THE WARRES OF SWETHLAND WITH THE GROVND AND Originall of the said VVarres begun and continued betwixt SIGISMOND King of Poland and Duke CHARLES his Vnkle lately Crowned King of Swethland As also the State and condition of that Kingdome as it standeth to this day LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Butter dwelling in Pauls Church-yard by Saint Austins Gate 1609. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND Most Noble minded louer of Learning PHILIP Earle of Mongomerie SVch Right Honourable as haue purposed to please Hector haue still presented him with Horse and Armour because his chiefest delight was in Martiall Discipline and such oblations best fitted his humour For by this and the like presidents is noted how all haue sought in their presents to keepe a Decorum Hauing therefore composed this little Treatise that concernes the dessignes of two Kingdoms I haue thought good aduenturing the Pardon of your Lordships discretion to passe the same vnder your Honourable Nâ—me as well for that your Expeâ—ience is already knowne to be sufficiently instructed in the affaires of our owne Countrey Being descended of most Honourable Parents educated in the most liberal Sciences and mannaged in one of the most Royall and famous Courts of Europe As also for that the custome of Honorable dispositions hath alwayes next after that labored the knowledge and insight of forraine Estates and coÌ„ditions That they may not only deserue well of their owne Countrey by this their industrie but also spread their owne fame as farre as their Countrey is knowen Your owne worth is the principall motiue that emboldens me to shroude it vnder your Patronage as one that is a fautor and fauourer of vertuous Actions and whose Honourable loues growne from the generall applause of the Common-wealth for your high desert may keepe it from the malice of bitter tongues Commaunded thus with this consideration I presume to present my Booke vnto your Lordship And humbly intreate your Honour will bee pleased to vouch of my Labors and fauour a Schollers penne with your gracious acceptation who answeres in affection what hee wants in eloquence So shall I rest deuoted vnto you and bestow my future Studies to effect matter of better deseruing Euer remaining Your Honours most humble affectionate ANTH. NIXON The true Copie of a Letter Certificatorie written in commendation of Captaine King of Ratcliffe M. VVilliam Bardwell and Alexander Child of Redriffe Masters of three Shipps of London for their memorable seruice against the Swethens being thereto compelled in Summer last 1608. IOhannes Carolus Chodkiewich Earle of Seckloro Bychor and of Misra Captaine of Samogitia and Porpatie Generall Commissioner of Lyffeland and chiefe Generall of the Army of the great Dukedome of Lytawe To all and singular to whome it may appertaine or that shall reade these Presents I doe let to weet that whereas VVilliam Bardwell VVilliam King and Alexander Childe English Gentlemen came with three Shippes at Riga when the Earle of Mansfielde Generall of the Army of Duke Charles Suderman periniuriously breaking the Truce made warre in Lyffeland I helde them there and employed them in the seruice of Warre for the most excellent King of Poland my most gratious Lord and they vndertooke to defend the Dunn wherein they did behaue themselues very faithfully manfully and valiantly so that the said Earle of Mansfield was often by them driuen backe againe to his great losse and shame and likewise hee was often assaulted by them so that hee lost not onely his strength of men and his courage but also lost some Shippes with many men and goods which the saide Englishmen with a memorable courage and to the notable glory of the English Nation did set on fire and burne And therefore I haue thought good to grant vnto them this Testimoniall to the end that they may haue great thanks for their deserts purchased by their good renowne and name and that others may see that as fame immortality belongeth chiefly to noble minds so also it is gotten by vertuous and valiant deedes Written in the Campe at the new Mill in Lyffeland the seauenteenth of Nouember Anno Domini 1608. And is subscribed by Iohannes Carolus Chodkiewicke manu propria and sealed with a Seale in Redde waxe Printed thereupon Ita testatur Carolus Demetrius Notarius Publicus THE ORIGINALL GROVND OF The present Warres of Swethen Chap. I. The daungerous plots laid against Gustovus in the life time of his Father His flight to Lubeck in Germanie in the habite of a slaue His strange entertainment there c. THis is like a briefe Cronicle that comprehends in it much matter in few lines and various businesse in little circumstance It presents to your reading the dessignes and affaires of a spatious kingdome and reacheth to the beginning of many yéeres past Understand therefore that the Countrey of Swethen before if was aduanc'd to the dignitie of a kingdome by the allowance of theÌ„ Empire and generall consent of