that the foure Dukes did still retaine their titles and authoritie vnder the King as the Senate of Rome did theirs vnder the Soueraintie of Caesar though it were subordinate The other thrée I say enuying that greatnesse loue and opinion which his vertues as well as the Nobilitiâ—e of his blood had got him sought by many deuises to betray him whom no honourable mind but would haue defended and to this end they bent all their courses A plot no doubt ful of honour and regard vnto the State the proiect whereof was either the murther or disinheritance of so lawfull a Prince Falshood and Enuie the accusers Suggession and Subornation the informers Thus was the plot laid The Quéene being mother in law of Gustovus and hauing a Sonne by the King and borne since the kingdome was erected as farre as she durst for she yet feared the greatnesse of Gustovus did many times buze matters of iealousie and suspition into the Kings eares of his sonnes cariage of himself in the kingdom which at first he did not either beleeue or dissemble The thrée Dukes knowing the Quéenes mind towards the Prince added fuell to her fire alledging that she should neuer finde a sure estabâ—ishment for her selfe and her sonne in the kingdome if Gustovus were not made away The heart that before began to burne with this desire was now more incensed hauing those thrée Noblemen the principall Counsellours of State in the kingdome to further her intendments The Quéene being throughly instructed by the Lords takes the aduantage of time in her complaint to the king Tels him that his sonne aspired and would shortly aspire against him that he affected popularitie receiued like Absolom his subiects Petitions not in loue but Ambition That he kept a Court and Port greater then the King and that all his actions did more sauour of Soueraigntie then subiection The Lords they second the Quéene in her vniust information alleadge matters probable to confirme it The King beleeues and in the error thereof hates Truth imbraceth Treason Thus all being inuerted Nature rebels in the Father but Loyaltie remaines in the Sonne The plot was hereupon laid for his apprehension Gustovus being then at Court who noting a straunge alteration in his Fathers countenance towards him began to suspect the drift of the Queene vpon the distrust of the Noblemen about her Himselfe being almost abandoned deuiseth with himselfe how to auoyd the daunger A Gentleman of the Kings comes secretly to Gustovus and tels him that the plot was laid that night for his Attainder The Prince being amazed at the suddaine immiuence of such a perill posteth presently from the Court with a few of his Retinew and the next day recouers his Dukedome of Doland where he meant to stay till he heard further of the Kings proceedings His departure was soone made knowne at which the Queene and the Lords though they mist of their purpose were not much sorry foreknowing that his suddaine flight from the Court in that manner would strongly confirme their accusation The King by them againe is incensed and messengers sent into Doland by whom the Prince was Summoned by a certaine day to make his appearance in Vpsale Castle which the Prince refuseth to doe affirming by his submissiue Letters to the King that though he knew his cause to bee iust and his heart loyall no probable suspition of any misdemenour from him either in act or intent that yet neuerthelesse he durst not hazard his life in the heat of the kings displeasure for that he knew his aduersaries were so great in power and in so gratious account that it would be an easie matter to haue his Maiesties grace and Nature her selfe peruerted to his vntimely and vniust destruction And that the onely cause why he retired himselfe into his owne Countrey was to stay the time vntill these mists of his Maiesties iealousie and suspition were blowen away that the Sunne of his alleagiance might shine cleere farre from the cloudes of all distrust or disloyaltie This answere being returned but not accepted the King by the Queenes continuall instigations was more and more prouokt insomuch that a great power was suddenly raised to fetch him by violence out of his Dukedome Which the Prince perceiuing and being neither able nor willing to resist his Fathers forces giues way to necessitie and in the habite of a slaue purposeth secretly to goe into Germanie And hauing past some daungers in his flight by the Kings pursuers at last he crossed the seas and holding on his course for Lubeck in Germany not many dayes safely arriued there All this while he kept his disguise for though he knew that the Lubeckers were heretofore beholding to him yet he doubted what minds they would put on in this chaunge of fortune Remembring Pompeyes vsage in his flight by Ptolomie King of Egypt and the like of Hanniball by Prusius king of Bithinia Chap. II. Gustovus is discouered in Lubecke The Lubeckers take his part The King his