our King vpon some consultation had of the most expedient courses for the reliefe of the towne thought it necessary to make choice of some aduantageous place where he might haue the full view of all And then he drawes forth 1000 horse with 2000 foot and presents himselfe in full sight of the enemy hauing the riuer of Wyzel on his left and the great dyke on his right hand At length aduancing forward for the space of one halfe mile he seeth the enemy drawing themselues forth vpon the hill neere to their trenches where there lying a plaine field betwixt both Campes some few horsemen did enter in skirmish There was not farre from thence a wood of oakes hauing groues of hazell wood on euery side which did stretch it selfe to the hill possessed by the enemy and to the riuer side Our King being desirous to see this wood and to try whether the place would offer any good aduantage to force a passage to the hill or to the castle did giue order that 500 musquettiers with 100 dragonnes should be sent forward The King did follow himselfe with 300 horse imagining that the enemy would march towards the wood with great forces The King sent for Colonell Musâ—champe whom he commanded with 200 musquettiers to put himselfe in the way if the enemy should fall downe from the dyke In the meane time the enemy had sent the musquettiers from the hill and there after sent fiue troops of Lanciers and Cossackes so that our foot-men skirmishing with the enemy did force them to a retrait It being vncertaine whethar this did proceed from the cowardice or policie of the enemy intending to draw on our men to some ambuscadoe Our foot aduancing too farre were disordered by the Polonian horse and some were killed Not many of these had escaped vnlesse our King himselfe seeing one of his souldiers put hardly to it by one of the enemy had not aduanced himselfe for the rescue of his souldier and laid the Polonian dead vpon the ground By which rare example his cauallery was much encouraged to giue on furiously vpon the enemy who were all beaten backe to the hill quiting the wood to our men whilst both the enemy and ours were thus in fight Colonell Muschampe marched on to the foot of the hill neere the great dyke where hee stayed the whole time of the seruice not suffering the enemy to fall out any more in that quarter The King did call for the rest of the army and that the Cannon should bee brought in the wood within the great dyke which when the Polonian did perceiue that the King did bend directly towards the wood he sends downe the greatest part of his Infantery from the hill another way that beating our men from thence he might be master thereof And withall he sends 20 troops of Lanciers and Cossackes to lye betwixt the great dyke and the hill in a plaine field which was done as well to hold our King enuironed as thereafter to fall vpon our troopes which they thought could not be very strong and so by that meanes as they did imagine the warre might shortly be brought to an end The enemies foot did cary themselues well striuing for the Dyke with our men Their Cauallerie did show themselues vpon the plaine field whereof some finding the passage nothing difficult did leape ouer In the meane time our King puts his armie in order planting his Artillery in a place where the wood was thinnest hee commands 3 troopes of horse to attend in the front neere the trench who should be ready to attend the enemy if they should issue forth out of that quarter After that foure troupes of Lanciers had put themselues in a grosse squadron to giue a charge they seeing our Cavallery placed in the front ready to abide their choake they giue backes towards the plaine field forsaking the great Dike It was much debated whether this place were necessary to be maintayned and whether the whole Army should be brought there But when our forces being howsoeuer the weaker in numbers were separated and that the souldiers were not provided of victuall nor the horse-men of forrage and other conveniences It was concluded that the maine dessigne should not be altered but that the forces there imployed should march backe agayne to their old quarter and thereafter to goe on resolutely for the reliefe of the bâ—siedged The enemy was to bee remoued at what rate soeuer who was lying strong vpon the passâ—ge towards â—he Towne The King giues order to his Marshall of the field Herman Vrangle to draw forth of the Army foure Companies of foote with two fielde peeces the Marshall was to giue on vppon the trenches Aâ—ter that the Artillery had played once or twice and that some of our musquettiers by leaping ouer the dike had begun the charge both horse and foot did retire themselues to the hill quiting the great Dâ—ke As the briâ—t did goe there was killed of the enemies 150 amongst whom was the Captayne Deuhoffe with some others So that they did retire to their Campe in that same order and way they came The enemy looking on withouâ— adventuring further There was some of ours