time not only to fortifie against the ensuing tempest but King Charles leisure enough to come with his Army out of Poland to shew them the fault they had committed in letting slip that which is most precious and most irrecoverable The English and French set all their Engines on work their intercession and their threats to stave off the Danes but to no purpose For the occasion was too fair and their preparations too forward to desist so that their Ministers were roundly answered that the King of Denmark had long expected satisfaction from the Crown of Sweden but being the Resident of the said Crown was retired without giving any his Majesty was obliged to endeavour his own satisfaction and security by the way of Arms. The truth is the party was not ill concerted for the Brandenburger was already drawn off from the Swedish alliance and upon assurance given him from the Polish Court that the Soveraignty of the Ducal Prussia should be conferred upon him which he also now enjoys he confederated himself with the Pole and Dane against Sweden The Dutch were also highly engaged for that wary Republick reflecting upon King Charles his progress in Prussia and Poland and fore-seeing what obstructions his continued conquests in these parts might bring to their Eastern Traffick resolved to oppose him which they not only did by sending a fleet and 1300 Foot to secure Dansick but also by this powerful diversion of the Danes to which they contributed vast summs of monys especially those of Amsterdam upon the securities of the Customs in the Sound and Norway The King of the Romans at present Emperour had also an Army hovering about the Swedish frontiers in Prussia and Poland which put King Charles to a stand not knowing which to turn himself yet resolved to fall with his whole power upon the first that broke out fancying that he was strong enough to deal with either of them apart and it was impossible they should joyn at the distance they were at whereas he should be too weak both for the one and the other if he divided his Forces He was at Thorn in Prussia in expectation of the motion of these new Adversaries where he at length heard the news of the Danes invading of him in the Dutchy of Bremen and the Frontiers of Sweden And this seems a second error for either they ought to have begun sooner whilst the King was engaged with so many enemies in Poland or they ought to have stayed longer and expected until the Imperialists had made the first attempt so that they then should have had nothing to combat with but Cities and Fortresses The King of Sweden was so transported with the first notice of this breach that amongst other expressions of rage and scorn he was heard to say Frederick Frederick I will stick so close to thee that I will sink with thee It may be reasonably imagined that for all this appearing violence he was secretly glad of this rupture with the Danes for it did not only in some sort justifie his invading of Poland the Truce being not yet expired by their example but also gave him an opportunity to quit that Country with honor which he would otherwise have been forced to leave of himself He had indeed wholly mastered that great Kingdom by his valour and the divisions of the Nobility there many of which he had gained by his own and the Vice-Chancelors Radizeuski's practises and intelligence having forced all to swear fealty to him though they all left him afterwards with the same levity but with more justice being they returned to the obedience and service of their own Prince again so that he was weary of that War as being engaged in too vast a Territory and so far from his Confines He had obliged Ragotski Prince of Transilvania to be of his party who had also entred Poland with a very great Army but he suffered him to be lost by exposing him for though they had joyned forces together yet he drew his off being he could not draw the enemy to battle and marched towards Prussia whilst the other was designed to return home which for want of conduct he could not compass having lost his whole Army his hopes in Poland being no less than a Crown and afterwards his whole Country by that unfortunate expedition The King of Sweden being therefore resolved to quit the Polish War left his Brother Prince Adolph in Prussia for the defence of that Province which he mainly desired to conserve In so much that he had made offer of the Crown of Poland being Ragotski failed of it to the King of Hungary himself provided he might keep Prussia Count Steinbock to observe the Imperialists and Poles his Brother in law Count Magnus de la Guarde in Leifland against Muscovy and Lithuania and marched himself laying all in ashes behind him to secure his Rear from the pursuit of the Polish Cavalry with about 6000 Horse towards Pomerania He had in vain sollicited the Duke of Brandenburgh to lend him some Troops though he had offered him Thorn Elbing and Marienburg as cautions provided he might leave Swedish Officers in them Being therefore obliged to stand upon his own bottom he came to Stetin whence he wrote to all the Electors especially him of Mentz as most addicted to France complaining of the Danish invading of him in the Empire which was against the tenor of the instrument of Peace and besought his counsel and assistance Whilst the King of Sweden hastens thus by Land towards Denmark the King of Denmark being advertised though falsly that he took his journey by water put to Sea in person with his whole Fleet and coasting the Countrey of Pomerania came to Dansick where he understood the truth of King Charls his motion which obliged him after a fruitless survey of the Baltick Sea to return in great hast to Coppenhagen Whilst the Swedes were on their way towards Holstein part of the Danish forces had taken Bremerford a good place in the Dutchy of Bremen and two other Forts the Bellemer Sconce lying upon the Elbe and the Leher Sconce commanding the Weser They sollicited also the City of Bremen by an Ambassador to quit the Swedes party but not with that success they had hoped for it seemed yet too early for them to declare Although they were assured in answer to their address to the States Aug. 13. of being assisted in case they were attempted conformable to the Treaty betwixt them which regarded the Swedes not the Danes And here some take the freedom to blame the Danish Conduct for had they carried the War into Sweden it self disfurnished of her principal Defendants Her King absent in a remote Countrey the very terror of an invading Army would have wrought that confusion and consternation in the Country as might probably have given the Dane opportunity to have driven on the War as far as Stockholm But they on the contrary attack the Swedish Dominions in Germany Allarming