Father dies He recouers by their meanes the Kingdome of Swethland THe newes being arriued in Germany of Guâ—tovus his flight out of Swethland before his comming thither was diuersly intertained in Lubeck Some pittied the state and condition of the young Prince that so Noble a Gentleman so full of hope and expectation euen in the prime of his youth should in this vile manner suffer violence Others spake against him supposing that his owne naturall Father and others of his blood would not in this manner haue proceeded against him if he had not showne himselfe dangerous vnto the State as the mindes of the people are in this case diuersly distracted The Prince after his comming to Lubeck staied certaine dayes in a common Inne not daring to discouer himselfe and to auoid the suspition of a stranger in such common places found meanes to preferre himselfe vnto a rich Merchant of the Towne if such a place in the meanenesse of his fortune at that time may be called preferment Being there entertained he contented himselfe to doe any bodily labour in the house striuing to suite his minde vnto his misery yet could hee not so well counterfeit this part of his sinister fortune but that the Merchant did soone suppose him to be a better man then hee seemed to bee and perhaps the man hee was So hard a thing it is for Nature to learne to forget her custome Staying some few moneths in the Merchants house hee heard of a Gasant sent from the king to the State of Lubeck being supposed hee would bend his course thither The tenor of the Gasants message was to deliuer to the Lubeckers that the kings desire was that either they should not entertaine him at al or els send him backe to Swethland for that hee was knowen and proclaimed to bee an enemie But they being at that time ignorant of the Princes abiding answered for the time to those things that might stand with the Kings pleasure The Gasant being dispatcht Gustovus
liued in a continuall feare of being discouered as well for that many great men in the Towne had before seene him in Swethland and might then remember him As also for that his Master would many times prie into his countenance and behauiour and vtter strange words and shew strange passions euen in his presence sometimes repeating the name of Gustovus The Prince holding thus a Wolfe by the eares in doubt whether to stay or goe in both which he found danger was wondrously perplexed Sometimes he thought to discouer himselfe opposing his mind against the worst of fortune that if the Towne did betray him his blood should be shed in Innocence and he be rid of that torment wherin his mind was diuersly distracted betwixt Hope and Feare and Feare the predominant but at last resoluing with himselfe to stay hee still framed his mind vnto his businesse One day cleauing of wood in the strayning of his bodie a button that held the flappe of his Ierken brake and there withall a little Chaine of gold whereon did hange a Iewell of inestimable price fell from his necke Which a maid seruant in the house beeing by perceiuing was desirous to see it but hee suddainely snatching it vp told her that it was a thing of no worth but giuen him by a friend of his in the remembrance of her The maide dissembled her opinion for the present but soone after told it to her master The Merchant vpon this accident confirmes his former suspition and hauing now matter more relatiue then before enformed the State of Lubeck with this circumstance The Burgomasters of the Towne sitting then in Counsell sent for the stranger by a guard to come before them How the Message was entertained by the Prince let them iudge that haue vndergone the like aduenture There was no deniall nor possibility of escape Obey he must And it is a hard thing when Princes must obey Being brought before the Magistrates it was demaunded of whence he was he answered of Swethen They askt him of what degree He told them as meane in birth as in fortune what mooued you quoth they to forsake your Countrey The Prince replied my vnkind vsage there A principall Senatour of the Towne looking all this while stedfastly vpon his countenance perceiued that it was Gustovus and whispering the rest in the eare assured them that it was the Prince The matter was before concluded what they meant to doe Whereupon this great Citizen began to speake in this manner Your birth quoth hee is farre better then your fortune Therein you dissembled but your fortune beares the blame your first and last answere is true for we know that you are of Swethland and your name is Prince Gustovus and the vnkind vsage of your Countrey hath driuen you from thence what we meane to doe you shall vnderstand shortly In the meane time repose your selfe securely and hopefully in the rulers house The Prince acknowledged himselfe and thankt them for these signes of their good will And if you shall find quoth he my protection or defence to prooue dangerous