death Page 189. CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to an universall Monarchy and whether the reasons be sufficient which accuse it of aspiring to it Why France retaines Lorraine Page 191. CHAP. XIII Piccolomini raises the Siege from before Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenson arrives from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken prisoner The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick recollect themselves after having punished the slacknesse of the souldiers and raise the Siege of Friburgh The Battail of Honcourt The Expleits in Catalunia The death of Monsieur le Grand The death of the Great Cardinal An Epitome of his life Page 194. CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Iust The Battail of Rocroy The Battail of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein Page 198. CHAP. XV. Of the war of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof Page 200. CHAP. XVI Gallasso retyres out of Holstein and is ruined by Torstenson at Magdeburgh The Battail of Lankewitz The Exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh 203. CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the obedient Low-Countries The taking of many of the strongest townes in Flanders Page 206. CHAP. XVIII The war of England The Tragical death of the King Page 208. CHAP. XIX A continuation of the Exploits in Flanders The Baâ—tail of Lenâ—â— Page 212. CHAP. XX. The Peace between the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate Page 213. CHAP. XXI The difference which happened betwixt the two Families of the Landgraves The Battels of Mergendal and Nortlinghen Generall Mercy 's death Page 216. CHAP. XXII The Exploits of the Swedes upon the Franteers of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander Generall of the Imperiall Armies Page 219. CHAP. XXIII The taking of Swinsfort and Eger Lamboy and Conninxmark incamped before Rene. The taking of Retschin The siege of Prague Page 222. CHAP. XXIV The breach of the Truce with the Duke of Bavaria A tempest upon the Elbe Melanders death The Peace of Germany The death of the King of Denmark and of Uladislaus of Poland Casimir succeeds him Page 223. CHAP. XXV Pope Urbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia Page 226. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe tumults at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The history of Conradin Prince of Swaveland his death the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs The history of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples Page 230. CHAP. II. The war of the Turks and the Venetians and why The taking of Canea The Knights of Malta take a great Booty a great number of Gallies and the young Sultanesse with her Sonne The Venetians obtain succour but are beaten Page 234. CHAP. III. The troubles which happened at Paris The City is besieged The Arch-Duke comes to succour it The Siege and taking of Ypers Cambray besieged in vain Hennault ransacked Page 237. CHAP. IV. Tumults in the Province of Luke or Liedge The Election of a Coadjuter Tumules at Trevirs The Lorrains in the Kingdom of Aix and in the Dutchy of Gulick beat the Peasants The war is kindled again at Naples Page 239. CHAP. V. The Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Conde the Duke of Bouillon and other Lords retyre themselves so Bourdeaux The Dutchess of Longueville and the Vice-Count of Turenne to Stenay The Allyance is made The Duke of Orleans in Flanders and a digression upon that subject Page 244. CHAP. VI. Containing what passed in the Summer of this year of 1654. The Offers of the Portugal Embassadour The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princes complaints The Siege of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His praises Page 247. CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the valiant Earle of Montrosse The war of the Polanders against the Cossacks Page 250. CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stuart in Jersey The Kings Goods sold Charies Stuart goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuance of the War in Candy The war made with the Pen. An Embassadour from Spain at London The Chineses or people of China become Christians Page 254. CHAP. IX The Coronation of the Queen of Sweden The dammage at Paris by the River The diliverance of the Princes Mazarin being banished departs out of France The Great Assembly at the Haghe The arrival of the English Embassadours at the Haghe The war against the Cossacks The King of Scots enters into England with an Army is beaten at Worcester and slyes disguised Page 256. CHAP. X. The Coronation of Charles King of the Scots His entry into England He looses the Baetiel near Worcester The miserable condition of the Scots Charles's marvellous escape He arrives in France The difference between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made Page 258. CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entrance into Paris The joy for the one and the other The Dutchess of Longueville and the Marshal of Turenne returne into France The Prince of Oranges Baptism and the dispute for his tutelage The Bank broken near Waghening Uiefeldt accused of having intended to poison the King Berghen St. Winock taken by the Spaniards Page 260. CHAP. XII The Cardinal returnes into France The Lords who had been prisoners restored to their Charges The Prince of Conde retires to Paris The King declared Major Prodigies seen at sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why Spirings death Page 262. CHAP. XIII The miseries at sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France etc. Page 264. CHAP. XV. The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends back an Army to Paris takes Graveling and Dunkerek The English beat the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retyres into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes Page 267. CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of Fishermen Tromp returns to Sea findes Blake a tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens victory before Ligorne Tromp conducts the Fleet safely into France Divers Combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Assembly at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Ferdinand the fourth King of the Romans Page 271. The Continuation Page 275. Reader The Corrector to the Presse intreats thee to amend with thy Pen these faults which have escaped his eye PAge 1. line 28. read sent p. 2. l. 27. Now. p. 6. l. 16. then p. 7. l. 1. other by p. 12. l. 4.
