines Sister Page 114. CHAP. X. The War of Italy for the succession of the Dutchy of Mantua where in the Emperour and the two Crowns interessed themselves Page 115. CHAP. XI The continuance of the war of Italy The Venctians beaten Pignarola taken Mantua taken and pilladged The peace is made with restitution on both sides Page 117. CHAP. XII Cardinal Richelieu makes peace with the English studies new Allyances to attack the House of Austria Page 119. CHAP. XIII A description of the state of the Empire The Election of the King of the Romans Page 121. CHAP. XIV A description of the three States of the Empire The Hanse-Towns Page 123. CHAP. XV. The principal motives of the decline of the Empire Page 125. CHAP. XVI The Emperour redemands the Ecclesiastical Lands and Goods taken after the Composition of Passavia Alteration amongst the Protestants Page 126. CHAP. XVII The Assembly at Ratisbone where Frithland is exanctorated or dismissed from his Charge Page 128. CHAP. XVIII The King of Swedens entrance into Germany His reasons why Those of the Emperour Allyances with Bogislaus He blocks up the Sea-towns Tilly retakes the Generalate against his will Page 129. CHAP. XIX The Siege of Magdeburgh The Duke of Lawenburgh beaten and taken near the Elbe The King Gustave takes Francsurt upon the Oder and beates the Imperialists Page 131. CHAP. XX. The Protestants make Allyance with Gustave Magdeburgh taken by force Page 134. CHAP. XXI The Battel of Leipsick the flight of the Imperialists Page 136. CHAP. XXII The Cardinal pries upon the affaires of Germany abuses the Duke of Lorraine Papenheim retakes Westphalia succours Magdeburgh and beats the Swedes Page 139. CHAP. XXIII The taking of the Fleet of Shallops near Berghenup-zoom Wallenstein resakes the Generallat with Conditions of too much advantage An Earthquake at Naples The Mountaine of Soma vomits fire Page 141. CHAP. XXIV George I and grave of Darmstadt obtaines Newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly. The King makes his entry at Nurembergh Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillies troops retreat with confusion Tillies death his Elogies The Siege of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers Instruction of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom Page 143. CHAP. XXV The Count of Bergues disgusted at the Kings service goes secretly to the Haghe The Siege of Mastricht Papenheim being repulsed returns into Germany Limburgh followes Mastricht and the Deputies the Prince to the Haghe Page 146. CHAP. XXVI Wallenstein drives the Saxons out of Bohemia drawes towards Nurembergh The Tragedy which hapned at Rostock Gallasso and Holck in Misnia The King goes out of Bavaria and incamps before the said town sends for all his Forces Papenheims successe Page 148. CHAP. XXVII The Armies are incamped before Nurembergh The Skermishes They depart from thence The Battel of Lutzen The death of Gustave Papenheim and Feederick Page 150. CHAP. XXVIII The Electour of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters the Kingdoms with an Army The brave Duke of Montmorancyes death Page 152. CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some of his Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen The cruelty of Conquerours Brisack succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein Page 153. CHAP. XXX The Siege of Nancy Rantzow makes himselfe known at the encounter of Haguenaux and at the Siege of Andernack Page 156. CHAP. XXXI Wallenstein defeates the Swedes in Silesia The Inhabitants of Colein retract the Agreement made before Nancy The tragical death of the said Wallenstein Page 156. CHAP. XXXII The Siege of Smolensko raised The King of Poland forces an Army of a hundred and twenty thousand men to have recourse to his mercy He makes peace with the Muscovits Chastises the Turks The Infanto's death The taking of Rinbergh Aitona puts the Milttia in good posture and takes some Lords prisoners Page 160. CHAP. XXXIII The Siege of Ratisbone The taking of the towne Aldringers death The Cardinal Infanto joynes with the King of Hungary The Protestants recollect all their Forces The bufinesse of Nortlinghen The Victory of the Imperalists The Cardinal Infanto goes into the Low-Countries Page 162. THE SECOND PART THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. THe peace made at Prague after the reduction of many places and small States The complaints of the Swedes Page 165. CHAP. II. The Answer to the complaints of the Swedes The Cardinal will besiege Colein The States refuse succour He seeks to ruine the House of Lorraine The Princesse Nicoll at Paris Prince Francis carried to the Cittadell of Nancy Page 167. CHAP. III. The Imperialists wast in the Dutchy of Wirtembergh The French come to succour the Swedes Philipsburgh taken by a prank of war The Cardinal Infanto enters Brussels and the Duke of Orleans departs Page 169. CHAP. IV. The King of France declares war against the Cardinal Infanto and why The Spaniards are beaten The taking of the Fort of Schenck Page 170. CHAP. V. The Imperialists beat back the French into Lorraine Oxensterne passes into France Bannier begins the war again and beats the Saxons Hatsfeldt gives succour Magdeburgh renders it selfe The Battel of Witstock Leipsick succoured Page 172. CHAP. VI. Coloredo taken The Spaniards passe into Picardy John de Werdts Exploits The Siege of Dole raised Gallasso enters into Burgundy The war agianst the Duke of Parma who makes his peace The truce prolonged in Prussia Page 175. CHAP. VII Ferdinand the second dies afer the Diet of Ratisbone where his Son had been elected King of the Romans A Recitall of his life Bannier makes new progresse Many Princes take Newtralities and then the Party of the Swedes The Arch-Duke Leopold Generalissimo or chief Generall Page 178. CHAP. VIII The Duke of Weymar repasses the Rheyn and besieges Rhinfeldt John de Werdt beaten and taken The Duke of Rohans death Duke Bernards many victories He takes Brisack his death Page 180. CHAP. IX Breda yeelds it self to the Prince of Orange Venlo and Rurem and to the Cardinal Insanto Landrecies taken The French beaten from before Saint Omers and Fontarrabie The Queen-Mother goes into England returns to Colein and dies The Defeat before Theonuille The Defeat of the Hollanders before Callo The ruine of the Spanish Navie The revolts of the Normans Page 182. CHAP. X. The revolt of Catalunia and Portugal The taking of Arras The Spaniards beaten before Carall The Hollanders beaten before Hulst Page 186. CHAP. XI The prudence of the Cardinal-Duke The Duke of Lorraine goes to Paris and why the Count of Soissons the Dukes of Guise and Bouillon retyres themselves to Sedan where they and Lamboy beat the Marshall of Castillon The taking of Ayre The Cardinal Infanto retyres to Brussells His
death Page 189. CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to an universall Monarchy and whether the reasons be sufficient which accuse it of aspiring to it Why France retaines Lorraine Page 191. CHAP. XIII Piccolomini raises the Siege from before Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenson arrives from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken prisoner The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick recollect themselves after having punished the slacknesse of the souldiers and raise the Siege of Friburgh The Battail of Honcourt The Expleits in Catalunia The death of Monsieur le Grand The death of the Great Cardinal An Epitome of his life Page 194. CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Iust The Battail of Rocroy The Battail of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein Page 198. CHAP. XV. Of the war of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof Page 200. CHAP. XVI Gallasso retyres out of Holstein and is ruined by Torstenson at Magdeburgh The Battail of Lankewitz The Exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh 203. CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the obedient Low-Countries The taking of many of the strongest townes in Flanders Page 206. CHAP. XVIII The war of England The Tragical death of the King Page 208. CHAP. XIX A continuation of the Exploits in Flanders The Baâ—tail of Lenâ—â— Page 212. CHAP. XX. The Peace between the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate Page 213. CHAP. XXI The difference which happened betwixt the two Families of the Landgraves The Battels of Mergendal and Nortlinghen Generall Mercy 's death Page 216. CHAP. XXII The Exploits of the Swedes upon the Franteers of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander Generall of the Imperiall Armies Page 219. CHAP. XXIII The taking of Swinsfort and Eger Lamboy and Conninxmark incamped before Rene. The taking of Retschin The siege of Prague Page 222. CHAP. XXIV The breach of the Truce with the Duke of Bavaria A tempest upon the Elbe Melanders death The Peace of Germany The death of the King of Denmark and of Uladislaus of Poland Casimir succeeds him Page 223. CHAP. XXV Pope Urbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia Page 226. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe tumults at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The history of Conradin Prince of Swaveland his death the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs The history of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples Page 230. CHAP. II. The war of the Turks and the Venetians and why The taking of Canea The Knights of Malta take a great Booty a great number of Gallies and the young Sultanesse with her Sonne The Venetians obtain succour but are beaten Page 234. CHAP. III. The troubles which happened at Paris The City is besieged The Arch-Duke comes to succour it The Siege and taking of Ypers Cambray besieged in vain Hennault ransacked Page 237. CHAP. IV. Tumults in the Province of Luke or Liedge The Election of a Coadjuter Tumules at Trevirs The Lorrains in the Kingdom of Aix and in the Dutchy of Gulick beat the Peasants The war is kindled again at Naples Page 239. CHAP. V. The Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Conde the Duke of Bouillon and other Lords retyre themselves so Bourdeaux The Dutchess of Longueville and the Vice-Count of Turenne to Stenay The Allyance is made The Duke of Orleans in Flanders and a digression upon that subject Page 244. CHAP. VI. Containing what passed in the Summer of this year of 1654. The Offers of the Portugal Embassadour The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princes complaints The Siege of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His praises Page 247. CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the valiant Earle of Montrosse The war of the Polanders against the Cossacks Page 250. CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stuart in Jersey The Kings Goods sold Charies Stuart goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuance of the War in Candy The war made with the Pen. An Embassadour from Spain at London The Chineses or people of China become Christians Page 254. CHAP. IX The Coronation of the Queen of Sweden The dammage at Paris by the River The diliverance of the Princes Mazarin being banished departs out of France The Great Assembly at the Haghe The arrival of the English Embassadours at the Haghe The war against the Cossacks The King of Scots enters into England with an Army is beaten at Worcester and slyes disguised Page 256. CHAP. X. The Coronation of Charles King of the Scots His entry into England He looses the Baetiel near Worcester The miserable condition of the Scots Charles's marvellous escape He arrives in France The difference between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made Page 258. CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entrance into Paris The joy for the one and the other The Dutchess of Longueville and the Marshal of Turenne returne into France The Prince of Oranges Baptism and the dispute for his tutelage The Bank broken near Waghening Uiefeldt accused of having intended to poison the King Berghen St. Winock taken by the Spaniards Page 260. CHAP. XII The Cardinal returnes into France The Lords who had been prisoners restored to their Charges The Prince of Conde retires to Paris The King declared Major Prodigies seen at sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why Spirings death Page 262. CHAP. XIII The miseries at sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France etc. Page 264. CHAP. XV. The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends back an Army to Paris takes Graveling and Dunkerek The English beat the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retyres into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes Page 267. CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of Fishermen Tromp returns to Sea findes Blake a tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens victory before Ligorne Tromp conducts the Fleet safely into France Divers Combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Assembly at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Ferdinand the fourth King of the Romans Page 271. The Continuation Page 275. Reader The Corrector to the Presse intreats thee to amend with thy Pen these faults which have escaped his eye PAge 1. line 28. read sent p. 2. l. 27. Now. p. 6. l. 16. then p. 7. l. 1. other by p. 12. l. 4.
of the Duke of Mayenne and the rest of the League with King Henry Albert resolved to make the united Provinces also feel the stroake of his Arms And so he presented himself before Ostend an Apple not yet ripe and afterwards before Hulet which after many Assaults he at length carried But the Marshall de Rosue had his Head taken off by a Canon Bullet and more then three thousand souldiers were also slaine The year following Prince Maurice had his revenge near Turnhawt where he cut off the Troops of the Count de Varax In the month of March of the same year Hernantello Governour of Dourlens like a Fox surprised Amiens by a stratagem to the great astonishment of all France and the King retook it like a Lion after six moneths siege He passed thither with strong forces and thought to have given a just retaliation to the Spaniards by surprising Arras but he was repulsed by the young Count of Buquoy who after wards rendred great and remarkable services to the Emperour as we shall shortly shew During the time of these changes the Pope forbore not to represent to the King the misfortunes and mischiefes which this long Warre brought upon Christendome and beseeched him to hearken to a good and firm Peace with the King of Spain especially being invited thereto by the disorders of his own kingdome and the fear of a new Revolt more dangerous then the former There was none but the Queen of England and the Confederated States who endeavoured by advantageous offers to divert him and keep him on horse-back Though yet he dissembled their reproaches and answered that the Queen was a gainer by this warre but for his part that his people was exhausted and that he received many and great dammages from the Spaniards who promised by this Peace to render all they had gotten in France That he was obliged as a good King and a good Father to solace and refresh his poor subjects So that all their offers and many more the Peace of Vervin 2598. were not able to hinder this holy work which was concluded and established at Vervin in the moneth of May 1598. The King of Spain also for his part was urged to make Peace as seeing himself crazed with age and having a young Prince and a Princesse his children to marry and Fortune very often against him Besides three enemies upon his back as France and the Confederated Provinces which threatened him with the utter losse of the Low-countries and England which either destroyed or spoyled his Fleets upon the Ocean endangered thereof the Indies and put him to great charges to secure it and lastly their taking of Cales the prime key of the kingdom and other Places Now by vertue of this Peace the places were restored But the pretentions which each of these Kings hath to some certain Demaynes of the other were not taken away From whence sprang the seed of new Warres which were one day to smoother the promises of arming no more even though there should be occasion for it The Peace was received by the poor people with such showes of joy and teares of tendernesse as cannot be comprehended but by such as have suffered and almost lost all The States in the mean while let not these occasions slip by the great distance of the Cardinals forces For Prince Maurice marched into the Field took Bergh Grol Oldenseel Lingen and some other places which progress purchased him the reputation of a very great Captain and of understanding the profession of the Militia as well as any man of his time After the publication of the Peace Philip the second by his Letters Patents dated at Madrid the 6 th of May 1598. conferred all the Low-countries together with the Duchy of Burgundy upon the Infanta Isabell his Daughter to which the Prince her Brother consented and confirmed it both by oath and writing upon condition that if the said Princesse came to die without children the said Provinces should return to the Dominion of Spain besides many other Clauses too long to recite Now forasmuch as the actions of great persons are examined and either approved or disapproved according to every ones passion this which I here note was not forgotten by the contrary party All things are profitable yea Lyes themselves provided they last four and twenty hours are of utility and advantage CHAP. XII The Areh-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Duchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable Patience THe Allyes of both parties were invited to the Peace of Vervin but the Queen of England not being able to induce the States to it resolved to joyn with them in warre under conditions of more advantage to her then before This gave the Arch-Duke subject to complain of her for continuing a warre with so great stomack and grudge upon him by whom she had never been offended But he having now received the Procuration of the Infanta his Wife was acknowledged and received for Prince of the Low-countries and he wrote a Letter to the Confederated States but received no Answer The Arch-Duke goes into Spain He departed for Spain with the Prince of Orange and passed through Germany to conduct Queen Margaret of Austria nominating for Governour during his absence Cardinal Andrew and the Admirall of Arragon for Captain General who led a strong Army into Cleveland and Westphalia where he took Rinberg and many other small places and made his Winter-Quarter there notwithstanding the complaints of the Lower-Ceroles He sent La Bourlette to the Isle of Bommel took Crevecoeur laid siege to Bommel which he was forced to raise and so after he had built the Fort of St. Andrews he retreated into Brabant where his souldiers began to mutiny for want of pay The Ceroles had raised another Army which was disbanded for want of order some of them being for the Spaniards and the other for the States It is in vain to lead great forces into the Field without a good purse to maintain them and good counsell to encourage them The death of King Philip. King Philip lived not long after the conclusion of the Peace which he also wished both with the English and Hollanders as being desirous to die in Peace He was long tormented with a feaver and two impostumes and in fine his whole body was so wasted that it was pittiful to behold But more admirable was his patience to suffer all as he did without murmuring He commanded like a great Prince and died like a good Christian In the beginning of his Reign he was happy but in the decline of his age he saw the losse of one part of the Low-countries and received many other dammages from the English He was much blamed for not coming himself in person into Brabant and for proceeding too roughly with that people which had been so affectionaâ—e to the Emperour Charles and in fine for constituting two Generals over the Fleet surnamed The Invincible
need at all to speak thereof Mary Eleonor her eldest sister was married to Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia who died without issue male and left four daughters behinde him Anne who was the eldest was given to John Sigismund Duke of Brandenbourgh and Elector of the Empire The second to the Old Elector The third to the Duke of Courland The fourth to Duke John George of Saxonie brother to the Elector The second sister of the said Duke called Anne in the year 1574. married Philip Lewis Duke of Newbourgh in which marriage she brought Wolsgang William who kept his Court at Dusseldorp and died in the moneth of April in this year of 1653. The third who was Magdalen was made wife to the Duke der Deux-Ponts And Sibill the fourth was bestowed upon Charles Duke of Austria who had no childe Difference for sâ—â—cession Now Duke Iohn William dying without children Iohn Sigismund Elector of Brandenbourgh who married Anne as we have already said eldest daughter to the eldest sister of the said last Duke presented himself to be received by the States of the said Dutchy wherein he was opposed by the Duke of Newbourgh son to the second daughter Magdalen who was then yet living The Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh The Elector of Saxonie and the Duke of Neuers declared themselves also heirs so that the Emperour Rodolph summons the Parties to appear before him endeavours to sequester the Dutchies and to that end dispatches the Archduke Leopold Nâ—wburgh refuse the sequestration and demand relief from France Bishop of Straesbourgh who makes himself master of the Town and Castle of Gulick Whereupon the two first presumptive Heirs upon some articles of governing the Country made an agreement between themselves and in stead of addressing themselves to Prague before the Lord of the Fief who is the Emperour had recourse to the King of France O! How great is the strength of distrust which tyes the hands of justice and gets authority over ber They obtained a promise of strong relief The other Princes both Protestants and Catholicks yea even the Emperour himself sent their Embassadours likewise to Paris where the King sounded them all one after another In the mean time they take Arms make Excursions awaken the Neighbours The Germane Protestants receive the Alarm Germany takes the Alarm and assemble themselves at Hal and the Catholicks on the other side at Hirtsburg there to provide for their safety propose the Election of a new King of the Romanes and bring the said Protestants to a more strict observance of the accord of Passavia These are the first seeds of the divisions which being come to maturity will quickly fill all Germany with horrible disturbances as being watered by strangers for fear least they perish with moisture or humanity drawn out of the essence of Religions as we shall briefly shew in fit place The businesse of Donawerds Atumult at Donawerdt which is proscribed and foreed by the Duke of Bavaria which had already irritated the Protestants passed thus Some Religious or Conventuall men dwelling in the towne and endeavouring to make a Procession were desired by the Magistrates to desist for fear of some tumult But they answered that they would not quit their Rights which depended upon the Emperour In short they make a Procession the people falls upon them and affronts them The Emperour informed of the insolence demands an exemplary punishment wherein being disobeyed he proscribes the Towne and gives the execution thereof to the Duke of Bavaria who by a siege forced it to submit Now this proceeding very much displeased the Protestants and principally such as were grieved to see the Empire so long in a profound Peace But the enmity was not yet grown so strong for it shortly after brake out to the ruine of all this great Body But let us returne to the Country of Gulick The Princes excessively afflicted at the death of the King of France Gulick besieged and taken sollicited Prnice Maurice to besiege Gulick which he did and by the assistance of the French Army under the conduct of Marshall de la Castre constrained Leopold to render the said place into the hands of the said Princes upon an honourable composition Now it is to be observed that they would not admit of a sequestration nor the decision of the Emperour to whom it belongs by right but it looks as if they all endeavoured to weaken the Principall head of Europ And so the Princes were reproached for having ejected the Garrison of Gulick with forraine forces which was immediately to conremne the Imperiall authority and that they had thereby given cause to the Emperour to arme against them The Duke of Saxonie beares also the title of Duke of Gulick Cleveland and Montagues and draws his pretentions from Sibill Aunt to John William and Daughter to William who was given in marriage to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie who lost the Electorac for having taken arms against the Emperour Charles He was admitted by the two Princes to govern the Country till the definitive decision of the difference It seems that diffidence and suspicion in affairs of State authorize the taking up of Arms without any other forme of Iustice and that it is no more lawfull to the Lord of the Fief to dispose of his Right CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They arme The Swedes and Muscovites serve themselves of this occasion against the Poles and loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles appeased at Paris Rodolph dies VVE left the King of Poland very busie about recovering his Kingdome of Sweden and the expulsion of the Swedes our of Livonia and now we finde him as busie to maintaine himself in the Elective after having lost the Hereditary Fortune never ceases to trouble Vertue and one disaster comes not without another The begining of the troubles was by a little blast or slash which kindled a fire that carried it self to the very highest loft or story of the building The scholars of the Jesuites through an impious zeale Yuâ—â—â—nlss in Poland rushed one day upon the Church of the Protestants of Posen and set it on fire Prince Radzivil and some other Ranting blades of the Party took arms for the defence as others said of their liberty and to revenge this injury under the vaile of Rakozians Fortune smiling upon them at first and they puffed up with a small victory endeavoured to expell the King and choose another unlesse he would subscribe to some certaine insupportable articles proposed by them Ill intentions grow to be discovered by good successe In a word the Warr was kindled in good earnest and the cloak of Religion not forgotten The Rakozians being beaten make Peace The Rebels or Rakozians being defeated and vanquished returned to be friends and good subjects But some space after the wound having been dressed by too milde a Chirurgion opened and gangroened and could not be shut up without
Wallenstein takes the Generalat with conditions of toâ— much advantage An Earth-quake at Naples the Mountain of Soma vomited fire THe Hollanders amazed at the admirable progresse of the King of Sweden conceived that it would be for the interest of all the Allyes as well as their own for them to assayle their enemies They were Masters by Sea without controversie And after the taking of the Money-Fleet they seazed upon the Bay and Town of Todos los Santos or All-Saints where the booty they got was great enough to excise their desire to seek more But the King of Spain taking it from them again obliged them to go and attack the Town of Olinda in Pharnambus which deligne issued well and all the Country there about followed quickly after without much resistance In such sort as that the two Branches of the House of Austria tryed almost by turns the cruel effects of that inconstant Goddesse however she have not strength enough to make them loose their courage they having means sufficient to maintain and uphold themselves Now the Spaniards were afflicted with so many losses both by Sea and Land that they resolved to endeavour some revenge They secretly prepared a Fleet of Shalops and vanted of great secrets yea that there was a certain Priest who would make souldiers go under the water and fly in the ayre c. The Hollanders were allarmed at this and Prince Henry incamped himself in the Isse of Tertollen to watch the designes of the Enemy The Fleet hoysed Sayle passed through the mouth of Safting The Fleet of Shallops taken the thirteenth of September 1651. and turned round about the Island but for want of good Pilots to observe the Tyde and staying for some Shalops which were aground in the sands they lost the time and gave it to the Hollanders to attack them and take them as it were in a field of corn and that without so much as fighting for they all rendred themselves up to the mercy of their Enemies and their Cavalry which was come to the bank to help them was fain to return as it came There were more then four thousand prisoners who were all pillaged and then put to ransom by a singtilar favour of the Prince of Orange for they were taken because they could not fly not walk under water and in a place where there was no quarter to be given The truth of their design was never yet known some thought it was upon Willeinstadt others to make Fortresses and separate Holland from Zeland This great victory happened the thirteenth of September 1631 and that of the King of Sweden four dayes after An Earthquake at Naples About two moneths after there chanced a terrible Earthquake at Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many horrible bellowings vomited out burning streams of fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea and cast out a huge deale of ashes The Hill of Soma This was renewed the year following in the moâ—eth of February with so great hurt and losse to the circumjacent places is well in houses men women children and cattell that it cannot be expressed nor comprehended Those three aforesaid losses astonished the House of Austria which to put a powerfull stop to the impetuous torrent of the victories of King Gustave her most dangerous Enemy who was inseparably accompanied both by Fortune and Favour cast her eyes upon the Duke of Frithland a most happy and most experimented Captain who in the affront of having been deprived of his charge received an incomparable contentment from Count Tilly's misfortunes And so Embassadours were dispatched to mitigate him Wallensiein retakes the Generalship and offer him the Generalship again and with most ample Commissions and a huge summe of money He suffered himself to be much intreated and courted covering his ambition or rather his vengeance with a thousand dissimulations But at last under conditions which divided the Soveraign authority he was brought to accept it and forth with gave Pattents for the raising of sixty thousand men and so there was an Army of forty thousand on foot as it were in the twinkling of an eye as if with striking his foot against the ground he had raised souldiers and he Generalissimo or Chief Genorall of all the Emperours Armies and Arbitratour of Peace and Warre It often happens that when we endeavour to shuune one kind of Rocks or Sand-banks we hit against another Necessity seemed to command this extremity and to remit the course of affaires to the Divine Providence He did both good and evill and received at length the Crown of his works CHAP. XXIIII George Landgrave of Darmstadt obtains newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly The King makes his entry at Nuremberge and Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillyes forces retreat with confusion Tillyes death his Elogies The Siedge of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers instructions of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom THe rejoycing which was caused by the Kings victory before Leipsick in the Vnited Provinces to see themselves freed from great apprehension was very much whereas the other as also all the subjects of the Crown of Spaine expressed no lesse sadnesse and cryed aloude that it was high time to arme and stop the progresse of these Goths least both the Empire and all Europ should come to be destroyed by them Between this joy and fear of the people King Gustave played not truant King Guestave posses the Rheyn but having made his entry into Francfurt like a great Conquerour he receaved the Embassadours and Congratulations of his Friends His Armes had droven his enemyes over the Rheyn and therefore he resolved also to passe it and the Spaniards who came to relieve the Electour of Mentz endeavoured to hinder him but they were not able to resist his happinesse and so they gave way to force though not to industrie He took Wormes Spiers and Oppengeim only Mentz and Creutznach made a shew of defence but were quickly compelled to follow the other and the Spaniards either to repasse the Mosell or to be shut up in Frankendal The King having visited the Seate of the mouth of the Mayne resolved to build a strong Town Gustave burgh under his own name opposite to Mentz below Francfurt and so he set men on worke about it and many great Lords built faire houses there but both this Town and the Victories of this great Prince vanished away a few years after as we shall shortly shew Amongst all the Princes of the confession of Auxburgh The Landgrave of Darmstedt obtaines new trality there was none but George Landgrave of Darstadt who kept newtrality and fidelity to the Emperour He sent to demand it also of the King by his Embassadours whom he answered that he wondered that he came not himself in Person since he was so neer Whereupon the Prince assembled the principal Ministers of his Countrey and proposed to
Halberstadt and his Body was carried to Stockholm His Elogies He was a valiant souldier and more happy after the death of his King then before Bohemia and chiefly Saxony felt the effects of his cruelty which was covered with the title of vengeance He redressed the Swedish affaires in Germany after the Peace and Forstenton his Successour made them glorious The Swedish and Weymarian Armies being joyned together and fearing lest the Imperielists should succour Wolfenbottle which was besieged by the Dukes of Brunswick they all marched and incamped themselves before the said Town where we will leave them wasting and consuming in expectation of the success of the Siege CHAP. XI The prudence of the Cardinal Duke The Duke of Lorraine â—goes to Paris and why The Count of Soissons the Duke of Guise and Bouillon retire to Sedan The fight with Lamboy The Marshal of Chatillon The taking of Aire The Cardinal Infanto retires to Brussels his death GOod Mariners very often foresee a great Storme in a great Calme In high prosperity we must apprehend some misfortunes which being prevised will be lesse able to hurt by meanes of the preventive remedies which may be procured This potent Minister during the time of good successe had his eyes upon the Poupe of that vast Vessel the government whereof he had in his hands thereby to observe which way the Tempest might chance to come He easily discovered by the discontentment of some certaine Princes a kinde of fog which by condensing might cause a furious blast It is not sufficient to know what passes but to foresee also what is to come Wherefore he secretly caused the Duke of Lorraines pulse to be felt and laboured to untie him from the interest of Spain by rendring him his States The Duke who had so often experimented his pranks and who never had any other then good thoughts for France and never changed them till he saw that they endeavoured to deprive him of his Dutchy listened to the overtures made him received the Promises which were sent him signed to Brussels for his entire re-establishment and thereupon departed towards Paris where he was received with much honour more then a hundred and fifty Coaches going to meet him and the King expressed great kindnesse The Duke of Lorraine goes into France and benevolence to him They would make him sweare to the Treaty and yet they would keep Nancy for a pledge of his promise So that the poor Prince perceiving the Cardinals jugglings and the aversion of the Courtiers dissembled some affronts and endeavoured to withdraw himselfe thence to returne into Lorraine For they would needs ingage him against the Spaniards which he neither could nor would do The Cardinal conceiving that he would not be able to do any harme nor finde any credit in the Council of Spain suffered him to go A piece of cunning whereby he had couzened many In the mean time the discontented Princes contracted forces at Sedan with whom the Duke of Lorraine The discontented Princes at Sedan having already gotten a small body of an Army on foot refused to joyne but kept his word with the King But seeing that La Motte and some other small Places were not restored him and that he was but scoffed at by them at length full of generous resentment and zeal of revenge he cast himselfe again into the interest of Spain with intention to remaine therein till a General Peace Why would they needs retaine Nancy What assurance could he have of the restitution And what hope or apparence of constraining so great a Monarch to render it to him if he were untyed from the Spaniards If when he was re-established he should not keep his word whereof yet there was no doubt at all the King had but too much means with the forces in Germany and France to make him repent himselfe of any such light Change No no had it not been for the full restitution of his Country he would not have gone from Brussels and had they performed what they promised him he would have lived in pence and quiet with his Subjects But such as penetrated into this Ministers designes saw well enough that they would never render it him because they intended to adde to France such other Conquests as they had already made and hoped to make in Germany Those Writers who flattered the Cardinal and accused the Duke of levity either did not or would not know the bottome of the businesse and had a minde to make men believe that a Prince ought to want resentment and interest when they break their word with him in order whereunto I could produce the example of some others if it might be done without offence As soon as the season permitted the King of France put a strong Army into the Field Ayre besieged and taken under the command of Marshal de la Meillieraye who took some small places as the Islers and laid Siege to Ayre a strong Town in the Province of Artoise but the strength thereof served for nothing but to kindle the generous courage of the French who notwithstanding all the desences both within and without took it in leste then two moneths 1641. The Princes disemtented and why He sent also another Army under the conduct of Monsieur de Chatillon to watch the designes of the Princes of whose discontentments and the grounds thereof it is necessay to speak The Count of Soissons a Prince of the Blood having received au affront at the Siege of Corbie and many other at the Court too sensible to be endured removed himselfe and retired to Sedan where the Duke of Guise came to him and all complaining of the Cardinals unjust Ministery and of the oppression of the Kingdom they published a Manifest containing their complaints and the subject for which they took Arms which was for the peace of Europe and the expulsion of him who fomented the War They make Alliance with the House of Austria Beat the Duke of Chatillon and the Count of Soissons They made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Cardinal Infante and joyned their forces with those of General Lamboy In fine there grew a Battle wherein the brave Count of Soissons against the advice of all the Great ones would needs ingage and the Duke of Chatillon lost it and was pursued as farre as Resol This Victory was bought by the death of this brave Lord brought small profit to the Vanquishers but much more to him who was vanquished For if he had lived he would have raised more then halfe France The King left the Frontier of Flanders but the Cardinal would not leave him and so being followed by a gallant Army which shouldered that which was before Ayre they marched towards Sedan The Infanto lost no time for whilest the King was setting his Minister on work to make the Duke of Bouillon abandon the Party by promising him mountaines of Gold he besieged the Besiegers who not having