wounded and about 20. killed The day following our King causing himselfe to bee transported in a little Boate did take a full view of the Islands of the river of Wizel and of their approaches towards the Towne to the end that before hee should attempt any further hee might know the best advantages how to enforce the raysing of the siedge or the most toylesome difficulties to impeach the same The King himselfe approaches to the foote of the hill having placed 〈◊〉 musquettiers vppon â—he 〈◊〉 Duke Hee giveth 600. musquettiers to the Count of Torne and 500. Sweden foote to Colonell Mustchamp The one being commanded to stay vpon the right hand at the foote of the hill The other at the left hand both were ordered that they should presse by the steepnessâ— and precipice of the hill to keepe their men in greater safety from the violence of the enemies shâ—t The King commanded that neyther of them should stâ—rre without direction or signe given There was at the side of the VVâ—od a great precipice or steepnesse planted with little Trees which covered those that weâ—e lying in ambuscade and hâ—lped also those that were to giue the charge There was a roade or path-way leading towards the hill scarse passable for horse-men which path-way did lye betwixt Colonell Mustchampe and the Count of Torne Colonell Mustchamp was commanded to enter this path on horse-backe with some of his musquettiers that hee might learne what countenance the enemy kept on the hill and to esâ—ye the best meanes hee could of beating them from thence As the Colonell doth advance himselfe hee is charged with a Troupe of Germaine horse and beaten backe to the road way Some musquettiers strayning to desengage their Colonell being killed and some taken prisoners the remainder did with-draw themselues
A TRVMPET TO CALL SOVLDIERS ON TO NOBLE ACTIONS BY The rare and new Examples of two Christian Kings and a Prince personally meeting in the open field of warre Viz. Gustanus the now-present King of Sweden against Sigismond King of Poland and the Prince his sonne in remouing of the Siege of Meve a Towne in Poland which was formerly gotten by the Sweden King from the Poland With many memorable Stratagems and Military Occurrences attending on so honourable a Designe Sent out of Sweden from a great man in the State and written with his owne hand Translated out of the Latine Copie Printed at London for N. Bourne and Tho Archer 1627. TO THE READER TO see Kings and Princes sweat in Battailes in these dayes is so rare and vnusuall that this warlike Encounter of Gustanus the King of Sweden with the King of Poland and his sonne is for the remarkability of it worthy to be engrauen in Tables of brasse The Prize for which they contended was the Towne of Meve in Poland The honour of the Aduenturer the King of Sweden the more to be exalted in that hee went out of his owne Court and Country where hee liued in fulnesse of all content to trample on the fields and faces of his enemies to beat at the Gates of the Polacke Cities hunting after glory in a foraigne Kingdome in despight of all the horrors which warre â—seth to bring along with it not regarding the petty Townes which he fought for and did rescue but for the victory which shall crowne his fame to all eternitie Here you shall see a braue young Gentleman lay by all kingly regards of his owne life and with eight thousand Swedens constant and fight with thirty thousand Poles and their adherents The Polander hauing the aduantage of a hill vpon which hee lay encamped and entrenched and the Sweve spreading his handfull of an army beneath another hill Here you may see this young King of Sweden to fetch off à common Souldier in his owne person and to kill with his owne hands that Polacke who had set vpon the other By which example of the Kings valour the subiects vnder him ran out like Lyons to the Battaile and came off with a most glorious conquest Glorious to their King to their Country to themselues and their posteritie and a dishonour to the Enemy being so many to be driuen out of their owne fields by so few some reporting that of the Poles and Cossackes were slaine in this Battaile 5000 at least And albeit the truth of this great Action challengeth all Rites Praises and Acclamations to be giuen as due rewards to the Sweden a stranger to vs yet let not this story when it is read in after-times be so spitefull as to bury the Name and Memory of the English Nation honoured in the Darings and high deeds of Colonell Muschampe our Country-man who behaued himselfe nobly manfully and as a true-worthy Souldier in all this seruice Neyther must wee smother the high courage of that braue Bohemian Torne whose warlike acts in this Enterprise are his speaking Chronicles hee being after the King of Swedens departure home left Generall in his stead So Noble Souldiers wishing you all no worse fortune in your Battailes nor no lesse fame than here the Sweves haue atchieued I leaue you to reade that which may serue as a patterne