Fortifications The end of the Party Page 112. CHAP. IX The death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Successour The marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spaines Sister Page 114. CHAP. X. The War of Italy for the succession of the Dutchy of Mantua where in the Emperour and the two Crowns interessed themselves Page 115. CHAP. XI The continuance of the war of Italy The Venctians beaten Pignarola taken Mantua taken and pilladged The peace is made with restitution on both sides Page 117. CHAP. XII Cardinal Richelieu makes peace with the English studies new Allyances to attack the House of Austria Page 119. CHAP. XIII A description of the state of the Empire The Election of the King of the Romans Page 121. CHAP. XIV A description of the three States of the Empire The Hanse-Towns Page 123. CHAP. XV. The principal motives of the decline of the Empire Page 125. CHAP. XVI The Emperour redemands the Ecclesiastical Lands and Goods taken after the Composition of Passavia Alteration amongst the Protestants Page 126. CHAP. XVII The Assembly at Ratisbone where Frithland is exanctorated or dismissed from his Charge Page 128. CHAP. XVIII The King of Swedens entrance into Germany His reasons why Those of the Emperour Allyances with Bogislaus He blocks up the Sea-towns Tilly retakes the Generalate against his will Page 129. CHAP. XIX The Siege of Magdeburgh The Duke of Lawenburgh beaten and taken near the Elbe The King Gustave takes Francsurt upon the Oder and beates the Imperialists Page 131. CHAP. XX. The Protestants make Allyance with Gustave Magdeburgh taken by force Page 134. CHAP. XXI The Battel of Leipsick the flight of the Imperialists Page 136. CHAP. XXII The Cardinal pries upon the affaires of Germany abuses the Duke of Lorraine Papenheim retakes Westphalia succours Magdeburgh and beats the Swedes Page 139. CHAP. XXIII The taking of the Fleet of Shallops near Berghenup-zoom Wallenstein resakes the Generallat with Conditions of too much advantage An Earthquake at Naples The Mountaine of Soma vomits fire Page 141. CHAP. XXIV George I and grave of Darmstadt obtaines Newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly. The King makes his entry at Nurembergh Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillies troops retreat with confusion Tillies death his Elogies The Siege of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers Instruction of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom Page 143. CHAP. XXV The Count of Bergues disgusted at the Kings service goes secretly to the Haghe The Siege of Mastricht Papenheim being repulsed returns into Germany Limburgh followes Mastricht and the Deputies the Prince to the Haghe Page 146. CHAP. XXVI Wallenstein drives the Saxons out of Bohemia drawes towards Nurembergh The Tragedy which hapned at Rostock Gallasso and Holck in Misnia The King goes out of Bavaria and incamps before the said town sends for all his Forces Papenheims successe Page 148. CHAP. XXVII The Armies are incamped before Nurembergh The Skermishes They depart from thence The Battel of Lutzen The death of Gustave Papenheim and Feederick Page 150. CHAP. XXVIII The Electour of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters the Kingdoms with an Army The brave Duke of Montmorancyes death Page 152. CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some of his Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen The cruelty of Conquerours Brisack succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein Page 153. CHAP. XXX The Siege of Nancy Rantzow makes himselfe known at the encounter of Haguenaux and at the Siege of Andernack Page 156. CHAP. XXXI Wallenstein defeates the Swedes in Silesia The Inhabitants of Colein retract the Agreement made before Nancy The tragical death of the said Wallenstein Page 156. CHAP. XXXII The Siege of Smolensko raised The King of Poland forces an Army of a hundred and twenty thousand men to have recourse to his mercy He makes peace with the Muscovits Chastises the Turks The Infanto's death The taking of Rinbergh Aitona puts the Milttia in good posture and takes some Lords prisoners Page 160. CHAP. XXXIII The Siege of Ratisbone The taking of the towne Aldringers death The Cardinal Infanto joynes with the King of Hungary The Protestants recollect all their Forces The bufinesse of Nortlinghen The Victory of the Imperalists The Cardinal Infanto goes into the Low-Countries Page 162. THE SECOND PART THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. THe peace made at Prague after the reduction of many places and small States The complaints of the Swedes Page 165. CHAP. II. The Answer to the complaints of the Swedes The Cardinal will besiege Colein The States refuse succour He seeks to ruine the House of Lorraine The Princesse Nicoll at Paris Prince Francis carried to the Cittadell of Nancy Page 167. CHAP. III. The Imperialists wast in the Dutchy of