Anno 1390. THE Turkish Kingdom founded by Othoman in Asia having spread it self in a short time over the Hellespont into Europe and their Arms brought a Terror upon the Greek Empire now sick and languishing by reason of intestine broils to prevent the further incroachment of Amurath the Despot or Prince of Servia made a private League with the King of Bosna that with their united Powers they might defend their Territories which was not yet so secretly done at an interview between them but the Turk had notice of it and having overthrown Aladin the Caramanian King in Asia and stripped him out of his Countries he drew all his Forces into Europe to oppose the Princes who were raising what Power they could to march against him and knowing they had to deal with one of a fierce and cruel nature resolved to try what might be done by stratagem in order to which a Captain that kept a Castle on the Confines of Bosna hasting to the Camp of Amurath promised him for a large Reward no put the greater part of the strong holds into his hands if he would follow his directions confirming him in what he said by many specious Pretences and Protestations insomuch that the covetous Turk credited him so far as to send 20000 men under the leading of his Tutor Lala-Schahin which the Captain suffering for a while to plunder some inconsiderable Places to give them thereby the greater confidence of their security in the end he trained them into an Ambush of 30000 Besniacks who as they were stragling fell upon them and cut off 15000 of them the other 5000 with Schahin hardly escaping to make a relation of their welcom Amurath being not a little grieved and vexed at the misfortune and disgrace put upon him by one in whom he thought he might have confided considering the Rewards he had bestowed to ingage him on his part breathed nothing but Revenge against the Christians and in the height of his fury commanded his Army to march into Servia where somewhat contrary to his Expectation he found the Christians with a formidable Army ready to bid him battel when as some inconsiderable Towns being taken and possest on both parts and the dreadful day of battel drawing nigh the Armies as if by consent met upon the large Plains of Cossovia where the Generals and Great Captains on either side having made many Speeches and moving Orations to animate the Souldiers to try their utmost Power and Force and set them in battel array the charge was founded and the battalions joyned with such fury that the Earth trembled under their Feet and such was the horrid clashing of Arms the noise and shouts of the Conquerors the Groans and Crys of the vanquished and the neighing and trampling of Horses that many report the wild Beasts in the Mountains stood trembling at what it might signifie or whence so great a Clamour proceeded and that such as beheld the fight at a distance imagined the showers of Arrows that darkned the Plains descended from the Clouds and so furiously the Despot to revenge the mischiefs the Turks had done in his Country charged upon the right wing that he broke and disordered it and pierced the main battel But the Turks being double the number of the Christians and Bajazet Amurath s Son coming in with twenty thousand Horse restored the battel so that the Christians being wearied with slaughtering their Enemies and having done all that could be expected from true Valour for the space of eight hours for so long the battel lasted they were at length overset and put to the worse in all parts and the Plains were made mountainous with the heaps of the slain so that they in some measure hindred the pursuit though the Christians like men desperately resolved to conquer or dye fled not till Lazarus the Despot and all the great Captains were killed valiantly fighting or whilst there was any hopes of Victory or of an honourable Retreat Those that fell in this battel on both sides not being accounted less than 50000. But of this Victory Amurath had but small joy for whilst he was glutting his Eyes with the vast heaps of the slain a Christian Souldier named Cobelites half dead and faint with Wounds and loss of Blood rising as it were from a Golgotha or Grave came staggering towards him falling two or three times in twenty paces whilst those that were about him would have hindred his approach but Amurath forbad them to hinder him as supposing he came to petition for Life when on the contrary without a word speaking suddenly drawing out a Dagger he stabbed him into the Belly for which he was hewen in pieces by those that attended their King who likewise died of that wound soon after and for this Reason the Turks when any one is admitted to his Audience of the Emperour lead him by either Arm c. Thus were Cossova's Plains made fat with Blood And Death was glutted with a Crimson Flood The tot'ring State of Christendom found there A fatal Scar which still she 's forc'd to wear A Description of the Memorable Battel fought on the Plains of Sennas in Asia between Tamerlane the Great Prince of the Tartars and Bajazet the First of that Name King of the Turks c. BAjazet succeeding Amurath who was kill'd on the Plains of Cossovia not only prosecuting his Wars against the Christians but stripping the Mahometan Princes out of their Dominions in the lesser Asia and they hearing of Tamerlane's Conquests in the great Kingdom of China where he had wrought Wonders and of his Power with the Tartarian Emperour whose Daughter he had married many of them fled to him for Refuge imploring him by Arms to restore them to their just Rights that had been wrongfully taken from them which so far prevailed with him being at the same time sollicited by Emanuel the Greek Emperour whom Bajazet had besieged in Constantinople the chief City of his Empire as to send Ambassadors to the Turk with Presents on their behalf requiring him to cease from molesting his Allies and more especially so worthy a Person as the Greek Emperour had been represented to him to be but instead of answering his Expectations Bajazet in a proud manner not only rejected his Presents but in opprobrious Terms made him many foul Reproaches telling his Ambassadors He desired nothing more than to meet him in the Field and so dismiss'd them with Threats and Scorn which so enraged the Tartar that being before perswaded by Axalla his great Favorite a Genoa by Birth and by Profession a Christian and having an Inclination to assist the Christian Emperour whose Opinion he favour'd to raise an Army he now resolved to do it and such an Army as should cover the Countries he passed through which he soon did in those vast Dominions and taking leave of his Father-in-Law and his Wife passing the Mountains marched through divers Countries drawing a World of People after him none daring oppose
which means the slaughter was scattered over aâ— the field and had been very great haâ— not the approach of Night put an end to it yet there perished by the Sword c. 18000 besides a great number that perished in the River and amongst the slain Hasan Bassâ— the General Mahomet Beg Achmet Beg Suffer Beg Meni Beg Framulan Beg Curlii Begâ— Operd Beg and Goschus Bassa together with Sinan Beg Amurath's Nephew the only Soâ— of his Sister As for the Prisoners taken they were many yet few of note though the spoil of the Camp was very great The Battel thus happily obtained the Christians as well the Commanders as the Soldiers fell on their knees and gave immortal thanks to the God of Battels to whom alone they ascribed their success The News of this overthrow coming to the Knowledge of Amurath he highly raged and at the Instigation of his Sister who refused to be comforted for the loss of her Son sent a blasphemous denuntiation of War stiling himself there in Monarch of the World and a Mighty God on Earth c. Thus those that sought for Blood with Blood were pay'd And meeting Death their cruel fury stay'd Who had with Flame whole Realms in Ashes lay'd A Description of the famous Battel of Lutzen fought on the sixth day of November Anno 1632. between Gustavus Adolphus the Warlike King of Sweden and Duke Walenstine Generalissimo of the Imperial Army THE King of Sweden having entered the Empire with an Army and overthrown Count Tilly the Imperial General with incredible slaughter the Terror of his Name spread wide which caused many Towns and strong holds to be at his Devotion nor was it expected but that every where being victorious he would in a short time make himself Master of the Empire though to oppose him Walenstine Duke of Frizland was made Generalissimo and another huge Army raised which the King upon notice of their being at Lutzen resolved to attack and therefore in the most secret manner marching all Night he came within sight of them in the Morning and drew up into battel in this manner viz. He divided this Army into two fronts and each of these into the Wings and battel with their Reserves each of the Wings composed of six Regiments of Horse lined with five bodies of commanded Musquiteers every one of them advancing with two Field-pieces in their front which plaied continually on the Imperialists The battel in each front consisting of four Brigades of foot a reserve of foot being placed between the two middle Brigades of the first front and a reserve of Horse hindermost of all between the two middle Brigades of the rear or second front and before each Brigade marched six pieces of great Ordnance which the King himself who would ever be in places of greatest danger led committing the lest to Duke Bernard of Saxon Weymar and the main body to Dodo Kniphausen Serjeant-Major and General of the whole Army under whom commanded many experienced Collonels and Captains c. of sundry Nations The order of the Imperial Army was in this manner viz. It being drawn into one large front was divided into three bodies the Right Wing of Horse which tended to the town of Lutzen was committed to the Count Rodolpho Coloredo appointed for that day Serjeant-Major-General of the Army and was lined with commanded Musquiteers besides supported by others that were lodged in the Gardens and had likewise the advantage of certain Windmils standing upon small Hills whereon they planted nine pieces of Ordnance the Mills and Millers Houses serving them for a good shelter the main battel or middleward was commanded by the Generalissimo's station being in the head of the Regiment of Piccollommine's consisting of Horse which was placed in the middle of the foot Regiments the left wing placed opposite to the right was commanded by Collonel Henderick Holek lately made Lieutenant velt Marshal under velt Marshal Lupenheirne yet no longer than till the other who was absent should take the field Both Armies being ordered in battel array and the advantages of the Ground which was in a manner a plain Campain unless some few ditches that proved troublesome being taken by either General as well as the time and opportunity would permit as likewise those of the Wind and Sun which in this case is ever observed