Lord began to turne her backe against him and prepared a crosse for him The 10. of Iune anno 1619. shee gaue him the blowe checke and almost a mate VVe will declare the circumstances thereof in some sort for speciall cause He had Commission to leaue certaine men in the Garrisons for the Defence and keeping of them and with the rest to goe and joyne himselfe with the Army that lay before Budweis and in pursuite of that Commission he departed from Pilsen and went to Portewin an houres going from Vodnian where he attended for 500. Horsmen that the Earle was to bring vnto him there he expected them from day to day In the meane time the Generals prest him to goe forward without staying any longer for them so the Tenth of the said month he departed from thence with his Troupes being about 8. Companies of Foote but not compleat because of the Garrisons aforesaid and about 450. Horsmen among the said Garrisons there was one of 30. Souldiers in a Village called Netoliz on the right hand of the way which the Generall held The euening before his departure the Hungarians that serued the Enemy set Fire thereon and constrained the Garrison to withdraw themselues into the Church The Generall being arriued with the Army at Zablatti in Dutch Grossen Lasken a Village distant about a Germane myle and a halfe from the said Netoliz was aduertised by the Earle of Solmes who as then was at Vodnian with charge to prouide for the said Garrisons that the said Souldiers yet made resistance and desired him to ayde them to goe thither with the Army my Lord found it to be a dangerous matter to abandon them he feared a reproach Therefore he resolued vpon another course and commaunded the body of his Army to stay there while he himselfe with 150. Horsemen ranne thither causing part of them to stay by the way to ayde him in his retraict and to the same end commanded 400. Muskatiers to march to lye in Ambuscado and to stay his returne He thereupon put forward with the rest of his Horsemen and met with the Hungarians whom he valiantly charged but the first part of them being seconded by a great number of others and by some Troupes of Cuirasses he was constrained to retire by another way without hauing meanes to preuaile of the aduantage which he prouided for himselfe by the Ambuscado which neuerthelesse hee caused to be aduertised that they should slide along through the Wood and by the water side and so get to the Army which they effected in such manner that they safely arriued there but yet were narrowly pursued by the Enemy In the meane time the Earle of Bucquoy with the maine body of his Army consisting of 5000. Horse and 4000. footmen marched forward following the traces of the said Lord Generall who being come to the Village where the rest of his men stayed for him and thinking to refresh himselfe sodainly all the Earle of Bucquoyes Army shewed it selfe Whereupon the Generall mounted on Horsebacke with all his Souldiers in order of Battaile commanded them to make a Fortification or sconse of Waggons which was presently begun on the left side but by reason that the VVaggoners were put into a great feare by the running away of certaine Caroches it was not made round about as it should haue bin The length of the Village was behinde at the backe of the Generals Army his Horsemen being deuided into 3. Battalions in manner of a Triangle the better to ayde one the other The Foot-men were behinde and the Carriage in the middle being 4. Companies on the left hand and 3. on the right and one before the Carriage all in such manner disposed that the Horsmen had meanes to be defended by the Muskatiers The Enemy being very neere and all the field couered ouer with his horsemen my Lord Generall set vpon those that were formost and scattered certaine Squadrons of Hungarians but the Cuirassiers belonging to the Baron of Walstein comming forward he was repulsed and so whotly charged on all sides that he was put to flight A little before the Enemy began to giue the on-set 50. Souldiers of the Colonels company that were on the right side were commaunded to goe to the Generals lodging to defend it and the little Street betweene both but as they went the rest of the Company followed them by misunderstanding And the two other Companies did the like and were no sooner gone but the Enemies entred into their places who acknowledging and perceiuing their errour turned backe againe to place themselues as they were at the first but then it was too late in such manner that they were constrayned to looke for their owne safety There was a Wood beyond the Village whether they sought to retire but finding themselues to bee out of the Village to crosse ouer a plaine They were presently enuironed on all sides by the Hungarians and so hardly charged that few of them could saue themselues the rest were either slaine or taken prisoners In the meane time the horsemen were broken part of the footmen lost and the fiue Companies remaining in great