Wirtembergh The French come to succour the Swedes Philipsburgh taken by a prank of war The Cardinal Infanto enters Brussels and the Duke of Orleans departs Page 169. CHAP. IV. The King of France declares war against the Cardinal Infanto and why The Spaniards are beaten The taking of the Fort of Schenck Page 170. CHAP. V. The Imperialists beat back the French into Lorraine Oxensterne passes into France Bannier begins the war again and beats the Saxons Hatsfeldt gives succour Magdeburgh renders it selfe The Battel of Witstock Leipsick succoured Page 172. CHAP. VI. Coloredo taken The Spaniards passe into Picardy John de Werdts Exploits The Siege of Dole raised Gallasso enters into Burgundy The war agianst the Duke of Parma who makes his peace The truce prolonged in Prussia Page 175. CHAP. VII Ferdinand the second dies afer the Diet of Ratisbone where his Son had been elected King of the Romans A Recitall of his life Bannier makes new progresse Many Princes take Newtralities and then the Party of the Swedes The Arch-Duke Leopold Generalissimo or chief Generall Page 178. CHAP. VIII The Duke of Weymar repasses the Rheyn and besieges Rhinfeldt John de Werdt beaten and taken The Duke of Rohans death Duke Bernards many victories He takes Brisack his death Page 180. CHAP. IX Breda yeelds it self to the Prince of Orange Venlo and Rurem and to the Cardinal Insanto Landrecies taken The French beaten from before Saint Omers and Fontarrabie The Queen-Mother goes into England returns to Colein and dies The Defeat before Theonuille The Defeat of the Hollanders before Callo The ruine of the Spanish Navie The revolts of the Normans Page 182. CHAP. X. The revolt of Catalunia and Portugal The taking of Arras The Spaniards beaten before Carall The Hollanders beaten before Hulst Page 186. CHAP. XI The prudence of the Cardinal-Duke The Duke of Lorraine goes to Paris and why the Count of Soissons the Dukes of Guise and Bouillon retyres themselves to Sedan where they and Lamboy beat the Marshall of Castillon The taking of Ayre The Cardinal Infanto retyres to Brussells His
glory l. 30. the time l. 48. and live after p. 13. l. 35. States p. 14. l. 42. States p. 24. l. last adde But here we must note another evill which partly caused that p. 36. l. 13. apprehension p. 37. l. 16. gave any p 50. l. 40. she is p. 51. l. 9. the point p. 53. l. 35. to the. p. 58. l. 16. as they p. 77. l. 7. and so p. 73. l. 16. storm l. 17. port p. 83. l. 6. in regard p. 84. l. 25. of repast p. 86. l. 18. apprehensions p. 87. l. 17. receivable p. 93. l. 4. how p. 99. l. 38. inconsiderate p. 100. l. 11. Rebellion p. 107. l. 21. brought into p. 112. l. 6. those two l. 35. glory 36. dammageable p. 113. l. 4. Negotiator l. 18. them p. 〈◊〉 l. 50. adored in Germany then in l. 53. neighbours with p. 127. l. 37. such whose party was supplanted p. 132. l. 48. in such p. 1. 5. l. 14. ardout p. 137. l. 26. will hence p. 138. l. 5. he p. 141. marg 1631. p. 144. l. 41. Novelty p. 153. l. 44. noyse of his Arms. p. 154. l. 4. at his p. 150. l. 50. out of p. 172. l. 39. There p. 180. l. 10. winnes the lawrel near the. p. 188. l. 6. good reason yea p. 203. l. 5. unwillingly l. 7. disadvantage p. 213. l. 25. to escape p. 239. l. 3. sacked p. 240. l. 45. at Trevirs p. 245. l. 54. taken p. 247. l. 7. praises p. 255. l. 34. casual p. 265. l. 1. dele little p. 268. l. 7. well enough l. 19. or for p. 209. l. 13. of others p. 276. l. 46. excuse p. 287. l. 18. now held Directions for placing of the Figures THe Emperour of Germany Page 178 The late King of England Page 208 The King of France Page 48 The King of Spain Page 50 The Protectour of England Page 254 The King of Poland Page 251 The Queen of Sweden Page 256 The King of Sweden Page 9 Cardinel Mazarine Page 198 The Prince of Orange Page 260 The Farl of Strafford Page 210 The Arch-Duke Leopold Governour of Flanders Page 237 Pope Alexander the Seventh Page 287 THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I The state of EVROPB towards the end of the precedent Age. THE Romane Empyre enjoyed a profound Peace France Italy Spaine Lorraine and the Gallicane or French Provinces of the Low-Countries began to respire by the Peace of Vervix All the Partialities of the League grew to be smoothered by the prudence of that Gaulish Hercules The Romane Catholicks HENRY Fourth and they of the Reformed Religion with an agreeable harmony to one anothers grief testified their fidelity to their magnanimous Prince and to please him the more bestowed all their hatred upon his service and their grudges upon the glory of their Country The Germans under the government of Maximilian Nephew to the Emperour Charles and Rodolph his son both meek Princes no more remembred the calamities which they had suffored through the difference about matter of Religion Nor knew they now what belonged to war but by hear-say and report for if by accident they saw any souldiers listed they were appointed for France or the Low-Countries The Forces of the Dubos des deux Ponts of Prince William of Orange of Casimir and of the Duke of Brunsmick The Battell of Anolt were soon the one to be cut in pieces by the Duke of Guise and the other after having committed great extravagances and made shamefull compositions to return with confusion This part whereof only which came into the Bishopprick of Colein to interrupt the marriage of their Electour proved not despisable Frances married fair Agnes of Mansfeld and had almost kindled a great fire but it passed not over the Lisiere and was quenched in the waters of the Rheyn by the valour of the Duke of Parma And so by a good understanding of the Members with their Head there returned a Calme I mean of the Electours and Princes with their Emperour Fear was taken away but distrust which casts her