the motions of the enemy should come away And this was the order of the Retreat The Reere marcht off first of all and whilest they turne faces about to goe homewards the Van and Battell stood their ground as ready to receive the enemy The order of the Retreat When the Reere was comne to their place of Stand they there made Halt facing about againe to the enemy Whilest they stood the Battell marched observing in all points the order and discipline of the Reere When they make a Stand the Van advances the Wing of Horse afore spoken of at the same time moving and flancking them Three hundred Muskettiers with some Cornets of Horse were left behind to manne the Reere and to make good the Retreat in case the enemy which he did not should have falne out upon them And in this goodly order and equipage which was a very beautifull sight to behold was the Retreat made all done in Battaglia as if they had even then advanced into the Field to have charged the enemy Soone was the Army in their new Quarters which were not farre from the foresaid mountaine For now was the King resolued to entrench himselfe close unto the enemy choosing the place for his new Leaguer The King encampeth hard by the Imperialists neere unto Furt iust without the Forest yea so neere unto Walensteins trenches that some one of his greater Peeces would haue rang'd her bullet even to the very Quarter Early the next morning August 26. was the new Campe begunne to be fortified that is upon the open side of it the backe-part being sufficiently assured by the woods And now might the Generalissimo if he pleased have done as much for the King as he had attempted upon his trenches These had beene his advantages His Leaguer was already fortified but the Kings Works not perfected for some dayes after He out his higher ground might overlooke the Kings Quarters and see every motion in it The Kings Campe was in a faire Campagnia and therefore accessible nor was there any thing in the way to have hindered the Imperialists from falling into the Swedish Leaguer Two or three dayes after the end of the great rencounter were the prisoners and dead on both sides ransomed and exchanged Monsieur de la Grange the French Ambassadour was sent from the King into the enemies Leaguer who returned with many prisoners telling his Majesty of many things likewise unto the hearing whereof but few were admitted Major-Generall Sparre was not onely set at libertie by the King but employed also by him unto Walenstein with the prisoners He made likewise some generall overtures of a peace in which he had desired of the King that he might use his owne liberty In lieu of Major Sparre was Colonel Leonard Tortenson Generall of the Kings Artillery freely set at liberty by the Generalissimo and that with a great complement to the King as we haue before told you As for Colonell Erich-Hand a Swede he was to stay in the Imperiall Leaguer till his wounds were cured In the Bill of the prisoners that was sent from the Imperialists unto the King were there many names read whose persons were no where to be found among the Captives The Prisoners by which they were giuen for dead In this former Action were these men of account slaine on the Kings side The Count of Erpach who died of his wounds dead Generall-Major Boetius a brave man and Lieftenant Colonell Scepter Of Duke Williams men slaine Lieftenant-Colonel Mackin Vnder the Landtgrave of Hessen slaine Rit-master Maurice of Malsburg with Rit-master Craisham brother to the Marshall of his Maiesties Army Of the English and Scottish divers whose names I have not and wounded on the Kings side Divers other Captaines Lieftenants Ensignes and other inferior Officers there lost their lives with 7. or 800. common souldiers none of whose bodies fell into the hands of the enemies There was found sticking in the body of one of his Maiesties Guards a bullet of three pound weight Wounded on the Kings side the Counts of Eberstein Cassel and Thurne with Erich-Hand Rotstein and Bourt all Colonels together with divers other Captaines Rit-masters and other Officers Of common souldiers were there some 1500. which were brought into the Hospitals of Norimberg On the Imperiall side lost 3. Ensignes Slaine the Lord Iames Fugger Colonell of 1000. Curiassiers or Men at Armes This Lord being deadly wounded and brought prisoner into Norimberg there expired He being demanded what he knew of Walensteins intentions answered as some report it that he meant to keepe himselfe in the guard hee then lay at and to wage battell no otherwise then in that posture But some other report this way of his last words That calling for drinke he should say t' is no time to dissemble now Walenstein will assault you Which said he dranke and dyed Said to be slaine besides Colonel Aldobrandino Colonell Dom Maria de Caraffa with 5. Colonels more though some Gentlemen of our Nation passing next day thorow the Campe affirmed that they spake with some of them These things must be knowne from the prisoners who being about 60. in number perchance knew not all the Imperialists having wit enough to conceale their owne losses Those of the Swedish side reported it from the prisoners that there should have beene slaine about 1000. Walsteiners which upon such disadvantages in the fight I thinke not to be likely The Corps of the dead Lord Fugger being sent into the Imperiall Leaguer the souldiers that carried him had 25 Dollars given them My Dutch Officer reports me a pretty story of a complement or an allegeance rather betwixt an humble bullet and the K. namely how that a piece of the sole of his Maiesties boote neere unto the great toe of his right foot was carryed away with a Shot This bullet knew his duty for a King should be toucht no higher all are to stoope thither Both he and the Swedish Lords Letter agree that the Imperiall Generalissimo had his Horse that day shot dead under him whereas others then in the action bid me be confident That Walenstein all that day stirred not so far out of his Pavilion Sure it is that Duke Bernard of Saxon-Weymar had a horse slaine under him and that his behaviour all that fight was beyond all expectation valiant Walenstein t is written having false notice brought him in the heate of the fight that the old Castle was taken answered with an oath That he would not beleeue that there was a God in Heauen if that Castle could possibly be taken from him This the prisoners reported And thus have I finished this most memorable conflict Turne we to other actions of lesse moment done neere the Leaguer The King not able either to dislodge Walenstein nor to bring him into Campagnia The King labouring to cut off Walsteins victualls cast about in the next place how to put another Brave upon him the same too
