Imperiall spoyling bands Sic Ars deluditur arte This purchase was but the attendant to Banniers glorious victory if the beginning of the day of battell and the defeate of the Saxons armies might terminate his Conquest but a concomitant and of no younger birth if we take the Swedish Generalls glory not in the blossome but full perfection The Field-Marshall ended his designe upon Gertz Preperations for a battaile September 30. October 10. upon which day the Generall Major Stalhause returned to the Swedish campe at Witstocke if not overburthened yet loaden with the spoyles of the flying enemy An happy day it was to the Swedes and to be recorded to the remembrance of them of that Nation which are to come The Proscaenia of the Play was skilfully and subtilly laid on both sides the Imperiall and Saxon Armies took all before them Bannier giving the storme leave to spend it selfe yet omitting no opportunity which might be for his advantage Havelsberg taken by the Saxons And Werben surrendred by the Swedes The City of Havelsberg sited where the Havel looseth his name in the more famous streame of the Elve and the Castle too were taken by the united Imperial and Saxon armies from the Swedes upon their March the strong Fort of Werben on the other side of the River became theirs also by right of conquest yet neither of these was assured them for tearmes of yeares nor scarce of dayes a short lived conquest it was and soone extorted from them by the Swedes The story is deliverered from all hands thus The Swedish Generalll Bannier re-enforced with the bands of men under the Field-Marshall Lesle the Generall Majors Stalhanse and Vitzthumb who the last yeare commanded in Franckford upon the Maine according to the order from Stockholme before mentioned intending to draw the Imperiall and Saxon Armies to a pitcht battell to omit other his severall ineampings and discampings remooved from Parcheim September 13.23 attended with his whole army and came to Perlerberg where the united forces of his enemies were well and strongly entrenched Bannnier martcheth after the Saxon Army thinking that their late victories gotten by them on both sides the Elve would have encouraged them to have put their Armies in Battel aray against him who ceased not to out-brave them too by many affronts and offers of skirmishes to the same intention But the wary Hatzfield Morazini and the Saxon Armies not being to be allured out of their hold by hopes of uncertaine glory by a doubtfull fight in open field lay still and would not permit their Souldiers to stirre out of their workes commanding onely that they should stand ready within their earthen walls to entertaine the Swedes if they should assault them Bannier seeing this project faild ranged his Forces into an orderly body Retaketh Havelsberg and marched in the sight of his enemies towards Havelberg and Werben the first of which by the indiscretion of the Garrison was forced to submit to his discretion for mistaking the Sweds for their confederates and not supposing them to have had the way open for their march thitherward they let them come to the very Walls of the City and Castle where at once the Garrison having discovered their persons and their strength found it vaine to stand out and surrendred the Towne and Fort to their mercy Havelsberg thus surprized the Swedish Generall plyed Werben so close with his approaches and batteries that by the judgement of his Counsaile of Warre it was not to be questioned but that hee had carryed it within the space of 24 houres Besiegeth Werben but leaveth the siege upon new Avisoes had hee continued his siege which left for the present not unadvisedly nor doubting of suecesse but upon a wise deliberation projecting a better gaine and more glory else-where than could be got by that petit victory deferring onely in the meane time that pursuit and concluding to perfect it afterwards Advisoes and certaine too were brought him that the Elector of Saxony Marazini and Hartzfield were risen from their trenches at Perlerberg Septemb. 19.29 and marched towards Pritzwald with an intention to goe to Witstocke and thence to goe over the Havel at Zedenick And the Swede to give them as little rest as might be thereon left the siege at Werben and pursuing the enemy at the heeles made head toward the Campe of the Imperialists and Saxons by the way of Westerhousen That which is apparantly evill to the eye of humane reason by the wisedome of Divine providence often proves a blessing and of happy consequence Such was the prize of Brandenburg by the Saxon Klitzing the Swedes esteemed it no small losse the Saxons no little advantage but the losse of the Towne was gaine to the Swedish army and the prize thereof by Klitzing was in probability the ruine of the Imperiall and Saxon armies The passage of Zedenick secured The passage at Zedenick might have served as a posterne for Klitzing to have come with his forces upon the backe of the Swedes had it beene left open for him so much was Bannier accquainted with by the late Commander in Brandenburg who was instantly commanded by the Generall to-make good that passage with those old souldiers which were conducted from Brandenburg to Rupin against the excursions of the Campe at Witstocke or in roads of Klitzings Army which he did accordingly How many severall changes are there in one Military Dance All these preparations were to meete with the Electors and Hatzfields armies in open field upon their Martch and now suddenly a Currier poasted to the Swedish Campe with new avisoes that the enemies were strongly incamped neare Witstock having the City on the one side to defend them the Cloyster or Monastery called the Holy Sepulchre situate upon a Mountaine called Sherpen Hill fortified 16. redoubts on the other side under which stood their Battaglie ranged for fight and a Forrest behinde them serving as a Countermure for their safety The newes somewhat perplexed the Swede as falling out contrary to his expectation yet altered not his resolution A purpose he had to give them battell and though the misfortune of his confederates at Nordlingen fighting against the Imperiall Army upon the like disadvantage A Counsaile of war called and common reason did disswade him from it yet all this could not change his determination he had ingaged himselfe so farre by his faith to the Crowne of Sweden that he would not now recede one title from the resolve Valour is most apparant when the Danger is imminent either an honourable grave or glorious conquest were the things he aimed at neither of these were in his owne election and he referred him selfe to the fortune of the day for either And yet as his great heart could not entertaine timidity so his fore-casting spirit avoyded temerity hee would not presume upon his owne wisedome though the commands of a Generall bee not to be controverted by the
inferiour Officers but called first a counsaile of Warre where he discovered the state of his owne army and conjectured at that of the enemy whose often avoydings and tergiuersations from proffered Battell were tokens sayd he of timerous soules or weake bodies unable to grapple with his forces and the covnsaile as one man crying out Let us goe on and assault them in their trenches he put his project into practice One impediment there was which might have stopped him in his speedy March if it had not beene remooved a narrow way at Fresdorpe through which the Army and the luggage must necessarily passe and that guarded too by some Imperiall companies The enemy was not so terrible as the streightnesse of the way for he beate the guard away immediately upon his first arrivall and cleared it of them but both the sides of it being Moorasse The passage at Fresdorpe eleared he was constrained to guard it from the Sunne-setting of the third of October new stile with one thousand Musquetiers under the leading of Colonell Gunne and two Regiments of Horse whilst the maine body of his Army was passed through it till about noone the next day ensuing That day he appeared in the view of the Imperiall and Saxon armies and his appearance caused them to change their postures the Intantry being drawne up to the Hill toppe neare the Artillery and their Cavallary placed on both sides of it the out most skirt of it being fortified with the Waggons Bannier ordered his army for assault accordingly the forme whereof may be evidently seene in the Map annexed and leaving the avantguard of his right wing The Swedish army appeares before the Sax ons at Witstock consisting of sixe hundred Musquetiers Life-landers and Curlanders and sixe squadrons of reformed troopes drawne out of the Regiments of Duke Henry Francis of Saxon Lawenberg the Colonels Crakaw and Slang and the Sarjeant Major Giese under the command of Collonell Gun he himselfe followed in person to charge the left wing of the Imperiall and Saxon armies with his battalia consisting of eight Brigads Pikes and Musquetiers whilst the left Wing of his Army under the commands of the Field-marshall Lesle and Stalhans wheeled about through the Forrest to assault the right wing of the enemy Both parts prepared to fight their souldiers were made discernable to the eare and eye of their friends and foes by private instructions The Swedes word of Battell being The battels joyne God with us and the Imperialls and Saxons God willing and severall colours as remonstrances under whom they fought the Swedes wearing greene Ribbands about their armes and the Saxons white Ribbands some with hand-kerchtrs upon their hats The Swedish Cavallery was lyned with Musquetiers and that devise was of no small effect to the obtaining of the victory Gun came on bravely and with his avantguard maintained the battell in an equall balance by the space of two houres beating off eight severall charges made upon him by the enemy in that short space and then himselfe wound and his Troopes wearied began to recoyle to the great joy of the Saxons who assured themselues instantly of Victory and proclaimed it by two Trumpets through the Armie But the fight was as yet scarce begunne The Generall Banniere The order of the fight having placed his Canon with all advantages to play upon the Campe came in to the rescue of his weary avant-Guard with his Brigades after some charges given began to make them breake their rancks the Field-Marshall Lese and Stalhans having brought about the left wing through the Forrest in the meane time Long doubtfull and therewith at the same time so charging Hatzfeldt who led the right wing of the Saxon Armie that the scale began to turne and the silver wings of Victory might be discerned to hover over the Swedish Army It was hard fought on both sides the Elector of Saxony using all the Rhetorick hee could to encourage his Souldiers with remembrance of the condition of those men against whom they fought and the faire advantages which they had gotten in his short time of Battell the Ordnance on both sides vomiting out their fiery bullets whilest the Generalls were speaking and the swords of the Military men being brandished as nimbly as the Commanders words By this a Swedish Reserve of 4. Brigades under the Command of the Generall Major Verdun The victory falleth to the Swedes which served as the Arneri gnard to the left wing was joyned to the Rield-Marshall Lesle and Stalhans and their apparition proved so formidable to the Saxons which feared a cōtinuail sipply of fresh enemies that they betook themselves insta tly to a consused flight though the Elector with teares in vaine disswaded them from it that confusion concluded the battell almost the whole Camp being therby exposed to the fury of the Swedes to be put to the sword or mercy in sparing of life and making them Prisoners of warre It was a glorious victory but purchased deerely with the lives of 1000 Swedes The victory was got with blood and up wards amongst which were many men well deserving but some offpeciall note by name the Colonells Berghawer and Conigham the Lieutenant Colonell to Francis Henry of Saxon Lawenburg and three others of that order here unnamed and sundry Ritt-masters Captaines and under Officers The Colonelle Crakaw Linse and Gun were wounded but not mortally and either the joyfull newes of victory made them lesse sensible of their wounds then they should have beene otherwise or they were not wounded dangerously The Sweedish Generalls escaped shot-free but 2 of the Imperialls chiese Commanders were slaine out-right The two Generall Majors Wilsdorp Goltz and Marazini himselfe was said deadly wounded and 5. Colonells slaine whereof three are particularized by name Wildberger young Hottzfeldt and Kunigell besides Rit-Masters Captaines and Officers who were accompanied in their deaths by 7000 of their partners in Armes Common men slaine upon the place of battell and attended with many other The numbers of the slaine which fell by the swords of the Swedes in the prosecution The present losse was it not expressed particularly as it is could not be accounted lesse then 6 whole Regiments viz. Coloredoes Wendensales Walsteins the Goltz Eracts and Pappenheims being totally ruined and the forces under the Generall Major Dehne the two Countts of Talkenstein Wil be Winse and Wilbrecht being not to be supposed to have escaped their share of that misfortune their Commanders being desperately wounded The principall Check fell upon the Insantry the horsmen following the Example of the Elector who seeing the battell lost The victory prosecuted spurred away to Werben accompanied onely with 50 Cavalieres and there passing the Elve made haste towards Wittenberg to save themselues by flight and yet slaughter overtooke them as they were flying Stalhanse was sent to pursue them with 6000 horse and he returned not from execution till 3 dayes after and