vnto your State Let my life rid you from that feare I shall be well content so I may free you from danger to be your Sacrifice Whereupon they all imbraced him with the teares standing in their eyes euery one honouring him and putting him in great hope and comfort They caused him presently to be inuested with royall ornaments and in all honourable and louing manner conuayed him that night to the â—ulers house The Prince stayed as prisoner but honourably attended about two yeeres in Lubeck During which time the king his Father sent diuers Gasants with faire words and large promises to haue him deliuered but it would neuer be granted Howbeit they promised that they would keepe him safe from attempting any innouation The Prince during his stay there would often visite his old master whom he would alwaâ—es call his kind master affirming that if his discouery had not bene made knowen he could as contentedly haue liued a poore seruant in his house as he did then a princely prisoner in the Towne The Merchant would many times tell him he had much adoe to keepe himselfe from the sinne of pride for that it was his fortune to be master of such a seruant Within two yeeres after the king his Father died and the State of the Countrey proclaimed the Queenes Sonne King of Swethland Gustovus had quickely intelligence thereof as such newes flies euer with the Swallows wings receiues Letters from many Noble men and other of his friends in the Countrey wherein he was aduised to vse all means possible for his return with assured coÌ„fidence of their assistance The Prince shewes the Letters to y e Lubeckers solicits them in his own behalfe for aide giues them princely pomises of their requitall The Prince returnes to Swethen full of hope and encouragement His friends meete him in great multitudes with all signes of loue and obedience His enemies are disperst without battaile some fled some taken prisoners the Queene with her sonne conuaied to Vpsale Castle The three Dukes beheated and all the rest pardoned When all things were established and the summes of money paid backe to the Lubeckers Gustovus was shortly after with all solemnitie Crowned king of Swethland and not long after was honourably married out of Germanie His Queene being nobly borne in that Countrey By whom he had foure sonnes Prince Erick the eldest Duke of Doland Iohn Duke of Finland Magnus Duke of Warmland and Charles the youngest Duke of Estergutland that now liues and inioyes the Crowne of Swethland This Gustovus Raigned peaceably and happily Laden with many yeeres but with many more Trophies of honors The care and loue hee bare vnto his subiects was well seene in their reciprocall respect to him His sonnes brought vp in all princely knowledge acknowledged faithfully their naturall duties during his life Though after his death they fell at vnnaturall debate one with another In the last of his yeeres he shewed the best of his affections different from the obseruance taken in other Princes who after a long continued Soueraignetie doe much decline from the gentle behauiours of their beginnings But at last as euery thing is vnstable each estate that hath being in this world holds his vncertaintie This noble king deceased at that time wherein his life was most desired of his subiects whose loue had bene the like vnto his sonnes had it not bene crost by the nature of the tumultuous times that followed The dead corps being now the sadde remnant of a king was with all solemnitie conuaied and enterred in Vpsale Castle His friends following it with all tokens of sorrow calling him the proppe and protector of Religion the defender and preseruer of his Countrey the honour and glory of the Swethen Nation His fame went before him dilating his Noble acts and princely vertues that not buried in the graue with him returned backe posting through the world and
it blasteth Sometimes hee thought to disguise himselfe with his cloathes to change his thoughts that beeing poorely attyrde hee might bee mearely minded and measure his actions by the present fortune not by his former estate Yet in the summons of these diuers thoughts and cogitations hee had some respectiue regard of his honour though all false yet his heart should not faint for the courage of a man is shewed in his resolution In the middest of his extreames hee held it his safest course to flye by night with all his power sister and friends with a full purpose to attempt the winning of Wasten Castle being thrée or foure daies iourney from Steckborow But the Duke that had waded through many dangers and in many aduentures both prosperous and lucky had gotten such reputation that he was highly preferred in the estimation of that Country put the King into such a Continuall feare of his pursuite knowing his strength vnable to match his Enemy The Duke vnderstanding the King to be vnstayed in his resolution and to stand thus wauering betweene warre and