taken and Hannibal Zeestadt for having contemned the Kings Authority was degraded from his charge and deprived of almost all his Estate These two Lords had marryed each of them one of the dead Kings naturall Daughters and were Brothers-in-Law to Count Wolmaor The Count Wolmaer goes into Muscovie who during his Fathers life went into Muscovie to marry the Grand Dukes Daughter where he tryed the perfidie of those Barbarians who in consideration of an advice come from another place would not give him the Princesse but upon unreceivable conditions In fine having unpesterest himself from their hands and received his liberty he repassed through Poland put himself into the Imperiall Armies whore he acquired great reputation and high employments and the Emperours favour to boot Thus all was appeased in that Kingdom and let us now returne post back through Germany where we shall find nothing but a reformation and some complaints which rang every where of the Garrison of Frankendal The French forces marched towards the Low-Countryes and committed some robberies and violences upon the Fronteers of Flanders the Spaniards opposed them and towards the end of the Summer drew out some regiments and made them march under the conduct of that great Captain the Marquis of Sfondrato who took Fuernes with small resistance Sfondrato takes Fuernes and Berghen St. Wynock 1651. but Berghen St. Wynock a strong place and ayded by the waters of the Sea which the Sluces being drawn let passe and which gave the Souldiers great vexations opened her gates the eleventh day to let the Spanish Garrison in and the French out The Fort Linck was also soon reduced and Burburgh being abandoned was put again into condition to defend it self It was conceived that the Spaniards would make an attempt upon Dunkerk but the continual rains the lateness of the season and sicknesses amongst the souldiers sent the Army back to rest CHAP. XII The Cardinal returns into France The Lords who had been imprisoned are restored to their employments The Prince of Condè retyres from Paris The King declared May or Prodigies seen upon the Sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why The death of Spiâ—ing The Cardinals forces passe through Holland HOwever Cardinal Mazarin was unhappy in a Crosse of fortune yet he omitted not either his care or any occasion to serve the King of France For he contracted some of the forces which were disinissed in Cleveland and sent them secretly down the Rheyn to Rotterdaim where being discovered and their leader summoned to the Haghe the Souldiers constrained the Boatmen to put them a shore and so every one went whether he pleased In the moneth of August there arrived neer two thousand Neapolitans before the Rammekens in foure ships who tryed the courtesie of the Zelanders heard their grumblings and were forced to returne to Sea since the passage to Antwerp was not allowed them The Printe of Condè retyres himself from coâ—rt After the Princes departure the Lords who were released were restored to their former charges But a sudden gust or blast which surprizes the Mariners at Sea in a great Calme doth not more hare them then the Prince of Condes sudden retreat did the French upon an advertizement which had been given him that the Queen would secure his person again She sent a protestation to him that she had no such design and that it was nothing but false reports scattered by the Enemies of France and so upon conditions that the Cardinals Creatures as Servient Tellier c. should retyre from the Court he came back to Paris but these conditions were ill enough observed The King declared Mayor the seventh of September 1651. The seventh of September the King being at the Parliament the Chanceller declared him Mayor as being entred into the fourteenth year of his Age and the Queen discharged her self of her Regencie The Prince of Condè upon another information given him that they would murther him retyred himself again to St. Maur and from thence to Bourdeaux where he drew the inhabitants to his party and the Spaniards came to succour him with seventeen Ships Mezarin returns into France The King and Queen went to Poictiers where they sent for the Cardinal who forthwith obeyed and came to them with some thousands of men and was received by them both with superlative testimonies of benevolence Thus was the fire grown greater then ever and more certain apparence of a general combustion throughout the whole Kingdom An order of Parliament was proclamed against Cardinal Mazarine declaring him guilty of High Treason as a Perturbatour of the Kingdom all his Lands and Goods confiscated his fine Library sold a hundred and fifty thousand Livers or Florins adjudged to any body who would bring him alive or dead The Spaniards come again into France and the Spaniards called again into France by the Prince of Condè under the conduct of the Duke of Nemours The Kings complaints were answered by other and the conclusion was that if his Majesty would expell the Cardinal the forrain forces should retyre out of France Let us leave the French thus divided some leaning to the Princes side and some to Mazarins and these latter were styled Mazarinists for we must take notice of the motion of the English towards a War with the Vnited Previnces which were of the same Religion their Friends and Neighbours For the English put out an Act forbidding the importing any commodities from any place but those of their own growth and in their own ships to the intention of increasing the shipping and Mariners of that Nation which act how highly it disgusted the Hollanders the effects of a most fierce War will demonstrate Some Prodigies preceded this War which I will set down briefly without staying upon the circumstances thereof Oh unhappy Age No sooner are we delivered from one misfortune then we fall into a greater For these united Provinces had no sooner given thanks to the Almighty for Peace then they found themselves ill looked upon by many Potentates envied by some and incommodated by others in their trade In fine the mischief came from that part which they least suspected Take heer the Prodigies which were seen by men of credit and report thereof made to the States in this substance Prodigees seen neer the mouth of the Sea That upon Fry day the twenty second of December 1651 about nine of the clock ten or twelve leagues from the mouth of the Moze they saw a plaine Field of the hight of a man about the Horizon and therein many Souldiers both foot and Horse which forthwith disappeared Next they saw neer about the same place a great Fleet coming from the North some of the Vessels whereof had their Sayles but half up By and by there appeared another from the South-east which came straight to attack the Former and then it seemed as if all the Ships were sunk to the bottom which
himself of the advantage be hath upon any one alone by pursung him for fear of giving the rest the occasion of seizing upon his sheep This brave man did wonders Tromps praise but he had the displeasure of seeing seeing above twenty of his men of War fly without fighting at all The States ceased not during these fatal actions to employ all possible inventions to disingage themselves from these troubles which obstructed the Commerce either by force or friendship For the advantages which the Enemies had by the conveniency of their Havens before which they are necessitated to passe as at the mercy of the Canon oblidged such Fleets as were not furnished with sufficient Convoyes The Ships passe behinde Scotland to passe behinde Ireland and Scotland and before Norway a long paineful and perilous Voyage and which very often caused the merchandises to be corrupted and spoiled 〈◊〉 The great Fleet which departed this Spring from Rochel made this huge circuit and by an admirable felicity artiyed safely without having meâ— the Enemy who expected it at the passage that which was appointed towards the Baltick Sea was all the Summer at the Flie without daring to come out and that of the great Indies is not yet arrived In the Battel against General Deane Tromp was forced to retreat with considerable losse because he had a contrary winde General Deane beat the Hollanders and stayed before Flushing to repaire his Ships But the English kept the Sea and shewed themelves before the Brill and then before the Taxell where we will leave them to see what passes in the Province Seditions in Holland and chiefly at Enchuien During these Tragedies at sea murmurations and mutterings were heard a shore and certain Libells intitled the Lords of Louvenstein It was said that there was a design to ruin the House of Nassaw and that the Prince of Orange ought to be Governour of the Country and many other Calumnies which deserve to be suppressed When the Drum was beaten for the raysing of Souldiers the common people would needs have it done under the conduct of the Prince of Orange in such sort as that at Enchuysen there hapned a Tumult of very ill example The States considering the potency of their Enemies and many other affairs which might be thought of for security sent for a great Body of Horse into the very center of Holland and placed it near the Sea-coast The Horse comes into Holland But they chiefly expressed their infatigable care in the fitting and setting forth of a Fleet to chastise a Nation which neglected their friendship whereof the were deceived as the sequel will demonstrate Tromp having put his Fleet into a fighting posture again and the souldiers being payed and assured of maintenande in case they were may med set sayle towards the end of Iuly and went generously to face his Enemies and Witt Wittenson departed from the Texel to second him The fight began and the Hollanders charged twice through the English Fleet and in the third time it was A furious Battel wherein the Hollanders are worsted that this warlike Nation of the English shewed their magnanimity and courage by forcing the Hollanders to a retreat into their Havens three Dutch Fire-ships fastened on three of their Flag-ships But the English contemning all danger flung themselves into the flame and disingaged their Ships Tromps deaths The valliant Tromp dyed in this bed of Honour He was beloved and regretted by all in general for the mildnesse of his nature and for the services which he had done his Native Country He was ennobled by Lewis the thirteenth King of France in recompence of those services which he had done him and very much esteemed by Cardinal Richelieu Eâ—nobled by the King of France but Rarea took him a way before he had finished this War which drew the attention of the whole World upon it General Cromwel a most prudent Politician and most magnanintous Captain having surmounted the Royal Party subjugated the Irish defeated in many Battels Victorious Cromwel dissolves the Parliament and humbled the Scots as well in their own Country as in England and dissipated Charle's Forces had now no more to do then to dissolve the Parliament which he performed with as much glory to himself as shame to them So that he is now more absolute in Authority then any of the Kings ever were by vertue of his Army whereby he keeps the people in awe and order who governs the State not only like a Brutus but like a Caesar also He constituted a new Parilament which changed not their resolutions to hurt the Hollanders who had also the power to defend themselves This we see the State of England not onely under a Brutus but a Caesar afso Confusion in the Church of England the Church governed by Independents and full of confusions yea the women have preached against St. Pauls expresse Commandment and the Clâ—â—thes turned into Stables But a regulation of all these exorbitances is expected from the government of so sage a Ruler But in what condition have we lest Holland In the care of choosing a new Admiral and maintaining the Union of the Consoederated Provinces For conclusion we will go back to see that most famous Assembly of Ratisbone where there is nothing treated but what is of high The Assembly at Rausbone and noble consequence The saines are past the stormes scattered and the Mariners repair the Vessels the Sun of Justice shewes himself and such as have escaped shipwrack dry their Cloathes and rake together the fragments of what is left them However Ferdinand the third that most Religious and most August Emperour were arrived at Ratisbone together with the Electours and had sufficiently declared that for the good of the Empire is was necessary to provide a worthy Successor they endeavoured not yet to elect a King of the Romans till after the hews was come that the Swedes had restored into the hands of the Marquis of Brandenburgh The Hinder Pomerania rescorred Heir to the last Duke of Pomerania that Portion or Parcell which is called the Hinder-Pomerania the time being passed in visits divertisements and honest recreations But then the said Emperour transporting himself together with the Electoral Colledge and an infinite multitude of other Princes to Auxburgh his Son Ferdinand the fourth King of Bohemia and Hungary was with a common voice proclaimed King of the Romans Ferdinand the fourth proclaimed King of the Romans By the happy Conjunction of these Stars nothing could be expected but a previous influence of long repose through the whole Empire of Germany a reparation of disorders and an establishment of a good Peace by there-union of minds Great God! How infinite are thy wonders and how immovable is thy Providence The choose the Sen of him out of whose hand they laboured to pull the Helme to whom they give both with him and after him the government of this
THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE VVherein is set dovvn the true state of EUROPE as it was in the year 1500. ALSO The Original and Causes of all the VVarres and Commotions that have happened Together with A Description of the most memorable Battels Sieges Actions and Transactions both in Court and Camp from that time till this present year 1656. Illustrated vvith the lively Effigies of the most renowned Persons of this present Time Written Originally by J. PARIVAL and now rendred into English by B. HARRIS Gent. LONDON Printed by E. TYLER and are to be sold by J. Crook S. Miller and T. Davies at the Ship and at the Starre in Pauls Church yard 1656. TO THE HONOURABLE JOHN RVSSEL Esquire c. Brother to the Right honourable THOMAS Earle of Bedford c. Honourable Sir AS the Sun by the circumfusion of his corruscant beames doth not onely extrinsically discover the vast extent of the Vniverse but intrinsically foment and nourish all the particular productions thereof by the infusion of heat the same doth Nobility and Vertue in great Persons the reputation of whose worth and merit being carried through the World by the nimble and happy wings of Fame makes them not onely known but engenders an Admiration of their vertues and a certain kinde of respect also and reverence to their Persons even in such as never saw them This Noble Sir is the principal motive which not onely animates but instigates me to consecrate this Translation to you with as much assurance of your benigne acceptation as if Fortune had been as favourable to me in making me knowne to your most worthy Person in England as Fame hath been liberall in making me participant of the report of your high Birth and Qualities abroad Wherefore being upon the matter a kinde of halfe-stranger to my Country not to the Idiom thereof to whom should I addresse the first fruits of my small labours after my late return into it but to so worthy a Branch of the most illustrious and Heroick Stock of the Russells And to whom should I dedicate a History which contains the most renowned Exploits and the most remarkable and most imitable Actions Transactions and Examples both in Court and Camp of the bravest Hero's of Europe for so long a Series of years but to him the reputation of whose in vincible Courage in war and whose incomparable Courtesie in Peace together with his singular Generosity Clemency and Benignity to all persons of all conditions and in all occasions in generall gives me sufficient ground to hope that he will not onely vouchsafe to patronize the Worke but pardon the presumption of the Workman whose lively zeals and respect is the onely cause of his ambition Be pleased therefore Most noble Sir to embrave it as propitiously as it is presented to you humbly and excuse the in-elegancie and roughnesse of the stile in regard that besides that the Subject is an Historicall Relation my occasions suffered me not to attend nor correct the Presse If you meet with any Passage in the Booke upon the reading whereof you may thinke fit to entertaine your noble Thoughts in some of your vacant hours as doubtlesse you will there being great variety of all kindes of humane Actions Passions and Accidents it will not onely be an object of present Contentment but a subject also of future Encouragement to me to speake my selfe in other and better Language what the height of my Ambition makes me aspire to be Honourable Sir Your most humble and most devoted Servant B. H. TO THE READER Dear Reader I Have one Request to make thee which thou wilt have much ado to refuse me and it is That thou wilt be pleased to suspend thy judgement till thou shalt have maturely weighed my Work that so nothing may fall from thee which may be too pracipitate or too passionate Thou wilt finde some things which will please thee and will make thee pardon such as will be more for other rains palats then thine But above all I conjure thee by Chriâ—â—an Charity that I have spoken according to my opinion without any flattery at all and if thou findest some things whereof thou art better informed then I thou wilt do me the favour to remember that being in a private Condition and not having been admitted into the Cabinet I am not the first who hath erred through ignorance I praise not vice by praising vicious persons but the vertue which is found in them as a Diamond upon the Dunghill and if I speak not all I know understand that there is more danger to utter all then profit to silence all I call this Age the Iron Age in regard that all the Evills and Prodigies have happened in grosse which were in praecedent Ages but in retail For if disorders were then great in some corners they are so now every where If thou laugh at my opinion Noah was also mocked for having exhorted the people to Repentance and began the Ark about a hundred years before the Deluge No body knowes when the Great Judge will come but the Prodigies advertise us to keep our selves ready that so we may not be found as in the dayes of Noah Eating and drinking without care Farewell A TA. A TABLE Of the Chapters PART I. BOOK I. CHAP. I. THe State of Europe towards the end of the precedent Age. Page 1. CHAP. II. Of the war of Hungary The Mutiny of the French rigorously punished The Duke of Mercoeurs death Whence came the Inhabitants of Transylvania Page 3. CHAP. III. Of Russia or Muscovia the Religion The History of Demetrius Page 5. CHAP. IV. Of Poland the Government the Religion Henry Duke of Ainioü elected King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battail Page 6. CHAP. V. Of Sweden The disorder which happened between King Sigismund and his Vncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. Page 9. CHAP. VI. Of Denmark the description thereof Page 11. CHAP. VII Of great Britain The History of the Earl of Gowrey Page 12. CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorrain and Savoy Page 13. CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy Page 15. CHAP. X. A relation of the evils which have happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guisards or the House of Guise Page 17. CHAP. XI Commotions in the Low-Countries and why In fine the Peace of Vervins followes The Donation of the Low-countries to the Infanta Page 18. CHAP. XII The Arch-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Dutchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable patience Page 21. CHAP. XIII The difference which happened between the counts of Freezland and the town of Embden The States put in a Garrison Page 22. CHAP. XIV Of the changes which happened about matter of Religion in the precedent Ages and motives for our
design drawn from those revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants in Germany Page 24. CHAP. XV. The Anabaptists at Munster The Reformates in France A change of Religion in England by what means The King repudiates his wife The Queens Speech He makes himself Head of the Church Luther writes to him His miserable death Page 10. CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Catholick Religion out of England again by degrees The Protestant Religion goes into Scotland under the Bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation fortified by Queen Elizabeth and the Hughenots of France Page 29. CHAP. XVII Religion gives divers pretexts causes jealousies The Latin and Greek Religion Page 32. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe Queen and the States refuse peace The Arch-Duke returns from Spain Henry polishes his Kingdom makes war upon the Duke of Savoy Page 34. CHAP. II. King Henry gives his sister in marriage to the Marquis du Pont. Marries Mary of Medicis wages war against the Duke of Savoy The Enterprise of the said Duke upon Geneva Page 35. CHAP. III. The Jubily Biron put to death The Battail of Flanders La Burlotte killed Rhinbergh yeelds Page 37. CHAP. IV. The Siege of Ostend Maurice endeavours to surprize Boisleducq besieges Grave and takes it Page 38. CHAP. V. Peace between the Spaniards and the English King Henry establishes the Jesuits Father Cotton hurt The war is carried on about the Rheyn Page 41. CHAP. VI. The difference which happened between Pope Paul the fifth and the Republick of Venice and why the peace is made The Duke of Brunswick endeavours to surprize the town The King of Denmark goes into England The continuation of the war in the Low-Countries Page 42. CHAP. VII The taking of Ringbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The Siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce rejected Page 44. CHAP. VIII The defeat of the Spanish Armada The Enterprize upon Sluce failed The continuance of the Treaty Spinola arrives at the Haghe The Treaty being broaken again is renewed at Antwerp where the Truce is made for twelve yeares Page 46. CHAP. IX The State of France The King goes to Sedan Troubles in Austria and Bohemia A Conjuration discovered in Spain and the Mores banished Page 48. CHAP. X. A brief description of the Kingdomes of Spain and France Page 50. CHAP. XI The King of France arms The Spaniards do the same All is full of joy and fear He is killed His education Page 53. CHAP. XII The difference which happened about the Dutchy of Juleers or Gulick Iealousie between the Catholicks and Protestants why A tumult at Donawerdt an Imperiall town about a Procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit of a Sequestration Page 56. CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They suddenly arme The Swedes and Muscovits serve themselves of this occasion against the Polanders who loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles at Paris appeased Rodolph dies Page 58. CHAP. XIV The war between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double marriage in Spain The town of Aix taken and Newburgh succoured by Spinola Page 60. CHAP. XV. The differences which happened in the United Provinces Barneveldt is beheaded and the Religion of Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hughenots and reduces Bearn Page 62. THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. THe Prodigies which preceded the wars of Germany A description of the Kingdom of Bohemia Ancient differences about Religion The warres of Zisca compared to this Page 66. CHAP. II. The Bohemians take Arms and why All the Princes interest themselves in this war Ferdinand elected Emperour Page 69. CHAP. III. The following of the war of Bohemia The Battel of Prague Frederick flies and forsakes the town together with his people Page 71. CHAP. IV. War against the Hughenots and why A new difference betwixt the House of Austria and the Venetians Page 80. CHAP. V. The War of Austria of Lusatia of Moravia and of the Palatinat Page 76. CHAP. VI. The War of Transylvania The King of Poland treacherously wounded War between the Poles and the Turks Page 78. CHAP. VII War in the Palatinat Tilly beaten takes his revenge and defeates the Marquis of Baden The Bishop of Halberstadt makes himselfe known in Westphalia is beaten passes with Mansfeldt through Lorraine and incamps before Sedan Page 73. CHAP. VIII The continuance of the war betwen the Polanders and the Turks The Tragical end of young Osman The Death of some Lords Page 82. CHAP. IX Sadnesse in the United Provinces for the ill success of Fredericks affaires The war begins again between them and the Spaniards Gulick and Pape-mutz yeeld themselves Count Henry suspected and why Page 83. CHAP. X. Berghen is besieged Mansfeldt and his Bishop beaten by Cordua come to succour the Hollanders The Duke of Boüillous death and a summary of his life Spinola quits the siege Mansfeldt goes into Freezland The third war in France Page 85. CHAP. XI Of the Swissers and Grizous and their Government The fall of a Mountain Soubize breakes the Peace The death of the Great Priour and of the Marshal of Ornano Page 88. CHAP. XII Mansfeldt seeks succour every where puts an Army on foot again The marriage of the Prince of Wales with a Danghter of France after his returne from Spain Page 91. CHAP. XIII The siege of Bredà Enterprises upon Antwerp Page 93. THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I. The war of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of England France and Denmark as also of the States of Holland against the Emperour Page 96. CHAP. II. The prosecution of the second war against the Hughenots The Peace is made by the intercession of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders War between the English and the French and why The beginning of the third and last war against the Hughenots Cardinal Richelieu makes himselfe known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell Page 99. CHAP. III. The following of the war of Denmark unfortunate to the Danes Wallenstein besiedges Stralsund in vain The peace is made Page 103. CHAP. IV. The war of the Peasants or Country-people of Austria Page 105. CHAP. V. The death of Prince Maurice and of the King of England The siege of Groll The state of Lorraine The Jubily at Rome Bethleem Gabor makes war against the Emperour and obtaines peace Page 106. CHAP. VI. Gustave King of Sweden attacks Broussia or Prussia The Imperialists succour the Poles Truce is made for six years Page 108. CHAP. VII The siege of Boisleducq or the Bosse The Imperialists under Montecuculi joyne with the Count of Bergh who enters the Velaw The taking of Wesel Page 110. CHAP. VIII The following of the last war against the Reformates in France The Duke of Rohan makes his peace All the Townes stoop and throw down their
before the Elective of Poland three moneths after his arrivall he secretly departed leaving the Polanders the repentance of having chosen him and the trouble to choose another Stephen Batorins succeeds who sell out to be Stephanus Batorins Prince of Transylvania He reigned ten yeares reduced Dantsick to her obedience kept the bordering places within their duty and rejoyned Livonia to the Crown He governed the Kingdome both happily and wisely died in the resolution he had taken to subdue Muscavy to Poland left great grief for his so sudden death amongst tho Poles and a good odour of his vertues to posterity The Polanders after the decease of King Stephen found themselves in a dangerous sicknesse by a division which threatned utter ruine to the Crown The great Chancellour Samotskie the Bishops and many other of the great Lords elected Sigismund of Sweden sonne of King John and Queen Katherine of Poland daughter to Sigismund of Jaguellonne The other party had chosen Maximilian of Anstria who entring 〈◊〉 Poland with an Army made up in haste besieged Warsaw from whence being repulsed Maximilian forces and recruting his forces in Silesia he was the second time defeated and taken prisoner by the Great Chancellour aforesaid After these two victories was crowned Sigismund in the year 1587 and called by the name of Sigismund the third He married Anne of Austria who brought him a sonne named Vladislans who afterwards was King of Poland And this is that which we thought very sit to recount and which must serve us for the present History of this Age. Let us now passe into Sweden and hear what the Swedes alledge against the Polanders with the reasons and arguments both of the one and the other CAROLVS GVS'TMVS ' King of S'wethens Goths Vandalls greate mince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Lot of Jâ—â—ria Ciou'ned An Dom 1654. CHAP. V of Sweden The discords happening between King Sigismund and his Uncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. SIgismund King of Sweden endeavouring to put two Crowns upon his head lost the Hereditary one See how all passed This young Prince had been brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion though yet he were the sonne of King Erick who embraced the Confession of Ausbourgh and introduced it into his Kingdome This Erick was sonne to King John and Nephew to Charles Duke of Sudermanic whom he left in Sweden to govern that Kingdome in his absence in the quality of Vice-Roy Now it often chances that Princes who have more then one kingdom grow by little and little to loose the affections of their remote subjects and their authority comes also by degrees to be eclipsed in regard that their said subjects are not warmed by the heat of their favour and prudence and so others grow insensibly to take place as well because their presence winnes the affections of the said subjects as also for that reasons are never wanting to such as have no will to obey And besides every one stands in fear of forraine Rule But the most powerfull argument of the coldness of subjects towards their Soveraigne is diversity of Religions which causes a change in State and alters and shakes it so as that many Princes for the strengthening and fixing of theirs have believed that they neither could nor ought to permit any more then one Sigismund goes into Sweden King Sigismund hearing many complaints from Sweden and conceaving some jealousies of his Uncle Charles resolved with leave of the States of Poland to transport himself thither with some Polish and German forces He departed from Dantsick with a fleet of sixty Sayle and was well received by the Governour of Colmar from whom he went to see his sister at Stebourgh Duke Charles hastened towards him from Finland with an Army to defend the kingdome against the King himself Sigismund beaten who as it was published came to take the Vice-King prisoner and change the State by subverting Religion So there occurred a fierce skirmish wherein the Vice-King had the better and Sigismund the King was forced to retite himself towards the Confines of Denmark In fine he was beaten again near Lincopin and his Fleet taken Upon which seeing his Uncle thus courted by Fortuâ—e through the mediation of some Lords he was fain to make peace with him under certain conditions by vertue whereof his Fleet was restored to him to go by Sea to Stockholm Makes Peace and Duke Charles in whose hands were put the prime Lords of Sweden who had been to fetch the King in Poland went thither by land Sigismund instead of going to the Assembly of States at Stockholm went secretly out of the kingdom which he thereby lost He retires our of the kingdom and regained Dantsick Some Authors have written that he had been advertised of some ill design of his Uncle Charles against him and a certain person who was then at Stockholm affirms that he sighed for his having let slip the bird which he had in his hand However those Lords were beheaded and their heads set upon stakes which were since taken away upon the request of a great Wanyer Duke Charles quickly recovered those places of strength which were in the Kings possession chastised the Citizens of Lubeck who had favoured him caused the States to approve of all his actions and ranged the Finlanders who held the Kings party under obedience to himself Some months after the States deposed the King by a publick Decree declaring him fallen from the Rights he had in the kingdom and renouncing all fidelity to him though yet still they were ready to receive his sonne Vladislans for King of Sweden in case he would forthwith send him thither to be bred in the Religion and customes of the Country But these conditions not seeming receivable were not accepted by the King and the proceedings of the States of Sweden cryed down by the Poles who resolved to take an account of them with the sword This is the summe of what is known of that difference which is yet remaining between the Heires of these two Princes and which is debated by very contrary reasons according to the predominancy either of Passion or Religion and according to the knowledge also of the Right of the Parties concerned The Polanders reproach the Swedes for that without any available reason and upon some ill grounded suspicions only yea even against all Right both Divine and Humane they took the kingdom from Sigismund to give it to Charles To which the Swede answer that the King against his promise had endeavoured under hand to bring in the Jesuits so to replant the Roman Catholick Religion and strangers to check and curb them and many other arguments there are both upon the one side and the other which I let passe in silence and which are found at large elsewhere Now you have had the words take also some effects of their arms Duke Charles after the reduction of Finlande went into
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