it to Piccolomini rewarding him with as much confiscated lands for it as was better then 100000. pound Sterling Holck he made Felt-Marshall in place of Pappenheim who is now the man that can doe all in all with him And hereas the King of Denmarke whose subiect Holck is sent to command him home under penalty of confiscating his goods let him saies Walenstein I le bestow tenne times so much upon him giving him his choice thereupon of any of these 4. Cities Teplitz Brix Saiss and Diewitz the meanest of which had 16 or 18 pretty villages belonging to the Lordship of it And thus much of the doings of the Imperialists both in their flight and in Bohemia have I learned from Captaine Edward Feilding Those that had done cowardly in the Battell he said nothing of but as they came to Prague he seases and imprisons them Of these by Christmas time there were already 18. apprehended Of whom some were Counts and Barons notwithstanding which he February 4th following strucke off eleuen of their heads upon a publike Scaffold and severity Some inferiour people he hanged and headed in a baser fashion others of their names he caused to be hang'd upon the Gallowes and to be poasted up for cowards One piece of mirth fell now out as it were to vary this scene of Martiall severity A young Colonell being brought upon the Scaffold which was iust before Walensteins window began alowd I come here to dye for running away after my Generalissimo but the Drummes strucke up and the Trumpets sounded upon it so that the short breath'd Orator could bee no further listned to And thus leave I our great Imperiall Generalissimo The State he keepes who keepes a State in Prague no Maiestie in Christendome comparable to him About Christmas was there a feare of Duke Bernards falling into Bohemia whereupon such a puzzle there was amongst them that Potents or Commands were presently given out for the drawing of 6000. men towards the Frontiers So easie was it to have conquered Walenstein and Bohemia And now for that the contrarily affected may not say that my Intelligence is particular or all from one side I will here affoord them the Relation made by the Spanish Gentleman before quoted fairely barely without additions or alterations translated the originall whereof I am ready to communicate unto any ingenuous Gentleman Two or 3. other Relations I confesse I have in French printed at Brussels which are so ignorantly and insolently done that even that side may be ashamed to give credit to them I have taken nothing out of le Soldat Suedois for that ther 's litle but words in him Two or three High-Dutch pieces and some Latine also I have by me as foolish as the former but this onely of the Spaniard I have thought worthy your perusall THE morning began to peepe when newes came that the King now altogether in Battell-ray did march up towards us whereupon His Excellency presently cast his Army into that forme which appeareth in the Figure leaving a little way on the right hand some Wind-mills according to the disposition and necessitie of the situation The King had in the meane while put his Army right opposite to ours not full distant the reach of a Cannon approaching with his left Wing neere upon Lutzen and with the right touching upon a little Wood which also was very neere united with his Front In this order did his Excellency stay till the King should begin to moove wee having a small ditch along the Front of our Army The King mooved soone after with all his forces making a show that he was resolv'd to invest vs some-while upon one side some-while upon the other At length hee set upon us in the Front and sent his Cavallery of the right Wing to overturne ours By reason hereof we were forced to retire our Baggage which was upon our left Wing quite behind all our Army to the end it should not be cut off from us Thus began the Encounter with equall order and continuall shot of Cannon which did on each side mutuall hurt every one striving to get forward thorow the midst of mortalitie and slaughter of men for to drive the enemy out of his place The Earle of Pappenheim came in at the very beginning of the fight with some Regiments of Horse and Dragooners whom hee instantly carryed into the left Wing where it appear'd the King did charge with most obstinacy And here the Earle giving the onsett with his accustom'd valour was in the very beginning mortally wounded by a Fauconett so that being taken off his Horse to be brought to Leipsich He ended his life before his Iourney This valerous Cavalier having sacrificed himselfe to Gods service and the Emperours in the most important occasion which ever hath offerd it selfe to benefit the Catholike Religion and the whole House of Austria In the meane time the Front of the enemies Army got ground apace 〈…〉 Resolution our Artillery being neuer able to disorder it though many a shot was made upon it and being now comne neere the ditch which was made on our side a great number of Muskettiers was let downe into it from whence they gave us many good Saluees But especially did they powre lead into the Regiment of the Colonell Piccolomini Who after he had beene exposed a-while to the discretion of those Muskettiers determined to set upon them and to drive them out of the Ditch And this he did accordingly with so fortunate a successe that if he had beene seconded by other Regiments no doubt but that part of the Enemies Army would have beene utterly rowted But there being none to backe him and he fearing to be cut off from the Army if hee went too farre forwards resolv'd to set with might and maine upon a Regiment * Winckles of the Enemies which He also utterly defeated leaving it stretched out upon the ground in the same manner as it had stood before ordred in Squadrons After Pappenheim was wounded the Cavalry which he had led never so much as turn'd their faces against the Enemy whereby advantage was given him to get the better of our Foot also on the left side For all this on the right side was the fight maintained with equall and all possible obstinacie at which time a newes being spread of the Kings death it seemed that the Enemies Army began to give backe by little and little under the favour of a very thicke mist which was risen insomuch that at first it was not possible to finde where it stood Hereupon for the present the victory was held to be ours We being desirous to goe forward to seeke out the Enemy intelligence was had that he went to rejoyne his Squadrons about the Wood side for which reason his Excellence sent his Colonels Tercica and Picolomini to take more exact notice of what was rumor'd They being past on a little forward towards the Wood saw the Enemy in full Battell-ray