their owne State was a long time gouerned by the authority of foure Dukes bearing the Titles of the foure Prouinces into which the Country is deuided The first is the Dukedome of Doland hauing in it a Regall Castle called Vpsale where the kings of Swethland be Crowned and buried The second is the Dukedome of Newland where the Castle of Newkeeping stands The third is the Dukedome of Finland where the Dukes seat is called Oua Castle The fourth is Warmland where stands the Castle of Wasten vpon the Mediterrenian Sea being the strength and Bulwarke of the kingdome The Countrey being as I say a long time ruled by these foure Dukes in the kind of an Aristocratie that is The gouerment of the Nobilitie as was the gouernement of the first and former Romane Peeres and Consuls was in the end of the Raigne of Henrie 7. King of England made a Monarchie or kingly gouernment The first Monarke or King hereof was called Gismond whose Sonne named Gustovus succéeded his Father in the Kingdome This Gustovus being in the life time of his Father Duke of Doland was a Prince very absolute both in the perfections of his body and his mind excellently composed in the one and honorably disposed in the other Of an indifferent stature neither too high nor too low His complexion sanguine his haire bright his countenance chéerefull and pleasant to looke vpon full of grace and Maiestie In warre stout and industrious in Counsell wise and full of respect in the Court he carried such a Port and State as attracted all eyes to gaze vpon him In priuate places full of affabilitie and delightsome recreation To conclude it seemed that Nature and vertue had both ioynd together to frame in him the most absolute patterne of a Prince in his time But as no excellency whatsoeuer is without malignant opposites so this Prince found that olde saying to bee true Virtutis comes inuidia plerunque bonos insectatur For the Dukes of the other Thrée Prouinces being ioynd with him in Commission for you must vnderstand
he knew meanes how to wind out againe Not long after another Mariage was tendered of the Polands Daughter which the king Coulorably entertained to satisfie his Nobility whilest his heart doted vpon his Paramour Duke Iohn his brother was imployed in this businesse and it fell out as he desired For if the cardes were dealt aright he might happely himselfe mary the Polands daughter And thus with a false heart taking a faire leaue of the king his brother being furnished with all accowtrements fit for such a busines shortly after arriued in the Court of Poland where after the solemnitie of such entertainements he deliuered his Message with such a Maiesticke grace both in his spéech countenance and cariage of himselfe as sure hée was a most accomplisht Gentleman that it wan him great commendations in the kings Court especially with the yong princesse in whose tender heart there was such an inward breach made as was soone outwardly perceaued for her eyes that conuayed these pretie assaultes vnto her heart did soone betray her hidden affections which the Duke perceiuing laies hold vpon the occasion Winnes by rewardes many tongues to speaken in his behalfe ioyes with the greatest of the Kings Counsell and in especiall with one Feâ—nsbecke Duke of Leif-lande He told them that the condition of his Countries disordered estate occasioned by the discordant disposition of his brother mooued him rather to looke with a publike then a priuate eye If he ought nature and dutie to his Brother he ought no lesse vnto his Country and it was his countries cause to the which hée was most bound that made him inueigh against his brother Let no man quoth he rashly ceâ—sure me but comparing the State of the kingdome to the condition of the King let him then iudge whether all is not like to ruine if preuention be not made which in the Kinges person quoth he will neuer be for that he séemes to be buried in his his owne delightes and the breath which he himselfe should drawe lies not in his owne but in anothers body The most and best part of the Nobility being by these and the like suggestions wonne vnto his party a way was quickly made for the Duke to Wooe for himselfe which was not long a doing for the heart that was already so strongly assaulted was soone framed to yeeld To bee short the young Duke Weddes and beddes the princesse with great honour and delight so easily is the pollicie of a state drawne to obey the necessity of the time the newes hereof is soone brought to Swethland wherein the wise lookt into the danger of the King how be it the King himselfe foresaw no peril But as a Man wholly deuoted to his delights doth against the aduise of all his friendes quickly after Marrie the said Gondole whereby he did sodainly runne into such a scandalous hatred of his owne Subiectes that they euer after held him vnworthy of his Crowne and kingdome Within a yeare after his Mariage he had a Sonne not long after whose byrth Duke Iohn hauing assured promises from his youngest