Bernard Walstein murthered and as the Duke was then upon his march had he newes of Walsteins being murthered For which reason he hasted by all meanes to get into Bohemia before the confusion among the Imperialists should be appeased In the meane time Colonell Dubatell had good successe in other parts of Bavaria where he tooke three indifferent strong places Three townes in Bavaria taken by the Swedes as Furth Eshelcham and Newkirchen in which he found aboue 4000 quarters of Corne 30 peeces of Ordnance much ammunition and other good provisions Which done he Febr. 12 30 arived againe at Regenspurg By this was Duke Bernhards maine Army gotten to Nappurg in the way to Egra Himselfe with 3000. Horse going before unto Weyden To this Weyden which is a good place of importance hee came Feb. 20 30. whence he dispatched the Colonels Rosse and Karpfen with a good strength of Horse towards Egra to listen how businesses were there carried About Turschenreyt did these two Colonels light vpon Colonell Corpus with his Regiment of Crabats Colonell Corpus an Impedefeated whom falling upon unawares they put them to flight killed 300. and tooke 200. prisoners and about 600. well mounted horses By the 25. of Febr. were these two expected againe to be backe at Weyden where the report was that the Crabate Corpus himselfe should haue beene slaine in the late conflict Duke Bernhards Foote arrived at Weyden Febr. 22. And now was order given for better fortifying of the towne For now hee thinkes best to provide for the securing of this upper Palatinate where he now was Hereupon hee desired of the City of Norimberg to send in some provant bread and Ammunition to the Townes of Herspruch and Vilseck lately taken by the Birckenfelders He giues order also unto Clous Hastoort a Swede to lay a Swedish Garrison into Sultzbach For that the Imperiall Garrison of Amberg had threatned to pillage that City and that the other Townes were in danger of Iohn de Werth and Gallas From Weyden did Duke Bernhard send a strong partee towards Danaw 3000. Birckenfelders he also sent towards Furth with whom Dubatell was to ioyne from Regenspurg This towne being lately taken by this Dubatell was now againe besieged and taken by Iohn de Werth who passed the riuer Iser in Bavaria 6000. strong as it was reported This Furth was taken the day before the Swedes came Furth taken by the Imperialists and Iohn de Werth having put a garrison into it was retired with the rest of his Army The Swedes supposing the enemy had retired for feare of them and that the Towne had not beene taken Dubatells Lieftenant-Colonell going too neere the walls was shot in the arme of which he afterwards dyed This so enraged the Swedish that they burnt downe the Towne but being not able to master the Castle on the sudden they retired unto Duke Bernhards army unto Averbach For the Duke at the same time that he commanded the Birckenfelders towards Furth went with his owne Army into Kemnath in the beginning of March which Towne imediately yeelded upon composition Thence went he towards Averbach aforesaid fully now resolving to besiege the Towne of Cronach in the Bishopricke of Bamberg Whilest this was there a doing Iohn de Werth and the Duke of Bavaria tooke the opportunity of the absence of Duke Bernard began to make some menaces about Regenspurg Straubingen therfore in doubt to be besieged laboured might and maine upon their new fortifications The Count of Thurn and Colonell Kevenhiller being their directors These two came from Straubing into Regenspurg March 4. who were followed the next day by the blacke Regiment which was thence forward to be enquartered in that Citie It was doubted Iohn de Werth with 6000. men as was reported meant to goe against Abensperg and Mewstettlein and that for his assistance there were great preparations of Boats and shippes made in Ingolstadt whither the Duke of Bavaria was by this time arrived Deckendorf and Falkenstein burnt downe by the Sweds The Swedish therfore perceiving that the Town of Deckendorff was not to bee maintained burnt downe the gates and forsooke it The Castle of Falkenstein which belonged unto Colonell Haslangar they for the same reason demolished and levelled all the out workes of the Castle of Werth The out-works of Werth demolished bringing the souldiers out of both of them into Regenspurg Ketheim being an indifferent strong Towne had a stronger garison laid into it In Regenspurg was there likewise an exchange of prisoners taken on both sides Colonell Schnetter the Governour of Ingolstadt was set at liberty about the 10. of March and suffered to returne into his governement As for Colonell Haslanger he was sent into Norimberg whence hee was to beesent into Frankford on the Mayne The Bishop of Regenspurg also some few dayes before this was sent to bee kept in Norimberg Cronach besieged by D. Bernard Weymar Duke Bernard is all this beginning of March upon his way towards Cronach which strong towne had for a long time beene the very denne of theeves and robbers to the great molestation of the whole Country The trayned bands of the Marquesse of Brandenburg Bairrent next neighbour to the Bishopricke of Bamberg were now also sent against Cronach with Duke Bernards Forces From Coburg and Schwemfurt also was there much Ordnance and Provant bread carryed towards the Dukes Army But the Cronachers being confident upon their owne walls and the strength of their friends in Bavaria who would be able as they hoped to divert their enemies were resolved to defend their Towne to the last man Hereupon they not onely gave no courteous answer unto Duke Bernards summons but a braving and a despightfull one They also killed him some 50 men upon a sally among which were one Lievetenant Colonell one Sergeant major and two Captaines and hurt him above 2 hundred About this time was to bee the funerall of the Duke of Saxen-Coburg Vncle unto Duke Bernard at which solemnity Duke Bernard of necessity was to be present as being Heire unto the deceased and at this funerall he was about mid March when as it was given out that he should have been killed before Cronach In his absence the siege went not on with such carnestnesse yea the Duke himselfe perceiving it more necessary for him to looke to other places now endangered by the enemy The siege of Cronach raised of his owne accord he raised his siege of Cronach about the 20. of March retyring with his Army betwixt Averbach and Norimberg For this Averbach by which Duke Bernard first passed unto Cronach Averbach taken by Vitzdumb was in the meane time taken by Generall Maior Vitzdumb and the Birkenfeldish forces being by a furious battery constrayned to yeeld upon discretion The Imperialists being indifferently well pacified in Bohemia after the death of Walstein were during Duke Bernards absence now fallen into the upper Palatinate where they had burned