peace which danted the hearts of his people to bee seene in field leades his Army plants his ordenance against the Castle of Steckborow and takes the kings fléete with seuen tunne of Gold and all his regall Ornaments The King had conuaied himselfe to the Castle of Linnekeeping and was there royally entertained howbeit in the middest of Solemnities the sad newes of that vnhappy accident was brought thither vnto him At the hearing relation wherof though hee was much agast yet with that kingly courage that his vnfortunate successe had left him he burst out into this or the like passion If my moderation quoth hée in prosperity had béene answerable to the greatnesse of my birth and state or the successe of my last attempts to the resolution of my minde I might haue come to Linnekeeping in my accustomed honour and Royalty and not as a man thus wasted and spoiled and to be rather gazed vppon then honourably entertained But what cloud soeuer hath darkned my present state yet haue the heauens and nature giuen me that in birth mind which none can vanquish or depriue me of I sée that my enemies make their triumphs the subiect of my miseries and in my calamity as in a myrour may bée beheld their owne glory yet let them know this that I am and was a prince furnished with strengh of men and abiliments of warre and what maruell is it if it be my chance to loose séeing experience teacheth that the euents of warre are variable and the successe of policy guided by vncertaine fates The desire of souerainty admits no limitation and if Duke Charles must command all then all must obey For mine own part whilst I am able I will make resistance and will bee vnwilling to submit my neck to a seruile yoake For so farre the law of nature alloweth euery man to defend himselfe and to withstand force by force This passion of the King filled the peoples hearts and eies with wonder and delight and with their best comfort and encouragement they promised their ioynt performances of duty Insomuch as the King did therewith attempt the taking of Wasten Castle But hee whom fortune had before striued to make vnfortunate did in this also faile and hath nothing left him to glory in that attempt but his lossé of men and of much expectation These crosse accidents sat néer the Kings heart who with much cares and trauells had wearled his spirits and greatly spent the strength both of himselfe and his people For whatsoeuer hee determined was not carried with any such secret or politike course but that by some meanes or other the Duke had some notice thereof and still apprehended his drifts For this was no sooner plotted but the Duke sends letters secretly to the Captain that he should not deliuer the Castle with his priuity The King lying in Linnekeeping sends fiue hundreth men secretly to surprise the Castle yet was the same able to defend it selfe as indéed it did and the Captaine therein performed the Dukes will and retainde his credit without impeaches of his valor QuestionmeÌ„t were made whether they might enter into the Castle in the kings name but a peremtory answere was returned that without mandatory letters from the Duke there was nothing there to be expected but resistance vpon this the kings mind was disquieted and a world of inward Conflictes encountred his cogitations as he stood doubtfully distract what he were best to doe at last as fire cannot he hid in straw nor the nature of man so concealed but that at last it will breake out and haue his course Soe fares it with the king who perceiuing his pleasure to be like Sicke-mens wills that are parall which hauing no hand nor seale are the lawes of a Citie written in dust and are broken with the blast of euery wind commanded that forthwith the Duke and all his adherents should bee proclaimed to stand in the state and nature of Traitors CHAP. VI. The Kings Armie and the Dukes ioyne Many on the Kings side slaine and taken prisoners IT Was not long before this newes of the Kings procéedings in this manner against the Duke was made knowne vnto him at which the Duke beganne to put on a furious countenance able to amaze any that made attempts against him and looking like Hercules when hee aduanâ—te himselfe against Achelaus he followes the King to Linnekeeping with all his power 〈◊〉 in a miâ—â—y morning the morrow before Michaâ—â—mas day ryses early calles his Souldiours togeather deuides his Army consisting of fiftéene thousand men into thrée seuerall bodies One Iames Hill an English mâ—◠〈◊〉 the leading of the first Captaine Scot being his Lieâ—â—â—â—â—nt â—ndreas Lemeston Leades the second the Duke himselfe with the thirty takes a wood within a mile of the Kinge lodging Here might you sée these thrée shine like thrée meteors in the firmament all in steele their Courtes were campes and none Courtâ—â—â—s but Souldiours Such effect did the fier of discention worke in the hearts of these Enimies Fortune turned the whéele