and a generous fear was forced against his Nature and practise to become a Spectator whilest others plaid his part but with their own Fortune THE HISTORY Of the Late Warres in Denmark BETWIXT The Two Northern Crowns The Third Part. FIeld-Marshal Schack Commander of the Danish Forces had embarked at Kiel in Holstein His Army consisted of Eighteen hundred Horse Six hundred Foot Nov. 6. and forty Companies though not exceeding two thousand five hundred men of Dutch Auxiliaries The Germans Polish and Brandenburger ayds marched by Land under the Conduct of Field-Marshal Ebersteyn towards Middlefare where they were to pass over into Funen some ships of War having been sent thither to facilitate their transport Whilest they were on their way by Land the Sea Forces advanced with more ease speed and being past Langlands Point were come within sight of Newburg They cast anchor in the mouth of the Haven and resolved at a Councel of War to endeavour to land there Lieutenant General Alefeld was sent with two thousand men to execute this design but most of the. Boats which carried the Souldiers having lost their way in the dark and being scattered and dispersed by the ill-Weather the Wind blowing high and contrary they returned again to the Fleet without attempting what they were sent for And truly it was wel they did not for the descent there was by reason of the Enemies frequent Forts and numerous troops very difficult and hazardous As soon as the day appeared they weighed Anchor again and leaving Newburg coasted the shore as far as Cartmund When they were come near the Town which is seated at the mouth of the River Carta from whence it hath its denomination and had viewed it well the place seemed very abordable in so much that it was unanimously resolved to try their fortune there with hopes of better success than at Newburg The Boats therefore were immediately filled with Souldiers and commanded towards the shore The Danes had the Van being no less eager of the honour than desirous of performing their own business But being they did not advance as fast as was required and that the Boats by reason of their loading and the shallowness could not move further Collonel Killegrew Sir Walter Vane Monsieur Buat who was with the Danes in the Vanguard and first quitted his Shallop Sir John Skelton and the rest in Killegrew's Boat leapt into the Water being breast-high and being followed by all the Netherland Alixiliartes made towards Land The Town gave and received several Vollies of shot as they waded along Some few Swedish Horse advanced into the Sea but were easily repelled and beat back The Cannon from the Ships thundring from all parts incessantly upon the Shore the Bridge and the neighbouring Town did much facilitate the landing by forcing the Enemy unable to resist its violence to retire The Town was also possesed that night being abandoned by the Swedes and the rest of the Army was landed with all imaginable speed though much time was spent in getting the Horse on shore Shack hearing nothing of Ebersteyns advance continued at Cartmund for some days until the Army being fully refreshed it was resolved they should march towards Odensea the chief Town of the Isle and seated in the middle of it But their motion was but slow by reason they had the Enemy in Front who had also possessed all the Streights and narrow Passages in their way The Prince of Sulsbach was General of the Swedish Forces in the Island His Army was not great not exceeding five thousand effective Souldiers which were encreased to that number by the additional Foot which the King had caused to be conveyed over by night to re-inforce his Troops there when he saw it impossible to transport them out of the Island but it was high in reputation and yet he could not hinder the Enemies landing at Cartmund or thought it less hazardous to fight them afterwards than to expose his men to the certain danger of their Cannon And yet he was censured because he did not engage either then or when they were landed or at any time before their conjunction though he could not avoid it afterward His chief care now was to hinder the uniting of the two Armies and therefore he had planted himself in those advantageous Streights betwixt Cartmund and Odensea But hearing that Ebersteyn was likewise landed contrary to his expectation and the opinion he had of those Troops which he had ordered to oppose him he changed his mind for fearing he might be himself inclosed betwixt two such powerful adversaries he marched with all his Foâ—ces to Newburg where he posted himself with a resolution to receive and fight the Enemy in his advantages Eberstein had passed that arm of the Sea which divides Holstein from Funen at Middlefare without the loss of one single man He had four Imperial Regiments as many Brandenburgers six hundred Polish horse six hundred Danish Dragoons and a thousand horse of the same Nation with him All these were wafted over in three dayes and nights time in thirteen Boats the Troopers holding and training their Horses by the bridles whilest they sworn after them without any opposition at all There were indeed two men of War and two other armed Vessels appointed to meet