began to flie and the Swedes pressed and pursude them far within night which favour'd the retreat of the fugitiues and hinder'd the Swedes from ranging further in the chase Indeede they were so tyred that they had neither breath nor force furtherto follow them The Imperiallists giving fire to their campe and part of their baggage tooke some the way of Leipzig others that of Leutmeritz towards the Frontiers of Bohemia whither it was thought Walstein was gone having heard of the losse of the Battell to find a safe place of retreat and to gather together his dispersed Troupes The Swedes remained in possession of the Enemies campe and most of his Baggage of one and twentie exquifite Cannon besides inseriour ones and a multitude of Standards and Corners Vpon the mustering of their Armie they found wanting over and aboue the incomparable and irreparable losse of their King the Major Generall Isslet and other Coronells and Officers A Prince of Anhalt a Count of Nilis the Coronels Brandestein Wildenstein Relinguen and Winchell received that day deepe and honourable wounds The Duke Bernhard of Weymar also was hurt to whose valour and conduct the Swedian partie after God owes the glorie of that day more bloudy by far then that which was sought the yeare past in the neighbouring fields of Leipzig The Duke Ernest of Weymar also infinuated himselfe into the hearts of all men by his courage and leading that day The Regiments of these two Princes and those of the Prince of Anhalt of the Count of Lewestein of Coronell Brandestein and the two Swedish Coronells surnamed The Blew and the Yellow bore the brunt of that day The Swedes lost betweene fiue and sixe thousand men and the enemie betweene ten and twelue thousand remaining on the place and two thirds of their Armie ruin'd and dispersed besides the death or mortall wounds of divers of their remarkable Commaunders as Calas Merode Holok Piccolomini ' Isolani and divers others Pappenheim aboue all the rest was bewayled by his partie and not without just cause his courage his Conduct his Vigilancie and Experience having conspired to ranke him in the Souldiers esteeme amongst the bravest Generalls of these times But this glorious Victory of the Swedian Armie suffered an Ecclipse by the death of that truely great King who was the soule of his Friends and the terrour and scourge of his Enemies His bodie could not bee found till the next day when after a curious search it was discover'd amidst the dead heapes rifled and halfe naked and so disfigur'd with bloud and durt that hee could hardly bee knowne This at once so dolefull and glorious a spectacle of the end of so great a Monarch work'd so strongly and effectually on the hearts of his Souldiers that with teares and lamentations for a losse so irreparable they made an unanimous Vow upon the place to revenge his death and make him reviue in the rigorous pursuite of his Designes which hee had so often conjur'd them to continue especially a little before this Battell when hee seem'd to presage his ende touching which hee discoursed often and seriously with many of his familiars Amongst other passages the King marking the multitude of people that flock'd about him at his entry into Naumbourg three dayes before the Battell and hearing their shouts of Ioy and this generall acclamation Long liue the King as if now they had nothing to feare since hee was present hee made to the standers by this short but memorable speech Our Affaires answere our desires but I doubt God will punish mee for the folly of the people who attribute too much to mee and esteeme mee as it were their God and therefore hee will make them shortly see I am but a man Hee bee my witnesse it is a thing distastfull to mee What ever befall mee I shall receiue it as proceeding from his divine will In this onely I rest fully satisfied that hee will not leaue this great Enterprise of mine imperfect The seventeenth of November immediately following the day of Battaile and the Kings death Duke Bernard of Weymar retir'd to Weissenfels to take a generall review of his Army and to give rest and breath to his over wearyed Troopes By the review of his Regiments it appeared that his Army was be tweene fifteene and sixteene thousand strong The Duke imparted his present estate and all other necessary particulars to the Court of Saxon and urg'd the Electour to an uniting of their Forces to the end they might follow close their designe and pursue Walstein to the remotest parts of Austria After this all the Army as well Swedish as Germane agreed in the election of Duke Bernard for their Generall and tooke a new Oath faithfully to serve him who had deserved so well of the Swedian party by so many benefits by his vigilancy his conduct and the greatnesse of his same in Warre but above all by his resolution and incomparable valour of which he made so oportune and cleare a demonstration on that bloudy day of Battaile The Chancellour Oxesterne who lay when about Frankfort was sent for in all hast to manage the affaires of the Chancery Royall removed to Erfurt but chiefely to serve and counsell the desolate and disconsolate Queen environ'd wih griefes and crosses inexprimable yet but equall to the greatnesse of her losse The said Chancellour and the Chevalier Rache served happily