of the Swethen and Polish state with vnsteady hand and had now almost brought it to the point she meant they should sit shee tooke her fauours from them Or rather to speake of a power that controules fortune and whose very finger throwes downe kingdomes to vtter confusion or holdes them vp in their greatnes whether the generall sinnes of the people deserued this or whether the people were punished for the particular faults of the Princes or for what other causes soeuer the rodd of vengeance was laide vpon these Nations It is in man to thinke vpon and feare but not to examine Yet sure it is that as fire catching hold at first but of some meane cottage in some end or corner of a City hath oftentimes ere the fury of it could bée put out swallowed vp in his flames the goodliest and most
beautifull buildings that stood euen farthest out of reach So did the Clouds of discention burst open thâ—ir vaines and let fall the poison of them on these seuerall kingdomes In the expedition of these warres one Lucas Righter vndertakes to performe the Dukes pleasure in the proclamation of his intended procéedings vnto the Kings Army which consisted of foure and twenty thousand men The tenor of the Dukes proclamation made knowne his greeuances which although it be not answered to expectation Yet Lucas Righter making his returne is royally rewarded by the Duke and appoinâ—ed that day to attend the Dukes person The next day following the mist breakes vp and Armies discouer one another A ryuer being betwixt the King and the Duke right thousand of the Kings Souldiers were appointed to make good the bridge Captaine Scot full of Courage and valour giues the Charge but receaues the ouerthrowe the like successe had Captaine Hill Andreas Lemerson seconds them and bides the Shock The Duke perceiuing this issues out of the wood alone hartens his Souldiers fills his ordinance wanting shot with pibbie stones and makes choice to encampe himselfe and his hoast euen on the top of a Hill naturally defenced from passage and if any were those hee stoppped vp with heapes of stones in manner of a Kampier neare the foote whereof ranne a Riuer with an vncertaine ford where a troope of his â—â—st Souldiours were set in order to receaue the Enemy and the more to animate the mindes of his men the leaders went about exhorting and encourageing the Souldiers taking all occasion of feare from them and putting them in hope with all inducements of warre And the Duke himselfe coursing hither and thither protested that that day should bee the full end of their misfortunes and the beginning of their happinesse or else his owne perpetuall seruitude and bondage The Souldiers vpon this shewde as great forwardnesse and as Ecchoes redoubled his wordes vowing neuer to yeeld eyther for woundes or for life which they were all ready to sacrifice in the cause of their Country which resolution appearde in the squadron of Captaine Hill who leading his Army mette the Enemy with such a showre of shot that many were slaine and many wounded Andreas Lemerson giues the second charge and that with so fierce an encounter that he seizeth vpon the enemies ordinance and turnes the same vpon them In this conflict the Kinges Army is discomfited eight thousand of them being slaine drowned and taken Prisoners Upon this sad successe the King being in the Castle of Linnekeeping calles a Parley The Duke vpon knowledge of the Kings pleasure is willing to entertaine it Messengers are sent enterchangeably and vpon hearing and debating the gréeuances one of another the conditions are agréed vpon the Duke to haue pardon for what was past and whereas hee had one of his aduersaries already in his custody it was likewise agréede that he should haue the other These deliuered into his hands being the fowre Commissioners that disturbed the peace of Swethen which was performed accordingly so as the Duke detaines them prisoners with their wines and children After this friendly coherence the Duke rides to the King with sixeteene of his men leauing charge notwithstanding with Lemerson that if hee returned not nor sent word to the contrary within halfe an howre hee should come to him with his whole Army The King and the Duke doe so well concord and agree as they dine together and are feasted very royally all matters are pacified on eyther side so as a Rex-day is appointed and it is determined that the King shall haue his owne the Duke his and the disturbers of the peace their due The King returneth to Steckborow to his Fléete the Duke to Carborowgh where the Dutches lay The Peace being thus concluded the Duke dismisseth his Souldiers and receiues Letters from the King â—hat hee purposed to passe into his Country with a thousand men and desires prouision for them The Duke receiues his message very kindly and returnes this answere to the King that if it pleased him hee should finde prouision for two thousand As this prouision