of the Evangeliacalls to bee held at Franckford afterwards we have before said something in the title to this Chapter This Circle of the Lower Saxonye is one of the potentest and most considerable of all the Empire The Princes Cities and States of it be most Lutheranes It containes the two Archbishopricks of Bremen and Magdenburg the fiue Bishopricks of Hildesheim Lubeck Swerin Ratzenburg and Schleswick Of secular Princes these be the chiefest The King of Denmark for these lands here which bee of the body of the Empire The Dukes of Saxon-Lawenburg of Brunswick of Lunenburg of Mecklenburg and of Holstein with the Counts of Roffayn and Delmenhorst Of free Cities and Hanse townes these five Hamborow Mulhausen Northansen Goslar Rostock and Gottingen besides those of the Bishops and Dukes before mentioned All these be States of the Circle and of their Land-dayes or generall Diets That those of this Circle had before leagued together excepting the towne of Hamborow and had raised a ioynt army for their owne defence which was commanded by the Duke of Lunenburg the author of the Swedish Intelligencer hath told you in his second part The Vnion therefore which the Lord Director now desired in this Diet was not a strengthening of their owne league onely but to bring them in to agree with the Crowne of Sweden and the Vnion of the 4 Circles made last yeere in the Diet of Heilbrun The place of the Diet was Halberstat and the day of the beginning was Ianuary 27 February 6. These were said to be some of the first Propositions to be consulted upon 1. In what manner the Circle might be brought about to the Heilbrunish conclusions 2. How the Armie might bee raised for their owne defence in case of necessity against the enemy 3. What recompence and thankes should be given to the Crowne of Sweden 4. How there might be a streighter confederation made among the Protestant Germane Princes so that they might be able best to defend themselues and succour one another THE CONCLVSION and Articles agreed upon at Halberstat the 17 27 of February 1634. betwixt the Generall Ambassadour and Rixchancellour of the Crown of Sweden Axel Oxenstiern and the Protestant Princes Peeres and Cities of the Circle of Lower Saxony BEE it known c. Whereas the present Princes and States and also the Counsellours Ambassadours and Deputies of such as could not come themselves of the Circle of Lower Saxony being upon weighty and urgent reasons and motives here assembled have carefully and ripely considered in what great danger disorder and extreme ruinous condition this famous Circle hath been in for this longtime and moreover taken it into especiall consideration how their adversaries have in their-possession and power divers chiefe strong and well fortified townes and withall do still continue their great leavies and preparations for war both within and without this Circle bending all their endeavours wholly to conquer this Circle and to make the same the seat of warre thereby to hasten the undoubted oppression and ruine of all the Evangelicall States and Religion Therefore they could not do otherwise but to think and to resolve upon Christian honest excusable and by all Lawes but especially by the Statutes and Constitutions of the Roman Empire permitted and approved meanes whereby the said States might recover what hitherto both against God and the humane Lawes hath been taken and with holden from them and withall redresse and deliver their poore oppressed and distressed subiects from the miseries and calamities which this great while they suffer defend and maintaine them from all wrong unlawfull force and power and thus leave behinde them to the posterity a true testimony of the dutifull care they have for the glory of God for the preservation of the true Religion and of the liberty of their Country and their owne protection and of their friends 1 And accordingly having in the name of God well considered and maturely weighed the first second third and fourth Article of the proposition they have found it very necessary to make before all things among themselves the Princes and States of this Circle a true faithfull and unfained conjunction confederation and union of their Counsels Minds and Armes And therefore as they are already bound together as united members of the said Circle according to the Constitution of the Empire so now by these presents they do conjoyn and binde themselves together in the firmest sort to stand and to keep faithfull together and none to forsake the other but willingly to spend together their blood goods and lives and withall patiently to undergo and suffer together what prosperity and adversity the warre usually doth afford 2 And calling to minde how the Circle of Vpper Saxony as their neerest neighbours hath alwayes kept a good correspondence with this Lower Circle They do think fit with all possible speed to invite the same to the like streighter conjunction and union not doubting but the Elector Princes and States of the said Circle will not dislike but rather approve of this well intended care and resolution and as they hitherto to their immortall honour have done so hereafter they will assist the Evangelicall affaires advancing the same with an unanimous and constant counsell and assistance and to the same end shall also the Evangelicall States of the Circle of Westphalia be invited 3 Wheras it cannot be denied what the daily experience more than sufficiently doth witnesse namely that it doth much concern all the Evangelicks to joyne and frame by their good intelligence love and conjunction one body together and withall to direct all their intentions counsels actions and affections to one and the same end Therefore the Princes and States of this Circle of Lower Saxony have concluded to enter into a Christian most just and reasonable confederation alliance and conjunction with the foure confederate Vpper Circles and withall with the renowned Crown of Sweden and instead thereof with the Chancellour and authorized Ambassadour of the said Crown in Germany the Lord Axel Oxenstiern Baron c. And they intend to agree and conclude about the manner and conditions of the said conjunction at the next intended meeting or assembly at Franckfort Meane while because the Catholick league and her adherents are not idle but still labouring and endeavoring with their uttermost power to go on in their warlike preparations and to advance their bloody designes both within and without the Empire 4 Therfore it is agreed and concluded to prevent and avoid the extreme danger which hangs as it were over our heads and also to free and assure this Circle from further perill that forthwith there shall bee raysed and brought together the eighteen times double Roman army amounting to the number expressed in the last Matricular book of the Circles and to this effect assignation and order is to be given for the leavying both of the Recrewhes and other Regiments unto every member of this Circle And concerning the mony it is