roots every where amongst pleasures caused by abundance was not rooted out This hath smothered the good Corn as we shall hereafter shew and dried up the fat of these rich Provinces and that Germany which was so formidable to the whole world would not have since been seen so miserably torne in pieces if she had known how to keep her self in unity and concord Now this desirable Aurora had chased away the darknesse of the night this Peace had lulled asleep the better part of Europe and the War was retired towards the extremities or uttermost ends thereof as that at Sea between the Spaniards and the English The Low-countries the Academy of the Wars the Poles and the Swedes the Hungarians and the Turks But it was principally in the Low-Countries where it had fixed its Seate and Schoole It was I say in this little corner near the Sea amongst great Rivers and inaccessible Fennes and Marishes where it set up its Academy so to render the Discipline thereof immortall In effect great spirits not being able to live at home in sloth and idlenesse and inflamed with a laudable desire of making themselves famous in Arms for the acquisition of glory hastened thither from all parts there to make their Apprentisage and some following the humour of their Prince and others the interest of Religion ranged themselves on that side to which their zeal addicted them How because from the knowledge of the Revolutions of the precedent Age are drawne the truest causes and motives of the bloody and terrible Tiagedies which are yet a playing in this of ours we will reprize our Discourse from the head and having reached the source follow the brooks and rivers till we come into that Sea of calamities and miseries wherein we see poor Christians ingulfed at this day who cannot truly call themselves any more the Disciples of their Master Jesus Christ since they have exterminated Peace and brought confusion dissentions and disorders upon themselves It is therefore this abominable Age whereof the Scripture so clearely speaks This is that Kingdome of Iron which shivers and subdues all things The seven Angels have powred down their Vials upon the earth which is filled with blasphemy massacres injustices disloyalties and infinite other evills almost able to draw even the very Elect to murmuration We have seen and yet see Kingdome against Kingdome Nation against Nation Plagues Famines Earthquakes horrible Inundations signes in the Sun Moon and Starres anguishes afflictions of whole Nations through the tempests and noise of the Sea And whereas the Trees by thrusting forth their buds give us assurance of the approach of Summer in like manner will I be bold to say that since those things are come to passe which have been foretold us we ought not to make any difficulty to believe that the End is at hand and that the Son of man is coming in a Cloud with
give them like for like if we can Indeed when jealousie and mistrust hath once taken root in the hearts of the Germans there is no means to pluck it out The designes of the Confederats The Confoederated Strangers were almost all resolved to make a Capiratado or Minct-meat of the Imperial Eagle but they could not agree about the sawee for King Gustave would have it sower and intended to eat it himselfe alone as the Lion did the Stag which he had taken in the company of the Wolfe and the Asse The King of France would have it sweer and praetended to both the wings at the least The King of England would have a share to his Brother in Law The vnited Provinces desired not her death but onely to cut off her Tallants that so she might not scratch The Venetians were of the same opinion with the Protestants who would onely make her change her nest and render her so tame and gentle Differences that she might be no more so fierce nor able to beck them Every body endeavoured to hurt her and turmoile her every one laid gins to catch her But when the Princes saw the King Gustave tormented her too much and handled her after such a-fashion as they liked not and that the French began to pluck off her feathers they apprehended both her ruine and their own too She was not succoured by the Polanders because thy were most exact observers of the Truce between themselves and the Swedes She got but very small aide from Italy for the Pope himselfe preferring the odour of the Flower de luce before all other considerations seemed not to care for the dangers to which she was exposed together with the Church whereof he possessed the supreme Dignity And yet for all this she defended her selfe with great resolution being succoured by the Spaniards and the Obedient Provinces as also by the City of Colein which was escaped out of a most evident danger The Eagle defended and by whom The Catholick Electors shewed themselves willing to die with her and the Duke of Lorraine made no difficulty to loose his States and hazard his life for her safety and preservation But the Elector of Trevers despairing of her health and endeavouring to save his own States from shipwrack and charmed besides by the eloquence of that great Cardinal cast himself into the armes of France as we shall hereafter finde though yet he could not escape the misfortune which was prepared both for his Arch-Bishoprick and himselfe But let us return into Brabant to the Siege of Mastricht CHAP. XXV Count Henry of Bergues disgusted with the Kings service goes secretly to the Haghe The Siege of Mastricht Papenheim repulsed returns into Germany Limburgh followes Mastricht and the Deputies the Prince to the Hague The death of three Kings THis year was memorable for the death of three kings Sigismund of Poland who very piously departed the 29 th of April The King of Sweden who lost his life upon the bed of honour and King Frederick who rendred