had so much adoe to awaken In sine Whatsoever is profitable in matter of State seems lawfull But what we do our selves we ought not to condemn in others the Peace made 1506. The suspicion daily encreased and that chiefly because Count John of Ritsbergh was become a Roman Catholick But at last by the intercession of the King of England and the States-Generall the Peace was made at the Haghe in the year 1606 as also that of the Christians and Turks and all jealousies which could come from thence quite take off CHAP. XIV Of the Changes which happened in precedent Ages about matter of Religion and the motives of our Design drawn from these revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants of Germany THe differences which have happened amongst Christians upon the diversity of Religions the distrusts which have sprung from thence as the fire from the flint and the reasons of State precious covers for manifest wickednesse have proved the cause of the greatest part of all our present mischiefes and languishments Therefore let us seek out the true root of it and leave passion to such as cannot receive any other impressions then those by which they are utterly blinded My purpose is not to dyve into questions of Divinity but only to search in History after the causes of so many alterations and so much hatred drawn from so holy and innocent a subject Pope Julius the second We will therefore begin with Pope Iulius the second who died in the year 1513. This Pope more carefull of the Temporall then of the Spiritual and more studious of propagating the Jurisdictions of the Church then the kingdom of God made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain to the utter ruine of the Venetians But he quickly changed his Cards forsook the Allyes reconciled himself with his enemies animated Henry the Eighth King of England against the French and Ferdinand against the King of Navarre whom he spoyled of his kingdom for refusing him passage He embroiles Europe He also dissolved the Allyance between the Emperour and the King of France and called the Swissers into Italy to drive the French out of the Milan In fine having sunk all Europe into inexplicable confusions and scandalized his Flock he made place for Leo the 10 th a man who loved rest and was lesse a souldier then Iulius of whom is written this great praise that he once cast some Keyes into the Tyber saying that St. Pauls Sword should have more power then the Arms of St. Peter The duty of a good shepherd is to keep his sheep in peace and feed them and not scatter them and send them to the shambles Whilest these warres lasted which ruined the Publick and Human Laws the Divine ones were also very ill kept The ignorance of the Prelates caused superstitions and their loose and vicious lives together with their great and vast possessions the hatred of the people The learned desired a redresse in the Ecclesiastical Policy as well as Peace required in the Secular Divorce which continues to this day with as little apparence of Reunion as there is of seeing the Rivers run back to their springs And it is that the Pope published a Iubily for the collection of monies to resist the Turk which was most necessary at that time But the impudence of a certain Monk called Teâ—zel exceeded so farre as to presume to sell the Indulgences or Pardons for the sinnes committed and to be committed I have horrour to recite this cheaâ—erie the companion of superstition ignorance and avarice and forthwith to draw soules out of Purgatory Martin Luther Martin Luther opposes Tyrzel Dector of Divinity at Witembergh and Monk of the Order of St. Austin briskly opposed this Impostor made a Thesis or General Position which he dedicated to the Pope himself to testify the will he had to relye upon his definition But through excess of indignation he passed the limits of Christian modesty and Catholick Truth Insomuch as that at length he grew to write against the Popes authority wherein he was impugned by a Divine called Eckins See Florimoud of Remond He is excommunicated Now Pope Leo desirous to quench this spark excommunicates Luther but that was to cast oyle into that fire and put poison to the wound For Martin raises his Batteries against him and calls him Antichrist which the Pope too much slighting applyed all his thoughts to warre Those enemies who are most despised are very often most hurtfull But the God of Peace drove him out of this world to make room for another more worthy and more vâ—â—tuous though lesse politick then he However Policie be a very convenient Science for such as govern great States and Empyres Pope Adrian the Preceptor or Tutor to Charles the 5. was born at Vâ—rick and promised to bring a wholesom Balsom to the diseases of Christendome For he had already elevated the hopes of the Good by abolishing Simony punishing sins against nature and not alienating the possessions of the Church But his too suddain death declared that God had otherwise disposed of him that his two Predecessors had too much embroyled the Flock that the sicknesse must have its course and that the Body was filled with too many bad humours to be cured by one single purge or one Blood-letting onely His doctrine in Saxony Now Luthers doctrine passed from Saxony into Sweden King Gustave and Frederick of Denmark being leagued together against Christian who deserted by his people was fled and they also forsook the Pope as well as their King and much ranged the authority of the Bishops of their kingdomes And as Luthers Doctrine grew to be received so diffidence and hatred grew equally up with it together with a desire also to maintaine it against all who endeavoured to suppress it There was besides another accident which very much troubled the Church and it was that Charles the Emperour and King Francis the first had very often entreated the Pope and Cardinals to call a General Councill for the reformation of abuses in the Church and Clergy But this song was little lesse unpleasant then the opposition of Luther And so these two Princes laying aside that care they being too nearly tyed to their own interests meditated nothing but warre upon each other Pope Clement successor to Adrian seeing the King of France prisoner made speedily a secret Allyance with his own subjects and almost all the Princes of Italy so to put a limit to the power of the Emperour who in revenge thereof abrogated his Authority in Spain surprised Rome and took him prisoner who was very ill treated by the Germans as being for the most part Lutherans Now these two Monarchs being the chief Pillars of Europe ought to have favoured a Reformation and hindred a separation But what The impiety of the people whets the sword of the Almighty who comes slowly to vengeance though
Crown upon the Head of King Henry And he seeing the disorder which happened in that Family and strengthened by the friendship of some Catholick Princes Paxadge demanded of them of Colem as well as most assured of that of the Protestants leaned visibly that way The Magistrates of Colein being intreated by his Deputies to grant Provisions for mony and passage for his Army were fain to avow that it would be temerity to opposeso great a King who had been alwayes victorious Besides the noises which some scattered up and down that he would allow and maintain three Religions to wit the Roman the Lutheran and the Reformed In brief his Designe seemed to be to extend the bounds of the French Monarchy at the cost of the House of Austria and some neighbour-Princes In the mean time the King Don Philip stood not with his arms a cross at the newes of this terrible Preparative The Arch-Duke puts an Army on foot which rejoyced all such as were enemies to his States The Arch-Duke Albert contracts all his old forces raises new and sends a strong Army towards the Consines of France under the command of Spinola who intrenched himselfe near Gambray In fine men talk of nothing but Armes and Horses in the Countries of both Crownes and the Pope sends his Nuncio to divert the King from his Designe but he was dispatched to Monzon Amazement every where Now all Europe stood amazed and the Princes of Italy seeing the Duke of Savoy in allyance with Henry by meanes of the marriage of his Sonne with the Daughter of France begin to think of their preservation The King in the interim confirms his Intelligences gives the Rendezvous of his Troops in Campagne and after having extraordinarily courted the Embassadours of the United Provinces conjures them to to send Prince Maurice with some Troops to attend his coming at the fronteer of Cleveland The Protestant Princes could hardly dissemble their joy The joy of the Protestants and fear of the Catholâ—â—ks and the Cartholick strangers their fear at the approach of so formidable an Army Infine both friends and enemies were ballancing or staggering in apprehension joy and uncertainty and every one in pain to know what he was either to hope or fear It came so farre as to be published that the King was to march with an Army of forty thousand men and leave as many to guard the kingdome whereof he declared the Queen Regent after her Coronation But he was treacherously murthered in his Coach the fourteenth of May 1610 and this fatall blow put all France in mourning his Corps into the Tomb and his great Designes into Smoak Above all this misfortune was impatiently taken by them of the Religion as also by the greatest part of his Allyes amongst whom his Arms had not as yet moved the least jealousie The most generall opinion was that after having established the Princes in the possession of the Dutchyes of Galick and Cleveland he was to go for Germany And indeed the House of Austria had reason to keep her selfe upon her guard as well knowing how much this Prince was affected to her opposers His death gave matter enough every where for men to inform themselves of who might be the Authour and the Jesuits were not forgotten to be called in question by the Protestants however Ravilliaâ— never confessed any such thing This King was brought up in labour and toyle and noursed in the the Civil Warres His first wife was Margaret of Valois His Life whom when he was come to the Crown he repudiated He had been Head of the Hugenots and wonne many Battails against them of the League When he was become Catholick and after the reconciliation of the Dukes of Mayanne and Mercoenr all stooped and layd down their arms He had a quick wit brave thoughts and excessive high points of judgement had in fine such eminent qualities as would have ranged him in the number of the grearest Kings that ever wore a Crown had ho not been too passionately inclined to handsom women a vicious habit which is familiar to Princes He alwayes loved the United Provinces of the Low-Conntrâ—es and assisted them with men money and counsell notwithstanding the complaints of the Arch-Dukes He was the Restorer of the French Monarchy which was horribly tottered and obtained by generall consent in regard of his heroick actions in arms the surname of Great He was beloved feared and redoubted and amongst all his Kingly vertues none shined more brightly then his Clemencie VVhy suspected to be a Hugenot Many were in doubts of his Religion for the Gâ—genots believed him of theirs and some others also besides in respect of the favour ge shewed to the Protestant Party and for that it was imputed to him to have said that the Crowne of France was well worth a Masse It is onely God who can judge of the Conscience of Soveraigns and therefore men must be silent and abey However it were he much loved Conferences and Disputes as it appeared by that of Cardinall Peronnâ— against Du Plessis Mornay The Confederated States had good reason to love him in regard of the care he alwayes took to conserve them though their seeing him expected by Prince Maurice with the forces of the Low-countries near Wesel and a Letter written by him to the Princesse Dowager of Orange intimating that he would come and visit her at the Hague not as a King but as her kinsman thrust a flea into their eare The said Prince of Orange above all impatiently took this strange and unexpected accident But indeed his death freed a good part of Europe from a great terrour filled the other with sadnesse and amazement gave way to the Prince of Conde to return into France with his wife and so the Armies to retire to rest till another season and another conjuncture which afterwards presented it self in the Warre of Gulick CHAP. XII A difference happening for the Dutchy of Gulick Jealosic between the Catholicks and Protestants and why A Tumult at Donawert an Imperiall Towne about a procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit the Sequestration VVE have already shewed how the pretext of the Arms of Hebry the Great was the succour promised to the Princes of Brandeabourgh and Newbourgh therefore let us now look upon the justice of the Competitors since the quarrell is not quite consopited yet Sone weeks before the the conclusion of the Truce Death of the Duke of Gulick deceased John Wolliam Duke of Cleveland and Gulick leaving no Children by the Countesse of Baden his former wife noâ— yet by the sister of the Count of Vandemon his later Now this Princesse passing through Colein was received by the illustrious Magistraces and Citizens of that ancient City with great magnisicence acclamations and wishes of fertility in this match and all this for their interests which are visible enough in themselves without any
strong salves and fresh bleedings King Charles of Sweden having crowned himself and renewed the War in Livonie made use of this intestine sedition Sigismund made a brisk opposition as well to him as to the Swedes and Muscovites also whose Empire was then full of factions The siege of Smolensko He besieged Smolensko and after two years siege carried it This was a second Ostend if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the dead which if those authors who gave us the description thereof be worthy of credit amounted to more then twenty thousand men There was another Polish Army imployed to force the head City called Mosco whilest the rest of the Troops got huge victories and took the Yown of Novogrode and the great Duke Suiskie together with his two Brothers prisoners The the great Cham of Tartarie astonished at so many high Victories offered to submit himself to the King of Poland But Sigismond returned and the confederated Muscovites to be payd their Arreares followed him and being satisfied they were a further meanes to get yet more Victories The Muscovites rejell Uladislaus upon the adverse Party In fine the Muscovites tyred and vexed by a forraigne Rule rejecting Vladeslaus whom they had formerly chosen elected a new Emperour and endeavoured to compose their difference with Sigismund but in vain for they were chased away from before Smolensko and payed for their perfidie Now the King of great Britaine being the spectatour and very often the Arbitratour of the Controversies of his Neighbours lived in peace and his subjects of the Romane Catholik Profession were reduced to some discresse upon the discovery of that abominable conspiracy The son in England discovered against him his children and the whole Parliament For it seemed not enough to extend the punishment upon the guilty who received it according to their mâ—rit but all the whole body of them also mast be made feel it It was then that the doctrine of the Iesuites was carped and reviled and their Order brought into horrour through the whole Island as it was in France upon the death of Henry the great though yet they could not be convinced of having any hand in that as they evidently were in this But what shall we say of the English Puritans whom King Iames himself accused of having attempted to stifle him in his Mothers womb I know there are also some who make the Iesuites the cause of the Tragicall death of King Charles so great an aversion hath the contrary party from this Society I neither accuse nor excuse any but onely make a plaine and simple relation of what is passed and blame the rash judgement of such as are too passionate Whilest other Kings were in extream jealousie of their interests King Iames amuses himself with playing the Philosopher and the Divine by composing books of controversies against Cardinall Perronn and Monsieur de Coeffetean Bishop of Marseilles And since he had no warr with any body else he raised one against the Puritans and the Iesuites as making declamations against them both and their Doctrine which he said was most pernicious to the Potentates of Europe Take heed my son sayes he in his Book intitled the Roy all Present of these Puritans meer Plagues both in the Church and state a race not to be obliged by any benefit nor tied by any Oath or promise breathing nothing but seditions and calumnies And a little lower You will not finde amongst any High-way Robbers more ingratitude or more lyes and perjuries then amongst these Fanatick Spirits c. The Duke of Savoy demanded his Daughter Elizabeth for his eldest Son and offered him his for the Prince of Wales but in regard of the difference of Religions it was honourably refused Fate had reserved this Princesse for Prince Frederick Palatine of the Rheyn who arriving in England Frederick Prince Palatine marries Elizabeth Princesse of England married her and carried her to the Palatinat through Holland where they were received and regaled all along their passage being accompanied by Prince Maurice as far as Colein 1614. The never sufficiently lamented death of Henry the great one of the bravest Princes that ever wore the Crown of France was like to put Paris and all France into great tumults for the prevention whereof the Queen-Mother was declared Regent of the Kingdome and Lewis the thirteenth succeeded him at the age of nine yeers being consecrated at Rheims and all this great preparation for war was dissipated either because the Kings design was not known or else to say better because it could not be executed except the reserve of ten thousand men who were sent into the Dutchy of Gulick under the command of Marshal de la Cateres as we have lately expressed Now some time after all these embroiles and perturbations both in Bohemia and Austria were past the Emperour Rodolph either through vexation and trouble or otherwise Death of the Emperour Rodolph the twentieth of January 1612. for death hath alwayes a cause departed out of this fraile life to the immortall one He was son to that good Emperour Maximilian whose steps he followed He was a lover of sciences and chiefly of the Art of Painting He passed his time much in distilling he was fearfull and by consequence little undertaking and little feared by his enemies who knowing his nature did many things to the diminution of the Imperial Authority He died at Pragut in the year 1612. upon the 20 th of Ianuary The Empire had no need of a distillator but rather of a good Operatour to act powerfully against the ill plants which cast forth strong roots both under him and his successour and which have given so much pains and troubles to the Empire CHAP. XIV The Warre between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double Marriage in Spain The Town of Aix or Aquisgrane taken and Newburgh relieved by Spinola Chules Duke of Sudermain and afterwards King of Sweden sends an Embassadour into Holland CHarles Duke of Sudermaine took the Crown away from Sigismund his Nephew and possessed his States quietly enough but there rose a huge warre between him and the King of Denmark who very much disturbed his rest and whereof in his complaint of King Christian he takes the Jesuits for the Authors They are the Atlases who must bear upon their shoulders all kinds of Calummes and Detractions They must swallow down the faults of others He had had many conflicts with the Polanders and had tried the various effects of Fortune But this of Denmark touched him so much to the quick that they two came from complaints to brawles and reproaches and thence to the lye yea and at last to desie one another A strange thing that men disapprove in others what they do themselves Charles a little before had sent an Embassadour to the States-General to beseech them to make a close Allyance
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
an obstacle to the Arms of Spain then for any other consideration Brief the Army marches into the Field under the conduct of Spinola Aix or Aquisgrane stooped and the Romane Catholick Magistrates were re-established Mullem was battered down and Otroy taken besides many othes places where there was no Garrison of the united Provinces for fear of a breach The taking of Wesel seemed to countervail that of Gulick swelled the hearts of the Spaniards and made those people know that their Masters should have but a seeming Government as long as these puissant forces stayed in their States But if they had relyed upon the judgement of the Emperour it is likely that these misfortunes had not happened At that troublesome and vexatious Treaty of Santen all the Princes layd open their Interests the Leaven of partialities about Religions began to swell the Deputies went away discontented leaving the Businesse imperfect the occupated Townes retained their Ghests and the two Princes learnt to their own cost what many other had tryed before them CHAP. XV The Differences which happened in the United Provinces Barnaveldt beheaded and the Religion of the Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hugenots and reduces Bearne THE Peace without the united Provinces had shut up many turbulent and seditious humours within them which not being able to get out hatched some very dangerous tumults Commotions in the united Provinces The precious names of Peace and Rest were both odious and insupporatable to them We often flye from that which is advantageous to us and follow that which is hurtfull The first was at Alâ—mar the second at Liewerden and the third and most perilous at Vtrick where some of the bolder sort of the Mutiners fortified by a huge crew of their Caball constrained the Magistrates to abdicate their charges and chose others in their places who were most of them the Heads of their sedition But this sicknesse requiring a more violent remedy then the first Lepitives and the Town threatned with a siege all grew to be appeased and the Garrison augmented Disputes about Predestination Yet this was nothing in respect of that mischief which arose from a controversie in Divinity concerning Predestination and some other Articles annexed to it which like a thick Fogge so blinded all the Inhabitants that it left not any use of light at all to any but to such as served themselves thereof to theâ—â— own profit The two Champions who by their Sermons and Disputes divided all Holland into two Factions were Arminins and Gomarus Such as followed this latter who ardently maintained the said Predestination were called Contra-Remonstrancers and the other Remonstrancers of Arminians who were said to professe a Doctrine disagreeing from that of John Calvin This was too high and difficult a passage to be comprehended by the common people and so it brought with it nothing but confusion Yet the Dispute ended not with the life of Arminins but was more and more kindled by his Disciples and chiefly by Verstius who upon the Recommendation of the Remonstrancers was made Professouâ— From Disputes came Factions and Vorstius was deposed by the threats of the King of Great Britain In brief every one takes arms for his own defence They of Harlem Leiden and Vtrick by the counsell as was reported of Advocate Harnaveldt raise forces Prince Maurice hastens surprises Vtrick disarnis the Citizens and changes the Magistrates a remarkably action as he also did at Harlem and Leiden where they had barricaded the Town-House and imprisons the chief of the Arminian Faction But the Ministers notwithstanding all these proceedings ceased not to dispute not the Printers to set forth Books concerning this controversie Wherefore there was a Synod convocated at Dort where the Arminian Doctrine was condemned the Ministers who persisted in it imprisoned and some were banished and sought their abode in Holstein and other places Barnaveldt beheaded The great States-man Barnaveldt formerly much cherished by King Henry of France and greatly renowned for his services done to the Common-Wealth and chiefly for having drawne out of the clutches of the English the three places engaged to Queen Elizabeth as also for having made divers Embassies and sweated under various burthens of State finished his life by an infamous punishment This man being about seventy two yeares old was accused of being Head of the Arminian Faction of disturbing the tranquility of the Townes and checking the authority of the Prince whose power he wished indeed to see lessened thereby to secure the publick Liberty In sine there was a rumour scattered that he should have had a design to usurp the Government of the Common-wealth They who were of his party for proof of his innocence represented the greatnesse of his services and cares to maintain the power of the States And yet howsoever all his friends melted as it were like snow before the Sun of the Princes Authority and one of the most famous Writers of this Age sayes that he was condemned in the name of the States but by the practices of King James and Prince Maurice There is nothing sure in this world and the greatest fortunes are very often those which are upon the slippery top of their pracâ—pice If all they who are ambitious to go out of their condition to get up to another more clevated and high would but represent to themselves the disasters and misfortunes which we see fall upon those great persons they would have no other desire then to stay where they are The Treaty of the Truce which by his advice was made for twelve years against the reasons of Prince Manrice who being a souldier and for his own interest endeavoured to break it purchased his disfavour and his very great credit his hatred besides his disswading the Warre of Bohemia together with what we have just now said and many other accusations abbreviated his life for some dayes When Jupiter chides all the rest of the Gods are silens Hugo Grotius went to keep company with the other Ministers who were prisoners at Louwestein though by the prudent cousel of his Wife he brake quickly off from it afterwards Thus was this mist which threatened the Common-wealth with a dangerous convulsion dispelled the Churches employed by the Contra-Remonstrancers only and the Arminians reviled and disclaimed as no better then half Traytors by the very dregs of the People But really the blamable treason of the children of Barnaveldt who breathed nothing but revenge of their Fathers death was the cause why many retired themselves from this Party which for a time was much discredited It King Iames on the one side ardently prosecuted his destruction King Lewis sollicited his deliverance as hotly on the other and would scarce give ear to the multitude of excuses which was brought by the Embassadours for so passionate an execution Howsoever all these changes were not able to change the happinesse of these Provinces the popular Tumults growing by little and little to slacken
Visigoths Daces and Vandals who came altogether to dismember the Romane Empire and the Franks and Burgundians who drove the Romanes out of Gawl For these People having expelled the old Usurpers by the successe of a battel or two leagued themselves forth with with them whom they had freed from the yoke and instantly laid the foundations of a new Kingdome But this Warr which we are now going to describe involved all Europ and there is not so much as one Province which doth not resent it yea that which is more deploreable is that we see not the end of it yet for for my part I am of opinion in this wicked age Men will sooner be wanting then Will to such as are ambitious to continue this bloody exercise The Prodigies which both went before it and happened during the continuance of it like waves of the sea have two much informed us that it would ingulf all the Provinces of Christendome one after another and such as thought to be exempted from it as well for the advantages they had upon their enemies as for the impossibility of introducing the Babes of Mars amongst them by reason of their situation feel at present the scourge with as much sharpnesse as the former That facall Torch which appeared towards the end of the year 1618 with a long and formidable tayle seemed to announce to us the wrath of God thereby to prepare us to repentance or else patiently to suffer the evils which we could not avoid Those sights which were seen in the ayre Prodigies hapned in Europe in many places those Tempests those exundations of Rivers those disruptions or shiverings of Barrs by the mercilesse Ocean those earthquakes and inundations those monstrous Productions those waters turned into blood those impetuous windes which have overthrown so many Towers and rooted up so many trees those bloody raines and so many other supernaturall accidents are the messengers of Divine indignation to such as are obstinate in their wickednesse Fools who say in their hearts there is no God have despised these advertisements and lead a life worse then that of the people of the time of Noah Germany by a Peace of so many yeers durance being grown extreamly opulent the Princes potent and the Towns much elevated The State of Germany began to withdraw herself by little and little if not wholy from servitude yet at least from duty The Courts were full of debaucheries and the excesse of drinking was recompensed with a Crown of victorie the Tables loaden with meat The debawches were sometimes overturned with brutall insolence and that which could not possibly bring any good was that the greatest part of the Grandees there left the management of their affaires to their Chancelours or their Favourites whilest themselves were plunging in delights luxurie ranting and superfluities together with the pleasures of the Court and the Chase The Emperour Matthias who was Crowned in the year 1612 made not his Authority in the Empire shine a whit brighter then his Predecessours had done in such sort as that the State wasfallen as it were into a Palsie and languishment Not withstanding all these voluptuousnesses and debauches distrusts were grown so high that it was impossible for the Banks or Damns to stop these Torrents without letting some part of them loose The children were then matching in Troops and Bands through the streets with Arms Drums and Colours and the old men sighing and crying out Prognostications of Warrs We shall quickly feel the effects of a cruell Warr. That which arrived at Donawerds brought some of the imperiall Townes to a league to which they invited the Electour of Saxonie but not receiving so good an answer as they hoped threats remained without effect and all stayed in apparent enmity the one party casting the fault upon the other till the occasions which we are going to recount But let us enter upon the War of Bohemia Bohemia is a little Kingdom but very fertill in Corn Wine Mines of Gold Silver Tinne and all which is necessary for the life of man The King is ranged in the number of the Electours and his Vote or suffrage is so necessary that when the Parties are equall he who receives it is elevated to the Imperiall Throne This said Kingdome is almost quite invironed by Germany and it stretches on the one side to Moravia The Inhabitants speak the language of Slavonia though yet the High-Dutch be as common there as the French is in the Low-Countries The Metropolitan City is Prague which is watered by the stream of Moldaw The Country is very great most populous and adorned with a most famous and most ancient University wherein for a time were numbered above thirty thousand Scholars Now because the first controversies about Religion which caused the separations and hatreds amongst Christians proceeded from thence it will not be out of our way and much for the contentment of the Reader to take notice of the source and Origin thereof About the year of Grace 1400. John Huss having found and read the Books of Wâ—tcliff John Huss betook himself publickly to teach a doctrine much like that of the Waldenses condemned by the Church of Rome as much checking the Points and Tenets thereof received as namely the authority of the Pope Purgatory Worship of Images and the like God permitting a diversity of Doctrines during the Schismes of the Church for the disputes of the Popes gave subject to attack the Points of Faith exhibited by them and their own Authority The Councell of Constance A Councell was assembled at Constance whether Jerome of Prague and John Huss were invited under a safe conduct or passe from the Emperour Sigismond But for all that they persisted in the Doctrine of Witcliff and maintained that the Churches diffused up and down the world were deviated from the traditions of the Apostles they were both contrary to publick Faith and the Emperours Paste given them sentenced to be burned and their ashes cast into the ayre And from thence came the Axiome so often and so justly chanted and iterated by the Protestants and whereof they serve themselves to quicken their distrusts Faith must not be kept with Hereticks The Fathers of the said Councell were moved on by a too inconsiderate yea and unjust zeal which if we may have leave to deduce the consequence of the effects thereof which have followed very much displeased the Father of Truth The Romane Catholicks disprove of this Maxime and the Emperour Charles the 5 th expressed that he was no friend to it by keeping his word so truly w th Doctor Martin Luther at the Assembly at Wormes The disciples of John Huss â—ake arms Now the disciples of the aforesaid John Huss being very impatient at the death of their Masters and not content with the Churches which were granted them took arms under pretext of desiring more But I find the zeal of all them who have withdrawn themselves from the
by the death of the Marquis d' Ancre and by the return of the Princes leagued against the said Marquis and his greatness by that of the unfortunate wife that unhappy Favorite whose Possessions and Goods were liberally bestowed upon him The death of the Marquis d' Ancre by the King He was killed by his Majesties command and by the counsell of this new Minister just as he was entring into the Loüure and his Body torne in pieces by a people which thought it self going into a Golden Age after this Execution And his VVife His wife who had been the companion of his Greatnesse was likewise to be so of his disaster and fall She was cast in prison and notwithstanding she baffled and eluded the vanity of the witnesses who accused her of magick or witchcraft she was neverthelesse condemned to suffer a shamefull death upon the Market-place of Greve Her Exccution caused pitty in the soules of some contentment in others and amazement to strangers the eyes of whose understandings were not dazled by the clowds of passion For it was a strange thing to set a Lady upon a base and infamousscaffold who had been but a little before with so much power and greatnesse at the Court Ah false and treacherous Fortune How much gall dost thou hide under thy honey and how many treacheries under thy favours No marvel if thou destroy what thou hast made since thou overturnest even Kings and Kingdomes themselves which had taken their foundations from the hands of the Almighty himself This tragical Beginning being brought to his desired issue Luynes counselled the King to banish his Mother from the Court whom he knew to be in implacable indignation against him Her Exile which was taken for a Retreat the advancement of his two Brothers companions of his fortune and the total and entire disposal of the favour of the good King cast him into the hatred of the people which he could not faile to inherit as well as of the Queen and into the aversion of the Princes who took his government for a pretext of their discontentments and for a cloak to disguise their interests From the quality of an ordinary Gentleman he rid Post as it were to honours and was created Earl and Viceroy of Picardy Duke and Peer of France and within a very short time after Constable In fine all smiled upon him every one adored this Golden Calfe yea even they who if they could have gotten him in their power would have crushed and shivered him to pieces To secure himself from the Queen-Mother he procured the deliverance of the Prince of Conde but common necessity obstructed the course of his greatness though it hardly extinguished the hatred which all the French bore him and left him but two friends who caused his miserable Body to be secretly interred for fear lest be should receive the same treatment of him whose place he had taken O short felicity full of troubles disquiets cares and vexatious apprehensions O vain Glory so much hunted after so much envied and so dearly and painfully bought how deceitful is thy end O vain Honours How are you steeped and drenched in gall And how different from those which are prepared by Eternity for us On the other side Prince Henry was beloved almost throughout all France as well for his great vertue as for the open hatred he carried to the Constable ended his dayes upon the bed of honour before Montanban for the Catholick Faith and for the restauration of the Authority of his King and the whole Kingdom His life He was son to the deceased Duke of Mayenne so well known in the History of the precedent Age to whom France had this obligation that she was not dismembred and crippled during the fury of the cruell Warres Whilest he courted the Widow of the Count de Soissons she moved both him and the Duke of Nevers 1614. to this pernicious Warre to whom the Prince of Conde and the busie Duke of Boüâ—â—lon joyned themselves also which kindled by some certain Princess who respired nothing but vengeance and terminated by the prudence of that most wise Queen at Saint Menehout He retired from the Court for the hatred he bore to the Constable and followed the party of the Queen-Mother 1620. together with other Princes in regard of the ill treatment she received His choler caused him to commit a great fault before Moissac in Quercy whereof the of a frank and open humour without dissimulation such as is fit for a Prince and not for a Courtier He was also free to speak and deliver his opinion and very courteovs to his inferiours much more intense upon the ruine of the Hugenot Party then upon prolonging the Warre as many have done for their own proper interest In fine a Bullet sent him to his grave put the Army in disorder France into mourning The mourning of all France for his death an end to so many brave exploits which which will cause him to be eternally hurt to the siege of Montaubane and to the fear of the Hugenots who called him the great Butcher and the tears interrupted by sobbes expressed the true love which all the Orders of France really bore him and which was besides most amply decleared by the elegant Orations made at his Funerall The newes of his death being divulged at Paris so much moved the Common-people that they cast themselves upon the Reformates and fired the Church of Charenton yea and the mischief had yet gone further had it not been prevented and stopped by the Queens and the Lords of the Parliament Some dayes after the Pontan Change in English the Exchange Bridge and the Pont des Orfebures in English Goldsmiths Bridge were likewise set on fire with inestimable loss for which the Reformats were much suspected by their enemies thereby to revenge themselves of the affronts which had been done them for vengeance is sweet But much more diligence was used to finde out the riches which was fallen into the River then the cause of two such disasters However it be the Warre grew hot the next year after and the King made himself Master of the Isles St. Martin d'Oleron and Bronage After some small victories gotten upon the Duke of Rohan and his Brother The Peace made at Montpeillier 1622. A Tumult at Paris against them of the Religion The Peace made the Peace was concluded at Montpeillier by which the said Towne more by force then by inclination returned to her duty and all the party which had been attacked by many Armies throughout all the Provinces after frequent losses began to respire and shewed that it was no more invincible This Peace separated the Navies hindered the Duke of Guise from prevailing upon his advantage and the Fort Lewis built upon the Haven of Rochelle gave subject to renew the War as we shall hereafter shew The Venetians to procure reparation of the dammages received from the Croats 1617.
