inferiour Officers but called first a counsaile of Warre where he discovered the state of his owne army and conjectured at that of the enemy whose often avoydings and tergiuersations from proffered Battell were tokens sayd he of timerous soules or weake bodies unable to grapple with his forces and the covnsaile as one man crying out Let us goe on and assault them in their trenches he put his project into practice One impediment there was which might have stopped him in his speedy March if it had not beene remooved a narrow way at Fresdorpe through which the Army and the luggage must necessarily passe and that guarded too by some Imperiall companies The enemy was not so terrible as the streightnesse of the way for he beate the guard away immediately upon his first arrivall and cleared it of them but both the sides of it being Moorasse The passage at Fresdorpe eleared he was constrained to guard it from the Sunne-setting of the third of October new stile with one thousand Musquetiers under the leading of Colonell Gunne and two Regiments of Horse whilst the maine body of his Army was passed through it till about noone the next day ensuing That day he appeared in the view of the Imperiall and Saxon armies and his appearance caused them to change their postures the Intantry being drawne up to the Hill toppe neare the Artillery and their Cavallary placed on both sides of it the out most skirt of it being fortified with the Waggons Bannier ordered his army for assault accordingly the forme whereof may be evidently seene in the Map annexed and leaving the avantguard of his right wing The Swedish army appeares before the Sax ons at Witstock consisting of sixe hundred Musquetiers Life-landers and Curlanders and sixe squadrons of reformed troopes drawne out of the Regiments of Duke Henry Francis of Saxon Lawenberg the Colonels Crakaw and Slang and the Sarjeant Major Giese under the command of Collonell Gun he himselfe followed in person to charge the left wing of the Imperiall and Saxon armies with his battalia consisting of eight Brigads Pikes and Musquetiers whilst the left Wing of his Army under the commands of the Field-marshall Lesle and Stalhans wheeled about through the Forrest to assault the right wing of the enemy Both parts prepared to fight their souldiers were made discernable to the eare and eye of their friends and foes by private instructions The Swedes word of Battell being The battels joyne God with us and the Imperialls and Saxons God willing and severall colours as remonstrances under whom they fought the Swedes wearing greene Ribbands about their armes and the Saxons white Ribbands some with hand-kerchtrs upon their hats The Swedish Cavallery was lyned with Musquetiers and that devise was of no small effect to the obtaining of the victory Gun came on bravely and with his avantguard maintained the battell in an equall balance by the space of two houres beating off eight severall charges made upon him by the enemy in that short space and then himselfe wound and his Troopes wearied began to recoyle to the great joy of the Saxons who assured themselues instantly of Victory and proclaimed it by two Trumpets through the Armie But the fight was as yet scarce begunne The Generall Banniere The order of the fight having placed his Canon with all advantages to play upon the Campe came in to the rescue of his weary avant-Guard with his Brigades after some charges given began to make them breake their rancks the Field-Marshall Lese and Stalhans having brought about the left wing through the Forrest in the meane time Long doubtfull and therewith at the same time so charging Hatzfeldt who led the right wing of the Saxon Armie that the scale began to turne and the silver wings of Victory might be discerned to hover over the Swedish Army It was hard fought on both sides the Elector of Saxony using all the Rhetorick hee could to encourage his Souldiers with remembrance of the condition of those men against whom they fought and the faire advantages which they had gotten in his short time of Battell the Ordnance on both sides vomiting out their fiery bullets whilest the Generalls were speaking and the swords of the Military men being brandished as nimbly as the Commanders words By this a Swedish Reserve of 4. Brigades under the Command of the Generall Major Verdun The victory falleth to the Swedes which served as the Arneri gnard to the left wing was joyned to the Rield-Marshall Lesle and Stalhans and their apparition proved so formidable to the Saxons which feared a cōtinuail sipply of fresh enemies that they betook themselves insta tly to a consused flight though the Elector with teares in vaine disswaded them from it that confusion concluded the battell almost the whole Camp being therby exposed to the fury of the Swedes to be put to the sword or mercy in sparing of life and making them Prisoners of warre It was a glorious victory but purchased deerely with the lives of 1000 Swedes The victory was got with blood and up wards amongst which were many men well deserving but some offpeciall note by name the Colonells Berghawer and Conigham the Lieutenant Colonell to Francis Henry of Saxon Lawenburg and three