hazard to be spoyled Carpezo the Serieant Maior the Rhingraue The Captaines Haid Scheammerdorf and N. commaunding them had the great body of the Enemies forces before them the fire at their backes and all the Amunition except some carkes of powder with all the carriage burning whereby they were put to their shifts and if they had any blood at their fingers ends it was then time for them to shew it as it became them Assoone as the horsemen were dispierced the Enemy began to set vpon the fiue Companies on all sides where they could come at them and they defended themselues valiantly as they were in a Garden hauing the aduantage of a hedge which was a good defence and safegard vnto them The Earle of Bucquoy made certaine peeces of Cannon to be shot at them on that side thinking to beat it downe but he could not doe it that day The Sunne shone very hot and the heat that encreased by the fire that burnt in the Village was the cause that the fire which the Enemy put into the hedge easily burnt but the diligence of those that were assayled surmounting all difficulties presently quenched it In the meane time the Generall without any astonishment at that disorder had reassembled and gathered his horsemen againe together and with them forcibly past through the Hungarians squadrons and ranne too and fro in field and returned againe into the Village with an intent to mount vpon a fresh horse and to put on his Cuirasse being then vnarmed But hee found his lodging already taken vp by the Enemy and that side of the Village that was behind at the backe of his Souldiers all set on fire which notwithstanding he sought by all the meanes he could to get among his footmen but the way was stopt on all sides At the last as hee turned and lookt about
trouble the enemie and set him on worke and so to winne time I beseech your Maiestie to take a speedy resolution herein For first to write vnto the Armie time will passe away And to the contrary If the Prince of Anholt should not like well of this aduice there will be time enough to alter it and to ioyne againe May it please your Maiestie not to thinke ill of my boldnesse in aduising you in this matter danger and necessitie ioyning with the desire that I haue for the aduancement of your seruice haue constrained me thereunto and forced me to cast all other considerations vnder foot as also that neither my selfe nor those that are about me can see any appearance at all that with so small forces we may winne any honour against so puissant an enemie Therefore expecting your Maiesties resolution alwayes vnto the last gaspe of breath I remaine your Maiesties Most humble most faithfull and most obedient seruant Ernestus Earle of Mansfield From Protowin the 1. of August 1620. This aduice was not followed but to the contrary it was thought conuenient to make a Campo formato Our Armie then retired from Protwin to Thein and from thence to Pechin where we continued all the month of August increased by the regiments of the Duke de Saxon Weymars and of Colonel Grayes a Scot and yet effected nothing as being not strong enough to withstand so puissant an enemie During this vnprofitable staying the discontentment of our souldiers but specially that of my Lord Marshall increased more and more because that besides the affront that he had receiued in Austria and so many vaine promises that had beene made vnto him by the land officers he had also beene frustrated of meanes to effect his designes without being able to doe any good for the Crowne of Bohemia in time to come In the end distasting these things and still laden with enuie he determined to withdraw himselfe from thence To that end he wrote vnto the King and to the States who made him a gratious answer exhorting him to continue their friend and not to abandon them in so troublesome a time Whereupon he sent a man expresly againe vnto the King to let him more particularly vnderstand his intent And in that persute diuers messages were sent and returned and in the end it was concluded and decreed that the States should in short time cause him to haue two months pay for his souldiers and that generally his souldiers should be vsed and dealt withall in the same manner that those of the great Armie were that in respect of the fiue companies of horsemen that he entertained and paid out of his owne purse seeing that the Earle de la Tour had discharged him of two of them that the land officers would take order at the next meeting of the States that he should also be discharged of the three others that he should execute his office of Lord Marshall in the same manner that the Marshall de Fels did and that he should not expect any order nor commandement from any other then from the Lord Generall and from such as it appertained vnto Whereupon the Lord Marshall resolued to continue in his Maiesties seruice vntill the end of the month of October and so things rested for that time In the meane time this imposture and scandall was thereby