between the Poles and the Turks The tragicall end of young Osman The death of some Lords THe Polanders being resolved to revenge the affront done their Embassadour received besides some kind of check in Moldavia but Prince Vladistans hasting thither with a puissant Army defeated the Turks in a ranged Battail which kindled so great fury in the young Emperour Osman that he swore he would be revenged and destroy the kingdom of Poland with that terrible Army whereof we have spoken already King Sigismund received the Alarme and sent his Embassadours to all Christian Kings imploring their assistance against the Common Enemy King James aforesaid sent five thousand men whom the King of Denmark would not suffer to pass in respect of the Allyance between him and the King of Sweden In fine the Polanders finding nothing but excuses every where were fain to get all on horse-back together with their King and go to deliver their Prince who was so ingaged that he had almost no means left him to escape evident danger It was a worthy object They make all the Nobility march to succour â—ladâ—slaus to see a King march at the Head of two hundred thousand Gentlemen whereof the Grand Signor being advertised sent to offer a Peace to the Prince who embraced it as an Embassie come from heaven because the third part of his Troops of sixty thousand men which were left to defend the Confines against this huge multitude was quite consumed partly by continual attacks The Yeate made and partly by diseases as having been compelled for want of victuals to eat many of their own horses The Tucks after having wanted half their Army made their retreat which together with the Peace was about the moneth of October 1621. Let us follow them to Constantinople where we shall see the tragical and pitifull end of their Prince Osman the aforesaid young Prince by some deportments of his gave suspition to the Innisuries of his having a mind to transferre both the Treasure and seate of the Empyre from Constantinople under pretext of making a pilgrimage to the Sepulcher of their Prophet Mahomet Osman strangled and Mustapha clâ—â—led in his place Whereupon his ships were stopped his Favorites massacred in his presence and himself after having endured a thousand indignities from the Souldiers strangled by the command of his Uncle whom they had drawne out of his Hermitage to succeed him But he did not long enjoy those honours whereof indeed he was unworthy Happy are they who live content in the lownesse of their Condivion and are not exposed to the blowes of the Thunderbolt at those Captaines also are who for sake the Armies to return to the Plough without I stening to the voyce of the charming Syrens of ambition But it is not only here that we have seen unheard-of changes Now these fatall Tragedies were advantageous to the Christians who were so divided by the two so often mentioned Passions The Count de la Tour obtaines sucoâ—â—â— of the Turk that there was no appearance left to reunite them The old Count de la Tour and the Marquis of Lagerendorf were knocking at the Grand-Signors Gate and displaying both their Rhetorick and their Presents seconded by the Embassadours of the inconstant Gabor so much were they seazed by desire to ruine the House of Austria which almost all Christendome banded together hath not been able to effect hitherto no nor so much as to deprive it of the Imperial Crown Sâ—â—ks Moravia However they obtained some succour sackaged Moravia and joyned with Gabor but the Turks were defeated and their Mustapha compelled to yeeld up his place to Amurath Is beâ—◠〈◊〉 Brother to Osman And these Tragedies were the cause of the warre which chanced between the Turks and Persians to the great good of Christendom and gave occasion also to the Gossacks to make a Cavalcada or Inroade to the very Gates of Constantinople The Cossacks at the Gates of Constantinople For after they had passed many great Forrests and vast Deserts the Alarme grew so hot that if the said Cossacks had not speedily retreated with their prey the poor Christians in the Town had had their throats cut it regard that it was published that they had intelligence with them Let us now take leave of the Countries of the Half * The Turks Moon for many yeares and return by the Mediterranean into those of the * The Roman Catholick Countries upon the Mediterranean Sea Crosse which being momentarily sprinkled with blood cannot choose but multiply abundantly The Venetians were very attentive to the successes of the Bohemian warre and being more propense to their own interest then their Religion occultly favoured the Bohemians But the rest of the States of Italy leaned more to the other side however Peace remained amongst them just as they did in Spain where they received the newes of a great victory upon the King of Maroco and saw after the expiration of the Truce some Holland Vessels brought into their Ports which came from Venice and were taken in the Sreights of Gibelaltar This year 1621. in the moneth of March deceased Philip the third King of Spain and was followed some moneths after The death of Philip the third King of Spain and of and Cardinal Bellatmine by the pious Arch-Duke Albert who left the Country to his Isabel and the Command of the Militia to the Marquis Spinola That famous Cardinal Robert Bellarmin so well known by the Books he left written both against the Reformats and others paid likewise his tribute to Nature this very year being above fourscore years old England continued in Peace and therefore we will step into the Low-Countries CHAP. IX Sadnes in the Low-Countries for the bad successe of the Affaires of Frederick The Warre begun again betwixt them and the Spaniards Gulick and Papemutz surrendred Count Henry suspected and why HOlland was full of loy upon the termination of the Domestick Disorders and the condemnation of the Arminians a great part whereof withdrew themselves out of united Provinces some others embraced the doctrine of the confession of Auxbourgh and the rest fought so long against their Crosses that they surmounted them at length by obtaining in many Towns free Exercise of their Faith But this joy was quickly turned into mourning by the arrivall of the newes of the unhappy successe of King Fredericks Arms and the losse of his Kingdom which he had already had some moneths in his possession Though yet the Gazets sung alwayes of his victories and of the decline of the Emperours Affayres yea and the Painters represented him already sitting in the Imperial Throne Ferdinand on his knees before him and the Eagle all peeled and debilitated The Eagle peeled It was also published that the Battail before Prague was wonne by him and the contrary tidings contemned as suspects and given out by the Papists till himself arrived and brought the naked Truth with him and
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
the Enemy and retyre himself as fast as he could gallop to Wolfenbottel This was a great and bloody Fight and the Imperialists remained entirely victorious in it The Victory of the Imperialists and the death of Generall Fucks Brave Generall Fucks who had disswaded the Battell lost his life in this occasion and gave the King sufficient testimony that it was not through basenesse of heart or cowardize but upon strong arguments that he desired him not to precipitate Many other Officers were also slain together with above six thousand Souldiers Thirty Pieces of Canon three thousand Prisoners fourscore and ten Colours adorned the Conquerours Chariot and all the booty was given to the Souldiers in recompence of their Valour This was that famous Battell of Luther which happened upon the 27 th of August whereby the Emperours authority and the joy of his Allyes was much augmented and their Enemies fear redoubled and after this there followed a continuall thred of Victories and taking of Towns even to the very sea-side Favour flatters Fortune and when there is no more meanes lest to make open resistance against the storme the sailes must be taken in or the Vessel steered for safety to the shelter of some Wood or Rock The Duke of Brunswick quitts the League The Duke of Brunswick followed this Maxime by making his Peace and renouncing the League with Saxonie Tilly lost no time seized upon Rotemburgh and many other places whilest the King recollected the fragments of his Army and put it in Equipage during the Winter but to no purpose For this vessell was too much tottered to do any more service at all In conclusion Tilly having taken Nontheen drew neer the River of Elbe which was also to be conquered after the conquest of so many enemies But we leave France too long in Peace which yet was not all this while quiet CHAP. II The prosecution of the second Warre against the Hughenots The Peace made by the undertaking of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders Warre between France and England and why The beginning of the third and last Warre against the Hughenots Cardinall Richelieu makes himself known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell The Duke of Soubize takes some shipps WE have already shewed how the Peace was made in Italy as well upon the request of the Pope as to put a remedy to the inopinated Invasion of the Duke of Soubize who against all expectation and in full peace launched with a Fleet from Rochell came before the Port of Blavet and seized upon some ships which he found there But the Duke of Vandosme who was Governour of the Province transported himself thither with so much promptitude that he hindred the aforesaid Duke from making any farther progresse and forced him to retyre with two or three great Vessels and some of a middle burthen In such sort as that by this invasion The peace is broken the Peace which was made in the year 1622 before Montpellier was broken in that of 1625 and the Duke of Rohan his brother recommenced the Warre in earnest both in High and Low Languedock under pretext that the Treaty of Peace had been ill observed The King sends an Embassadour to the Hague This surprize so much displeased the King that he forth with sent all those Troops which were destinated for Italy towards Brittany and an Embassadour to the Hague to summon the States to his assistance with twenty ships according to the tenour of the Allyance made betwixt them But the Embassadour found some repugnance in the Colledge of the said States in respect of Religion though yet when he had remonstrated to them that the businesse was onely to humble the Kings subjects to their obedience and threatened them also with a breach in case of refusall they granted his demand My Master sayes he is of the same Faith with the King of Spaine and yet he maketh no difficulty to assist you against him And will you in a Warre of State expresse an inconsiderable zeale of Religion He obtaines twenty shipps Soubize being beaten retyres into England Hereupon the States dispatched Admirall Hantain who being joyned with the Kings Navie carried himself like a Mediatour of a Reconcilliation and obtained a Truce of three dayes which yet was ill enough kept by Soubize who hoped to draw some advantage from it but his Fleet was defeated and he forced to retyre into England with six or seven vessels and so the French took the Island of St. Martin and built two Forts there The King upon the intercession of the States pardoned them of Rochell but the Zelanders did not pardon Admirall Hautain who had for his recompence his house demolished by the people which were mad at the losse of the said Place But these were ruled by the passion of Religion and those by that of the preservation of the State The reason why Monsieur de Soubize brake the Peace was because the King had differred the demolishment of Fort Lewis raised near Rochell which served for a bridle to the Town and a Prospective to the Townsmen But the Governour indeed refused to do it upon some informations which he had received from the Town of some sinister designes In fine the Fort still remained entyre for all this and was to prove fatall to the Party illustrate the Kings Majesty throughout all France and cut off the root of all Religion It was believed that the Duke of Rohan had begged succour from the King of Spaine in this discord of the Reformates and his own and his brothers disaster but being pressed by the King of England the Venetians the Hollanders and the Savoyers he expected not the return of his Embassadour The Peace is made by an allyance against the Emperour and so upon the instance of the aforesaid King and States who could not indure the ingrandishment of the Imperiall Majesty in Germany the Peace was renewed the same year thas it was broken and the League was knit up in Denmark as we have lately said in the year 1625. But before that warre which was fatall to the Danes was finished began the disorders which thrust themselves in between the French and English the reason whereof as also of the third warre which consummated the ruine of the Reformed Party you shall forthwith understand King James a peaceful Prince King James jealous of his Royall authority and more prone to study then fight could never be induced to assist the Hughenots in France But after his decease King Charles his sonne by the reasons of Monsieur de Soubize and his Favourite the Duke of Buckingham suffered himself to be perswaded to it manifesting thereby in imitation of his Brother in Law that that Friendship which grew from the allyance of marriage was weaker then that of interest There wanted no pretexts as well of Religion as otherwise and the English being already pricked against the French and these
received by all the Subjects of the King as a speciall grace sent them from God but that which was deplorable in it was that he was forced to abandon the cause of his Cousins the Dukes of Meckelenbergh who for having embraced his and followed his Party or rather for having conjoyned their armes with all the members of the Circle were proclaimed Out-lawes The Dukes of Meckelâ—nbergh excluded from Peace Their Dutchy given to Wallenstein and their Dutchy ingaged to Wallenstein who was afterward put in possession thereof as true Duke by the Emperour This proceeding as being very rigorous against Princes of so ancient and so illustrious a Family and totally contrary to Ferdinands clemency made the House of Austria suspected not only of intending to establish her Authority in the North but of making also the very Empire it self Hereditary and to go yet farther too if occasion were offered And this upon the matter was partly the cause of the Swedish warre as we shall shortly demonstrate But let us go into Austria where we shall find very fine house-keeping CHAP. IV The Warre of the Peasants in Austria VVHilest all the North trembled at the Imperial Eagles and that nothing but the salt ayer of the Ocean was able to stop either their flight or their victories behold a little spark in Austria both contemptible and contemned raised within a few moneths such an embarasment as frighted that invincible Monarch at the same time that all the Princes began with good reason to apprehend him through the constant felicity of his Generalls These disorders were caused by diversity of Religion and the Politicians together with such as aspired to change moved them on to that point which we are now going to describe The cause of the Revolt of the Peasants Ferdinand being a very zealous Prince thought it his duty to draw either by fair meanes or foul all his Subjects to the Roman Catholick Religion and his Councell alledged that his Authority would still be wavering as long as there should be any Hereticks in his States And so it was facil to perswade him to a thing which hè conceived to depend upon his conscience Whereupon he commanded all his Subjects either forthwith to embrace the Catholick Religion or depart out of Austria within a certain term prescribed them A bold resolution and found strange opposition He declared in his Letters Pattents that Heresie under the pretext of Liberty of Conscience and Priviledges hatched nothing in her bosome but Revolts Sedition and Devices to shake off the yoke of Soveraigns and lawfull Magistrates Princes look upon the interest of State and the People that of Religion which once lost farewell all respect with it The Peasants must therefore be stirred up to try if luck would turn and whether Fortune would be alwayes fixed with a Diamant-Nayle Complaints were rejected Count Hebersdorf the inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command was first chased away with stones and afterwards fury affoarded other weapons For the said Peasants to the number of ten thousand cut off his forces seazed upon many Castles and small Places and being at lenth re-inforced by forty thousand men and forty Peeces of Ordnance pillaged all Austria sparing neither Priest Monk nor Gentleman The Clergy hath ever served as Fee or prey to the seditious The Emperour wrote to them but they endeavouring to obtain by force what was denied to their supplication disdained to answer him Upon which he dispatched other Embassadours to endeavour to reduce them gently to their duty but they retained them and sent some from themselves to Vienna to demand free exercise of their Religion dismission of the souldiers and a generall pardon for what was past All which they had obtained had not their prosperity by the defeat of some of the Duke of Bavaria's Troops made them undertake more If any grow blind by happinesse it is chiefly the abject sort of the vulgar which waxes temerarily bold when it thinks it self feared But the Town of Lintz which they besieged cowed their courage and speeded the punishment which they had deserved by their rash Rebellion They assaulted it often but were still repulsed with huge losse so that Papenheim who was appointed to chastise them effected it not with so great facility as Trucses and some other Generals had done that of the like seditious Rabble above a hundred years before For he was fain to combat them at least seven times before he could vanquish them so chearfully and stoutly would they rally and defy their victorious enemies even in the fight The Romans found themselves once in great trouble by the revolt of their slaves and yet they more easily quenched that fire though it were even within the Walls of Rome then the Imperialists were able to do this because here was more combustible matter But under what Heads or Leaders Their Generals a Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith did this desperate Crew fight A Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith With what weapons Sticks Stoones Whips Forks and Muskets And what more Potion and Enchantments To what end If we must judge Effects by their Causes it was for the exercise of Religion and to beat out their Soveraign Magistrate Who were those Aeoluses who letting loose the windes disturbed the Calm and raised their storms It is more easie to conjecture and believe then to prove They are at last defeated in many Encounters by Papenheim After the last defeat the most mutinous of them ran away and the rest pent up at home like slocks of sheep Thus ended this dangerous warre which teaches us how perilous a a thing it is to endeavour to command mens consciences We must contend with the word of God and not with the sword or to say better we must pray with charity for one another and not persecute our selves with arms unlesse we be commanded by Politick necessity The holy Scripture sayes Let the rares grow fear lest you root out the good corne Papenheim acquired no lesse glory nor merited lesse to Triumph then the two other Generals And thus was the Emperour delivered from a most apparent danger by the remotenesse of his Armies Let us now make a leap to the Low-Countries and see what passed there at the beginning of the year 1625. CHAP. V The death of Prince Maurice and of the King of England The Siege of Groll The State of Lorraine The Jubily at Rome Bethleeem makes warre upon the Emperour and obtains peace The death of Maurice 1625. PRince Maurice being returned to the Hague expressed no more then a certain pensiveness and melancholy proceeding from age and as it was believed from the errour committed in that memorable Enterprise upon Antwerp which grew to augment his feaver and brought him at length to his grave His reputation is too much known to speak much of him and the United Provinces would have had cause to be infinitely afflicted at such a loss had he
not left them that worthy Brother and that strong Atlas who forthwith took the burthen of the Government upon his shoulders This was he who firmly fixed this reeling Common-wealth by his Arms took many Townes in Freezland Overysell and Guelders with small charge few men and little bloodshed in such sort as that he merited to be termed as he was the Father of the Souldiers And of King James a peacefull Prince In the same spring also died King James a Prince who much loved Peace and learning After he had the Crown of England upon his Head all the disasters and misfortunes of his House begun upon his Praedecessours were stopped by him as water is by the opposition of a Dam or Bank so to gush out with the greater violence upon his children and succesours as we shall hereafter shew But who can penetrate into the secrets of Gods Judgments He governed his kingdom in peace and maintained his Subjects in riches and delights but there grew up a little Venim which wrought afterwards in fit time The â—vills which we see often happen draw their cause sometimes from afarre off Prince Henry having payed the last duties to his magnanimous Brother departed from the Hague to hinder the designe which the Spaniards had The Spaniards will joyne the Rhein to the Moâ—â— 1626. to joyn the Rhein to the Mose and by the erection of many Forts keep the Hollanders from passing over an Enterprise which unprofitably exhausted their money and made them seem able to make no more then meerly a Defensive warre Jupiter laughed at the Gyants who would scale Heaven Time hath declared the inutility of this work and to what intention also that advice was given For the Hollanders are Masters of that liquid Element and passe it when they will There chanced nothing worthy of note in that toylsome March save only that Count Henry of Bergues beat up the Horse-Quarter brought away the Count of Stirum his Cousin prisoner with some Horse Count Stirum prisoner In revenge whereof the Prince sent Count Ernest to unnestle the Spaniards from Oldenzeel and destroy the nest The Siege of Grol In the year 1627. he laid siege to Grol a small but strong Town upon the Confines of Westphalia which he carried in lesse then a moneth in the sight of a puissant Army Spinola in the mean time was busie about the fortifying of Sandflect a Village between Antwerp and Berghen op Zoom which was a design of more advantage and consideration then that of uniting the two Rivers By this exploit of the Prince it was judged that his Government would prove happy and the vessels loaden with mony which were brought out of Holland by Peter Hein moved him to undertake the siege of Boisleduc which was begun the first of May and ended the seventeenth of September a fatal day to the House of Austria Lorraine was peacefully governed by the wise conduct of Duke Henry son to Duke Charles but his term was but of sixteen yeers The death of the Duke of Lorraine He departed to a better life the twentieth of Iuly 1624. and shortly after him the repose and tranquility of all that Country by the ambition of her Neighbours He left but two Daughters the elder whereof was married to the Count of Vandomonts sonne her Cousin-German The Salick Law in Lorraine The year following the Salick Law having regained vigour and Francis of Vandomont being next heir by the said Law which excludes Females surrendred his right in that Dutchy to his sonne Charles which was approved by the States of the Country and so Charles Duke of Lorraine made his entry into the good City of Nancy and took full possession of the whole Dukedome Now some have written against this said Law as if it were to be observed no where but in France as coming thither with them out of Franconie But most Writers affirm that the ancient Franks established their habitation from the bank of the Rhein to the River of Loire in such sort as that Lorraine being comprised therein and having been also a parcell divided from that kingdom it followes that the Predecessors had the same intention to establish it as well in the kingdom of Austrasia as in that of France and that it hath been tacitly and quietly observed without any dispute Besides that it is proved by the Testament of Renè of Ierusalem Duke of Lorraine and Bar made in the year 1406. by which the Male are called to Succession and the Female excluded as it further appears also by experience it self A Jubily ar Rome This year of 1625. Pope Vrban celebrated an universall Jubily at which the Prince of Poland coming from the Low-Countries was present and the same year the Emperour Ferdinand Crowned his Son King of Hungary invited thereto by the States of that kingdom to be defended by so great and powerfull a Prince against the perpetual ambushes and snares of the inconstant Gabor Nor was it enough that he had one Crown The Crowning of the King of Hungary for that of Bohemia was also resigned him by his Father with the accustomed Ceremonies Let us not leave the Danub which was yet all red with the blood of the Peasants till we shall first have seen that of the Transylvanians and Turks stream also there together with the motives of that Warre Gabor breakes the peace This Gabor being swolne with pride by the Allyance of one of the most illustrious Houses of Germany honoured at his wedding by the presence of the two Emperours besides those of Kings and other Princes found himself tickled by a new desire to Reign and the occasions were so fair that they stifled the Peace so often sworne and so often broaken For the Armies were drawne towards the Baltick Sea and the Bavarians and Pahouheim had work enough with the revolted Peasants Whereupon he passed out of Hungary into Moravia and took many Townes the fear of so unforeseen an evill making the people have recourse rather to God then Armes But Mansfeldt having redressed his Army after being cudgelled in Saxony marched out of Silesia into Hungary and Wallenstein traced him affronted them all together and defeated them Upon this he called the Tartars who passed through Poland to his assistance but they being loaden with pillage were so hotly charged by the Poles The Tartars beaten that they were fain to lay down both their packs and their lives in such sort as that there remained not so so much as one alive to carry the newes so that there were only the Turks upon whom to look now and them he invited but it was only to augment the Triumph of Wallenstein And the Turks by Wallenstein who beat them took their Canon and pillaged their Camp which was full of riches The Grand-Signor desirous to keep the Peace called back his Troops and their departure gave Gabor Gabor repents and obtaines peace both disgust and
other purpose then to make the constance of the Townsmen admired augment the story of King Lewis the Inst and elevate that of the Cardinal above the Stars A very great and most acceptable Victory to France had she remained in the same liberty which she enjoyed during the potency of this Town A most damnable victory to the House of Austria which the French themselves accuse of having then forgotten her interest A victory which ruined and brought to a full stand or Non-plus all that Party which divided the Kings Authority A Victory which gave that great Cardinal one half of his honour and upon which he founded the highest and most constant power that ever any Minister had to the ruine of many most illustrious Families and old Priviledges the confusion of all Christendom and even of his own great Benefactresse her self Now since the English had rather hindred then furthered the Party and were accused of being the cause of this irreparable losse a resolution was taken to seek to some other support elsewhere and so an Embassadour was dispatched into Spain to represent to that King that interest he had to keep this Party The Duke of Rohan deâ—â—ands siâ—â—cour in Spain and to beseech him to send mony only and to remember the King of France's Allyance with the Hollander whom he maintained with as much heat and zeal as if they were his own subjects and of his own Religion Whereupon the Spaniards by the permission of the Counsell Conscience resolved upon it thereby to give as many vexations to the King of France within his kingdom as they received from him in the Low-countries But the said Embassadour The death of the Negotiatour or Necessitator though a subject of the King of Spaines was taken and condemned to death by order of the Parliament of Tholosa his innocence founded upon the action of a publick Minister serving him for nothing however this Decree were censured by such as had not their eyes vailed by passion and who could speak freely of it without danger Makes his peace with the King and all obey King Lewis discovered all their plots and prevented them by the prudence of the Cardinal and having made but a slight peace with the said Duke he fell with his Army upon the Vivaret surprised Privas and took it by open force chastised insolence by putting all to sword treated well the Townes which submitted and assured them of the free exercise of their Religion Upon this the Duke had recourse to his clemency and he graciously embraced him and augmented his Pension Castras Niemes and some other places which might have given a long trouble also submitted without any other punishment inflicted upon then the demolishment of their new Fortisications which Commandment was of hard digestion to them of Montauban who were nevertheless disposed to obedience by the Cardinals presence and the force of his eloquence who alledged that the King could not endure any fortified place in his kingdom And so in fine they stooped and with regret enough brake down that which gave the jealousie which could not be obtained from them by violence and the noise of the Canon Time ripens all things and that which in the precedent Age was judged impossible hath been found feasible in this The end of the Hughenot Party This was the end of the Hughenot Party in France which had given so much labour and toyle to the Kings and so divided their jurisdiction It took birth from the doctrine of Luther and Calvin passed infancie under Henry the second got vigour and strength under Francis the second grew to strong youth under Charles the ninth and Henry the third through the favour of the Princes of the Blood enemies to the power and authority of the Dukes of Guise and by the valour of the King of Navarre It obtained free Exercife and some Townes of safety under Henry the fourth and remained quiet and without commotion out of respect and reverence to so great a Prince But under Lewis the thirteenth finding it self abandoned by some of the principall Heads it began to stagger and at last vanished quite away in such sort as that though the Religion be still there there is yet no formed party and the root of the ambition of the Grandies who under the shadow of Religion did very often disturb honest people on both sides is quite cut off Their distrust which is called the companion of safety which they conceived they should not be able to find in the Kings word made them often importune the Queen-Regent and the marriage with the Infanta of Spain a Nation which they abhorre above all other made them joyn to the Prince of Conde to hinder it which much hastened their disgrace The King being declared Maâ—or recovered Bearn more by veneration then by force and more by the brightnesse of his Majesty then by that of his sword He was the pralude of the first warre speeded by their Assembly at Rechel Father Arnour and counselled by Father Arnour who was preferred by the Duke of Luynes to the direction of the Conscience and partly also of the favour of his Majesty But as the said Luynes made the Fortune of this able â—esuit so did he also soon unmake it thereby to free himself from the jealousie it gave him Saumur The taking of Townes Saint Ieand ' Angeli and a great number of other Towns Burghs and Villages fortified were taken with incredible successe There was no more left then Montauban which forced the Conquerours to retreat and in some sort dimmed their Triumph The year following produced the Kings constant resolution to be obeyed and to punish the revolted Towns the reduction of Moutpeillâ—er and the Peace which followed by the counsell of the Constable d' Edignieres Edigniereâ— This Lord being of a mean extraction grew to be elevated to the highest Charge of France through all the degrees of a souldier His life and had heaped up a huge deale of treasure Not with standing his Belief which was the same of the Reformates he alwayes kept his faith inviolable with the King and was by consequence but little loved by the most zealous of the Party Makes himself a Catholiâ—â—â— A little before his death he embraced the Roman Catholick Religion as having promised it in a frollick to Urban as soon as he should come to the Pontificat The second warre made the Hugenots loose the Lordship of the Sea The third being begun with the assistance of a stranger was consummated by the direction of that potent Cardinal and so the whole conduct of that great Vessel was restored into the hands of the just and milde King Lewis Let us go into Hungary to see the end of the fickle and busy Gabor CHAP. IX The Death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Suceessour The Marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spain's Sister The death of Gabor BEthleem Gabor growne wise by
from the attack of ingratitude alledge forsooth that the Kings Cause ought to prevail and that it is by no means necessary to observe and keep a Contract which is made against the Lawes and Rights of the kingdom But there was peradventure no other way to surmount the Eagle then to thrust himself into her feathers Whilest the Queen-Mother and Monsieur de Luynes possessed the Kings favour the fortune of the whole Court depended upon them two but he having lost his life resigned it totally to Cardinal Richelieu only who most absolutely tetained it till his death Kings Gustaves victory wonderfully rejoyced all the Reformates and all them of the Cardinals Cabal however the zealous Catholicks were afflicted and murmured much at him blaming him as an impious man and a favourer of Hereticks but he was an immoveable Rock and so having shaken off his Benefactresse and her faithfull servants he bent all his cares to the direction of the Affaires iâ— Germany and to the meanes which was to be followed to arrive to a point of so much difficulty as he had praemeditated He conducted the King with some Forces into Lorraine took Vic and Moyenvic procured a Cessation of Armes for fifteen dayes The King of France in Lorrain with the Cardinal between his Master and the Catholick Electours and laboured by most secret wayes to induce them to seek his Majesties protection wherein he succeeded but little better then they had done in the Embassie which they sent to the King to beseech him to divert the Arms of Sweden from their Terriories and from the Catholick Countries For the Electour of Trevâ—rs oaly sought his Sanctuary in the Arms of Lewis because he could not hope for it in those of Philip and yet lesse in those of Ferdinand Gustave engry at the protection given to the Electour of Tievirs King Gustave unwilling to let his souldiers coole could not cadure to hear Monsieur de Carnasse the French Embassadour who beseeched him to think of a prolongation of the Truce for a moneth to whom being vexed at the protection given to the Electour of Trevirs and clearly perceiving the intention of France he very cholerickly said that be can not to dismember the Empyre but to deliver it from oppression â—â—rather to retain and keep it entyre and that if his Muster angred him he would go see Paris with fifty thousand men To which Carnasse coldly replyed that his Master would free him from that trouble by meeting him more then halfe way with the like Traine But these little stings vanished in the common Cause and by the dexterity of the Cardinal who judged that it was not yet time to come to that and that it was needfull to dally with the haughty humour of this Septemtrionall Prince so to weaken and attenuate the House of Austria yet more by his Arms. It was too great an Oak to be cut down at one blow They who laboured to exasperate them did but loose their labour for they had to do with Politicians who had good noses and who would be sure not to become enemies but by sharing the whole Prey The Duke of Lorraine layes down Arms and gives three Towns to the King The Duke of Lorraine had raised an Army of twelve thousand men to succour the Emperour and was already advanced as far as the Confines of Hassia but he was constrained to retyre into his Dutchy and promise the King of France who was at Metz not to meddle with the Affairs of Germany and for pledge of this promise to put three Towns into his hands for the space of three yeares A hard condition for a Soveraign Prince who could not see the Emperours ruine but with his own But he was forced to yeeld to a more potent then himself for a time for there grew a change afterwards If the Protestants had cause to complaine of the insolencie of the souldiers the Catholicks had also their turn and were no lesse trodden down then they and especially the Priests Monks and Bithops but above all the sIesuits carried the pack The Landgrave of Hassia attacks the Bishops The first who cast himself upon them was William Landgrave of Hassia who pillaged the Country of the Abbot of Fulda a Prince of the Empyre from whence he returned into Westphalia and to the Diocese of Colcin uppon which he cast irreparable dammages But Count Papenheins came to Colein Papenheim retaits an Army to put a remedy to these mischiefes nor could there be a braver man then he found out to do it if it were within humane wit to invent a way for it which he did and brought it to so good an issue that he merited thereby to be styled the Captain of Captains He began his march with Lamboy recollected the seatterings of the old souldiers and put them in discipline together with the new ones Being arrived at Hamelen he joyned with Groensfeldt retook many places without the losse of a man and the more he advanced the bigger was his Army so great power hath the reputation of a Generall to draw forces together He resolved to beat Bannier from the Siege of Magdeburgh to which end he drew to himself the Garrison which was gone out of Wismar and with this small Body and much military science mingled with cunning he fell upon the skirts of the Swedes when they thought him yet farre enough from them so that they retyred with confusion Beats Bannier and hee charging them in the Reere put them into great disorder and entred the Town Drawes out the Garrison of Magdeburgh and judging it not tenible blew up the Rampars and the Church and drew out the Garrison to the number of foure thousand to do better service elsewhere He continued his victory drew contribution from such Towns as into which he would put no Garrisons because he would not diminish his Army ruined the Landgrave of Hassâ—â—s Leavies and beat Bannier who came to succour him In a word Beats Bannier again as also the Landgrave the Duke of Brunswick and General jot all gave way all stooped He charged the Duke of Brunswick in the Field with so much fury that he had much a doe to save himself with one only Regiment of Horse He afflicted the Bishoprick of Bremen as well as the Dutchy of Branswick and hearing that Generall Jot had besieged Staden he went and chased him thence with the losse of above fifteen hundred men The exploit ef the Westphana drew out the Garrison and found himself in a short time at the head of a brave Army and crowned with many victories He repassed into Westphana which he restored to the Emperours obedience and came in a word very near King Gustave by the number of his great exploits Let us now look back upon the United Provinces where we shall see Bone-fires but we must know for what CHAP. XXIII The taking of the Fleet of Shallops near Berghen op Zoom