his by sicknesse at Mentz The last year the Hollanders triumphed by water and they did it this by land as we shall see The Spaniards had sent the best part of their forces to the Palatinat and left the Low-Countries without men mony and counsel and in great terrour for so many losses Count Henry of Bergues disgusted by some pretended affronts with the service of his Prince whose Armies he commanded and by whom he could not be made greater then he was seeing the huge progresse of the King of Sweden and the occasion most opportune to beate out the Spaniards went to the Prince of Orange at the Haghe with whom together with Monsieur de la Tilillerie the French Embassadour there he had a very secret Conference Count Henry of Bergues goes to the Haghe the effects whereof appeared the first Field and the Prince being at the head of his Army marched the tenth of June from Grave up the Moze presented himselfe before Venlo from whence the said Count was already departed the same day and summoned it to render Venlo and Ruremund yeild The end of the War upon such conditions as he sent it in Blanke There was a report published that this Feild would produce an end of the War and of the Spanish Government which was the onely thing aimed at with the safety of the Catholick Religion and the Infanta's authority and person The bird cannot chuse but be taken if she hearken to the fowler Venlo was forthwith yeilded none going out of the Town but the Garrison for the Priests and Monks remained and the Reformats were content with one Church Count Ernest of Nasseaw went with a part of the Army before Ruremund which defended it selfe but through despaire of succour yeilded at last upon the same conditions that Venlo had done and a shot of a Harkebuse Ernest of Nassaw killed or Gun which was the last that was shot from the Town stopped the course of the said Counts life retarded the designe for some hours and gave Count John of Nasseaw meanes to put two and twenty Coulours into Mastricht This recrute brake the neck of all great designes purchased the Count of Bergues Savoâ—sr into Mastricht and them of his Cabal much disreputation and blame put the Hollanders in danger and preserved the succession for Philip the fourth King of Spaine how bitterly soever it have been disputed since The Infanta being fully informed of the said Count Henry's intentions whom she had alwayes loved and supported against all such as envyed him was at length induced to permit that an Order might be sent to the Governour of Guelders to seize upon his person and bring him with a good Guard to Brussels since he had refused to come of his one accord But he having smelt the designe retired himselfe forthwith to Liedge The Count of Bergues goes to Liedge where he laboured to draw the Kings Army to him by promising them an end of the War but none would follow him even they who had accompanied him thither forsooke him for the Souldiers desire not an end of War because they have no other Trade to live The Count of Warfuze And the Count of Warfuze who was of the Plot got also thither but the Duke of Arschot who was suspected for it stirred not at all but remained firme in his duty As soone as the Holland Cavalrie appeared before Mastricht Count John marched out with his in such sort as that the Prince not being able to winne the Town with faire words Mistricht besieged as he had done the other was constrained to change his note and keep measure with the Canon So that he intrenched himselfe before it and gave the Spaniards leasure to put an Army into the Feild who sent for their forces out of the Palatinat which beat the French who endeavoured to hinder their passage and joyned in a Body under the conduct
of the Marquis de Santa Crux The Spaniards come from the Palatinat though so late as that it was impossible for them to drive away their Enemies Papenheim being sent for came with all possible speed and though he found the Prince so extreamly well intrenched yet would he not return before he had tried And Papenheim from Wostphalia is repulsed whether the Hollanders could well withstand the assault of the Germans wherefore he fell upon them at high-noon with so desperate a resolution that he made himselfe feared and had the Spaniards done their duty as well as the Germans it was very likely that the Hollanders would have runne hazard to be worsted but he retired with notable losse left a noble testimony of his bravery and returned into Germany with a generous displeasure for having undertaken such a hard task Returns into Germany and the Spaniards into Brabant without being seconded The Spaniards marched towards Brabant not without murmuring against their General whom they accused to have played away their money and one part of the States Army towards Limburgh which was surrendred up to them upon the same conditions that Mastricht was The Baron of Lede Commander of this Town acquired great reputation and was as highly praised by the brave and amiable Prince Henry of Orange as he was honourably recompenced by the King his Master Never was the aforesaid Prince in greater danger and if the people of Liedge had forsaken his friendship he had been in a poor condition for want of Victuals Let us finish this Field The States General and the Prince of Orange invited the Obedient Provinces to a Treaty of Peace and these resolving to heare their Propositions by the Infanta's advise the Duke of Arscot And the Prince to the Haghe with the Deputies for the Peace the Arch-Bishop of Mecklin the Abbot of St. Vast and some other Syndicks or Agents went to the Haghe where the Prince was received by all with a multitude of praises and benedictions and where we will leave them in a Businesse whereof they will finde no end and go see the King of Sweden