was preparing Fernsbecke Duke of Liefland perswades the King to returne with his power to Poland and not to stand to the Articles of agreement but to renew the warre alleadging that he could neuer be absolute King of Swethen so long as D. Charles liued And this was the onely ground of the Ciuill warre that followed CHAP. VII The King returnes to Poland Duke Charles renues the warre against the King his Nephew winnes the City and Castle of Calmer and setleth the state of the Dukedome of Finland THe King hauing thus falsified his own promise and deceiued the Dukes expectation returned with all expedition into Poland landing at Danske with his Army leauing the Castle of Calmer and certaine other holds adioyning strongly manned and victualed for a yeare Duke Charles being much discontented with this vnkingly breach of his Nephewes promise knew now that it was no time to capitulate and that no solicitation nor any submissiue meanes would serue to appease the Kings anger and to reintegrate himselfe into his loue and good opinion called his chiefe friends about him to haue their aduise what was best to bee done in this weighty businesse They all agréede that if it were possible they should recouer the Castle of Calmer that winter and certaine other holds lately manned and victualed by the King whereupon the Duke with his Army marcheth to Greenekeeping a little City in Swethland where hauing certaine dayes rested and refreshed his Army he hasted to besiege the Castle of Calmer The City being indefensible yeelded vnto him at his first approach The Duke hauing made his entrance into the City deliuered sayre speeches to the Citizens the iust cause that was giuen him to renue the warre and that no ambitious desire or turbulent spirit of his owne drew him so violently to these actions of hostility but that he was full Master of his owne affections and the necessity of the time in the Kinges incensed hate against him did moue him to these Armes that being quoth he at the first but priuate betwixt him and the three Dukes his aduersaries that alwayes maligned his estate might very well without the generall disturbance of both kingdumes haue been ended long agoe and nexther hee helde guilty nor the land defiled with the shedding so much Polish and Swethish blood But sith the king had so vnkindly taken part with strangers against a kinsman and had so vnnaturally laid their treacherous plots against his loyalty nature and iustice were the faire protectors of his quarrels that should defend the equity of his cause against the mouth of enuy or any such calumnious tongues whatsoeuer The Citizens that alwayes affect peace rather then war looking into the condition of the disturbed States were much perpleed in mind and seuerally distracted in their opinions being vncertaine how to stand affected They knew that
the right and title was in the King but the power and authority in the Duke The king had the commaund of the Castle the Duke the possession of the City Their feare exceeded their distrust for both the Dukes Army that lay in the City committed many outrages notwithstanding the Dukes strict Proclamation and againe the ordinance of the Castle augmented their feare and if Hergusten Boner that commaunded the Castle had had his wil the Ordenance had béene bent against the Towne The Duke satisfying aswell as he could the feare of the Citizens beleaguers the Castle of Calmer there being a great mutiny within the Castle betwixt the Poles and the Swethians which serued excellently well for the Duke for Hergusten Boner that commaunded the Castle vnder the King agréede with the Poles to haue battered the City which the Swethean Souldiers resisted insomuch that from wordes they fell to blowes in which conflict the Swethens hauing the better tooke Hergusten Boner Prisoner together with all the Poles being to the number of thrée hundreth and knowing this Act to bee unanswerable to the King submitted themselues yeelded the Castle and gaue vp their Prisoners to Duke Charles The Duke gently entertaines al but Hergusten Boner his old enemy whome hee sent Prisoner to Greephollam where hee remaines to this day All the Poles hee sent new apparrelled with white staues in their hands fairely entreated to the King The Duke hauing thus fortunately recouered the City and Castle of Calmer did strongly Manne them both and comforting the Ditizens in the best manner he could with the rest of his Army marched into the Dukedome of Finland it being a part of Swethland bordering vpon Russia and there beleaguerd the Castle of Oua and in few dayes wanne it still fairely entreating the Kinges Souldiers which in all places wanne him great commendations hauing in short time quieted the Dukedome returned backe with his Army to Stockehollam where he rested the remainder of that winter Chap. VIII Duke Charles inuades the Dukedome of Liefland surpriseth most of the Townes and Castles of