to be surmounted The Princes valout cannot be highly enough extolled nor the order which he kept to save the Army and make a dexterous retreate sufficiently admired Sadnesse in the Low-Countries for this defeat The news of this so little expected disaster gaining force upon the nimble wings of Fame and growing much greater then it was was likely to cast the Flemmings into despaire but the following Posts manifested that the hurt was not yet past remedy that the Prince of Conde had done more thena man and had merited the Lawrel by this retreat The number of the dead was but little that of the prisoners greater and that of the victorious Bnemy most grear As this blow filled the King of Spains subjects in the Low-Countries with sbrrow so did it make all France skip for joy and accumulate prayses upon the Cardinal as well as upon the Generals who Joy in France They King at Arras and the Army in Hennawlt after having accompanicd their Victorious King to Artat took leave of him and fell in with their forces upon Hennawlt During the joy of the one the forrow of the other and the amazement of all I will make reflection with such as to whom this war is infinitely displeasing for Heavens sake upon some Sieges on both sides since the war was first declared in which the indignation of the Almighty most clearly appears A calculation of the unhappy Sieges on both sides which denotes that this war is displeasing to God The King of Spains Armies found Fortune against them before Cazal Leucatu Rocroy Guise Rosa Balaguier Arras The King of Frances were unhappy before Theonnille Dole St. Omers Fontarrabie Lerida and Cambray so that by these alternative losses and by the obstinate continuance of the war there can be nothing expected but an excessive weakening of both Crownes and an insufficiency to resist one day other Enemies These are the misfortunes of this depraved Age which it not remedyed we shall soon see yet greater changes The bowle being cast goes very often further then the bowler desires Quenoy fortifyed and Clairmont taken The French having ransacked the County of Hennawlt both sart and wide and fortifyed Quenoy whilest the other forces feazed upon Clairmont left a good Garrison there and retreated into Winter-quarters The Veneiuns resist the Turk The Venetians by their generous resolution shew that they will reconquer the kingdome of Candie and hinder the Half-Moon from perfecting her Circuit The Gennezes have sent their Embassadours into Spains to end their difference and into France for some negotiation the effect whereof depends upon Time The Pope quiet and the Duke of Savoy constant in the Dance The Pope not having been able to perswade the two Kings to a peace keeps himself in peace and with him the rest of Italy save only the Duke of Savoy who stands fast in the Dance with the French The Duke of Guise having better retained in memory the courtships of the Neapolitans then his own misfortunes and his promises made as Madrid set men at work the whose summer long for the atring of a great Fleet to go to the Conquest of that Kingdome which hath been sooften taken and retaken with so great facility He departed at the beginning of Autumne The French expedition under the conduct of the Duke of Guise unhappy but having been resisted by storms at Sea and by the Spaniards ashore he lost the hope of seizing upon it and returned towards France with notable losse In such sort as that the French have found Fortune against them in Italy and the Spaniards in the Low-Countries There are misfortunes every where if not by Arms at least by sicknesses and other accidents For whilest the Hollanders who were not resolved to take any Governour yet had trouble enough to get their proceedings approved by the rest of the Procinces Misfortunes happaning at Delft and the Inhabitants thereof that horrible blow happened at Delft the 12 of October between ten and eleven of the clock where the fire got into the Magazine of powder and so destroyed one part of the Town that few houses remained whole and untoucht either in walls or windowes And at Graveling by powder The like misfortune happened at Graveling towards the spring which killed many people as well as that of Delft These prodigious accidents made many who were astonished at them believe that the Great Day of Judgement was come and others that they prognosticated nothing but miserie The English Fleet. The English keep two Fleets ready and have already sent one under General Blake to the Levant to succour the Spaniards against the French But the said General falling short of the Duke of Guises Navy which was returned from the Kingdom of Naples Generall Blake burns the Tukish ships near Tunnis almost a fortnight before he came he plied into the Port of Ligorn where he was most honourably received and from whence after almost three weeks stay there he set sayl for Tunnis where he sired a Castle and nine Turkish ships in Port ferino upon the disdainfull refusal of the Dye of that place to give satisfaction for some wrongs and dammages formerly put upon the English Nation The Count of Broglio forces the Suburbs of Lile The Count of Broglio Governour of La Basseè for the French after the taking of the Fort and Abby of Breclean being informed that there was a Regiment of Horse quartered in one of the Suburbs of Lile commanded part of the Regiment of Piedmont together with part of a Foot-Regiment to go and beat up their quarters but having notice upon the way that they were removed and entred into the City he neverthelesse advanced and having given a very strong onset fired the Suburbs and burnt about sixty houses to the ground This done hearing that some Lorraine Forces were marching from Lents towards Doway to joyn with a body of Horse of about four thousand commanded by Don Carlo del Campo Governour of Lile he resolved to set upon some Foot left behind about the Town in the absence of the Horse and so stormed their Works about midnight in three distinct places and forced them out of their Out-works Retreats from before Lents yea and would have gone over the Mote had he not been advertised of the enemies speedy return and thereupon thought sit to retyre with his men himself being dangerously wounded to La Bassèe The Parliament of England called by the Lord Protectour calculated the charge of the Nation Account of the yearly expence of England which in the whole amounts to thirteen hundred thousand pounds Sterling per annum whereof two hundred thousand pounds yearly for the said Lord Protectours support four hundred thousand pounds for the maintenance of the Navie and Ports and seven hundred thousand pounds for the Armies Pope Alexander the Seaventh The Popes death Pope Innocent the tenth after a tedious and dolorous sicknesse