march out of Bavaria to save Naremburgh But let us first look in what equipage General Wallenstein is CHAP. XXVI Wallestein beats the Saxons out of Bohemia and drawes towards Nuremburgh The Tragedy which haphed at Rostock Gallasso and Holck in Misnia The King goes out of Bavaria and incamps himselfe before the said Town he sends for all his Forces The successe of Papenheim ALl the World admired Wallenstein in his prosperity many lamented him in his disgrace and every body wondered to see him now at head of so puislant an Army with so much glory and Majesty The first dart he shot was against the Elector of Saxony and it was a Proposition of Peace the point whereof not being yet well sharpned was quickly unrusted and cleansed afterwards Waller stein beats the Sayons out of Bohemis The second he shot had so much vigour that he dislodged the said Electors Troops out of Prague and all Bohemia and made them returne into Misnia leaving Gallasso behinde them with some forces But he was not troubled at all to see the Duke of Bavaria chastised by the Swedes nor did he hasten to beat them out of his Country in respect of the hatred he bore him for his having disposed the Emperour by the advice of Cardinal Richelien to deprive him of the Generalship In fine after having been often beseeched to come he moved at lengh towards the upper Palatinat He joynes with the Bavarians complimented the said Duke and joyned with him Gustave Horne was not idle in Alsatia and by the assistance of the Magistrates of Strasburgh for so many Imperial Towns so many little Armies for the Swedes he besieged the Fort of Benefeldt which by the slacknesse of the Governour Horne takes Benefeldt he quickly took and so by breaking the Irons wherewith the Towns seemed to be bound the Swedes forged other to stop them He took many Towns and would have made greater progresse had he not been called by his King to succour him neer Nuremburgh The Dukes of Meckelemburgh were also still in action and had so cleansed their Dutchy from the Imperial Garrisons Stirrs at Rostock and why who were not expected to be ever seen again in those parts But there chanced a Tragedy at Rostock which was like to have destroyed the Town and the Inhabitants also with it and it was this A certaine Burgher or Townsman having a minde according to the example of Iudith to deliver the said Town from the oppression as he said of the Imperialists went to the Governour in his Chamber to desire a Pastport and when he saw him busie in writing it he struck him so many blowes with a hatchet that he cut off his head and carried it away in a bag and threw it into the Cellar of another Burgher This murther being discovered gave an alarme to the Souldiers who gave it also so hotly to the poor Citizens that they thought no lesse then to be all knocked in the head and plundered But inquiry being made the head was found and the murtherer shortly after who was examined and made suffer the punishment of his Crime for the discharge of the innocent and his ill setled head flew off his shoulders for an example to such as should undertake falsly to imitate that aforesaid Lady who was accompanied by the Holy Ghost The Duke of Wirtembergh and all who had renounced the League of Leipsick took arms again with as much facility as a Candel newly put out and yet hot takes fire All must be changed there must be another Golden Bull other Electors and another Emperour for they scoffed at this and all his designes but as soon as the Armies were seen before Nurembergh all was husht and every body stood mute at the expectation of a successe which was to give the Law When the King came out of Bavaria he found but onely Ingolstadt which resisted him and in revenge thereof he dispersed all his forces throughout the whole Country and Minnecken one of the finest Towns in Germany presented him her keyes where he seized upon a huge Treasure and being informed that there were many pieces of Ordnance buried under ground he caused them to be digged up and found them full of Ducats In fine being loaden with booty and not able to stay there he extorted three hundred thousand Rix-Dollars more from the Town to save it from plunder as he did some other after the same rate Many Villadges were set on fire for a signe that the Enemy had been there who retired himselfe with speed letting the Bavarians take breath by his departure and leaving Garrisons in three Towns onely to assure them of his returne at his pleasure and so he went and incamped himselfe before Nurembergh a place of much renown for the industry of the Inhabitants and for being one of the
them to send their Deputies to the King to conclude a Treaty Fortune was not lesse adverse to the Spaniards in Italy where the Marquis of Leganez had besieged Cassal a fatall place to them and an unhappy siege for this third cime For the brave Count of Harcourt brother to the Duke d'Elbenf and of the generous blood of the Guisards who had done that Kingdom so many services hastened thither with a lesse and weaker Army attacked them in their Trenches and after two several repulses The Spainiards beaten before Caza fell on again killed above four thousand men put in as much relief as he would and forced this so provident and cautious Nation to raise the siege Let no body say now That the French are not valiant but in the first fury in which they are more then men and in continuance lesse then women For this glorious action being conducted by one of the most strenuous men of his Time descended from a House which hath alwayes swarmed with brave Captains and others declares the contrary They know how to fight and when they are broken to rally and carry away the victory After this miracle he wrought yet another which could not be done but by a * Hyperbole