Numb 1. THE PRINCIPALL PASSAGES OF GERMANY ITALY FRANCE and other places for these last sixe Moneths past Historically reduced to time place and action till the end of the yeare 1636 according to the Forraine Computation In which short space you will finde much variety of matter and no small alteration amongst Princes All faithfully taken out of good originals by an English Mercury LONDON Printed for Nath. Butter and Nicholas Bourne February the sixt 1636. To the Readers READERS I here present you not with Newes snatcht from the mouthes of every pratling Athenian but Historie confirmed by authenticall persons of good credit and that too not spunne out to a volume but digested into a compendious forme that it might serve as a conditure to your more serious imployments and neither hinder them nor cloy your attentions in the pervsing Scrinia de magnis me manus una capit I have not studied to please any particular persons Martial lib. â— epig. 4. by complying with the fancies of such as desire to have every action of that partie which they affect best varnished over with glaring colours of commendations and the designes of the other slubbered with ignominie what you read here are resfactae non fictae and where any thing is doubtfull or relisheth of untruth I have not spared to note the first Inventors The Papers were first intended for your use and now come to tender you their personall service Let me obtaine for them a favourable entertainment without any mis-construction or malignant interpretation Improbe facit qui in libro alieno ingeniosus est So shall you encourage me to goe on to a new discoverie of what is not yet come to your publike knowledge and that speedily Farewell N. C. The Contents THE principall passages of Upper Germany Chap. 1. The passages of Italy and Provence Chap. 2. The passages of Picardy and of the Card. Infanta there Chap. 3. The passages of Burgundie and the French County Chap. 4. The passages of the Nether-lands Chap. 5. The Passages in vpper GERMANY NAturall reason though it may apprehend much by way of composition and division yet in contingent Futures such as are the issues of warre it can onely conclude probably never demonstrate scientifically The sword a faithfull Minister to it's supreame Commander will not returne to sheath it selfe what ever man can project to hinder it till recalled from making slaughter by him which first gave it Commission The Elector of Saxony having concluded a Peace with Caesar the yeere last past conceived withall that both his Dukedome and the whole Empire should enjoy a firme universall Peace and be no longer plundered by any either intestine or forraine Broyles But this hope was of no continuance the Conditions of the Treaty were distasted by the Crowne of Sweden the Lantgrave of Hessen Cassell Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymer and some other Princes of the Empire and the Electors confederacy with the house of Austria was the Procreatresse of the Swedes hostility with him The Marquesse Elector of Brandenburg and the Duke of Lunenburg stood a while as Neutralls ceasing from doing offence either to the Imperiall or Swedish party till by the instigation of the Duke of Saxon they at last came in and bore Armes against their late friends and confederates whose powerfull alliance had preserved these three Princes especially from utter ruine by the Caesarean Armies Magdenburg a City famous of late by her miseries was the first city of importance or note against which the Saxons and Imperialists marched The city was defended valiantly by the Swedes within it Magdenburg surrendred by the Swedes to the Saxons for the space of sixe moneths siege and then their expected succours out of Swedland fayling being hindered by a contrary wind after that by divers sallyes they had slaine many of their enemies much weakned the two puissent armies which besieged it fortified their Fort at Werben for their more convenient continuance of the warre in Saxony and the march Brandenburg upon the supplications of the distressed inhabitants rendered it to the Saxons Iuly 4 14 upon good tearmes and advantagious conditions and marched out with their armes and baggage and two peeces of great Ordnance The Swedish garison was conducted to Werben and three Saxon Regiments were immediately laid into the city the inhabitants utterly refusing to admit any Imperiall Praesidiaries The losse of this city was some prejudice to the Swedish proceedings yet their stout Commanders who were resolved to forge out their owne fortunes or perish with their armies held on play still sometimes getting and sometimes loosing till the the maine Rest at Witstock being wonne againe advanced their cause more then this losse had slackned it The Lantgrave of Hessen who alwayes before suspected the Treaty of Prague and preferred a just war before a perilous and dishonourable Peace at this time giving care to tearmes of Peace lost almost his whole countrey before he was aware of it The Imperiall army under Goetz Grava Gleere and other Chieftaines did not doe him so much damage when he stood upon his guard as did his owne security He had beene often perswaded by the Elector of Saxony the Duke of Brunswicke and the Marquesse of Dormstat to entertaine the Articles concluded at Prague yet could not be induced thereunto The Bishop of Witzburg in the end sent his Agent to the same effect who not prevailing for the Maine put in for the Bye a cessation from Armes for the space of three weekes betwixt his and the Imperiall Forces whilest the Emperour might be wrought to condescend to such propositions as he desired During the time which he appeared in the Field with his armies he not onely preserved the Lantgrave from the fury of the Caesareans but joyning his Forces with those Swedish troopes under our brave Countreyman the Field-Marshall Lesle whose merit and memory for that and other his valiant atchieuements will live to after ages though the circumstances of that particular come not within the verge of this concise History sheltered also his friends and confederates from the storme which threatned them Hanaw a city in the Weterawe and nursery of the Evangelicall Religion Hanaw relieved by the Lantgraue and the Field-Marshall Lesle and the siege raised was straitly beleaguerd by foure severall Imperiall armies and he by the military skill of Ramsey the Governour a man of whom we may glory in that his actions there spoke him a true Brittane and no stranger to our English Orbe defended from the insulting Enemy which breathed out threatnings against it and had promised himselfe a glorious victory till the contagion within had deprived him of the one halfe and more of his fellow defendants and the Imperiall armies without supplyed dayly with fresh men made him not despaire of reliefe but expect it from abroad In the height of this necessity the Lantgrave having joyned his forces with the Field-Marshal Lesle put in to succour him
to the season of the weather The beginning of this Summer was attended with a cleare sky no clouds appeared to promise an after raine yet suddenly the surface of the Aiery element was changed and water distilled more plentifully from above than was expected and sometimes so impetuously that the people made it a question whether was more prejudiciall to the fruites of the earth the late long drought or those violent currents of water which fell from above His Majesty of Denmarke had laboured much to establish a peace in the Empire and no enemy appearing so openly against the Imperiall party as the Crown of Sweden by consent of Caesar a supposed Commission was delivered to the Elector of Saxony to treate with that Nation at Lubeck in the particular The opening of the sealed Escript discovered what the Swedes had before conjectured Iuly 5 15. The agents for both parties met and the Letters then broken up restrained the Electour from attempting any thing which might prejudice the Empire or the Imperiall dignity but to search out all wayes and meanes how by force the Swedes might be compelled to depart from Germany Oxenstierne the Grand Chancellor of Sweden stood awhile aghast at this unlooked for amazement Oxensterne embarkes for Sweden and first complayning to his Majesty of Denmarke of the affront offered to the Queene his Lady their Soveraigne resolved in the end to post homeward that he might advise with the Diet then assembled at Stockholme for a farther course of pursuing or ceasing from the warre leaving order in the interim with the Generall Banniere to maintaine the glory of the Swedish Nation and to stand in defierce of Cesar and his adherents It is no small advantage to be aforehand the gaining of a place of importance from a professed foe may stumble him in the way though not divert him from his dissigne Vltzen a City of no great compasse Vltzen taken by the General Banniere but of some consequence did first present it selfe to his fancy the Imperiall Allyes held it and the Swedes intending to take it in the beginning of August sate downe before it and upon the 9 10 of the same month brought it to yeeld upon composition Thence hee marched to Lumenburg accompanied and re-enforced by the Field-Marshall Lesle summoned it and his conditions being rejected by the Senate and the same night made his aproaches to the very Moate of the city though with some losse of his officers and souldiers and constrained it to an unwelcome Composition the tearmes were these That the Gattenberg should bee delivered to the Swedes and that the City should receive a garrison and Commander Both which particulars were obtained and the Swedish Goetz was accepted the next day after for their Governour Thence the Generall Banniere conducted his Armies to the Fort of Winsen seated upon the Elve and tooke it the next day by a stratagem And the Fort at Winsen intending first to cleere the river as being more convenient for his de signes then the firme land this Relation is written from Lunenberg the Sceane of this designe and the particulars expressed so precisely make the story credible and this Fort he being master of immediately rather by policy then power marched thence toward Havelberg and Werben to prevent the Saxon and Imperiall Armies which were then laying of Bridges over the Elve intending to make an invasion into the Dukedome of Meckleburg The time to decide the controversie betwixt them with the sword was not yet come Neere Werben the Swedish Army was encamped where not expecting an Enemy so suddenly the Swedes kept not the strict watch they used to doe the Generall himselfe taking his recreation and his absence though not authorizing the Officers to leave their places of charge yet ministring occasion of a perfunctory care was neere to have brought the Swedes to confusion The Duke of Saxony having received a Commission from the Emperour though limited was many Conditions the 13. 23. of the same month was at Magdenburg in person taking an oath of allegiance from the Magistrate there to himselfe as to the Generalissimo at which time being certified by his spies of the Swedes posture he immediately sent the Collonel Vnger against them with two Regiments One of the Swedes quarters raised at Werben by the Col. Vngar and Banniere like to haue beene surprized who arriving at the Campe before the Swedes could well Arme raised one of the quarters slew some few of the Souldiers and had neare surprised Banniere himselfe who was abroad at hunting with his late marryed wife But the Swedes were soone armed and in the end chased away the Saxon Commander and the same day encountried with a company of Imperiall Bragoones whom they tooke prisoners and convayed them to Brandenburg Goetz the Caesarean Field-Marshall in the time of this preparation had leasure to pursue his Conquests in Hessen-land and marched thence into Westphalia where Paderborn a City yerst in the Imperial now in the Hasseans hands presented it selfe as an object either of his Conquest or disgrace if he tooke it not in It was a Bishops See and a good one too the King of Sweden gloried that he had brought it under his government and the Imperiall Commander in fine esteemed it as a piece worthy of a siege He summoned it and the Hassean Garrison fifteene companies strong returned shot for words to the great vexation of the Field-Marshall who instantly rounded it with his Army and after nine hundred Canons shot and foure assaults compelled the Garrison to yeeld upon his mercy Paderborne surrendred to Goetz And the Garrison consisted of eight hundred men under the command of the Collonel Girse Collonel of the white Regiment who was detained Prisoner the Captaines set at liberty and the inferiour Officers and Souldiers compelled to attend the victorious Field-Marshals colours Melander and Generall major Beckerman were then at Hamme with eight hundred Horse but unable to relieve their confederates stood rather as spectators and attendants upon the issue than forward assistants to relieve them and hearing of the fate of the City dismarched thence to Dorstmund in Westphalia giving way to their enemies to march on toward Osnabrug where they expected but found not the like successe Osnabrug was both well manned and fortified and Goetz fearing that if he should besiege it Goetz onely appearing before Osnabrugge and dis-marcheth presently to Zoest which is fired and surrendred he should lose time and waste his Army onely looked upon it and returned toward Hessen-land and in the beginning of September summoned Zoest a small City upon the River Lippe which refusing to yeeld to his words the eighth of the same moneth by his Army was besieged and the 9.19 almost hurnt to the ground by the Granadoes cast out of the Campe the Wilde fire taking hold of some thatched houses whereof there were many in the towne and their contiguity to the others dispersing the devouring