by great Captains to be no small advantage to those whom they favour The fight began with the thundering of the great Ordnance by which many were overthrown on either side but the eager Souldiers desired to come to a close fight so that advancing hastily towards each other after the small pieces that were in the head of the Musquiteers on the Kings part were fired they gave their Salvos upon which the Horse that supported them charged furiously upon the German Horse so that many were slain and a great number beaten down who were most of them troden under foot and the King having commanded Collonel Stolhaunsh a Fleming to charge the Cuirassiers who were all in black Armour himself advanced at the head of the right Wing with his Pistol in one hand and his Sword in the other and when he had fired his Pistols regarded not to recharge them but charged upon the Enemy with his Sword so furiously that although they fired thick upon him and flashes were even in his Face he desisted not till he had broke their Array yet a Regiment of Croats taking the Advantage of the Kings being hotly ingaged thrust between the Right Wing and the main battel in order to seize upon the Baggage and blow up the Powder but Collonel Bulach making head against them they were obliged to retire yet upon his wheeling about to recover his station they fell on his Rear and much disordered that squadron of Swedish Horse but a sudden Mist falling it was not perceived by the rest of the Imperialists And now the fight being hot on all parts and the King out of the greatness of his heat and Câ—thâ—ge still pressing on and entering amongst the Ranks of those Iron-men as he called the Cuirassiers being himself only clad in a buss Coat and not being well supported he was overlayed with numbers for his men being in danger to be hemmed in by the Cuirassiers and the Regiment of Picolmaini which came fresh to charge them were obliged to give ground and retire towards their own bodies to prevent the danger they foresaw so that the King being left open to the shot of the Enemy received a shot in his left Arm by a Musquet-bullet which in the heat of his Courage he at first sliâ—oveed but perceiving the blood gush out abundantly and that the bone was splintered he thought fit to give way to necessity and thereupon calling to the Duke of Saxen Luenberg who charged with a party on his right Couzen says he I am surely wounded help me to make my retreat the which whilst the Duke laboured to do the Squadron at the head of which
Cromwell's own Guard and the best of his old Soldiers were forced to Retire whilst seconded by those numerous Supplies of fresh Soldiers who served like the Turkish Asapi to blunt the Royal Swords so that their wearied Arms no longer able to hold out they were forced to Retreat notwithstanding the Generous Example of the King who performed things worthy of wonder executing at once the part of a brave Commander and a valiant Captain in which he had his Horse twice shot under him yet could he not bring them to rally for being pressed and overpowred by numbers they had not time or space to do it in so that in the end the retreat turned into a disorderly flight whilst the Enemy following close at their heels entred Pell mel with them into the City And now notwithstanding the flight and confusion the cry went through the field to save the King who although he was pressed by Duke Hamilton and others to reserve his fortune to a better day yet scarcely could he be induced to quit the field nor would he till he perceived it impossible to rally his men and too plainly found the battel was irreparably lost and that Cromwel had entred and possessed himself of a part of the City and soon after took the Fort Royal by assault putting all he found therein to the Sword but not without considerable loss especially of the Cheshire men 1600 of which fell in the attempt and now when it was almost too late the King left the field and by the Aid of divers Loyal Souls after a considerable while concealing himself found means to escape beyond the Seas In this fatal battel fought on the third of September most of the Kings foot were either killed or taken Prisoners but of the Horse about three thousand escaped out of the Field those that account the least recon 3000 that were slain though none of note amongst them and the chief of the Prisoners were the Earls of Derby Lauderdale Cleveland Shrewsbury and the Lord Wentworth and of the Scots the Earls of Cranworth and Kelly and the Lord Sincler with divers Knights and Gentlemen and soon after Duke Hamilton and Major General Massey and others were taken This strange and wonderful Victory as the Juncto then sitting at Westminster gave it out though they had ten to one in the field made the Sectarian party greatly rejoyce and to appoint publick days of Thanksgiving as if God were the Patronizer of Villanies But since they miss'd of what was most their Aim We won't their further wicked Acts proclaim Lest by such Monsters we the Nation shame A Description of the Great and Memorable Battel fought before the City of Vienna in Austria on the 11. of September Anno 1683. between the King of Poland the Elector of Bavaria the Duke of Lorain c. and the Grand Visier Cara Mustapha c. VIENNA being pressed by the Turkish Power and the Garrison therein under Ernestus Count of Staremberg greatly weakned by sickness and the loss sustained in divers Sallies the Duke of Lorain having joyned the King of Poland they thought not convenient any longer to hazard a place of such Importance but to attempt the Relieving of it at the Price of a Battel and so on the 10 of September 1683. about eight in the Evening the Armies marched in order to it making together between 70 and 80000 fighting men the King of Poland commanding the Right Wing the Dukes of Lorain and Bavaria the Left and the Elector of Saxony and Prince Waldeck the main Body and in this order with what speed and silence they could they marched through a great Forrest the which had the Enemy taken care to have fortified would have proved a work of much difficulty Cara Mustapha the Grand Visier trusting to his number of men expected not to be attaqued in his Camp he being at his sitting down before the place 120000 strong but finding himself mistaken he thought it best to Rouse out of that Security and upon the Approach of the Christian Army detached 10000 Horse with an express command to possess themselves of the Passes c. but the Christians before that had passed them yet they advanced to Charge the Front of the Army but being gauled by a Regiment of Foot lodged in a Vineyard for that purpose which was supported by three other Battalions they only fired and wheeled off with great Cries whereupon the King of Poland and the other Commanders drew the Army up in three Lines all closed without any Interval and in that firmness they encroached upon the Enemy at what time the Turkish Horse advanced with great shouts hoping to break the Array of the Battel but perceiving the Christians stood firm to expect them they made a halt and discharging their Harquibusses at a distance wheeled off whereupon the first Line fired upon them and the whole Army advanced by a slow March still gaining upon the Infidels and making of them a considerable slaughter who Returning charged as before at a convenient distance and so wheeled off continuing often to do the like and as often the Christians fired upon them and so proceeded till within two Furlongs of their Camp at what time a Body of Foot and Dragoons were detached to Attaque their Canon of which they soon became Masters without any considerable loss the Enemy wanting Foot in a readiness to defend them nor did their Horse make any great resistance yet they made a shew to charge the Right wing in the Flank to prevent which the King of Poland commanded the second Line to advance and make a Front on that side whilst in Person he charged their Front with the first Line making them continually to give ground and whilst the Fight was hot on both sides the Turks in the Trenches made a furious Assault upon the City strugling even at the utmost hazard to carry it and so resolute they were in throwing themselves into the Ditches and Breach that great slaughter ensued which obliged Count Steremberg the Governour to send with all speed to the Duke of Lorain for assistance least the Turks at that juncture should enter and mix the ruine of the Citizens and Garrison-Soldiers with their own when immediately the Margrave of Baden was detached with 5000 Horse and 3000 Dragoons who entering the Trenches at the time the Garrison sally'd the Turks that were in them were cut in pieces and trodden down on all hands to the number of 6000 which unexpected bad success made known to the Visier and finding that now his hopes were altogether frustrated of entering the City in the time of the confusion he gave ground towards the Evening with the Gross of his Army in hopes to make an orderly retreat to the Camp but being furiously charged by the Christians he fled beyond it yet the Generals suspecting they might Rally and fall upon them under the favour of the Night would not enter the Camp by reason it might be
Companion c. The Relation of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Battel Field in Sussex between Harrold King of England and William Duke of Normandy on Octob. 14. 