death Page 189. CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to an universall Monarchy and whether the reasons be sufficient which accuse it of aspiring to it Why France retaines Lorraine Page 191. CHAP. XIII Piccolomini raises the Siege from before Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenson arrives from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken prisoner The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick recollect themselves after having punished the slacknesse of the souldiers and raise the Siege of Friburgh The Battail of Honcourt The Expleits in Catalunia The death of Monsieur le Grand The death of the Great Cardinal An Epitome of his life Page 194. CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Iust The Battail of Rocroy The Battail of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein Page 198. CHAP. XV. Of the war of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof Page 200. CHAP. XVI Gallasso retyres out of Holstein and is ruined by Torstenson at Magdeburgh The Battail of Lankewitz The Exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh 203. CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the obedient Low-Countries The taking of many of the strongest townes in Flanders Page 206. CHAP. XVIII The war of England The Tragical death of the King Page 208. CHAP. XIX A continuation of the Exploits in Flanders The Baâ—tail of Lenâ—â— Page 212. CHAP. XX. The Peace between the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate Page 213. CHAP. XXI The difference which happened betwixt the two Families of the Landgraves The Battels of Mergendal and Nortlinghen Generall Mercy 's death Page 216. CHAP. XXII The Exploits of the Swedes upon the Franteers of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander Generall of the Imperiall Armies Page 219. CHAP. XXIII The taking of Swinsfort and Eger Lamboy and Conninxmark incamped before Rene. The taking of Retschin The siege of Prague Page 222. CHAP. XXIV The breach of the Truce with the Duke of Bavaria A tempest upon the Elbe Melanders death The Peace of Germany The death of the King of Denmark and of Uladislaus of Poland Casimir succeeds him Page 223. CHAP. XXV Pope Urbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia Page 226. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe tumults at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The history of Conradin Prince of Swaveland his death the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs The history of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples Page 230. CHAP. II. The war of the Turks and the Venetians and why The taking of Canea The Knights of Malta take a great Booty a great number of Gallies and the young Sultanesse with her Sonne The Venetians obtain succour but are beaten Page 234. CHAP. III. The troubles which happened at Paris The City is besieged The Arch-Duke comes to succour it The Siege and taking of Ypers Cambray besieged in vain Hennault ransacked Page 237. CHAP. IV. Tumults in the Province of Luke or Liedge The Election of a Coadjuter Tumules at Trevirs The Lorrains in the Kingdom of Aix and in the Dutchy of Gulick beat the Peasants The war is kindled again at Naples Page 239. CHAP. V. The Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Conde the Duke of Bouillon and other Lords retyre themselves so Bourdeaux The Dutchess of Longueville and the Vice-Count of Turenne to Stenay The Allyance is made The Duke of Orleans in Flanders and a digression upon that subject Page 244. CHAP. VI. Containing what passed in the Summer of this year of 1654. The Offers of the Portugal Embassadour The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princes complaints The Siege of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His praises Page 247. CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the valiant Earle of Montrosse The war of the Polanders against the Cossacks Page 250. CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stuart in Jersey The Kings Goods sold Charies Stuart goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuance of the War in Candy The war made with the Pen. An Embassadour from Spain at London The Chineses or people of China become Christians Page 254. CHAP. IX The Coronation of the Queen of Sweden The dammage at Paris by the River The diliverance of the Princes Mazarin being banished departs out of France The Great Assembly at the Haghe The arrival of the English Embassadours at the Haghe The war against the Cossacks The King of Scots enters into England with an Army is beaten at Worcester and slyes disguised Page 256. CHAP. X. The Coronation of Charles King of the Scots His entry into England He looses the Baetiel near Worcester The miserable condition of the Scots Charles's marvellous escape He arrives in France The difference between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made Page 258. CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entrance into Paris The joy for the one and the other The Dutchess of Longueville and the Marshal of Turenne returne into France The Prince of Oranges Baptism and the dispute for his tutelage The Bank broken near Waghening Uiefeldt accused of having intended to poison the King Berghen St. Winock taken by the Spaniards Page 260. CHAP. XII The Cardinal returnes into France The Lords who had been prisoners restored to their Charges The Prince of Conde retires to Paris The King declared Major Prodigies seen at sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why Spirings death Page 262. CHAP. XIII The miseries at sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France etc. Page 264. CHAP. XV. The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends back an Army to Paris takes Graveling and Dunkerek The English beat the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retyres into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes Page 267. CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of Fishermen Tromp returns to Sea findes Blake a tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens victory before Ligorne Tromp conducts the Fleet safely into France Divers Combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Assembly at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Ferdinand the fourth King of the Romans Page 271. The Continuation Page 275. Reader The Corrector to the Presse intreats thee to amend with thy Pen these faults which have escaped his eye PAge 1. line 28. read sent p. 2. l. 27. Now. p. 6. l. 16. then p. 7. l. 1. other by p. 12. l. 4.