to rectify sundry disorders and to raise the spirits of such as were dejected but principally to stop the floud of teares flowing from the eyes of this most vertuous Princesse and to replant in her mind generous and masculine resolutions De la Gorde was sent for in post hast who was imbarked in Swedeland with certaine Regiments of Swedes and Finlanders to bring a supply to the Campe Royall and reinforce it the dead King beeing anchor'd in this maxime to make continuall levies notwithstanding the number of his Armies that so hee might have men at will to fill up those empty Companies which the Sword mortallity and many other militarie miseries might unhappily depopulate But notwithstanding the death of this mighty Prince the astonishment and fright of the Enemy was such that hee basely forsooke diverse strong and impregnable places in the Electorate of Saxony Amongst others the City of Leipzig was forsaken and the Castle rased to the ground Chemnits was taken Zwickaw invested and forced the Duke Bernard following close his good fortune and making good use of the Enemies amazement To this hee was animated the more by the fixt decree of the consederate Princes to make all fast and more and more to knit a firme Vnion with the Swedes that so joyntly that so both of them joyntly might execute and fulfill the intentions and exhortations of the deceased King Walstein having notice betimes of his mens infortunity and the advantage of the Swedes recovered Leipsig that night and before day tooke the way of Leutmeritz where hee recollected is disbanded men and added to them
hee was never weary though ever busied as if action had been his nourishment I will close up the Pannegyricke of this Worthy with this affirmation that in him all imaginable brave parts conspired to make him the greatest and most able Captaine of Christendome There was nothing in him the least way blameable but his choller to which the least provocation gave fire an humour familiar to fiery spirits chafed with continuall businesse which often falls out crosse But hee had a corrective ever ready which was an overflowing courtesy and sweetnesse to him naturall which stopp'd and repair'd the breach his Anger had made For any hasty speech he would give satisfaction not onely to men of eminency who might justly be offended but to those also of the meanest condition borne to suffer In acknowledgement of his nature so apt to take fire at the least distast he would often say That hee was willing oftentimes to beare with others infirmities as the flegme of some and the wine of others and that therefore reciprocally his choller deserved some support And to say truth this passion may challenge and winne connivence from him who shall duely consider his working spirit never weakned though ever bended as also his extraordinary vertues and his gentlenesse which upon occasion made him familiar with the meanest of his souldiers so farre was hee from being pufft up with prosperity or raysing his mind with his fortune Some note another oversight in this Prince that he did not better distinguish betweene the dueties of a Carabin and a Generall but exposed himselfe to all dangers and was too prodigall of a bloud so precious To confesse the truth it is not so much to bee wondred at that he lost his life in this famous Battail as that he parted not with it long before in so many Encounters where his life ranne the same hazard with the basest of his souldiers And in his defence this may worthily bee annexed that the valour of his men depended on his example and all his victories had for their originall his presence and forwardnesse in all Battailes which like a heavenly aspect sent downe influences and irradiations into the spirits of his souldiers and terrour and amazement into those of his Enemies The Souldier hath attempted to draw this Prince to the life and assures himself that they who have had the honour to see and serve him in his wars wil confesse that the portraict hath some aire of his face if not drawne to the life And hee beleeves withall that they who have felt the puissance of his Armes will be the first to extoll and magnify his worth that thereby they may lessen their owne losses justify their disgraces and shew to the world that so powerfull an Organ was required to operate on them with such successe Amongst other circumstances this is the most agreeable and worthy of observation that this Prince hath left his affaires in an estate so prosperous and advantagious The Swedian party is possessed of two thirds of Germany of the best Cities of most of the Rivers from the Vistule to the Danube and Rheine It hath also ten Armies dispersed through the higher and lower Saxonies Silesia Moravia Bavaria Franconia Suabe Alsatia and the Circle of the Rhein This party is also back'd and countenanc'd within by the principall Forces of the Empire and without by great Kings and States who thinke themselves interested in the support of it and preferre sure friends before doubtfull and wavering who will eternally remember the least losse or affront received and opportunity serving bee ready to revenge it To this may be adjoyned the experience of the times past which demonstrates unto us how well in the Mantuan warre they requited the benefits received from