then naving left the way strewed with dead Corps from Witstocke even to Werben almost as many being slaine upon the way of the flight as upon the place of battell he came backe to the Campe with 1500 prisoners and 30 Coronets and 5 Ensignes of Dragoones which being added to the Ensignes gamed in the field made up the number of 143 Coronets and Enngnes besides those which still remained in the hands of private men and were not then brought in to the Generall who proclaimed a reward to every one that should bring in his private attchievement to make his conquest more ilustrious The Elector Hasfeldt and they which escaped saved their persons onely but left their Canon The spoyles taken from the Saxons by the Swedes 41 in number and their baggage to the Conquerour the Electors owne Waggons loaden with the glorious title and rich moveables of his Chancery the titles not recorded by the quill in partehment buting raven in rich mettals his instruments of hunting his plate in generall and that famous great silver Bowle wherein he used to carouse to his best friends and the baggage of the whole army became lawfull prize to the Swedes with 8000 Waggons whereon it was mounted to the enuching not of the souldiers onely but the very boyes of the Swedish army Three dayes were spent by the Swede after hisvictory partly in piety partly in polity yet piety proceeded and polity followedas the Hand-maid First hee assembled his companies to give thankes to him who had covered their heads in the day of battell Thanksgiving for the victory and blessed the enterprize with so good and great successe singing te Deum after their manner and supplying the want of Organs other Church musicke with Drums Fifes Trumpets Canonadoes and Musqutadoes intermingled not to the disturbing of the fouldiers devotion but the raysing of their spirits who reioyced that they had now oportunity to spend their powder in triumph not in an uncertaine fight against the enemy Thanksgiving done The dead buryed hee tooke order for the buriall of the dead as well for foes as friends a worke of difficultie their bodies being scattered in sundry places in great multitudes and the Boores which should have assisted to their interment being fled for feare not knowing how either party if he proved victor might deale with them yet this taske was performed too And then the Generall taking a view of his Army not so much decreased in number by the fight as increased by thousands of prisoners who offered themselves to his service he found 1500 yet which were not come in to his party amongst which were 170 Officers And a new muster made of the Army with some expressions of Court-ship to the prisoners and 146 women of quality wives to the Caeserean and Saxon Colonels and their officers The deiected countenances of the women expressing sorrow partly in regard of their present estates and partly for the losse or imprisonment of their bosome friends moved him to compassion and he to sweeten their captivite and the rigour of his Armes and to cheare up these disconsolate spirits made them a feast neere Witstock in the middle of a great plaine for the distinction of the services intermitting three severall vollies of Canonadoes from the great Artillery which hee had gotten in the battell And the feast ended he first disposed of his prisoners males and females sent the gained artillery down the Elve by shipping Bannier taketh Werben upon discretioÌ„ with the Electors plate which fell to his share as the baggage lately belonging to Hazfeld was then in Lisles possession and Maracinies in the hands of Stalhanse as a present to the Queen of Sweden and afterwards marched first with his Armie against the Fort at Werben intending to go forward but first to have all safe behinde him And this Fort he took October 13.23 forcing the Garrison to submit upon discretion And after having fortified it for the Crowne of Sweden drew his Army over the Elve on that side towards Halberstadt amusing for a short time the Saxons and their confederates sometimes seeming to looke towards Saltzwedell as if he intended towards the countrey of Lunengburgh Sometimes towards the Earldome of Mansfieldt alwayes intending to goe to Misuda and Thuringen which in fine he did and thither though the history now cannot it shall follow him hereafter The Sconce at Werben being thus possessed againe by the Swedes the Saxon Garrisons at Ratenaw and Brandenburg seeing their late co-partners forced to serve under Bannier Brandenburgh and Ratenaw forsaken by the Saxons Garrisond by the Swedes knowing themselves too weak to make any resistance if he should cast a bank against them and without hope of succour though they might be able to hold out for a season willingly forsooke the places of which they were appoynted guardians and left them to the Swedes administration who furnished Brandenburg with 600 presidiaries and Ratenaw with 250. whilst the Swedish Colonel Geyse marched towards Berlin happened first upon three hundred Brandenburgish souldiers on the way surprized them and put as many of them as would not serue the Swede to the sword At Wolgast and Gripstald in the meane time arived 3500 fresh men out of Sweden able men to the eye and yet they proved better souldiers than was expected being joyned to Wrangels flying army which with this accrewt supplyed from Sweden with Armour Canon Wrangel souldereth the Vekker-marke Powder Match and the like materials of War being now growne 12000 strong by the end of October cleered the Oder from Frankford downeward to the joy of the Stetineers who saw the adjacent Countrey incumbred no more with the Imperialists and found the wayes open againe to Daâ—tzick and Rostocke the chiefest Cities of their Commerce invaded the marke Brandenburg inforced the Towne of Barlen to a contribution of 30000. Rix-Dollers which was payed part in ready money part in merchants wares brought the whole Veker-mark to the Swedes obedience and drew from thence 26000 Rix-dollers to preserve it from pillage confiscated lands the goods belonging to the Count of Stwarzenburgh tooke an oath of fealty of the subjects in his owne name affirming the Countrey to be given him by the Crowne of Sweden and thence marched against Land bergen to surround it with his army projecting a future designe in Silesia where some of the peeres falling off from the Saxon and weary of the Caesareans waited for his comming not as enemies to oppose him but friends to assist him so fearefull were the neighbouring principalities of the Swedes power and ready to comply with the Conqueror The Elector of Saxony who October 7.17 was come to Lipsech and Hazfeld who arrived about the same time at Halsberstadt prepared in the meane time to rally their forces but were not so quicke it as they supposed they might have beene Of all their late army 3000 men onely The Elector prepares to
principall procurator for the Imperiall and Spanish Armies to forbeare and cease committing such outrages as they dayly did in the Dukedome of Parma though the Prince had joyned with the Christian King The Cardinal of Savoy relinquisheth the Comprotection of France and adhereth to Caesar his Countrey being a Fee appendant to the Church of which said he I have the tuition But in fine the French Advocate the Savoyard Cardinall wonne with large promises the King of Spaine offering to confirme unto him 40000. crownes of yearely revenew in Church living and a pension of twenty five thousand Crowns if he would relinquish the King of France and adhere to Caesar he accepted the proposition to the incredible joy of the Spanish and displeasure of the French not so much for his losse as his disloyalty A golden cosse-way pleaseth the eye though the pavement is not of sure footing Philip of Macedon by this false light bleared the sight of the Graecians and the Iberian King Philip made the same Minerall Sunne to dazell the eyes of this great Cardinall who as the French both at home and abroad at Rome relate it not regarding the sleights which the Spaniard put upon the deceased Cardinall Oâ—sino once Comprotectour of France but taken off in the end by the like allurements from the Christian King to serve the Catholike turned away his principall servants best acquainted with his French negotiations his late Secretary and Auditor ceised upon their writings and accounts whilest they were walking upon the banks of Tyber for their recreation forbad them his house and as quite eloigned from the King of France pulled downe the Flower de-Luces which the day before garnished his gates and at night set up in their stead the Armes of the Pope the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Hungarie This project was intended further then the gaining onely of the Cardinall who might promote the French affaires in the Consistory and could doe no more the Duke of Savoyes Armes in the field joyned with Criqui and the Parmesan were more to be suspected then the Cardinall of Savoyes words in the Counsell and the maine aime of the devise was to take off the Duke by the meanes of his brother the Cardinall The Spanish polity in gaining the Cardinall but the Spanish Artillery could not reach so farre the shaft fell some bowes short the Embassadour of Savoy then at Rome received the Secretary and Auditour into his house though the Cardinall had casheered them and the Duke of Savoy himselfe with as much zeale as ever doth yet prosecute the warre in Italy neither sparing his owne personall paines as being Generallissimo of the confederate Armies nor purse in making necessary provisions of warre to secure his owne men and offend the enemy Had the Cardinall stood firme to France yet his negotiation in the consistory could not have proved so prejudicious to the Imperiall and Spanish States as the mutiny of some malecontents and the appearance of the Galleys of Bizerta a port towne of the Kingdome of Tunis upon the coast of Italy were formidable to the Catholike Kings subjects in his Kingdome of Naples The Histories are thus reported The Count of Monterey Viceroy of Naples A mutiny in the kingdome of Naples zealous for preservation of his authority and the dignity whereunto he was advanced offended with an Ensigne of his Guard which let fall his colours upon the arrivall of the Duke of Medina de las Torres who came to visit the Viceroy at his Palace Iuly 6. new stile that ceremony of honourable observance being usually exhibited to none but the Kings Vice-gerent imprisoned the Ensigne with his Serjeant Major and casheerd the Captain of the company The Duke conceiving that the Viceroys sentence against those officers of his guard trencht on his honour his esteeme of the people might suffer some prejudice if he did not beare up and carry himselfe like a Grandee immediately thereupon provided his Caroch to be drawne with 6 Horses and rode in the state of a Viceroy through the streets of Naples to the discontent of the Count that being the proper garbe of the prorex and permitted to no other who first sent his monitory letters to the Duke forbidding him to appeare so magnificently and those not prevailing commanded him immediately to depart the Kingdome and returne to Spaine His order was obeyed by the Duke whose dismission wrought severally on the fancies of the Friends and Allies of the young Princesse of Stigliano lately married to the Spanish Duke each of them according to the capacity of their judgements projecting how to be avenged of the Viceroy The old Princesse Mother to the Dutchesse in melancholy betooke her to a Cloister and bequeathed all her goods money plate and Iewells after her decease to the Church of S. Peter at Rome The young Gallants of the Dutchesses Family tooke up Armes drew many of the Commons already offended with the Count for his government which they supposed to be somewhat tyrannicall and the heavy impositions which by reason of the present occasion were not unnecessarily laid upon them to their party elected the Duke of Matalona one of the Peeres of the Kingdome for their Chieftaine and had gone further to the plundering of the Spanish Families dispersed in the Kingdome had not the Cardinall Aldobrandino a popular man Appeased by the Cardinall Aldobrandino and Vnckle to the Dutchesse by the Mothers side interposed himselfe and disswaded the hot-spurrs from such a rebellious insurrection promising to write to the King of Spaine in the behalfe of his grieved Neece and the State and giving them an assurance of a gracious answer prevailed so farre that they laid downe their armes and write he did but received this onely summary answer from his Majesty that he was ignorant of the marriage of the Princesse with the Duke and that the necessity of his affaires so requiring it He could not alter the courses of his Viceroy in that Realme Yet in the end the Catholike K. moved with the importunate complaints of the Friends and Allyes of the Princes and willing to compose the differences which the Dukes absence had caused returnes the Duke to Naples in the beginning of September with letters to the Viceroy to permit him his state and dispatched soone after him the Marquesse D Alcaniza with a commission to establish the Duke of Medina Viceroy of Sicilie The Duke thus authorized shewed his state Quite settled by the King of Spaine riding to the Court at Naples in a Caroch of blacke Velvet imbroydered with gold and drawne with sixe Horses and the Princesse his Wife being carried in a stately Sedan in the like equipage yet with this devise in thankefulnesse to his Majesty Philippi Quarti Munificentia Before the returne of the Kings answer the Mutineers grew cold laid downe their Armes and returned to their severall dwellings to the joy of the Neapolitane Court as being past feare of that
upon their companion which was onely busied in discharging her burden of Sea-men and Souldiers into the other bottomes fearing lest they should perish with the vessell And now the fight began betwixt the two Navies The first those in the Baye though unable to stirre were not altogether unserviceable to their confederates abroad at Sea the Spanish Fleete was betwixt both and did both gall them both and was galled on both sides Three hours the combate lasted doubtfull till at the last the Patron of Florence a galley of 1200 tunne being sunke by the French Artillery the Spanish Navy in an orderly retreat made way towards Genoa the French by reason they wanted those Daedalian wings oares being for the present unable to pursue them The Spanish losse was not great by this battell nor the French atchievements of much consequence yet the newes thereof being speedily brought to Naples the Viceroy sent the Prince D'Ascoli to fortine Gaeta and Baia who at the last place because it might the more easily command the Sea levelled a great hill which interposed it selfe betwixt the City and the sait water and with the earth choaked up the Harbour called Mari-Morto that so he might hinder the French from comming thither And for the security of the other coasts built sundry Forts from the Baye of Saint Mary Magdalene till the Tower of the Annuntiate and the Castell à Mare Two houres after the fight neere Monaco was ended a faire gale of wind blew from West-South-West and then the French hoysed up sayles to follow the Duke of Ferandina Admirall of the Spanish Gallyes who rowed by the shoare towards Genoa often sounding for feare of splitting the crazed vessels Towards evening the wind fell and the Spanish Gallyes ancred at Saint Rheme perceiving the French Fleete which was seven leagues from them was not able to reach them for lacke of wind A councell was then held by the Earle The second the Archbishop and the chiefe Captaines what was to be done they considered that they were unable to bring up the whole Navy against the enemy some part of the Fleete being carried backward towards Monaco by violence of the current yet unwilling to give the Spanish Seamen time to breath they concluded to make up to them with 24 Gallyes which they had in the Navy from Marselles and Villa-Franca and with those to play with them whilest the rest of the Fleete might conveniently come in to give