marching up towards us in as good an order as at the first It was now very neere night and our Army not well joyned together necessitie constrain'd vs to make a stay in our owne place neere the Wind-mills which the Earle Coloredo defended valerously He being charg'd by forces incomparably much greater should have beene forc'd to quit the Mills had not his Excellency sent to his succour the Colonels Tercica and Picolomini with their Cavalry to sustaine the shocke of those Foot as in effect they did It was now upon shutting in of the Euening when the Enemy beginning afresh a round Salvee of his Cannon did notably annoy our troopes and was like to have done more harme had not the Night come on His Excellency when he least fear'd such an accident Then was hee not in his Litter as Le Soldat Suedois geeres him being now in the Front of the Regiment of Picolomini speaking with him was hurt in the left arme with a Muskett Bullet but as we may say almost miraculously since it did him no other harme then to leave a blacke and blew mark behind it His Excellency showed that day no ordinary valour riding up and downe in the Front of all the Regiments where from time to time necessitie call'd him encouraging with his presence every body to the accomplishment of their duty being accompanied by the two Princes brothers of the great Duke of Tuscany of whom the one call'd Don Francisco lost his Horse he sate on by a Cannon Bullett The Colonels Lò and Camargo dyed on the place Picolomini came off with ten Muskettado's five wherof wounded him in divers parts of the body th' other five went no further then his armour He lost foure Horses under him In these foure numbers lyes the chiefest of my Authors mis-intelligence or partialitie and three hundred of his best souldiers His Sergeant-Major two Captaines and most of his officers were hurt It is thought that of our side there dyed neere upon three thousand but a great many more wounded Of the enemies side were lost neere sixe thousand and as many more wounded it having beene the most bloody and obstinate Battell which ever hath beene fought in Germany especially in so small a number of the Imperialists which came not to twelve thousand where on the other side the Enemies Forces amounted to above twentie thousand At length the fight being ended by reason of the night his Excellency was not resolued whether he should keepe his army in that place or else to retire to Leipsich But having heard the opinion of all his greatest Officers he determined with their good liking to retire to Leipsich notwithstanding the arrivall of five Regiments * This sets the report right for both sides The Swedish say that the Pappenheimers came vp in the night and the Imperialists affirme that they came not to the Battell of Pappenheims now newly comne from Hall Because it was probable feared that thorow the wearinesse of the souldiers the number of the wounded the excessive cold and which was most materiall lest thorow want of provisions in that place the souldiers might scatter about the neighbour townes to provide themselues against their wants and in the morning if need should be none would be found ready for service Hereupon our Army after three houres in the night began to march towards Leipsich who not being able for want of Horses and Boyes who in the beginning of the Battell were either kild or hurt to cary off their Ordnance left it there in the field As the Enemy did likewise his owne * In these 2. relations of the Swedes leaving their Cannon and Gallas his ioyning he had false Intelligence But this showes that Gallas was not in the Battell marching on towards Naumburg His Highnesse sent immediately for the Baron Gallas who ioyned with him in Bennis with the forces he had He sent likewise to fetch Monsier Altringer to come to him with his men with an intent to make another grosse wherewith to goe and defeate the troopes of the Enemy which were left a-foote His Excellency now being in Frawenstein upon the Confines of Saxony and Bohemia intends from thence to goe to Prague In the beginning of the Encounter of both Armies Innocentius Bucela Camrade of Piccolomini knew the King who lay hurt and dying upon the ground Whereof having given notice to the Colonell he wâ—nt with him and ten more to see the body which was yet quivering and while they were about fetching of it away a troope of the Enemyes charging forced them to retire The noise of his death was presently scattered abroad yet beliefe was not fully given to it by reason of the relation which some prisoners made as that the King was hurt but carrried off in a close Coach following his white Standard But an Astrologer entertained by his Excellency being taken prisoner accidentally in the Battell and ransomed eight dayes after brought undoubted newes that the King was wounded with a Musket in his arme and two Pistoll bullets and falne downe dead in the field The death of the King halfe verified the Prognostication of an Astrologer named David Herlicius of Stargard in Pomerania who said some moneths before that the King should never passe over the Kiver of Elve againe which he interpreting to his benefit beleeved he should become Master of the Empire as among his Collegiates he was already reputed You have no word here of the Imperialists arrogating of the Victory to their partie and cease to returne into Swedland where is nothing else but craggy mountaines But God who disposeth all things hath made vaine the issue of that hope and given us to understand that to him alone is reserved the disposing of Empires Printed with all necessary priviledge In Lisbon By Antonio Aluarez 1633. Febr. 16. THE EXPLICATION OF THE SEVERALL LETTERS and Numbers in the Figure of the Battell of LVTZEN The Imperiall Army A VVAlensteins Right Wing of Horse B His Battell or Body of the Foot in the middle whereof is one Horse Regiment C His Right Wing of Horse D The Towne of Lutzen E The Wind-mills upon the higher ground and hills whereof he had planted some Ordnance F Three other places where he had planted Ordnance G The Gallowes H A dry Ditch or Boundary for lands which Walenstein made to serve him for a Brest-worke to lodge Muskettiers in The Kings Army I The Right Wing of the Kings Vant-guard consisting of sixe Horse Squadrons lined with five Bodies of Muskettiers This was led by the King himselfe whose place is over the letter I. K The Left Wing of the Swedish Vantgard composed of Horse and Muskettiers like the Right Wing Of this Duke Bernard had the leading whose place is right over the letter K. L The Fluss-graben M The Kings Battell or Body of his Army consisting of 8 Brigades of Foot wherof 4 were in the Van and 4 in the Reere Each Brigade hath 6 Peeces