that house at a dead lift which serves for an infallible argument of their dealings It now remaines that the Princes and States united continue to make good the advantages bequeath'd them by banishing all jealousies suppressing of factions extirpating of Schismes and partiallities deciding of all disputes arising from their Genealogies by conferring offices on men not of great discent but ability by making use of the times present and past by quickly seconding their consultation with action and by a straight conjunction of their Councells and Forces to seeke their owne preservation in that of the Empire In any of which being wanting neither the care and paines of the deceased King nor their owne Armies or advantages can secure them from being a miserable prey to their Enemies and wretched spectacle to their friends The truth is hitherto the Princes and Generalls united have much abated the pride of the Enemy by deceiving his hopes and apprehensions and making it evident by their proceedings that they were not in vain so long train'd up in the Kings schoole but were still mindfull of his instructions and discipline and that his death did but concenterre and redouble their vigour The Dukes of Weymar tread on Walsteins heeles whom some report to bee wounded others dead in the Forrest which lyes betweene Fravestein and Klostergrappe If he be deceased he serves as another sacrifice due to the Kings tombe Tubal keeps the greatest part of Silesia and Moravia in obedience The Prince of Birkenfield shuts up all passages to the Bavarians within the circle of Ingolstat and Ratisbone Horne is Master of Alsatia and hath joyned to it the Conquest of Schletstatt Colman and Kentzingen have Senfeld nothing remaining in those parts unconquer'd but Frebourg which they batter and Brissack which they play with Baudisin marcheth through the Archbishopricke of Cullen without resistance and traverseth his Galleries maugre the Count of Gransfield from the river of Wesper even to the gates of Cullen The Troopes of Wirtenberg advance towards the Lake of Constance and are resolved to make good proofe of their courage To be briefe the Swedes shew that they have no great desire to repasse the Sea no more then have the Germans to refall into their wonted slavery But though the King of Sweden hath left his partie in an Estate prosperous yet wee must needs confesse that the enemie deriues from his death great Advantages and that the expense of a little Lead hath profited him as much as the gaining of many millions in that the severall Heads of the Swedish Armies are subject and prone to jealousies and misconceptions which giues him meanes and opportunitie to preserue what hee yet holds to calme seditions to recall long-banisht peace and once more to replant her in the Empire If hee make good use of his losses and imfortunities wee shall see him foorthwith to abandon all counsells tending to blood or violence to haue a care left by the oppression of Princes he make them desperate to recall his strayed Subjects by a generall Pardon of all their offences and seeke to raigne by Loue not Feare Hee will then no more violate Peace and the publique Faith under the pretext of Conscience which ought to be perswaded not forced as depending on another Tribunall then that of men This way to rest and quiet he is invited also to take and persist in because he may now peaceably enjoy all his due rights and Titles the death of the King having cur'd him of the deadly Feare hee was in lest this magnanimous Prince should yet fore higher and aspire to new Diadems and make good his Anagram by changing the name of Gustavus into Augustus FINIS
sixe fresh Regiments that had not beene engaged in the Battaile After the often sending of his Posts to all parts at length Altringer had order from the Duke of Bavaria to joyne halfe his Army to that of Walstein Notwithstanding the somiserable defeat of the Imperialists bonefires were made in diverse parts of Bavaria for the death of the King and Te Deum chanted aloude through all the streets of Ingolstatt and Ratisbone But these vaine fires and triumphs seru'd for so many Trumpets to sound forth the praise and glory of the departed King since in the Enemies owne judgement his death was thought sufficient to counterpoize the dissipation and slaughter of so puissant an Army And indeed except this accursed blow there was no one circumstance that did not oblige the Imperiall partie to a funerall Equipage Nothing was more to bee admired then the moderation of the Court of Vienna which expressed no joy in triumph or exultation They contented themselves with the discharging of a few Ordnance to make the silly people believe they had the better of the day Some judg'd this modest behaviour to proceed from sensible losses suffered in the Battaile from the consideration of the Swedish Forces and the difficulty to set on foot againe an Army of that vastnesse Others deemed it to proceed from the dispersed rumour of the Emperours death which they thought countervail'd that of the King and cast the Imperiall Court into an irrecoverable dejection The failing of the Saxon to appeare in the Field on the day of Battaile when his aide concerned his owne honour and the Kings good was attributed to the like sad accident a rumour