others of that order here unnamed and sundry Ritt-masters Captaines and under Officers The Colonelle Crakaw Linse and Gun were wounded but not mortally and either the joyfull newes of victory made them lesse sensible of their wounds then they should have beene otherwise or they were not wounded dangerously The Sweedish Generalls escaped shot-free but 2 of the Imperialls chiese Commanders were slaine out-right The two Generall Majors Wilsdorp Goltz and Marazini himselfe was said deadly wounded and 5. Colonells slaine whereof three are particularized by name Wildberger young Hottzfeldt and Kunigell besides Rit-Masters Captaines and Officers who were accompanied in their deaths by 7000 of their partners in Armes Common men slaine upon the place of battell and attended with many other The numbers of the slaine which fell by the swords of the Swedes in the prosecution The present losse was it not expressed particularly as it is could not be accounted lesse then 6 whole Regiments viz. Coloredoes Wendensales Walsteins the Goltz Eracts and Pappenheims being totally ruined and the forces under the Generall Major Dehne the two Countts of Talkenstein Wil be Winse and Wilbrecht being not to be supposed to have escaped their share of that misfortune their Commanders being desperately wounded The principall Check fell upon the Insantry the horsmen following the Example of the Elector who seeing the battell lost The victory prosecuted spurred away to Werben accompanied onely with 50 Cavalieres and there passing the Elve made haste towards Wittenberg to save themselues by flight and yet slaughter overtooke them as they were flying Stalhanse was sent to pursue them with 6000 horse and he returned not from execution till 3 dayes after and
then naving left the way strewed with dead Corps from Witstocke even to Werben almost as many being slaine upon the way of the flight as upon the place of battell he came backe to the Campe with 1500 prisoners and 30 Coronets and 5 Ensignes of Dragoones which being added to the Ensignes gamed in the field made up the number of 143 Coronets and Enngnes besides those which still remained in the hands of private men and were not then brought in to the Generall who proclaimed a reward to every one that should bring in his private attchievement to make his conquest more ilustrious The Elector Hasfeldt and they which escaped saved their persons onely but left their Canon The spoyles taken from the Saxons by the Swedes 41 in number and their baggage to the Conquerour the Electors owne Waggons loaden with the glorious title and rich moveables of his Chancery the titles not recorded by the quill in partehment buting raven in rich mettals his instruments of hunting his plate in generall and that famous great silver Bowle wherein he used to carouse to his best friends and the baggage of the whole army became lawfull prize to the Swedes with 8000 Waggons whereon it was mounted to the enuching not of the souldiers onely but the very boyes of the Swedish army Three dayes were spent by the Swede after hisvictory partly in piety partly in polity yet piety proceeded and polity followedas the Hand-maid First hee assembled his companies to give thankes to him who had covered their heads in the day of battell Thanksgiving for the victory and blessed the enterprize with so good and great successe singing te Deum after their manner and supplying the want of Organs other Church musicke with Drums Fifes Trumpets Canonadoes and Musqutadoes intermingled not to the disturbing of the fouldiers devotion but the raysing of their spirits who reioyced that they had now oportunity to spend their powder in triumph not in an uncertaine fight against the enemy Thanksgiving done The dead buryed hee tooke order for the buriall of the dead as well for foes as friends a worke of difficultie their bodies being scattered in sundry places in great multitudes and the Boores which should have assisted to their interment being fled for feare not knowing how either party if he proved victor might deale with them yet this taske was performed too And then the Generall taking a view of his Army not so much decreased in number by the fight as increased by thousands of prisoners who offered themselves to his service he found 1500 yet which were not come in to his party amongst which were 170 Officers And a new muster made of the Army with some expressions of Court-ship to the prisoners and 146 women of quality wives to the Caeserean and Saxon Colonels and their officers The deiected countenances of the women expressing sorrow partly in regard of their present estates and partly for the losse or imprisonment of their bosome friends moved him to compassion and he to sweeten their captivite and the rigour of his Armes and to cheare up these disconsolate spirits made them a feast neere Witstock in the middle of a great plaine for the distinction of the services intermitting three severall vollies of Canonadoes from the great Artillery which hee had gotten in the battell And the feast ended he first disposed of his prisoners males and females sent the gained artillery down the Elve by shipping Bannier taketh Werben upon discretioÌ„ with the Electors plate which fell to his share as the baggage lately belonging to Hazfeld was then in Lisles possession and Maracinies in the hands of Stalhanse as a present to the Queen of Sweden and afterwards marched first with his Armie against the Fort at Werben intending to go forward but first to have all safe behinde him And this Fort he took October 13.23 forcing the Garrison to submit upon discretion And after having fortified it for the Crowne of Sweden drew his Army over the Elve on that side towards Halberstadt amusing for a short time the Saxons and their confederates sometimes seeming to looke towards Saltzwedell as if he intended towards the countrey of Lunengburgh Sometimes towards the Earldome of Mansfieldt alwayes intending to goe to Misuda and Thuringen which in fine he did and thither though the history now cannot it shall follow him hereafter The Sconce at Werben being thus possessed againe by the Swedes the Saxon Garrisons at Ratenaw and Brandenburg seeing their late co-partners forced to serve under Bannier Brandenburgh and Ratenaw forsaken by the Saxons Garrisond by the Swedes knowing themselves too weak to make any resistance if he should cast a bank against them and without hope of succour though they might be able to hold out for a season willingly forsooke the places of which they were appoynted guardians and left them to the Swedes administration who furnished Brandenburg with 600 presidiaries and Ratenaw with 250. whilst the Swedish Colonel Geyse marched towards Berlin happened first upon three hundred Brandenburgish souldiers on the way surprized them and put as many of them as would not serue the Swede to the sword At Wolgast and Gripstald in the meane time arived 3500 fresh men out of Sweden able men to the eye and yet they proved better souldiers than was expected being joyned to Wrangels flying army which with this accrewt supplyed from Sweden with Armour Canon Wrangel souldereth the Vekker-marke Powder Match and the like materials of War being now growne 12000 strong by the end of October cleered the Oder from Frankford downeward to the joy of the Stetineers who saw the adjacent Countrey incumbred no more with the Imperialists and found the wayes open againe to Daâ—tzick and Rostocke the chiefest Cities of their Commerce invaded the marke Brandenburg inforced the Towne of Barlen to a contribution of 30000. Rix-Dollers which was payed part in ready money part in merchants wares brought the whole Veker-mark to the Swedes obedience and drew from thence 26000 Rix-dollers to preserve it from pillage confiscated lands the goods belonging to the Count of Stwarzenburgh tooke an oath of fealty of the subjects in his owne name affirming the Countrey to be given him by the Crowne of Sweden and thence marched against Land bergen to surround it with his army projecting a future designe in Silesia where some of the peeres falling off from the Saxon and weary of the Caesareans waited for his comming not as enemies to oppose him but friends to assist him so fearefull were the neighbouring principalities of the Swedes power and ready to comply with the Conqueror The Elector of Saxony who October 7.17 was come to Lipsech and Hazfeld who arrived about the same time at Halsberstadt prepared in the meane time to rally their forces but were not so quicke it as they supposed they might have beene Of all their late army 3000 men onely The Elector prepares to
Letter from Duke Bernhards Camp at Monsavion the contents whereof follow thus briefly The two Generals having framed a designe for the raysing of the Crabats Quarter at Lessons the Cardinall de Valette attended with the Count of Guiche conducted thitherwards one thousand five hundred horse and as many Musquetiers all which were layd in an Ambuscado by the way The D. of Weymar who had that afternoon been skirmishing with the Enemy to no other end but to make him not suspect the designe returned at Evening and marched in the head of 3000 horse of his own on the side of the French which were layd in Ambuscado and the Field marshall Ranzaw with the Prince of Conde his Cavallary marched on the other the Ambush then rising and putting forward toward Lessons the three French partees marched severall wayes yet all met about one minute at the Enemies Quarter October 10 new style at the point of day and charged upon it at once in three severall places The Crabats were then on horseback having had some notice of the French designe gave an alarm to Gallas his Camp and were answered thence with three Canon shot as a signall to the whole Army to stand upon their guard and keepe good order But the French prosecuting this beginning charged the Crabats againe more roughly than before forced them to a disorderly flight pursued them to the gates of Champelite which being kept shut against the fag-end of these run-awaies for feare lest the French should enter pell-mell with them exposed above 100 of them to the sword and many to the mercy of the pursuers who by this time were ingaged with the Avantguard of the Imperiall Army consisting of eight hundred horse and beat these Caesareans to their very Palizadoes with some slaughter but more affrightment