Ebersteyn at Middlefare and also to transport those troops that were in the Islet of Alsen into Funen but being detained by contrary Winds they were forced to the Isle of Aroe where they had intelligence of some Swedes ships loaden with prey and spoil that lay in an Inlet by Alsen which they took with their long Boats and plundered without resistance the Swedes which were in Middlefare and in the Forts and trenches along the shore quitted them contrary to their custom and the wonted bravery of that Nation at first sight of the Enemy and leaving above thirty peeces of Cannon behind them and other warlike provisions retired leaving an uninterrupted passage for the pursuers to follow Ebersteyn wondring he had got over so easily was afraid the Enemy had laid some ambush for him which made him move slowly so that he was seven dayes in marching so many miles to Odensea where he found Schack and Killegrew who had been there three dayes before him and waited his coming All the Confederate Forces being now joyned amounted to near nine thousand so that surmounting the Swedes in numbers they resolved to go search them out and give them battle where ever they could find them there was some little dispute betwixt the two Generals about the precedency Ebersteyn pretended it as eldest Field-Marshal and Schack would not submit being more immediatly commissioned for the present expedition It was therefore agreed that each should command his own men and lead the Avantguard by turns The next day they broke up and Ebersteyn having the Van they marched four miles the day following they came to Maselboom Nov. 14 29. a mile and a half from Newburg and on the
fourteenth saw the Enemy drawn up in Battle-array expecting of them the Right Wing of the Swedes Army consisting of ten Squadrons of Horse was lead by the Prince himself four whereof composing the Reserve being commanded by Major General Beteker one hundred Dragoons closed this Wing on the right hand and the Front was strengthened with three peeces of Cannon the left Wing equalled this in strength and order conducted by Lieutenant General Horn and the Count of Waldec But the main Body consisting of four Battalions of Foot though not exceeding fourteen hundred in all and five peeces of Ordnance were commanded by Marshal Steynbock sent thither to assist the young Prince with his more aged Councels The Town and a Wood covered the Army behind so that their Rear was secure and a long continued Ditch with some water in it where the ground was lowest interposed betwixt their Front and the larger Campania there were some Avenues in the aforesaid Ditch through which the Bodies of Horse did move when they engaged on either side Ebersteyn seeing the Enemies order put also his Army into Battalia Major General Quast commanded his Right Wing consisting of the Imperial Regiments some few Poles and a Company of Danish Dragoons Count Vander Nat with his own Regiment and part of Collonel Mathew's made up the Reserve the Danish Infantry being but two small Bodies composed the main Battle being otherwise strengthened with fourteen peeces of Cannon the Left Wing made up of Brandenburgers Poles one troop of Ebersteyn's Regiment and a few Dragoons was encreased by five Dutch Companies under the Command of Lieutenant Collonel Aquila the rest of Ebersteyn's own and Konenberg's whole Regiment were appointed for Reserves Marshal Schack had by this time also put his Army into Battalia his Right Wing being commanded by Lieutenant General Alefeld and his left by Major General Tramp the Netherland Auxiliaries made up of English French and Dutch Companies divided into three Regiments and lead by their three Collonels Killegrew Allowa and Metteren composed the main Battle Killegrew commanded these in chief and the rest of the Officers excepting Allowa who was absent by sickness and Sir Walter Vane who worthily discharged the Office of Major General marched with their several Companies and in their several places Marshal Ebersteyn had chosen the Left Wing because he would be opposite to the Enemies right which Shack observing drew up his troops on his right so that both Armies thus united made but one though a very irregular Front which was occasioned through Ebersteyn's hast to engage and the disorders which usually arrive in such encounters The Armies being thus ranged they met and fought with no less desires than bravery and the Battle proved doubtful as well as hot until the Netherlanders the rest being broken and disordered turned the day by only keeping firm and snatched the Victory out of the Swedes hands Ebersteyn had before the Battle began sent four hundred Horse to observe the Enemies order and countenance who advancing too far were rudely received and beaten back to their main Body In the mean time the Eberstenians move on and marching on to the Swedes Ditch endeavoured with great courage to beat them from it but being as bravely received they were forced back with great loss all the Officers of Ebersteyns own Regiment being either slain or wounded Neither was Shacks fortune better all his Horse being broken and routed so that if the Swedes had not been hindered by their own Ditch to pursue their advantage at once by hindering the Enemy to rally behind the Dutch Foot they had infallibly got the Day Killegrew seeing the Horse beaten marched up in good order to the Ditch and firing continually by Ranks as he advanced forced the Swedes Foot to quit it and retire further into the Field behind them The Swedes endeavoured to make head again but being again disordered were charged broken and cut in pieces by the Polish and Danish Horse who were returned to the fight Alefeld had by this rallied his Troops again and bringing them on a fresh passed also the Ditch and charging the Swedes Left Wing of Horse routed and pursued them to the Walls of the Town The Prince having lost all his Foot and weakened by the flight of his Left Wing seeing no hopes of recovering the