1066. KING Harrold having no sooner defeated the Army of Norvigians and Danes in the North with exceeding slaughter in which of note fell Harfagar King of Denmark Tosto his Brother and Olave his Son but News was brought him that the Normans under the leading of their Duke were landed in the South whereupon he made such speed with his Army that before they could pass through the County of Sussex he was drawing out of London and so with the like celerity marched to give them battel after having sent back the Messenger who came from the Duke of Normandy to demand possession of the Kingdom by vertue of a promise he had made him when being a private man he was taken Prisoner upon his Coast so that both Armies pitching their Tents upon a great Plain now known by the name of Battel-field the King sent divers Spies to view the Norman Camp who being taken and presented to the Duke he generously feasted them causing them to be carried from Tent to Tent and then they were dismissed without any damage or detriment And now Duke William a second time sending to demand the Kingdom or a single Combat with King Harrold and both of them being refus'd as also another proffer which was to hold the Kingdom as a Feudetary of Normandy the Armies drew out on the 14th of October 1066 to try the Fortune of a King and Kingdom by more Swords than one when being set in array of Battel and incouraged on either side with moving Orations the bloody Blast was sounded and the Kentish Men who claimed the Avaunt-guard or From of the Battel as their Right moved and charged the Enemy in the Front with great fury the Battalions and Wings of Horse on the other parts doing the like yet keeping firm in their thick and closed Ranks so that what with the shot of Arrows and those that came to the Sword and push of Pike a bloody and doubtful Fight ensued nor could the Normans with the continual wheeling of their Horse and shot of Archers of which they mostly consisted dismay or disorder the English Battel thoâ— in their motions they shot a slaunt in the Air that the Arrows in their fall might disable the inmost Ranks and gaul the Horse which the Duke perceiving and finding that unless he could loosen the Battel it was in vain for him to expect the Victory nor had he any hope of return his Fleet being before fired at his command he ordered the Retreat to be sounded but â—n such a manner that the whole Army consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot might suddenly face about and charge at the Signal appointed to be given which Stratagem answered his Expectation for the English supposing the Normans fled suddenâ—y disranked to pursue them so that their Orders being open and the Duke rallying 〈◊〉 is Men broke in with a furious Charge â—nd made such slaughter that the ground was covered with heaps of the slain nor â—ould the King though he laboured to cast â—â—em into a thick Body restore the Battel â—ut as he was intent upon it he received the â—ot of an Arrow which entred his Brain â—nd of which Wound he fell down dead â—ter which a miserable slaughter ensued â—ough a party of the English cast themselves into a Ring and manfully resisted however being in the end routed on all parts there fell 97974 by the Sword and shot of Arrows amongst which were the King and his two Brothers Leosin and Grith together with the flower of the English Nobility and of the Normans not above 9000 and although their Duke escaped he had three Horses slain under him yet by this Battel so gained he won a Kingdom for the Land being thus deprived of her King and Nobles no farther resistance was made but all things were left to the disposal of the Conqueror who soon after caused himself to be Crowned King and is known in our Cronologies by the style oâ— King William the First or William the Conqueror Thus Normans fierce possess'd our fruitful Soile And stain'd with blood the famous British Isle Speed de vitae W. C. The Battels of Jerusalem or Jerusalem noâ— by the Armies of the Western Princes December 25. 1099. JErusalem being in the hands of the Infidels their unheard of Cruelties loudened the crys of the oppressed Christians anâ— obliged them to importune their Patriarch to implore the Christian Princes to send their Armies by Battel to rescue them from their Oppressors who accordingly sending his Letters full of lamentations by one Peter a Hermit with other proofs and attestations of the miseries they suffered in the Holy Land such credit was given to them that in a short time an Army of 300000 men were raised wearing on their Breasts red Crosses in token of their holy Warfare and were chiefly under the leading of Godfry of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain and his two Brothers Eustace and Baldwin Hugh brother to the French King Raymond and Robert Earls of Flanders Robert Duke of Normandy Son to William the Conqueror Stephen de Valois Earl of Chartires Adimer Bishop of Podolia c. and with this Army they passed the Hellespont covering the shores of Asia and brought a great Terror upon the Infidels who gathered what Forces they could to oppose the progress of such a War and were not altogether unsuccessful for Peter the Hermit advancing before the rest of the Army with 40000 men raised in the Territories of the Church being furiously charged by the Enemy lost the greatest part of his Forces and was obliged to retire with the rest to Civite a Town a little before abandoned by the Turks not daring to depart thence till the arrival of Duke Godfry when with their united Forces the Christians marched to the City of Nicea which they besieged and made themselves Masters of it in fifty days finding therein great Riches and many Persons of note amongst whom were the Turkish King Solyman's Wife and two Children and the King who came to the Relief of it with the whole power of the lesser Asia consisting of 60000 Horse and Foot was overthrown with such slaughter as covered the Fields with the dead Bodies and filled the Ditches with blood nothing being to be heard but crys and dying groans for the Christians following the Execution 40000 of the Infidels fell by the Sword which brought such a Terror upon those Parts that Cities and Towns were abandoned without so much as being disputed Antioch only of all in that large Tract held out yet made but a weak resistance for after a furious Assault it was taken which being known to the Garrisons of Iconium and Haraclea they surrendred upon the first summons still flying before the Victors and daily sending to his Cozen Axan the Persian Sultan for Aid but he not being able to
when drain'd near dry Thus our Pharsalia England's Tragedy Was Acted in a bloody Scene till Death With slaughter tir'd was almost out of breath What Lands what Kingdoms might our men have â—ane With that Bloods loss which Civil hands have drawn Such Pow'rs united as our Fields distain'd By Conquering on vast Empires might have gain'd Have overset bold Ott'mans Rising Throne And seen his Conquests far beneath their own A Description of the Battel of Bosworth-field fought between Richard the Third King of England and Henry Earl of Richmond known afterward by the Title of King Henry the Seventh c. AFter the Death of Edward the Fourth Richard Plantagenet Duke of Glocester having caused his two Nephews to be murthered usurped the Throne endeavouring to establish himself therein as he had first acquired it viz. by blood so that greatly oppressing his Subjects and especially the Nobility as also causing Queen Ann his Wife secretly to be made away that he might marry Elizabeth his Neece Daughter to his Brother King Edward the Fourth divers conspired against him and amongst the rest the Duke of Buckingham who had been the main Instrument in helping him into the Throne but raising Forces and being unsuccessful in his attempt his men flying and leaving him to shift for himself he resorted to the House of one Banister who had been his Steward and had got a good Estate under him where for a time he secured himself in disguise to attend his better fortune though it proved otherwise for King Richard seting 1000 l. upon his head the same Banister in whom he confided discovered him to the Sherif of the County who seizing upon him in the Disguise or Habit of a Gardiner carried him to Salisbury where by the Command of the King without Arraignment or Tryal he was beheaded And now by a secret Contract the Earl of Richmond being betroth'd to the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth after having escaped many Dangers beyond the Scas and his Faction being strong in England prepares with such an Army as he could well gather by the favour of the Duke of Brittany and increased by such English as fled to him for fear of the Usurper for England and landed at Milford-Haven his Retinue not exceeding 2000 but was soon increased to a far greater number by those that daily came to joyn him which made King Richard advance with his Army to oppose him and pitched his Tents at Radmore near Bosworth in Leicestershire and both Armies being drawn up in Battalia the Lord Stanly with a great Detachment kept aloof on the Hills and the King suspecting he intended to revolt from him to his Enemy sent to him to advance but he refused saying he would do it when he saw his time whereupon King Richard in a great Rage commanded his Son whom he had in Hostage for the Fathers Fidelity instantly to be beheaded but was by some of his Favorites perswaded to defer it till the Battel was over by which means the young man escaped for both Armies joyning with great fury a bloody and doubtful fight ensued so that for a long time the Scale of Victory hung in an equal poise King Richard commanding and fighting courageously in all parts but the Lord Stanly when both Armies had tried their Strengths and were weary with fighting coming in with his fresh men bore down all before him so that King Richard perceiving the Fortune of the War to go against him like a man in despair resolving not to survive it charged with great fury amongst the thickest Squadrons and having killed and beaten down many was at length over-pow'red and himself slain falling upon heaps of his Enemies his Crown was afterward found in a Hawthorn-bush and himself stripped naked was carried all bloody upon a Horse to Leicester and there buried in the Grey-Friars with much Solemnity after its being exposed two days to the People In this Battel called the Battel of Bosworth-field 6000 men on either side were slain and amongst them divers of Note And now the Earl of Richmond being Crowned in the Field marched to London and soon after solemnly married the Lady Elizabeth joyning the Houses of Lancaster and York he being the Heir of the one and she the Heiress of the other And so the Discord to soft Concord yields That with the Bones o' th' slain made white the Fields Dividing Friends in an unfriendly Jar Rending the tor'ring State with Impious War Whilst Father against Son Brothers with Brothers fight Not caring who was wrong or who was right But smeer'd with Blood in Cruelty delight Being emulous who most cou'd vent his Rage Such is the fate when Civil Arms ingage A description of the Battel of Seminara fought in the Kingdom of Naples between King Ferdinand then intituled to that Kingdom and the Great Gonsalves Caâ—tain of the Spaniards on the one part and the Lords Obignny and Persive for Charles the French King on the other part Anno 1495. CHarles the French King victorious in Italy having won many strong Places and Countries and amongst the rest the Rich and Fertile Kingdom of Naples Ferdinand in whose right it was raising an Army of Spaniards Sicilians Italians c. and entred the Provinces the French had a little before brought to their Subjection in order to recover them advancing as far as the Country of Seminara to oppose whom the Lord Obignny Governour of Calabria for the French King and the Lord Persive Governour of Bosilicula marched with their united Forces from their appointed Rendezvous at Terranova to Seminara to fight the King or besiege him in the Town who knowing nothing of their Conjunction and ignorant of their number issued out of the Town upon news of their approach to give them Battel not staying for the Troops he expected from Puglia Campagnia and Arbuzzo though Gonsalves counted the expertest Captain of his Age laboured to disswade him from fight for being in the flower of Youth and height of his Spirit he rather strove to expose his Valour than hearken to good Counsel and so having made an excellent Speech or Oration to animate the Captains and Souldiers to do their utmost he marched towards Terranova three miles along the Hills and coming to the River lodged his Foot on the left Bank and his Horse-men he stretched on the right to serve for a Wing and so continued to expect the Enemy By this time the French and Switzers came in sight and Obignny cast the latter into a firm Battalion placing the Foot raised in Calabria behind them as a Battel of Succour dividing the Squadron of Horse between them being Men at Arms and in the same order the light Horse-men and so in a square Battel they pass d the River whereupon the Spanish Horse advanced to oppose them but being hotly charged by the thick Battalion of the French in the Advaunt-guard after many of them were beaten down and slain the rest were obliged to retire by