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
States to have the total administration of them This man being eminently ambitious hoped to come to be Pope by the recommendation of the Emperour The story of Câ—â—â—inaâ— Wollâ—y But seeing himselt frustrated of his expectation he turned his hate upon him whispered the King in the ear that his marriage with Katharine of Spain Aunt to the said Emperour was incestuous because she had formerly been married to his Brother O! How great is the wickednesse of such as have for saken God to serve their ambition and revenge This Prelate who ought to have framed the reformation of abuses and opposed Heresies since himself held for such all the Doctrines which checked the Pope was not content with so much honour and wealth as he enjoyed without seeing the Emperour thrown down and buried under the very ruins of that Church the Religion whereof he professed with so great Majesty and under the Purple of so great luster The King intangled in love with a young Lady newly come from the Court of France and disgusted with the Embracements of that most veâ—â—â—ous Princess his Wife was glad of this scruple and sollicited the Pope to grant him a Divorcement upon the aforementioned reason But the Pope temporizes and sends in sine his Legat to examin the matter The King and the Legat sir the Queen being summoned appears and in presence of the chief of the Kingdom makes a Speech in Latin to the King which is able to move a very rock to compassion How is it possible Sir sayes she that after having lived almost twenty yeares together in great concord and having had so many children as we have had it should now come into your thought to repudiate me Your Brother Arthur fell sick the very first day of our marriage and some dayes after dyed I take the great God and your conscience to witness that you found me a Virgin And if you are resolved to separate me from your Bed expect at least so long as till I may have advertised my Nephew Charles thereof to the end that I may know how to behave my self in this affliction since I can hope for no support in the equity of my cause here where you are Absolute King If I have offended God since I have been your wife it has been in being a little too curious to please you Ah Vertue This is not the first time that thy adversary endeavours to suppress thee Thy luster is too bright not to dâ—â—le the eyes of the wicked This poor Princesse in this tribulation had this imperfection that in regard Nature had been sparing to her of her rich gifts of beauty she had had recourse to innocent Art thereby to draw her Husband from the levities to which he was too much inclined as well by his own naturall Passion as by the attractive Charms of his fair subjects Her Speech being ended which produced but faint pitty in the soul of the King and some of the Auditory she retired her self together with her Daughter into a private House where the spake thus to this ambitious Cardinal who came to her in behalf of the King to intreat her to yeeld to his will It is thou said she O wicked and disloyal Minister who returnestâ—â—s this recompence To my Nephew for not advancing thee to the Holy Chayre and to me for not being able to suffer thy impudicity and naâ—ghtâ—â—esse The King divorced himself from the Church of Rome because the Pope would not condescend to his demand and from his Wife by whom he had alwayes been so respectfully loved to conjoyn in publick marriage with Anne of Bolein The King leaves his Wife an I the Church of Rome The Cardinal died in the year 1530 being not long before deprived of all his employments and fallen from the favour of his Prince which he had preferred before that of his God as he restified by these words full of christian and holy repentance which issued our of his dying mouth Ah! I would to God said he I had taken so much pains to serve my Creatour as I have done to serve my Prince He put into the Letanies From the tyranny of the Pope good Lord deliver us whose authority was abrogated thorowout the whole kingdome and the King by Act of Parliament declared Head of the Church of England He seized upon the possessions of the Church by the advice of Cromwell and some others who all ended their dayes unhappily Takes away the possessions of the Clergy He also bestowed part thereof upon the nobility for fear of commotion He hanged such as refused to subscribe that he was Head of the Church as aforesaid and condemned the protestants to the fire In fine after having crushed the Church and lived like a tyrant he died miserable and little regretted by his people Sir Thomas More that great Heroe fell under the rigour of his command and so did an infinite number of other noble persons Luther seeing him in ill tearms with the Pope and encouraged by the King of Denmark very humbly beseeched him Luther writes to the King and receives an affront by a letter which he wrote to him to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel but he received such an answer as he little expected namely that he should forsake his apostacie and his wife and return to his Monastery Now the Church of Rome seeing her head disclaimed and his authority banished out of England felt her self much shaken as well by Peter Martyr as orther Protestant ministers in such sort as that Edward Edward establishes the Protestant Religion son to the said Henry having taken the reines of the English Monarchie had no great trouble to throw her quite our and fixe the Protestant But he dying very young and Queen Mary succeeding him she had an intention to pluck up this tender plant and re-establisheth the old