Day retired also in reasonable good order into the City however pursued by the Victorious Enemy The Field being cleered and plundered and the night growing on apace the Danish Generals encamped as near the Town as was possible The next morning they put they Armies into Battle in sight of the Enemy and having planted their Cannon threatned a sudden and general Assault unless they surrendred The Swedes seeing the Enemies preparations sent out Commissioners to treat with them and a Trumpeter to De Ruyter who continually thundred upon them with vollyes of Cannon to desire him to desist for they would deliver up the Town upon reasonable terms But all mention of Conditions being rejected by the insulting Victors they were forced to Deliver up themselves and the Place at discretion Lieutenant General Horn marched out with three thousand Horse which as also the Prisoners and Colours which had been taken in the Fight he presented to the Confederate Generate Generals who divided and distributed them amongst their several Regiments the Officers the Town the spoil and all fell into the Conquerours hands together with fourscore Cornets and eight and twenty Foot-Colours Amongst the prisoners of note were Horn himself and the two Major Generals Weyer and Waldec The Duke of Weymer and the Count Koningsmark had been taken in the Battle the day before there were also ten Collonels besides the inferiour Officers and some other persons of quality The slain on the Swedes side amounted to well nigh two thousand besides Major General Beteker and some other lesser Officers The Danes lost only their Collonel Booth one Lieutenant Collonel one Major and three Captains of Horse Piazenzewski the Commander in Chief of the Poles died in this Field of Honour as also Captain Hemmema a Gentleman of Friezland the only Officer amongst the Netherlanders The number of the slain souldiers did not exceed five hundred in all neither did this so signal a Victory and the fruits of it the Island of Funen cost the Danes any more which seemed in some sort to recompense the manifold losses they had hitherto sustained The two Swedish Generals the Prince of Sulsbach and Marshal Steynbock escaped the danger for being retired into the Town and in an impossibility of either defending the place or being relieved and seeing they had but that one night of reprieve they thought it more reasonable to hazard an escape than submit to a certain surrender They therefore exposed themselves in a small Boat to the mercy of the Sea and escaped by favour of the darkness and nimbleness of their Rowers through all the Enemies Fleet and came early the next morning to Corseur
omitted the present attacking of the town to secure and fortifie their own quarters they therefore strengthen the out-works the Citizens had formerly quitted with pallisadoes they turn their breast-works against the town and in them and their ditches or moats dividing them near the sea and cutting them off from the rest of the said works they made a quarter large enough to contain all their foot and all their instruments of war This quarter was strengthened within with a ravelin and on the side towards the fields with a tenaille or tonge and being also scated betwixt the sea and St. George's lake was secured on the back side by the right wing of horse which lay in the Hollands village The rest of the horse except the guards disposed of upon the several avenues of the town were enquartered betwixt Uttersleve and Wartow in the open field ready in case the Citizens should sally again to oppose them upon their first appearance The Danes were no less busie on their side they cut down all the trees which which were in the Queens garden or else where planted as well for ornament as use without their gates they burnt such edifices as were yet standing and level their very rubbish with the ground lest the enemy might find any safety or shelter behind them Things being thus ordered on both sides the Danes full of hopes and encouraged by their former good fortunes prepare for another sally but being upon the point to march they were stayed by the sudden appearance of the Swedish horse descending the hill from Walbuy This unexpected sight did not only break their present design but filled them with amazement and jealousie whilest most of them apprehended there might be treason amongst themselves and a secret correspondence with the enemy from within But not knowing how that might be the town being so well guarded and at a loss who to suspect an uncertain rumour was spread abroad that a standard had been seen lift up and displayed upon Ulefeld's house which all concluded was done to give the enemy notice of what passed in the town by orders from that traytor as they called him to his King and Country But the said lodgings being visited and searched and some who were suspected examined and imprisoned though nothing got out of them this sear vanished But the true reason of this discovery was not known till afterwards There was a Wind mill not far from the town which over-looked it though at a distance the Swedes having their sentinels day and night there could though confusedly by the help of perspectives see what was done upon the walls which they within were not at first aware of The Swedes having secured their quarters began to infest the town by shooting multitudes of glowing bullets into it especially by night to add terror to the harm they might do and indeed the fear was greater than the mischief for the King having at the beginning of the siege appointed three hundred men to guard the several streets of the town as well against such accidents as casual fires had abundantly provided for any harm that way which order had that also of good in it that the other Citizens and soldiers who were appointed for defence of the ramparts being strictly enjoyned not to quit their stations in any case whatsoever were less sollicitous for their own dwellings being secure in the others care