many of the Cavaliers leaving their horses to save themselves upon the Mountain where the Infantery and Ordinance was placed others posting to their trenches to avoyd the blowes which they met withall in open field The greatest losse fell upon the Crabats of whom three hundred were slain as many taken prisons which lost all their baggage even to their very Tents and Huts and two thousand horses to the great advantage of the French Army and damage of theirs who living ordinarily by roving and pillaging were deprived of their horses which were of principall use in those expeditions The whole losse was valued at more than one hundred thousand crownes befides the ransomes of the Women amongst which was Isolani's Mistresse who with her Caroach and six horses and Plate became a prize to the Ritmaster Schomborn This was a glorious designe being against an Enemy in open field A Convoy of 25 Waggons taken by Manicamp Governour of Colmar and Manicamps happy adventure about the same time against a Convoy carrying twenty five Waggons loaden with Powder and Bullets and fifty Cowes to an Enemy-Garrison at Brissack was not despicable A Company of light horse belonging to the Baron of Reinack Governour of Brissack and sixty Musquetiers drawn out of the Garrison at Ensisheim were appointed to guard this carriage from the Abby of Lure the siege whereof was left by the Imperialists about tenne dayes before to Brissack To surprise this booty six Companies of light horse and Dragoons a Company of Carabins and foure hundred and fity foot were drawn out of Colmar by this French Commander who ordered the light horse and twenty Masters with some sew others to assault the Conduct and they behaved themselves so bravely that after the slaughter of six and captivating tenne others they chased the rest into a Wood betwixt Solse and Ensisheim upon Manicamp and his souldiers which lay in Ambush for them who beat them pursued them to the gates of Ensisheim and carried the booty to Colmar Gallas the Imperiall Generall thus provoked to action and his Army strengthned by a new retreat under the Irish Colonell Butler resolved to repaire his honour and to put somthing in practice against the confederate Armies and some places under the Kings obedience And yet like a wise Commander that would not adventure desperately hee watched his time causing divers reports of his returne to Alsatia to bee scattered abroad loading withall some Waggons with baggage as if he was instantly dismarching to amuse the Duke and Cardinall and intending to fall upon such places as were least able to hold out that he might do something before his departure out of the Dukedome The united Commanders supposing his purpose did not suit with the pretence commanded the Armies to double the guards and to have speciall eye upon the Imperials progresse Gallas seeming to be about to dismarch The Officers followed the supreme directors instructions kept a carefull and strong watch and the first night Oct. 19. new stile encountred with some of Duke Bernhards Almans whom the French taking for Enemies because of their language The French army doubleth their watch mistake some of their friends for enemies assaulted and slew fifteen of them upon the place as many others of the company not escaping unwounded The conflict indured the space of halfe an houre and might have lasted longer if they had not then happily discovered them to bee their friends but then the fight ended with sorrow to both parties for their mistakes and mutuall complements for their at last successefull meeting This misadventure was paraleld with another in Alsatia about the same time The Swedes of Benefeld mistaken for enemies by the French Garrison in Schlestadt a party of the Swedes in the Fort of Benefeld had beene abroad for Salt which they having gotten in a great quantity at their returne lodged in Ketenholt a Village neere Schlestadt whither some malitious peasants ran presently telling the French presidiaries there that an Imperiall Convoy lodged in that Village with good Booty hereupon the French souldiers betook them to their Armes surprized their friends for enemies flew some wounded the Ritmaster and carried away some horses But in the morning perceiving their error sent to excuse the fact and restored the Booty not omitting to enquire out those false informers that they might punish them according to their merit The Imperiall Generall perceiving the warinesse of the Duke and Cardinall Mirchaw a weak place in the County of Burgoyne taken by Gallas being neither able to surprize them in their severall Quarters nor draw out any part of the Armies to an unequall fight Octob. 23.13 pursued his second designe and brought his Army before Mirebeau a Town a little fortified by the Inhabitants and two companies of the Ttrain-band of the County then in the Town since his first appearing in those parts but not of strength to make any resistance having no ditch nor draw-Bridge nor Parapet to the Wals which in sight were rather like the Mound to a Garden than defenced Wals of a City this place hee at once besieged and assaulted and the defendants trusting more to their swords