led them and 300 of the Boores had they provided with their Hatchets and Teames of horse to serue them in removing of the trees about Witsburg which the Swedish had cut downe and layd a crosse to hinder sallyes of horse and all sudden supplies to be carried by Cart to it Early in the morning Febr. 3 13 doe the Imperialists come about their businesse and whilest the Boores were busie in removing of the trees aforesaid Schnetter with his souldiers falls upon the Swedes of Weissenburg At Helft did the Imperialists cut of the Swedish Centinels some thirty men in all and so came forward to the Towne By which time Captaine Simon Rammell Lieftenant-Colonell vnto Sperreuter and the Landgrave Iohn had gotten some Horse together dispersed before in many quarters With 700 Horse they fall out upon the Imperialists with whom they began the skirmish till their owne foote forces would come in to second them In the meane time did the Boores get open the passage in the woods and on horsebacke made shift to get in 15 wayne loades of victuals into the Castle Schnetter having notice that the chiefe of his errand was now dispatched and for that the Swedish began to presse so hard upon him retired to wards Aichstat The Landgrave and Rammell followed and within a league of Aichstat withall their forces overtooke and charged them Three hundred Dragooners and Muskettiers they presently cut in peeces and tooke 800 prisoners Colonest Schnetter and Haslanger taken prisoners Amongst which prisoners were the Colonels Schnetter and Haslanger which were after sent unto Duke Bernard at Regenspurg The rest of the Imperialists fled leaving two peeces of Ordnance foure Ensignes and the most of their baggage together with foure Captaines foure Ancients A great defeate given the Imper. one Ritmaster and one Lieftenant and 25 waggons of Ammunition This was a great victory for that these forces were supposed to be of the bravest of the Imperiall Regiments of those parts which the Weissenburgers were the gladder of for that they had by this means gotten so many good prisoners as might ransome their chiefe Citizens heretofore carryed away captiue by the Imperialists The Landgrave Iohn perceiving the Towne of Aichstat likely to be a bad neighbour to them should the enemies at any time surprize it as they now intended burnt it quite downe to ashes A pitifull prevention which it had heene farre more humanity to have defended than to have destroyed The Imperiall prisoners payd their owne ransomes and had money to boote by taking pay under the Swedish In the end of February did Colonell Sperreuters Horsemen flye out upon Heydeck where they brought all the Fryers and the Iesuites In the beginning of March had those of Ingolstadt another resolution for the victualling of Wilsburg Castle upon Satturday therefore March 8 18 did they againe attempt it which was by Sperreuters Horsemen in Weissenburg both discovered and prevented These sallying out upon the Imperiall Convoy killed one Lieftenant-Colonell and eighteene souldiers taking some sixteene prisoners and fourteene Waggons of provision And this is the state of Wilsburg Castle which is likely enough so long to hold out as Ingolstadt in Bavaria and Cronach and Forcheim in the Bishopricke of Bamberg are able to relieve it THE HISTORY OF GVSTAVVS HORNE CHAP. 2. WHilst Feria and Altringer being hindred in their designe to fall into the Dukedom of Wertenburg marched leysurely backe againe towards Bavaria about the middle of Novem. and about the 21. sate downe at Hufingen and Donaw Estbinging Gustavus Horne enquartered about Weylar and the diocesse of Horneberg whither he had come from Offenburg neere Alsatia and through the Kitzinger valley Novem. 19. his head Quarter was at Retweill and Altringers at Donam Esthinging Horne desired the Wertembergers troopes to ioyne with him that at next rising of the enemy he might fall upon their marching Feria and Altringer perceiving Hornes neerenesse rose and whereas their intent was to haue wintred in Wirtemberg land they now make towards the Danow which the passe at Dutlengen Novem. 21. Altringers hend quarter was at Miskirking some of their struglers and others that could not march so fast were cut off by Horne and Nov. 23. Colonell Brinck and Colonell Wrangle being sent out by him cut off 300 Musketteeres that were dispersed about the Dorps to get in victuals Horne with the maine of the Army stayed for the Rhinegrave Otto Lodowick that with both their forces they might take their way through the Elbinger valley towards Riethlingen on the Danubie to pursue the enemy A thousand of Altringers men cut off and he like to be taken The Rhine-graue being come both the Swedish Generals passed Danubie in the end of the month and the Rhine-graues horse regiment falling upon some of Altringers about Weissenhorn Botzheim Dietenheim and Brandenburg cut off neare 1000. enemies And had not two Boores given warning to Altringer himselfe had beene surprized at Dietenheim as he sate at table whereupon he fled leaving his victuals all behinde him In the beginning of December both the Rhinegrave and the Palatine Berkenfelt met at Vlus whence they went to Weissenhorne where Gustavus Horne then held his chiefe quarter Euery day the Swedish cut off some Imperialists one day took a pragmaticall Iesuit of Ingolstadt who undertooke to espy survey the country passages of aduantage cōcerning which intention of his the notes and instructions being found about him he was hanged up with his fellowes at the Pfallinger passage neere Reitlingen In the meane time while Altringer and the Duke de Feria advanced Hornes army braued their reare but they would not accept of battell howeuer now and then were two or three hundred straglers cut off at a time and at Reutlingen a whole foot company yeelded to the Swedish and tooke pay of them and in the next towne to it were a troope of Crabats surprized and the Ritmaster with his Liefetenant taken prisoners A troope of Crabats taken Herereupon some few of those Crabats that escaped giving the alarme to their maine Army that then lay at Munderkingen and Emerkingen the Catholike Generals being assured of Hornes comming to Renthingen rose with all haste and went towards Bavaria Hereupon did Horne follow them upon the other side of the Danubie which is on the Wirtenbergers side for that he doubted by the enemies offering to repaire some Bridges betwixt Vlm and Munderkingen that they purposed to passe againe the Danubie Horne to preuent this marche something befere the enemy from Ehingen as farre as Erbach by which the enemy perceiuing himselfe to be way-laid euery where turned from the Danuby towards the Riuer Iller where at Brandenburg hee caused the Bridge to be repayred intending there to passe ouer towards Wurtenberg Of this Horne hauing notice sends out two strong partees of horse one of the Rhine graues regiment commanded by Maior Goldstein the other under the command of Colonel Wutenberg with order to passe ouer