brother Duke Charles procures an Army to be leuied by the King of Poland his Father in law and arriuing in the Dukedome of Estergutland was louingly entertained of his brother Duke Charles who ioyning their forces together hauing also the ayde of other Noble Men in the Country gaue battaile to his brother King Ericke who being ouercome and flying to Stock-holand was there by his two brothers taken and made away no man euer knew how A noble man in the Countrey brother to Herrerick Gusterson and deare vnto the King was at that time honorably slaine in the defence of his Prince The Quéene had before sent her young Sonne out of the Land foreséeing the danger that was like to happen Who now liues as an Exile in the great Duke of Moscouias Court and the Quéene her selfe confined to Stickborrow Castle where shee yet liues a sad and solitary life Thus ended the vnfortunate Raigne of King Erick who might long haue liued and gouerned in the Land had he but subdued his owne affections CHAP. IIII. King Iohn is crowned king of Swethland hath a Sonne borne called Sigismond The King of Poland dies young Sigismond is sent for to be King of Poland Hee staies there certaine yeares till the death of his Father and is then sent for by his Vnckle Duke Charles to receaue the Crowne and kingdome of Swethland DUke Iohn hauing thus by his brothers murther attained vnto the Crowne disposeth with his best Counsell the affaires of the kingdome disperseth his Army satisfies his Subiects in the cause of these indirect procéedings against his brother and hauing set all things in order sendeth for this Quéen out of Poland who with an honorable traine being conducted into Swethland was there Royally entertained and shortly after with Duke Iohn her husband in all princely manner Crowned King and Quéene of Swethland at Vpsale Castle Many Statutes he repealed which the King his brother had made being found preiudiciall vnto the Country and others hee enacted that were held more profitable To all Sutors he shewed himselfe very gentle and gracious And because the treasure of the kingdome was much exhauste in his expedition into Poland he was driuen to borrow many great Summes of money both there and of his Friends at home Hee kept a Princely port and was very liberall in his rewardes delighting much in all Martiall exerrises His liberality was equall to that which was so highly commended in a worthy Captaine of Thebes who when hee had obtayned a victory against the Lacedemonians tooke onely of all the spoile but one sword distributing the rest amongst his Souldiors saying Fellowes in Armes this I Challeng because I wrong it out of the hand of mine Enemie Whatsoeuer else is yours as the reward of your trauells for the Theban Senatours warre for honour not for treasure The Mercenary Man that beareth Armes for hier and for his ordinary Paye feareth not to venture his life in the face of his Enemy hauing but his wages hath but his due So that if hope of spoile and the bounty of his Captaine did not encourage him in his attempts he would both doubt the danger of his person and scorne for so little gaine to ranne vpon such imminent perills His liberality towards his associats in Armes and his experient wisedome and valour in Martiall enterprises made him both honoured feared and held in worthy estimation Thus by this and his other vertues Duke Iohn in short time Crept into the hearts of his Subiectes The first yeare of his raigne the Quéene brought him a goodly Boy which was Christened by the name of Sigismond the Emperor beeing his Godfather which Sisgismond is now King of Poland About the Tenth yeare of his raigne King Iohn made an honorable iourney into Russia vpon the breach of a League made betwixt them From whence he returned victorious The rest of his raigne was quiet
and peaceable And set a side the staine of his brothers death he was doubtlesse a most excellent Prince and worthy of the Crowne and kingdome and although there were many times iarres betwixt him and his brother Duke Charles yet alwaies the matter was so handled that they were soone reconcilde againe By which were cut off all occasions of Ciuill warre In the twelfth yeare of his raigne his father in law the King of Poland dies for whose death the Quéene his daughter mourned heauily The young Prince Sigismond her Sonne was elected King of Poland and with an honourable conuoy being guarded thither was with all solemnity in all Princely manner Crowne King of Poland Shortly after Marries honourably into the house of Austria and in the twelth yeare of his raigne in Poland King Iohn his Father dies whose death being much bewailed of his subiects he was with appertaining solemnitie buried in the Chappell of the Kings in the Castle of Vpsale Duke Charles of Estergutland after the death of his brother sends into Poland for his Nephew Sigismond to come to receaue the Crowne of Swethland Sigismond takes heauily the death of his Father and deuines before hand of the troubles that