Wings of the Lithuanian Horse and placed the Foot behind the Men an Arms to support them and so riding from Rank to Rank he admonished them to do their utmost for the Honour of their King and Country and not by any Cowardize in them be a means to lose a Battel upon which depended their Lives and Liberties c. He would have proceeded but whilst he was speaking the Moscoviâ— sounded the Charge whereupon commanding the Captains in the Vaunt-guard to break in upon the Enemy with their Spears mauger their shot of Arrows each battel moved furiously and although the Arrows flew thick as Hail yet the Poles passed on though some yet but a few oâ— them were slain so that the Archers being frustrated in a trice they brought iâ— to the Sword so that the Lithuanian stretching out their Wings and theâ— straitning them made good their Archers who sorely gauled the Moscovites who being on all sides in a manner oppressed could neither give back nor brake through in the front and those that were behind still thrusting them forward break their Array bearing out side-ways upon the Wings of the Lithuanians so at one time they attacked two Incounters in divers places so that the fight being hot on all parts and the Duke finding himself over-charged sent to Command the Horse-men in Ambush to advance who soon discovered themselves and came on with horrid crys and sounds of Trumpets to be thought more dreadful in their number which the Polonian General perceiving ordered his Battel to stand firm yet Polosky a Palatine of that Kingdom turned on them a squadron of Foot-men which had not been much shaken and sustaining the first shock of their Arrows gave Command for all the Harquibusiers to fire at once and so by a swift advance came to the push of Pike and Halbert causing the Moscovite Horse-men to recoil yet their Ranks being close they could not expand themselves or travers their Ground by reason of which they were obliged to sustain the fight in that narrow compass with great slaughter so that it was a pitious sight to see Men and Horses dead lying on heaps weltering in Blood and groaning out their last whilst in that part where the General fought the Ranks of Moscovites were broken and disordered and the Right Wing of Horse almost all cut in pieces so that the middle Battel wherein was yet the Person of the Great Duke was attacked on all sides and the foremost Ranks pierced through so that he despairing to restore the fight gave back and now the Foot that had routed his Ambushment of Horse having nothing to do charged upon his Battel of Succour and entring their Ranks who had been shaken before by the Lithuanian Horse they with their Pikes and Scimiters made a miserable slaughter putting them in all parts to the rout of which the Duke having notice and how those Horse he had laid in Ambush were likewise defeated whom he scarce thought as yet to have made their attack he with a Troop of his Nobles that were his Guard retired out of the Battel and left his Men to shift for themselves making all the speed he could to escape that Ruin and Desolation into which he had brought his Army which once known nothing but flight and confusion followed whilst the Poles had the Execution of them for many Miles with great slaughter In this Battel fought on the eighth of September 13000 men were slain and many of them of Note all the Baggage and rich Pavilions with the Great Dukes Standard taken as likewise was Michael Goliza but Smolensco being strongly fortified could not be regained Thus Blood still flows thus cruel Mars still raves And Drowns the Plains with Seas of Purple Waves A Description of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Persia near the City of Coy or Coios between Hysmael the Persian Sophi and Selymus the First of that Name Emperour of the Turks SElymus to obtain the Diadem having caused his Father Bajazet the Second to be poysoned and to secure himself in the Throne strangled his three Brethren being grieved that his two Nephews Amurath and Aladine yet lived the one by securing himself in the Persian Court and the other in that of the AEgyptian Sultan upon the former's making some Inrodes into Capadocia he took an opportunity to quarrel with Hysmael the Persian Sophy and thereupon raising an Army of 300000 Horse and Foot and under pretence of his having aided his Rebels he marched to invade his Country and so drawing his People after him over the huge Mountains of Scodrasci Moscii and Ante-Taurus he passed along the Banks of the River Euphrates holding his way Eastward till he came to the River Araxis where he found all the Country wasted and destroyed by the Persians upon which the Army began to fall into great want of many things so that the Souldiers were forced to feed upon wild Fruits when in the mean time Vsta-Ogli the Persian General approached him with an Army of 80000 Horse and whilst either Army was at some distance one from the other Hysâ—ael came in Person to his Camp and from thence sent a Heraulâ— to Selymus to know why in a Hostile manner he had entred his Country having no Title thereto to which the Turk hautily reply'd That his Grandfather his Uncle and himself had greatly endamaged the Ottoman Empire by making several Incroachments Inrodes and Invasions and aiding the Rebels in the Reigns of Mahomet Bajazet and his own yet he esteemed them not a sufficient ground of War but sought after his Enemy young Amurath his Brother's Son who had lately wasted Cappadocia whom if he would quietly and friendly deliver into his Hands he would withdraw his Forces but if he refused to gratifie him therein he would with Fire and Sword not only destroy the Confines of Armenia but the very heart of Persia Notwithstanding these promises and Threats the Persian refused to comply with his demands in delivering up the young Prince to certain Death yet for that day both Armies lay in their Trenches but the next day they drew out and each being put in Battel-Array and incouraged by moving Orations to do their utmost the bloody blast was sounded after which the Persian Horsemen came on with great Futy over-setting the Vaunt-guard and overthrowing the Asapi by heaps these are a sort of ordinary Souldiers placed by the Turks for the most part to dull the Swords of the Enemy with their Blood and often set formost in Assaults to fill up the Trenches with their dead Bodies when they besieged a Town that the Janizaries may pass the easier over them nor was that all for the Persians at the same time charged the Spahi or Turkish Horsemen in either Wing causing them in some Confusion to give Ground which Selymus perceiving and finding they would soon charge the Battel of the Janizaries in the middle of which himself remained he caused the Orders to open to the right and the
fight whilst the Battel had wandered over the Field came to a bloody Encounter on all hands so that the slaughter grew hot and the Wings still charging each other each Nation strove by all possible means to express its Valour for in this battel fought not only French and Germans but Spaniards Italians and Switzers indifferently on either side being Mercenary Souldiers and hired for pay and especially the French for the Honour of their King who spared not at once to give command and charge the Enemy ranging through the fiercest attack as knowing that if he lost that Battel it would be hard for him to escape nor were the black Battalion of Almayns fighting on the Part of the King less diligent in charging the Switzer so that one party ingaging after another they fought in the end in all parts so that the field was in a trice covered with the bodies of the slain and so eager were they to shed blood that they minded not as yet the taking of Prisoners on either side by reason of which many men of Note were slain that might have been made Prisoners and amongst others Solice whose Horse being slain under him and he oppressed with Armour would have yielded to the Captain of the Squadron of Horse that fought on that part but a certain Spaniard envying the Horse should have the Ransom of so Noble a Prisoner bent his Harquibuss against his Brest and killed him on the Place also Tremoville an other great Captain that had in his time won many great Victories was shot upon the like account and Galeazo Sansenerino was slain in the Kings sight so that the Imperialists pressing on as having brought their whole strength into the Field many Gallant men were slain and especially of the Horse who were for the most part in the heart of the battel sustaining not only the Charge of Horse against Horse but frequently of the Foot-men who flanked them so that the shot flying like hail a great number were overwhelm'd Men and Horses strugling together for Life and many being dismounted were trampled to death so that it frequently hapned that the Front of the Battel was so barrocaded with the slain that neither Party could well advance to break into the Squadrons especially those on Horse-back and now the Switzers over-charged began to give ground in striving to restrain which the Lord Bonevet was slain and the King's Guard being miserably cut off with the shot of the Foot-men he was left almost void of Succour to the fury of the Enemy and many who loved their Lives dearer than their Honour left him and scatter'd in all parts which the King perceiving and that it was now but too apparent that the battel went against him having fought courageously and done all that could be expected from a great a Cptain he laboured to get from amongst his Enemies but being surrounded by the Horsemen of divers Nations tho' they knew not directly who he was yet supposing him a Person of Note they pressed hard upon him nor did he forget himself though he was forsaken by his Guard but continually wheeling his Horse to avoid the thickest of his Pursuers defended himself with his Sword both giving and taking divers Wounds but whilst he attempted a Bridg that passed over a Water-course or small Rivolet his Horse was thrust in with a Pike falling immediately down in which fall he was much bruised so that he bled in abundance lying at the same time with his Leg under the Horse and not able to relieve himself when one Didaco de Aebilla and John Orbieta a Biscaian coming in and not well knowing him in that Condition shook their