and by the prowesse of the Commander within and their happy successe without performed their intent so wishfully that the Imperiall armies without expectation of gaining the city rose from the siege and dispersing themselves sundry wayes left it more free then they found it The Governour an expert souldier made use of his liberty complyed immediately with the neighbouring city Frankford and so prevailed there by tendring it all observant respects of Vitinage that he made it if not a friend no enemy though formerly they had stood at tearmes of hostility But thriving men seeke as much to enlarge their estates by a new addition as to enjoy their old ones To stand in a faire correspondence with that Imperiall city and to doe no more Ramsey brings the neighbour countreys to contribution Ramsey thought it not sufficient want of victualls during the siege made him know how necessary they were and having engaged the Frankforders not to oppose him in his course he then by Armes brought the bordering villages to be his Contributaries The Marquesse of Crana and the Lord Lamboy which had formerly besieged the city were countermanded by Caesar to attend the Imperiall Generall Gallas the Countrey neere him was not pestered with hostile Armes and the Governour apprehending quickly how a fortune was cast upon him if he would follow it invaded the Archbishoprick of Mentz the Bishoprick of Wertzburg and the Territories of the Lantgrave of Dormstat extorting from them what they would not have given him willingly victuals and money His procedings with the boores were complained to the Count of Donaw who thereupon sent his Secretary to Hanaw to desire a cessation of Armes with those neare States for the space of three moneths who offered that if hee might obtaine his conditions that the Garrison in Steinheim belonging to the Arch-bishop of Mintz and that in Fridberg also should be cashiered some few onely reserved for the maintenance of Tillage the fruit whereof should bee lawfull prize to the Masters of the Field whether Swedes or Caesareans on the North-side of the Maine yet this proposition was not onely refused the Governour perceiving the hostility brought in more profit than quiet but hee proceeded further tooke the Imperialls prisoners wheresoever hee found them dismissed them not without Ransome and about the midst of Iuly And intereeps a Convoy going f ō Brusfield to Lamboy some of his Souldiers meeting with the Governor of the Fort at Brunsfield taken the yeare past from the Imperialists by the Count Nassaw Dillingberg and restored them againe when hee accepted the Saxons peace carrying eleven Ensignes made for the Generall Lamboy with this Motto Tandem bona causa triumphat They set uppon the Conduct slew some of the souldiers that guarded them and carryed away the Colours saying That of right they belonged to them in respect of their inscription If that Maxime of the Schoole be true that the first cause is the cause of all the Products in the same kinde the Lantgrave must share in the Governours honour his then victorious Armes giving Ramsey the opportunity thus to compasse his desires Nothing doth man more disparagement than ungrounded confidence The Prince in the end overcome with the Rhetoricke of the Bishops agent The Lantg looseth most part of his Countrey a Cineas that did more with his words than the Imperiall forces had done with their swords that he might not appeare the singular man which did oppose the peace laid by his Armes and marched into the Bishopricke of Paderborne expecting that this small time of truce might secure his countrey for the present and establish his tranquility afterwards His absence from home was quickly reported to the Field-Marshall Goetz wose Army being in a manner dis-banded at the raising of the siege of Hanaw and himselfe gone into Westphalia was rallyed suddenly upon the report and appoynted for the spoyle of Hassia The Poles which came downe the former yeare under the Prince Cassimire had accepted service under him and were the chiefe strength of his Army These men of which there were 44. Cornets when Hanaw was relieved mutined upon the rising of the Imperiall Army and one part taking the way of Binghen the other of Oppenheim to passe over the Rhyne plundred both their friends and foes without respect of any thing but Pillage Their journey home againe was long and oft-times they got nothing by their out-rages but knocks With these desperate reysters the Imperiall Commander seeing the Lantgraves confidence complyed suddenly promised a months pays which they accepting returned againe to their colours and joyned with him in the invasion of Hessen-land which no Army appearing to resist them they were soone Lords of Cassell Zigenheim and Humburg onely accepted A Tempest tryeth the Pilot and apparent danger proves the mettall of a Souldier The Prince informed of his losse despaired not but first resolved with the few forces he had to give them battaile and put his fortunes to a day yet better advising with himselfe in the end concluded to goe in person to the united States of the Netherlands and desire their assistance And goeth to the States for auxiliary Forces for Auxiliaries and till his