followed in that kingdome Great preparation is made for his iourney into Swethland and doubting of his vnckles minde proiectes carrieth a great power of Poles with him to preuent all daungers The king arriues safely in Sweathland is with all honor and signe of loue receaued by his vnckle Duke Charles and the rest of the Nobilitie of Swethland He is honorably conueyed to Vpsale Castle where hee was louingly receaued of the Quéene his Mother whom he comforteth being a sorrowfull widdow for the death of King Iohn her husband Shortly after he was crowned K. of Swethland without any disturbance A Rex-day was held in the castle of Vpsale where all things being established Duke Charles is made vicegerent of the kingdome hauing with him ioynd in Comission foure Noblemen of the Rexen-road whose names were Hergusten Bonner Hersten Bonner his brother Herrerick Spare and Hartor Belk These fower Noble men being great in the kingdome but not very great with the Uicegerent were of purpose ioynd by the King in commission with the Duke to curbe or Controule all ouer haughty and headstrong attempts that the Duke might happely Commit by the greatnesse of his place and power in the absence of the King who was then ready to returne to Poland The Duke perceaues the drift but dissembles it before the Kings departure order was set downe by the King with the Duke and the Commissioners for the payment of certaine sommes of money which King Iohn his Father did owe vnto many Souldiours that were yet vnpaide since the time of expedition into Russia and vnto many Merchants of England Scotland and other Nations for the prosecuting of that warre After all things were thus setled and ordered the King returnes to Poland leauing behinde him that fire that afterward consumed the peace of the whole Kingdome for the Noblemen the Commissioners being commanded by the King that was euer iealous of his Unckle Charles to obserue and enforme his Maiestie of the manner of his gouernment did so oppose themselues against him in all his procéedinges and especially in the payment of this money that the Duke plainely perceiued that this new gouernment was but laide as a trap to ensnare his life A Rex-day was holden at Vpsale no order Concluded nor money paide and much adoe there was to kéepe them from factions the Commissioners would haue these summes paid out of the Subiectes purses the Duke out of the Common Treasury which the commissioners refuse alleaging the Kings want of money The Duke writes faithfully The Lords falsly to the King To whom they intimate feare of innouation and that the Duke by all likelyhoods aimed at the Crowne that he had paid parte of the money due to the Souldiours out of the Reuenues of the Dukedome to draw their affections to him that he sought to further the State and wealth of the Commons more then stood with the loyall nature of a Subiect that he kept the Porte and State of a King rather then a Deputie and that it was not like he would long yeeld his honors vnto Uassalage whose fortunes in such a minde and State as his might attaine to Soueraignty if preuention were not spéedily made The Duke intercepts these letters and sends them inclosed in his own vnto the King to whom he writes very humbly and with all protestations of duty and alleagance the king receaues the letters but beleeues the Lords and distâ—usteth the Duke sendeth secretly to the Commissioners that they should sodainely surprise him depose him from his gouernement and to that end he sent his authority and finally to kéepe him prisoner his wise and children during life in a castle built of purpose for that stratageme within the dukedome of Litto Oh that the nature of fortune should be so fickle and vncertaine neuer singular either in her frownes or fauours but that commonly in the height of any hope it produceth some crosse accident of vnhappy misfortune The Duke notwithstanding hauing intelligence of this plot beganne to looke about him hasted into his owne dukedome and raised a great power of men Some say that if hee had but staide one hower longer in Vpsale the plot had beene effected and the Duke vtterly vndone The Lords were in a maze vpon the Dukes departure knowing that their deuise was discouered they now perceaued their owne weakenesse to resist the Duke being in power place and opinion and farre aboue them And though they had the Kings authority yet was he farre from them and they néer vnto their danger they knew not well what course to take sometimes they purposed to flie to the King and then they feared the waies were forelayd To stay in the Castle of Vpsale were no safety it being a place of pleasure not of defence whereupon they determined to depart from thence Thrée of them vnto the Castle of VVasten in the Dukedome of Finland and Hartourbelk to Calmer Castle Hauing theis Castles deliuered vnto them they purposed to stay there to vnderstand the Dukes procéedings and in the meane time dispatcht letters vnto the King of the particulars of these troubles The Duke as I sayd before hauing raised a great power of men marcheth spéedily towardes the castle of Vpsale but vnderstanding of the Lords departure towards Wasten bends his course thither It is a world to sée what numbers of men came vnto the Duke from all parts proffeting their seruice to him All which hee gently welcomed Some he entertained and the rest sent home againe with speciall charge to looke vnto the Kinges peace signifying further that the cause why hee was now vp in Armes was but to right himselfe of such wronges done by those Lords who neither loued the King nor him The Lords that were in the Castle of Wasten vnderstanding of the