Swords over him and willed him to yield or he was a dead man but whilst he disdained to reply or at least to discover himself Monsieur de La Motte came up who knowing the King kept off the Crowd and relieving him from the misery he lay in required him to yield himself to the Duke of Burbon whom he said was at hand but that duke having revolted from the King whose Feudetary he was he grew angry and in a chafe at his very Name fiercely replying No but call me hither Lenoy who in the end being sought for in all parts came of himself and removed the great Crowd from about the King who pressed on all sides to see him It being known throughout the field that the King was made a Prisoner the Courage of those French that yet stood to it altogether failed them so that the Imperialists crying every where Victory they fled in all parts as likewise did the Switzers that sought on the Kings side fearfully running into the River Teniso where being unskilful in swimming they were drowned in whole Troops and those that remained on shore although they threw down their Arms and begged for Life were mostly slain and all the Spoil of the Camp besides much rich Furniture of Horse and Armour taken as likewise was Henry King of Navar and a great number of the French Nobility and the Count of St. Paul lying on the Ground wounded a Spaniard cut off his Finger to take his Ring which he could not otherwise get off As for the Duke of Alanson who with a Regiment of Horse he brought during the Battel having stood a while a looker on he turned Tail and fled with those under his Command into France to tell the doleful News In this Battel fought Anno 1523 upwards of 10000 men were slain and as many wounded and taken Prisoners not reckoning those that were drowned in the River Ten. so As for the King he soon after obtained his Liberty in consideration of his quitting claim to Millain Naples and Asti as also his Superiority over Artois and Flanders paying moreover to the Emperour 120000 Crowns By this we see how Fortune deals with Kings Casting in doubtful chance all Earthly things He who an Army late in Triumph led Bereft of Power 's a woful Captive made A description of the Battel of Gabiniano fought between Philbert Prince of Orange General for the Emperour Charles the Fifth and Franaio a Captain of the Florentines Anno 1530. THE Florentines having banished the Family of the Medicâ—'s the Emperour Charles the Fifth was so far offended thereat that he caused his Forces under the Command of Philbert Prince of Orange straitly to besiege the City of Florence in Italy which being accordingly done the Citizens resolved to send for Farnaio a Captain of theirs who was abroad with some Troops on the Frontiers who by his falling into the Imperial Quarters whilst they sallied out of the City might be a means to raise the Siege and so without further delay they sent Han a chosen Messenger promising him great Rewards if he prospered therein which made him incontinently gather what Forces he could and advance with all imaginable Diligence and Secrecy yet his Approach was made known by the Imperial Espials The Prince of Orange sent to Fabrico Marmaldo and
the Duke finding the Day lost used what Industry he could to make an orderly retreat into the Neighbouring Wood but by reason his Array was broken the Imperialists entered with him making great slaughter of his men and pressed so furiously upon him that although he stoutly defended himself yet at length he was taken Prisoner by Hippalito a Venetian and disarmed as likewise were a great number of his men and some prime Commanders In this Battel 2000 foot were slain as likewise 800 Horsemen and 700 wounded on the part of the Saxons but of the Germans the slain exceeded not 500 there were likewise taken 42 Ensigns with all the Plate Jewels Baggage and Furniture of the Camp though the Saxons made a kind of a marching or running fight for the space of fifteen miles in all continuing about eight hours and after this Victory all the Country of Saxony submitted to the Emperours Pleasure as soon after did most of the other Estates and Principalities that combined to withstand and oppose him Thus Saxony in her own Confines prest Through one great loss is many years distrest Labâ—ring with War till Peace at last gave rest A Description of the Memorable battel of Muscle-borough-field fought in Scotland between Edward Seimour Duke of Somerset and James Hamilton Earl of Arran Regents of England and Scotland Anno 1547. A Great difference arising between the two Nations upon the Scots refusing as it had been agreed upon in the days of Henry the Eighth to give their young Queen Mary sole Heiress to the Crown of Scotland to Edward the Sixth King of England c. The English under the leading of the Duke of Somerset and other Nobles entered that Kingdom resolving by War to prosecute them for their Obstinacy and oblige them if possible to the performance of what they without any Colour or Reason had refused whereupon on the third of September Anno 1547 the Lord Regent passed the Tweed with an Army consisting of 10000 foot of which 600 were Harquibuses 4000 men at Arms and Demilances with 2000 light Horse-men of whom 200 were Harquibusiers mounted and 1300 Pioneers the Train of Artillery consisting of fifteen great pieces besides a Fleet of sixty five Vessels whereof a great Gally and thirty four Ships were well appointed for War the rest being Victuallers and Tenders and on the ninth of September incamped within two Miles of the Scotish Army under the command of the Earl of Arran who the next Morning dislodged as likewise did the English and advanced towards each other though the former had but a bad welcome for some of the English Ships riding at Anchor in the River let flye so soon as they came within reach of their shot and killed a Captain together with twenty five Souldiers which made the Battalion of Archers commanded by the Earl of Argyle retreat nor could they be perswaded to advance which made the whole Army change the intended course by marching more Southwardly nor stayed they till they had possessed themselves of the Hill called Fauxside-Bray which made the duke of Somerset the English General send some Troops thither to secure the Hill it being of great advantage to those that possessed it and so successful was he therein that he procured in a short time several pieces of Cannon to be mounted thereon which afterward proved very serviceable in battering the Enemies Ranks and in the Emergency the Council debated on Horse-back what was to be done as not having liesure otherways to do it and came to result this viz. that the Lord Grey of Wilton Marshal of the Army and Captain General of all the Horse-men should with his band of Bulloiners and other Troops to the number of 1800 Horse-men advance to charge the Enemy in the Front whilst Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy Captains of the Pentioners and Men at Arms together with the Lord Fitz-Walter and his band of Demilances to the number of 1600 should be ready to support him that so by a furious charge they might break or disorder the thick front of the Enemies Pikes and although this was a hazardous undertaking yet the Captains disputed not the Order only the Lord Grey desired the General that if he should miscarry in the Enterprize he would be good to his Wife and Children and so taking leave he advanced to meet the Scots who with no less speed came on in so thick a Wedge that it appeared very difficult if not impossible to pierce their Array for the Earl of Angues who commanded the Vaunt-guard had in his Battel 8000 Men and four or five pieces of Cannon which served as a flank on his Right and on his Left he had 400 Horse men and was supported with 10000 Highlanders and in the Rear-ward was the Earl of Huntly with 8000 Scots and 4000 Irish Archers who served as a Wing unto them both being furnished likewise with Ordnance as in the other battel nor was this all for the English had the difficulty of a great Slough or miry Ditch to struggle with in their Passage which not only obliged them to break their Ranks but mited divers of them that were not skilled in leaping yet surmounting these they came to a furious charge insomuch that although at the first onset the battel was not broken yet it swaied and gave back to Admiration so that the English gained Ground apace but the Lord Marshal finding he was not at that time capable of forcing their Ranks he made a softly retreat towards the Hill that they might disrank to follow him and he thereby have an opportunity to give a second charge before they could fall into order in which retreat he lost twenty five of his men and had divers wounded many of them Persons of Quality as the Lord Generals Son and Sir Thomas Darcy c. Nor did they fail to lay hold on the Kings Standard borne by Sir Andrew Flammock but it was so well defended that they only broke the Staff and carried away the nether end but the English Commanders having rallied their Troops and by moving Orations dissipated the fear the late slaughter occasioned and being re-inforced Peter Meucasa Captain of a Company of Harquibusiers on foot drew up in the front of the Enemies battel and was seconded by Peter Gamboa a Spanish Captain who commanded 200 Harquibusiers on Horseback who with their shot made such slaughter that the Scots durst not advance and by that means the English Archers had time to march on the Right-hand of our foot-men and feather them with their flights of Arrows and the great Ordnance playing transverse within Musquet-shot and the foot-men who had been obscured by the Horse advancing in good array the Scots began to shrink together though they were far superior to the English in number and quickly losing all Courage betook themselves to open flight their General the Earl of Arran flying foremost nor did Angues stand to it but followed with great Celerity so that the