that country and is in a manner absolute possessor of the whole Dukedome DUke Charles knowing his principall aduersary with the King to bee Fernes beck Duke of Liefland which countrey notwithstanding it ioyneth with Swethland in law and language had neuerthe lesse a kind of absolute power and authoritie within it selfe thought it best to beginne the warre in that countrey that the eye of his aduersaries looking into his actions there the Kinges forces might not be bent against his owne countrey the peace whereof hee much desired and to this end in the beginning of the Sommer following hauing reinforced his Army Marched into the dukedome of Liefland The chiefe Citie whereof called Rauell yelded vnto him into the which he triumphantly entered The Cittizens themselues whether for feare of his power or loue of his person shewed such tokens of submissiue dutie that there little letted a Contestation of their allegiance Hauing there rested certaine daies he rayseth his Army and marcheth towards the Castle of Whettensten which in short time was yeelded vnto him From thence he came to the City of Perno which he likewise tooke in placing there a strong garrison He marched from thence to another strong Citie called Durpe and in fiue daies forced the Towne fiue hundreth Polish Souldiours within the Towne submitted vnto him with tender of their seruice whom he gently intreated entertained They euer after seruing him in all his wars very faithully The Lieflanders themselues noting the gentle behauiour of Duke Charles wisht in their hearts all good successe vnto him though they durst not shew it outwardly forfeare of their Lordes displeasure who in his rule bare euer such a rough hand ouer them that hee séemed a Tirant or an vniust Usurper rather then an honorable gouernour or a naturall prince Duke Fernesbeck hauing some intelligence of the sodaine inuasion of his countrey raiseth with all the hast hee could all the powers hee could make being constituted by the King Generall of his warres and within a few daies landed in Liefland whereof Duke Charles hauing vnderstanding and fearing to be preuented sent very secretly and spéedily fifteene hundreth souldiours vnder the command of coronell Hill to surprise the citie of Venden but I know not how the plot being discouered and Ambuscadoes laide in the way by Fernesbeck they were sodainly charged and being weary and faint through a long marche were soone ouerthrowne and slame only the Coronell with seauenteene of his fellowers the poore remaine of so many hundreds making way with the sword through the fury of the Enemy did wounderously escape bringing this sadnewes backe to their Lord. The Duke though it somewhat troubled him yet shewed no signe either of feare or sorrow but hartned on his souldiours to the reuenge of their fellowes deaths There was nothing that aduantaged him more then his Celeritie in all his attempts for whensoeuer any aduantage was proffered hee would neuer pretermitte the least occasion Duke Charles vpon the newes of this ouerthrow vnderstanding of new succours shortly to come out of Poland in the aide of Fernesbeck sodainly raiseth his Army his Enimies supposing that the late ouerthrow had much quaild his courage and nothing lesse suspecting then what he intēded marcheth with all spéed to the Citie of Venden into which Duke Fernesbeck but two daies before had made his triumphant entrance The march was so speedily and secretly made that they of the Towne vnderstood not of his remooue from Durpe till they saw him with his Army before the walls of Venden Ferns-beck staying within the Towne euery hower looking for his new supplies when he saw himselfe thus vnlookt for confronted by the Duke and his Army stood so amazed that a long time he was in doubt what it were best to doe At last made a shew of resistance of the Enemy and defence of the Towne till the approach of the night following In which time he deuised such a plot that vtterly lost his honor and the Loue of all his friends within his Dukedome For in the beginning of the night hauing throughly instructed his Commanders and followers what hee meant to doe No Townesman supposing what he purposed made an absolute spoile of the Towne ransacking euery mans house and carying away their plate money and iewels flyes closely away and leaues the Towne abandoned Duke Charles had sodaine intelligence hereof and with all hast pursues him and in the way he takes certaine of Fernesbeckes Espials whome hauing threatened was by them conducted to the place where Duke Fernbecke that night encamped and hauing giuen the charge to Coronell Hill that was desirous to reuenge himselfe of his late ouerthrow sodainely set vpon them being at rest slew the most part of them recouers the goods taken a little before so violently and dishonourably out of the City Fernsbecke himselfe with a few of his followers hardly escaping Duke Charles hauing thus