were turn'd into a clowde But at last the Admirall of the Finlanders béeing struck betwéen winde and water did sinke in the midst of them all Their fléete began to take about to hoise vp their Sayles and flye the Duke followed them as far as he durst but being doubtfull of the Kings approch made his returne the sooner Landed his powers and hasted with his army to Stockholland Upon his comming to Stock-holland hee vnderstood of the Kings landing at Caâ—mer Castle his whole Nauy consisting of a hundreth Sayle or there abouts whereof there were eight and twentie English shippes which the King had hired of the Marchants being then resident in that coast bearing in the whole Fléete eight and twenty thousand fighting men Duke Charles béeing aduertised of the newes doubted what hee were best to doe Sometimes hée was in minde to giue place vnto his aduersaries considering the miseries that were like to attend this vnciuill warre And though hee knew himselfe well lyned with friends in the kingdome and that it might bee in his power to resist the king yet when he reduced into his mind the Calamities that might happen vnto the Land by the maintenance of this warre He did often perswade himselfe with Otho rather to giue place to Vitellius then to resist a Tyrant to the ouerthrow of his Counter but being otherwise aduised by his friendes that counselled him either to take vpon him the soueraigntie or at least to maintaine himselfe in his place as well for their liues as his owne hauing all gone so farre that they could not retyre without irreuocable danger His courage ouercomming his feare and the respect of the generality aboue his own particular he resolued to prosecute the war but yet in such manner that al the worlde might vnderstand hee did it rather to defend himselfe then offend the king howsoeuer his actes might be mistaken Whereupon the duke remooues from Stock-holand into the hart of y e countrey to a hold called the castle of Lynnkeeping By the way the King had taken the castle of Calmer and detained the Captaine of the castle placed there by the Duke close prisoner And though the Town was surely guarded by the King and alwaies by him forelayd to intercept all newes yet a certaine Townesman vndertooke to carry the Duke intelligence therof with the consent of the principall in the Town such was the loue they bare vnto him The Messenger because he could not passe the ports was let downe at a priuie ioyning to the Towne Walle and hauing past the kings Scowt-watch that lay in diuers places houering about the Town tooke so circumspectly the aduantage of the time y t in two daies he recouered the Dukes Army being vpon march to the castle of Linnekeeping The tenor of his message was that on no conditions hee should trust the King for that as well by the vsage of his officers in the castle of Calmer as other principall intelligence giuen to some that loued the Duke too well to keepe it close that the king purposed his vtter destruction and that there was no agréement to be made but onely coulorable vpon any reconcilement to foregoe a further mischiefe The Duke though sad to heare these newes yet imbraced and rewarded the messenger And vnderstanding there of the kinges remooue from Calmer to the castle of Sterborrow to his sister Preking Anne he bends all his forces thither and within three daies after came wâ—thin sight of the castle he pitcht his Tent within a myle of the Towne before hee attempted any thing in any hostile maner sent some of his principall friends vnto the king and humbly desired him to know the cause of thâ—se vniust warres vndertaken If the fault lay iustly in the Duke or any of his adherents they were content either to submit their liues to the law or to the kings mercy If any fault were supposed or but suggested they desired an indifferent Iudge And if the fault were found where in déede it lay they desired the same vpon their aduersaries Finally he besought his Maiestie that he would measure the nature of ill toÌ„gues not by their sound but by their quality for there were some about him that nether loued him nor them nor y e land The king receiued these messages gaue faire but dissembled words that if he would disperse his Army he would discharge his Confirme vnto him his place of gouernment and other offices he enioyed in the