Bisballus Horatius and Virginius Orsini Noble Romans and of the Venetian Nobility Agustinus Barbadicus Benedictus Superantius Vincentius Quirinus Johanes Lauretanus Marinus Contarenus Catharinus Maleperta Georgius Andreas Barbadious Marcus Antonius Landus Francisous Bonus Hieronemas Contarenus Antonius Poscaligus and Hierom Venerius all of the Order of the Senators with many of the Spanish Nobility not mentioned by Name The wounded of Note were Venerius the Venetian Admiral John de Austrae Paulus Forano the Count de San Fiora Marcus Molini Thomasius de Medici Martello Reverio Biffoli Marteuno Guicardini Spina Mazingi Juliâ— Maldini Guianovo Magnali Johanes Marea Pucci Toraboni Figliazi Fredricus Eâ—ecello and Gerardo but not many of them dyed of their Wounds they being mostly given with Arrows After this Renowned Victory was obtained and the account thereof taken the Generals and great Commanders assembled in Council to consider what was further to be done and ended in this Determination viz. That Don John of Austria with the Spanish Fleet and Collumnius or as some call him Gollonia with the Popes Gallies should return to Mesina in Sicily by reason Winter approaching it was no fit Season to besiege any Place of Importance But Venerius the Venetian Admiral repairing his Navy kept the Mediteranean and won many strong Holds from the Turks both on the European and Asian shores and so vexed was Selymus upon the news of this Defeat that in a sullen Humor he shut himself up for three days not admitting any to speak with him but those that brought him Necessaries and then in a Rage passed a bloody Decree to Massacre all the Christians in his Dominions which had been wickedly put in Execution had not the Grand Visier laid many Reasons before him to divert him from it nor have the Turks to this Day repaired the Loss but remain inconsiderable to what they formerly were at Sea saying That God has divided the World by giving to the Christians the Sea. and to the Turks the Land. Turkish Hist in the Life of Selymus the Second Thus were the Proud Insulting Turks subdu'd Who had so many Lands with Slaughter strew'd Whilst Grecian shoars beheld the woful Wrack And trembl'd at so great a Ruin's crack Toe Sea too Blush'd with an unwonted stain Shrinking to see her self the shambles of the slain A Relation of the Battel of St. Quintines fought in France between Aeneas Montmorency High Constable of France and General for Henry the Second French King and Philbert Duke of Savoy Lieutenant-General for Philip King of Spain Anno 1577. THE War being proclaimed between France and Spain Philbert Duke of Savoy with an Army of 13000 Horse an 40000 Foot and 8000 Pioneers laid Siege to the Important Town of St. Quintines in Vermandois to the Relief of which the French King sent Montmorency High Constable of France with an Army consisting of 4000 Horse and 20000 Foot with all the flower of the French Nobility who served as Volunteers in this Enterprize and with him he drew a Train of twenty pieces of Ordnance when being come within fifteen Miles of the Place he detached 2000 Horse causing them to advance and find out the Foard oâ— the River which they must pass about three Miles on this side the Town which they accordingly did but found it so narrow that only six Horse a Breast could pass it not was it abandoned bnt defended on the other Bank by a Regiment of Spanish Harquibusiers who upon the approach of the gross of the French Army were reinforced with some Troops of Horse who kept their station notwithstanding the Canon plaid against them with great Fury but it was not long e'r the Duke of Savoy understanding the French Army was much Inferior to his in number calling a Council it was after some Debate resolved therein that the French should not give themselves the trouble oâ— passing the River as they intended and for that purpose were laving over Bridges But that leaving a sufficient number to block up the Town the rest of the Army should immediately pass over and give them Battel whereupon Count Egmont was commanded to lead the way with a 1000 Horse Burgundians and Spaniards seconded by Ernesâ—â—â— and Ericus Dukes of Brunswick with 2500 Horse after whom followed Count Mansfield with 800 Dragoons and Count Horne with a 1000 Men at Arms seconded by a 1000 Horse detach'd from divers Troops and in this manner they forced the Passage without much Resistance and ranged themselves in Battel array for Montmorency rather desiring to put a Supply into the Town than come to a Battel only kept them busie with light Skirmishes whilst the Parties he had appointed for that purpose passed the River at greater Distances nor did he altogether fail herein for 300 resolute Frenchmen did enter but finding the gross of the Spanish Army press upon him he by little and little began to retire towards the Hills Skirmishing in the mean time to retard their March especially with the Light house who sought to delay him till the gross of the Army came up But finding in the end that his Retreat might prove disadvantageous to him as not having any means of escaping a Battel if the Spanish General would oblige him to it he put his Army in Array resolving to try the Fortune of War which he had scarce done before the Count of Egmont gave a furious Charge upon the advanced Parties of French Horse and being seconded by the Dukes of Brunswick Count Home Count Mansfield and Collonel Horckstrate after a sharp dispute wherein the French behav'd themselves with much Resolution and Bravery fresh Troops of Spanish Horse still coming in and much slaughter made Montmorency was obliged to suffer his Horse men to Retreat to the Body of Foot who casting themselves close together in a thick Squadron stood firm and strongly sustained the Charge making it a bloody and doubtful Fight which the Duke of Savoy perceiving poured in fresh Troops to prevent the retreat of those that were almost wearied out commanding Count Egmont to renue the Charge upon the Foot men with greater fury sending other Troops at the same time to charge the Horse that they might not have leisure to put themselves into Array so that the French-men continually having fresh Forces to contend withall overpowred with number and wearied especially the Horsemen betook themselves to flight abandoning the Foot to the mercy of the Enemy so that a great slaughter ensued the Fight being maintained in a flying manner over the Plains so that on the part of the French there were slain to the number of 6000 and of note John Duke of Anguen Brother to the King of Navar Vicecount Touraine Nephew to the Constable the Lords Campodenary Eyrrie Galan Plenot and Gelot with many others the Horse consisting mostly of Nobility the wounded were about 2000 and of note Montmorency Constable of France the Dukes of Longeville and Montpensire the Marshal of St. Andrews Lewis Brother to the Duke of
the King charged being put to the retreat an Officer of the Cuirasiers knowing the King broke desperately thro' the Ranks that sheltered him and coming behind him as he was Retreating shâ—◠〈◊〉 through the Body with his Pistol 〈◊〉 at the same time this is the right bird yet enjoyed it not for scarce had he done it before himself was shot dead on the place by Luchan the Master of the Dukes horse and so lost his expected Reward yet so hotly the Cuirasiers charged that the Swedes were not capable of bringing off the dying King but were obliged to let him fall where he was barbarously mangled by the Enemy who stripped him every one getting something that could conveniently come at him as a Trophy of honour all that he was heard to say as those report who were about him when thâ—as demanded who he was for at first those that stripped him did not certainly know him was viz. I am the King of Sweden who do Seal the Religion and Liberty of the German Nation with my bloud and then after some hesitation subjoyning Alas my poor Queen and so recommending his Soul to God gave up the Ghost yet was his Body after ward Rescued and honourably buried his death being lamented even by his Enemies and although the King was thus slain yet he was a Conquerour even in death for the Swedes instead of being discouraged grew more inraged and breathing nothing but revenge for the death of their King charged so furiously on all parts that although â—resh Supplies came hourly to the assistance of the Imperialists yet after nine hours obstinate fight not only their right Wing but their main battel was broken and disordered which obliged the Generalissimo under the favour of the Night to draw off yet in such confusion that most part of his Souldiers fearing the pursuit of the Swedish horse disranked and fled leaving their Cannon and a great part of their Baggage behind them together with their wounded men and 6000 dead upon the place many of them of great Note when on the Swedes part there died not above 2000. the chief of Note on the part of the Imperialists were the Abot of Fulden by his place a Prince of the Empire the Counts Puppenheim and Bartholdus Walenstine's Serjeant Major General Bruner Lodovicus Westrum Lancius Comargo Witzeb and Fines all Collonels of the respective Regiments together with Borda Taxheim Lampart and Cammarhoff Lieutenant Collonels besides divers Serjeant Majors Captains and Lieutenants and on the Kings side of Note was himself Nicholas Count of Wesenburg Grave Nelees Serjeant General Isler and Collonel Gersdorf with some Lieutenant Collonels and divers Captains Thus great Gustavus fell yet conquering dy'd Fortune ne'er gave the battel from his side VVhere'er he fought be was victorious still His body only Fate had powr to kill A Brief Description of the memorable Battels and Skirmishes c. that happened during the unhappy civil Wars in England c. in the Reign of King Charles the First as they are taken and drawn from warrantable history c. AFter many Indignities had been put upon King Charles the First of blessed Memory by an inexorable Parliament whom no favours nor concessions could oblige he thought it highly convenient to oppose their force with force and thereupon in August 1642. he set up his Standard at Nottingham so that the Hostilities being begun after the loss of about twenty men by a Sally out of Hull and the routing of Collonel Fines and Sands by Prince Rupert at Worcester with coÌ„nsiderable slaughter of their men c. The King resolved to march towards London but finding the Earl of Essex who by this time was made General for the Parliament marched after him and hung in a manner upon his Rear he faced about to give him battel or oblige him to retire so that the Armies facing each other and the King having discovered the number of the Rebels from a convenient stand with a Prospective and desiring God and all good men to assist his cause on the 13 of October 1642. he drew into a large Field or Plain between Edghill and Keinton in the County of Warwick where Essex was putting his Army in order so that both Armies being drawn up in battel array the Charge was sounded and thereupon a dreadful fight began continuing bloudy and doubtful Prince Rupert who there commanded the King's horse making a great slaughter and pursuing the Enemies horse even beyond their Baggage so that they forsook the field but fresh Troops coming in the fight-was maintained with doubtful success till Night put an end to the fury yet the King soon after had many Places surrendred to him and marched triumphantly into Oxford with 150 Colours there taken and in this battel are computed to be slain between 5 and 6000 men on both sides And now the King's Army being Recruited and increased by the coming in of many Troops and the Revolt of two Regiments and a Troop of Horse from the Parliament upon his taking of Banbury he marched towards London whither Essex was retired upon which Essex with an Army composed mostly of Prentices and the City Trained Bands drew out to oppose his passage which made the King advance to gain the Bridge to prevent his being hemm'd in by reason the Parliaments forces possessed most of the Towns in those parts but part of Hollis's Regiment made head against him being seconded by two other Regiments the Passage was hotly disputed which lasted till Night at what time the Parlimentarians retreated and left the Town to the Ksng together with 200 of their men dead upon the place eleven Colours and fifteen Pieces of Ordnance but he slighting that place returned to Oxford with his Army nor was the King's success in other Parts less for in February following Prince Rupert with a select Party of 4000 horse and foot making shew to Regain Hadly Castle a little before taken by Collonel Massey marched immediately to Cirencester and charging the Guard forced his way into the Town with considerable slaughter possessing it in two hours dispute with all the Magazine of the County and 2000 Arms making at the same time 1100 persons Prisoners yet this Joy was somewhat lessened by the Defeat of 1500 Welch-men raised by the Earl of Worcester and his Son for the service of the King at Hingham house by the Forces under the command of Collonel Massey and Sir William Waller as for the rest of the Year 1642. it was passed over in sundry light Skirmishes sometimes successful to one Party and sometimes to the other the most material of which was that in Hoptón-Field near Hautly in Staffordshire where the Earl of Northampton was slain and that of Bramham Moor wherein Sir Thomas Fairfax was routed In April 1643 young Hautham the Son of Sir John Hautham whose Father had denied the King entrance into Hull was routed by Collonel Cavendish near Ancasâ—er in Lincolnshire and most of his party slain or taken