and Vant-curryers before him to discover whither the coast were cleere or whereabouts Partees of the enemies now where And defeated But yet the King had some muskettiers that followed him though perchance they had not all this while kept pace in the march with him The Swedish falling fowle of some of Sparrs troopes was charged and rowted by them and himselfe taken prisoner He being brought unto Sparre Where 's the King saies he At hand answeres the Major What Forces brings he with him certaine troopes of Horse quoth the other Hath he no Muskettiers saies Sparre No answeres the Swede Then certainly it is the King said Sparre and hee shall presently fall into my fingers The King having heard the peeces goe off in the former conflict had doubled his march upon it and was comne so neere by this time that he met his owne men flying and the Walsteiners giuing chase unto them The King riding up 〈◊〉 his men with his drawne sword in his hand returnes their lost courages into them and them into the Battell Not many charges passed betwixt the King and the enemies Horse but that the face of the skirmish began to be altered insomuch that the Imperiall Horse and Crabats were to be briefe quite rowted and defeated The Horse of Gonzagaes Regiment play the pultrons and ranne away whereupon Gonzaga himselfe notwithstanding he be Cosin unto the Empresse was at his comming to the Campe cashiered by the Generalissimo for all that he cleered himselfe to have beene forsaken by his Regiment and to have beene the last man that stood to it The 500. Muskettiers making their retreate into a small wood or groave there at hand held the King and his men play a great season Very good use made they of the wood which is farre more advantageous for shot then either for Horse or Pikemen But the Kings Dragooners alighting with their Muskets and his Horsemen round besetting the said wood discouraged by and by and overthrew the Walsteiners Sparre himselfe was taken prisoner 600. of his men were slaine upon the place and divers more drowned and buried alive in the river and moorish places thorow which they thought to have escaped Sparre had now quitted his Horse and hid himselfe in a bush in the said thicket Sparre taken prisoner Him a Swedish common souldier thus light vpon The Swede perceiuing a gallant empty horse standing tied up thereby with a goodly embroydered saddle upon his backe iudges him to belong to some brave Cavalier of the enemies and goes out to find him He was told by a Horse-boy a Walsteiner then taken and threatned that it was Sparres horse whom he presently directed the Swede unto He had a rich and massie gold chaine about his necke of which the souldier first disrobing him reacht him a good rude brush over the shoulders with the stocke of his Musket and so brought him prisoner to the King Ha Monsieur Sparre saith the King I see you loue me so well that you cannot finde in your heart to be long away from me Sparre being brought prisoner into Norimberg was faine to take Sperma Câ—ti for the bruise that the rough souldier gaue him With him was his Lieftenant-Colonel Tertaky likewise taken together with 4. Captaines divers Officers and above 100. common souldiers Three Corners were then obtained and a Ensignes as for the rest the Ancients had slipt them off from their Flagge-stoves The losses on both sides and then runne away with thorn The King rewarded each of those souldiers that presented him the Colours with 100. Dollars The losses on the Kings side where not many but among them was Colonell Ries slaine who belonged unto one of the Dukes of Saxon-Weâ—mar â—oye a Swedish Gentleman lost there his life and Yâ—â—cker Crâ—â—â—â—enstein that waited upon the King in his Chamber This done the King the same night returned towards his League causing a most solemne Thankesgiving to be made unto the God of Battells for this double victory The Swedes after the taking of this Frâ—yeâ—sâ—at flow out as farre as Hâ—â—mburg some 9. or 10. English miles to the East of Burgâ—an where the last encounter hapned This towne and the Castle to it they now take in by which helpe was all the coast on that side indifferently well cleered so that the Walstriâ—â—â—s being defeated of their intended Quartering place in those parts the Swedes roave freely up and downe as farre as Amberg Generall-Major Sparre Sparres examination and confession being once againe the Kings prisoner was strictly and upon oath examined what he knew of his Generalls purposes He confessed that they had no other plot upon the King then by famine to compell him to a treaty After this victory there for a while passed nothing of moment betweene the two Armies The pettier skirmishes betweene commanded Partees abroad or the continued night-alarmes upon one anothers Camps or Guards at home I list not to stand upon The mortality in Towne and Leaguers With the same silence would I haue passed over the diseases and fluxes both of the Towne and Leaguers notwithstanding that by midde August there dyed 1000. and 1400. a weeke of it had not his Majestie the King of Bohemia beene at this time troubled with it The running away of men on either side I omit None are so well prouided against this noysomenesse as the Crabats who will eate you whole handfulls of raw Onyons Garlicke as familiarly as an Italian wrings downe sallets or we apples as if they meant to out-stincke the carrion and their owne Quarters The many dead horses which by this beginning of August came to some thousands in both Leaguers and which to the horrible noysomnesse of the Quarters where they lay vnburied daily more and more encreased or diminished rather I would not haue offended you with but to shew you how it was possible for these two great Armies to be reduced to such small numbers notwithstanding so few of them were in fight killed Leaving these particulars I shall for want of other action here impart an Oration of the King of Swedens on the first of August made unto the Officers of his Army then which Speech I desire no other Character of the King of Sweden nor no other Interpreter of the Heroicke Iustice of his great intentions The occasion was this A complaint of the Norimbergers unto his Maiestie how that their lands and territories had as ill beene plundered and destroyed by those of the Kings owne Army as by the enemies Calling hereupon the Officers great and small of his whole Army together he with the vivacity and passion of an Orator wherein he was excellent as well as with the authority of a King uttered a most pathetick Oration before them of which no more but this Extract hath comne within my Intelligence Yee Lords and Gentlemen The Kings Oration against plunderers You partly are some of those numbers that have shewed themselves unfaithfull and disloyall