returne to commit the care of his Countrey to his trusty servant the Lievtenant Generall Melander and he though his men were farre unequall in number to the enemies and could not therefore deale with them in open field yet casting about to surprise them at advantages made head against them kept them at a stand and about the midst of August having drawne out the Garison of Cassell and mustered up some of the Boores surprized and defeated foure thousand of the Field-Marshall Goetz his horse at Hirshfield slew above one thousand upon the place got sixeteene Standards and brought in divers prisoners into Cassel Est aliquid prodice tenus It could not be expected that he should recover what was lost it was glory enough for him to preserve the remainer Goetz with his maine Army was yet in that Countrey where he beleagured the Fort of Homburg Goetz marcheth toward Paderborne a strong place by the situation upon the top of a mountaine before which having lost the Lievtenant Major his brother the Colonell Stemaker and many of his Souldiers to the number of sixe hundred hee raised his siege marched toward Freslar neare Cassel where leaving three thousand men to make good his conquest himselfe with the rest of the Army marched into the Bishopricke of Paderborne Septem 2. old stile The Swedes were not ignorant of the calamities which had befalne the Lantgrave their confederate so unexpectedly and sympathizing with him for his sufferings would have come in willingly to succour him but that a storme threatned them at the same time and forced them to call home the Field-Marshall Lesle toward the Elve to re-enforce themselves against the approaching enemies The Treaty at Lubeck commeth to no effect The gesture of the Caesareans confirmed it selfe
claymed by succession and inheritance not election the Princes at this day being rather called for forme than otherwise and preseribed to whom they should suffragate before they appeare in Parliament He omitted not to set forth the power of the Christian King which being united to the strength of the Empire neede feare no forraigne invaders nor did he slightly passe over the happy condition of the State under Charelemaigne Lewes the Debonaire his sonne Lotharius Lewes the second Charles le chaunce Lewes le begne Charles le grosse the French Kings suecessively whom hee said it was no doubt but that this present King would imitate in the administration of the Empire not refusing the counsels of the Princes and not compell them in the end to put the scepter into the hands of any of his friends or favourites but leave it to their free arbitration according to their wisedome Though this had beene a true relation these remonstrances were of no effect the Diet being inclined to the King of Hungary though they deferred the day of his nomination till November the fourth new stile The Duke of Bavaria could not attend the Dyet longer than the beginning of October the Dutches big with childe being to depart to Munchen to be dis-burthened of her carriage and his desire to see the issue of his body drawing him to accompany her made him get license to absent himselfe for two moneths A young son borne to the Duke of Bavaria in which space a sonne and apparant to the Dukedome was borne at Munchen and christned October 22. old stile by the name of Firdinandus Maria Franciscus Ignatius Wolfgangus by the Bishop of Frysing to the great joy of the Court and City expressed by the ringing of Bels from five in the morning till night and the bonefires blazing before every private doore Whilst the Princes of the Empire were thus busied in counsaile about the Danuby the Elver and adjacent Territories were filled with the sound of Drummes and Trumpets speaking not peace but hostility Bauditz Bauditz gives over his Generalate the late famous Generall had resigned his office pretending his wounds received at the siege of Magdenburgh had dis-abled him for future service and many other prime Officers following his example did the like which moved the Elector of Saxony whose late confederacy with the Swedes was changed to open enmity to goe himselfe in person as Generalissimo of his army Marazini the smperiall Generall in Pomerania united his army to the Saxons and with the Imperiall army commanded by the Field-Marshall Hatzfield and Bannier the Swede wasre-enforced with the powers of the Field-Marshall Leslec and the Generall Major Stalhaus Bannier prepareth to give the Saxons battell These puissant armies thus prepared for Battell each sought their advantages and yet neither started farre from the other both parties intending to put their fortunes to a day of tryall Bannier was instructed by letters from Stockholme and directed by order from the Crowne of Sweden to force the Saxons to a fight the issue whereof might either be an encouragement to the Swedes for their further proceedings in War if it proved fortunate or the withdrawing of their Armies if otherwise yet this avisoe was added withall that hee should make good Stralzund fora place of retreat if the day did not fall out favourably He followed the direction and causing his Souldiers first to store up the best part of their baggage in fortified