the Danubie to disturbe the enemy One of these Commanders passed ouer at Vlm and the other at Erbach and both hasted towards Brandenburg Two hundred Imprialists slaine two Ritmasters taken and two slaine At Weisenhorn did Goldenstein rout 200. horse of Aldtbrandini and Gonzagaes regiment who came to fetch away a company of their owne Dragooners that lay there Two Imperiall Ritmasters were then slaine a young Lord Fugger who was a Ritmaster and had lately giuen out Patents for new levyes and Maior Vernemont were made prisoners Colonell Wutenberg on the other side of the Iller in the Village of Mangen fell upon some Crabats killed 60. and tooke a Ritmaster and had hee bin stronger for he was not above 200 hee had done more spoyle This was upon the fourth of Decem. In this meane time did Hornes Army of foot passe the Danubie at Erbach and his Cavallery march all night towards Brandenburg hoping there to haue surprized the enemy in their passing of the River Iller but they being terrified by what Wutenberg had done to their Crabats durst not now passe ouer at Brandenburg but marcht away to Egelsee and there went ouer the Iller Horne passeth the Iller after Feria and cuts off 200. of his reere After them did Horne send out some horse who cut off some 200 of their reare that had not yet passed the Riuer After that did all Hornes foot passe the Iller too and marched into Weissenhorn where he made his head quarter and his horse he inquartered about Memingen and those places Decemb. the sixt very early his Army brake up to follow the enemy but having notice that they were gone towards Kauffhauren and gotten into the aduantagious country of Algow he returned backe to Weissenhorn Wutenberg was againe sent out who in the Village of Apfeldrang defeated some more of Gonzaga's regiment and had surprised a troope of Crabats in the next village had they not run away very manfully The Catholike Generals are now glad to make towards Bavaria into which by the riuer Lech they enter at Schonga and Fnessew having as is beleeved scarce brought away the third part of their Army Spanish Italians Germans and Burgundians Hornes people were supposed to haue killed 600 Crabats in a few dayes Feria brings scarce a third part of his army alive into Bavaria and so many of the Duke de Feria's men dyed by the way by frost and famine that betwixt Vlm and Bibrack were found 1000 dead carcasses Some prisoners reported likewise that some horse regiments were not aboue 30 strong for that their horses being dead their men were faine to goe on foot Before that Feria and Altringer parted from Raufbauren they left that towne with Kempten and Memmingen very well garrison'd after which they passed the Lech upon the 8 of Decemb. Then goes Horne and the Palatine Christian of Berkenfeld from Gunsburg to Lawgingew and Dillingew Wedle dispossesses two Regiments of the Imperialists The Imperialists being now gotten into Bavaria Colonell Wedle was sent from Augsburg with two regiments of horse and one regiment of Dragooners against them He going towards Landsberg Decem. 9. dispersed two regiments of them but the mayne of their Army comming on hee retreated without harme taking Feria and Altringer part Now doth the Duke of Feria part from Altringer whom leauing in Bavaria he goes with his weake Spanish and Italians to take up his winter quarters in Tyroll Altringer as it appeareth kept himselfe a while about the bankes of the Lech for marching at his first entrance with part of his Army towards Dachaw he returned eftsoones towards Furssen Gustavus Horn and Birckenfeld in the meane time take up their quarters in the Bishopricke of Aichstat and about Ostingen Nordlingen and those places on the edge of Schwabland towards Bavaria A little before this was the Rhinegraue gone from Horns Army backe againe towards Alsatia where new troubles were created Altringer after a weeke or two sought to have his winter quarters in the Bishopricke of Saltzburg which the Boores so well as they could resisted About Christmas time did Gustavus Horn send part of his Army towards the upper Palatinate to keepe Wallenstein from ioyning that way with Altringer and Feria T is further written from Franckfurt by letters of the 13 23 of Ianuary that whereas Gustavus Horn and Palatine Berkenfelt were with a great part of their forces about the upper Palatinate that Duke Bernard was to come and ioyne with them for the clearing of that Country Altringer in the meane time is still scuffling with the Boores of Saltzburg and to hinder Weymars and Horns ioyning he and Walenstein threaten to besiege Regenspurg but that is not much feared Altringer since this hath layd about Landshut and those places and hath had a moneths mind to breake into the upper Palatinate but Horns sending in Forces hath prevented him and Major Generall Vitzdumb bath there recovered divers places from the Bavarians As for Gustavus Horn himselfe he made againe to the Frontiers of Schwaben towards Bavaria and Novem. 28. Old Style himselfe lodged in Vlm at which time his foote had their head quarter at Ouer-Rottingen and his horse at Weissenhorn whence they are going to besiege Bibrach The Duke of Bavaria in person hath some whiles layne at Brauna in the further edge of his owne Countrey whence be would very faine haue gone for feare of intercepting but that the Estates of the Countrey intreated him to stay fearing a confusion which his flight and absence might put his subiects into The Boores of Saltzburg have lately defeated Altringers Regiment of Furstenberg and pillaged the baggage of Colonell Salis to restraine whom the Duke of Bavaria was faine to send some Regiments T is written out of Schwaben Ianuary 9. that the Duke of Feria dyed at Munchen and indeed his body was afterwards carried into Italy The death of Feria and his Army decreaseth very much because divers have beene slaine and others doe sterve daily with frost and hunger And out of Schwaben againe Ian. 12. No man here doubteth of the death of the Duke of Feria In the upper Palatinate about the beginning of the new yeere did Generall-Major Vitzdumb recover the Towne of Sultzbach where were 11 Souldiers onely left by the Bauarians Sultzbach taken Amberg the chiefe City of the upper Palatinate hath a good while also expected to be besieged and for that Colonell Illo was rumoured to be comming from Walstein out of Bohemia with 6000 men to relieve it and the Countrey Vitzdumb therefore leaving Sultzbach well provided with 8 troopes of Horse and 300 Foote made haste to take in Hirschaw Vilseck and Averbach He set forth from Sultzbach Ianuary 8 but it was the 11 by that time he could get to Vilsech for that the wayes were so durty that their carriages could march but slowly and they were inforced to leave two Demi cannons behind them Vilseck taken by the Swedes In Vilsech