quite away from the leaguer The King indeed from this higher ground saw the Army in motion but it was not to runne away from their Colours but with all speed to possesse themselues of the little mountaine and old Castle and another Fort upon it which it had beene easie otherwise for the King to have taken and from thence to have beaten Bavaria first and then Walenstein out of their Leaguers The King by and by perceiving their intention and againe observing the great advantage of the place resolved which some thinke he had not untill this newes of Altringers Footman that notwithstanding the enemy had prevented him in it and had now made the action more desperate yet that it must immediately be set upon Putting his Army therefore into Battaglia as well as the place would giue leaue the King himselfe led on the Vant-guard of the left Wing Duke William of Saxon-Weymar had the honour of the Battell to cloase up the Kings right hand and Duke Bernard with the Landtgrave of Hessen brought up the Reere Some of these troopes were sent to fall on upon that ruinous old Castle of Altemberg on the hill aforesaid The other part were still left at the bottome of the Hill and upon the sides of it to lye in ambush amongst the trees and bushes there to keepe off the Aides and Seconds of the enemy and to shrowd themselues withall from the fury of the enemies Canon This place also served for a Retreat unto their fellowes should they chance to be overlayed the men besides being there neere at hand to be sent for upon occasion The place indeed was naturally fit for such a purpose for it was a hollow over-hanging in the hils side where they lay in Covert from any offence of the enemy The order of the Assault was to this purpose Euery Colonel and Commander was assigned to his Post 500. men were ordered to fall on which were every two houres releeued with fresh Seconds These were commanded Muskettiers all drawne out of the severall Brigades and the Colours staid with the rest below the mountaine And now began the conflict for the winning and defending of that old Castle which proved a medlye of 10. houres long on both sides Many a brave Gentleman here lost his life many a Cavalier was here wounded and not a few taken prisoners The King led on his men with his sword drawne in his hand and the Swedish as if to show the enemy how little they dreaded any thing that they could doe unto them and how much they despised danger exposed themselues all naked unto the enemies shot having not so much as any one Trench or Earth cast up to shelter them In this equipage runne they close unto the enemies Works and Batteries stoutly and manfully fall they on upon them and with the courage of undaunted spirits doe they rush into the danger But the Imperialists as full of resolution made a most stout resistance unto the Swedish For having the advantage both of the higher ground of their owne Trenches and Batteries already before hand there cast up and having the wals of the old Castle to retreate unto and to shelter their fresh supplies in they maintained it with extremity of confidence The naturall high standing of the place gave them all the advantages that the providence of an enemy could have fore-thought of Thence directed they their peeces with more aime and certainty thence fell the Partisans which they darted with more weight upon the Swedish and behind their owne Parapets they stood more then halfe covered from those on the lower ground so that more of the Swedish bullets light upon the Imperialists Brest-works then into their Breasts But notwithstanding all these inconveniences the Swedish continued desperate and the Imperialists as obstinate The Cannons and Muskets went off all day long incessantly so that nothing was to be seene upon the Mountaine but flame and smoake and for the roaring of the Ordnance the skrikes and groanings of wounded and dying men could hardly be discerned All this was performed with so much terror and fury and on both sides maintained with so much obstinacy that considering the disadvantages on the Swedish side the Battell of Prague or Leipsich was not to be compared to it Regiment attacked Regiment one Ensigne continued flying against another untill the greater part of the Foote on both sides were thorowly engaged in the medlye The Imperialists had 6000. men then upon the Hill for the guard of it and of the old Castle those still supplyed from the Campe and all so fenced with a Brest-worke behind which they stood to shoote downe that nothing but their heads could be seene over it Thus at length the Swedes seeing no good to be done upon it were enforced to quit the danger the most of them withdrawing themselves unto the foote of the Mountaine The Cannon continued their vollyes above still and some Muskettiers were there left to maintaine the skirmish In this attempt upon the hill whereas the King and Duke Bernard had fallen on upon severall places of it it chanced that Duke Bernards proved farre the more convenient and that he had gotten the height of the enemies Campe and could see downe into it He sending the King word of it the King dispatched backe Sir Iohn Hepburn to him to take and bring a view of it Whilest Duke Bernard and Sir Iohn Hepburn were at their view there was a Ritt-master shot dead hard by them which showed that the place was not altogether so safe as was hoped Sir Iohn Hepburn having carried the King word and that it was much the better place his Maiestie himselfe came to see it Which done you have reason saies he to Sir Iohn for what you say but yet if I giue on here I must doe it with my grosse of Foote whereby I shall leaue my Horse and my Cannon naked and the enemy withall may then choose where he will fight with me either in this or that place or in both together as he pleases This passage I learned from the right valiant Knight here mentioned and that the presentnesse of the Kings iudgement was approoued in it And this I adde of my selfe something to controll the rumor of it that ranne over Germany that if the King would but haue descended from his obstinacy and thought it no dishonour to giue over at the t'other Post and to follow Duke Bernards counsell that the action had beene ended and the enemy dislodged Most of the Swedes being comne downe to the plaine as is aforesaid there beganne another encounter The enemies Curiassiers then issuing out upon the Swedish Muskettiers did so much there overlay them that they forced them to give ground from them Colonell Tortenson and Colonell Erich-Hand being to maintaine this Post were both here taken and the latter wounded by the Curiassiers whilest they bravely endeavoured to make their Muskettiers to give on againe upon the enemy The valiant Baron of