and president for all heroicall spirits to follow So Farewell A BRIEFE RELATION OF the manner of the encamping and besieging of the towne of Meve by Sigismund King of Poland and of the raising of the siege by Gustanus King of Sweden AFter that the King of Sweden had possessed himselfe of the Palatinate of Marienburge and by crossing the riuer of Wyzel in Pommerellia had incamped at Dersove where he might with most safety and aduantage proceed in his Treaty of Neutrality with those of Dantzicke And by some Forts cast vp at Hovet and Dersove to be more able to keepe the riuer fauourable and secure for stopping the attempts of the enemies At length the King of Poland in person with the Prince his sonne accompanyed with a great part of the Polonian Nobility marcheth with an army consisting of Polonians those of the Duchy of Spruce Lituanians Germanes and Livonians which he doth fortifie at Grudent he passeth the riuer and commeth to Niewburghe and from thence goeth on And vpon the 7 of September 1626. he besiegeth the towne of Meve lying vpon the riuer of Wyzel The towne hath a Castle compassed about with an old wall after the ancient manner of the townes in Germany The towne was distant foure miles from our Kings Campe and was defended by a garison of 150 Swethen footmen hauing 60 inhabitants ioyned with them The Polonian being encamped on the west side makes himselfe master of a hill where there was a village and there he doth strongly entrench himselfe especially in that place where the passage towards Meve did lye most open and thereafter he beginnes to batter the towne with his ordnance Hereupon the King of Sweden knowing how vnable the place was to resist the inuasion of an aduised and resolute enemy did resolue of nothing else but that he being shortned of time to enforce the raising of the siege the towne would shortly bee rendred the best encouragements our King had depending either vpon an expectation of a scarcity of victuals or other conueniences wherwith the enemies army might bee pinchod or otherwise vpon the constancy and resolution of the souldiers besieged who by defending themselues valiantly might giue some hope that the siege might bee prolonged And to the end that neither the valour of the besieged should proue their ouerthrow nor that the enemy should attribute our Kings delay to feare it was resoluted that the army should dislodge and encampe neerer the enemy and the towne Vpon the 11 of September our King did remoue his Campe three miles neerer the enemy and encampeth at Falkenow where hee did prepare himselfe with his army for some encounter expecting that the enemy would offer some occasion of seruice that day Notwithstanding the enemy did not stirre out of his quarter but onely sends forth eight troopes of Cossackes who did ouerrunne the fields about Falkenow That day was spent in light skirmishes with Colonel Banneer who was appointed for the guard of the point of an Iland where the two riuers of Wyzel and Nogaâ—t doe diuide themselues The place where our King did encampe was betwixt the riuer of Wyzel and a great bank of earth or dyke lying over against the riuer for the riuer hath a high and large dyke artificially raised for holding out the great land-floods whereby about the Spring time the country people doe sustaine great losses The King did make this high banke to serue for a trench where at the further â—nd of the quarter he did draw a ditch from the great dyke to the riuer and thereby did fortifie his Campe. The next day being the 12 of September
the same way they went But the nature of the place and passage being discovered the Count of Torne and Colonell Mustchampe doe charge resolutely and partly breaking through the roade way and partly by the precipice of the hill at length they gayne the top thereof In the meane time the enemy drawes all his forces together the footâ—-men from the quaâ—ter and forts the horse-men from the field and charge our men forcibly to beate them from the top of the hill The King and Prince of Poland beeing spectators it was long foughten with much courage eagernesse and noyse The Germain horâ—e-men beeing seconded by their foote and the Hayduckes charge Mustchampe but were repulsed with great losse In the meane time out men lying discouered are beatten with their Canon from their forts neyther was there any thing left vnattempted to make all our enterprise in-effectuall At length after two houres fighting our men defending themselues valiantly and gayning ground of the enemy some Troupes of the Polonian horse Lanciers Cassackes and Germaines mixed together partly being stricken with shame partly being animated with the presence of the King and Prince promising rewards to the best deservers did furiously and in great disorder charge the Count of Torne who perceiving what they intended did make his Musquettiers fall low on their knees that nothiâ—g could bee seene but only their heads whereby the violence of the horse-men being deluded