doctrin which yet could not recover its full strength before it was exterminated again Young trees by being re-planted get vigour but old ones wither and dye CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Romane Catholike Religion again by degrees That of the Protestants passes into Scotland under the bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation and is fortified by the above said Queen and the Hugenots of France QUeen Elizabeth who during the life of her sister Mary feigned her self a Roman Catholike and was like to lose her life by giving some suspicions of her being a Protestant being raised to the royall Throne forthwith unmasqued her self and began to treat of the meanes how to annull the one and revoke the other which was easie to be accomplished For the ignorance of the Priests was great the desire of their possessions greater and the curiosity to check a Religion full of ceremonies which few could solidly defend greatest of all It was represented to the People both here and elsewhere that the doctrine was falsified and in no wise congruous with that of the
need at all to speak thereof Mary Eleonor her eldest sister was married to Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia who died without issue male and left four daughters behinde him Anne who was the eldest was given to John Sigismund Duke of Brandenbourgh and Elector of the Empire The second to the Old Elector The third to the Duke of Courland The fourth to Duke John George of Saxonie brother to the Elector The second sister of the said Duke called Anne in the year 1574. married Philip Lewis Duke of Newbourgh in which marriage she brought Wolsgang William who kept his Court at Dusseldorp and died in the moneth of April in this year of 1653. The third who was Magdalen was made wife to the Duke der Deux-Ponts And Sibill the fourth was bestowed upon Charles Duke of Austria who had no childe Difference for sâ—â—cession Now Duke Iohn William dying without children Iohn Sigismund Elector of Brandenbourgh who married Anne as we have already said eldest daughter to the eldest sister of the said last Duke presented himself to be received by the States of the said Dutchy wherein he was opposed by the Duke of Newbourgh son to the second daughter Magdalen who was then yet living The Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh The Elector of Saxonie and the Duke of Neuers declared themselves also heirs so that the Emperour Rodolph summons the Parties to appear before him endeavours to sequester the Dutchies and to that end dispatches the Archduke Leopold Nâ—wburgh refuse the sequestration and demand relief from France Bishop of Straesbourgh who makes himself master of the Town and Castle of Gulick Whereupon the two first presumptive Heirs upon some articles of governing the Country made an agreement between themselves and in stead of addressing themselves to Prague before the Lord of the Fief who is the Emperour had recourse to the King of France O! How great is the strength of distrust which tyes the hands of justice and gets authority over ber They obtained a promise of strong relief The other Princes both Protestants and Catholicks yea even the Emperour himself sent their Embassadours likewise to Paris where the King sounded them all one after another In the mean time they take Arms make Excursions awaken the Neighbours The Germane Protestants receive the Alarm Germany takes the Alarm and assemble themselves at Hal and the Catholicks on the other side at Hirtsburg there to provide for their safety propose the Election of a new King of the Romanes and bring the said Protestants to a more strict observance of the accord of Passavia These are the first seeds of the divisions which being come to maturity will quickly fill all Germany with horrible disturbances as being watered by strangers for fear least they perish with moisture or humanity drawn out of the essence of Religions as we shall briefly shew in fit place The businesse of Donawerds Atumult at Donawerdt which is proscribed and foreed by the Duke of Bavaria which had already irritated the Protestants passed thus Some Religious or Conventuall men dwelling in the towne and endeavouring to make a Procession were desired by the Magistrates to desist for fear of some tumult But they answered that they would not quit their Rights which depended upon the Emperour In short they make a Procession the people falls upon them and affronts them The Emperour informed of the insolence demands an exemplary punishment wherein being disobeyed he proscribes the Towne and gives the execution thereof to the Duke of Bavaria who by a siege forced it to submit Now this proceeding very much displeased the Protestants and principally such as were grieved to see the Empire so long in a profound Peace But the enmity was not yet grown so strong for it shortly after brake out to the ruine of all this great Body But let us returne to the Country of Gulick The Princes excessively afflicted at the death of the King of France Gulick besieged and taken sollicited Prnice Maurice to besiege Gulick which he did and by the assistance of the French Army under the conduct of Marshall de la Castre constrained Leopold to render the said place into the hands of the said Princes upon an honourable composition Now it is to be observed that they would not admit of a sequestration nor the decision of the Emperour to whom it belongs by right but it looks as if they all endeavoured to weaken the Principall head of Europ And so the Princes were reproached for having ejected the Garrison of Gulick with forraine forces which was immediately to