them battell It was speedily put in practise and their intent as soone discovered by the Spanish Generall who to welcome the French placed some of his bigger Gallyes behinding the Cape de Bordiguere out of the sight of the French-men intending by force of his oares to overrunne some of their smaller vessels and so facilitate his victory But the devise tooke not the Alarme was given to the whole French Fleete too suddenly and at his first appearance they so saluted him with their shot that they severed his Gallyes the Captaine of Sicilie being forced to take the Baye of Savona for safeguard and the Royall of Spaine in danger to have beene surprised had not the brawne of the Rowers beene better then the force of the Souldiers and Marriners This victorie though it was not very honourable as being got without much opposition was of good consequence to the French The Levant was cleered of their enemies and the Navy was as still and quiet as the becalmed sea till the 27. of September old stile at which time 14. of the best ships were commanded to attend the enemy who at that time lay in Vado with 35. Gallyes That night they loosed from Arasse The third where they had rode at Anchor all day 11 launching into the maine and the other 3. making up towards the Vay to discover the posture of the enemy These 3 were the Reere-Admirall of the Squadron of Bretaigne commanded by Poincy the Vice-Admirall of the Squadron of Gwienne commanded by Mantye and the Lewis of Saint Iohn de Luz commanded by Gyron The sentinell upon the tower of Genoa perceived their sayles and to give a signall to the Gallyes kindled 3 fires and discharged 3 severall Canonadoes The Gallyes mistaking the signall prepared not to fight but flye thinking that the whole power of the French Navy was comming upon them and flye they did so confusedly to the very walls of Savona to save themselves and their shipping under the protection of that Canon that the French overreached some of the slowest ships with their Ordnance and slew above 300 men This is the last passage betwixt these two great Armadoes winter grew on and the Seas being unfit to ride longer in both the Navyes were recalled home by their severall Princes the Spaniards thinking themselves honoured enough by releeving the Ilands and the French by preserving Provence from invasion Both Navies hovered about the Levant till towards the end of October without attempting any further upon one another and then they seemed to repaire to their winter roads The Navyes leave the Sea and retire to Harbour those of Naples to Naples those of Genoa to Savona those belonging to the great Duke to Ligorne and the French to Marseilles where they reported the retirement of the Spanish Fleete to the great joy of the Maritine townes and the neighbourhood of Provence who with alacritie of the Nobility and peasants considering the weakenesse of the enemies in the Iles joyned themselves to tenne Regiments which the Christian King had sent to recover Honoria and Margarita promising an happy issue to their designe but how it prospered it is not to be expected in this 4. moneths History The Confederate Armies by land found more trouble in their enterprises then the sea-men did in their expeditions Famine and pestilence diminished their forces daily and dis-heartned their souldiers to the advantage of the Caesarean and Spanish Armies which were better supplied both with men and necessaries then their enemies The Duke of Rohan who should have come in to their succours was first stopped in his passage at the River of Ticino about the beginning of August in returning into the Veltoline fell sicke himselfe of a double Tertian which though it kept the ordinary paroxysmes The Duke of Rohan desperately sicke recovereth unexpectedly by the violence of the fits caused a kind of Lethargie and not himselfe onely but the prime Commanders of his Army to wit Laniere intendant to the Iustice and Policie the Marshalls of the Campe and many other Officers were affected in like manner to the discouragement of the French forces both in the Veltoline and in Millanois The Imperiall and Spanish Armies received the newes of his sicknesse speedily and soone after of his death which though false was not improbable nor incredible the same relation being brought to the French Court at Paris by an ordinarie Carrier and prepared for the winning of the Fort of Riva And frustrates the designe upon Riva
judging the designe to be easily feasible by reason of the Dukes weakenesse But his recovery frustrated that attempt that happening upon the 17th day of his sickenesse by a Fortunate Crisis which put a period to his maladie and inabled him to hold what he had got in the Veltoline though not to joyne with the confederate Armies in Italy The Sceane of warre by land had divers changes The forces under the Duke of Savoy and Crequi by the end of Iune had gotten sundry places of strength in Lombardie and the third of Iuly old stile Varese taken by assault by the Confederate Armies having taken by assault the City of Varese in the Signiory of Genoa betwixt Savona and Volti and put the German garrison in it to the sword by reason of the infection left those parts and marched towards Castelleto and Sesto where they demolished Trino the house of pleasure to the Count Cerbellone But then the dye turned and it was enough for them to keep what they had gotten no time to adventure upon further Conquests The Spanish Army had received no small losse the moneth passed in the battell at Navile but then was reenforced by some Regiments newly come out of Germany the Neapolitane forces and many Milanois for the Marquesse of Leganez Governour of Milan Leganez ralli eth his forces and Generalissimo of that Army Iuly 16 26 had mustered up the Inhabitants of that great City from 20. yeeres old to 60. and drawen out as many as he thought necessary for the present service under the command of 6. Field Marshalls viz the Prince Triultio the Marq Gro. Maria Visconti Don Philip Sfondrato Alessandro and Marcellino Visconti and Giacomo Fugani and the Generalate of Don Francisco Mautiques with this Army confisting of 14000. Foote and 5000. Horse made head against the French forces which then consisted onely of 8000. Foote at most and 2000. Cavalliers the pestilence having destroyed almost the one halfe of the confederate Hoste he marched towards them The combined Armies were at that present enquartered by Bourguemenier upō the river of Ticino intending there to unite their troopes part whereof were lodged upon the way by which their victualls were brought from Piemont to secure the convoy upon their passage The Confederate Army enquartereth at Romagnano and the Spanish Army marched directly towards Romagnano to seize of that quarter and intending to cut off the provisions from the French Armies lodged themselves betwixt that and Piemont Though money be the Sinewes yet victualls are the vitall spirits of warre and the Duke of Savoy the Generall with the Lieutenant Generall Crequy understanding the Spanish designe to prevent it rose speedily and by a quicke march arrived at Romagnano where they entrenched themselues to waite upon the enemies proceedings The Spanish at Carpignano who lay from them about 8 English miles upon the bankes of Sesia in a place called Carpignano The French expected that the Spanish forces would advance towards them and set upon them in their Quarter and to that purpose kept a carefull watch sometime shewing themselves before theenemy which stirred not from his Quarter as if they meant to outbrave him but moved not thence till they were certified that the Field-Marshall The French remove to the Lomeline the Count du Plessis Praslin whom the Generall had sent to the Castle de Fontana with 1000. horse and as many Muskettiers to fetch soure great Canons which be had left there for his more speedy march was returned to Romagnano and then because the whole territory thereabouts was wasted by the pressure of his and the Spanish Armies himselfe resolved to take up his Quarter in the Lomeline by Candy neer the Fort of Breme and the Spanish Commander for want of forrage removed his Campe into the centre of Millanez all the Country thereabouts to wit that part from Alexandria to the principality of Piemont on both sides the River Taner the Lomeline onely excepted whether the French Army was marching all the Novarois from the valley of Sesia The Spanish to Millanez and the river of Ticino till within foure leagues of Milan and all the high Country betwixt Ticino and the River of Ada being already forrag'd by the means of this warre which like a Basiliske burnt up the grasse and corne where it crawled and like an Army of Locusts devoured all the fruit of the earth Three severall inducements moved the Duke of Savoy to entrench himselfe in the Lomeline the first was the vicinitie of the royall Fort of Breme which was built by him at that place The royall Fort of Breme built by the Duke of Savoy where the river of Sesia disgorgeth himselfe into Poe betwixt Casall and Valentia and the security he received thereby for his Army the Fort commanding both the Rivers generally and the Poe particularly and more especially and so yeelding the Army a liberty of free commerce upon both the streames maugre the forces of the enemy the second was to hinder the inroades of the Spaniards upon the Villages and Frontier Townes of Piemont where they had formerly practised all manner of hostility burning the Townes putting to the sword both old and yong women and infants especially at Gatinara where neither the professed orders of religion nor the Sanctuaries could secure such as retired to those places of refuge from the enemies fury and lastly the vicinity of Piemont from whence hee might speedily and conveniently be relieved with men and victuals upon all occasions So now the French and Savoyards Armies were rather imployed in a defensive then offensive warre The Caesarian and Spanish forces perceiving how things stood omitted no opportunity nor left any stone unmoved which might serve to advance their designes A treasonable purpose upon Villa-Franca discovered and prevented It was not questioned by the enemy whether was more lawfull power or policy open warre or private practises to attaine their ends Both were practised and the last though most dishonourable was not refused yet the issue was fatall to the instrument and no way advantagious to the abetters or approvers A male-contented traiterous heart forgetting the duty and loyaltie which he ought his naturall Lord and seduced by the golden promises of the Spanish Generall undertooke to deliver him Villa Francha a Sea port where there stands a Towne and Castle appertaining to his highnesse of Savoy in his Estate of Nissa chalked him out the way by which his forces might come privately and without suspition if discovered and promised an easie admittance into the Towne and Citadell But his treason being discovered and confessed by himselfe upon the wracke the Marquesse of Bagnasck Governour of that state assisted with some French Souldiers made good the passage first to prevent the dangerous consequences of that enterprise and afterwards by a Court of justice put the perfidious traytour to a deserved shamefull death Hee was a gangrenated member of the Common-wealth and
providence called upon lustice to use her sword for his rescission who otherwise had exposed the whole body to putrifaction It is counted a master-piece in the Science of Defence to beate another at his owne weapon and in warre to blow up the Miner by his owne worke or to make use of a like project or stratagem to the ruine of the first deviser The Duke of Savoy received intelligence in the Camp of the Spanish designe and posted thence to Turin to give order for the defence of Nissa and the territory about The Garison of Spaniards in Crevecaeur driven out and no blow given where being informed of the arrivall of the French Fleete and conjecturing by probable arguments that the state of his Sea-townes was now secure hee returned with as much speed to the Campe at Candie for performance of his charge having stayed but two dayes onely at his Courtat Turin In the time of his neutrality he had laid a Spanish Garison in Crevecaeur a Towne in Gallia Cisalpina to defend it against all forraigne invadors but now not without cause jealous of the presidiarie Souldiers fidelity which at first were brought in to prevent a feared mischiefe which by this overture was taken away Hee sent to the Prince of Masseran to avoid them not by violence but subtiltie unwilling to expose his Subjects to the danger of intestine broyles if it might be effected otherwise The project was not trayterous but delusive the Spanish Souldiers were not amuzed to betray any of their Soveraignes Forts into the hand of a stranger but to relinquish their forcible possession and resigne it quietly to the right owner The Prince followed the Dukes directions and whilest one part of the Spanish Garison was abroad without the Castle sporting after the condition of mad yong blades the Prince privately brought in some hundreds of his men whom he prepared for his turne who caused the remainder of the old Garison to quit the place with a still silence glad that they could keepe in their tongues when noyse and clamour might have beene prejudiciall to their lives And thus the Duke of Savoy got an assurance of one of the principall Frontiers of his dominion Leganez the Spanish Generall to regaine the losse of Creuecaeur Rotofredi taken in by the Spanish Army or to equalize it with a parallell atchievement first attempted upon the Fort of Breme and failing thereupon the first adventure unwilling to spend the remainder of the summer without action turned toward the Fort of Rotofredi sited upon the Poe distant from Piacenza about 6 English or Italian miles under the Dominion of the Duke of Parma and tooke it by composition in the space of three dayes The Duke was then gone to Mantua to crave 4000. men of the Mantoese and sent to the state of Venice to desire as many voluntary auxiliaries to helpe him in his extremity His voyage was not altogether fruitlesse the Duke of Medina by mediation of friends laid down armes the Mantuan and the Venetians granted his desire and at his returne finding Rotofredi yeelded to the Spaniards Valditaro surrendred to the Prince Don Iohn d'Auria he first chopt of the heads off both the Governours and then divided his Army into two bands with the first intending to avenge himselfe of D'Auria by the siege of Saint Stephano Valditaro taken by Iohn