hee stood firme Thâ—y beeing disabled to follow their poynt in regard of the precipice of the hill scarce fauorable to a charge on horse-backe and there hee stayes their first heate with his musquets lying so low and when the Cavallery did beginne to wheele about they were shrewdly galled with our musquettiers VVhen the enemy had thus charged our men with great numbers the last rushed forward so violently vppon the first that neyther oâ— them was able to rejoyne their troupes together where by many in that disorder were kilâ—ed and the hill filled with dead men and horses Colonell Mustchampe who did lye vppon the one side of this path-way did much mischiefe to the enemy by beating them in flanque with his musquettiers So that there was such a faintnes and dejection of spirits amongst them that the Lanciers did throw downe to the ground three of their Cornets at the feete of our souldiers and basely did forsake them Afterward all was in disorder in the enemies Campe neyther as it was there after knowne could they resolue what course to take The Infantecy did altogether quite their trenches and foâ—ts lying against the Towne without any resolution to adventure further Hereupon the King of Poland dispairing to be able any longer to defend the Hill Forts or his Campe and being zealous that his Cannon might be in some hazard to bee lost if he should giue any further time to approach neerer him and seeing our men fortifying themseâ—ues vppon the great Dike whereby hee mâ—ght perceiue they were resolved to go on Vpon the 14. of September the Eaâ—le of Torne comes to the King with three Regiments of Germaine foot which had served in Live-land The Army being reinforced with this new supply togethâ—r with a Regiment of Swedens vnder the Conduct of Colonell Kodwin a bridge being layd over the â—â—zâ—l not farre from our Campe and a strong Fort bâ—â—â—ded at the end of the bridge where there was a competent garrison placed to secure the passage vnto the Island for the souldiers and the victualls of the Campe which were left behind The King vppon the 19. of September dislodgeth and encampeth neere the enemy about 300 paces from the place which the enemy haâ— kept strongly fortified betwixt the Campes Our King did resolue that hee had gayned enough that day to haue put his new campe in defence by making the great Dike lesse passable framing it after the manner of a rolling Trench whereby the great banke and new trench being enclosed the King might aswell be lesse subject to any suddaine surprize or assault of the enemy as more able to put his determined resolutions in execution by assailing the enemy with the more security of his owne men The King sends the Earle of Torne with 400 Germaine Musquettiers to the end he … ld possesse and make good that part of the Dike which did streach it selfe from the Campe to the hill He sends Colonell Mustchampe with 300. Sweden foot for the defence of the Towne of Groenhoffe which did lye aboue the Campe over against the plaine field The enemy seeing vs in campe so neere them drawes his whole forces vpon the hill he plants his artillery and played vpon our men but all in vaine the bullets eyther over-flying the Campe as being shot from an high hill or did fall short and beat vpon the great Dike without any hurt done In end the enemy sends forth a great number of Cossackes Lancâ—ers and Germaine troupes of horse with his whole Infanttry from the hill intending thereby not onely to beate the Count of Torne from the great barke but also Colonell Mustchampe from the defence of Groenhoâ—â—e and there after to giue a generall assault vppon our quarter But every wherâ— their labour was lost by the courage of our souldiers defending themselues valiantly and pressing vppon the enemy with much animosâ—ty and resolution Our Artillery in likâ— manner which was planted â—eere the trench did so beate vpon the enemy that the plaine field lying over agaiâ—st the Dike was spread over with dead men and horses At length towards night the Poloniâ—â— did with-draw himselfe to his trenches on the hill The day following was quiet and nothing attempted on eytheâ— side â—ur King having builâ—ed fiue forts made himselfe master of the great Dike and playne fielde and did prepare his passage to the hâ—ll where the enemies was entrenched to the end hee might stoppe the enemies sallies from the hill whereby they might giue any annoyance to his Campâ— The enemies in like manner that he might more freely domineer with his Canon along the plaine field and be more firmely fortified against all our enterprises and also that bee might be longer able to hold out the hill did erect two forts one vppon the right hand of the way the other on the left hand In the one hee planted 3 peeces of great Ordnance in the other some lesser peeces whereby he might stop our comming vp the Hill The 21. September our King consulteth with his Councell of Warre how the enemy might be beaten from the hill and how a passage might bee opened towards the Towne And seeing his Campe aswell by scituation as industry defensible and safe against all hostill invasion and the sallies of the enemies being cut off 〈…〉 to the foote of the hâ—ll was not very dangerous Hee leaveth his Marshall of the field with the greatest part of the Army in the Campe and goeth in person entring the Wood with one Regiment and a halfe of foote some troupes of horse and 1500