conremne the Imperiall authority and that they had thereby given cause to the Emperour to arme against them The Duke of Saxonie beares also the title of Duke of Gulick Cleveland and Montagues and draws his pretentions from Sibill Aunt to John William and Daughter to William who was given in marriage to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie who lost the Electorac for having taken arms against the Emperour Charles He was admitted by the two Princes to govern the Country till the definitive decision of the difference It seems that diffidence and suspicion in affairs of State authorize the taking up of Arms without any other forme of Iustice and that it is no more lawfull to the Lord of the Fief to dispose of his Right CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They arme The Swedes and Muscovites serve themselves of this occasion against the Poles and loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles appeased at Paris Rodolph dies VVE left the King of Poland very busie about recovering his Kingdome of Sweden and the expulsion of the Swedes our of Livonia and now we finde him as busie to maintaine himself in the Elective after having lost the Hereditary Fortune never ceases to trouble Vertue and one disaster comes not without another The begining of the troubles was by a little blast or slash which kindled a fire that carried it self to the very highest loft or story of the building The scholars of the Jesuites through an impious zeale Yuâ—â—â—nlss in Poland rushed one day upon the Church of the Protestants of Posen and set it on fire Prince Radzivil and some other Ranting blades of the Party took arms for the defence as others said of their liberty and to revenge this injury under the vaile of Rakozians Fortune smiling upon them at first and they puffed up with a small victory endeavoured to expell the King and choose another unlesse he would subscribe to some certaine insupportable articles proposed by them Ill intentions grow to be discovered by good successe In a word the Warr was kindled in good earnest and the cloak of Religion not forgotten The Rakozians being beaten make Peace The Rebels or Rakozians being defeated and vanquished returned to be friends and good subjects But some space after the wound having been dressed by too milde a Chirurgion opened and gangroened and could not be shut up without
Henry was chosen but he marched so slowly that he found the Prince too strongly intrenched for his defence to be possibly forced out For he had dammed up the Rivers and brought them round about his Fortifications in such sort as it was like a broad Sea And on the other side the Summer was so faire A dry Summer and so dry that it looked as if heaven had entered into contract with the Prince to give him the fruition of the Victory For had it chanced to be moist and rainy as it is ordinary in that climate their mills of so rare workmanship would have proved uselesse and Nature would have jecred Art out of countenance The Spaniards in the Velaw The Spaniards indeavoured to succour it in vaine which made them passe the Rheyn at Wesel to joyne with the Imperialists and the passage of the Isell being open and maintained with the sword gave them a fair prize together with the defence of some Companies which followed But the Prince drew out part of his Army which so well coasted the Spaniards that they made no remarkable progresse at all Never had they Fortune so favourable and never did they loose so many men as in that field not by the sword but by other inconveniencies Whereas had they gon forward at first they had found no kinde of resistance all the Country being full of fear and consternation The Prince stood so fast before Boisleduc that he could not be parswaded by the States of Guelders Overysel and Vtrick to quit the siege though it were to save the Country bidding them by way of answer to have patience and put all in good order c. that the enemy would give them more fear then hurt All which proved true for the Hollanders having taken breath and done all which was necessary for the defence of their Country with some of the licensiated Troops of the King of Denmark put the Armies to a sudden stand without either Counsell or courage upon the dry sands of the Velaw Yet howsoever Take Amersfort they were bold enough to attack Amersfort which not being tenible was forthwith yeelded and some other small paltry places near the South-Sea were attempted and not taken in regard their design was discovered before it was fit to be executed Besides to encrease the misfortune of the Enemies upon the nineteenth of August being a very fair morning Wesel was taken Wesel being surprised makes the Spaniards draw out and the booty of the Imperialists snapt which forced them to draw out of the Velaw faster then they went in without having so much as seen Amsterdam which was alwayes in their mouthes But the grapes were sower because the Fox could not reach them Count Henry retyred not to Brussells but to his Government and could not so well clear himself but that there remained some suspicions greatly disadvantageous to his reputation in the soules of the more clear-sighted men which were verified by the open retreat he made grounded upon slight and frivolous excuses only concerning the Kings service Boisleduc yeelds for want of powder In fine Boisloduc was rendered the Imperialists returned into Germany much lighter then they came and the Spaniards into Brabant almost half of them wasted by hunger sicknesse and disbanding not without loud murmuring and plainly cursing their General Count Iohn of Nasseaw left the passage