Prisoners and a hot skirmish hapned between the Kings party and Essex's men near Causum Bridge wherein the former was worsted and obliged to retâ—â—â—t with some loss and in May divers sâ—â—â—mishes with various success hapned in the West between Sir Ralph Hopton who commanded there for the King and Sir Geo. Chudleige for the Parliament though the former for the most part had the advantage nor did Hostilities cease in other parts for in June divers skirmishes hapned between Prince Rupert and Essex the most material of which was in Chalgrave-field in Oxford-shire where the Prince furiously charging a body of the Parliament Horse routed it killing and wounding a great part of the Enemy and amongst the latter John Hambden who soon after dyed of his Wound as did some others and on the fifth of July Sir Ralph Hopton with a few Forces of the Kings under his Command engaged Sir William Waller who had double his number maintaining the fight from two in the Afternoon till about one the next Morning whereupon Waller perceiving him resolved to obtain the Victory or dye in the place left the field yet soon after being ashamed of the retreat he followed Sir Ralph to the Devises in Wilt-shire whither he was marched with a Resolution to set upon him of which the King having notice sent 1500 Horse from Oxford where he lay encamped to his assistance but upon the Comjunction Waller not thinking it convenient to try the event in that place drew off to Roundway-down but being hotly charged he was in a short time broken and disordered whereupon with his Horse he fled in great Confusion leaving his foot to the mercy of the Royallists who were most of them slain in the fight or taken Prisoners together with four pieces of Cannon all the Amunition and Baggage nine Cornets and 28 foot Colours so that by this fatal blow given on the 13th of July Waller having lost his Army most of the Horse deserting him in his flight he hasted to London with the lamentable story of his defeat Essex by this time with a powerful Army having relieved Glocester and surprized a Convoy of the Kings which fell into his hands through mistake marched to Newberry where the King remained as yet with his Army and had prepared to receive him in the best order the short time of notice would give leave or opportunity so that on the 20th of September 1643 both Armies confronting each other the charge was immediately sounded and seconded by the thundring of the Cannon and Vollies of small shot on either side whilst Prince Rupert with his Squadron forced the main battel and put it into great disorder but whilst he pursued his good fortune he found himself charged by two squadrons of Horse that descended from the Hill where till now they had been posted so that the fight was doubtful and bloody on all parts it being in many places brought to the Sword so that the Lord Jermin who commanded there a Regiment of horse for the King being over charged by number was obliged to force his way not without great hazard through the Battalions of foot yet was the fight maintained with considerable slaughter on either part till Night put an end to the fury both Armies keeping the field till the next day and then retired from each other as by consent The Persons of Note slain were the Earls of Carnarvan and Sunderland the Lord Viscount Faulkland and in all on both sides near six thousand In March Sir Thomas Fairfax and Mitton were set upon by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire and routed as likewise was Sir John Meldrum who had entred England with his Scotch Forces in favour of the Parliament forced to leave Newark which they had besieged with the loss of their Canon Ammunition and all their Baggage which was Relieved by Prince Rupert and only permitted to depart with their Lives But now Sir William Waller having gotten another Army Anno 1644 fell upon the Lord Hopton's Forces near Winchester at unawares and over-pow'ring him in number cut off divers of his men and obliged him to leave the field whereupon Winchester surrendred but Waller was soon after overthrown by the King's forces at Crop-ready Bridg and Essex with the gross of the Parliament Army blocked up in Cornwall and now the Earl of Newcastle being besieged in York Prince Rupert advanced with an Army of Horse and Foot to Relieve the City upon whose approach the Besiegers drew off and were upon their retreat hotly pressed and charged by a Sally from the Town when the Garrison under the command of the Earl joyning with the Prince they with conjunct Forces followed the Parliament forces to a place called Marston-Moor where both Armies drew up and with great sury joyned battel which continuing with much effusion of bloud for the space of four hours victory in the end declared against the Royalists and in this fight called by many the bloudy fight of Marston-Moor 9000 men on both sides are computed to be slain after which battel York surrendred and almost all the Towns in the North so that for a while nothing but Skirmishes happened But on the 27 of October both Armies meeting a second time near Newbury an obstinate fight ensued but the Royalists having done all that could be expected from true valour and still oppressed with fresh numbers of the Enemy were forced in the end to give way to necessity and leave the field in some disorder nor is it guessed that on both sides less than 4500 were slain after which nothing more happened in England this year but the skirmishing of Parties and taking of Towns and Castles but in Scotland the Marquess of Montross with inconsiderable forces raised by virtue of a Commission from the King routed divers Armies of the Covenanters putting all Scotland in fear of being Reduced to its obedience by his Prowess Anno 1645 Essex having laid down his Commission it was taken up by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Cromwel was made Lieutenant General most of the prime Officers of the Army being changed yet the King's party strugled strongly for the Royal cause though many finding things in a manner desperate had retired from the Army and passed the Seas for besides divers skirmishes Collonel Massey in April was routed by Prince Rupert at Lidbury with considerable loss But in June following the King's forces were defeated at Langport where about 200 were slain and 1400 taken Prisoners which occasioned soon after the surrender of Pomfret Scarborough Bath and Bridgwater yet in August the Parliaments Quarters with some slaughter on both parts were beaten up about Tame and the Scots defeated at Kielsieth in Scotland by Montross and in September Montross was defeated at Phillipphaugh in the said Kingdom and the King's forces in England were Routed on Routon heath near Chester and in October the Lord Digby was likewise defeated at Sherborn in the County of York and in March following the Lord Ashley was
defeated near Stow and Dening surrendred to the Parliament yet the great blow that caused the Royal Cause so much to decline was the unfortunate battel of Naseby fought near the Town of that name and so as it was the saddest I shall conclude with the description of it this unfortunate War. The Armies meeting near Naseby and the King in a Council of War resolving to give battel to Fairfax who had for some time followed him in the Rear he so ordered it that himself commanded the main Body and Prince Rupert assisted by his brother Prince Maurice the right Wing and the Lest was committed to Sir Marmaduke Langdale there were likewise two Reserves the one commanded by the Earl of Lindsey and the Lord Ashley and the other by the Lord Bards and Sir George Lisle of the Rebels Army Fairfax and Skippon commanded the main Body the Right Wing was committed to Cromwell and Collonel Rossiter and the left to Ireton there were in the Army likewise two Reserves under the charge of Collonel Pride Rainsborrough and Hammond The Armies being in array the Charge was sounded whereupon Prince Rupert advanced with great Resolution charging the Left Wing commanded by Ireton which after some Resistance was forced to give ground in this conflict Ireton was wounded in the face and thigh and had his Horse shot under him and was taken Prisoner so that the Prince pursuing this advantage followed the chace even to the Town of Naseby and upon his return summoned the Baggage and Artillery to surrender but without success in the main for by reason of the Prince his not timely returning to the battel Cromwel had the best opportunity to charge the King 's Left Wing which he did with such fury that he soon broke and disordered it whereupon that Wing fled leaving the main battel wherein was the Person of the King open and unguarded in either flank so-that the Reserves not being able to make it good and Cromwel returning with his victorious party before the Prince charging in the flank whilst the battel of the Enemy did the like in the Front notwithstanding the great Resistance that was made the King's battel of Footmen became broken and disordered so that although it came to handy-strokes with much Resolution and obstinacy on either part yet fresh Supplies of the Parliament foot coming in and the Royal-Army considering the safety of the King who was pressed on all parts finding it self unable to make longer resistance retreated out of the Field as the Prince was advancing who perceiving the bad fortune of the King's Army since his absence and despairing to restore the battel retired