give them like for like if we can Indeed when jealousie and mistrust hath once taken root in the hearts of the Germans there is no means to pluck it out The designes of the Confederats The Confoederated Strangers were almost all resolved to make a Capiratado or Minct-meat of the Imperial Eagle but they could not agree about the sawee for King Gustave would have it sower and intended to eat it himselfe alone as the Lion did the Stag which he had taken in the company of the Wolfe and the Asse The King of France would have it sweer and praetended to both the wings at the least The King of England would have a share to his Brother in Law The vnited Provinces desired not her death but onely to cut off her Tallants that so she might not scratch The Venetians were of the same opinion with the Protestants who would onely make her change her nest and render her so tame and gentle Differences that she might be no more so fierce nor able to beck them Every body endeavoured to hurt her and turmoile her every one laid gins to catch her But when the Princes saw the King Gustave tormented her too much and handled her after such a-fashion as they liked not and that the French began to pluck off her feathers they apprehended both her ruine and their own too She was not succoured by the Polanders because thy were most exact observers of the Truce between themselves and the Swedes She got but very small aide from Italy for the Pope himselfe preferring the odour of the Flower de luce before all other considerations seemed not to care for the dangers to which she was exposed together with the Church whereof he possessed the supreme Dignity And yet for all this she defended her selfe with great resolution being succoured by the Spaniards and the Obedient Provinces as also by the City of Colein which was escaped out of a most evident danger The Eagle defended and by whom The Catholick Electors shewed themselves willing to die with her and the Duke of Lorraine made no difficulty to loose his States and hazard his life for her safety and preservation But the Elector of Trevers despairing of her health and endeavouring to save his own States from shipwrack and charmed besides by the eloquence of that great Cardinal cast himself into the armes of France as we shall hereafter finde though yet he could not escape the misfortune which was prepared both for his Arch-Bishoprick and himselfe But let us return into Brabant to the Siege of Mastricht CHAP. XXV Count Henry of Bergues disgusted with the Kings service goes secretly to the Haghe The Siege of Mastricht Papenheim repulsed returns into Germany Limburgh followes Mastricht and the Deputies the Prince to the Hague The death of three Kings THis year was memorable for the death of three kings Sigismund of Poland who very piously departed the 29 th of April The King of Sweden who lost his life upon the bed of honour and King Frederick who rendred his by sicknesse at Mentz The last year the Hollanders triumphed by water and they did it this by land as we shall see The Spaniards had sent the best part of their forces to the Palatinat and left the Low-Countries without men mony and counsel and in great terrour for so many losses Count Henry of Bergues disgusted by some pretended affronts with the service of his Prince whose Armies he commanded and by whom he could not be made greater then he was seeing the huge progresse of the King of Sweden and the occasion most opportune to beate out the Spaniards went to the Prince of Orange at the Haghe with whom together with Monsieur de la Tilillerie the French Embassadour there he had a very secret Conference Count Henry of Bergues goes to the Haghe the effects whereof appeared the first Field and the Prince being at the head of his Army marched the tenth of June from Grave up the Moze presented himselfe before Venlo from whence the said Count was already departed the same day and summoned it to render Venlo and Ruremund yeild The end of the War upon such conditions as he sent it in Blanke There was a report published that this Feild would produce an end of the War and of the Spanish Government which was the onely thing aimed at with the safety of the Catholick Religion and the Infanta's authority and person The bird cannot chuse but be taken if she hearken to the fowler Venlo was forthwith yeilded none going out of the Town but the Garrison for the Priests and Monks remained and the Reformats were content with one Church Count Ernest of Nasseaw went with a part of the Army before Ruremund which defended it selfe but through despaire of succour yeilded at last upon the same conditions that Venlo had done and a shot of a Harkebuse Ernest of Nassaw killed or Gun which was the last that was shot from the Town stopped the course of the said Counts life retarded the designe for some hours and gave Count John of Nasseaw meanes to put two and twenty Coulours into Mastricht This recrute brake the neck of all great designes purchased the Count of Bergues Savoâ—sr into Mastricht and them of his Cabal much disreputation and blame put the Hollanders in danger and preserved the succession for Philip the fourth King of Spaine how bitterly soever it have been disputed since The Infanta being fully informed of the said Count Henry's intentions whom she had alwayes loved and supported against all such as envyed him was at length induced to permit that an Order might be sent to the Governour of Guelders to seize upon his person and bring him with a good Guard to Brussels since he had refused to come of his one accord But he having smelt the designe retired himselfe forthwith to Liedge The Count of Bergues goes to Liedge where he laboured to draw the Kings Army to him by promising them an end of the War but none would follow him even they who had accompanied him thither forsooke him for the Souldiers desire not an end of War because they have no other Trade to live The Count of Warfuze And the Count of Warfuze who was of the Plot got also thither but the Duke of Arschot who was suspected for it stirred not at all but remained firme in his duty As soone as the Holland Cavalrie appeared before Mastricht Count John marched out with his in such sort as that the Prince not being able to winne the Town with faire words Mistricht besieged as he had done the other was constrained to change his note and keep measure with the Canon So that he intrenched himselfe before it and gave the Spaniards leasure to put an Army into the Feild who sent for their forces out of the Palatinat which beat the French who endeavoured to hinder their passage and joyned in a Body under the conduct
principal Imperial Towns besides It is seated almost in the Center of Germany hath alwayes been extreamely jealous of the Emperours happines opposed his designes by many direct wayes Nurembergh contrary to the Emperour as by Embassyes to the Protestants and by Leagues which it hath made with the Enemies of the House of Austria Wallenstein resolved to go thanke the Citizens of the Town for the good reception they had given his Masters Capital Enemy and by the same means to recall him to their succour The Armies drew neer the Town and invironned it together with the King who not being strong enough to oppose so great and terrible forces sent for all his Generals as Marshal Horne the Landgrave of Hassia Duke Bernard of Wimar Axel Oxensterns and a multitude of other Officers with their Troops who all arrived happily to his camp All the forces before Nurembergh save onely Tupadel who had three Regiments cut in pieces and himselfe taken prisoner Upon the other side Gallasso and Holck gave the Protestants like for like pilladged Misnia and took all the Towns Friburgh to save the Sepulcher of the Duke of Saxony paid eighty thousand Rix-Dollers Leipsick Galasso in Misnia took Garrison the second time and saw them returne whom it thought never to see again and that song was proved false which said that the Emperour was escaped like a Theese and a Highway-man But respect was lost and detraction praised Oh depraved Age Thou art full of injustice and perfidie Papenheim in Westphalia Papenheim being repassed the Rheyn made all his Enemies forthwith know of his returne and all the Birds smelling the approach of the Falcon hid themselves He tore some in pieces and made others fly from their nests without letting any body take either rest or breath Baudis His exploits and the Landgrave felt the prickings of his tallons Duke George of Luneburgh who had besieged Wollfenbottel found himselfe oppressed before he knew of his Enemies coming and he was so well cudgelled that he could hardly get safe to Brunswick This successe so much inflamed the courage of this brave Souldier that he presumed to attack the great Towns and so he took Hâ—ldesheem and Mulhuse with three hundred thousand Rix-Dollars for ransom and Erfurt was already mennased by him when he heard that the King was departed out of Franconie and was coming towards Saxony there to finde his Tomb And indeed he said a little before the Battel of Lutzen that he should not live long because he was too much loved honoured The words of Gustave and respected by the people which prediction of his proved true as we shall forthwith demonstrate CHAP. XXVII The Armies encamped before Nurembergh The Skirmishes They depart from thence The Battail of Lutzen The death of King Gustave King Frederick and Papenheim I Shal not mention all which passed between the two greatest Armies that have been seen these hundred yeares composed of so many Generals as well as others Every one laboured to excell his companion and whatsoever art and subtilty can be in Arms was here set on work The King who boasted that he had to do with a Priest which was Tilly with a souldier Tilly called Priestly the King Papenheim Souldier and Willenstein Foole. meaning Papenheim and with a Fool which was Wallenstein who gave him more exercise then all the rest not being able to draw him to a generall Battail offered him the Crown of Hungary but that not succeeding and the Impostume which Wallenstein had in his soul not being yet ready to burst and vent the filth which was in it recourse must be had to force For the Imperialists were grown Hollanders and served themselves of the Spade instead of the Lance. But Gustave longing to be Master of the Empyre resolved to unnestle him from thence and assembled his principall Officers to dispose his Army that way But finding them of a contrary opinion through the impossibility of the Enterprize he fell to reproach them and utter such injurious language against them as had not their interest been tyed to his Gustave abuses his Officers and their aversion from the House of Austria too great would have made many of them disband In so much as that Duke Barnard rising full of generous choler answered him in these terms Sir the Germans are not Cowards But the King appeased him saying that it was not he whom he taxed and so disposed him together with the other Officers to a Generall Attack The losse of the Swedes The Swedes advanced and the Imperialists covered with their Trenches withstood them and after a stubborn fight of many houres and the losse of the Flower of their Army repulsed them There were aboue five thousand killed upon the place besides hurt and taken Then was the gold of great Gustaves wisdome ecclipsed and appeared that it was neer an end The Imperialists lost about fifteen hundred men And the King fearing least he should loose the Electour of Saxonie left a good Garrison in the Town to secure it and marched with all his Army towards Saxonie to preserve that Countrey for himself But whilest the Armyes were incamped neer Nurembergh and the circumjacent Countries for more then ten leagues compasse ruined by the excursions of so many men General Arnem domineered over Silesia at his pleasure and being reinforced by some Troops constrained Holck to cast himself into Misnia with Galasso The Masters of Politick Science were of opinion that if Wallenstein had had a mind to destroy the King he might have done it without putting himself in the danger of hazarding a Combat had it not been upon very great advantage but that he let him passe so to play his part the better Whatever were the matter his actions were more neerly and narrowly pryed into afterwards which when the right side of the Meddal was turned upwards were discovered to be all criminal The King not having been able to ruin Wallenstein passed to the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and sent General Bannier over the Danub The Duke separated himself to go and defend his Countrey and Wallenstein followed the King but suddenly changed his resolution and marched into the Dutchy of Saxonie there to take up his Winter quarters Gustave hastened thither Wallenstein speedily sent for the Valliant Papenheim The King whose genius seemed to apprehend that of the Souldier laboured to hinder this conjunction and desired to destroy him but could not for the Souldier had too much craft and dexterity and he was very well receaved by his General who sent him with ten or twelve Regiments to surprise Hall and keep Galasso and Holck with himself The King being incamped before Nurenburgh had notice from Wallensteins Camp neer Lutzen of the departure of him whose valour he so much esteemed and being desirous to end the difference by a Battail The Battail of Lutzen disposed his Army thereto with a short speech And Wallenstein having discovered his intension
sent speedily after Papenheim and resolved to stand fast and expect the Enemy The Shock or Ouset was furious and bloody The Croats did well enough at the beginning and the Swedes better and if Papenheim had stayed a little longer the Imperialists had fled But he came time enough Papenheim slain to redresse the Army which already began to stagger and to repulse the enemy but the shot of a Falkon a piece of Ordnance so called put a period to his life and all his glorious enterprizes Germany hath produced but few such Souldiers as he was for Valour Felicitie and Courage His elogies and the Emperour hath had few who have equalled him in fidelity He first made himself known in the Valtelme and at the Battail of Prague he was found amongst dead He finished the Tumults of the Peasants in Austria and above all after the Battail of Leipsick he redressed his Masters desperate party in Westphalia He seemed to dye content when he was told that the King was killed and it is held that if he had lived yet some years more he would have restored the Imperial Majesty to the first splendour The Horse basely gave ground as they had done in the first Battail It is beleeved that the King was slaine about the beginning of the Battail having receaved five wounds two whereof were mortal but it could never be learnt by whose hand he fell and opinions were so different that the truth could never be discovered The Swedes have reported that he was killed Gustave slain by a great Lord of his own Army others by Papenheim but neither the one nor the other is very likely to be true He was found amongst the dead so trodden and tumbled by the Army which had passed over his body that he was hard to be known What shall we say of the potency of this world since so much glory and merit is trodden under foot by horses This Prince who like another Alexander was grieved and vexed to stay so long in Germany and wished nothing more His praises then to go seek new Trophies elsewhere is borne down and that so venerable Majesty so much respected and feared every where is now reduced to dust This great Warrier this invincible Monarch the delight of the Protestants the terrour of the Catholicks the Darling of Fortune lost his life in the middle of Triumphs and of Germany His fall caused so much rage and despaire in the soules of his souldiers that they chose rather to die then retyre and obliged the Imperialists after they had fought till dark night to make a retreate but little more modest then plain flight towards Leipsick His life Duke Bernard and Cniphanse gave great testimonies of themselves in this bloody Fight and the whole Army melted in teares to see the King their Generall without sense and motion He was Son to Charles Duke of Sudermam who had taken away the Crown from his Nephew Sigismund King of Poland It is reported that he had made his Apprentiship in War disguised and unknown under Prince Maurice and that even after he was King he made a journey into Germany in the quality of an ordinary Horseman His Governours son hath told me that he was in the war of Bohemia saw the Count of Bucquoy's Army discovered himselfe to some Princes and then sowed the first seeds of his intelligence in the Empire He made War in Livonia and Prussia with a most singular odour of his great felicity His many Victories changed his sweet and tractable nature into a too rough and austere severity an hereditary Vice in the race of Erick as soon as they are past forty years old Thus gloriously ended Gustavus Adâ—phus his dayes and Parca by cutting off the thred of his life made him triumph to manifest that if he had lived some years longer Europ would have been too little for the number of his Conquests and his glory He presumed against the content and opinion of the Chiefe of his Council to come into Germany with an Army of eight thousand men to defend the Lutheran Religion and to check so vast and formidable a Power as that of the House of Austria but he was sure of his Allyes and of the affections of all the Protestants in general Also that though Fortune should have treated him as she had done others he had still the means left to save himselfe in his own Kingdom and draw up the Bridge after him But she was too kinde to him to break company with him so soone and his designes too high to please his Allyes Never was there Prince more regretted and deplored then he and all the North put on mourning whilest the South rejoyced at his fall but it felt the rough Attacks of his Generals after his death and the Swedes went not out of Germany till they got a Peace the spoiles and a share of the Empire a notable recompence The Battel of Lutzen the sixteenth of November for having whipped it so well This Battel hapned the sixteenth of November some dayes after deceased King Frederick at Mentz a milde Prince and much bewailed by his people He accompanied Gustave into Bavaria who was willing to restore him to the Palatinat The death of Frederick but under hard and unreceiuable conditions Let us see what passes in France CHAP. XXVIII The Elector of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters into the Kingdom with an Army The death of the brave Duke of Montmorancy THe fidelity of the Ecclesiastical Electors was so great that they chose rather to suffer all the rigour and extremity of Fortune then untie themselves from the Emperour The French drivo the Spâ—niâ—ds from Trevirs save onely that the Elector of Trevirs sought to shelter his Country under the protection of France and received a French Garrison into Harmestein an inexpugnable place neer Cobelents where the Mosell casts her selfe into the lap of the Rheyn And he would have done as much at Trevirs if he had not been prevented by the Chapter which put a Spanish Garrison in before whereby the King was moved to send the Marshal De'stree to dislodge it and put in another Whilest the said King and Cardinal were looking upon the affairs of Germany Monsieur his Brother marched out of Brabant with an Army and published that he would deliver France from the Tyranny of the Cardinal The Duke of Montmorancy ranged himselfe with him Monsieur enters France and it looked as if all were disposed to Richelnis ruine Many of the Grandees inâ—lined also that way being jealous to see the King of Sweden destroy the Catholick League in Germany shouldered by the Allyance of the Eldest Sonne of the Church upon the suscitation of this proud Minister The Marshal of Schoonbergh followed this said Army with some ordinary forces There hapned a Skirmish wherein the Duke of Montmorancy would needs be nibbling and so was wounded and taken and his Party ruined
by his temerity It is in a general Definition and not in a particular fight that a General ought to shew his dexterity and valour A Peace was made in haste and the strangers who were ingaged with Monsieur very ill handled and he hoped to obtaine the aforesaid Dukes pardon but in vaine for he ended his life The Duke of Montmorancy beheaded by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and his House ended also with his life This brave Lord who had performed so many remarkable services was sacrificed to the interest which was taken in the Swedish Party his aversion from which was discovered by himselfe It is great wisdom to hide ones passions and to lay open those of others to hear much and say little This violent proceeding much amazed all the Lords of France augmented the Cardinals hatred and gave Monsieur a good horse to be gone again out of the Kingdom This very year the Embassadour of Spain arriving at London brought things so to passe with his frequent pursuits and instances Peace between Spain England that he terminated the difference between his Master and the King of England notwithstanding all the oppositions which were made and the thwartings which were brought by the Embassadours of France and the confederated States Pope Vrban to purge himselfe from the hatred which was born him by all the zealous Catholicks Pope Urban little loved by the zealous Catholicks for their seing him in secret intelligence with the Cardinal whom they made Author of all the misfortunes and mischiefs suffered by the Church published a Jubile but all that was not able to wash away the ill opinion which was conceived of him and in a Synod which was held in Spain they treated of abrogating his Authority in regard they saw him favour them who endeavoured to destroy a House which will never fall but with the ruine of the Catholick Religion Yea because he appeared not abroad at the publick rejoycing which was made at Rome for the death of King Gustave who had been so much feared many were heard to mutter and speak such bad and rash words as the licentiousnes and unlimitednes of the miserable Times produced When the Shepherd takes no care of his Sheep the Wolves get some of them very cheap Piety waxes cold and the weeds grow at length to stifle the good corne CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen and the cruelty of the Victorious Brisac succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein THe Body of this great Warrier was embalmed and carryed into Pomerania and from thence to Stockholme to be laid in the Tomb of his Ancestours He resuscitated the ancient glory of the Goths and the notice of his Army struck both Europ and Asia into terrour There was a report given out It is published that Gustave is not dead and beleeved by some of them who were most affectionate to him that he was not dead but had secretly transported himselfe into Sweden for some affairs of importance and to discover the humour of the Princes but this fiction was grounded upon Maxime of Policie and having gotten some Vogue was not unprofitable to the Party He was given neither to wine not women and he inexorably chastized all such as fayled of their duty He much changed at last from what he had been as his first entry into Germany and no marvail since his very Subjects themselves having been as gentle as Lambs before were now become arrogant by so much good success so many spoyles and the enjoyment of a Countrey so much better and happier then their own The Princes of the Party lamented him extrinsecally but were in effect glad enough to be rid of such a Conquerour who had gotten a far greater possession of the hearts of their Subjects then they had themselves But the King of France and the Cardinal were truly sorry for him because they had not brought that House lowenough which they had a minde to strip of some fayre States as it hath since appeared And now in regard they had payd the charge they prepared to go to the Banquet by buying the Towns which the Sweeds had taken neer the Rheyn He left one Daughter only He left behinde him only one Daughter Heyress to her Fathers vertues as well as his Crowne and he left his Lievtenants and Allyes the care to finish the worke not yet perfected The Hollanders began more to feare him then love him and by consequence expressed no great resentment of his death nor did they desire him at all for their neighbour wherefore they were not a little glad to see him leave Colein and march up into Bavaria He will never be forgotten either by his friends or his enemyes and his memory will live to the end of the world The Hughenots cal the Lutherans Brothers The Hughenots of France for his sake began already to call the Lutherans their Brethrea and it is held for certain that he was endeavouring to awaken the old quarrels in Italy and else where He was about two years and a half in Germany accompanyed by so much happiness yea too much to last long that his own very friends were amazed at it The Swedes make the Offensive every where To declare to all the world that he had obtained the Victory when he dyed his enemies retyred into Bohemia and the Swedes made every where the offensive The Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave of Hassia brought War upon the Bishops in Westphalia who had lost their Souldier Gustave Herne and some others transported it into Alsatia and Swaveland and General Bawdas in the district of Colein Duke Bernard cleansed Misuia and Arnem subjugated Silesia But what did Wallenstein during all these floods He cut of the Heads of many of his Officers Wallenstein executâ—s some Officers and why And why for not having performed their duty Yea rather to begin thereby to warp the web of his treason and put in execution what he had hatched in his Soule and therefore he put to death such as he knew were most affectionate to the Emperours service Vertue comes upon the Scaffold as well as Vice There was no remedy for he had full power without appeal but the innocent blood spurted in his face sooner then he thought for the cry thereof never findes the ears of the great God stopped is must be revenged Baudits designe upon Tuits a small town upon the bank of the Rheyn opposite to Colein issued well but he was beaten out again and his proceeding abhorred for breaking the new trality So that he retyred to Siburgh a convenient place to incommodate the Archbishoprick Aldringers Victorâ— General Aldringers Victory was greater neer the Leck where he cut of the Troops of the Marquis of St. Andrew and retook some places in Sweveland and John
known But what remedie for so desperate a businesse Weallenstein's designs discovered The Vessel could not choose but run aground when the Pilot himself cast her upon the Sand-bank and against the Rocks This Traitor had all in his hands and the Emperour seeing that his own servants had resolved his ruine implored the help of heaven However it was thought fit in this disorder to send money to the Garrison of Prague so to be sure of that as being the Capitall City of the Kingdom and to retain the King of Hungary who was ready to march into the Field with too weak forces Frithland sent his Brother-in Law Count Terskie to Prague but it was too late for they made him understand that they would acknowledge none but the Emperour Whereupon our design said he is discovered let us pack away and Joyn with the Swedes Now this infamous treason was known to Gordon Leasly and Butler the two former Scotch and the last an Irish Officer but all the difficulty was how to stifle it in the Cradle to which effect they invited Terskie Kinskie Illaw and Newman all his Creatures to supper Supper at Eguer where they took their lives to pay the score and save their Master Ferdinands And thus the Tragedie being begun upon them as the Members must be ended upon him the detestable Head the Commission whereof was faithfully and laudably undertaken by Butler who thrusting open his dore and finding him up so staggered and hared him Wallenstein massacred that he could not make one word of answer to this fatal salutation Oh Traytour to the Emperour and Empyre art thou there And therewith run him through with his Partizan so that he fell down dead and an Irish souldier having crushed his head with the But-end of his Musket took him by the heels and threw him out at the window This was the end of this ungratefull Minister who from an ordinary Gentleman was risen to so much greatnesse that he could climbe no higher without being a Traitour and a Parricide As he had done great services on the one side so had he also received great recompences on the other his Master having created him Prince of the Empyre and made him so potent that he had trouble enough to unmake him again yea and much adoe to save both himself and his House from his cruel perfidie Never were Traitours seen to make a good end ambitions persons fall into the praecipice which they intend for others He was very much hated and that chiefly by the Emperours enemies and yet some to make the Prince odious have presumed to excuse him as if he had been wrongfully killed Men who are overballanced by Passion have no solid judgment It is said of him that for having only awaked him out of his sleep he had caused many to be hanged with this sentence Hang that beast And yet I say he hath found pennes which have justified his proceedings and accused the House of Austria of cruelty and ingratitude But that Polish Bishop who hath defended him against the sense of the very Swedes the French Diâ—seck a Polish Bishop and other of the Emperours enemies hath rather discovered his own antipathy against that Family which was then combatted by so many Protestants then reasons and arguments sufficient to prove his innocence nor are they indeed valued but where blinde passion praedominates though yet still this praeoccupated old man hath not failed to finde applause amongst such of his nation as disapproved the streight Allyance of their King with the aforesaid House Whatever be reported of him he was a good and judicious souldier but ambition becoming the Mistresse of his reason made him according to the opinion of almost all Authors machinate and contrive the death of his Master and his Children by which cruell affect he stained all his gallant exploits and rendred his name infamous to posterity The end crownes the work and it serves for nothing to have well begun unlesse we finish so too The Polanders are in action it is time to speak of their vertue which hath produced miracles CHAP. XXXII The Siege of Smolensko raised The King of Poland compells an Army of a hundred and twenty thousand men to have recourse to his mercy He makes peace with the Muscovits and chastises the Turks The Infanta's death The taking of Rhinbergh Aitona ranges the Militia and takes some Lords prisoners ULadislans the fourth King of Poland was after the death of his brother Sigismund by the cosent of the Stares and Nobility preferred to the Throne and there suddenly presented it self a fair occasion to signalize the beginning of his Reign and let the Polanders see that he would be the terrour of his enemies The Muscovits after having done much spoyle in Lituania besieged the Town of Smolensko the walls whereof are extremely thick The King sent his Army thither and went himself shortly after to command it Great skirmishes were made but small means to beat up a quarter whereupon he resolved to storm two Fortresses or Holds which were upon the River and would needs be there himself in person The more difficult this Enterprise was the greater was the glory for more then six thousand Muscovits were put the sword Upon these advantages he intrenched himself and not being able to unnestle them totally from thence he cut off all their Provisions in such sort as they quickly found themselves reduced to the extremity either of starving An Unheard of victory or rendring themselves to his mercy A terrible thing and not heard of before that a hundred and twenty thousand men should bring their Arms and Colours and cast them at the feet of this victorious Prince This was not a victory but a monster of a victory He pardoned them all and made the strangers which were about fourteen thousand men promise never to bear arms more against the Crowne of Poland A while after peace was made between them upon conditions that the King should relinquish his Title Peace made and praetentions upon the Great Dutchy and the Grand Duke his upon Smolensko and some other places The Turke and Tartars seeing the Polanders busie entred into Poland to make a diversion The Turks â—eaten and give the Muscovits breath But the King had done his work time enough to come and put sire in their tayles for he bear them and forced them to beg peace which he granted them upon most honourable terms for himself At the same time the third part of the City of Constantinople was burnt to the ground with incredible losse A prodigie which threatned the Turkes with that misfortune which is now befalling them Let us now return into Holland through England where we shall finde King Charles as much in love with peace and quiet as King Iames his Father was He went into Scotland and was crowned there the twenty fifth of Iune 1633. We lest the Deputies of the Obedient Provinces very busie about
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
finding himselfe decaying employed the small strength he had left upon the care of his foul and the quiet of his Kingdom The death of Lewis the Just He declared the Queen Regent or Governesse of his Sonne the King recommended Cardinal Mazâ—â—â—n to her and then rendred up his spirit to God This Prince alwayes loved Justice and was carried to warre more by the ambition of his Minister then any motive of his own and consequently would have been glad to see a Peace made which he much instanced before his decease He destroyed the Huguenot Party which gave jealousie and obscured his Majesty after which he assisted the Duke of Nevers in his succession to the Dutchy of Mantua seazed upon Lorrain made an Ally-ance with the King of Sweden and all the Protestants against the Emperour and waged warre both against him and the King of Spain under the pretexts which we have already recounted The Bâ—â—tail of Rocroy glorious to the French Don Francisco de Melo went to besiege Rocroy 1643. with a most gallant Army but having declared the Duke of Alburquerque a young Portuguese Lord Generall of the Horse he so much offended the Officers thereof that when the French came they would not do their duty but forthwith began to run so that all the Foot was defeated by the Duke of Angnien now Prince of Conde This victory was very great in which Generall Gassion gave a high character of himself and was the cause of the taking of Theonâ—ille And Melo was so much discredited that the King was constrained to call him away and give the government to the Marquis of Castel-rodrigo who kept it till the Arch-Duke Leopold arrived The successe of the Armies was various and if one Party lost a Battail the Allies got another so that there could not faile to come a totall mine CARDINAL MAZARINE Rgoywood focit P Stent excudit These were two of the most memorable Battails of our Age the one whereof hapned in the moneth of May and in the beginning of the raigne of Lewis the fourteenth given-by-God by the conduct of the young Duke of Angulen and the other towards the end of November under that of the Duke of Lorrain and they may be compared to those of Leipsick and Nortlinghen After this glorious Victory the French treated with him but without any fruit at all For he had been once at Paris to be jeered and he would returne thither no more but with forces to take his revenge Wherefore he marched back to the Low-Countries took Falkenstein a strong place in his way and left the command of the brave Army to Francis Baron of Mercy who after having taken Rotweil went and besieged Vberling a place of importance upon the Lack seazest upon before by Stratagem for want of good Gard but it yeelded now upon composition for want of Victuals sower moneths after In the meau time the Garrison of Brisack mutinied for want of pay and whilest the disorder lasted there was found a certain Marchant who offered about fower hundred thousand Rixdollers but General Erlach by his care brake this bargain and punished five or six of the Authours of the sedition General Mercy having fayled to retake Hoheniwiel by treaty left it blocked up by five Forts and went to attack Friburgh and Brisgaco where we will leave him till the valliant Duke of Anguien came and disolodged him and see in what tearms the Swedes are We said that Generall Torstonton having been compelled to raise the Siege from before Friburgh marched and planted himself upon the Elbe General Counixmarck slept not in the interim but skipped up and down to and fro with so much speed and activity that he always surprized his Enemies and never returned without booty Crackow was sent into Pomeranid to make a diversion but he had not the wit to faise the Siege of Domitz not resist Connixmark though enough to runne away though Poland Torstenton went into Moravia where he beat Bucham and came back into Misnid At the beginning of December he entred Holstein with so much promptitude that he was seen passe before Hamburgh when he was thought to be upon the Fronteer of Bohemia The Swedes enter into Hollstein 1643. At that same time came news that Gustave Horns was entred into Scania with an Army of twelve thousand men whereat all the world was amazed and men began to beleeve that the Imperialists would grow to respire by this new War but it proved quite contrary for they made no protis of it at all and the Swedes marched our to earry the terrour to the very Gates of Vienna Let us speak a little of the pretexts of this expedition since the Danes themselves were ignorant of the cause which could not well be found but in the Generall Maxime This the French and Weymariant were beaten and the Swedes gone out of Germany to ingago themselves in a frest quarrel so that the Imperialists had fine sport and did wonders CHAP. XV Of the Warre of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof NEver did Fortune more undertake the Swedish Interest then in this War and never was good King Christian in more danger of being stripped of his States then in this perillous conjuncture It is said that that great Astrologer Ticho Brahe had foretold him that he should be droven out of his Kingdome that he should depart with a staffe in his hand and that this immutable fate should defal him in the moneth of Jannary in the year 1644. I know not whether this report be true but sure I am that the prediction was false though yet there were once very great apparence and probability that it would come to pass For had the Swedes been able to snap the ships and Barks which were in a certain haven of that Province as their designe was to do they would easily have entred into the Isle of Fune and crastily rendred themselves masters of the whole Kingdom at unawares and without striking stroake The war of the Swedes against the Dams But the most premeditated Enterprizes are sometimes hindred and overthrown by a meer matter of nothing for the Soule of great designes is silence and he who knows not how to keep that will never bring any thing to good effect The Swedes fayled not of themselves but God only made them faile The King was strucken with as much amazement at the first notice of this invasion as it a thunderbolt had fallen upon his head and writing to his Resident at the Haghe he commanded him to tell the States General that this irruption seemed so strange to him And why that he would father have believed that the Sky would fall then that he should see the Swedes enter into his dominions But what could move the Swedes to begin a new War having so great a one already in Germany and knowing that this latter endangered the losse of all their conquests yea of their very Kingdom it self For the reasons which they