d'Auria and with the latter to recover Rotofredi if it were possible out of the hand of the enemy the place being the Key of his Country and fit to yeeld no small succour to Piacenza if that City should happen to be attempted by the enemy Saint Stephano was taken in by his forces St. Stephano taken by the Du. of Parma and the Prince d'Auria and the Duke stood upon equall tearmes in point of martiall honour and military gaine yet not without an hostile emulation and to reconcile them the state of Genoa sent first Alessandro Santy a man of note in that City to mediate a peace the Prince being a Citizen and free Burgesse of Genoa and he not prevailing the Pope sent out a Patent Edict thereby commanding the Prince to restore Valditaro to the Duke and the Duke to restore Saint Stephano to the Prince but whether their swords were blunted by his Keyes it is yet uncertaine Rotofredi was well manned both for number of the men and resolution Rotofredi rebesieged by the Parmesans and though there wanted not remonstrances of difficulty and danger to disswade the Duke from besieging it yet he knowing of what perillous consequence it was to have the Spaniards to hold it resolved to beleaguer it and if possible to recover it The Garison within spared no cost to fortifie it and if art could doe it to make it impregnable The Army without resolved to relieve it and if their complices in the Fort were necessitated to succour the Garisons And yet the Duke changed not his first counsell on he went and about Iuly 17 27. sate downe before it planted his batteries blockt up the passages by which the Spanish succours should passe and played upon the Citadell with his Artillery hoping in the end to carry it The Garison answered him by their Canonadoes and the shot fayling to endammage his well entrenched Army the Souldiers tooke up their lesser Armes and frequently sallied out upon the Campe still returning with some tokens of gaine and though in one which happened August 4. new stile they were chased back to their very walles by the Marquesse Hannibal third sonne to the Count Fabiano Scoti an hopefull yong Gentleman not above 18. yeares of age yet they shot him then with a Spingarde a kinde of Musket charged with many bullets and slew him and in another fally afterwards killed the horse under one of the Marquesses brethren who desiring to avenge his brothers bloud was ranging his forces to encounter them and somewhat too boldly pressed upon the fleshed enemy Sixe weekes the Dukes Forces lay before the Fort enduring many shockes by the Spanish Garison which then beginning to be in extremity was fortunately relieved in the beginning of September by their confederates in the Campe of Leganez who first sent the Colonell Geldas with 2000. Relieved by the Spanish Army horse to discover the Parmesans posture and afterwards followed himselfe with the maine body of the Army to raise the siege and relieve the Citadell It was a piece of hot service and the Spanish Generall shew'd himself to be both a discreet and valiant Commander His way was to be cut out with the sword or he could get no passage The Parmesan however inferiour to him in number yet had the advantage of place and that notwithstanding Leganez assaulted him at once in all his Quarters and by the helpe of the presidiaries who acted their parts well in the prosecution of the adventure that they killed 600. of the Parmesans common men and sixe Commanders tooke 300. prisoners put the rest of the
Master to that state and how ill he might take it to be denied such an ordinary curtesie The chiefe Magistrate answered that the state was not behind him in mutuall offices of love that he had beene supplyed out of their chamber yeerely with great summes of money and this present yeere assisted with their Gallyes and that now in stead of a friendly requitall it was more then suspected he meant to spoyle them of their liberties adding in fine that if the Fleete did not retire quickly they would sinke his Gallyes beginning with the Admirall the bottome wherein the Duke commanded presently giving order to the prime Canoneere to levy the Ordnance point-blanke upon the Spanish Fleete and discharge upon it The friends of Carlo d'Auria arrested if the Mariners retired not speedily It was no time to stay The Duke departed immediately returned to the Fleete and sought an harbour else-where and Leganez unwilling to provoke the Genoois any further marched backe againe The Genoeses delivered from their present feare inquired further into the businesse and Don Carlo d'Auria being accused that he favoured the conspiracy they sent to Savona to arrest his parents friends and servants to discover the truth commanded Lucas Giustiniani Commissary of the Port and the other lodge in their Gallyes and to keepe a carefull watch concluding with the Historian quod sanctius antiquitus gerebantur bella quam nunc coluntur Amicitiae The Pompeiopolitanes or Pampelonois subjects to the King of Spaine in that part of Navarre which he at this day holdeth in October had a designe upon the Territory of Bearne The Viceroy of Navarre his designe upon Bearne prevented which still remaines under the Crowne of France though it lye in Navarre The Marquesse of Val-Paraiso the Spanish Viceroy levyed as many men and as secretly as he could in the moneth of September to that purpose but his Musters being not to be concealed by reason of the violences done by the Chiefetaines to the common souldiers who still more affect the Government of the Christian then the Catholike King he gave out that the forces were raysed for the defence of Dunkerke Genoa and other places which stood in a friendly relation to Spaine But the first Sunne in October discovered his purpose newes was brought to the Bearnois that the Viceroy was ready to march through the Valley of Roncevall and thence to passe into the valley of Barentons to surprise pillage and burne the townes of Saint Mary and Oleron which lay not above two houres going from the Spanish Randevouz Hereupon the Baron of Mesples without delay beate up an Alarme armed 200. Musquetiers of his owne Companies and drew 300. others out of the two townes and marched directly to the passage by which the Viceroy should come and at the first sight discharged upon them which by nature being a warlike people for all that started not but prepared for their defence The French Commander seeing their resolution charged and discharged againe upon them and in the end having slaine some few and wounded many forced them to returne homewards it being in vaine to attempt further the whole Militia of Bearne as many as could beare Armes being by this time ready to entertaine them The Viceroy seeing this enterprize faile He taketh and pillageth Iohn de Luz wheeled about to Guiapuscoa a Province in the North-East of Spaine and thence by the river of Hendaye and artiued at Saint Iohn de Luz a port towne in Guienne with 2000 horse and about 8000 Infanterie The towne is unfortified though it be neere the Frontiers of Spaine save onely by a bridge over which they must necessarily passe that come into it This place his Army assaulted and was five times beaten off the bridge by the inhabitants yet in the end they carried it and having plundered it marched towards Bayonne a City of strength and consequence thinking to surprize that also But they were met upon their march by the old Duke d'Espernone Is forced to retreat the Duke de Valette the Count of Grammont and the Marquesse of Duras and by their forces were forced to retreat towards Spaine yet not without doing some damage to the French for they burnt the towne of Ascaine upon their returne as they had done Rogne at their arrivall And thither wee must leave Grammont pursuing them for here this present relation hath a full period THE PASSAGES in Picardie c. CHAP. III. THE fable of Achclous as it is moralized by that sublimed wit of the late viscount Verulam in part lively represents the state of France in the late Invasion though the issue be not altogether answerable The vaince Cardinall corrivall for honour with the Christian King brings a great Army into his dominions takes some of his townes and appeares in field as if by battell he meant to put the Kings armies to flight and so get the Amalthapan horne his Countrey The King to suppresse the growing storme musters up his forces fortifies the passages gives sundry directions to his severall Commanders and in the end himselfe appeares in field in person to stop the progresse of his professed enemie The Infant Cardinall to avoyd the calumny of an uniust quarrell and vexatious warre first published the cause of his invasion by D'ensuing declaration The Cardinal Infants his Manifesto for his War in France Ferdinandus by the Grace of God Infant of Spaine Lievtenant Governour and Captaine Generall of the Low-countrey and of Burgundy UNTO all those to whom these present Writings shall come Greeting France against all reason and Iustice having moved and maintained warre upon the States of the Emperour and of my Lord the King given extraordinary succou both of men and mony their rebellious subiects procured the Swedes to invade the Empire received bought of them the townes of Alsatia and of other hereditary Countreys appendant to Our most royall houses not sparing the Catholike League it selfe which had taken Armes for none other end but for the good of Religion And it being notorious that the same France after all these publike and manifest controventions to the treaty of Peace hath finally proceeded to a breach thereof whereas we rather had cause to denounce the war That she hath sent for her armie to over run the Low-Countreys the dutchy of Millaine and other free fees of the Empire in Italy and now lately the Countrey of Burgundy contrary to the laws of neutrality contrary to the publike Faith and contrary to the expresse promises of the Prince of Conde disguising in the meane time those attempts breaches of Faith before the face of all Christendome with certaine weake precepts and false surmises contained in divers Declarations approved in the Parliaments of France and accompanying all those uniust proceedings with sundry insolencies calumnies and contempt of sacred persons and having also observed that this Our so long connivence at so manifest iniury hath served for no other end but to make
our enemies more audacious and insolent and that the compassion which we have had towards France hath drawen on the ruine of those whom God hath put under the obedience of their Maiesties For those considerations according to the power which we have received from His Imperiall Maiesty we have commanded our ioyned Armies to enter into France for no other purpose then to obliege the King of France to enter into firme Covenants of a good and sure Peace and to remove those impediments which may hinder this so great a good And forasmuch as it principally concerneth France as weary of such tumults to hearken to this proposition we cannot but beleeve that all the States of that Kingdome will not onely set forth their demonstrance but also if neede be assist us with their Forces that the King convinced either by arguments or armes may be induced to chastise those which have beene the authors of all those warres which these 7 or 8 yeares past have beene in Christendome And which when they had provoked and assailed all their neighbours have brought upon France all these evills which she suffereth at this present and all those which doe at this time threaten her And although wee are well informed of the weaknesse and division into which those great disorders and evill councels have cast that Kingdome yet we declare that the intentions of their Maiesties are not to serve themselves of this occasion to ruine it or to draw from thence any other profit then by that meanes to worke a peace in Christendome which may be stable and perminent for these reasons and withall to shew what estimation their Maiesties doe make of the Prayers of the Queen-mother of the most Christian King we give them to understand that we will protect and use as friends all those of the French nation who either ioyntly or severally shall second these our designes and have given order that neutrallity shall be held with those of the Nobility and with the Townes that shall desire it and which shall refuse to resist them who shal oppose good of Christendome and their owne safety against whom shall be used all manner of hostility without giving quarter to their persons or sparing either their houses or goods And our further will is that all men should take notice that it is the resolution of their Maiesties not to lay down armes till the Queen e-Mother of the Most Christian King be satified and contented and till the Princes uniustly expulsed from their estates be restored and untill the peace be fully ratyfied that they may not feare to bee disturbed by him who hath violated the treaties of * * Onely a pretended treaty say the French wher in Father Ioseph the Capuchine being imployed by the Cardinal Richelew as agent for the Christian K. after a negotiation of 3. yeares to no purpose finding himselfe deluded by the Austrians and Spaniards returned into France revealed what he had discovered which caused the French King to take up Armes Ratisbon and others made before and since he hath had the mannagement of the affaires of France neither doe we pretend to draw any other dammage from the good successe which it shall please God to give unto our iust persecutions then to preserve and augment the Catholique Religion to pacifie Europe to relieve the oppressed and to restore unto every one that which of right belongeth unto him Given at Mentz this fifth of Iuly 1636. And then leaving a flying Armie with the Count de Feria for the safeguard of the Provinces under him immediatly as if hee would not give time to his Majestie to arme himselfe against his furie viz. about the end of Iuly appeared before Roy a small piece in Picardie with 14000 horse 10000 foot for service and 3000 others which were to bee imployed to bring in forrage for the Cattell and bread for the Armie A prodigious Comet never appeared more formidable a sudden feare of his power so surprized both the Citizens and Peasants generally that not onely the inhabitants of those Frontiers abandoned their habitations but some peeces of strength La Capella and Catelet delivered up trayterously as la Capelle a Catelet the Commanders more ready disloyally to take part with the forreigne Invader then to hazard a blow for their Liege Soveraigne yeelded to the Spanish Prince and so