of his whole Army and that by turning backe and passing over the river Sala Walenstein opens a gap for the King to have marchâ— away he might easily succour the Castle of Hall he resolved upon another purpose Sending Colonell Contreras to take up Altemburg his Excellency himselfe was resolued with the rest of his Army to have gone Northward and lodge at Mersburg By this disposing of himselfe should he at Mersburg be neere to backe Pappenheim and by sending the other Colonels to Luca and Altemburg should there have beene a space left in the middle for the King to have marcht away even from Naumburg unto Dresden By this cautelous forecast might his Excellency have after followed the King with his mayne strength and either utterly have overthrowne him or at least cut off his passage and have shut him and all his forces utterly out of the Empire But the Kings conveniences were measured by other designes farre different from our suppositions Fâ—r He having understood of the sending away of Pappenheim and the other 2. Regiments resolued presently to come and set upon us Insomuch that the Count Ridolfo Coloredo being marched with the Crabats towards Weissenfels to fetch off a Captaine who was left in the Castle with 100. souldiers he found the King * This was the 5th of Novemb. with his Army already advanced farre upon his march in sight of the City towards Lutzen Yet Coloredo came so fit and in so good a time that he had leasure enough notwithstanding the King had alreadie sent some Muskettiers But the King comes upon him to take in the Castle to bring off the men with him This having performed Coloredo still valiantly skirmishing with his few Foote and Crabats made his retreate unto Ripach in sight of the Kings Army At this very time had his Excellency thorow the reiterated messages of Coloredo given the Alarme unto his Army by the accustomed signe of shooting off 3. peeces of Ordnance notwithstanding all which it was even now night ere the Regiments could have recovered to their place of Rendezvous about Lutzen The King by this time was comne from Ripach and had taken up his lodging about a league from thence Walenstein puts his men into array and sends backe for Pappenheim But Colonel Holck for all the darkenesse of the night went about to put his forces into battaglia and indeavoured by perpetuall skowtes to discover the proceedings of the enemy Neither wanted his Excellency any diligence to dispatch messengers to the Count of Pappenheim giving him notice of the Kings resolution and a command therewithall to returne backe with all his forces and to advance in the meane time his Cavallery and Dragooners with all speede possible This message overtooke him iust at that instant when he had entred Hall and had clapt a Petard to the Castle gate in which there was a Swedish Commander with a garrison of 200. souldiers And thus farre are the very words of my Spanish Relation wherein though the defeate given by the King the night before the Battell be united yet certainely there be many other particulars on the Imperiall side which but from one of their owne we could not have comne at And so farre in my Readers names I thanke my Spanish Relater whom I have done no wrong unto in Translating And now have we brought Walenstein to the stake for the morrow morning begins the Battell This I adde that Gallas though he were sent for yet could he not come time enough to the encounter What may seeme defective here of Walensteins Proceedings iust before the Battell shall be supplyed by and by in the description of the Battell The famous Battell of Lutzen fought the sixt of November 1632. Old Style Wherein you have the manner of the King of Swedens death WITH The overthrow and flight of the Imperiall Army and their Generalissimo the Lord ALBERT Walenstein Duke of Fridland c. HOw we have heretofore waited upon that incomparable Prince the King of Sweden from Erfurt unto Naumburg you may remember to have read pag 73. of this Booke In which 3. daies march of his there was no such thing as the defeate of the Count of Merode with 2. Regiments which the confident * Pag. 823. The true name of Merode I am told to be Werningeroda of a towne by Halberstat which he is Earle of Le Soldat Suedois avoucheth Nor was Merode at all in the Battell whom he maketh to be slaine there The onely suspition of any opposition to be made by an enemy in all this march was a newes brought his Majestie by the Boores of some 22. Cornets of Crabats under the command of Isolani and his Lieftenant-Colonel Vorgage commonly to the Germans knowne by the name of Vorgast who had beene seene a day or two before about the countrey But these Crabats were onely heard of not encountred with Pappenheim was also marcht thorow without ever so much as offring to take in Erfurt much lesse of fetching any composition or contribution of 2000. dollars as the same Soldat Suedois also affirmeth pag 812. Duke William Weymar was in the towne with 3000. men voyced to be 5000 with Pappenheims small Armie of 5000. Foote and 2500. Horse was much to weake to have meddled withall though by the counsell he gave to Walenstein it appeareth how good a mind he had towards it The King as we told you being arrived at Naumburg upon Thursday November the first old Stile which is not Saint Martins day as the former Pag 824. Saint Martins day is November 11th Old Stile in all Martyrologies and Romane Kalenders French Author mistaketh tooke order to have his Army lodged in the field towne and Suburbs even as we before told you The same day the King went out upon a Partee for discovering of the enemie After him that afternoone went these 3. Gentlemen of our Nation Three English Gentlemen taken prisoners by the Crabats Lieftenant-Colonel Francis Terret Sergeant-Major Iohn Pawlet and Captaine Edward Fielding These 3. going alone by themselues to a forsaken village where there were 2. waies thorow it the King having gone the left hand way and they now taking the right fell into an ambush of the Crabats the first and the last named of these three were taken prisoners by 2. Rit-masters of the Crabats one of them named Potnick a Greeke Captaine This adventure would I not overpasse for that these two Gentlemen being carried prisoners into the Imperiall Leaguer kept under a guard in the Reere of the Armie all the day of the great Battell and after hal'd unto Prague among the fleeing Imperialists have had the meanes to enforme me of what otherwise I could not have comne by And thus much they having with much courtesie affoorded me I could not but quote them for my better authority They were that night carried unto Weissenfels where Walenstein then lay in the Castle of it He sent the Count of Pappenheim