kingdome Prouided that Hartourbelk whom he detained as a prisoner might be deliuered and he with the rest of the Lords reconciled The Duke answered to the first that if it would please his Maiesty to disperse his Army hée would doe the like and for the other vpon due consideration he should find him conformable Twelue daies were thus spent in messages interchangeably between them The Duke meaning faithfully the King otherwise Both their Armies they still retaynd during which time the trapp was laid to intrappe the Duke That vpon an interuiewe betwixt them in the sight of both their Armies Feâ—â—becke Duke of Leif-lande should rush in and vpon the sodaine surprise the Duke take him prisoner and carry him to the Castle aforesaid But missing of his purpose beeing throughly countercharged by the Duke his minde was much perplexed in the vncertaine euent of his expectations His cogitations fought within themselues when sometimes hee would lay the fault vpon such as hee imployed in those businesses Sometimes he would place one somtimes displace another In his owne iudgement thinking such a man fit to bee a Commander and sometimes another Hée would like one to daye and to morrow vtterly distaste him To submit hee thought dishonorable and worse then death for by open disgraces the fame of men growes odious In this conflict of minde the King retyres with the Duke Ferns-becke to Steckborow knowing that the fortune of warre had not so done her worst but that she might beginne a new Tragedy and the rather for that his strength was weakened in the former assaults hauing lost two thousand of his men in the same The Duke returning to the Leager and resting there that night The next day the sonne had no sooner stept from the bed of Aurora but the Dukes Fléet remoues from Finland to Stock-borow beeing distante an hundreth leagues The Kings fléete lies in a haâ—â—n betwéene two rockes Duke Charles his Fléete ryding in the Mayne and the King perceiuing how he was charged by Sea and Land began to be diuersly distraughted sometimes hee resolues to vndergoe a meane estate alleaging that medium est tutissimum and Auli ca vita splendida miseria Cares are the Contiunall Companions of a Crown when rest remaines in a lowe condition and fortune Low shrubs féele least tempest In valleys is heard least thunder In Country rooms is great rest and in little wealth the least disquiet Dignitie treadeth vpon glasse and honor is like a fading herbe that when it bloometh most gorgeous then
recouered his late losse returnes with his Army to the Citie of Venden where with all acclamation of ioy hee was honorably entertained Being thus seated in Venden within two daies after his aboad in the Town he sendeth Eight hundreth men vnder the cōduct of one Peerslompe a gallant Swethish Captaine to surprise the Castle of Newhall bordering vpon Russia which was by him fortunately atchieued who returning to the Duke gaue him presently the command of fiue thowsand men Coronell Hill being Steward of the feeld The proiecte was to besiege Cokenhouse being then and at this day the strongest Castle in christendome The duke thought if he could gaine this castle he were then thoroughly possest of all the dukedome hee himselfe purposed shortly after to second him This gallant young gentleman with all speed and with a full spirit marcheth to this honorable exploit and encampeth his Army close to the walles of the Towne which being very strong faithfull to their Lord endured a long siege with great effusion of blood on both sides but at the comming of the Duke the Towne was taken and vpon a breach in the entrance of the Towne this young captaine was vnfortunately but honorably slaine with the shot of a Musket in his priuities sent from the castle Duke Charles was very sorry for his death making a vow that he would neuer raise his Army till he had either forced the castle or followed the fortune of this gallant captaine Three moneths the Duke lay before the castle with continuall batterie and in the end takes it and keepes it at this day Upon the taking of the castle he was sufficiently reuenged for the death of Peereslompe Thus all the castles houlds and fortresses in Liefland were in this Summer brought vnder the command of Duke Charles onely the castle of Ree which was second to none but Cokenhouse was yet left vnassaulted Duke Charles hauing thus in a manner the entier possession of Liefland and being now wearied with this long toyle hearing no newes of Duke Fernesbeckes returne in the latter end of the Sommer hauing ordered his affaires in that countrey returned to his dutchesse into Swethland lying then in Stock holland before his going he left the cities castles in the dukedome being thoroghly maned vnder the gouernmēt of his friends The rest of his Army rested vnder the command of Coronell Hill who hauing directions from the Duke at his departure to attempt the taking of the Towne of Ree together with the castle set forwarde with hope and courage while