Emperours consent who alone together with the Duke of Bavaria entertained the Minstrills of the Revel but his Companion danced better then he For had he abandoned the Party at the perswasion of the French he would not have danced much longer and had he been willing to hazard any more neither the Swedes nor the French had danced so well but he chose rather to dance sure for feare of tripping Let us now withdraw our selves from the Labyrinth of Germany and see in what condition the affairs of Flanders are for as for those of the Emperour they are sufficiently afflicted and have almost no other support then that of the justice of their Cause besides that so many fine actions as are performed in those parts away from hence CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the Low-Countries under obedience The taking of a great number of strong Towns in Flanders AFter so remarkable a Victory as that of Rocroy which hapned after the death of Lewis the thirteenth and so many losses in Germany which had so peeled the Eagle that there was no more apparence or possibility left of herflying farre after the defection of Portugal and so many Battels lost in Catalonia it was conceived that the King of Spain would have neither power nor will to succour the Obedient Provinces as having work enough at home and that the first Field following the French and Hollanders would carry all yea that the people being abandoned would revolt and to hinder a total ruine joyne themselves with the Conquering Party In effect the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility cast their eyes already upon France in regard of the Religion and the people turned their heads to wards Holland for love of the Traffick but the onely deprivation of the exercise of their Faith made them as it were weeping follow the Spaniards Peace was necessary for them and for that they held up their hands but the Treaties walked too slowly on Nothing but the rigour of the Placarts of these Provinces and the preaching of their Priests made them resolve to endure all the extremities of war rather then submit themselves to the Reformates For if we must needs change our Master said they let us range our selves under the French so to have and retaine our Religion rather then under the Hereticks who destroy Souls The Plenipotentiary Embassadours of France passed by the Haghe renewed the Offensive Allyance for three years more The League renewed for three yeares spake in the behalfe of the Catholicks of Holland but obtained nothing it being too ticklish a matter For where the Reformates are Masters they give no liberty to them of that Profession and will not have them amongst them not being able to suffer Idolatry and the Papistical Ceremonies shook their over-tender Conseiences Let us leave them going to Munster to begin a work which they will not perfect and let us go see the bloody fruits of this Field The Duke of Orleans being declared Lieutennant-General of all the King his Brothers Armies sent La Meillieraye Gassion and Rantzow towards Flanders who made a shew of going to Dunkerke but sate down before the strong Town of Graveling and seized upon all the Forts about it and Admiral Tromp came and ranged himselfe before the Haven The French take many places in Flanders 1645. to shut up the passage This Town was taken in lesse then two moneths and thereby made the Spaniards avow that there is nothing impregnable when mens lives are not spared For the French lost above six thousand before it and all the industry of the Spaniards could not save this Bulwark of their State Don Francisco de Melo who hindred the Prince from passing the River into Flanders hastened with all the best of his Forces gave the Hollanders meanes come over The Sass of Gaunt taken 1945. and take the Sass of Gaunt with many other Forts and the losse of the said Sass and Graveling the two maine defences of the Country laid it open to an entire Conquest The Duke of Orleans followed his Carriere and all stooped to him he took Bourburgh the Fort of Linck Lens Bethune St. Venant Lillers Armentiers and Mening and put all the rest into Contribution besides that Mardyke was also surrendred after a Siege and so this Field of 1645. ended The Victories of the French were little lesse splended in Italy by the taking of Piombino and Portolongòno 1646 to wipe away the affront of Orbitello where they were beaten and constrained to discamp and many other places were also taken besides the defeate of the Spaniards at the passage of Mora. Count Harcourts Victory in Catalunia 1645. The Count of Harcourt who was not wont to be idle when any thing was to be done got a glorious reputation by winning a Battel and taking some Towns in Catalunia 1645. Notwithstanding that Flanders was almost quite conquered the Subjects remained firme in their fidelity amongst so many troubles Mardyke surprized by the Spaniards and the surprizing of the Fort of Mardyke in the Winter made them take fresh courage This Place cost but ten or twelve mens lives to retake it and had cost above five thousand to teare it out of the Spaniards clutches Let us see the begin-of this Field of 1646. The Duke of Orleans being entred into Flanders with a tertible Army resolved to compel the Enemy to a General and final Decision or to take some Towns of importance in the heart of the Country which might give the State a mortal blow And though the Spaniards were too wise to hazard the former yet could they not hinder the latter Courtrack taken which was the taking of Courtrack in the middle of Flanders seven leagues from Gaunt But the enemy making a Defensive war onely forced them for want of victualls to draw back towards the Sea side where they took Berghen St. Wynock and besieged Mardyke which they hoped to carry by many assaults before the Holland Fleet arrived but their temerity was so well chastised by the supply which entred every Tyde into the said Fort that Monsieur de la Trisllerie who was newly come out of Denmarke was constrained to complain to the States of the delay of their Fleet. And they who walked a slow pace and observed the falling back of the French with their bravado of saying that this Field would make them Masters of Flanders and the next after of all Holland judged by the rash discourse of the Souldiers of the intention of their Master and shewed themselves very cold in the pursuance of the designe to come to the concluded Stake sharing for in this knot it is that the best friends become foes and this was the stumbling-block as it shall shortly appeare However at length they sent Admiral Tromp who was no sooner come then they lowed their colours to signifie that they would render themselves up and so the Garrison of three thousand men marched out Mardyke retaken by the French and
were all detained prisoners contrary to the Agreement made by a maxime little usual for they would not release them because they would not draine the Source of them and exhaust the Country of Souldiers It is to be noted that this said Fort before which there perished the Flower of the French Nobility and which merited not to be attacked had it not been for the consideration of the Haven yeelded to testifie to the French that the honour thereof was due to the Hollanders And these small grudges served but to sharpen their stomacks hasten the taking of Dunker and Fuernes The eleventh of October 1646 Thus almost all Flanders being conquered they doubted no more of expelling the Spaniards since there wanted onely one effort or last blow for it whereof France for her part was resolved Wherefore the King sent to intreat the Prince of Orange to lay siege before Antwerp and promised him the succour of six thousand men demanding onely four Churches for the Roman Catholicks in lieu thereof to which the Prince consented but the found some difficulty in the determination of the States For they of Zeland protested against it and they of Amsterdam would not have the said Town taken for feare least the Commerce should return thither again But there was yet another stronger and more considerable reason and jealousic had already taken too firme root to be so easily plucked up The Marshals Gassions and Rantzaw after having put good order at Courtrack advanced with their Troops towards the Channel betwen Gaunt and Bridges secured the Princes passage and drove back Piccolomini who durst not venture any thing against them The Prince after having passed made a circuit found plunder for his Souldiers rendred the Duke of Orleans a visit then crossed the River Skelde and entred the Land of Wass General Back seeing this storme ready to fall upon him after having stopped the Hollanders below Gannt retired himselfe and pitched his Camp a league beyond Antwerp for the safety whereof all being in confusion he left the fruitful Land of Wass to the Enemy as also the Town of Hulst which the Prince forced to yeeld Hulst besieged and taken after a moneths Siege Fortune which had alwayes accompained him made it appeare that he was yet her Darling in this occasion for though it were in the moneth of October it was faire and dry weather and had it been rainy according to the Season he had run hazard of loosing the benefit of this Field and of blemishing in some sort the splendour of so many gallant exploits as had been happily accomplished by him CHAP. XVIII The War of England The Tragical death of the King FErdinand the third at present Emperour had good reason to say these words which are reported to have been once uttered by him by way of deploring the calamity of this Age. The Princes of the Empire said he will be râ—â—ved and the evils and disasters which we suffer will rebound upon the heads of them who make us suffer them He is now in repose and sees all the calamities of Germany transported into England and other places But let us first begin with England without seeking the speculative Causes or casting them at all upon the sins of men To the end that we may speak with the more ground of what hath passed in this Kingdom we will derive the Source thereof from William the Conquerours time CHARLES PAR LA GRACE DE DIET-ROY D'ANGE ETERRE sould by P. Stent The curses of Fathers and Mothers upon their Children are of most dangerous consequence Behold here a proofe thereof by which this said Kingdom hath bâ—â—â—n afflicted since many Ages past and by the late Tragical Act which turned it into a Common-wealth Robert Son to the abovesaid William being gone to conquer the Holy Land gave his brother Henry the first of that name occasion by his absence to seize upon his Crown who having a desire to marry the Princess Mawde Sister to King Edgare of Scotland who had been long before an inclosed Nun in a Monastery caused her often to be asked with great instancy but the devour Princesse remained constant to her Vow but finding that she would not voluntarily yeeld her brother Edgare King Henry of England marries Mâ—wde Princesse of Scotland fearing Henry's fury was constrained to make her condescend so that she perceiving it to be a businesse of force made a prayer to God that all the issue and posterity which should spring from them might live in perpetuall disquiets and quarrels This malediction of hers hit right and extended it self not onely to the third and fourth generation but even to our Times also in such sort as that there have been few Kings ever since who to raigne in security have not been either necessitated or induced to kill their Brothers or near Kinsmen and who have not also experimented Civill Seditions whereby the Brothers Uncles Children or Brothers in Law have seized upon the Crown In fine the Division under Edwards Children between the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke existed under the Colours of the Red The quarrels between the Houses of Lancaster and York and the White Rose which quarrell after having caused many Battels and the death of above eighty Princes was composed by the marriage of Henry the seventh with Elizabeth of the House of Yorke and so the Roses were re-united to bury the two Factions and terminate the Difference however the Kingdom were not thereby cured of Mawdes Curse for in the year 1587. Queen Elizabeth who then raigned put to death Mary Stewart her Kinswoman after detaining her prisoner almost twenty yeares Thus farre reaches Stephen Basker a Writer of very much esteem but I must passe further and call a milde King upon a Scaffold After Queen Elizabeths decease it looked as if the course of misfortune were stayed by the raigne of King Iames and the Union of three Crownes but this great Calme continuing yet about fifteen yeares after his death turned into the blackest and most furious Tempest that ever was and those waters had not been stopped but to overflow this Field with so much the more violence and desolation Iames Stewart King of Scotland was murthered by a detestable Treason The misfortunes upon the House of Stewart and the Queen his Wife was beheaded in England where shee thought to sinde her Sanctuary from the Faction of her subjects Her Sonne afterwards King of England was likely to be stifled in her wombe Her Grand-Childe ended his dayes as she did hers by the hand of an Executioner and his distressed Children retyred into France to their Mother A strange Catastrophe and a malediction more Tragicall in the end then in the beginning But let us begin this Tragedy by this first Act. The English under a pacificall King lived in such superlative delight and riot produced by an uninterrupted course of many yeares Peace that they grew almost to forget God For it is but
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
had begun But Seruient found himself repugned by such as had power and was not able to hinder however his arguments sufficiently incumbred the Colledge but the Peace which was signed at Munster the 8. of January was ratified at the Haghe published at Munster and proclaimed through all the Towns and Villages of this puissant and glorious Republick the 5. of June 1648. And here by the way we may take notice of the admira ble conduct of the Spaniards who though at a great distance and having no other passage then by sea have neverthelesse against all human apparence defended these Provinces the space of thirteen years against three most potent Enemies Such as have more sence of particular then publick interest have condemned this Peace as having been too much precipitated alled ging that the States ought not to have separated themselves from the French but that they ought to have helped them to drive out the old enemies and come to share stakes and many other arguments making for the prolongation of the War To which it may be answered that all Wars which have not a necessary defence and true Peace for their scope are unjust Besides if the Hollanders obtained by this Peace whatsoever they desired and asked it needs must follow that they were obliged to ratify it And as for the interest of France which was also to accept it for the repose of her Subjects and for the great advantages offered therein they clearly perceived that that great Minister would not have it and therefore they resolved not to obey his passion besides that the Embassadours themselves advised them to embrace it in case they could bring the King of Spain to an utter renunciation both for himself and his Successours which after the attendance of a whole year togegether was effected All the world is also of opinion that for the good of their State it is better for them to be separated from the French There are likewise some other reasons which remained in the Cabinet and which some events not foreseen by many have made to be judged very pregnant France hath sufficiently declared by the taking of many Holland-Marchants ships how displeasing this Peace was to her but Holland hath dissembled this proceeding with admirable prudence as attributing it to the passion of the great Ministers Creatures Allyes of different nature bold good in common necessity but at the end of the reckning that frienship growes faint This War which had lasted almost ninety years and which was conceaved to be immortal expired in the Spring time 1648. to the great contentment of such as love peace and tranquillity and the great discontentment of the French who had much reason to be angry at it for two subjects the one for the division or Stake-sharing and the other because they had not quite chased the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries The pence was not pleasing to all It was observed nevertheless that this joy was not universal and that some others beside the French would have been more glad to carry on the War to the total expulsion of the Spaniards Indeed the Bonefires were kindled with more zeale and shined with more light in one Town then in another and coldnesse appeared in the countenances of many persons But above all they who made their advantage of following the Armies and such others also as with whom passion of Religion prevailed more then interest of State expressed their dissatisfactions The number of such as embraced the Reformed Religion and the doctrine of Luther growing in despight of all Placarts and Prohibitions to encrease and multiply sowed the first seed of the division to which was added the ambition of some certain Governours who according to their own sence The causes of the first tumults were ill enough divided the discontentment of the Nobility the Clergie and all in general for augmentation of the Bishops and the retardment of the Forrain Militia in the Low-Countries Cardinal Granvels authority and the report which ran of the Inquisition caused excessive commotions in the Provinces but ambition change in Repigion the exaction of the tenth penny the bloody proceedings of the inexorable Duke of Alna the weakening of the Royal Prerogative and the pretexts of maintaining priviledges were the windes which brake the bounds of respect and concord and caused the Warrs against the Governours and the Duke of Parma's Victories having made the King burie the confederates moved them to begin the War against him which lasted till the valliant Henries death In the beginning of the tumults they first indirectly set upon the Catholick Church by destroying Altars and Images under colour of abuse Idolatries and liberty of conscience and then upon the King under that of the Tyranny of his Governours togeather with the avarice cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers But in fine by the succour of strangers the War was carried on directly and that with so much dexterity and good successe that the King hath lost seven Provinces and the said Church her exercise in such sort as that Philip the fourth now raigning by the articles of this Peace hath declared the said Provinces Free States Let us now see in what coudition the Emperours affayrs are after a losse so little expected All his Subjects on this side the Danub were fled for fear and some also ou the other side saved their goods in Stirmark and in the district of Salsburgh in such sort as that had the Swedes endeavoured to passe the River though it were very large all the hereditary Countries of the House of Austria would have run hazard of being handled like the rest of Germany They took Grembs by assault and laid Siege to Brin And hear it was that Fortune made a pause gave the Imperialists leasure to breath and look about them The siege of Brin as also the Inhabitants beyond the River to put themselves into better posture Mons de South governour of Brin The Governour of this place was one Mons. de Souch a native of Rochels who upon some very great disgust had abandoned the Swedes whom he had served with great zeal of Religion and affection and in the quality of a Colonel which charge he now possessed on the other Party Torstenson after three weekes Siege summoned the Town advertizing him that in case of refusal there would be no quarter for him He answered That he would never ask any and that he would also give none When a Gentleman of merit burns with desire of revenge and acquisition of honour there is no difficulty which he wil not surmount The Siege raised Torstenson after having made many assaults mined undermined and cast a multitude of Granada's into the place was forced to retire And this Siege lasted four moneths destroyed about four thousand Swedes without counting run-awayes and attcheived the Governour an immortal reputation besides the Emperours favour who being desirous to distinguish this rare vertue from the common made him
a Boron and gave him some Lands as also a place in his Privy Counsel Torstenson quits the Generalat 1646. Torstenson as brave a General as ever was after this cross of Fortune not being wâ—l in health withdrew his Army out of Moravia resigned the Generalat into the hands of Wranghel and passed to those new Medicinal Fountaines newly discovered at Hornhawzen in the Bishoprick of Holberstadt 1646. where there was then so huge a conflux of people as if Germany had stil been compleatly inhabited General Wranghel took up his quarters in Turinghe in the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and in Silesia and Connixmarck in the Bishoprick of Bremen where it seemed as if he intended to establish his residence He retires into Sweden The Swedes changed their General but not their prosperity for the Imperialists were as ill handled by Wranghel as they had been by Torstenson who retyred himself into Sweden and was received by the Queen with honours due to his merits and the great services he had rendred that Crown His death He dyed in the year 1650 and left a most excellent odour of his vertues every where yea even amongst his very Enemies themselves Before we set down the motions of that fortunare Warrier Charles Gustave Wranghel we will relate the difference which chanced between the Landgraves of Hassia Darmstadt and Cassel the rather because it is mingled with the successe of his first Field CHAP. XXI The difference which hapned between the two Families of the Landgraves The Battails of Mergendal and Nortlinghen General Mercies death Why the Landgrave George remained consant AMongst all the Protestants of Germany none remained faithfull to the Emperour but only George Landgrave of Darmstadt all the rest being entred into the Swedish League And he finding no subject to take Arms and so slightly to break his Oath obtained Newtrality of the King of Sweden and merited besides to be called by Ferdinand himself the Faithful Prince The chief motive of this immovable constance of his shall be inserted beer as I have learnt it The Landgrave William his Father feeling himself decaying in his strength and drawing neer his end sent for this George his Sonne to whom after many good lessons and instructions he declared as it were by a Prophetick Spirit that there would happen many Warrs in Germany against the Emperour under the pretext of Religion wherein Strangers would be also ingaged being attracted by the desire and occasion of making themselves great And therefore that he should be sure to take heed of casting himself into that precipice but that he should remain faithful to the said Emperour without suffering himself by any meanes to be distracted or carried away to the ambition of any such people Promise me said he that you will never abandon the Emperours Party unlesse he endeavour to force you and your Subjects in your Conseience Which he did by Oath and hath always observed it hitherto so that he could not be loved by the Protestant Party neither was the Newtrality he obtained and so religiously observed by him sufficient to keep him out of the dance for the Fidlers played about him and made him dance in despight of his heart But there must be a pretext which was not long to seek Oh cursed and detestable Age Apretext to make War upon him Butsback a place belonging to the said Landgrave was taken by General Giese for a punishment as was said because it had refused passage to Colonel St. Andrews Forces or rather for that indeed the Politick necessity of affaires required it For where this Maxime hath the upper hand Justice is shut out of door From thence the said Giese went to Marpurgh in Novem. 1644. which Town forthwith yeelded and lest the dispure to the Castle which was also after having briefly defended it self forced to bow the knee in regard that the Foot was already taken away By this unheard-of and unexpected proceeding against all Right against faith and promise this agreement which had bin solemaly made and sworn between the two Branches of this most illustrious and most ancient House Hassia this Agreement I say confirmed by the Emperour approved by the of Electoral Colledge and the whole Empire was quashed by this invasion and that pacisicall Prince George induced to defend his Countriel by Arms since the Lawes and the Columne or Piller which supported them was too weak In a word a War was kindled in that district and the Swedes who defended the Lutheran Religion and the Liberty of Germany ranged themselves against this poor Lutheran Prince in favour of the Calvinsticall Landgravinne or Princesse Landgrave their Alley Maximes must be changed according to occasions and the pretext of Religion is but to amuse the Vulgar Some Lutherans were not a whit sorry to see this Prince tormented but such as yet cherished right and justice openly pittyed him In brief he armed powerfully and set forth a Manifest against which the Landgravinne published another so that the War was begun both with the pen and with the pike Indeed she could not take a fitter time For it is alwayes good to fish in troubled water 1646. General Wranghel returned towards Hassia took Hoxter and Paderborne at discretion and cleansed all those parts from the Imperialists whilest they were very busiy about doing the like in Moravia where they retook Crambs with much trouble and Corneuburgh with more So that when Austria was beginning to respire by the retreate of the Swedes and unexpected misfortune put all the Court into Mourning the Emperesse into her Tomb and the Religious Prince Ferdinand into the greatest sadnesse that any invincible Soule could be able to sustaine This Princesse The death of the Emperesse being great with childe was stifled by a Catharr or Rheume and universally regretted by all for her bounty and other Imperial Vertucs The King of Spaines onely Son followed her which so much afflicted his Father And of the Prince of Spain that it caused him a sicknesse Whilest these things passed General Mortaigne was taken by the Imperialists and found furnished with certain papers Mortaigne prisoner which contained so exact and perfect a List of the Imperial Army and all other particulars belonging to it that many of the principal and highest Officers had not so compleat a knowledge thereof Yea and he affirmed besides that there was nothing done nor any Order given which was not forth with discovered to the Swedes and therefore no wonder if Victory marched with them since Traitours marched with the Imperialists Whilest the Conquering Army was approaching Hassia and the Generals were making good cheare at Cassel the Count of Holtsappel General of the Elector of Coleins Forces endeavoured to redresse his Party and to offend her whose Troops he had long Commanded Zonts a little Town near Nuits and five leagues from Colein Zonts seated upon the Bank of the Rheyn was very convenient for the Hassians and very often
created Generalissimo or chief Generall arrived from Sweden with five or six thousand men and having encreased his Army by some Regiments drawn out of Pomerania Prince Charls-Gustave goes to Prague and the Archbishoprick of Bremen he advanced towards Prague where we will let him do a great work and make a turn back into Bavaria CHAP. XXIV The breach of the Truce with the Duke of Bavaria A Tempest upon the Elbe Melanders death The Peace of Germany The death of the King of Denmark and Uladislaus of Poland Cassimir succeeds him THe Truce which was made between the French the Swedes and the Bavarians 1648. lasted not long for it was broaken about the beginning of this Field not without great complaints on both sides the one party being accused of perfidy and the other of cheatery Indeed if we would seek in the success of this last action him who deserved the blame through the unhappiness of chance we should finde it to be the good old Duke of Bavaria who was little beloved by the Conqueting Patty because he was too wise and well advised But if we will hearken to his reasons we shall be quickly of another opinion though when there is question of Conquest words are rejected as weak and idle and such as wear the sword to make themselves masters of other mens goods without any other form of proceeding then that of occasion very often pass the bounds of newtrality and tocomplain of them is to offend them He saw all the conjurated Nations crosse the Danub again and fall upon Bavaria and ruine it except only one part thereof guarded by a River which they could not passe and by his Troops which were mad to see their hands tyed up They who have made any observations upon the Tragedies of Germany have reported that the greatest losses incurred by the Imperialists proceeded either from casting themselves too soon upon pillage in the advantage of some Battail or else from jealousies I will not touch upon the inevitable Rule of Fate nor Treason by which the bravest men lare sometimes attrapped nor many other accidents from which the most considerate and vigilant are not able to defend themselves in such sort as if we weigh the forces by Politick Prudence we shall finde that it would not have been possible in humane apparence any way to hurt this most August House Upon the 24. of November there rose so surious a tempest in Holstein A storme at Hamburgh 1648. and especially at Hamburgh and upon the Elbe with such an Earthquake that it was imagined that Dooms-day was come and that both Heaven and Earth sled before the face of the Judge irritated by the effusion of so much innocent bloud The death of the Kings in Dâ—nmark and Poland but the end is not yet arrived Good King Christian survived not this storme which seemed to have Prognosticated his departure he was followed by King Vladislans a Prince of much happinesse however he met with some repugnance and much jealousie amongst the Nobility about the design which he had to make a new order of Knighthood as also about that great Army which he had newly raised with the Duke of Valachia and some other Allyes against the Turks in apparence and with the money of the Venetians For the Swedes having smelt the businesse and the Polanders yet more it was remonstrated to him that these Leavies ought not to be made without the consent of the Senatours In fine being tyred and almost transported by these importunities and distrusts he condescended to the licentiating or disbanding of the forces and so that fire was excinguished without noise But this dismission was advantagious to the Swedish General Wirtembergh and to the French also who got three thousand of the Souldiers to their service Indeed all other Kings acquired by their great prosperity and successe more authority and respect from their subjects and more liberty to undertake but this The Polanders jealous of their Priviledges by his famous and remarkable Victories made the Poles more studious of the preservation of their priviledges which they wilnever loose by flattery for which they are rather to be praised then imitated This warlike Prince was much troubled after having so well danced in the round against the Turke and Muscovits to sit still whilest the said dance was hottest almost every where For his generous Spirit was bound by the plots of his enemies who feared the effects thereof for that they might peradventure have redowned to the profit of the House of Anstria His Brother Casiâ—â—ir succeeds him His Brother succeeded him by election and by a dispensation married the Princesse of Nevors his Widow Melander the â—â—â—perours Generali Melander having for many strong reasons been elevated to the dignity of commanding all the Imperial Armies promised no lesse then the redresse or restauration of the Emperours credit through all Germany but that foolish and dammageable passion had more praevalencie upon the mindes of some certa in persons then their Masters service For they murmured that this charge was given to a Calvinist and that a man of mean condition was preferred before so many great Lords of merit and illustrious extraction whereof he not being ignorant laboured upon the first occasion to render so great proofs of his vertue and zeal as that every one might be moved by his example to prefer their Princes occasions before their own particular interests one whereof you shall forthwith see The Swedes passed the Danub at Lawing and he faced them magnanimously neer Auxburgh but not being seconded by Greensfeldt a fault like that which he committed at the Battail of Hamelen he chose rather to dye Is killed 1648. then flinch and so sacrificed his life and that of two thousand men besides to the passion of his Emulatours By this Combat Bavaria was laid open and the Inhabitants ruined by both Armies for however the Imperialists and Bavarians were stronger then the Conquerours they were faine nevertheless to content themselves with tormenting them onely by surprises and Encounters whilest the old Town of Prague defended it selfe stourly and so repulsed the Chief General that he could not take it and lost above four thousand of his men before it Now whereas there be some Seasons so rainy now and then that though the Sun do shew himself by fits and thereby give hope of some change the weather neverthelesse returns to rain and continues so long that it makes folks despaire of ever seeing it fair again Just so this dismall war which began in the year 1618 looked as it would last always however there were many fair intervalls For mens hearts were so pufted up with ambition that it was beleived that it would never be ended but with the end of the world But what seems impossible to man is not to God Moreover the most zealous Protestants fancyed to themselves that the Catholick Religion being divided by the Arms of France might be