facilitated his enterprize against Corbie a Citie of some importance upon the river Soame which being commanded by as false a man as either of the other and followed their example and surrendred it before the French Armie could come to secure it His Majesty in this confusion knowing himselfe to be the man to whom the care of so many people was committed slept not but advising with his Councell in the beginning of August raysed a puissant Armie for the recovery of his Countrey and expulsion of his enemies His goodnesse to the inhabitants of his Frontiers in Picardie Champaigne and Burgundie in releasing so many from their taxes and contributions for the space of three yeares as should voluntarily serve in this expedition and his wisedome in commanding those Gallants which ruffled it in the streets of Paris when they should have beene before the face of the enemy whether Commanders or ordinary Gentlemen to repaire to their colours within foure and twenty houres the one upon the penaltie of the losse of their places the other upon forfeit of their Gentry and losse of their goods to bee employed to his Majesties necessary use and charging the superfluitie of unnecessarie Artificers to attend his service by his Edicts published August 15 5 speedily supplied him with a puissant Armie of fiftie thousand foote and fifteene thousand horse well mounted to hinder the Cardinals progresse And yet before the Army should march forth his Majesty not relying meerely upon the multitude of his host nor the strength of his horses proclaimed a solemne Fast wherupon the Romanists the Archbishop of Paris the Sorbonne and the Curates of the severall parishes made prayers for the good successe of his Majesties Armies in the Citie and the Protestants met together at Charenton in faithfull devotion for their Soveraigne Where after supplications made for his Majesty and the Kingdome Drelincourt the Protestant Preacher made a Sermon to admonish his auditors of their faithfulnesse and duty to their Soveraigne This being past Du Beck and S. Leger Governours of La Capelle and Catelet to strike terrour into all treacherous hearts which might by the impunity of perfidious disloyall men take courage in after time to conspire with the enemy against their Soveraigne and the publicke State his Majesty in a full Councell of warre proceeded against du Beck late Governour of la Capelle and St. Leger Commander in Catelet for their base Cowardise and treason a coward is seldome loyall in surrendring their places of charge to his Majesties and the kingdomes adversaries Their severall crimes were first published and upon examination Du Beck was
found to have delivered up La Capelle within seven dayes after it was first surrounded by the Spanish Army the Moates and Ditches about it being then full of water and himselfe not constrained thereunto by any private sedition as he had falsly rumoured it that on the contrary the Officers and inhabitants were zealous to preserve the Citie for the Kings use Arraigned and that he had compelled them to signe the written capitulation which hee had published for his owne justification threatning them that if they refused to subscribe hee would deliver them into the hands of the Spaniards without quartier That hee had not brought one handfull of earth to fortifie the Citie since the siege began and that hee kept two Flemings privately in the Citadell Catelet was found to have been delivered up within three dayes after the enemie appeared before it That the Governour kept but one Canonier in the Citie That hee was able and provided sufficiently having fiftie Carabins three hundred men in Garrison and sixtie payes in his hand to have maintained the place good for the King That he alone made the Capitulation and in fine both these Commanders being proved to have been negligent in walking their rounds and doing the other offices belonging to their charge and having sufficient Amunition for their defence and yet to have surrendred their Cities without a breach made in the walles had this horrid sentence pronounced against them following Sentenced That the bodies of the sayd Du Beck and S. Leger should bee bound to foure horses in the Grive and drawne into foure pieces that their quarters should be planted upon severall posts in the way to Picardie their heads set upon Poles upon the Port St. Denis All which they should suffer in person if they could be apprehended or otherwise in effigie And because the sayd Du Beck and S. Leger in stead of repairing to his Maiestie to give an account of their fact as finding themselves guiltie of so capitall a treason have absented themselves from the justice of the King His Maiestie ordered further that whosoever should bring in either of their heads should have for a reward sixtie thousand Livers That the sayd Du Beck and S. Leger and their posteritie should for ever be degraded from their Nobility That the Armes of their families should bee defaced their principall houses razed and for a perpetuall memory of their detestable treason And executed in effigie in the place where their principall houses stood a pillar should bee erected with a brazen table appendant thereunto wherein this sentence should bee ingraven That all their goods should be confiscate That not onely those which should after this sentence give them any reliefe should be accounted Traytors and so proceeded against But that whosoever should make any proposition for revocation of this Confiscation should bee held as a Conspirator against his royall Maiestie And in fine this iudgement was put in execution Munday Aug. 18. the Commanders being executed upon the place of the Grive in picture and their Armes razed This decree against these his disloyall subiects was seconded by another carefull Ordinance for the welfare of his faithfull people the Merchants the Merchants adventuring upon the Rivers of Aisne and Oyse who were enioyned under paine of the losse of their bottomes and merchandize to have their boats well manned and armed against the stragling enemies And that decree being past The Queen made Regent of France during the kings absence the King himselfe having left the politicke government to the Queen and some selected Counsellors during his absence September 15 marched with this Armie Royall toward the enemy the Avantguard being led by the Cardinall Duke and the Marshall Chastillion the Battell by his Maiestie and the Monsieur his brother The Kings Army marcheth forward herre apparant to the Crowne and the Rere-guard by the old Marquesse de la Force an old Souldier of singular experience and knowne fidelitie This somewhat abated the feare of the Natives who now began to gather heart upon discovery of the Kings care over them and inverted the designes of the Cardinall Infant who though he had taken Corby before with as much ease as he had done la Capella and Catelet by the corruption or cowardise of the Governour and inhabitants for though the Lord of Premi August 16. having got secretly into the towne omitted neither intreaties nor good Remonstrances to perswade him and the Burgesses from rendring it and the Souldiers both Swedes French therein vowed their constancie to the King yet neither of these could alter their resolution from giving up the place though the Prince had formerly dared the Count of Soissons to a set battell which hee wisely contrary to the fiery nature of the French avoyded expecting his Maiesties succours yet upon the appearance of his Maiesties Armies yet he now attempted no designes but fell to fortifying the townes hee had taken as intending onely to keep what he had gotten and not adventure further to enlarge his victories And yet now began the time of action for the Infant Prince Cardinall seeing himselfe in a strange Territory and his numbers unequal to those of the Christian King imployes his Crabats to spoyle the countrey sent for two new Regiments to the Duke of Feria imployed his spies to discover the woods passages how they were guarded and where the river was passable But the Crabats found it not so easie now as they had done formerly to rove about that Province the Garisons of Amiens Abiville and Peronne who before had enough to doe to defend themselves now secured by the Kings neere Army being at leasure to attend these voleurs and the spies being watched taken and hanged seldome returned to give an answere of their message The French Army incouraged by the Infant Cardinals not pressing forward began now to expect his retrait backward and in that confidence were divided the one part under the Monsieur whom his Majesty returning for a short space to Chantiley had made his Lieutenant Generall for the siege of Roy another for Corby under de la Force and the third under the command of the Count Soissons to attend the Infant whose numbers were now much abated partly by pest and famine and partly by their separation for the fortification of Roy La Capelle Catelet and Corby of which they were yet masters The Monsieur appeared before Roy September 8. 18. Roy taken by the Monsieur when and where the Gentry of the kingdome in an honourable emulation began first to shew their valour and to expresse that there was nothing they would not dare to doe for their Soveraigne in the view of the Sonne of France The place being but a little one could not long hold out yet such was the fidelitie of the Spanish Garrison to their Prince that they endured a whole dayes battery by a dozen Canons and would not surrender it till they perceived a
being incouraged by his fortune marched to another Mill guarded by some of Iohn de Werth his Cavellary whom he slew and tooke their provisions for his owne use depriving the Caesarean Commander by that meanes of part of the sustenance ordained for his retinue Newes of both these last attempts and the consequences was sent to the King by speciall Curriers and came ere looked for to the Infants Campe who cōsidering the strength of the Kings army and the necessities to which hee was lyable in a forraigne land in an orderly retreate tooke the way of Peromud toward Bapaume for the refreshing of his forces and better conveniency His Majesty of France now in a manner quit of that enemy gave instant order for the strait siege of Corby which being held by a strong Garrison much annoyed all Picardy and upon fryday Septemb 16. 26. being his Birth-day by his order given to the Marquesse de la Force to whose care he trusted and of whose fortunes by the prefedent actions hee had more than a good expectation The out-workes at Corby taken by La Force The Marshall observed the Kings orderance and happily executed what was injoyned him A good director who is neither Foole-hardy nor nicely timevous hammers out the way for himselfe and his dependants And such was this old Commander who in person viewed the enemies guards observed their intrenchments which worke was best secured which more easily mastered where the Sentinels were vigilant where negligent and having not without hazard thus begunne his round the same night beate his enemy from his Horn works made 〈◊〉 with the sword upon the greater part of the souldiers attending in the out-workes and forced the rest to retyre within the walls of the city This his Majesties birth-day was crowned with a victory and this victory might have been an Omen of perpetuall successe to the Kings enterprises had not the Raven croaked from the hollow Oake and this honey been mingled with bitter Myrrhe and Aloes But the wisest men are sometimes caught in a snare and though the eye of providence would be ever watchfull yet there wants not a Mercury to charme this Argus to sleepe security or on overweaning opinion of each mans severall abilities deluding the ablest understandings to their owne ruine A fortunate attempt a-against the French by Iohn de Werth The French army being now masters of the Spaniards works without the city were so far from feare of being assaulted by the Prince Cardinals forces that they intended to make an attempt upon them and to this purpose September 23. Stilo novo sent out a party to descry the Quarter of Iohn de Werth which they meant to surprize the next day ensuing But the strange vicissitude of fortune which mis-led the Conductors of the Werth out of his way when he was going with 1800 horse to make adventure upon the French Campe brought him directly upon the French espyals who mistaking him for a party of their owne revealed to him their purpose whither and to what end they came abroad The Baron heard their discourse and being as well versed in the Poleticks as the Polomicks hid his Lyons skinne and shewed the Foxes told them he could give them a particular information of the state of things there and desired them to conduct them to the French Quarters whither hee was going though misfortunately hee had mistaken his way The spies whom otherwise hee would have forced to obey him willingly brought him to Montign a village betwixt Corby and Dours where lay 3 Regiments of horse 2 Regiments of foote and 5 companies of Dragoones There needed then no exhortation to encourage his Souldiers the present condition of the French souldiers cryed out against themselves though their tongues were locked up in silence They were generally at rest not suspecting an enemy and severed in three severall Quarters as confident of their owne ability to defend themselves singly if occasion should require it The Almaine Generall stayed not to bid them arme but fell upon them as hee found them slew many which were not able to defend themselves tooke 800 prisoners carryed away 1500 horses for service and might have beene possessed of their Baggage too had not the devouring fire which he cast amongst them prevented him The young Duke of Wirtenberg who was lod ged in that Quarter scaped miraculously taken he was but mistaken How welcome the report of this pety conquest not gotten by a manly fight but cast upon the Caesarean Commander by fortune as himselfe told the Infant Cardinall was to the Spaniards it is to be judged by the Bone-fires which were hereupon made in Flanders and the reward of 6000 Crownes which the Infant sent the Baron the next day for this service by Charoletto his Secretary The Christian King accounted it as a scratch not as a wound and with a countenance shewing anger more than sorrow proceeded to the straite blocking up of the City To this purpose his Majesty the 28 of the same moneth went to Amiens whither he had caused some of his principall Commanders to repaire and there consulting with the Count of Soissons the Duke of Angoulesme the Marshalls Chastillon and La Force Hallier and young La Force Marshal of the Campe Corby straitly beleagured the maner of it was thus concluded and put into execution speedily Fontenay Marivil one of the Fielde-Marshall with 1000 foote and 2000 horse were to incampe in a wood on that side toward Bargoyne The Marquesse de la Force and the Field Marshall Lambert to guard the workes on that side towards Paris and the rest of the Army to be under the command of Monsieur and the Count of Soissons who were to bee inquartered at Buicy and Lon-villey a league and halfe from Corby on that side toward Dours All which was done accordingly the same day His Majesty tooke up his quarter at Demvin a village upon the River of Soame and distant from the City one league not being able to come nearer the village in the valley upon the Soame being burnt up by the Spanish army and those upon the hils not onely inconvenient to reside in for want of Water but infected with the Pest also increased by the Corpes of dead men and Carrion which were left there uninterred the Spaniarde having filled up most of the pits with the bodies of dead horses and other nastinesse It is almost beyond beleefe to admit the reports which are given out of his Majesties vigilance in this occasion yet it is sure that he performed the part of a right Generall and Father of his Countrey without giuing or admitting the least opportunity for them within to make any dangerous sallyes forth or those without his enemies and their confederates The King of France his vigilancy to relieve them October the 9. new stile himselfe tooke horse to discover the Spaniards order in his Campe neare Bapaume and the countrey of Artois and to see what