places marched against the united armies under Elector Hatzfield and Marazini onely with such utensells as were absolutely necessary The Elector presuming of a victory went to the Campe furnished as for a progresse his plate bedding and other things as if hee had beene still at Dresden cumbring many Waggons with his carriage Et inter turpe signa militaria sol aspicit coropeum So confident was he in defeating his enemy The game was playd cunningly on both sides the Saxon Colonell Klitzing was sent abroad with a flying army and he September 4.14 first tooke in Ratenaw by assault putting one hundred Finlanders wich were garrisoned therein to the sword Ratenaw and Banderburg taken by Klitzing and afterwards marched against Brandenbergh wherein lay eight hundred Swedish Dragoones whom he forced to surrender upon composition of departing with their high and low weapons The Field-Marshall Wrangell was dispatched abroad with another flying army on the Swedish side and he first securing the Oder and breaking downe the bridges which the Saxons had laid over it for their more convenient passages upon all occasions marched thence first against Pritzwald which hee plundred then against the little City of Swedt which he found abandoned by the Imperialists before his comming and afterwards directly against Gertz a City in Pomerania the Imperiall Souldiers whereof did much spoyle upon the bordering places under the Swedes protection stragling oft-times to the very gates of Stetin and returning loaden with booty To deliver the Countrey from these Boote-halers September 24. old he brought his army before it Swedt and Gertz surrendred by Wrangel raysed up three Batteries against it and played upon it the two next dayes so furiously that the Imperiall Commander within it Don Foelix or Philips the French call him by the first name the Germans by the second sent out a Trumpet about nine at night with covenants of surrendring which as being too advantageous for the Garrison were rejected by the Field-Marshall who renewed his battery played incessantly upon the City with his Canon till the next morning and then having made his approaches to the very Walls and ready to give an assault the Flagge of Parley was hung out and the Garrison consisting at that houre of above twelve thousand able men was dismissed peaceably upon these conditions 1. THat the City with all the Canons Ammunition victualls and fugitives should that present afternoone by foure of the Clock bee dellvered up to the Swedish Generall Bannier 2. That the Prisoners on both sides should bee set at liberty and the impotent Souldiers of the Garrison should bee furnished with Wagons for their transportation 3. That as many as were willing to serve under the Swedes should not as much as be disswaded from it by the Imperiall Commanders and that the inhabitants should not bee molested by the Victorious Swedes 4. Lastly That the Imperiall Garrison should march out with flying Colours Drummes beating Bullers in mouth all their Baggage two pieces of Canon which they brought thither and have a Convoy to Custrin or Landsbergen All which was prescribed at the Campe by the Impersall Commanders and observed by the Field-Marshall Wrangell faithfully And yet the Swedes remembring the proceeding of the Imperialists at Franckford the yeare last passed and mentioned in that History played tricke for tricke with them spared the Persons and estates of the Citizens but demolished the Walls which rounded the City and slighted their fortifications that it might no longer be a shelter to the
breach in the walles nor then neither but upon these honourable conditions That the Captaine and the Souldiers should march out with the armes and baggage which they brought into the towne and bee conducted with a safe convoy to their army which being granted Weslaus Kaye governour there for the Emperour surrendred one of the Ports that night and the towne next morning The Souldiers had their conditions truely kept but the Magistrate of the place being a new created one and one that received his place from the Spaniards was hanged the 10. 20. of the same moneth and some other of the inhabitants accused and arrested for having had correspondence with the enemy This was the first advantage the French had gotten against the Cardinall Infant since his first entry into the kingdome which though it was not glorious in respect of the place yet was of good consequence in respect of the issue For there was found corne enough to supply the whole Armie for many dayes and the Spaniards were deprived of that sustenance which might have relieved their pressing necessities The King who during the short time of his retirement from the army had given order by a counsell of state to his Mint-masters to enhaunce the price of moneyes after the rate of gold The price of money raysed in France from 320 livers to 384 and silver from 23 livers and ten souses to 25 livers for the better paiment of his Souldiers Being certified of the successe at Roy by Poitrincourt an esquire of his body September 10.20 within two dayes following returned to his Army at Roy where having given direction for the establishing of all