These men therefore being provided with great hooks great tongs made like mens fingers at the ends and other such instruments to handle these fire-balls easily prevented their mischief so that there was no material harm done either by them or by the granadoes thrown into the town during the whole Seige And now the Swedes began to approach again but with more circumspection then at first for they built a large square fort to defend their trenches and making use of St. George's dike fortifie it with a breast work and pallisadoes and having raised a battery for two and twenty pieces of Cannon upon it began to thunder upon the remains of the Tower upon the Helmer bullwork and opposite Curtain endeavouring by that violence to dismount the Cannon upon the walls They also made another battery in the Ladegard fort of nine Guns out of which they shot not only bullets but fire-balls into the City The fortifications at Wartow being open towards the town were shut up with new breast-works and further strengthened with twelve pieces of Ordnance The besieged had ordered two other Prames with good Cannon in them to flanck and defend the East side of the town which they did with so much obstinacy that the incessant violence of the guns out of this sconce could not oblige them to quit their stations the covers indeed of these flat boats were beaten down and that was all the harm was done them which they sufficiently revenged by dismounting some of the adverse cannon and killing several of their men The Danes seeing the enemies order and approaches and seeing no means to disturb their advance but by sallies resolved yet again to try their fortune that way They stole out of the North gate Aug. 30. with four hundred horse and foot and falling with great hast and resolution upon the enemies post on the other side the Bebling Lake beat them from it at first onset but being frighted by their horse which hastened to their succours they were forced to retire towards the walls again leaving behind them one Captain and fifteen or sixteen common soldiers This did not daunt them so but they would hazard another combat which five hundred of them rushing upon the adverse approaches performed with much resolution They indeed routed these next to them as it is usual in sudden sallies at first but these run aways did but save themselves in their sconces whereby they not only eluded the endeavours of their pursuers but being suddenly re-inforced from the neighbouring stations forced them back mortally wounding two of their Colonels Urne and Bremer who died of their hurts the following day King Frederick escaped also narrowly that same day for having stood near the West port a good while to see the skirmishing without he had no sooner changed place but Col. Lange stepping into it was shot through the breast with a musket bullet whereof he died some few days after Neither is this the only danger the King hath been in for Providence who hath a peculiar care of Princes protected him from another no less eminent some time before He had no sooner removed himself from leaning upon a wall at the same West port but a musket bullet slâ—pt in that very place where he had rested his head but a moment before The Danes seeing they could do no more good by their sallies by reason of the enemies vigilance and strength opposed new works to their approaches they made a Ravelin upon the Curtain next the Western gate with a covered way which extended to both sides the said gate and
and one hundred common souldiers The Confederates did not loose above forty men in this exploit and being now Masters of the Island filled it with men and Ammunition as a place very convenient for the invading of Funen Having therefore all things in a readiness and filled all their Sloops and Boats with Souldiers they made for Funen under favour of some Dutch men of War which lay there to facilitate their passage They designed to assault the Island in four several places at once which they endeavoured but being ill received by the Defendants could not reach the Shore The Swedes had fortified all the Avenues and descents with Trenches Traverses and Cannon in abundance Their Forces were likewise great and strong especially in Horse several supplies being come out of Zeland to their ayd so that the enterprise seemed no less difficult than great to undertake to force an Enemy so well intrenched and so numerous as they were The Confederates lost above three hundred in their retreat besides the slain and drowned in the Attack which were many On the Swedes side there fell about two hundred which number had been undoubtedly greater if they had fought in a more equal place This misfortune did not so dishearten the Confederates but they resolved to adventure another attempt only the place seemed not so proper as it was at first imagined They therefore ship their men again and make for Middlesfare where the Traject was narrowest The men of War got thither for all the Enemies great and small shot but the Carriage-boats could not advance as was desired for the Wind turning and the Stream which follows it being against them they were forced to desist and turn back to Fredericks-Ode The Swedes however glad of the Enemies retreat thought nothing done unless they could disinable them from attempting to pass the Streights for the future This could not be effected but by ruining their Boats and Vessels which they bravely endeavoured but finding the Enemy more watchful than they had hoped they were after a rude reception forced back two of their Boats being sunk with their men in them by the Enemies Cannon The Confederates seeing they get over in parties Jul. 4. resolve to attempt it with all their forces and that in three several places with their three Armies at once but wanting Vessels to transport so great a multitude they sent five of their six men of War to gather up all the Boats they could find alongst the Coasts of Jutland The King of Sweden having notice