the Duke was vpon his iourney into Swethland and encamped before the Towne of Ree burnt the suburbes assaulted the Towne battered the walles c. But finding it stronger manned then either it was supposed or stood at that time with his power to force returned according to his directions to the Duke CHAP. IX Duke Charles winters in Swethland takes order for the renewing of the warre The Sommer following is fought withall in Liefland by Duke Fernsbeck and discomfited His strange escape and recouery of Swethland DUke Charles made his abode with his Dutches the Winter following in Swethland hauing still priuy intelligence from Poland of the Kings plotts procéedings That Winter nothing was attempted but in the prime of the Spring following Fernesbeck returned to Liefland with fiue thousand men A greater power beeing appointed shortly to second him Upon his landing he marched to the Towne and Castle of Ree where he reposed himselfe to vnderstand what Duke Charles intended to doe Manie blamed the Duke for that hee let slip the taking in of the Castle which if it had béene Fernsbeck had had no place to haue retyred to in all his kingdome But it is an casier matter for a man to Censure then to act wordes are soone spokē so are not deeds performed for Coronel Hill Attempted with the remainder of y e army to do what was possible to be done but the winter being at hand which in that coast is very extreame his men wearied and weakned with a long sommers toyle euery mans naturall desire in y e Country to rest thēselues in their stones the winter season tooke away al possibility of winning the Castle Duke Charls vnderstāding of his Enemies arriuall at Ree let slip no time but suddenly raised his powers to the number of fiftéene thousand men tooke shipping at Stock-holland and landed with his whole Army safely within two daies within 15. myles of Ree His purpose was to haue sodainely beleaguerd the Castle before the rest of his enemies forces were Landed out of Poland which he vnderstood were ready to bee shipt and to that end hauing refreshed his Army hee marched speedily and out of order in the latter end of the day towards the Castle of Ree supposing by the benefit of the night following the better to haue ensconc't and fortified himselfe But as no man though neuer so circumspect can warrant to himselfe the assurance or continuance of successe and especially in the actions of warre where fortune bears a sway so this noble Duke found the nature of her fauours which shee had powred vpon him to be so vnstable that in a Minute she snatcht from him what a long time before she had prodigally bestowed For Fernsbeck hauing intelligence of the Dukes landing sodenly issued out of the Castle with thrée thousand of his followers and hauing a place of great aduantage about thrée myles from the Castle the way that Duke Charles must of necessity passe tooke the benefit of the place and the night lying there in Ambush for the Dukes comming and giuing directions not to stirre till the vant guard of the Dukes Army had past them and then sodenlie to charge the battaile and the Rereward to giue the Alarum to the Castle At which time a Polish Captaine with thrée thousand Poles was appointed to charge the vantguard of the Dukes which on all sides was accordingly accomplisht The Duke being in the Battaile finding himselfe so sodainely and dangerously inuiron'd gaue according to the Tyme the best directions resist hee must of necessity Retyre he could not wherfore ryding chéerefully vp downe his Army gaue encouragement to his Souldiours making still the danger lesse then it was But Fernesbeck stirrd vp with a desire of reuenge and recouery of his dukedome and hauing aduantage of the place so violently assayled that at the first Charge he made a great breach into the body of the Dukes battaile she like was performed at the instant vpon the rereward by one Stockland a gallant young Polish Captaine Thus all parts of the Army beeing assaulted that before was weary weake and fainte through a long Marche they were sodenly put into such a fear as begat much amazement in them so as men desperate of all hope to resist they flong away their weapoas and fled hoping to saue themselues that way wherein was least hope of safeguard The Duke did what lay in his power to stay his flying