The Count of Haicourts valour who takes Turin Saint full of merits and it was this He besieged Turin where Prince Thomas Uncle to the Duke whom he would dispossess commanded The Marquis of Leganez attacked him and pierced through his Lines but the souldiers which were entered could not get out again in such sort as that all their victuals being consumed they were forced to submit to an enemy who was weaker then themselves Which glorious exploits of his redressed that State when it was going to ruine made him admired and reputed by all men for one of the best Captains in the world and the French Nation for brave souldiers Wherefore the Cardinal could do no lesse then cherish such a Warrier and so by consequence he honoured him with his Allyance Their victory obtained in the the Low-Countries was not of less consequence nor less famous for the difficulties which they encountered therein The Marshalls of Chaunts Chairislon and Meillieraye made a shew of going to besiege Marienburgh where two German Canoneers set the powder on fire but suddenly wheeled about towards Arras Arras besieged and yeelded 1540. the Capitall City of that Country and fort with began to-intrench themselves before it An Enterprise of no less audacity then generosity but Fortune helps such as these as it disdains them who are fearfull The Cardinal Infanto the Duke of Lorraine and six Generals more with an Army of thirty thousand men went to visit them with intention to make them sorry for their temerity Wherefore they pitched their Camp upon Mount Saint Eloy near the way where the Provisions were to pass so that the Besiegers were in worse condition then the Besieged for all the small Convoyes were beaten and a pound of bread was worth forty * Pence Solls and more Upon notice given that the great Convoy was almost ready the Duke of Lorraine went and ruined above a thousand Wagons at the very Gates of Dourlens and returned victorious to the Camp The Spaniards were very busie in consultation about what good resolution they were to take The great Convoy advanced and La Meillieraye went to meet it with fisteen thousand men The Infanto being advised by some to make a firm stand and fight it though it were guarded with above twenty thousand men chose rather to attack a quarter which had it been done two houres sooner as it was concluded the Town had undoubtedly been succoured However they succeeded pretty well and were already become Masters of a Fort but the bickering happened in a part from whence they were repulsed with great slaughter and at the same instant arrived the Convoy which dulled the heat of the Spaniards and the desire in the Besieged to make any further defence and shewed besides that the most considerate and advised are often deceived and that the greatest wits incurre the foulâ—st errours Temerity surmounted prudence and the Proverb which was written upon the Town-Gate proved false Quand les Francois prendront Arras Les Souris prendroat les Chats When the French shall Arras take The Mouse the Cat her prey shall make Jealousies and distrusts made the Spaniards lose so faire an occasion to whom the losse of this strong place is imputed The revolt of the Portugueses 1640. not indeed without occasion yea and many have believed that this accident animated the Portugueses to revolt and shake off the Castillian yoke They elevated to the Throne Duke Iohn of Braganza without any bloodshed at all which deserves admiration and whereof we will speak hereafter This year of 1640 made the Arms of France triumph and produced the revolts which we have now described The Infanto was a little more happy against the Hollanders for the Prince of Orange desiring to repaire the affront received at Callò and ayming at Antwerp sent Count Henry Casimir and the Marquis of Hauterive to attack the Forts which were upon the approaches of Hulst one whereof called Nassan was taken by Hauterive but Count Henry had no good issue by the fault of his spyes Count Henry of Freezland slain and therefore resolving to die or gain honour he went and assaulted the Fort of Saint Iohnstone where he was repulsed with the losse of his own life and many of his souldiers and was lamented by all The Prince went the third time before Guelders and being able to effect nothing retyred again to the Haghe So great a bulk of victories together accumulated France with joy and the Cardinals life with glory who was not yet free from danger in regard of the many enemies his Ministery had acquired him The birth of the Duke of Anicii 1640. It was not enough to have a Dolphin for the Queen to augment the joy was delivered the twenty one of September of a second Son called the Duke of Anion We left the Imperialists in Hassia who separated themselves some one way and some another to seek their winter quarters as the Swedes also did but because they are redoubtable in the rigour of the cold as being accustomed to it Bannier made his Troops march at the beginning of December in the deep snow faced about towards the upward Palatinat and presented himself before Ratisbone where the Emperour held the Diet. Some bold adventurers passed the Ice and made great booty in Bavaria but others payd the score soundly for them Piccolomini was not asleep but being advertised by his Spyes of the posture of the Swedes he invested Generall Flang and sent him prisoner with above three thousand men to Ratisbone and pursued Bannier who retyred with confusion enough His death 1641. as farre as Magdeburgh in the month of April 1641. who being seized upon by a burning feaver died the tenth of May as