to Wangen and Lindaw In the way the Swedish were said to light upon some Imperialists that were carrying a golden Image into Constance which they tooke for booty Horn made his head quarter at Ravenspurg where he still was the 8 of February Before which time he had sent to Ausburg for some of his Commanders being then beleeved to have some great enterprize in hand which was supposed to bee intended against the strong towne of Lindaw upon the Bodensee some few leagues beyond Wangen All this businesse the Governour of the said Bibrach understanding was minded as is reported to have burnt downe all the villages about the City for prevention of the Swedish lodging in them But this he was perswaded against by the much intreating of Major Brandenburger Iohn de Werth as 't is sayd thus making towards Deckendorff was also there beaten off with some losse as you shall heare the actions of Duke Bernard Weymar As for Generall Altringer he also was disabled about this time for not being so active as otherwise perhaps hee might have been by some accusations now layd against him And the speech then was that hee either actually was or was in danger to bee put out of his Generalship The presumptions for this report prevailed so farre that Colonell Reinacher was voyced to succeed him in the Command One of his enemies was said to be the Duke of Bavaria and the accusation for that hee had been crosse unto the Duke of Feria For wheras the designe of Ferias and Altringers armies was to maintaine the places in the Empire not yet taken by the Sweds to recover what they could and to open the passage towards the Low Countryes Altringer t was objected envying the glory of it unto a stanger under whose greater title and the name of the Spanish Army his own actions should bee overclouded hee had never well accorded with the projects of the sayd Duke and had dealt but somnolently and improvidently in the businesse By which negligence and bad correspondency the designe had not only been defeated but the corpus and bodie of a brave Armie ruinated Altringer sent for to Vienna to cleere himselfe Hereupon was Altringtrer sent for into Austria where I find him at Vienna Feb. 12 23. and it was the beginning of Mar. ere he could cleare himselfe of the allegations and be dispatched to his charge againe in Bavaria In his absence Iohn de Werth commanded The Generall and Commissary Ossa was about this time said to be in disgrace too and to be arrested in Inspruck in Tyrole The Citizens of Lindaw also were mightily now discontented with Colonell Vitz dumb who had sent 100 of their chiefest Citizens prisoners after the former Governour Konig into Bregentz where they were all hard examined concerning the aforesaid obiected correspondency with the Swedes or French men These distractions gave Gustavus Horne a hope to get in Lindaw and to determine to move towards it but the Townesmen were presently curbed and Gustavus Hornes hopes prevented by the receiving of some new come Italians into his Lindaw Moerspurg taken by assault Before the 20 of February they write from Ausburg that he had taken Moerspurg upon the Bodensee neere unto Vberlingen where the most of the Garrison were put unto the sword and that his men beat the Campagnia and roaved up and downe as farrre as the gates of Lindaw The neighbour Marckdorff belonging to the Bishop of Constance he put a Garrison into Vberlingen was held blockt up Kempten had bin summoned by his Trumpet upon Febr. 11 25. And Lindaw Constance and Bregentz were all in equall suspition which should be first fallen upon About Febr. 26. hee had his head quarter at Stockach upon the North-west end of the Bodensee towards the Danubie and the land of Wirtenberg The passage fort and bridge of the towne of Stein upon the Rhine which hereabouts runnes thorow the Bodensee and so goes to the Westward was now said to be delivered up unto the Swedish Marshall by the Protestant Switzers The Imperiall towne of Pfullendorff upon the Northerne side of the Bodensee or Lake of Constance he put a Garrison into Horn prevailes much by the Bodensee and so scowred the Coast up and downe all along the Lake side which is 40 miles long towards Bavaria and the Lech that he cut off all passages and entercourse betwixt Kempten Memmingen and Lindaw so that they of Lindaw were faine to have all their provisions come to them upon the backe side thorow the Lake or Bodensee out of Switzerland And thus neere Italy did this Gustavus advance the terrour of the Swedish Armes even to the very frontiers of Tyrole and of Switzerland one at the South-East end and the other on the South side of the Bodensee By this also was hee gotten neere unto the Rhinegrave to whom upon occassion he might march up and receive succours from him The Protestant Switzers were now his friends as appeareth by their rendring up the Fort of Stein to him and they had now a good Army of 6000. or 8000. 15000. I finde it written in a readinesse so that there was nothing enemy unto him on that side of the Lake but the towne and Bishopricke of Constance who being in league with the Catholique Switzers they perchance might unseasonably have beene provoked by Gustavus Hornes medling too farre that way And especially now that the 7 Cantons of the Catholique Switzers had some difference with the other 6 Cantons of the Protestant Switzers as having lately ioyned in League with the Spaniards Besides all this there were 2500 new Italians come thorow Tiroll into this Constance and Lindaw In the end of February did our Swedish Felt-Marshall receiue a good strength of new raised horse into his Army And there was need of them for the Imperiall Colonell Luyrs who had before commanded the Horse which came into this Schwabland with Iohn de Werth together with him had as you have heard beene beaten out with him did now againe begin to appeare upon the further side of the Countrey all along upon the Schwabland side betweene the Rivers of Iller and the Lech at Fuessen namely Frenlaw Kempten Mundelheim Frenten and other places To take order with these his Excellency the Felt-Marshall sent command unto Colonell Rostein who then lay at Waldsee something neere unto them to goe against them who being now sicke dispatched away his Regiment and the Baron Hoffkircks against those about Fuessen Heare the successe in the Letter of the said Frederick of Rostein dated from Waldsee March 8 18. Consulting earnestly with my selfe how the foure Imperiall Regiments that were enquartered about Fuessen which were commanded by Colonel Luyrs might be assaulted and surprised At last I sent against them the Lievetenant Colonell of Hoffkirks Regiment together with mine owne Regiment and Lievetenant Colonell my selfe being then so weake that I was not able to goe along with them Besides this the enemy at that time