of the Isel and the Prince went into Holland where he was received by all with marvellous acclamations of joy and unparallelled applause This Place being one of the most important the King had was taken for want of powder and a sufficient Garrison and the Prince on the other side having no want of mony commanded a Bank to be raised from Holland overthwart the Fennes or Marishes which cost the United Provinces much treasure and much hastened the taking of the Town besides that to say truth the Magistrates of Amsterdam were not backward to advance money to declare the zeal they had to the preservation of the Common-wealth Never did Fortune smile more upon the Spaniards with a more unhappy issue and never frowned more upon the Confoederates to give them a more glorious victory The losse of this most important place frustrated the Spaniards the hope of regaining Holland and served for an invincible Clausure to the Common-wealth for the future if we look upon the outside of it but it is subject to corruption in regard of the abundance of ill humours wherewith it is stuffed within as rising from the fenny grounds about it which yet easily are voyded by weak and slight physick as will shortly appear But let us now go see the conclusion of the Warre in France against the Hugenots and the ruine of that Party which gave the King means afterwards to shock the House of Austria and afflict his Neighbours CHAP. VIII The prosecution of the last warre against the Reformats in France The Duke of Rohan makes his Peace All the Townes humble themselves and throw down their Fortifications The end of the Party DUring the siege of Rochell that two Brothers namely the Dukes of Rohan and Soublse did all they could to succour the Center of their State moving even Heaven and Earth with the most zealous of the Party to save the Place from the shipwrack whereof it was in danger The one made insurrections every where saying that if the Town were taken all they of the Party would be massacred but the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Montmorancy charged him so often and so closely that he had almost ever the worst The other encouraged the English and urged them to make haste before the Damme were finished about which the French wrought with great ardour â—â—â—o reâ—sons retard the succour and good successe Two reasons in my opinion retarded the succour so long the one that they could not imagine that the said Damme at which they laughed would be able to hinder their passage and that being stronger by Sea then the French they should easily break all obstacles The other is that they would not relieve the Town till it were in extremity to the end that the Townesmen being for the most part starved or debilitated with hunger they might make themselves masters thereof and place a Colony of their own nation there to be ready at all times to incommodate France and awaken their old pretensions They who ask relicfe have one designe and he who gives it another Besides that it is also very credible that the Cardinal who was not ignorant of how great his credit would be after the reduction of this Place which was judged impregnable had corrupted the chief of the Counsell of England with mony that so the succour which was hastened by zeal might be delayed Whatever it were neither the great Arsenal nor the strength of the Bastions nor the Purse at Porrette nor the desperate resolution to die and to hang him who should first speak of yeelding served to any
by his temerity It is in a general Definition and not in a particular fight that a General ought to shew his dexterity and valour A Peace was made in haste and the strangers who were ingaged with Monsieur very ill handled and he hoped to obtaine the aforesaid Dukes pardon but in vaine for he ended his life The Duke of Montmorancy beheaded by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and his House ended also with his life This brave Lord who had performed so many remarkable services was sacrificed to the interest which was taken in the Swedish Party his aversion from which was discovered by himselfe It is great wisdom to hide ones passions and to lay open those of others to hear much and say little This violent proceeding much amazed all the Lords of France augmented the Cardinals hatred and gave Monsieur a good horse to be gone again out of the Kingdom This very year the Embassadour of Spain arriving at London brought things so to passe with his frequent pursuits and instances Peace between Spain England that he terminated the difference between his Master and the King of England notwithstanding all the oppositions which were made and the thwartings which were brought by the Embassadours of France and the confederated States Pope Vrban to purge himselfe from the hatred which was born him by all the zealous Catholicks Pope Urban little loved by the zealous Catholicks for their seing him in secret intelligence with the Cardinal whom they made Author of all the misfortunes and mischiefs suffered by the Church published a Jubile but all that was not able to wash away the ill opinion which was conceived of him and in a Synod which was held in Spain they treated of abrogating his Authority in regard they saw him favour them who endeavoured to destroy a House which will never fall but with the ruine of the Catholick Religion Yea because he appeared not abroad at the publick rejoycing which was made at Rome for the death of King Gustave who had been so much feared many were heard to mutter and speak such bad and rash words as the licentiousnes and unlimitednes of the miserable Times produced When the Shepherd