Ammunition-wagons of which there were not aboue 100 at most the King having left the rest at Naumburg with no purpose of fighting The King advanced till he came with the end of his Right Wing within Musket shot of a little wood having all the way a full view of the Imperiall Army That Walenstein much over-powred the King in numbers may appeare by the mighty long Front that he put out full 2. English miles from one Wings end to another This is also to be considered Walensteins numbers much more then the Kings that Walensteins and all the old Discipline is to march 10. deepe in File whereas the King was no more but 6. deepe of Foote I meane and of Horse but 3. or 4. deepe according as the Brigades were either stronger or weaker Besides this that Walensteins Files were all the way almost as deepe againe his Ranks also were in Front so much longer The King enforced to lengthen out his Right Wing that the King was faine to send for Bulach and all the Squadrons of Horse from the Right Wing of the Reere or second Front to imp out his Feathers at the end of his Right Wing for feare that Walenstein should surround him These Squadrons when Generall-Major Kniphausen missed out of their places he sent a Gentleman to his Maiesty to know whither he had otherwise employed them The King was at the same time likewise sending the the Duke of Saxon-Lawenburg unto Kniphausen to tell him that he would but use them in that first charge and then returne them backe againe to their Order The Duke meeting with the Gentleman and telling him thus much both then returned to their places The King wondred not a little at it when he saw how faire a Clew Walenstein spread affirming to these about him That if he had any Seconds behind his first Front he could not iudge him to be lesse then 30000. True it is indeed that Walenstein had given out Proviant Comissions for 40000. and sometimes for 50000. people but yet had he not so many fighting men for that there were at least 10000. women servants children and such Hang-byes belonging to the Army which are to be discounted Besides this it is to be considered that Walenstein had but one Front and the King 2. so that we may well allow Walenstein to be 20000. in the First Front at the very first ordering of the Battell After which accounting those that were still comming in even till 10. a clocke and Pappenheims Horse and Dragooners which came in about one or two a clocke and his Foot thought to make the second fierce charge towards night and then doubtlesse these could not be fewer then 10. on 12000. which made up in all full 30000. fighting men The Armies being comne within Cannon shot the great Ordnance began to play one upon another terribly The Aire roar'd and the earth trembled and those manly hearts that feared not dying were yet very loath to have no more play for their lives then to be beaten to pieces with the bullet of a Cannon And here had Walenstein surely a great advantage over the Kings Army The Battell begun with great Ordnance for his Ordnance being all ready planted upon steaddy and fixt Batteries the Canoniers traversed their Peeces and delivered their bullets with more aime then the Kings men could possibly who gave fire in motion still and advancing His Maiesties Cannon ever as a peece was discharged was there left to be brought after the Army still advancing and marching away from it Plainely the King liked not this sport for that the Imperiall Cannon did his men farre more spoile and execution then he possibly could againe returne them Seeing therefore no good to be done this way he causes his Army to advance upon the very mouth of the Cannon and to charge towards the High-way and to beate out those Muskettiers that were lodged in it The Imperiall Army stood their ground all this time expecting that the fiercenesse of their enemies charge would indifferently well be abated by that time they had beaten out those Muskettiers and had put themselues out of order and breath with scambling over the ditches And indeed the place being almost mans height a many of the Kings Horsemen were there left tumbling up and downe but of the rest that gat over this was the order of their Charge The commanded Muskettiers and the Foote of the Swedes Brigade having cleered the High-way the whole Front advanced to charge together The order of the first charge This whilest they were doing the little Drakes or Field-Peeces 2. of which marcht before every Body of Muskettiers that lined the Horse of the Wings were first fired and the Muskettiers at the same time giving their first Saluee the Horse then charged home upon the Imperiall Horse by the Drakes and Muskettiers something before disordered This order was held in the first charge by the whole Front of the Army but I must now leave the Battell and Left Wing engaged to speake of the Right Wing first where the King in person commaunded The King at his first advancing having observed whereabouts in the Imperiall Left Wing now opposite to him the Crabats were marshalled and where the Curiassiers who were compleatly armed in blacke harnesse Cap á pied he cals the Finnish Colonel Stolhanshe to him as t is likely he did other Colonels as he rode along and pointing to the enemie As for those fellowes meaning the Crabats I care not for them The Kings speech of the Imperiall Curiassiers saies the King but charge me those blacke fellowes soundly for they are the men that will undoe vs. Thus much did Stolhanshe himselfe oftentimes and at table relate unto divers Gentlemen of our Nation Some of which tell the Kings words from Stolhanshes mouth this way Charge me those blacke fellowes soundly for t is prophecyed that they shall be the ruine of me But this word prophesie others confesse that they heard not The King fought at the head of the Smolanders Squadron The couragiousnesse of the King Himselfe was still the formost with his pistoll in one hand and his sword in the other and when his pistolls were discharged laying on and slashing with his sword and the enemy giving fire in his face and laying at him againe freely Some have complained that onely with the Smolanders Squadron which you shall find at the number 6. and the Ostro Gothes at the number 5. or at most the Vplanders at the number 4. did now onely advance and charge the enemy Perchance these 3. now gat the start and were something forward then the 3. Squadrons of the Ingermanlanders the West-Goths and the Finlanders whom you see in their orders and numbers 3. 2. 1. towards the end of the Wing These 3. Squadrons indeed fell not on at the same place with the King but advanced directly upon the faces of those 3. Imperiall Regiments of Curiassiers which you see right