of Gentlemen and his Horse troopes where hee was receiued with a very good entertainement by the inhabitants who all cryed in their language God saue the King Vpon the finishing of this treaty Mounsieur the Marshall de la Force made good the promise of the Marquis his Sonne and gaue passage to the Count of Salm for to goe as is said into the Franche County Neuerthelesse hee was conuoyed along thorow the Lands possessed by the King by the Regiment of Nauarre and Auquincourt and two Troopes of Horse Concerning the City of Zauern distant 4. Leagues from that of Hagenaw The Garrison which is in the same for the Duke of Lorraine vpon the Summons by vs made hath demanded 4. dayes respit for to giue aduice to his highnesse This Citte cannot hold out as it is reported the Castle of Aubar which commands most of the said Citie is vnder the obedience of the King And hee hath in it 2. French Companies Thus the Citie of Hagenaw which in Warre seemed able to resist all the forces that would aduenter themselues against it came into the power of the French And this is a matter of very great consequence For that the French grow very strong in those parts by hauing this Towne and the Count of Hanaws countrey By this is Lorraine hemed in on that side and the edge of Germany open to them And had they gotten Vdenheim too they had beene great masters vpon the edge of the Palatinate Thus haue you already heard what the French Nation hath reported of this action in honour of their owne Nation But whereas the authour of that relation hath quite left out the Rhinegraue as if his part had bin no other but the blocking vp of some passages and that by the Marshall de la Forces direction too wee shall now afford you a more punctuall story of the same businesse receiued from a better hand and deliuered from an abler iudgement From a Gentleman I meane of the Scottish-Gensd'armes or compleatly armed Horse-men and Men at Armes then hauing their share in the action as part of the French Armie From St. Blayse Ianuary 5. 15. 1633. VPon Friday 1. 13. of this present Ianuary 1633. aduertisement was brought to our Generall the Marshall de la Force in his Quarters at St. Auan 12 leagues beyond Metz that some Imperiall troops were marched out of Hagenaw with 4. Peeces of Canon towards Zauern A French League is 3. miles English and a German League of the middle sort which is most commonly vsed in Mapps and Stories is 4. of our Miles which is a place in the edge oâ— Lorraine and Alsatia belonging to the Duke or Lorraine but in the Emperors name kept by the Count of Salm who there recided as Gouernour of it This being in the way ot the French Armie and the Marshall de la Force hauing receiued order from the Court not to suffer any of the Emperors Forces to get ooting in Lorraine which vpon the late Treatie was vnder the Kings protection the Marshall was the more obliged to looke to it For this reason sent hee his sonne the young Marquis de la Force with the Foore Regiments of Nauarre Piedmont Hauquincourt Menillet with 8. troopes of Horse vnto Lore where the Scottish Gensd'armes were then enquartered with order also to take them along with him which hee did Vpon Sunday being the 5. were some spies sent out to make discouerie of the enemies forces and intentions who were then appointed to meet the Armie by mid-night vp-vpon Munday at Freiburg which was a long march from Lore aforesaid The Spies made their obseruations very punctually and brought certaine intelligence to the Marquis that the enemies exceeded not 2500. Foote with fiue Troopes of Horse and that their intention was to passe either into Luxemburg or into the Franche County And that they had bin constrained to forsake Hagenaw for scarcity of Victualls for that the garrison there had found themselues ouercharged by the feeding of them they being left there by the Duke of Feria in some disorder as he passed that way out of Alsatia into Germany Vpon this intelligence it was disputed among the French how many wayes there were by which the Count of Salm might get into the Franche County The young Marquises order being to crosse that part of his designe whilest his Father the Marshall lay with the body of the Armie betwixt him and Luxemburg It was discouered that they had three wayes to goe one by Zauern another by St. Blayse and the third thorow Alsatia which last passage was sufficiently stopt vp by the Swedish who lie thereabouts in Garrisons Hereupon it was resolued to march towards Blamont some 8. Lorraine leagues from Nancy vpon the roade of Strasburg it being within halfe a League of the Zauern way and not so farre siom St. Blayse but that the French could reach it as soone as could the Imperialists Friday night which was the 10th the French ariued at Blamont where finding no quarters and prouision for entertainement they the next day remoued a League off to Baccara with intention to remaine some few dayes there for refreshing of their horses and for returning of their Spies which they looked not for vntill the Tuesday after Vpon Sunday Ianuary the 12. about noone the Spies came bringing certaine intelligence with them that the enemie hauing heard of the Frenches intention to stay at Blamont had put themselues vpon their march vpon Saturday in the very beginning of the Night to goe towards S. Blayse and could not faile of comming to it before Munday in the euening Hereupon was order sent abroad into all the French quarters to march presently towards Badenwiller and that the Baggage should bee sent vnto Baccara to bee guarded there altogether This was instantly put in execution and the whole troopes were vpon their march by two a Clock after dinner At 4. they came to Badenwiller where new order was giuen for holding on the march vnto Raon-Sur plaine At 6. a Clocke they entered the Hilles and Woods which continued vntill within halfe a League of Raon where by 9. a Clock they arriued The French hauing there fed their horses march thence againe continuing vntill mid-night all through the Hilles and Woods till Munday noone the 13.23 By that time had they reached St. Blayse where they light vpon diuers of the Imperiall Auant Curriers which were come thither to take vp lodgings for the Armie against night They being taken prisoners confessed vnto the French that the Count of Salm whom the French then sought for was then with his Army at Rhode a Towne about 2. Leagues off and that certainely hee would by so ne of the peasants bee aduertised of the Frenches being at St. Blayse the towne belonging to the Count aforesaid so that it was not to bee expected but that vpon these tidings the Imperialists would presently counter march towards Zauern and thus indeede it prooued for that within