raised that the Lord Marshall would turne his coat as it is commonly said and serue the Emperor A most grosse conclusion and such as deserued to be punished in Schooles to say he will be gone and retire himselfe out of the country ergo he will ioyne with the enemie and serue the Emperor But howsoeuer the bruit thereof hauing beene once spread abroad in the Citie of Prague it afterward ranne throughout all the Realme and further specially when it had encountred with impudence that met it in the way and some accidents sympathizing the same In such manner that in consideration of the force which from time to time it recouered by support of so many fautors it was apparent that in the end it would take root in his Maiesties owne chamber But it was so farre from that that that wise King would not once giue it any place nor entertainment into the cabinet of his conceit but to the contrary did encourage and exhort the Lord Marshall not to respect such euill reports assuring him of his Royall fauour c. While we were as I said about Berkin the Lord Generall thought it expedient to send our Armie from thence to goe to Newhats lest that the Duke of Bavaria that was not farre from thence should suddenly surprize it And when we came thither there we stayed eight or ten daies But his Maiestie and the land officers hauing a great apprehension of the neerenesse of so many troupes that yet were in Bavaâ—ia and that the said Duke would doe some enterprise vpon Pilsen he commanded the Lord Marshall to march with all his forces as he did to diuert and assure the frontiers of Bohemia against the Duke of Bavaria And being on the way he had another charge from the land officers who as he had already past by Tabor made him make haste with assurance that his Maiestie had proclaimed the Ban and that all the country was vp in armes as also that a great number of horse and foot men were commanded to ioyne with him by Glats and Taux which they beleeued he should finde there when he came thither The custome of Bohemia is that when the King goeth forth in person to the warre the Earles Barons and Gentlemen are bound to mount on horsebacke and to follow him and those that are called Gentlemen in that country are at the least 60000 persons besides the Nobilitie which are nothing so great a number Now considering these great forces and the Kings resolution to goe personally into the field the apparance was great that they would doe some notable enterprise These great composed bodies haue their successe courses as well as men and are subiect to the same alterations and changes To behold the countenances of those personages it seemed that they were already rowsde out of a profound slumber specially hauing such an alarme as the Earle of Bucquoy made them with so puissant an Armie comming neere vnto them We beleeued that being assisted and aided by so great forces we should doe miracles We did then already imagine nothing else but an end of the warre But parturiunt montes we shall see that these great mountaines of promises will bring forth nothing but a mouse In the meane time the Lord Marshall vnder that hope caused his Armie to march forward towards Glats and from thence about Taux to discouer the enemies intent and to gouerne himselfe thereafter As hee marched on the way and after he arriued there he caused that aide aforesaid to be sought for and nine miles all about on this side to looke where those souldiers might be but by no meanes could
For all this the said Captaines shrunke not for this blow but t is well seene by that which themselues wrote to the Lord Marshall what they would haue done if he had not opportunely come to them and kept vp the businesse See here the Tenor of their letter in their owne words My Lord WE haue receiued a letter from your Excellencie and vnderstand the effects of it whereof wee maruell much that your Excellencie will still delay the returne you promised vs seeing we haue had a hard time of it till now And for this one thing of keeping of good orders surely t is a thing impossible to doe without money as well in respect of the officers as souldiers Our hopes were to haue receiued in present pay euery Captaine 1000. florins according to your Exc promises And for want of this what shall we doe seeing the enemie hath sent out some troupes of horse on euery side of vs and haue taken moreouer aboue 80 of our men although we yet know not what will be the issue of this truce Behold t is more then time for your Exc to returne home with all speed lest the counsell comes after the harme The enemy threatens to keepe vs in so strait that we shall not safely fetch in our fewell and if any misfortune fall out against our wills we desire to be held excused and blamelesse before God and the world On the other side my Lord we haue here a letter from his Royall Maiestie of Bohemia directed to your Exc but we are no wayes desirous to be put vpon any seruice till we be sure of our pay Moreouer let it