easily annihilated and then the Conquerours would have all or nothing The Plempotentiary-Embassadours had already treated at Munster and Osuabrugh the space of four years when it pleased at length the Father of light to dissipate the darkness of ambition and to send back peace into poor Germany which was so much tottered dispeopled and desert that it was not any more to be known The Tragedy both began The war begun and ended in Prague and ended in the City of Prague Great God grant this Peace may last tul the coming of thy Son our Lord Amen It is here to be marked that after the death of King Gustave of Lewis the thirteenth and the Landgrave William the Daughter of the first and the widowes of the two others continued the war against the Emperour by their Generals with so great constance prosperity and glory that he had very little less trouble and loss then he had before Moreover the hatred which the Conquerours shewed towards the Hollanders for the Composition which they had made rendied their design evident enough The Peace was conlud d ordered and signed at Munster and the Instruments there of sent to the principall persons concerned to be ratified which was effected and a Diet convocated at Nurembergh The Peace made at Mâ—â—stâ— 1649. there to treat about the restitution of Places and the disimission of the Armies as also of the meanes to content the Swedish Militia Such as had their swords in their hands were not ill handled The kingdom of Bohemia was declared Hereditary to the House of Austria and put out of dispute with Silesia and Moravia The upper Palatinat and the Electorall Dignity to the Hâ—use of Bavaria The Crown of Sweden retaines Pomerania except only that part which is called the Hâ—nder-Pemerama and the Archbishoprick of Bremen which is secularized into a Dukedom Item the Town of Wismar The gain of the Conquerours and Meckelemburgh The Marquis of Brandenburgh hath in recompence the Bishoprick of Magdeburgh which is also secularized and some other besides There are most ample Treatises written of this Peace to which I reser the Reader but I will first tell him that there are eight Electors and that the Prince Palatin is re-established in the lower Palatinat France hath Brisack and a good part of Alsatta with the renunciatton of the Empite to the pretensions of the Bishopricks of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Complaints of the House of Burguady and the Duke of Lorraines affairs were remitted to a particular Treaty between the two Crowns Thus ended the great Revel or Dance in Germany which lasted about thirty years wherein all the Nations of Europe had their pate Thus was the Emperour Ferdinand the third delivered from so many troubles and vexations who sits yet at the Helme of this noble Vessel Thus every body was contenred in apparence at least however there be some who could have wished to dance longer Thus was the Maske laid aside and the design of the French and Swedes discovered who vanted that they took Arms only for the liberty of Germany Thus were the Germans in excessive joy and in some care also to finde mony to pay the Charges content the Minstrills and the Dancers and take their leave Let them go to Nurembergh so weary with having danced so much that they can hardly stand upon their feer and let us transport our selves into Italy to see whether that prudent Nation dances with better grace and more judgement CHAP. XXV Pope Vrbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia THe war which was made upon the Emperour by the Swedes had so divided the people of Europe that there were very few persons to be found who shewed not themselves either glad or sad upon the issue of any remarkable Battel The Lutherans who looked upon it only for the interest of their Doctrine were afraid least if the Emperour grew victorious he should deprive them of the exercise thereof by a Reformation and retake from them all the Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions The Catholicks guided by zeal were inwardly afflicted at the decline or decay of that Great House which alone sustained the hatred of the Protestants and could not forbeare to murmur and cry our aloude against Pope Vrban The Complaints of the most zealous Catholicks whom they conceived to be tyed to the Interests of France How is it possible said they that the Common Father of Christians should either by secret agitations plot the ruin or resist the designes of a House by which he is so powerfully propped She hath raised a just quarrel both for her own interest and that of the whole Clergy is grown odious to the contrary Party and bath hazarded her States And not with standing all these essential reasons he depended wholly upon Cardinal Richelieu What can he expect after the destruction of the Empire but another inundation of the Goths in Italy who will sack Rome and evert the Holy Chaire He prefers the advancement of his Nephews before the care of the Church whilest the Protestants and some feigned Catholicks are labouring to abolish and overthrow her The praises which the Protestants gave him by saying that he was a most learned and able man and a good Politician and that he did very well to contribute to the humbling and abasing of this House which if she could once come to her end would make but a simple Chaplaine of him and take away part of his Authority augmented and grounded their complaints yet more But he in despight of all these noises Pope Urban affellionate to France leaned alwayes towards France For the interests of States enter as well into the Conclave as those of the Church He forbore not for all that to exhort the Princes to Peace and to promise Ferdinand some succour whereof there appeared some effects now and then This unhappy Age could not produce but miserable fruits since the Ecclesiasticks as well as the Seculars forsook Gods Cause to serve their own irregular Passions and evil Customes Some instead of quenshing this fire kindled it on every side and in Italy it selfe yea they were the Minstrills themselves of this Universal Revel or Dance The Cardinals the Minstrilis of the great Ball. which hath violated the Church and her Sacraments destroyed the Theological and Cardinal Vertues and utterly extinguished Christian Charity This good Pope left this mortal habitation the nine and twentieth of July 1644. after having held the Chaire about two and twenty years The Popes death 1644. a very knowing man and a goot Poet. A little before his decease he had almost all Italy in arms against him for the Dutchy of Castro and some other pretentions of divers partyes but by the King of Frances intercession all was accommodated for this war being dammageable to the Catholick Doctrine and advantageous to the Protestant was quickly lulled asleep and so St. Peters Ship hath not quite made Shipwrack yet by the tempest of scandals
To all which he answered with a consident aspect that he had done nothing but for his Masters service and that by his partionlar Command Gosimirus King of Poland Great Duke of Lithuanice c c. A o. 1649 But what do the Polanders do Are they in peace Are they exempt from the mischiefs under which all the rest of Christendom lies growning Let us step a little that way After the Truce was made with the Swedes the Common-wealth of Poland was without enemies and in repose which yet was disturbed by the Cossacks a people which follow the Greek Religion and depend upon the Government of Poland The Cossacks which they are obliged to serve on horse back against the Turks and Tartars whose passage they stop But for the rest they are hard to be ruled and are wont to receive the Peasants whom the tyranay of the Gentry drives out of Poland as also many others for any wickedness or oftence committed The death of victorious King Vladislans some Churches which were taken from them and a certain Gentleman called Chimenelisky who was their Head and Leader made them take Arms Take Arms. against the said Common-wealth For this General seeing the occasion fair to revenge himself of the affront which had been done him by some certain Lords put the Cossacks into the Field beat the Polish Armies twice and by these Victories opened the way into the Kingdom which was exposed to the cruelty Beat the Polanders barbarity and infamous avarice of this dreggy people The Peasants chastised in Lituania The fire flamed up again towards Litnaria and the Peasants began also to revolt but Prince Radzivil repressed them Pinskow was reduced into ashes and the Inhabitants for example to others put to the Sword The King goes into the Field a Battel Prince Casimir being chosen and crowned King at Warsaw went himself into the Field with his Army to stop the progresse of the said Turks and Tartars who were joyned together The Battel was given and the Enemies The Peace made after a stubborn Combat of five hours long retired with confusion enough and put themselves in posture again the next day for the number of them amounted to above three hundred and ninety thousand men In fine the Peace was made the Tartars returned malcontent the Priviledges of the said Cossacks were confirmed and Chimenelisky pardoned This newes came to Prince Radzivil who was in these termes with his Army He had beaten the Rebels taken many Towns and was of resolution to go and affront the rest but he returned and retired to Vilna Religion acted her part in this war as the jealousie which the Polanders ordinarily have of their King did also hers The Peace had so much rest and quiet as distrust and turbulent spirits are wont to afford and so by consequence It dares not long it lasted not long for Chimenelisk having attacked the Prince of Moldavia would needs compel him to give his Daughter in marriage to his Son which Prince Radzivil the said Princes Son in Law endeavoured to hinder This General seeing the Armies in the Field and the war resolved he who had corresponce in Poland sent his Embassadours to Constantinople of whose expedition we shall speak hereafter For France in the bickerment of Civil and Forraigne wars gives us no more leasure to stay any longer here The French being the most affectionate almost of all other Nations to the service of their King could not endure to see the direction of affaiâ—sin a forraign Ministers hands and indeed other Nations would never have suffered it so jealous are they of the confirmation of their Rights and by consequence were extreamly irritated by the imprisonment of the Princes The Orders of the Parliament of Bourdeaux and the Parliament of Bourdeaux renewed the Order given against the Marquis d'Ancre which contained that no Stranger should ever more have the great Ministery or Intendency of the Kingdom Whilest the Arch-Duke and the Vice-Count of Turenne were busie about sending the Armies into the Field and that this latter refused all the conditions which were offered him the French presented the said Arch-Duke a Peace with the Articles of Munster which he would not accept of whereupon a certain French Writer exclaimes and sayes that it is a convincing argument that the Spaniards will not have peace But this is but to amuse the poor people For doth he not know that the time is changed and that there was then a necessity of taking whatsoever was offered Occasion is bald behind The Spanish Army attacked Guise and took it by Assault but the Castle holding out The Spaniards before Guise and the news of the defeat of the Convoy being come made them retyre in hast with the losse of many men which hunger caused to runaway The said Convoy consisted of about fifteen hundred horsemen who had every one a bag of powder upon his back Retyred with losse and carried bread to the Camp but being attacked by four hundred men only they threw down their burthens and fled Thus were the first fruits of this Field spoyled and the Cardinal who knew not which way to turn himself to quench the fire went towards Bourdeaux to force the Allyes and the said Town to repentance for their faults leaving Champagne open to the enemies It was conceived that the King by his presence would have reduced them all to their duty but it proved quite otherwise for Mazarin raised more partialities hatred and obstinacy The Arch-Duke seeing the occasion faire sent his Army into the said Province took Retel and many other small Places and gave terrour to the Gates of Paris The Princes for better securities sake were carried to Marcoussy and from thence to Haure de grace Take Retel And the propesition of Peace being vain They goe to Mouzon and take it The Arch-Duke wrote from Basoche to the Duke of Orleans about a Peace who sent him an answer of the same substance but without effect The Spaniards having unprofitably consumed this Field went and besieged Mouzon which they took with much difficulty as wrestling with the raines and the overflowing of the River which caused many sicknesses amongst the souldiers who were beaten into their winter quarters by the season Te Deum is 〈◊〉 is sung at Brussels and at Paris and why Te Deum was sung at Brussels for the happy successe of the Kings Armies as well in Catalunie for the reduction of Tortosa as in Italy for the taking of Piambino and Portolongone as also that of Mouzon in France which had been so faithfully defended by the waters of the Moze It was also sung at Paris with no lesse joy for the recuperation of Bourdeaux and Retel with the defeat of the Vice-Count of Turennes forces See here how things passed The Inhabitants of Bourdeaux having conceived an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Espernon as we have already said declared themselves for
the Princes The Duke of Boüillon and the Duke de la Rochefancant raised a great Army But by the intercession of the Duke of Orleans all such as acted for the Princes The Accord made at Bourdeaux 1650 were pardoned Arms laid down every body restostored to favour and the Dutchess of Boüillon delivered There was none but the Princess Dowager of Conde who could not digest this bitterness for taking the detention of her children too much to heart and the repulse of her suits The Princesse Dowagers death she grew at last to yeeld under the burthen of her afflictions and left this vale of misery to go and take possession of the holy Jerusalem The King made his entrance into Bourdeaux the first day of October in a most sumptuous and stately Gally which was sent him by them of the Town where he was received with all testimonies of joy and a Generall Vive le Roy where he passed And the seventh of the same moneth he departed for Paris Cardinal Mazarin seeing the number of his enemies increase resolved to stop their monthes with a glorious action which proved usefull to the State and served for an evidence to all Europe that his Ministery was advantagious both to the King and kingdom of France He puts the Militia in order gave the souldiers money conducted the Army straight to Retel and after having given it three Assaults Mazarin retakes Retel made the Spaniards march out The Vice-Count of Turenne being a brave souldier for whose valour some certain Towns in Germany had declared themselves for him forthwith brought his Troops into the Field hastened to succour the Place and gave the besieged an advertisement of the reliefe but too late He advanced with six thousand horse for his foot could not follow but he was charged by the Marshall of Prastin and after a resistance which cost much blood defeated The Spaniards beaten The Spaniards recollected themselves in the Province of Luxemburgh and the Conquerours went to take up their winter quarters in Normandy and Lorraine where the Count of Lignevills progresse was soon stopped And the Lorraines for being beaten by the Marquis of Seneterre he was compelled to march away with the losse of about nine hundred men and four pieces of Canon This year the Deputies of the Cantons of Swisserland arrived in France to present their complaints and they were contented There needed no lesse then a whole Army to force the Leidgers or people of Leidge to open their purses and the Swedes having obtained the tax of Contributions repassed the Rhein The Princes demand the Investure The evacuation being finished in Germany and the Embassadours retyred the Princes sent an Embassie to the Emperour to demand the Investure of their Fief The King of Denmark asked it for the Dutchy of Holstein by Monsieur de Rantzow who returned with the honour of the title of Count. After these honours followed the Reformations almost every where I would to God that abuses andill customes were also reformed with as much zeal The Goods of the Swissers arrested since the precedent year caused many complaints and menaces which produced a meer restitution only Let us take a turn into Spain with the Emperours daughter newly espowsed to the Catholick King who was every where received with magnificent pomps and honours but principally at Madrid where there was at the same time an Embassadour from the Grand Signor The Embassadour from the Turk in Span. who being brought to a most stately Audience adorned with Diamants and precious stones first condoled the Queens death then congratulated the new marriage and demanded a private audience for his Commission The tenour of his letter of credence was To the most Glorious of all Christian Princes from Aly Solyman Lord of the House of the Ottomans c. First He offered the Holy Sepulcher Secondly True Commerce without further exercise of Piracy Thirdly He proposed a match between Don John of Austria and the Sultanesse of whom we formerly spake and who was now become Catholick at Maltha promising him a kingdom under the Turk And Fourthly and lastly That all prisoners might be released on both sides The Presents were rich and noble and the Embassy in apparence faire but the issue thereof declared that all was but Complement The Residents of the Parliament massacred at Madrid and at the Haghe Mr. Anthony Ascam being arrived at the same Court in the quality of Resident for the Parliament of England found his Tragicall end there as Doctor Dorislaw had already found his at the Haghe Charles Stewarts Embassadour being introduced to his Audience fell forthwith a weeping and thereby moved the King to compassion The King of Portugal by favouring Prince Robert caused the English Fleet to come and lye before his Havens which put him to so much dammage that both he and his subjects had leasure to repent themselves of having offended that Parliament CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stewart in Jersy The Kings Lands and Goods sold The aforesaid Charles goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuation of the war in Candie War by the Pen. The Spanish Embassadour at London The Chineses turned Catholicks IT is in the Britannick Islands that Bellona now exercises her rage for she hath established her sear there and looks as if she would stay some time Charles was in the Isle of Jersy where he distributed Commissions to fall upon the English ships and spoyle their Trade But upon a certain advice which was given him General Blake before the River of Lisbone The Kings Goods sold he departed and Generall Blake went and shut up Prince Robert in the River of Lisbone whilest the Kings Goods were sold at London as namely his three Crownes his Scepter the Golden Garter all the Jewels Pictures Images Rarities and whatsoever else of price and value Some put the Crownes upon their Heads the Garter about their Legs and took the Scepter in their hands saying Look how well these Ornaments become me Who would have imagined such a change The mony which was made of these said Goods was employed upon the States service They passed yet further they brake down the Kings Statue upon the old Exchange and set up this Inscription Exiit Tyrannus Regum ultimus The Parliament searing lest Charles through some good success should come and disturb the Peace of England by means of some Creatures of his there laboured to prevent him and Fairfax having surrendred his Commission to that most renowned Captain Generall Cromwell he marched with an Army of sixteen thousand men to face the Scots who were above five and twenty thousand killed above three thousand of them upon the place Cromwels victory over the Scots and took above ten thousand prisoners for the rest run away to publish the glory of the Nation Indeed he had as good success as Don John of Austria who lost
Who are beaten to retire themselves by night in confusion leaving part of their Baggage their Canon and many thousands of prisoners behinde them This Victory sent from above rejoyced all Poland and caused Fire-works and the Embassadours who were at Lubeck treating the Peace between them and Swedes imparted the newes to their friends who expressed great rejoycings as the ancient Town of Lubeck also did by their example Hitherto we have seen Traffick almost abolished by land by means of the war which hath ruined and devoured all things and we shall forthwith see it in almost as miserable a condition by sea though there be no Mountains nor Forrests to receive and shelter Rovers After the Peace was made the Great Master of the Knights of Malta sent his Deputies to the Haghe to redemand the Lands or Goods The Knights of Malta take the Holland Ships The French do the same belonto his Order but having obtained nothing he got Letters of Reprisal and his Knights took many Holland Ships in the Levant as the French also did so that the complaints and mennaces of the Merchants were heard against France yea Monsieur Boreel Embassadour for the Common-wealth at Paris made them sound loud but he reaped nothing but promises with very small effect which would have caused a great alteration had it not been moderated by the prudence of this solid and stayd Nation Robleries at Sea Prince Robert also being favoured by the Portugueses did what he could to hurt the English the effects whereof were so much resented by the Merchants of that Common-wealth that they had no will at all to laugh And besides the Pirates having Commission from the King of Scots did extreme mischief and had their retreat at Jersy and Sicilly two Islands situated at about fifty degrees between England and Ireland for they took all without distinction in such sort as it was necessary to send Admirall Tromp thither and the English Fleet which unnestled these Theeves and a little while after seazed upon the said Isle of Iersy The Irish were also bold enough to seek their advantage with the same Orders though with lesse strength But small Theeves make themselves sometimes feared These losses which were praecursory to greater evills much diminished Trade by the great Guards or Convoyes which it was needfull to send with the Merchants ships and by the Charges of insuring the Merchandizes The Dunkerkers did no great hurt But they aforesaid made themselves feared by the number and bigness of their Vessels and the conveniency of their Havens Envie Avarice and Vengeance produced these misfortunes We have already spoken of the triumphant Coronation of the Queen of Sweden therefore let us now go and see that of the King of Scots amongst the tumults and disorders of war yea and as one may say on horse-back and with his sword in his hand CHAP. X The Crowning of Charles Stewart His entrance into England He lost the Battail near Worcester The miserable State of the Scots His admirable flight He arrived in France The Difference between the Elector of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made CHarles being arrived in Scotland found many difficulties as we have already said The Crowning of the King of Scotland which after he had happily vanquished and taken a solemn Oath the Earl of Argyle together with a Baron and a Citizen put the Crown upon his head to the great contentment of the Assembly which cryed Live King Charles the second Whereupon Douglasse the Minister went into the Pulpit and exhorted him to revenge his Fathers death but he had enough to do to save his own life within a short space after For not being able to drive his enemies out of Scotland he resolved by a very hazardous design to transport the war into England there to animate his friends to take Arms for his service He enters into Scotland and so he entered upon a suddain with an Army of about eighteen thousand fighting men and by often skirmishing came as far as Worcester but either for want of Arms or will no body stirred for him but the Earl of Derby with some three hundred men which were cut in pieces very few escaping but the said Earl himself who carryed him the newes General Cromwell being recovered of his sicknesse and informed of this inopinated invasion followed him and the Parliament raised also new forces to resist him The Battail was given near the said Town of Worcester where the Seots and Royalists animated by the presence of their King carryed themselves well at the beginning but the Horse being broaken took flight and such as were not killed could not escape Is defeated by Cromwell in regard that all the passages were stopt so that the condition of these was more miserable then theirs who died fighting There were seven thousand taken prisoners together with the whole Train of Artillery for they were all caught in a pit-fall except their young King who made a marvellous escape as we will forthwith shew He was conceived to be slain but the Parliament ordained that no body under pain of death should either lodge or relieve him in any wise which begat a suspicion that he was living and enjoyed some kind of fearfull liberty For when he saw that the Battail was lost he fled with twelve Gentlemen in his company whom he was forced to leave for fear of being discovered and known retaining only the Lord Wilmot with whom he hid himself in an hollow Tree for the space of two dayes The King of Scots maiâ—ailously escaped and at length retyred to a certain Gentlewomans house who changed his cloathes conducted him to Bristoll and afterwards to London in the habit of a Gentlewoman where he stayed above three weeks and then he passed into France though he were known to the Master of the Vessel and arrived at Roüen where he was received by the Duke of Longueville and next at Paris by the King the Queens and all the Court. Thus we see how Fortune raises some and pulls down others For had Charles gotten the Battail it is very probable that England had been the price of the victory The victory advantageous to the Parliament This victory confirmed the Parliaments authority and destroyed that of the other Party lost the kingdom of Scotland cast an infinite number of Widowes and Fatherless children into excessive affliction and the poor prisoners into unexpressible calamities The first who appeared upon a Scaffold was the Earl of Derby and his Wife after a capitulation put the Isle of Man into the Parliaments hands The prisoners of note were put into the Tower of London and the most famous and victorious General Cromwell was received with such applauses as were wont to be heretofore given to the first Roman Emperors The Lands of the principal Gentlemen and such as were most affected to the other Party were confiscated But let us now leave England and the Parliament
Citizens who were killed by Musket-shot was like to have put that illustrious City into a deplorable confusion The English not content with taking their ships attacked and took also many other vessels which go every yeare to catch Herrings and other fish so that they hurt and do yet hurt this Republick by all the means and ways they could or can devise The Propositions of the English not receivable The Propositions which they made our Embassadours were so high and unequall that they sufficiently evidenced their design against this Common-wealth the principall whereof was this That we should enter into a League Offensive and Defensive with them and that we should make all their enemies ours c. Points of most dangerous consequences But let us go further CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of the Fishers Tromp returns to Sea and findes Blake The Tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens Victory before Ligorne The English take all without distinction Tromp safely conducted the Fleet into France Divers combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Diet at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Fetdinand the Fourth King of the Romans VVhen Nations cannot be reconciled by all kinds of reason and justice war must be endured The Astrologors foretold this in the observation of that Comet of the year of 1618. and that of the year before and advertised us that the wrath of God was not appeased The States having received the troublesome news of the taking of those ships of war which accompanied the fishermen gave order to attack the English by way of retorsion The Fleets at Sea Tromp departed in July with resolution to make the English repent their having neglected and slighted the Hollanders friendship and espying Sir George Asene in the Downes with a Squadron of Ships was not able to bear up with him by reason of the Calme and so going to seek Blaks in the North where some Vessels which came from the Great Indies were to pass he discovered him The prayers were said and the Onset begun A storm dammageable to the Hodanders 1952. but a great wind separated the two Fleets made the English retyre into their Havens and some of our Ships perish upon the Rocks and the rest were saved in Hitland and about forty came home with the Admirall Thus the Calme and the Tempest parted them two several times but de Ruyter going to convoy the Marchant-Fleet with forty Ships met Asonâ— with his Squadron and faced him so stoutly that he was constrained â—o â—â—treat into England and give him passage General Badiley bravely defended himself against twice his number of Ships in the Streights but being over-powred lost the Phanix which was after wards recovered by Captain Cox The Victory obtained afterwards before Ligorne by Admiral Van Galen was successful Van Galens Victory before Lavorno for three Vessels were taken and some other burnt yet was in some manner otherwise the said Admiral receiving his deaths wound in the engagement It very often chances that they who gaine the Battel have not the greatest booty for there are some who go out in Party and sometimes make their Fortune The Capes of Grip are certain particular persons who go to Sea with small Vessels set out at their one charge and they make huge profit and they lie at present about the Coast of England and cause much danger The conjunction of Vice-Admiral Witt Wittenson was rendred infructuous by the Cowardise of some Holland Captains who forgot their duty whilest the English performed theirs with great advantage by taking the Spanish mony which was destinated to pay the Armies in the Low-Countries and carrying it to London where it was stop't The English detaine the mony which comes from Spain and rever restored because there were some Holland Marchants Goods or Wares in the Vessels and albeit the instances made by the Arch-Duke Leopold and the Spanish Embassadours were heard they yet took no effect whereupon some have believed that they were but faigned but however it were they kept the mony and have served themselves of it The Rendeznous of the Ships near Rochâ—l 1653. The States considering the greatness of the danger gave all the Marchant Ships order to assemble themselves in a General Rendeznuous before the Isle of St. Martin near Rochel and there expect the Navy consisting of seventy six Men of War and eight Fire-Ships which departed the first of December under Admiral Tromps orders to convoy home the abovesaid Merchant Ships which were above three hundred all loaden with Commodities The English approached but came off with losse and returned into the Thames and so the Fleet arrived in France without any dammage But during these great Attacks the little War was carried on with much partiality and prejudice to the Marchants For the mitigation of Gods wrath and the diversion of his scourge from the United Provinces the States ordered prayers to be made every Weducsday at four of the clock in the afternoone all Shops to be kept shut and all negotiations forborne during the time of the Sermon Thus was the War indirectly mennadged upon this blew Element between the two most potent Nations that are at present or ever have been in all the North for the Dominion of the Ocean and for the retention of Trade None but the Sea-Monsters are able to render an account of all the brave Actions which are done there as being Spectatours of them The said States being advertised of the great preparation which their Enemies were making to attack Tromp in his return with the Marchant-Fleet gave order for the speedy equipaging of some other Ships to go to meet him but they were hindred by contrary windes The Navall Battel which lasted three dayes 1653. Tromp being arrived near Bolein discovered the English Fleet and a little after began a Battel which continued three dayes the most furiously that could be Nothing was feen but fire and flame and one would have said that the Ocean was become combustible and had taken the nature of the contrary Element The Land had been already sufficiently steeped in blood and now the Sea must be also coloured with it The indignation of that just God extends it selfe upon all the Elements malediction is upon the Land and upon the Water The end of the Combas was that Tromp retreated into Calais Road and brought back the most part of the Fleet into Holland all which the English thought to eatch though they were faine to becontent with the taking of some Marchant Ships and some Men of War and with letting the Hollanders see that they had to do with most generous and redoubtable Enomies But our Admiral had two difficulties to overcome the one to charge the Enemies in their retreat and the other to guard the Marchandise When a Shepherd sees many Wolves coming to attack his flock he keeps it behinde him and cannot serve
how much apparence soever there were of repaying the affront received before it the precedent year The time passed in contest the Garrison of the Town reinforced and the Knight after two dayes sickness The knight of Guises death dead which death for the Violence thereof was suspected of some malignity as well to the Soule as to the body The suddain deaths of great persons give occasion of talke but those of mean ones are put into common necessity However it be one of his Masters drew profit from it and the other disavowed it Commandments are dangerous to such as execute them for not having their Commission in writing This unforeseen accident amazed such as were cleer sighted filled his most illustrious House with mourning cansed great alterations and designes which made more noyse then effect During these irresolutions the Arch-duke departed from Brussels and arrived at the Army neer Cambray to advice how and with what advantage the Field should be finished The siege of Rocroy Rocroy glorious by the defeat of the Spaniards was a subject which deserved to be brought under obedience wherefore the resolution was taken to besiege it and the French who had coasted their enemies to the Frontiers without hazarding any thing went and incamped themselves before Mouzon And of Mouzon I will say nothing in particular of these two Sieges though I were present at one of them but that Heaven being angry to see the two most generous Nations that ever bore the Christian Name ceased not to outrage or vex one another to their mutuall disadvantage powred down so many teares and the windes raysed so many stormes Ill weather that both men and horses felt excessived stresses It parted the victorres to open their eyes for Rocroy which was the first attacked These two Towns renders themselves yeelded two dayes after Mouzon i. e. the thirtieth of September and the Armies being fatigated by the over much wetness of the season went to seeke shelter almost naked The French being very impatient and desirous to be lodged more at large unnestied the Garrison of St. Menehout and the Lorrains And St. Menchout conducted by their own Master the Duke went to affict the Bishoprick of Liedge The Lorraines in the Bishoprick of Liedge The small success of the three last Fields in respect of the great advantages which were promised by the disorder caused by the discontentments of the Princes of the blood at least a second Peace of Vervins made fools talke who open their mouthes when the wise or at least the wary a most usual maxime in these present times keep them shut There was a misfortune foreseen and it fel upon the Abbot of Mercy and the Count of Bassigny who were cast in prison The Count of Bassigay and the Abbot of Mercy prisoners and their imprisonment gave such as were curious ground to scrue into the cause thereof and made others believe that it would discover some great mistery for which the lovers of novelty longed much This first Thunderclap struck but one only steple but before it was dissipated it crushed a Rock which so many Mariners in this Sea of miseries both doubted and feared and against which so many Vessels made Shipwrack For the Liedgers took an Alarme as also a resolution to make an Allyance with the French against the House of Spain Which blow must needs be fatall to his Catholick Majesty if not prevented and Cardinal Mazarin ful of joy to see himself at the Helme of the Ship began to hope that the webs which he had woven in that Country would be more difficult to untangle then it was to unty the Gordions knot The Duke of Lorraine was sent for to Brussels taken prisoner and carried to the cittadel of Antwerp And the Duke of Lorrain Neither the exploits of Mas-Aniello nor the death of the King Charles brought more astonishment to all Europe then this detention which gave things another countenance brake the neck of many designes sent back the great Faber with his forces to Sedan and retained the Liedgers in their liberty which they were about to loose together with their Peace The Imprisonment of this Soveraign Prince smothered all his Counfels which seemed to be great and was taken for one of the strangest accidents of the time and discovered that he was beloved by almost no body He is suspected to have imitated the constable of St. Paul Suspected to imitate the constable of St. Paul and to have sought his profit in this pernicious War where he danced better then he did in the great Ball or Revel which was made at Paris 1642. France blamed this proceeding more for her own interest then for that of the Prisoner his Troops expressed so great discontentments and fell into such disorder Prince Francs arrives aâ— Brussels that it was needful to send for Prince Francis to put them into the state of obedience who having taken leave of the Emperour and all the Court departed from Vienna being well received and cherished every where and principally at Brussels where he arrived with his two Soanes Whilest the Count of Fuensaldania in busy about securing the Lorrains to his Masters service and assigning them good Winter-quarters to the great displeasure of the Inhabitants of Lile we will go down a little lower Promps last battail The last Battail in the moneth of August wherein the valliant Admirall Tromp lost his life proceeded partly from disgust by seeing the Enemies brave or domineer so long upon the Coast before the havens of Texel and the Moze hindring the going out of the ships obstructing the commerce The Hollanders who had made so many bravadoes throughout all the whole Ocean and imagined that the Lordship of the Sea belonged without controversie to them were even almost dead with spight and displeasure to see themselves so highly and grossely affronted even at their own doors This baâ—tail Isay whereof I have hitherto made very little mention declared in the beginning the addres of both Parties by striving for the advantage of the winde and at the end their generous and obstinate resolution to overcome The losse which the Hollanders sustained was of about fifteen or sixteen Vessels and that of the English little as to Vessels but many were extreemly indammaged on both sides In this surious fight as also in all the former the English Vessels by reason of their hight and their number of bigg Brass Gunns had almost the same advantage upon the Hollanders which Curasseers In which as in many former many Captaines did not their duty or Corsler-Horsmen have upon the Light Horse Besides that many Dutch Captains did not their duty in such sort as that the Hollanders reaped no other profit of their valour then that of removing their Enemies from their Coast and were forced themselves into the Texel The English considering in what equipage their fleet was and fearing the violent storms that