of the Confederates design was solicitous how to prevent it He therefore commanded Captain Cox an Englishman then in his service with eight men of War one Catch and one Fire-ship to Middlefare to oppose them He He met the five above-mentioned Ships at Ebeltot July 23. who were so affrighted with the sight of this unexpected Enemy that they immediatly cut their Cables but seeing no way to escape and having less mind to resist most of the Officers and Mariners saved themselves on Shore with their Cock-boats The Admiral indeed made a shew of Defence but being sorely wounded was forced to yield The number of the slain was not great but the prisoners many especially Souldiers amongst which there were six hundred Brandenburgers and four hundred Imperialists Cox having mastered the greater Vessels burnt thirty lesser ones commonly called Schuyts that lay in the Haven He went thence to Arhausen where having fired three Merchant-men and one and twenty of the aforesaid Schuyts he threw his fire-brands into the Town it self notwithstanding a thousand Poles who were enquartered there Having performed this great service he returned with his Fleet to the Sound in triumph The conquered Ships followed spoiled of all their Ornaments two whereof being Danish having their Colours dragg'd at their Sterns and the other two Netherlanders equal with them in fortune though not in disgrace which it may be was omitted in complement to the Dutch Embassadours who stood in their Windowes at Elzeneur to behold the spectacle This Victory however easily obtained was a very great one and highly esteemed by King Charles himself being now secure of Funen the Enemies Vessels together with their hopes of passing thither being wholly destroyed Cox was ennobled and vastly rewarded for this service the King being no less just in recompensing merit than in discountenancing baseness and no less prodigal in his favours than severe in his punishments knowing well that these are the true stirrers up to great and brave Atchievments The Prince Elector moved with the loss of his Ships and having no other in a readiness nor no hopes of any from the Dutch Fleets which the reiterated Cessations had rendred useless laid aside all thoughts of further attempting upon Funen He thefore quitted Fenoe and having sunk his remaining Boats at Fredericks-Ode removed his Camp to Hopdorp on the South of Jutland with design to transfer the War into Pomerania The Swedes seeing the Enemy gone re-garrison Fenoe and landing on the Continent began to rebuild a Fort which the Poles had demolished upon the quitting of it but having intelligence that a strong party of the Confederates which was left behind to hinder their incursions was marching towards them they left their Works and retired into their Islands again And this is the sum of the Confederates Expedition and Adventures in Holstein and Jutland which I thought good for methods sake to put thus together leaving the more particular relation of affairs to them that will write their story for being my intention was only to observe what happened in order to this famous Siege and not the whole War it will suffice to have only mentioned those things which happened further off though relating to it To return therefore to Coppenhagen where nothing of moment did happen after the great Storm We find the Citizens secure within their Walls and the Swedes in their Camp whose Fortifications and strength in Horse took away all hopes the Enemy might conceive of attempting upon them Both parties suffered much through the extremity of Winter but the Danes most being shut up from all communication from abroad the Enemy besieging them by Land and the Ice by Sea But they bore these as they had done their former hardships with great courage and resolution The approaching Spring encreased the hopes and fears on both sides The Danes expected more solid succours from the Dutch and the Swedes bragg'd of their more forward friends the English and indeed neither of them was deceived In the mean time both Kings prepare for War The Dane makes ready his Fleet with all imaginable industry whilest the Swede resolves the conquest of the remaining Islands To this end General Wrangel ships six hundred Foot and three Regiments of Horse at Newburg in Funen and sets sail for Langland as the most accessible of them Count Waldeck had attempted and taken it before it being assigned him by the King for his Winter quarters but he had been
beaten out of it again with loss he himself having been likewise hurt in the arm But Wrangel's fortune was better though his Victory more difficult March 19. 1659. He came with his Fleet to Langland Head where he designed to land but the calm retarding his endeavours gave the Danes time to hasten thither from all parts of the Island so that they did not only repel the Enemy but took one of their Long-boats with fifty men in it this disaster did not at all discourage the Swedes They resolve to venture again but the place was not good to land in being Moorish They therefore sent all their passage Boats and most of their Souldiers by night it being dark to search out a more convenient descent In the mean time the Fleet continued its station and sending out their Cock-boats kept the Enemy in perpetual Allarms making shew of landing the better to conceal their intended design which lucked so well that the party they had sent out gained the shore three miles off before the Danes had notice of it and having immediatly cast up a Breast-work to secure their entry landed all their men without any considerable opposition for those that hastened to the danger came too late and in such disorder that they were easily broken and routed The remaining Danes retired into Traneker Castle one of the Kings Houses which was surrendred at mercy as likewise the whole Island without further resistance The Prisoners were many at least three hundred Souldiers and above a thousand Country fellows which were in Arms