takes no care of his Sheep the Wolves get some of them very cheap Piety waxes cold and the weeds grow at length to stifle the good corne CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen and the cruelty of the Victorious Brisac succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein THe Body of this great Warrier was embalmed and carryed into Pomerania and from thence to Stockholme to be laid in the Tomb of his Ancestours He resuscitated the ancient glory of the Goths and the notice of his Army struck both Europ and Asia into terrour There was a report given out It is published that Gustave is not dead and beleeved by some of them who were most affectionate to him that he was not dead but had secretly transported himselfe into Sweden for some affairs of importance and to discover the humour of the Princes but this fiction was grounded upon Maxime of Policie and having gotten some Vogue was not unprofitable to the Party He was given neither to wine not women and he inexorably chastized all such as fayled of their duty He much changed at last from what he had been as his first entry into Germany and no marvail since his very Subjects themselves having been as gentle as Lambs before were now become arrogant by so much good success so many spoyles and the enjoyment of a Countrey so much better and happier then their own The Princes of the Party lamented him extrinsecally but were in effect glad enough to be rid of such a Conquerour who had gotten a far greater possession of the hearts of their Subjects then they had themselves But the King of France and the Cardinal were truly sorry for him because they had not brought that House lowenough which they had a minde to strip of some fayre States as it hath since appeared And now in regard they had payd the charge they prepared to go to the Banquet by buying the Towns which the Sweeds had taken neer the Rheyn He left one Daughter only He left behinde him only one Daughter Heyress to her Fathers vertues as well as his Crowne and he left his Lievtenants and Allyes the care to finish the worke not yet perfected The Hollanders began more to feare him then love him and by consequence expressed no great resentment of his death nor did they desire him at all for their neighbour wherefore they were not a little glad to see him leave Colein and march up into Bavaria He will never be forgotten either by his friends or his enemyes and his memory will live to the end of the world The Hughenots cal the Lutherans Brothers The Hughenots of France for his sake began already to call the Lutherans their Brethrea and it is held for certain that he was endeavouring to awaken the old quarrels in Italy and else where He was about two years and a half in Germany accompanyed by so much happiness yea too much to last long that his own very friends were amazed at it The Swedes make the Offensive every where To declare to all the world that he had obtained the Victory when he dyed his enemies retyred into Bohemia and the Swedes made every where the offensive The Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave of Hassia brought War upon the Bishops in Westphalia who had lost their Souldier Gustave Herne and some others transported it into Alsatia and Swaveland and General Bawdas in the district of Colein Duke Bernard cleansed Misuia and Arnem subjugated Silesia But what did Wallenstein during all these floods He cut of the Heads of many of his Officers Wallenstein executâ—s some Officers and why And why for not having performed their duty Yea rather to begin thereby to warp the web of his treason and put in execution what he had hatched in his Soule and therefore he put to death such as he knew were most affectionate to the Emperours service Vertue comes upon the Scaffold as well as Vice There was no remedy for he had full power without appeal but the innocent blood spurted in his face sooner then he thought for the cry thereof never findes the ears of the great God stopped is must be revenged Baudits designe upon Tuits a small town upon the bank of the Rheyn opposite to Colein issued well but he was beaten out again and his proceeding abhorred for breaking the new trality So that he retyred to Siburgh a convenient place to incommodate the Archbishoprick Aldringers Victorâ— General Aldringers Victory was greater neer the Leck where he cut of the Troops of the Marquis of St. Andrew and retook some places in Sweveland and John
taken and Hannibal Zeestadt for having contemned the Kings Authority was degraded from his charge and deprived of almost all his Estate These two Lords had marryed each of them one of the dead Kings naturall Daughters and were Brothers-in-Law to Count Wolmaor The Count Wolmaer goes into Muscovie who during his Fathers life went into Muscovie to marry the Grand Dukes Daughter where he tryed the perfidie of those Barbarians who in consideration of an advice come from another place would not give him the Princesse but upon unreceivable conditions In fine having unpesterest himself from their hands and received his liberty he repassed through Poland put himself into the Imperiall Armies whore he acquired great reputation and high employments and the Emperours favour to boot Thus all was appeased in that Kingdom and let us now returne post back through Germany where we shall find nothing but a reformation and some complaints which rang every where of the Garrison of Frankendal The French forces marched towards the Low-Countryes and committed some robberies and violences upon the Fronteers of Flanders the Spaniards opposed them and towards the end of the Summer drew out some regiments and