things there himselfe and the Monsieur marched toward Corby to bring that place againe to his obedience Corby being now in the Infants power was strongly fortified as being reserved for a winter quarter for such Spanish Souldiers who were both able and willing to sally abroad sometimes for pillage and molest the inhabitants of Picardie One thing onely was wanting convenient hand-mills for grinding of their corne which neither the Garrison could make for want of materials nor their friends abroad supply them with by reason of the circumvallations made about it though yet farre off by the Kings forces The onely helpe the Garrison and towne had was the Mill at Fovilloy upon the side of the Moorasse neere the Citie Hereupon Beaufort a Dauphinois a Gentleman belonging to the Cardinall Duke then imployed upon the Kings service at Amiens A bold and prosperous adventure upon the Mill at Corby September 16. intending to deprive his Maiesties enemies of that advantage with a chosen company of an hundred men about nine at night tooke sixe Boats and therein imbarqued his friends who about two in the morning arrived at Dours a village upon the Soame a league and halfe from Corby where they landed and leaving eighteene of their company to guard the Barkes the rest were conducted by three Peasants over a great plaine on the right hand whereof in a Village named Vigni were lodged seven hundred of the enemies horse and on the left hand in an hamlet neere Dours the Corps du guard of his Infantery The beginning of the adventure was full of hazard yet the issue was prosperous They passed on over the two bridges at Corby and came to the halfe Moone without any encounter by the enemy Good fortune attended the hardy Gentleman the Spaniards were then upon their watch and the French Souldiers espying the severall fires made by the enemy upon their Corps du guards grew timorous and would have retired had not the valour of their commander and forwardnesse of seven voluntiers which ingaged themselves with him in the action beene a whetstone to sharpen those spirits which feare had dulled But he enjoyning the rest to follow his example in a discreet silence led on to the Barricadoe at the head of Caus-way where he broke the chaine with Axes fell furiously upon the Corps du guard and put them all to the sword and thence marched to the Mill where they found another Corps du guard the Commissary for provisions and sixtie Souldiers which were come to bring meale to the Armie all which in one quarter of an houre they out in peeces and then burnt the Mill and wagons provided for the Portage of the grists with foure thousand crownes worth of corne and meale and then making a bravado before the towne of Corby distant from the Mill about two hundred paces returned safe to Amiens The Duke de Chaunes Commander for the King in Amiens before the designe of Beaufort had conceived a like project for the recovery of the Fort at Morevill from the Spaniards fingers a place strong for situation and a convenient hold for the invaders who sallying from thence plundred the circumjacent countrey even to Cleremont and hindred the trafficke up the River of Morevel to Amiens The Fort of Morevil taken by Onslat and now esteeming it more feasible by the successe of Beaufort at Corby then he had done formerly resolved to put it in execution The Trophees of Miltiades rowsed up the sluggish spirits of Themistocles and Previl a young gentleman and Captaine in Amiens not envying the former Cavilaries glory but desirous to share in his honour with 120 musquetiers selected out of the Garrison and commanded by chosen officers and one company of light horse and another of the Dukes Carabins Sept. 7. 17. undertooke the adventure The speech concerning the enterprize and the prosecution were almost contemporaries the Embryo was not long in forming but as soone produced almost as conceived Preüil had his desire and the 8.18 he arrived with his followers at the Mill neare the Fort where he encontred a Corps du guard of the enemy and put them all to the Sword Thence the forlorn hope conducted by a Serjeant who was slaine by a Musquet shot from the Castle passed the Ditches though in water up to the Arme-pits and a Petardior amongst them fixed his engine of devastation to one of the gates which being fired made no bigger a breach than for two men to enter in Front The Garrison who had discovered the French using their best art and meanes to abate the force if they could not altogether prevent and hinder its opperation But the rest of the adventurers perceiving now this small gap open for their admittance ran through the waters to assist their companions Bel-castle and Souland 2 Gentlemen and Captaines the first of De Breze his regiment the other of Vigans being the first that entred met happily with the Lorraine Captain the prime commander there who demanding Quarter had it given him but Preüil entring immediately with the rest of the forces fell upon the Garrison slew 50 of the 120 Souldiers which kept the place for the Spaniard and tooke the rest prisoners not refusing to give Quarter to any that begged it Thus farre he went by commission which could not limit him who