being divulged not onely of the Dukes death but the manner of it to wit suddaine Apoplexie But these false bruits both of the one and the other were contradicted by assuted newes that both the Princes were living That the Saxon was not dead hee gave good proofs resolving to take occasion by the lock to revenge the ruine of his Cities and depopulation of his Countrey and to hinder the Imperialifts from sending into his Dominions any more Incendiaries The continuance of the Emperours life was favourable to his party the very name and splendour of Majesty being of vertue to animate and retaine diverse spirits in devotion and obedience to the Austrian Line which else perhaps might have followed the Charriot of the victorious Triumpher But will'st the foolish people spread abroad or by designe or credulity the death of these two Princes there came too assured newes from Nayence of the King of Bohemia's death When this vnfortunate Prince was ready to take a new possession of his Countrey and the conditions drawne up betweene him the King of Sweden and the Governour of Frankendale hee was surprised in Nayence with a contagious disease presently after his returne from Deux-ponts where hee had visited a Prince of his alliance The care and sufficiency of the Phisitian was so great that he quickly expelled the pestilent quality and set him in all appearnace free from danger but the great calamities through which hee had passed had much estranged his Constitution from its first puritie and quite altred his colour and complexion When he thought to quit his tedious bed and take possession of Frankendale it unfortunately happened that the King of Swedens death came to his eare which wrought so on his mind and body that his disease was aggravated and his death ensued on the 29. of November His death was much deplored by those of his bloud by his servants and subjects yet did their griefe receiue an allay by his devotion and his last words full of faith and pietie The life of this Prince was a meere Medley and like a Picture with many faces His entry into the Electorate was glorious his beginning happy his Vertues eminent and courted hee was by the whole Empire His Alliance and friends within and without Germany the consideration of his House of his Dominions and the great Bodie that depended on his direction were the cause of his election to the Crowne of Bohemia which was fatall to him and all Germanie which felt the sad accidents that attended this Comet and was foorthwith invaded by an universall Warre in her heart and all her quarters which hath never since forsooke her having engaged all the Imperiall States and Provinces every one whereof to this day carries her markes And though this Prince hath sought all meanes of reconciliation hoping that way to quench this Wild-fire yet hath hee from time to time found such fatall oppositions and such an ingrasted malice in the incensed partie that all the motiues propositions and intercessions of great Kings haue hetherto beene unprofitable and this good Prince hath beene constrained to liue an exile from his Countrey At length when a most pleasing prospect laid at once open to his view the frontiers of his Countrey and the end of his afflictions a suddaine death deprived him of his sight and the fruition of so delightfull an object The calamitie of this Prince hath given occasion to many licentious tongues and pens to declaime against him and unjustly to judge of his cause by the sad event Those that were of his more inward acquaintance avow that hee was unfortunate beyond defect and that the most magnanimous and Heroicke soule could beare afflictions with no greater moderation and patience then he did If many of his vertues haue beene clouded and obscured by his infelicity yet are there more which his darker fortune could not hinder from shining forth and striking envie blind His great Family his Extraction his Allies and Confederates and his Princely vertues me thinkes should haue contained within the bounds of Honour and truth certaine Mercenary Satyricke Spirits who haue common places of prayses and Invectiues which they draw forth to exalt or depresse whom they please and mainetaine their looser vaine at the cost of Princes and play upon their persons qualities and estates whom the greatnesse of their births should priviledge from such contumelies Wee owe honour and respect to Princes of what party soever whether they bee Friends Enemies or Neuters And I thought this short Apologie due to my so much deplored Subject whom his miseries rendered to some contemptible though by others he was truely honoured in the midst of his disgraces and afflictions The King of Sweden gaue many braue testimonies of him being forced oftentimes to giue him a stop in the carreere of honour lest courage should engage him too sarre exhorting him to preserue his life the good of his Countrey and the publike cause All the comfort of his Subjects is contained in that generous unparalell'd Princesse and in her faire line and numerous issue which promiseth them one day an entire liberty and the reestablishment and subsistence of a house so many wayes considerable as being one of the first and most ancient of Europe The Reader I doubt not will pardon this digression of the Souldier who