for defence of their Country but forced to yield to the strongest the ordinary fate of Islanders when a powerful Enemy is suffered to land Langland being thus mastered Wrangel sets sail for Alsen where landing his men he took the Castle of Norburg by storm but having assaulted Sunderburg thrice in vain quitted the Island again and content with his former Victory and pillaging the Coasts of Holstein in his way returned with his Prisoners and Prey to Funen The loss of Langland did much trouble the Danes and oblige them to hasten out their Fleet with all possible speed The milder Spring had dissolved those sholes of Ice that had besieged the Haven and the Sea was now grown Navigable when Vice-Admiral Held was sent to observe the Enemy with sixteen of those Ships which were ready He met with six Swedish men of War betwixt Langland and Laland which he charged March 30. The Fight was hot and sharp but the Swedes being over-powred were forced to flye having lost one of their best Ships with fifty Guns which Held took and another which ran on ground to save it self But the Danes did not long continue Masters at Sea for being too weak to oppose the Swedish Fleet which came afterwards into the Belt they were forced to save themselves in the Bay of Flensburg This news being brought to Coppenhagen Bielke and Opdam the Dane and Dutch Admirals hasten with the rest of the Fleet to relieve their friends Being past the Island of Falster they discovered not far from Femeren seventeen Swedish men of War who having left Held to his liberty thought to save themselves through the Belt but the Wind proving contrary they were forced to prepare for fight April 28. The odds was indeed great the Danish-Dutch being much stronger and in probability of an absolute Victory if they had not let it escape out of their hands by over-much precaution and circumspection Bielke as the Kings Admiral led the Van and bearing up with the Enemy with a flown Sheet came to a Tack for fear that lest advancing too much he might loose that Wind which he had so favourable and which filled the Enemies eys with the smoak of his Cannon He kept therefore to Windward plying them with broad sides as he past Opdam following in the wake of the Danes did the same not absurdly fancying that when they had tired the Enemy their Victory provided they had had the Wind inclosed in Bottles would be no less assured than easie But it fell out otherwise for during this Gun-fight the Danish Admirals Main top-sail came by the Board which rendred his Ships motion less active so that his men for fear of falling into the Enemies hands called to Opdam to save them which he did but before they had brought a new Sail to the Yard the Wind grew more favourable for the Swedes for it turned from East North East to South East by which means and by the stiffness of the Gale they having gained the Weather-gage retired without any considerable loss to Wismar The disadvantage in this Naval skirmish was not great on either side Bielkenstern who commanded the Swedes was lightly hurt and but very few of his men slain which he had revenged with the conquest of the Danish Admiral if he had not been prevented by Opdam King Charles seeing no way of conquering Coppenhagen but by the Conquest of the remaining Isles for they were the Granaries and Store-houses of the City resolved to attempt them To this end he embarks himself in person and being come with four men of War betwixt Warberg and Nypcopping two Towns of Zeland and Falster April 20. made shew of attacking a Fort raised by the Inhabitants for the defence of the latter In the mean time he sent out a Long-boat with some of his Guards under the Command of a Lieutenant Colonel to coast and view the Shore for the entry near the aforesaid Fort was too difficult by reason of the shallowness of the Water thereabouts The Lieutenant Colonel fell accidentally upon a Boat passing from Laland to Falster which he took and in it the Danish Admiral Lindenowe and several Letters designed for Coppenhagen containing the true state of the Militia of the two Islands The Prize being brought to the King he upon stricter examination commanded the Fort to be battered but seeing it was but to little purpose by reason of the distance and difficulty to land he removed to Coldberg where the Streight is narrowest and deep so that bringing his Ships near the Shore he forced the numerous Defendants by his continual thundring of great and small shot upon them to quit their station and make place for his men to land which they quickly did The Country men threw down their Arms and hid themselves in the Wood whilest the Souldiery being closer pursued was overtaken at Nycopping and three hundred of them who could not get soon enough over the passage forced to submit to the Enemies mercy Falster being thus subdued the King in pursuit of his Victory resolves to Attack Laland the fruitfullest of all the Danish Islands He therefor returns to Coldberg again with six men of War and several Carriage Boats and coming up close to the shore for it is very deep there began to play upon the Enemies Works The noise of the Cannon brought the Islanders together to the number of near five thousand but all could not