be taken well or ill we are desirous to know how the King will pay vs our old arrerages For the third though the King would giue vs one months pay it will not serue our turnes wee cannot be contented with two For the fourth Forasmuch as neither your Excellencie nor wee the Captaines are fauoured by the Prince of Anhalt wee will not be commanded by him considering how he hath dealt with vs both in Austria and here and aboue all we intreat this that if your Excellencie would not haue too great disorder among the souldierie let your Excellencie make all haste to come home so soone as possibly according to your High promise at your departure In thus doing your Excellencie shall infinitely obligevs No more at this present but our prayers to God for the prosperitie of your Exc c. And shall euer remaine My Lord Your Excellencies most humble and affectionate seruants Giuen at Pilsen the 2 of Ianuar. 1621 stilo novo Iohann von Pierriz Leonhard Syrach Hartman Alexander von Kronniz Wolff Sigmund Teuffel Iohann Grotte Postscript My Lord this day newes is brought that the enemie giues chase to our convoyes others they disarme and more they take prisoners This letter was presently followed by another of the same tenor but much fuller of passion Meane while the Lord Marshall tooke horse to goe towards Tachaw accompanied with Colonel Gray some part of his Scottish Regiment being there arriued hee wrote to the said Captaines as followeth MY Masters after you had done me the honour to beare Armes vnder me vpon so faire occasions and with such reputation I was confident you would so well haue obserued my actions past that you would not now haue come to this point to question my sinceritie seeing that euery way you had leysure to know me that I neuer sought but the good of euery one of you Yet must I needs with great vnpleasingnesse take notice of the distrust you haue of me in a matter of so great consequence as is now in hand you lightlier giue credit to those who apparantly seeke your ruine vnder dangerous conditions then to him who seekes nothing but to preserue that honour which you haue engaged If I haue giuen my promise to returne I haue kept my word and see I am comming to doe the King seruice and what shall be for your good as I my selfe shall see occasion without receiuing law from you who ought to giue it I am now about it nay and haue the meanes now in mine owne hands that shall content you and the whole Armie but t is by another kinde of way then to stand to their mercy who desire to entrap you It is I say a more honourable course I had once entred into a treatie with the enemie that we might haue got our pay that way if we could not an other and haue drawne our companies out from thence where we wanted succour but seeing there is yet another way to come by it and that we haue the meanes to get from thence and that I otherwhere perceiue the enemie casts about how to ouer-reach vs I will no more of that treatie And I cannot beleeue that you who are bound in dutie to mee would preferre an vncertaine profit before your honour that so loosely in so faire an occasion you would forsake your Chiefe from whom God be praised you neuer receiued dishonour You haue in following that way wherein I set you your pay assured your liberties and honours safe Wheras in place of this from the other partie you cannot expect your pay when you are once made slaues and bound hand and foot so that you can haue no hope of assurance Adde to this the hazard whereinto you shall runne your reputations Then if contrary to my hopes you haue now trodden vnder foot the respect you owe me notwithstanding my fatherly aduises you be obstinate to render vp Pilsen why you may do it for my part I will wash my hands and protest from henceforward and hitherto that if Pilsen be now giuen vp it is against my will my pleasure and my commandment T is you that in this case must answer it before God the King and all his braue soldiers seeing that you being not as yet forced of necessity against all necessity contrary to the will of the Chiefe you giue ouer a place which you before gained with so great glory and reputation As for the Newes from Morania and Silesia with which they would scarre you I wonder that like men of Spirit and experience you marke not the sleights of a Foe and how easie it is to forge such subtle lyes to make vse of against Enemies But if the worst happens what is that to vs T is our Honour and our pay we must looke after which we are sure to haue if we follow good Counsaile For we knowing the meanes as I said I am presently resolued to fall vpon the atchieuement to which I inuite you also That wee may hereafter performe some exploit seruiceable to the King and our owne selues And to this effect I will draw c. From Tachaw Ianuary 16. The same day he wrote to Colonell Franke as followeth Sr. the further I goe the lesse I know the resolutions of my Captaines I thought they had taken a good course and in the meane