also agreed that there shall be payd monthly into the common treasure of the Circle the contribution contained under the title of the twelve times double Roman army 5 In consideration wherof all other subsidies and contributions promised and agreed upon in former particular alliances or treaties are to cease all exemptions bee taken away and also all troopes both of horse and foot now enquartered in the Dominions of the Princes and States of this Circle especially in the Earldomes of Hohn and Reinstein are to be withdrawn without any exactions except the foresaid assigned Regiments of the new intended army Item the townes of Muhlhausen and Northausen are to remain in the liberties of the Circle and bee henceforth freed from the impositions layd upon them by the orders made at Erfort 6 The generall direction of the said army having been presented unto the Lord Rixchancellour his Excellency both upon the earnest instance of these States and out of the affection he bears to the Evangelick affaires hath accepted thereof and upon his advice the most illustrious Prince George Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg hath been named and appointed Generall and the Right honourable Iohn Banier Knight Counsellour of the Crown of Sweden Field marshall of the said army Other particularities touching this matter are referred to the said assembly at Franckfort 7 And that in the meane time all things might the better speed a reasonable equality observed none more than his neighbor charged or troubled and all mis-intelligence removed there is presently established a Councell of this Circle carefully to observe provide and take order in all that shall be done that it do tend and turn to the good of this Circle and of the common cause And particularly that in all the marchings passings and enquarterings of the forces the fittest times and places be observed all misbehaviours and unrulinesse avoyded and punished all possible and equitable equality kept And therefore no State or member of this Circle shall be bound hereafter to receive or give passage or quarter to any troops without expresse order from the said Councell of the Circle and whensoever any such passing and enquattering shall bee requisit the States and members of the Circles shall then first bee advertised by the said Councell the better and in good time to provide all necessary victuals and other things 8 Particularly it is found most necesary that henceforth there bee not suffered any superfluity of baggage nor visctualers horses the same being most prejudicious combersome to the expedition and army and most harmfull by reason of the forrage and thefore the Councell of the Circle is well to consider and resolve to reforme and use the Lord Directors advice and help in the same 9 There are appointed certain townes for the Magasins and the treasure or contributions and withall there hath been made a consent and agreement by the States for the gathering of all needfull and requisit provision of victuals ammunition and other things wherein every one will not faile to do his duty and for the receipt thereof there are now named a generall Treasurer and other officers for the said corn mony and munition 10 The Law of warre and whatsoever concerns the same shall not serve against any amongst the confederates but whatsoever shall bee taken or gotten from the enemy at common expences and by generall assistance not belonging either properly or by reason of treaty or alliance unto some other State and where other Evangelick States have no right nor intrest in the same shall bee converted to the common good and use of the warre 11 It is also agreed upon and concluded whatsoever the Evangelick States of the neighbouring Circle of Westphalia whether they be Cities Towns or Dominions Castles or houses of Noblmen shall pay and bee obliged to contribute unto this warre wholly intended for the common good and for the deliverance and defence as well of the sayd Circle of Westphalia as of the States of this Circle of Lower Saxen 12 Item whatsoever shall be recovered and gotten whether by way of contribution conquest or other advantage from the enemies countryes that the same shall bee brought into the Treasury established for this Circle whereby the same may bee releeved as also the quarters that shall bee gotten from the enemies by our said army shall ease and supply those of this Circle 13 Whereas unevitable necessity hath enforced this Circle to lay siege before the City of Hildesheim and to block up both the strong towne of Wolfenbuttel and other places lying on the Weeser therefore according to the sessing and appointment made of the necessaries thereunto belonging every Prince and State of this Circle is to pay his quoâ—â— or portion with all expedition and deliver or send without misse the sayd imposition and assignation for the maintenance of the Regiments imployed in the sayd siege as long is it shall last 14 Forasmuch as it will bee needfull and doth much concern the desirable generall conjunction and alliance of all the Evangelick States which is to bee hoped and looked for at the said universall assembly at Franckfort principally to think and conclude upon a conformity and equallity Therefore the States of this Circle of Low-Saxen do esteem it both behoofull and necessary to commumunicate advise and conclude about all these most important and weighty matters that the fittest resolution be taken in whatsoever shall bee thought good to do to change to amend in or to adde to this conclusion 15 And because this arming is by our enemies enforced upon us and only undertaken by us for our defence and safety and especially for the recovering and reestablishing a Christian honest and assured generall Peace in the holy Roman Empire Therefore upon mature deliberation of the fift Article of the Proposition the Princes and States and Deputies here assembled have been very glad to understand that his royall Majesty of Denmark c. doth intend to reassume and take againe in hand and go on in his former laudable interposition and Treaty of Peace and for the same reason it is desired that both the present Princes and States as also those that are absent being advised by their Ambassadours and Deputies do carefully consult and communicate their opinions together about the manner meanes and assurances concerning the said desired Peace that with the more hope and successe they may thereof sufficiently open their minds unto and conferre with the rest of the Evangelick Electors Princes States at the said generall assembly at Franckfort whereby may appeare both their great inclination to a good peace and quiet and also their gratefull affection towards the Crown of Sweden for the great merits and deserts in Evangelick affaires 16 And forasmuch as the house of Holstein and the City of Lubeck have neither been invited nor present by their Deputies at this assembly of this Circle it is concluded that the conclusion thereof shall bee dispatched unto them by the present