choyce musquettiers Hee layeth the foote and horse troupe in ambuscade amongst the trees that they might bee as safe from the vollâ—es of the enemies shot holding the top and length of the hill where diuers fortes were erected with fielde peeces in them as that they might bee ready to receiue and repell the enemy if our men employed in service should be beaten backe from thence Hee thought it not safe to stay any longer but did cause to draw out his Ordnance with a great deale of difficulty and confused hast He did giue order to burne the Village where hee had beene intrenched and fortified vppon the hill Our souldiers did enter the trenches and forts The King and Prince of Poland looking vppon them Our King was vppon the hill and would haue willingly in the confused dâ—straction of the enemy haue attempted vppon the Artillery but finding that the passage were too straight that hee could not to the terrour of the enemy charge them with his front inlarged and finding the enemy vnpeâ—â—â—ed with bagage betwixt the trenches and the campe the hill being forsaken the forts in his owne power three of the enemies Comets left as pledges of their confusion and aboue all the Towne and Castle of Mewe relieued which was the cause of this expedition The King did resolue hee had gayned honor enough for that day and that the way was prepared to inforce the enemy to abandon his Campe if hee should stay longer Therefore he thought it not fit the passages not beeing fully knowne betwixt the trenches and the Campe to expose a certayne Victory in the valour of his souldiers to an vncertayne event The enemy being perplexed what to do keepes himselfe close within his Campe. To forsake it it was to flye away which was shamefull To remaine longer he could expect nothing but further mischiefe Because our Army commaunded the hill could beate them out of their Campe onely with our Ordnance The enemy passed over that night with great astonishment standing in order of battle expecting that our Army should haue fallen vppon their Campe as it was after-wards knowne by some Prisoners At length about the first VVatch of the night they sent away their bagage The King himselfe by the dawning of the day marches away with grâ—at silence without signe of Trumpet Drum or phipher The Troupes were seene by our Sentinells at the Monastery of Weulâ—â— lying a mile and a halfe from our Campe. Thâ— King of Poland had left some Cossackes to obserue if our men should attempt any thing vppon their confused retreate And afterwards when they should vnderstand that the King was any thing advanced in his journey they had order to burne their quarter This was the issue of the besiedged and relieued towne of Mewe Our King knowing that the enemy was gone entred the Towne and Castle extolling the constancy fidelity and merit of the Souldiers and the inhabitants with much prayse thankes-giving and revvard and presently did giue order that a day of publicke thankes-giving to God should bee solemnely kept for this Victory Thereafter hee changed the Garrison with fresh souldiers and furnished the Castle and Towne with munition and Victualls and stayed in his Campe some few dayes vntill hee might discover whether the enemy vvould bend his course or vvhat hee vvould attempt further In these three dayes â—â—rvice there was killed of ours about 30. The losse of the enemy cannot bee certainely related by common fame and discourse with some prisoners there is aboue 500. killed and many wounded who are sent to the further parts of Spruce It is credible that the losse hath beene gâ—eater since it is not very probable that the King would haue abandoned the siâ—dge of a little Towne scaâ—se well fortified with so much dimâ—nution of his owne hâ—nour and that of the Polonian Nobility vnlesse the losse had bin greater Heere it must also bee remembred that the enemy had cast a bridge over the River of Wizel a halfe mile aboue Mewe whereby the inroades vppon the Territories of Stum and Mâ—rnenbourg might bee lesse difficult And that the Pâ—lonian Souldiers who ranged vp and downe through the Bishopricke of Vlormditt might haue free passage to the Campe. The enemy had committed the charge of this bridgâ— which was made oâ— Shippes that carried Corne vp and downe the River to 300. Cossackes But after thâ—â—…arting of the Army whether by neglect or feare the bâ—iâ—ge was abandoned The Kâ—ng did send a Capâ—ayne with some Musquettiers who â—aue brought away the Ships with all their furniture and provision whereof the Army hath made very good vse FINIS