Souldiers But in this perplexed face of flight where nothing but the Caracters of feare and despaire could be séene no words could suffice nor any commanders tongue be regarded but in this confused manner they ran vpon their deaths whilst the enemy stood ready to receaue them And in this horrour of blood and massacre the Dukes horse was slain vnder him he himselfe hurt and perceiuing no hope either by fight or flight hee fell downe as dead among the dead Carcasses reteyning a hope that way happely to saue himselfe Of fifteene thousand men fourtéen thousand and odde were put to the sword the rest fled to their shippes Euery man supposing the Duke to be slaine The sad newes of this fatall ouerthrow and of the Dukes supposed death was soone brought into Swethland which vpon the hearing thereof shewed such a general face of sorrow as if the whole land had put on one entire mourning garment to attend his sad and vntimely funerals They now saw their Prince sodeÌ„ly snatcht from them in the spring time of their hopes in the prime of all his glory they found themselues naked and open to the Polish Tyranny They feared their Religion and gouernment would now be forced and adulterated by the tyrannous command and superstitious customes of Poland wherewithall they knew their King was wholly corrupted No heart so Noble no head so circumspect no hande so victorious to order the state manage the affaires and fight the battailes of their Countrey Now he was dead all hope was buried and all their happines and fréedom should be laid in the graue with him and last but not least of their sorrow they wanted his body to giue it honorable funerall But as this false newes made them true mourners so this passion of sorrow for his supposed death was afterward turned into the contrary passioÌ„ of ioy for the Dukes strange and vnknowne deliuery to whome wee will now returne hauing left him before among the dead carkases of his Souldiers There was a young Gentleman of Swethland attendant to the Duke whose name I could not learne that saw the Duke when he fell thinking him with the rest to haue beene slaine and desirous to doe the last seruice to his Prince kept close hauing a place fitte for his purpose hoping to recouer the body of the Duke and finding in the darke of the night a certain Gentleman of Poland newly slaine shifteth armour and apparrell with him and hauing the Polish tongue vndertooke as one of Fernsbecks souldiers to rifle the dead bodies and hauing found the place where the Duke lay all imbrued with the bloud of his Souldiers and comming neere to raise the body the Duke beganne to striue The Gentleman amased askt in fayre termes if he were aliue to whome the Duke replyed Art thou my friend the Gentleman told him his name and purpose and sith he was aliue he should horse him selfe vpon the Gentlemans horse and flie vnto his ships vsing the benefite of the night for his escape while hee himselfe would make what shift he could to follow after The Duke being thus raysed from this graue of bloud worse then Golgotha embracced him thankt him and spake these words God prosper thee whome if it please that thou shalt liue to out liue the fortunes of this night there was neuer man so deare as thou shalt be to thy Lord wherevpon the Duke mounted and with all speed hasted to his shippes where the ioy of his comming was so much the greater by how much the feare before of his death was the stronger The Gentleman whom hee left behind being vnluckely discouered was vnfortunately slaine which though the last was not the least honour he atchieued to die in the safegard of his Prince The Duke stayed long for his returne but at length suspecting that which had happened hoyst saile and safely arriued in Swethland It is a world to heare the concourse of people that from all parts came to sée him Upon the newes of his landing they strewd flowers in the way as thinking the Earth vnworthy to beare him they shewed all signes and tokens of ioy as now holding themselues free from those feares which the report of his death had before possest them with Now as men newly reuiued they beganne to entertaine new hopes and to flatter themselues with a perpetuall stability of their estates The Sunne which they supposed had made an eternall Set from their Horizon did now shine againe in the middest of their Hâ—mispheare and this glad day after their sad night they made a generall vow sor euer to consecrate Thus as in a triumphant manner the Duke helde on his course to Stockeholland where the triumphes for his deliuery he found doubled with the Dutches his wife his kindred and his neerest friends that in ioy of his returne feasted many dayes together Duke Fernsbecke proud of the late victory let slippe no time but hauing the seconds of his power safely landed out of Poland recouered many of his townes and Castles which hee before had lost and which he holdeth at this day Duke Charles did little that Summer but that hee sent certaine forces to strengthen those principall townes and 〈◊〉 in Liefland which he yet holdeth And in this Summer not from any ambitions desire of his owne but the policy of the time in the state of the Kingdome so requiâ—â—â—â— at the speciall instigation of his friends for the counâ—â—â—â—s good but principally vpon respect of the churches peace 〈◊〉 tooke vppon him the Crowne and Scepter of Swethland in the yeare of our Lord God 1604. which hee doth still noâ—ly and peaceably gouerne as the state of the Time doth suffer The wars being for the most part transferred into the Dukedome of Leifland And thus as I 〈◊〉 enformed standeth the condition of the affaires of that kingdome at this time FINIS