into Spandaw in his Brother of Brandenburgs country And thus dyed this great Deliverer which is a higher and a more holy Title then that of Caesar or of Conqueror Thus dyed he with a victory which had he expected but 3. dayes longer he had obtained without a Battell So confident was the enemy that he never durst have attempted them that the Generalissimo had even already given out Orders for the dispersing of his Army to their winter Quarters This is sure for besides that it is intimated in my Spanish Relation the Imperialists themselues freely at Prague confessed it Then had he falne in among them as he thought to have done the 5th of November But he is dead and that as heartily bemoaned of the Germanes to say of no more as of his owne Subiects who yet professe their losse to be unspeakeable And in both their Chronicles shall his sacred memory be made immortall and his Name shall ever live in their mouths glorified Speake we now a little of the distemper in the Imperiall Army When Walenstein first beate his Drummes to retreate to Leipsich he had purposed to have made no more then a faire retreate indeed of it But no sooner did his men heare that signall but they fell to running presently without expecting further order for their Rendez-vous The flight and wonderfull confusion among the Imperialists This fright was so great that the most of them never came in order againe till they recovered into Bohemia yea even there full three weekes after the Battell were there divers multitudes of souldiers and some almost whole Ensignes seene then first enquiring after their fled Colonels who had not yet seen their owne Regiments And this was not onely so with a great many straglers but even amongst those that were neerest about the Generalissimo there was not a Regiment scarcely if at all that marcht or Quartered in any order but straglingly up and downe in Dorps as every man shifted Once did our Countrimen that were carried away among them see 25. Colours of them together but this was in Bohemia and the greatest show that they had till that time seene of them Divers Officers confessed that they had lost 6000. men which others made more nice of and professed to have lost but 4000. Their owne confessions of the Battell And as freely withall did they confesse that had the Swedes but sent off 1000. fresh Horse after them they might have cut all the whole Army to peeces When in their Flight Retreate is now too faire a word for them they came at night to any Quarter their custome was to stay still there till some Swedish Horse were heard of or discovered to pursue them of which though there appeared but a troope of 40. they had order to hasten away after the Generalissimo This was the Crabats worke commonly who being of the nimblest Horse were still left last in the Quarters and to bring word of the comming of the Enemy And yet durst these afterwards at Prague contend for it That they had as good of the Day as the Swedish for which their Arguments were that they kill'd the King much about as many men and brought away almost 60 Ensignes Had they onely mentioned the King their argument had beene better then their other reasons can make it T is true indeed that when our 2. Countrimen told Duke Bernard afterwards that they boasted to have taken so many Ensignes They tooke more Colours then the Swedish nay saies he thats too lowd but they have indeed taken 45. and we have 17. or 18. of their Colours But now the losse of their Cannon their leaving the field unto their enemies and their right downe running away when none pursued after them the Court of Vienna it selfe can never speake with honour of it How the newes of the Battell was resented at Vienna And therefore there was but a faint Thanksgiving made for it a few peeces shot off but not a Bonfire that I heare of and that expression rather for the death of the King and to make the people then for the Victory The Victory absolutely must all forraine and Neutrall Historians give unto the Swedish which was such a one as would have made Austria quak't had the King surviu'd it The Generalissimo having taken Sanctuary in Leipsich there came the next day some 1000. or 1500. Footemen to him whereof some had Colours and other some had lost them These were the remainders of 40. Ensignes A little after The way of Walensteins flight came the Lieftenant-Felt-Marshall Holck with the Sergeant-Major-Generall Count Ridolfo Coloredo the Marquesse of Grande and some others of great quality And now also came their Baggage-Wagons waited upon with a Horse-Convoye In the night about 6. a clocke were all these commanded to Born 14. miles onwards of the way towards Bohemia the Generall himselfe within three houres and a halfe the same night following them Holck staid still in Leipsich who going away next day delivered up the Keyes unto the Magistrates againe with such a like Complement That he was now as good as his word as it became every honest man to be He hoped therefore they would speake nothing but honour of him and show themselues mercifull as became good Christians unto such sicke and wounded as he left in their towne behind him That day some 16. or 17. troopes of Horse passed by in sight of the City with abundance of the Boores Cattle going towards their Generalissimo His Excellency went not into Born but Quartered that night hard by it Thence went he to Altemburg thence to Camitz thence to Frawenstein thence thorow the Passe of the Behemer-Waldt unto Diewitz in Bohemia 30. miles short of Prague City And now were the shattered troopes dispersed into their winter Quarters Walenstein himselfe with the remnants of the 2. Favourite-Regiments of young Walenstein and old Brenner going directly towards Prague City These 2. Regiments for their good service at the Battell their diligent attendance upon him in the flight he ordered to waite upon him in his owne Palace and by Squadrons to keepe guard about him They were as his meniall servants they had their allowance for a standing table in his Court his owne people served them and he himselfe sometimes would see they had their allowance These were relieved that is changed every 8. dayes and then had every man 6. or 8. Bohemian dollars given him each worth 3s English and their Wives or Wenches halfe as much Examples of his vast bounty Those Officers that did well in the Battell he at New-yeeres-tide rewarded with Gold chaynes with his owne Medall or Picture at them some of them to the great Lords being set with Diamonds and worth 1000. ducats Thus were all the Gold-smiths in Prague set a worke upon his New-yeeres-gifts And whereas there was a dispute betwixt Holck and Piccolomini whose Regiment was that which charged when the King was slaine he adiudged