who was his great friend as likewise Gordons Sergeant Major named Walter Lesley foreseeing all the perill which threatned them for as much as Fridland himselfe had formerly informed them that the King of Hungary would goe into the field against the Emperour his Fathers will with intention to take the chiefest forces of the Army and that therefore he was resolved to assist the Emperour that hee had yet ready money enough to leavy 30000 men and likewise that he expected the enemy for his succours praying them to remaine with him and that he would largely recompence them shewing them thereupon a letter of Frances Albert Duke of Saxen They having heard him thus discover his treason secretly met together and joyning with them the Sergeant Major of the said Butler named Robert Giraldine an Irish-man and these Captains Walter d' Ebrox Dionysius Macdaniel Edmund Bierk and Captaine Iohn Braun who had order to keepe and watch the streets and let none goe out of dores whilest they made the premeditated execution having first sworne to one another to performe it or to dye choosing amongst them a Sergeant Major and two Captaines to wit the said Captaine Robert Geraldin with order to goe with a certain number of Irish souldiers to the house of Illo and Captaine Dionysio Mac-daniel with twenty Irish men towards Fridlands Captained d' Ebrox with other twenty Irish souldiers to Tertzki's and Kinsky's lodging who were lodged together not trusting any other Nation nor the souldiers of the Garrison Afterwards considering that so many separations might occasion some uproare or tumult in the City they deliberated to invite to supper into the Castle these foure Tertzky Kinsky Illo Tertzki his Captaine of the Guard who heretofore had bin Secretary and Chancelor to Fridland named Newmā And as indeed they were invited by Sergeant Major Lesly in the name of Coll. Butler and of Lieutenant Collonel Gordon so they all came in a Coach and being at Table at the dessert those three Captaines entred who had undertaken that execution causing the said Irish souldiers to come also in two and two three and three and in greater number together till they came to the number of forty as well Officers as souldiers and amongst them was one Spanyard passing through the Guard of the German souldiers who was at the Castle gate trusting the Dutch Lieutenant would let them enter without contradiction who notwithstanding knew not to what end they came because they had all their Armes and Muskets hid Some amongst them went to keepe the secōd gate and others in divers places to make themselves masters of the Castle if there should arise any noyse or tumult at the first gate Sergeant Major Geraldine took eight souldiers Captaine d' Ebrox 12 and Dionysio twenty to keepe the said first gate if it should be need and presently to kill the first that would goe forth Then the said Sergeant Major entred with his men at the one dore for there were two doores to goe into the great roome and likewise Captaine d' Ebrox came with his twelve souldiers into the other When the said Sergeant Major standing with his men under his doore said Live Ferdinand and the said Captain answered And the whole house of Austria wherat they at table being troubled arose and went to take their swords but Butler and the others who supped with them did kill Kinsky and Newman and Illo thinking to defend himself was also presently slain Tertzky fled towards the doore where hee met Captaine Dionysio with his men of whō craving quarter the Captaine asked him the word and hee answered Fridlands watchword which was S. Iames To which the Captaine replying that for the present that word availed nothing but onely that of Austria whereupon he with his men invironed killed him Some servants of the dead men would have defended their Masters and came with naked swords and hurt two souldiers but two of the said servants were presently killed whereupon all was appeased in the Castle After this execution finished Sergeant Major Lesley wēt towards the gate of the citie to let in 100 dragōs with two Irish Captaines and a Scotch one whom hee trusted to keep the streets not to suffer any souldier or Burger to go out of their houses That being done hee went towards the Guard on the Market place and there gave order that they should not move out of their places although they heard some noyse and he remained with them keeping watch being of the same Regiment untill Fridlands execution was finished who was not lodged in the said Castle To his executiō went Collonel Butler Sergeant Major Geraldino Captaine Debrox and Captaine Dionisio Lieutenant Coll Gordon keeping watch in the Castle untill they returned from the execution And going towards Fridlands house they heard a great noyse of the cries and lamētasions of Tertzky Kinsky their Ladies who had already understood the cause of their griefe from a Page Which the said Collonel hearing presently commanded the Captaines to hasten and finish the service of his Imperiall Majesty and divided them appointing Captaine Dionysius to goe to the Market place to Sergeant Major Lesley and to cause him in the Collonels name to cōmand the rest of the dragons to goe watch and guard the streets for it was time and to bid Captaine Debrox to goe to Fridlands quarter who was up and at the window hearing the cries lamentations of the said two women and because the house had divers doors Collonel Butler commanded Giraldine to place about it Guards of his Nation that no body should get out The said captaine Debrox going up the Collonel staid below and captaine Dionysio returning from the market was by Collonel Butler presently commanded to goe up to assist at Fridlands execution and take heed that he did not escape because the chāber had two doores Being gone up he found both the chamber open and that captaine Debrox had already fulfilled the execution having heard the body of the Traytor Fridland fall to the ground with a great noise who had beene killed with a Partisan in this maner When Debrox went up hee found two servants of his chamber whereof the one asked him what he would have saying further that his Highnesse rested and that they must not make a noyse whom a souldier presently thrust thorow which caused all the other servants to flie away leaving his Highnesse al alone The said Captaine advancing to the doore of the chamber which was locked with his foote quickly opened it and found Fridland right against the doore in his shirt to whom he said Thou Traitor to the Emperor now thou must dye to which he answered nothing and was thrust thorow with a broad and two edged Partisan and as he was falling an Irish souldier as tall as a Gyant named Nielcarf embraced the body to cast it downe out of the window but the Captaines who were present would not consent thereto but having wrapped it up in