forward to Dole where he assaulted the trenches by a bloody doubtful battel beat the French from their Earth-burroughs raysed the seege and caused the Prince to retire towards Auxonne and S. Iohn de Loone leaving behinde him some of his Canon and amongst the rest a Peece called by the name of the King Lowis carrying a bullet of 45 pound weight 500 loaves of bread 200 hogsheads of wine Verdun taken by D. Charles is retaken by Gassion and having raysed the siege marched to Verdun a town then unfortified which he took in and might have kept to the use of Caesar had not Gassion a French Colonell appeared before it before it could bee prepared to make resistance but his sudden comming made the Lorrainers forsake it yet it is under the Kings cōmand No flying Bird hath so nimble wings as Fame the Valleys suddenly reported this Conquest to the neere Mountain Vosogus and that transferd it again to the nigh bordering Dales with such swiftnesse that the next day after the newes arrived at Cambray distant thence about one hundred English miles to the joy of the Walloons and Spanyards there who for testimony of their great content in this happy adventure at Dole made Bon-fires and spent their Gun-powder in triumph discharging all the Canons upon the Wals as if that day had not been the beginning but Period of their victories And the Period it was indeed for though this Army being within few dayes after re-enforced by the Troops of the Imperiall Lievetenant Generall the Earle of Gallas who was accompanied with the old Earle of Coloredo and the Earle of Ritbergen was thirty thousand strong horse and foot and well furnished with Artillery carrying with them forty peeces of Canon the least whereof shot a Bullet of twenty three pounds and in this bravery had resolved to passe through Besanson or the Province of Bessigin against Bresse and Lionnoys yet their jollity was stop'd in the full careere by the vigilance of Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymar and the Cardinall Valette who attended them at the heeles and raised them from the Siege when they were set downe before Iean-de-Lonc whither this Narration must follow them Saverne a town in Alsatia neere Hagenaw the Magazin of the Imperiall Army thereabout for victuall being taken in by Duke Bernhard about the midst of Iuly Saverne taken by D. Bernhard and the Cardinall Valette upon Composition one part of the provision there found was presently reserved for reliefe of the Army and another for the revictualling of those places in the Country as Strasburg Colmar Hagenaw the Fort of Benefeld which sided with the Christian King Crown of Sweden The Camp removed the next day to Onfelet intending to visit the Imperiall Generall who was entrenched at Drusenheim and if it were possible to draw him out to battell before he could strengthen himselfe with a new retreat the French and Germans being superior to the Caesareans both in number and spirit the Imperiall Army consisting only of five thousand foot and eight thousand horse and those miserably necessitated by Famine and Pest the other amounting to thirteen thousand foot and seven thousand horse lusty and prepared to fight Duke Bernhard and the Cardinall Valette conceived their project to be more feasible because the King of Hungary was supposed to be in the Camp whose presence might addecourage to the Caesareans The French provoke Gallas to fight but he avoyds them and spur them up to any dangerous adventure But the King was gone foure daies before to Brissack and the wary Generall would not appeare in Campania but kept close in his trenches though the French Cavaliers by the space of eight houres together two thousand first appearing then one thousand five hundred and lastly one thousand only braved him and dared him to the Combat It was bootlesse for the two united Armies to attend him any longer and partly to draw him from his hold and partly to assist the Prince of Conde they marched in a faire Equipage towards the Frontiers of France giving order for transporting of the aforenamed provisions to Culembach and Podebus two German Colonels who not without danger and opposition discharged their Offices faithfully and happily Culembach followed the Army with his Waggons Three Companies of Crabats defeated by Culembach and though the neerenesse of the French Bands might have secured him from any attempt against him by the Caesareans yet three Companies of Crabats watching opportunity set upon the Convoy and had surprized it if he had not behaved himselfe both wisely and valiantly against them but their comming being discovered by his Scouts he prepared to entertaine them and in the first conflict slew 100. of them upon the place forcing the rest to flie for their safety to the Campe at Drusenheim where they found more content in their securitie though without gaine than in their late designe for pillage The other Convoy wherein Podebus the Count de Guiché and Aiguebourne Gouernour of Hagenaw were ingaged joyntly the two Generals forecasting to what hazards they might be exposed was in more danger but came off as happily as the former These three Commanders by order from their Excellencies being to march from Haguenaw Aug. 4 14 with an hundred and fifty Waggons loaden with Corne were manned with five hundred Musquetiers the Company of light horse belonging to the Governour and two German Regiments of horse for releefe of the confederate places in Alsatia were encountred upon their way by 1500 Caesarean foot and horse part of Gallas his Army who lay still encamped at Drusenheim their necessity pricking them forward to gain so good a booty The Curriers which marched in the head of Podebus his vantguard met at first with sixty Crabats which appeared alone to the first view but were seconded with the body of this Imperiall partee in which were three hundred Cuirassiers who kept a narrow passage by which the Convoy must necessarily go This report being noysed abroad in the Army certain Officers and voluntary Swedes ran without any order given to assault them but were repulsed though without losse of their lives yet to the prejudice of their discretion The Colonell Podebus thereupon sent a Quarter-master with forty horsemen to discover the posture of the Enemy but he comming too neere was slaine and the rest forced to retire to the Convoy In the mean time whilst this small partee was absent a Councell was held by the Count de Guiche and the two Colonels what was to be done and in what manner they should fight with the Caesareans and in the end it was concluded that the Count should passe on with the waggons whilst the Colonels gave them battell Five hundred German Reysters or Horsemen of Podebus his Regiment were assigned for the conflict and the rest to attend the carriages 1500 Caesareans rowted by Podebus in Alsatia The two Colonels shaking hands put forward immediatly in the head of the
Cavallary and commanding twelve Trumpets to sound a charge fell so furiously upon the Caesareans that they put them to a disorderly flight slew many upon the place the number is uncertaine took 24 prisoners amonst whom was the Captain of the Crabats with his Commission and letters of instruction for this occasion But they gained more in the pursuit than in the fight the high wayes being strewed with Curasses which the flying Enemy had cast away in his haste and one hundred Barbed horses gained which were sent afterwards to his Excellency Duke Bernhard who was yet incamped at Brompt expecting that the Imperiall Generall would rise as a Monument of this victory The joynt Armies under the Generals Saxon Weymar The French armies march from Alsatia and Valette began their march from Alsatia Aug. 2 15 and put forward Marsar a Towne in the Frontiers of Lorrain whence the Cardinals Army foure dayes after under the conduct of the Vicount of Turenne marched towards Luneville the Cardinall himselfe going the same day to Metz the Army under Duke Bernhard abode at Marsar till Aug. 6 16 which day the Duke himselfe led one part of his forces towards Luneville and committed the charge of the other part to Colonell Ohem who according to the direction given him went went towards Blamont a small Citie manned only with sixty Snaphanses yet much troubling the French in Lorrain being commanded by a vowed Enemy to the Kings government being one of the retiring places for those Boutifeaus the Crabats after they had roved abroad to pillage plunder the Country The Colonel first summoned the place by a Trumpet but could obtain no fairer an answer than that he must expect nothing there but powder shot not staying to reply with words he charged them with the same materials battered the Town and Castle with the Canon made a breach in the wall by the afternoon to the terrour of the Governour who with his Garrison retired to the Castle leaving the Town not to the spoyle of the Dukes Army Blamond taken by D. Bernh and the Governour hanged himselfe a worse Enemie to the place than could bee expected from abroad having strowed the ground of the Citie with loose powder which taking fire according to his malitious desire destroyed a goodly Church devoured the goods of the Inhabitants and turned all the houses in the Citie which were generally stored with Corn provision six only being saved to heapes of Ashes The report of this wicked Act was by a nimble Currier carried to the D. at Luneville who incensed thereat took horse speedily posted to the Camp at Blamont and prepared to assault the Castle but changed his designe seeing a flag of treaty hung out being more willing to spare the lives of his Enemies in the Garrison than the Commander was to save the substance of his late friends the Citizens The Garrison at first began to stand upon termes of agreement as unwilling to submit themselves to the Duke or leave the Fort without an assurance of mercie signed by himselfe but the Duke perceiving the weaknesse of the place would not stand to indent with them and again prepared for the assault the conclusion whereof ministering just occasion of feare to the Enemy the Garrison yeelded upon discretion and the souldiers were permitted to depart with white staves but the Governour being a Major was justly hanged for his detestable treachery Thence the Duke himselfe Ramberville taken by Duke Bernhard with those forces marched to Ramberville where another of the Enemies Garrisons lay and having summoned it also uneffectually Aug. 21. September 1. he presently skaled it in foure severall places and by foure the next morning took it The Commander within and the Garrison retreated to the Castle and stayed not thereto expect a summons but yeelded presently upon discretion and had this mercy shewed them liberty to depart with their low weapons but sans baggage or any other accomodation The Town was given for pillage to the souldiers yet with this speciall charge given by the Generall that the religiours houses should bee spared and the honours of the Women be preserved the Queen of France intreating this respect to be given to those in Orders and the weaker sex at his departing thence and his promise being past to her Majesty to observe it The rising of the Confederate Armies from the Camp at Brompt The Imperiall Army reenforced marcheth towards Burgundy gave opportunity to the Imperiall forces under the Croatian Commanders Isolani and Forgats the Germans Lamboy and Muse the Spaniard the Marquesse of Grana and Charles Duke of Lorrain to repaire to Gallas his Army who expecting the Irish Butler but not waiting his comming marched speedily towards the Dukedome of Burgundy and the Frank County being followed close by the Cardinall and Duke Bernhard which reenforced their Armies with the forces of the Prince of Conde and six thousand fresh souldiers under the command of the Field-marshall Ranzaw all ready in battell aray to fight with the Caesareans upon the first opportunity The Imperiall Army made on to their journies end with all the haste they could they passed by Montbelyard and Beffort and yet but only summoned them threatning the Inhabitants as Gideon did Succoth and Penuell but not with the like successe upon their returne from France to visit them But their haste was not with that good speed it was pretended for the Count of Suze Governour of the Country thereabouts stopped the Crabats under Isolani which marched in the reare cutting off the Bridges by which they should passe and skirmishing with him by the space of foure dayes together though with the losse of his Sarjeant Rennovill and Montplaisier one of his Guard which were slaine by the Crabats yet with gaine of two hundred and fifty prisoners one hundred horse and many Waggons loaden with ammunition Whilest the Cardinall Valette was attending with his Army upon the designes of Gallas Marange a rich Town in Lorrain taken by Roquespine Lievetenat Generall to the Cardinall Valette Roquespine his Lievetenant Governour in the Town and Cittadell of Metz and the Country adjacent seeing that the Inhabitants of Marange a Town then subject to the Spaniards situate betwixt Metz and Theonvelle did not only much oppresse the neighbouring Villages but that also part of the Garrison of Theonvelle in a discontent were gone thither also intending to plunder the Country hee resolved to prevent them esteeming it better to deale with an Enemy at his own home than to expect his comming abroad To this purpose about the midst of September hee mustered up a convenient Army about nine hundred horse and foot consisting of one halfe of Bovillons and Bussy's whole Company which was left by the Cardinall for defence of the Country two companies of light-horse one drawn out of the Garrison and another raysed by the Citizens of Metz three hundred other foot part of his own souldiers and part