likewise Fairfax pursuing the King till within two miles of Leicester though in the way a Retreating-fight was maintained on the part of the Royalists so that the King not thinking himself safe in Leicester marched without staying directly to Litchfield In this Fight about twenty Collonels and Officers of lesser note together with 600 common Souldiers were slain of the King's Party and many wounded amongst whom of note the Earl of Lindsey Lord Ashby Collonel Rastol c. but almost all the Foot together with their Officers were taken Prisoners and in all six Collonels eight Lieutenant Collonels eighteen Majors seventy Captains 4500 private Soldiers 200 Ensigns one of the King's Coaches with part of his Treasure and almost all the Waggons Ammunition and Baggage together with his Letters and Furniture with twelve Pieces of Ordnance 8000 Arms and the KING's Standard which quite broke the strength o◠the Royalists insomuch that they could no◠bring any formidable Army into the field afterward nor was it long before the King◠being besieged in Oxford made His escap◠thence and cast himself upon the Scotch Army who for a Summ of Money delivered Him up to the Parliament whose usage towards Him was so Inhumane that it cannot be mentioned without a deep sence of sorrow by any good Christian Wherefore in silence let us mourn His fate Who dy'd a Martyr for the Church and State. A Brief Description of the second Battel of Worcester fought on the Fatal Third of September Anno 1651. KIng Charles the Second of blessed memory being crowned at Scone in Scotland entred England with an Army for the Recovery of his Right in August 1651 and by easy Marches with little difficulty entered Worcester on the 22 of August being Joyfully received by the Town 's men who were glad of that opportunity to Return to their Allegiance and there it was solemnly debated whether he should stay there and expect the event or immediately march to London but in the end the former was concluded at least so long till the Soldiers had well Refreshed themselves which gave the Enemy advantage to gather about that City from all parts yet care was taken for fortifying the place and securing the advantageous Passages to which purpose a Line and several Mounts were raised yet Major-General Lambert who commanded for the Parliament sending suddenly a Party of Horse to discover the difficulty of the passage at Vpton where Major General Massey commanded 300 Horse and Dragoons for the King about fifty of them venturéd over on a piece of Timber accidentally left cross that part of the Bridge that was broken down and although the Royal party immediately took the alarum and beat them into a Church where they defended themselves yet so speedy was Lambert in sending over a greater number of men that after a hot dispute Massey having his Horse killed under him and himself shot through the Arm was obliged to Retreat and now Cromwell's Army that had followed the King in the Rear out of Scotland began to joyn with those Parties that were already gathered out of divers Counties making in all between 50 and 60000 Men when as the King 's whole Power exceeded not above 10000 so that with these numerous Forces he was in a manner encompassed and there being no hopes left of marching away without coming to a battel after divers Sallies with various success the fatal day drew nigh for Cromwell Fleetwood and others after the gaining the pass at Vpton endeavoured to make themselves a clear passage to the City that their Army might joyn in the Leaguer to which end two Bridges were ordered to be made the one over the Severn and the other over Thame over the last of which Fleetwood advanced to attaque the City on the West part which so Alarum'd the Royal Army that then lay within their Leaguer at St. Jones that to hinder the approach they sallied out with the greatest part of the Horse and Foot so that a hot dispute ensued till overpowred by number more than by true valour they were obliged to Retire again into their Leaguer But whilst this encounter was on the West side Cromwell passed his Army over Severn and marched directly towards the Wall which the King perceiving sallied at the head of the Horse and charged with so much courage and bravery that
Andalouzia as well Horse as Foot under the conduct of Doali Algori and Osain who had passed into Africa from the Wars of Alpussares he had also 3000 foot and 25000 Horse with 1000 Harquibusiers on Horseback the most part of them Rhenegados and Turks and although these were the chief strength on which he rely'd yet over and above he had about 10000 Horse and 5000 foot raised in haste besides a great number of Arabians And in this case Moluc kept to himself the Title of Generalissimo and gave the Title of General of the Horse to his Brother Hamet protesting to strangle him with his own hands if he was found guilty of Cowardise he made likewise Osain Collonel of the Harquibusiers on Horseback Mahomet Faba of the Rhenegados and Musa Captain of his Guard. During the approach of the Moors in this manner the King of Portugal divided his Army in three squadrons almost united together that the one might the better succour the other that in the front being divided in a manner into three divisions for in the midst the Adventurers were commanded by Alvaro Pirez Brother and Lieutenant to Christopher D' Tavora on the left hand were the Castilians led by Alphonso D' Aguilar lined with Harquibusiers of the same Nation commanded by Lewis d' Godoji and the Germans on the left hand under the command of the Lord Tamberg mingled with Italian Harquibusiers and the Portugals of Tangier under the command of Captain Hercules Pisa every Nation being put in ranks with their Commanders in the front In the squadron that seconded this were the Portugals under the command of Michael d' Norogna and Vasco d' Sylveria flanked with Harquibusiers and in the other which served for the Rearward were the Portugals under the command of Diego Lopez de Sequeira and Francis de Tavora For the Guard of whom two wings of shot were formed in the Rearward were likewise 300 Harquibusiers and on both sides of the Army the Horse was placed in the form of Triangles The Right Wing commanded by George d' Alancastro Duke of Avero on the left was the Standard Royal Jean de Sylva the Spanish Kings Ambassador and Theodose Duke of Barcaellos eldest Son to the Duke of Bragance on the Right hand a little separated from these were about 200 called Africans which live on the Frontiers and near them the Moors of Mahomet and in this order they marched with their Baggage in the midst between their Horse and Foot on the Right Wing on both sides leaving a space between their Squadrons to Retire if need required it The Disposition of the Moorish Army further than what has been mentioned was as followeth viz. The Footmen who were all Harquibusiers were placed in the form of a Crescent or half Moon the first Rank being Andalusians the second Rhenegadoes and the third Africans so distinguished from others for their living on the Borders upon the two Horns of the Crescent he placed two Squadrons in each 10000 horse and behind towards the Rearward at equal distance followed the rest of the horse in small Troops with a design to extend and encompass the Portugal Army but whilst this was doing Moluc the Moorish King fell exceeding sick of a disease that had long afflâ—cted him yet put forth his strength to the utmost to give necessary orders in all places and having encouraged his Souldiers with a moving Oration to do their utmost for the preservation of themselves and the safety of their Country he retired into the main Body where his Litter stood as likewise his Guard and his Standard Whilst these things passed the Christians approached and in the Plains of Tamista both Armies confronted each other when by the command of Moluc whose sickness extreamly increased the Moorish Horsemen extending the horns of their Crescent joyned them at the back of the Christian Army invironing the whole Camp in the form of an Oval circle and then began to straiten it by drawing in their Ranks closer and firmer whilst their Footmen stood in the Front to oppose any further passage that way when as the Canon from the Moorish Army began to play but without any great Damage nor had the Christians upon the discharge of their Canon much better success but the Portugals being somewhat dismayed upon the second fire the King to prevent their further consternation of that kind gave the signal of Battel whereat the Squadrons of the Advantguard and of the Horse moved with wonderful force and valour the Footmen encountering the Moors with great fury so that a bloody and doubtful Fight began yet coming to handâ— strokes the Moors were thrice broken and put to flight with the loss of their Colours but fresh Troops being frequently sent to fill up the Gaps their Sword had made they wearied the Christians with slaughter In the Rearward Francis de Tavora with the Regiment of Sequiera was hotly charged where he made a stout Resistance killing many with his own hand those in the middle were the last that engaged but Moluc gave them no long time to consider e're he sent a Squadron of Horse to ingage Vasco de Sylveire and Michale de Norogna on either side so that now the Fight grew hot on all parts but these latter made weaker resistance than the rest many of them throwing away their Arms and falling on their knees yielded at discretion most of whose Heads the Moors cleft in sunder with their Scymiters they not being as yet at leisure to take Prisoners And now the Circles of the Moorish Horse and the Squadrons that were behind move furiously and charged the Avantguard where the Italians and Castilians had cut in pieces a great number of their best men so that the Christian Army being closely begirt and presled on all sides the Soldiers grew fearful especially the Portugals who began to loose their order by shrinking together whilst on the other hand the Enemies orders were open insomuch that they could approach without any disorder of their own nor could the King with all his Labour and Diligence prevent it though no Expression nor Action of Bravery was wanting in him to set them an Example of true Valour and much worse had been their Estate had not the Portugal Horse accustomed to live on the Frontiers with the Moors of King Mahomet and the Duke of Avero with his Triangle timely charged those Troops that were hasting to break in upon and disorder the foot and put them to the rout but this happy success lasted not long for whilst the Duke who commanded the greatest number fought hand to hand he discovered a squadron of Horse approaching to charge him who being far superior to him in number he durst not abide it but followed the chace of those that fled designing to return to the fight with greater advantage as indeed he did for turning his Horse he charged those that came to incounter him but being overpowred by ods of number and pressing violently by the Enemy