and would needs make others also believe that the States of Holland chose rather a way of Accommodation then to enter into a war which if it had proved successefull to them would have redressed Charles Stewarts affairs and his Nephews to the detriment of their Authority Others maintained that this Peace being utterly broaken the Country would quickly be lost Be it what it will mens passions have been so much the more discovered upon this matter as the liberty of speaking is greater in Holland then elsewhere A tumult at London raised by the Portugucles The tumult which was so temerarily excited at London by the Portugal Embassadours brother made him carry his head upon a Scaffold some moneths after and all issued so well for the great and most prudent Cromwell that he acquired together with the Title of Protectour of the Common-wealth of England the renown of the most acute Politician of this Age. For good successe made the Enterprizers admired gave the Protector full power and authority and left desolate Charles nothing but complements of compassion France the sanctuary of the afflicted France which hath alwayes vanted her self to be the Sanctuary of such as are poor and afflicted labours at present to strip her self of that glorious quality through a maxime of State She hath already felt the strength of the English Will have no war with the English by the loss of her ships and so knowes how dangerous this enemy is and the trouble she had in former Ages to pluck him out of her bowels Wherefore it is better to appease him by politick craft and comply with the Times The reasons then to fall into another war The motions are great enough yet in the Kingdom and it suffices to have the Spaniards for her enemies without drawing the English upon her back too We must sometimes kisse the hands of such as we would have farre enough from us for fear of irritating them And therefore it is that the King sent his Embassadour to London to acknowledge the Republick and treat of a good peace and settle Traffick The Lord Preâ—â—â—tour a great Politician General Cromwel hath expressed his incomparable dexterity in the mannagement of Arms in the direction of Affaires in his Allyances with strangers in dissipating the ambushes and treacheries which have from time to time been land against his designes and his authority and principally in the wars against the Hollanders And you shall now sce how he came to rise higher He assembled another Parliament some of the members whereof being inclined to him proposed one day in full Assembly that the burthen of the Common-wealth was too heavy for them and that it was necessary to impose it upon the shoulders of General Cromwell Some of them not approving of this change retyred secretly to shelter themselves from the contrary winds and the rest were dismissed by him and so the rest went forthwith to conferre that honour upon him congratulate with him and gave him the Title of Protectour England hat 's changed her Gevernment three several times which is not new in that Island and occultly the Soveraignty of England so that in a few years this said Island hath changed her government three severall times and yet leaves not to flourish and to be most formidable to all the powers on earth Some moneths before the dissolution of the Parliament the Kings youngest Son commonly called the Duke of Glocester was sent to Dunkerck in the condition of a private Gentleman with a summe of mony to defray his expences Whilest the Peace is treated at London with many dissiculties by the intervention of the Reformed Cantons of Swisserland and the recommendation of the Queen of Sweden we will take a turn through the North. The King of Denmark being fortified by the Allyance of the States-General and the jealousies which the King of Swedens Leavies gave him The King of Denmark fortifies himselfe being taken away had no other care then to keep his Subjects in arms to hinder all surprises and to intrench the Approaches at the same time when the scourge of God went ransacking all the Inhabitants of the North. At Stockholme Fortune manifested her Empire by casting for a time Count Magnus de la Gardia under her wheel Count Magnus de la Gardia disgraced and depriving him of his Mistresses favour but she was not so rigorous to him as she was to the brave Earle of Essex in Queen Elizabeths time in England Whilest this August Queen is disposing her self to do in the greatest vigour of her youth what the Emperour Charles the fifth did in his decline we will make an in-road into Poland Searce had King Casimir unlaced his Armour yet all stained with the blood of the Rebellious Cossacks The King of Poland attacked by the Muscovites when he saw himself oblidged to put his foot in the stirrop again to resist the Moscovits This Kingdom which had been so much afflicted by the excursions of the said Cossacks by Inundations contagious Diseases Partialities and Distrusts which are ordinary in Free Countries findes her self now in the necessity of making a Defensive War and the Natives to make resistance against a barbarous Nation which they have so often beaten and chased as far as the very heart of Russia and the very Gates of the Capital City Mosco But Changes are as well universal as Chastisements The death of that great Minister Mons de Brum In the beginning of the year 1554. religiously deceased at the Haghe that great man and most faithful Minister Monsicur Anthony de Brun Baron of Apremont and Ordinary Embassadour for the King of Spain to the States He was born at Dole in Burgundy had served his Master from his youth in very great affairs and nominatively in the General Peace at Munster Towards the Spring the Peace was concluded at London against the opinion of many and the news thereof was most agreeable to the Hollanders but when the Articles came to be published The Peace made between the English the Hollanders whereby the young Prince was excluded from all Charges or Offices it much troubled the Provinces and was like to cause divorces and great partialities in so much as the other Provinces set forth complaints and Protestations which were amply enough answered in a Manifest published by the States of Holland and which the Reader may see at good leasure But there were nothing but murmurations they taxed the said States with ingratitude and reproaches and slanders were scattred at random Is this the recompence said they every where of so many services rendred The Princes his Predecessours The cause of the murmurations in behalfe of the Prince of Orange spared not their blood nor their lives nor their meanes to purchase our liberty and in lien thereof we make Agreements so prejudicial to his Authority and so contrary to our duty Ah! what will not the Allyes of this
Illustrious Family say Will they not accuse us and our posterity of the blackest ingratitude in the World Then were the obligations of the Common-wealth to the said House tepeated the services laid open and the merits so highly exalted and found so infinite that there was no means to recompence them A Manifest published by the States These noises I say and this liberty of censuring the procedings of their Masters with impunity produced that Manifest which by little and little swallowed up the tattle of such as were most hot amongst them refuted the Objections of the other Provinces and put Holland into firme tranquility again For my part I content my self with having hinted a word thereof for proof of the general malignity of this corrupt Age. This war having been prudently counselled by the most accomplished Politician of these Times against a Nation which was able to give the Law upon the whole Ocean The war began in regard of the jealousie which was amongst the Provinces had it not been unfortunatly divided by an unforeseen Siege and an unexpected Death was continued by him with very much dexterity utility and glory and terminated with so great advantage abd reputation that he hath rendred himself far more formidable then any great Conquerour ever was Hath much excreised the English This war restored the English to the perfect knowledge of the maritime Militia and oblidged the Hollanders who opened their eyes too late to seek this Peace for the redresse of their Traffick half ruined Whilst the sea was agitated by so many different humours there arrived news of the utter losse of Brezill The utter losse of Brezill together with the Recif which was believed when it could be no more doubted of and caused some to cry louder and especially them of Zeland who could not digest some Articles But General Schup who brought the confirmation of the said news was forthwith imprisoned together with some others Let us briefly dispatch what we have to say because it is quite fresh Cardinal Mazarin finding no more contradiction in the Council and perceiving that the heat of the French against him began by little and little to cool The Consecration of the King of France had now no other care then to get the King Annointed which accordingly was done at Rheims with the accustomed Ceremonies for the illustration whereof it was held necessary to adde a Triumph to it Stenay a small place but of great consideration between Verdun and Sedan was the Lawrel-branch worthy to guild the Head of this great Kings The Siege of Stenay and so it was invested and the Trenches opened in his Majesties presence The Prince of Conde who was not asleep led his Troops into the Field and made a shew of going another way whilest some other Forces seized upon the approaches of Arras And of Arras with so much felicity and speed that such as endeavoured to enter the Town were repulsed and beaten The Arch-Duke hastned thither the Peasants were commanded to come and work about the lines of Circumvallation and the Horse to hinder the French from entering into the Town the Garrison whereof was very weak A bold Enterprise and which could not be accomplished with so few men without making some diversion But let us make another turn through the North for the last time The Queen of Sweden quits the Crown Queen Christine performed a most extraordinary action and which is more easie to relate then to imitate for having worne the Crown of Sweden which was so much illustrated and augmented by the brave exploits of the Great Gustave her Father for some years together put it in the presence of all the States of the Kingdom upon the head of her Cousin King Charles in the month of June and after this Ceremony departed from Stockholms to Hamburgh Our Age produces nothing but Prodigies and Miracles Some loose their Diadems by force and others of their own accord The Polanders being extreamly disgusted to see the Muscovits keep Smolensko blocked up The Muscovits ravage Lituania and make havock at their pleasure in Lituania who had been formerly so often defeated by them though they were six times stronger and receiving no relief from Christian Princes knew so well how to represent to the Great Turk by their Embassadour their firmness and stability in the exact observance of their former Treaties with him and how they had constrained their King Vladislans to casheere his Forces which he intended to employ The Turk promises the Poâ—anders suceâ—ar to the disadvantage of the said Treaties that he promised them in fine to assist them It is already confirmed that the Tartars are joyned with them and that the rest most make an Invasion upon Muscovy but it is after the losse of Smolensko Smolensko taken which was most sensible to the said Common-wealth The cruelties which those Barbarians exercise in those parts would be incredible in an Age which were lesse cursed then this and we are made hope that the Poles will quickly have their revenge however such as are of opinion with me by the consideration of the giddy course of the affairs of Christendom suspect the relief of these Infidels The succour of the Insidels suspelled and fear least in the general Commotion of the Levant or Easterne people they may chance to seize upon this Kingdom instead of succouring it and effuse themselves according to the old prediction into Germany Time will shew us strange revolutions and it is best not to apprehend such evils as must needs happen The Greeks are groaning even yet for having desired and tasted the like succour This war of the Muscovits and Cossacks wherein Religion Rebellion and some other Causes make a concert is very dammageable to this strong Bulwark of all Christendome and teaches us that such as have alwayes been beaten heretofore have now the advantage Luck is turned every where Governments are changed Policy is reversed and men follow another and a very different habit Reformations in Germany The Germans by their dissentions and distrusts have very much weakned the Empyre and there is no discontentment heard now but about the Reformations which are made in the Emperours Hereditary Countries But such as councel them would do well to begin upon themselves or proceed at least more civilly therein For I know not whether Persecutions for diversity of opinions have ever been useful to the Church St. Martin disapproved them and indeed they ingender more hurt then they bring good in these latter times This Emperour continuing his care for the Roman Catholick Church the redresse of the Empire and the restauration of his most serene House to her first splendour by the Election and Coronation of his Son sees now his joy turned into mourning and the hope of almost all his people overthrown by the inopinate death of this young King The paines which were taken to remove him from infected
places and where the fimall pocks domincered was uselesse No no most devoute Monarch it is in vaine to endeavour to conserve this dear Plant the Infinite Essence is too much provoked to wrath by the sins of Christians to grant them this precious Pledge of Justice There is no more fidelity to be found amongst them and when the Pillars shog the Building cannot stand The Archbishoprick of Bremen secularized The Arch-bishoprick of Bremen being secularized by the Peace of Munster fell to be shared by the Swedes for having tormented the Eagle and saved the Protestant Party from shiprack or rather for having crossed the House of Austria's designes They would not be content without the Capital Town it self which is situated upon the Weser a large River which discharges her self into the North Sea for the gaining whereof and to hinder the communication of the Sea The Swedes wil have the Town Count Conninxmark caused a Fort to be built below the said Town which was to bring it to the last gasp This strange proceeding which offended both the Emperour and Empire opened the eyes of the bordering people and discovered the ambition of the Swedes Montecuculi went into Sweden but was put off with delayes for the North understands dissimulation as well as the South Ferdinand threatned this haughty General with the Imperial Thunderbolt but it moved him not at all The impunity of offences provokes men to continue them The Inhabitants of the Town took Arms The Townesmen take Arms. with resolution to defend themselves and sent to implore the Succour of the Head together with that of their Allyes And gaint the Forts About the Summer solstice or Sun-stead in Conninkmarks absence they put their men into the field took those places which lighted them to neer and made the whole Dutchy contribute to this Wat. Connixmarck retakes them and shut up the Sweden Town These affronts were so sensible to this great Warrier that he quickly after revenged himself of them for being seconded by some new forces from Sweden he did not only reconquer the said places but also so streightly shut up the Bremeners that loosing all the confidence they had in their own forces they had recourse to those of their Allyes and especially the Hollanders The States Generall send their Embassadours thither Interest of Religion which is more potent amongst the Reformates as being more popular and lesse tyed then the Catholicks together with that of state and some other considerations made the States Generall resolver to send their Embassadours to mediate an accord and temper the hot demands of the Assailants which were so much preludiciall to the Empire They forthwith declared their Commissions and by mixing the strength of their interests with that of their arguments brought the Swedes to condescend to a more gentle Treaty for fear of obliging the mediatours to become Parties in favour of such as had the same law and whose assistance themselves had received according to their ability in other necessities and whom they could not abandon without being accused of ingratitude yea and there were forty ships equipaged for their relief in case the Swedes would needs try extremities The peace made Thus was this War of the Lutherans against the Reformates soone finished This is the state of the North and that of Germany which is not very safe by the death of the King of the Romanes the Emperours indisposition and the Arming of some Princes in Low-Saxonie for as for that of the Marquis of Brandenbrgh and the Duke of Newburgh time will shew us what scope it hath The King of Swedens marriage with a Priacesse of Holstein But let us now run to the mysterious Siege of Arras and we shal finde Queen Christine at Antwerp who receives the newes of her Cousins marriage with a Princesse of Holstein Arras which was taken by the French in the year 1640 before the face of thirty thousand men and had struggled against famin and some other difficulties which made the most judicious despaire of good successe was likely to be lost playing Wherefore they were thinking to quit the Siege which the youg King had begun presently after his consecration but yet they found meanes to continue it for his Majesties honour and to send the Marshal of Turenne The Marshal of Turenne at the succour of Arras with ten thousand men to succour this place Our young Alexander that accomplished Captain who in his first essay had shewed his mastership thought fit to go ruin those Troops whilest they were feeble The Prince of Conde proposes to goe and attack him but be is not heard and tyred by their long march according to the example of that German Mars that Tamer of Brisack and before they were re-inforced by the Nobility but this too judicious and prudent Nation which chooses rather to fall into the other extremity could not be brought to resolve it choosing rather to cover themselves in their trenches to hinder the reinforcement of the Garrison and to expect the Enemy with a firme foot The French Nobility comes to the succour Stenay yeeldeds The French Nobility which doth more for the love of Vertue and for the favour of their King then many other Nations doe for wages hastened thither Stenay was yeelded the Troops increased and the King himself thereby to animate his subjects to behave themselves well drew neer the place appoinred to get honour All the world expected the Issue of this Siege and some wondered how the Spaniards were able to hold out against such terrible forces The Spaniards â—â—o weake to â—ard so many works which so small ones and the attacks went so slowly on against so weak a Garrison For there were not men enough to defend the lines of so great a circuit to gard the Convoyes and force the Town It was believed that there was yet some Arrow hidden and more then one string to the flow Every body turned their eyes towards the sea and the Embassadours set that Divine Metral together with all their Rhetorick on work either to rayse or stop the tempest In fine the twenty fifth of August being the day of S. Lewis was designed to attack the Lines which were bordered by the Spaniards much deminished and fatigated The French advanced gave the Alarme The Siegeraysed in all the quarters entred by a turn-pike which was ill enough garded and beat down part of the Lines to make way for the Cavaltie There began a confusion in the Camp which made some fly Confusion in the Camp The Prince of Condes valour and addresse tosavt the Army and others resolve to defend themselves The Arch-duke seeing the cowardise of some tesolved to fly and the Prince of Conde vigorously to charge the enemies who contenting themselves with having gained the Artillery succoured the Town and made some hor Skermithes let this rock retite being too hard to be scaled and most dissicult
The Father stripped himself of his States two years before his death to attend to pious exercises And the Sonne two years before his was afflicted with grievous pains and torments which he suffered with superlative patience Some Writers who take pleasure in looking back into the Causes of such accidents within the secrets of the Almighty have presumed to publish that it was a punishment from heaven for the cruelties which his Governours had practised as well in the Low-countries as in the Indies Others of more moderation have believed that God had a mind to shew in the person of this porent Prince that all the Greatness of this world is nothing but dust and vermin There is nothing constant in this world but the constant order of Change and Vicissitude The I'underbolt strikes none but the highest Towers and loftiest Mountaines By his endeavouring to succour the League in Francâ— he lost the confederated Provinces And in the design of invading England he lost a most powerfull Navy and armed enemies against his States who gave him much displeasure and trouble CHAP. XIII The differences which happened between the Earls of Frâ—ezland and the Town of Embden The States put a Garrison there THe knowledge of the difference of the Town of Embden with the Earls thereof is to be joyned to that of the Low-countries and so by consequence it is convenient to mention it here When Townes grow strong they ordinarily loose their will to obey for which they never want either examples or pretexts whether it be of Religion or Priviledge yea and to accuse the weaker party of injustice too if they get a good issue in it Now this Town whereof we are speaking being very much encreased and enriched by the great number of people which repaired thither there to seek as it were a sanctuary from the rigorous execution of the Placarts of the Duke of Alva against all such as had licentiously and perhaps by old priviledges broaken Images and thrown down Altars as also for the conveniencie of the Haven which was held then and still is one of the best of the Low-countries and of the North Seas In the first place the Citizens began to murmur against their Count saying that he would clip their priviledges and Religion That he bad already introduced a new one into his own House That he raised souldiers underhand That he forbad the Consistorial Assemblies and the like A bold and licentious pretext Tâ—â—â—ults in the Town Now their humours being thus prepared there wanted nothing but a hot â—iry and zealous Preacher to set them a work who also was quickly found in the person of one Mentzo Alting a man odious to the Count for some important reasons who got up into the Pulpit desplayed his Rhetorick cryed down his Masters actions foretold the ruine of the Town endeavored to excuse himself of what was imposed upon him protested to be gone with the consent of the Townsmen however he were content to stay with his Flock and live and die with his sheep and the like Words no lesse audacious then those of the Priests whom a certain learned person called Baals elsewhere for the League in France It concerns not Church-men to blow the Trumper nor such as thrust their noses into State-matters through passion of Religion to excuse in some what they accuse in others Iliacos intra muros peccatur extra These reasons were as welcome to the people which loves Novelty in State provided it be preached as a draught of water uses to be to a thirsty person In short they arm they choose six Collonels amongst the Citizens they invoke that Great God who hears and sees all and at length they turn their Ordnance upon the Counts Pallace O brave proceeding O true forms of Justice The Count asks the reason of this novelty and whether they disowned their obedience to the Emperour the Empyre and himself They answered that they had taken arms for Religion and their own defence against many falfe accusations That they made no difficulty to acknowledge the Emperour and him as their Lords and whatever else should be reasonable In these Contests they rush upon his House making themselves Masters thereof by force and dispatch their Embassadours to the Haghe as the Count also did his he to complain of the insolency of his subjects and they to justify their actions The effect of these Embasies was that they put themselves under the protection of the States A Garrison of the States in the Town and took a Garrison of a thousand men into the Town to the disadvantage of the said Count who at last was fain to suffer his House to be shut up and some other extremities which have much weakned and skattered his authority-The Townesmen embraced the Reformed Religion yea and they threw the Bowle yet farther For by a more ancient priviledge they had a grant of a Religion conform with that of Ausbourgh See Emmanuel de Merten From this disorder sprang much good to the united Provinces by securing to themselves this so advantageous Port which otherwise by these divisions might have fallen into the hands of their enemies But this agreement being made in hast could not last long and so there happened some disturbance which is an ordinary thing when any one party gets too much interest The Count complained to the Emperour of the said Town by which he was accused to have had some intelligences there so to make himself absolute Lord of it But these complaints as well as that which followed afterwards for the Traffick in Spain were quickly patched together with a weak thred In the mean time Count Edzard died and left five sonnes Enne Gustave John Christopher and Charles the Eldest whereof reconciled himself to the Town Christopher went to serve the Arch-Duke and was afterwards Governour of Luxenbourgh The Count will repaire his authority In the year 1602. Count Enne propped by some Gentry as Cuiphanse and others endeavoured to repayre his authority by imposing Taxes forcing the small Townes and nourishing a faction in Embden And so he raised souldiers under pretext of going against the Turk gave his Daughter to his Brother John who married her by a dispensation from the Pope and embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and fortified some villages to block up the River The States of Holland moved more by their own interest then by the complaints of the Town sent to oppose him drove him out of the Villages who retyred into Germany and justified their proceedings by suspicions and informations which they said they had received from Brussels that the said Count acted for the Spaniards and would bring them into the Town Now he had remonstrated before both to the Emperour and Empyre that it would be expedient to exercise an Admiralty upon the River of Enis so to prejudice the nearest Inhabitants with reasons strong enough to move that great and dull Body if it could be moved which so many Dyets have
so many losses inviolably kept the Peace and maintained himself in amity with the Emperour till the coming in of the King of Sweden who being his Brother-in Law would easily with his arguments have perswaded him to take up Arms again had he not been prevented by a dropsie which drowned all his smoakie ambitions together with his life and deprived the aforesaid King of a man who would yet according to occasions have much tormented the Empyre and whose life deserved no more admiration then his last Will and Testament did For he bequeathed the Emperour forty thousand Ducats His Testardent and a brave horse with a saddle embrodered full of Pearles and precious stones to his sonne Ferdinand the third as much to the Emperour of Turkie as much to his wife Katherine of Brandenburgh a hundred thousand Rix-Dollars and a hundred thousand Florins besides three Provinces The Execution of the said Testament was recommended by him to the Grand Signor the widow and Transylania to the Emperour And this was the end of that Gabor who was so much renowned who so often re-incouraged them of the Party when they groaned under the Emperours forces and who was so soon beaten down by his own inconstance or rather by the unhappinesse of the said Party Ragoskie having bribed the Embassadour whom the widow sent to Constam inople was created Duke of Transylvania She opposed him and called her Tutour the Emperour to her assistance who sent her the Palatin of Costonia Ragoskie brough an Army into the Field His Successour by deceit is often beaten which was defeated and he in great trouble to raise another which had the same successe of the former as wel as which followed Thus finding the Cross too strong for him he looked towards the Mâ—on Three Bashaws came to succour him who were all beaten one after another by the aforesaid Palatine In fine since he had no better issue by Arms then his Predecessour he was fain to have recourse to the same practises and follow the same steps Wherefore he desired peace with Stephen Gabor brother to the aforesaid Bethleem and made him Governour of the Province restored the widow her Treasures and served himself of their mediation Make peace which was not infructuous to him for he obtained peace and Transylâ—ania remained under the Emperours protection Let us now go to the wedding of Ferdinand the third This Prince being destinated to wear the Crown of the Empyre as well as that of the Kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary sent to demand the Infanta Mary Sister to the King of Spain who was granted him The King her Brother accompanied her to Barcelona where she embaiked for Italy The marriage of Fordinand the third passed by Naples and made her entry at Vienna with so great pomp and gallantry that there could nothing more be added to augment the splendour thereof Before her arrivall her husband was Crowned Emperout at Ratisbone shortly after at Posen Let us leave them with all the joyes of the Court at Vienna and return into Italy to see a warre of Catholick against Catholick CHAP. X Warre in Italy about the succession of the Dutchy of Mantua wherein the Emperour and the two Crownes took part THe difference The warre of Italy for the Dutchy of Mantua which chanced about the succession of the Dutchies of Maentua and Monferrat embarassed all Italy awakened the ambitious jealousies of those two potent nations and so much exercised them in warre that it proved partly the cause of the entyre breach and desolations which followed In the year 1627 the twenty sixth of December Duke Vincent deceasing without Children the succession fell to the Duke of Nevers who received it and praecipitated his inauguration or investure without the knowledge of the limporour who is the Lord of Fief or Supreme-Heredirary thereof The Spaniards more through jealousie then by right or title took Arms as the Duke of Savoy also did for an old pretension he seazed upon many places in Monâ—ferrat and they besieged Casal O interest of State thou Idol how powerful art thou and how many mischiefs dost thou cause The apprehension which the Spaniards had of the Dutchy of Milan made them undertake this warre and hasten the Peace in the North. The Duke of Nevers put good Garrisons into the most tenible places and joyned with the Venetians who could not endure that the House of Austria should make any further progresse in Italy and shut up the gate to the French Ferdinand commands them to lay down Arms but is not obeyed The Emperour desiring to extinguish this sire by a remedy just enough though a little too suspect sent his Embassadours to injoyn both Parties to lay down Arms and in regard that the Duke of Nevers had not first demanded his investure in due form to remit the said Dutchies by way of sequestration into his hands that so he might proceed therein according to Right But he was obeyed here just as his Predecessour was at Gulick For the Duke rejected the conditions endeavoured to succour Casal and cut in pieces the forces which opposed his generous designe The King of France in the mean while was busie at the siege of Rochell which seemed long to the poor Duke who found himself oppugned in his lawfull succession by the Spaniards Succour from France the Savoyers and the Imperialists and that without hope of any strong relief from France The King dispatched away Marshall of Crecquy in Autumne and he went into the Field two moneths after the reduction of the Town which was in the heart of Winter The Duke agrees The Duke who conceived that the said Marshall marched too slowly and that he would busie himself about the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces and make a warre in Savoy changed his maxime promised the Emperour to obey him and to receive his Garrisons into the Townes and consequently sent his son the Duke of Duke of Rhetell to Vienna to make protestation of his obedience and innocence The Spaniards however much harassed and tyred by the frequent sallies of the besieged the length of the Siege and inundations of the Po disapproved this Treaty and to their own dammage continued the said Siege The Emperour sent other Embassadours to command observance The Spaniards continue the siege at Casal But Dou Cardâ—â—â—a who during these intrigues hoped to carry the place pressed it hard lent a deaf ear to the Emperours ouder and dispatched a Envoy or Messenger-Express to Madrid Nevers being irritated beyond measure to sind himself thus treated and that that the equity of his Cause was combatted with so much injustice and animated on the other side by seeing his King slight the rigour of the season to come and ayd him turned all his thoughts to warre The King of France passes by force through Savoy and makes them rise The Duke of Savoy refused the King passage but he got it by force defeated his
them to send their Deputies to the King to conclude a Treaty Fortune was not lesse adverse to the Spaniards in Italy where the Marquis of Leganez had besieged Cassal a fatall place to them and an unhappy siege for this third cime For the brave Count of Harcourt brother to the Duke d'Elbenf and of the generous blood of the Guisards who had done that Kingdom so many services hastened thither with a lesse and weaker Army attacked them in their Trenches and after two several repulses The Spainiards beaten before Caza fell on again killed above four thousand men put in as much relief as he would and forced this so provident and cautious Nation to raise the siege Let no body say now That the French are not valiant but in the first fury in which they are more then men and in continuance lesse then women For this glorious action being conducted by one of the most strenuous men of his Time descended from a House which hath alwayes swarmed with brave Captains and others declares the contrary They know how to fight and when they are broken to rally and carry away the victory After this miracle he wrought yet another which could not be done but by a * Hyperbole The Count of Haicourts valour who takes Turin Saint full of merits and it was this He besieged Turin where Prince Thomas Uncle to the Duke whom he would dispossess commanded The Marquis of Leganez attacked him and pierced through his Lines but the souldiers which were entered could not get out again in such sort as that all their victuals being consumed they were forced to submit to an enemy who was weaker then themselves Which glorious exploits of his redressed that State when it was going to ruine made him admired and reputed by all men for one of the best Captains in the world and the French Nation for brave souldiers Wherefore the Cardinal could do no lesse then cherish such a Warrier and so by consequence he honoured him with his Allyance Their victory obtained in the the Low-Countries was not of less consequence nor less famous for the difficulties which they encountered therein The Marshalls of Chaunts Chairislon and Meillieraye made a shew of going to besiege Marienburgh where two German Canoneers set the powder on fire but suddenly wheeled about towards Arras Arras besieged and yeelded 1540. the Capitall City of that Country and fort with began to-intrench themselves before it An Enterprise of no less audacity then generosity but Fortune helps such as these as it disdains them who are fearfull The Cardinal Infanto the Duke of Lorraine and six Generals more with an Army of thirty thousand men went to visit them with intention to make them sorry for their temerity Wherefore they pitched their Camp upon Mount Saint Eloy near the way where the Provisions were to pass so that the Besiegers were in worse condition then the Besieged for all the small Convoyes were beaten and a pound of bread was worth forty * Pence Solls and more Upon notice given that the great Convoy was almost ready the Duke of Lorraine went and ruined above a thousand Wagons at the very Gates of Dourlens and returned victorious to the Camp The Spaniards were very busie in consultation about what good resolution they were to take The great Convoy advanced and La Meillieraye went to meet it with fisteen thousand men The Infanto being advised by some to make a firm stand and fight it though it were guarded with above twenty thousand men chose rather to attack a quarter which had it been done two houres sooner as it was concluded the Town had undoubtedly been succoured However they succeeded pretty well and were already become Masters of a Fort but the bickering happened in a part from whence they were repulsed with great slaughter and at the same instant arrived the Convoy which dulled the heat of the Spaniards and the desire in the Besieged to make any further defence and shewed besides that the most considerate and advised are often deceived and that the greatest wits incurre the foulâ—st errours Temerity surmounted prudence and the Proverb which was written upon the Town-Gate proved false Quand les Francois prendront Arras Les Souris prendroat les Chats When the French shall Arras take The Mouse the Cat her prey shall make Jealousies and distrusts made the Spaniards lose so faire an occasion to whom the losse of this strong place is imputed The revolt of the Portugueses 1640. not indeed without occasion yea and many have believed that this accident animated the Portugueses to revolt and shake off the Castillian yoke They elevated to the Throne Duke Iohn of Braganza without any bloodshed at all which deserves admiration and whereof we will speak hereafter This year of 1640 made the Arms of France triumph and produced the revolts which we have now described The Infanto was a little more happy against the Hollanders for the Prince of Orange desiring to repaire the affront received at Callò and ayming at Antwerp sent Count Henry Casimir and the Marquis of Hauterive to attack the Forts which were upon the approaches of Hulst one whereof called Nassan was taken by Hauterive but Count Henry had no good issue by the fault of his spyes Count Henry of Freezland slain and therefore resolving to die or gain honour he went and assaulted the Fort of Saint Iohnstone where he was repulsed with the losse of his own life and many of his souldiers and was lamented by all The Prince went the third time before Guelders and being able to effect nothing retyred again to the Haghe So great a bulk of victories together accumulated France with joy and the Cardinals life with glory who was not yet free from danger in regard of the many enemies his Ministery had acquired him The birth of the Duke of Anicii 1640. It was not enough to have a Dolphin for the Queen to augment the joy was delivered the twenty one of September of a second Son called the Duke of Anion We left the Imperialists in Hassia who separated themselves some one way and some another to seek their winter quarters as the Swedes also did but because they are redoubtable in the rigour of the cold as being accustomed to it Bannier made his Troops march at the beginning of December in the deep snow faced about towards the upward Palatinat and presented himself before Ratisbone where the Emperour held the Diet. Some bold adventurers passed the Ice and made great booty in Bavaria but others payd the score soundly for them Piccolomini was not asleep but being advertised by his Spyes of the posture of the Swedes he invested Generall Flang and sent him prisoner with above three thousand men to Ratisbone and pursued Bannier who retyred with confusion enough His death 1641. as farre as Magdeburgh in the month of April 1641. who being seized upon by a burning feaver died the tenth of May as