Letter from Duke Bernhards Camp at Monsavion the contents whereof follow thus briefly The two Generals having framed a designe for the raysing of the Crabats Quarter at Lessons the Cardinall de Valette attended with the Count of Guiche conducted thitherwards one thousand five hundred horse and as many Musquetiers all which were layd in an Ambuscado by the way The D. of Weymar who had that afternoon been skirmishing with the Enemy to no other end but to make him not suspect the designe returned at Evening and marched in the head of 3000 horse of his own on the side of the French which were layd in Ambuscado and the Field marshall Ranzaw with the Prince of Conde his Cavallary marched on the other the Ambush then rising and putting forward toward Lessons the three French partees marched severall wayes yet all met about one minute at the Enemies Quarter October 10 new style at the point of day and charged upon it at once in three severall places The Crabats were then on horseback having had some notice of the French designe gave an alarm to Gallas his Camp and were answered thence with three Canon shot as a signall to the whole Army to stand upon their guard and keepe good order But the French prosecuting this beginning charged the Crabats againe more roughly than before forced them to a disorderly flight pursued them to the gates of Champelite which being kept shut against the fag-end of these run-awaies for feare lest the French should enter pell-mell with them exposed above 100 of them to the sword and many to the mercy of the pursuers who by this time were ingaged with the Avantguard of the Imperiall Army consisting of eight hundred horse and beat these Caesareans to their very Palizadoes with some slaughter but more affrightment many of the Cavaliers leaving their horses to save themselves upon the Mountain where the Infantery and Ordinance was placed others posting to their trenches to avoyd the blowes which they met withall in open field The greatest losse fell upon the Crabats of whom three hundred were slain as many taken prisons which lost all their baggage even to their very Tents and Huts and two thousand horses to the great advantage of the French Army and damage of theirs who living ordinarily by roving and pillaging were deprived of their horses which were of principall use in those expeditions The whole losse was valued at more than one hundred thousand crownes befides the ransomes of the Women amongst which was Isolani's Mistresse who with her Caroach and six horses and Plate became a prize to the Ritmaster Schomborn This was a glorious designe being against an Enemy in open field A Convoy of 25 Waggons taken by Manicamp Governour of Colmar and Manicamps happy adventure about the same time against a Convoy carrying twenty five Waggons loaden with Powder and Bullets and fifty Cowes to an Enemy-Garrison at Brissack was not despicable A Company of light horse belonging to the Baron of Reinack Governour of Brissack and sixty Musquetiers drawn out of the Garrison at Ensisheim were appointed to guard this carriage from the Abby of Lure the siege whereof was left by the Imperialists about tenne dayes before to Brissack To surprise this booty six Companies of light horse and Dragoons a Company of Carabins and foure hundred and fity foot were drawn out of Colmar by this French Commander who ordered the light horse and twenty Masters with some sew others to assault the Conduct and they behaved themselves so bravely that after the slaughter of six and captivating tenne others they chased the rest into a Wood betwixt Solse and Ensisheim upon Manicamp and his souldiers which lay in Ambush for them who beat them pursued them to the gates of Ensisheim and carried the booty to Colmar Gallas the Imperiall Generall thus provoked to action and his Army strengthned by a new retreat under the Irish Colonell Butler resolved to repaire his honour and to put somthing in practice against the confederate Armies and some places under the Kings obedience And yet like a wise Commander that would not adventure desperately hee watched his time causing divers reports of his returne to Alsatia to bee scattered abroad loading withall some Waggons with baggage as if he was instantly dismarching to amuse the Duke and Cardinall and intending to fall upon such places as were least able to hold out that he might do something before his departure out of the Dukedome The united Commanders supposing his purpose did not suit with the pretence commanded the Armies to double the guards and to have speciall eye upon the Imperials progresse Gallas seeming to be about to dismarch The Officers followed the supreme directors instructions kept a carefull and strong watch and the first night Oct. 19. new stile encountred with some of Duke Bernhards Almans whom the French taking for Enemies because of their language The French army doubleth their watch mistake some of their friends for enemies assaulted and slew fifteen of them upon the place as many others of the company not escaping unwounded The conflict indured the space of halfe an houre and might have lasted longer if they had not then happily discovered them to bee their friends but then the fight ended with sorrow to both parties for their mistakes and mutuall complements for their at last successefull meeting This misadventure was paraleld with another in Alsatia about the same time The Swedes of Benefeld mistaken for enemies by the French Garrison in Schlestadt a party of the Swedes in the Fort of Benefeld had beene abroad for Salt which they having gotten in a great quantity at their returne lodged in Ketenholt a Village neere Schlestadt whither some malitious peasants ran presently telling the French presidiaries there that an Imperiall Convoy lodged in that Village with good Booty hereupon the French souldiers betook them to their Armes surprized their friends for enemies flew some wounded the Ritmaster and carried away some horses But in the morning perceiving their error sent to excuse the fact and restored the Booty not omitting to enquire out those false informers that they might punish them according to their merit The Imperiall Generall perceiving the warinesse of the Duke and Cardinall Mirchaw a weak place in the County of Burgoyne taken by Gallas being neither able to surprize them in their severall Quarters nor draw out any part of the Armies to an unequall fight Octob. 23.13 pursued his second designe and brought his Army before Mirebeau a Town a little fortified by the Inhabitants and two companies of the Ttrain-band of the County then in the Town since his first appearing in those parts but not of strength to make any resistance having no ditch nor draw-Bridge nor Parapet to the Wals which in sight were rather like the Mound to a Garden than defenced Wals of a City this place hee at once besieged and assaulted and the defendants trusting more to their swords
and valours than their trenches came to handy-strokes immediatly with one part of his Army whilest the other part as they might with ease broke down the Palizadoes burnt the Gate and addressed the scaling ladders to the Wals. The Combat lasted doubtfull for the space of twelve houres and then the defendants oppressed with numbers of the assaylants were forced to retire to the Castle a place fortified only with a small Moat being not flankered and after a whole dayes battery with many hundreds of Canon shot were constrayned to capitulate and surrender it with conditions of saving their lives and livelihoods Secrecy is of as much availe in an Army as valour The confederate Armies as yet were ignorant of the Enemies designe Saint Iohn de Loone besieged by Gallas and remayned in their own Quarters till the losse of Mirebeaw and that was not till three dayes afterward was reported to the Cardinall and then the Imperialists being upon a new designe against St. Iohn de Loone a small town upon the Some consisting of about three hundred families and distant from Chaloon about five French ten English miles the united Armies made after them A strong suspition the French and their Allies had that Saint Iean de Loone was the next place Before it was known to the French armies at which the Caesareans aymed being induced hereunto by the menaces which the Imperiall forces had given out against it but were not assured of it till October 31 new style at which time a generall report of the siege arrived at the Camp and that being seconded by a particular relation of the day and manner of the siege confirmed them to beleeve that which before they only suspected A Souldier of the Train-band of the County having scowted about the Imperiall Army was sent that day by Machant his Captain to inform the Generals with the summe of his discovery The heads of his report were these That October 12 28 in the morning the enemies had surrounded Saint Iohn de Loone That the Garrison in two sallyes had slain threescore of the asseegers and brought ten prisoners into the Town amongst which was the Lievetenant of the Horse which with threats affrighted the Town with a strong and strait siege and had beaten the Imperialists from their Quarter at Saint Vsage That the Garrison at the first consisting of eight Companies of the Trainband belonging to the County was diminished by the Pest to the one halfe Saint Point the Commander being also extremely sick of the disease and yet were resolved to stand it out to the last man the inhabitants able to beare Armes being about the number of two hundred first decreeing that whosoever should talk of capitulation should be cast into the River and then concluding rather to fire the Town if they could not keep it than render it upon any tearmes to the Caesareans that so they might prevent his spoyles and keep the viands therein from him Each word was truth The Imperiall Army marching from Mirebeau October 15 25 16 26 17 27 passed the Rivers of Beze Tilly and Ousche with much hazard and inconvenience and the next day appeared before the Town The Towne summoned sommoning it with a Trumpet to yeeld to the Earle of Gallas as the Imperiall Generall the King of Spayn and the Duke of Lorrain a Cavalier seconding the Trumpet and telling the Officers upon the wall that unlesse they shewed their obedience speedily they should be beleaguerd with an Army of forty thousand men and batterd with twenty six peeces of Canon The Garrison returned no answer but prepared for defence and the Caesareans for battery Three dayes were spent by the beseegers in raysing of mounts and preparation for battery without any shew of open hostility save only that daily summons were sent by Drums and Trumpets for their surrendring and November 1 new style the Imperiall Canons were discharged against the city Battered that violent thunder being thought more availeable for the conquest than verball Rhetorick A Consultation was held in the meane time by the Prince of Conde Duke Bernhard and the Cardinall for releefe of the Town and in fine Ranzaw the Fieldmarshall with the men at Armes belonging to the Duke of Anguyen the Light-horse under the Prince of Conde his command seven other Companies of Light-horse drawn out of the Regiment of the Cavallery of Anguyen his own Horse-men and seven or eight hundred Musquetiers was sent to succour it His Expedition commenced the same day the Enemy began his batteries and though with much hardinesse the foot wading in water up to the neck and some losse ten of his Cavalliers being drowned hee past that day over the Tille arrived the next morning by seven of the clock to Auxonne a city upon the Sone distant from Saint Iohn de Loone ten leagues where hee was furnished with victuals for his army and boats to ferry down his men and thence hee sent a little Barge with six Oares to enforme the beseeged of his auxiliary forces Danger and hope presented themselves together to the beseeged The Imperiall Army hearing of Ranzaw's approach November 3 new style played upon the Town incessantly with eight Peeces of Canon from break of day till three in the afternoon and then drew out two main Battalions into the meadow the one whereof was sent against a small breach which their Canon had made in the wall the other against the Terras at the Dijon Gate a weak peece defended only by one Horn-work and without other fortification Sixty Musquetiers were brought into the Town the day before from Bellegarde Releeved and the siege raised and the Townsmen and Garrison animated with these small succours resolved to meet the Caesareans at the severall places and to adventure their lives for defence of the Burgh The assaylants at the breach came on courageously and the defendants stood to their tacklings as manfully the very women with a masculine spirit comming in to releeve the wearied men bringing materials to repaire the breach and hurling stones and whatever came next to hand fury supplying them with weapons to offend the Enemy The valour of the defendants and the unfitnesse of the gap for an assault the wall yet standing firme twelve foot high made the assaulters recoyle who seeing their attempt if not desperate extremely dangerous could not be induced by the words and strokes of their Commanders to renew their adventure and go on againe The Terras was in more danger and thither upon the retreat of the Imperialists the most part of them which were designed to make good the gap hasted to help their copartners and their comming was so happy that the Battalion there seeing a new accrew of opposers certified and their losse already in both places of above foure hundred men slaine outright besides those which were wounded turned tayle too and gave over the Enterprize Gallas who all this while had stood as a spectator to the play