made them march under the conduct of that great Captain the Marquis of Sfondrato who took Fuernes with small resistance Sfondrato takes Fuernes and Berghen St. Wynock 1651. but Berghen St. Wynock a strong place and ayded by the waters of the Sea which the Sluces being drawn let passe and which gave the Souldiers great vexations opened her gates the eleventh day to let the Spanish Garrison in and the French out The Fort Linck was also soon reduced and Burburgh being abandoned was put again into condition to defend it self It was conceived that the Spaniards would make an attempt upon Dunkerk but the continual rains the lateness of the season and sicknesses amongst the souldiers sent the Army back to rest CHAP. XII The Cardinal returns into France The Lords who had been imprisoned are restored to their employments The Prince of Condè retyres from Paris The King declared May or Prodigies seen upon the Sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why The death of Spiâ—ing The Cardinals forces passe through Holland HOwever Cardinal Mazarin was unhappy in a Crosse of fortune yet he omitted not either his care or any occasion to serve the King of France For he contracted some of the forces which were disinissed in Cleveland and sent them secretly down the Rheyn to Rotterdaim where being discovered and their leader summoned to the Haghe the Souldiers constrained the Boatmen to put them a shore and so every one went whether he pleased In the moneth of August there arrived neer two thousand Neapolitans before the Rammekens in foure ships who tryed the courtesie of the Zelanders heard their grumblings and were forced to returne to Sea since the passage to Antwerp was not allowed them The Printe of Condè retyres himself from coâ—rt After the Princes departure the Lords who were released were restored to their former charges But a sudden gust or blast which surprizes the Mariners at Sea in a great Calme doth not more hare them then the Prince of Condes sudden retreat did the French upon an advertizement which had been given him that the Queen would secure his person again She sent a protestation to him that she had no such design and that it was nothing but false reports scattered by the Enemies of France and so upon conditions that the Cardinals Creatures as Servient Tellier c. should retyre from the Court he came back to Paris but these conditions were ill enough observed The King declared Mayor the seventh of September 1651. The seventh of September the King being at the Parliament the Chanceller declared him Mayor as being entred into the fourteenth year of his Age and the Queen discharged her self of her Regencie The Prince of Condè upon another information given him that they would murther him retyred himself again to St. Maur and from thence to Bourdeaux where he drew the inhabitants to his party and the Spaniards came to succour him with seventeen Ships Mezarin returns into France The King and Queen went to Poictiers where they sent for the Cardinal who forthwith obeyed and came to them with some thousands of men and was received by them both with superlative testimonies of benevolence Thus was the fire grown greater then ever and more certain apparence of a general combustion throughout the whole Kingdom An order of Parliament was proclamed against Cardinal Mazarine declaring him guilty of High Treason as a Perturbatour of the Kingdom all his Lands and Goods confiscated his fine Library sold a hundred and fifty thousand Livers or Florins adjudged to any body who would bring him alive or dead The Spaniards come again into France and the Spaniards called again into France by the Prince of Condè under the conduct of the Duke of Nemours The Kings complaints were answered by other and the conclusion was that if his Majesty would expell the Cardinal the forrain forces should retyre out of France Let us leave the French thus divided some leaning to the Princes side and some to Mazarins and these latter were styled Mazarinists for we must take notice of the motion of the English towards a War with the Vnited Previnces which were of the same Religion their Friends and Neighbours For the English put out an Act forbidding the importing any commodities from any place but those of their own growth and in their own ships to the intention of increasing the shipping and Mariners of that Nation which act how highly it disgusted the Hollanders the effects of a most fierce War will demonstrate Some Prodigies preceded this War which I will set down briefly without staying upon the circumstances thereof Oh unhappy Age No sooner are we delivered from one misfortune then we fall into a greater For these united Provinces had no sooner given thanks to the Almighty for Peace then they found themselves ill looked upon by many Potentates envied by some and incommodated by others in their trade In fine the mischief came from that part which they least suspected Take heer the Prodigies which were seen by men of credit and report thereof made to the States in this substance Prodigees seen neer the mouth of the Sea That upon Fry day the twenty second of December 1651 about nine of the clock ten or twelve leagues from the mouth of the Moze they saw a plaine Field of the hight of a man about the Horizon and therein many Souldiers both foot and Horse which forthwith disappeared Next they saw neer about the same place a great Fleet coming from the North some of the Vessels whereof had their Sayles but half up By and by there appeared another from the South-east which came straight to attack the Former and then it seemed as if all the Ships were sunk to the bottom which