men in the Town and the Works on the side next the Sea were open which was true But the Swedes having notice of this Design before hand had filled the place with armed men King Charles was come thither also in person and all things were in a readiness to receive these new guests Killegrew knowing nothing of these preparations was advanced within a League and a half of the Town with intention to fail up close to it but a sudden calm preventing him he was forced to expect the day which discovered the Enemies countenance and numbers and posture so that finding that instead of surprizing them he should be inevitably lost himself he commanded his men four hundred whereof had been put into Boats with design to land back to the Fleet which was no sooner done but the Enemies bodies of Horse which had lurked in the Wood appeared as also the danger they had infallibly run into if the Wind had continned blowing an hour longer The Danes had at the same time surprised Udstead a Town in Schonen which Killegrew having notice of had Orders likewise to hasten thither to their Succour which he did but they had dislodged before he could get to them for the place was not very tenable and the Enemy made head on all sides against them Having therefore met them by the way they returned all together to Coppenhagen with a purpose to land the Auxiliaries which had thus long languished on Shipboard but they were much surprised to see the Citizens refuse them entry who fearing peradventure such numerous ayds told them plainly they were strong enough to defend themselves This refusal did much cool the Dutch kindness towards them who not examining whether their diffidence were just or not took it ill to be denied any thing from them who owed them for all they enjoyed Besides the Land souldiers were hereby subjected to sicknesses as being out of their Element and obliged by this stay to consume those Provisions which were only designed for the Seamen Neither were the Danes content to defend themselves only they designed also the recovery of Cronenburg which had probably been effected if not discovered by a miracle The men of Elzineur were the contrivers of this Plot who having gained some of the Garison thought the Victory secure Seven or eight hundred men worked daily at the New Fortifications and the Countrey was summoned to carry Wood and Fuel for the Provision of the Castle The design was to arm those Car-men who were nigh fourscore strong with short Swords and Pistols who were ordered to overturn a Waggon or two in the very entry of the Castle and thereupon to call their Companions to their aid as if it had been done by accident Being come together they were to fall immediatly upon the Guard at the Gate whilest the Townsmen who were ready in their Houses should hasten to their assistance and the aforesaid Workmen be invited with their Spades and Mattocks instead of other arms to their liberty and to the spoil The plot being thus laid the Contrivers and chief Actors in it who had given the Court intelligence of it were mainly encouraged by promises thence and the glory of Delivering their Country to dare any thing which they had infallibly put in execution if they had not been strangely discovered The man that carried their Letters to Coppenhagen and brought them their Orders and directions thence had passed several times with a little Boat as if he had gone a fishing along the shore betwixt the Town and City He had often slipped by the men of War undiscerned which was no hard matter considering the distance they lay from the shore the largeness of the Sea and the favour of the night It happened that in going by he saw the Admirals Long-boat put off which frightened him into a fancy that it was after him and fearing to be taken he threw his Packet of Letters with a Stone tied at them into the Sea and made away with all the hast he could But when he saw that the Swede had taken another Course as not minding him he then began to condemn his vain fear and precipitation however glad that his Letters which the Sea had swallowed were not faln into the Enemies hands But he was deceived for the string that tied the Packet to the stone being slipt or broke the Letters floated and were carried by the Tide which in the Streights of Denmark N. 6. as also the whole Baltick Sea waits upon the Wind to Lanskrown where being taken up by a Souldier that accidentally walked upon the shore they were brought to the Governour and so the whole design discovered and prevented by the punishment of such of its Contrivers that did not save themselves by a timely retreat The Plot to surprise Malmuyen one of the Chief Towns of Schonen was no less odly discovered than this of Cronenburg the Messengers that were employed by the Conspirators used to hide their Letters in a Wood in a hole covered with Earth and Sods where they also found their Answers so that the business was come to some ripeness when an unhappy Fox ranging that way and smelling at that new Earth scarp'd it up in search of somewhat to prey upon This being observed by an accidental Passenger who curious to see what the industrious beast was doing found the Letters which contained and detected the whole progress of the conjuration I cannot tell how truly I have related the particulars of these Conspiracies though they were thus told me by several persons of credit but being I dare not affirm them in all their particulars though they are most true in the general as the rest of this Relation for undoubted certainties the Reader may take the same liberty in believing what he pleases as I did in writing of them The King of Denmark having at length obtained permission to employ the Dutch Auxiliaries thought fit to undertake somewhat of consequence before Winter Having therefore got together all the small Vessels and Ships of burthen which the City could afford de Ruyter was by consent of the States Embassadours sent with all his Fleet towards Holsteyn with Order to embark the Land-Army that was there and carry it according to such directions as he had or should receive Whilest he was on his way thiether accompanied with the prayers and wishes of the Citizens for his good success Admiral Opdam who had kept the Sea the whole Summer came to Coppenhagen Octob. 26. bringing with him a great number of Vessels loaden with Fuel and other Provisions His stay there was not long so that having taken his leave of the King who regaled him with a Present of three thousand pounds and three hundred pounds yearly for his son in consideration of his eminent services and of the City which he had saved he passed the Sound the second time discharging his Cannon at the Castles as he sailed by Nov. 4. and after twelve Moneths