leasure to raise then Trenches retired into the Town which they had gotten but few dayes before Lamboy arrived with his Troops and the Infanto not being well in health Melo â—â—â—â—kes Ayre left the charge of the Army to Don Francisco de Melo and retired himselfe to Brussels La. Meillieraye hoping for no reliefe saved his small Army but could not save the Town nor his Artillery which were yeilded in the middle of Winter The discontentment of the Princes caused this losse and stopped the course of Victory for that Field There is alwayes some obstacle in the carrere of affairs and the water is selfe which beares the Vessel gives it some retardment The Duke of Bouillon made his peace and put his trust in a man who never pardoned for the more dead the fewer enemies but he repented himselfe of it before much time was past His Uncle the Prince of Orange laboured for this reconciliation and with much more ardour for his deliverance as we shall shortly shew The Cardinal Infusto's death The Infanto being arrived at Brussels gave now and then some likelyhood of recovery but God had otherwise disposed of him into whose hands he very piously rendred his Soul and the people being in much confusion were ready to knock the Spanish Physitians in the head for having let him too much and too often blood He was a most beautiful Prince of body and yet more of minde the delight of the Low-Countries which he left in extreame regret for his departure He was suspected of having intended to reader himselfe absolure Master of those parts and to make an Allyance of marriage either with France or with the Prince of Orange and yet this suspicion taking root in Spain was the cause of shortning his dayes God knows what it was but the least jealousies of State are irremissible offences Jupiter will not have the Gyants come up to his Throne These distrusts or rather these chimera's having no foundation or ground in reason disappeared and vanished before they were borne The Count of Soissons being killed very likely by treachery the Infanto dead and the Duke of Boüillon reconciled Cardinal Richelieu will overthrow the House of Austria our great Cardinal was delivered from a huge feare and therefore he armed potently to continue his ambitions Enterprises against the House of Austria but all in vaine for she will not fall said a certain great person but with ruâ—â—â— of the Roman Catholick Church or at least it will not be during his life True it is that he persecuted her with all extremity and without intermission and did her more hurt alone then all her enemies together He undermined her in her foundations and endeavoured both by his own writings and those of his Hirelings to perswade the World that she was full of Hypocricy and not truly Catholick A lye which lasts four and twenty hours makes great operation and wounds are not cured without scarrs He made her be painted with an immense ambition the reasons whereof our Subject commands us to pick out before we passe any further CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to the universal Monarchy and whether the reasons of such as accuse her thereof be sufficient or no. Why France retains Lorraine AMongst all the Nations which combat the House of Austria at this time none does it with greater animosity then France indirectly by favouring her enemies and succouring them with men and money and directly by open war which was declared in the year 1635. Nay she hath yet other Arms which are not a little dangerous and which insensibly surprize such as have no other interest in their quarrels then that of Religion and Justice For she labours to perswade all Potentates that this House will not relinquish the designe she hath taken to ascend to an Universal Monarchy and to make the Catholicks belâ—â—ve that her zeal which seems to burne so hotly is but a painted fire But let us examine these two last points which stick so much in the braines of the World and cause so many evils and mischiefs as wherewith this last Age is so â—â—â—erably torne for the onely finding of the truth whereof we will answer those arguments of a certaine modrene writer The arguments of such as say that the House of Auftria aspires to the Monarchy First I find not in Ferdinand of Gastile any subject at all to believe that he had a mind to found an universal Monarchy because he discovered some certain Islands in America For his life was too full of vexations disquiet and jealonsies cast upon him by his Sonne-in-Law and Don Gansalvo to give him leave to think of a designe so ful of chimera's as this For we must secure what we have from peril before we seek more Charls the fifth is the principal object of his propositions and over whom he labours to triumph But I stay not upon words I come to effects which make us judge of unknown causes The advantage which Fortune gave this said Charles upon Francis his Competitour for the Empire made him obtain the Renunciation of the Fiefs or hereditary Titles which the said Francis had upon some Provinces in the Low-Countries though the restitution of the Duâ—chy of Burgandy the patrimony of his Grand-Mother Mary of Valois did not follow his promise The many victories he got in Italy Germany and Barbary crowned his head and more glorifyed his memory then amplifyed his States He bought the Soveraignty of Vtrick and the Dutchy of Guelders That of Milan was carryed by Arms and juridically disputed Had he aspired to the universal Monarchy he would not certainly have been diverted by some small crosses of Fortune but on the other side being some moneths elder then Henry the Great was when he prepared himself to give his Enemies a furious shake this great Monarch invincible to all but himself stripped himself of ad to choose a privat life His Sonne Philip found by the Warrs of the Low-Countries that his life would be too short to see the termination of them and as for his meddling with those of France the effects thereof have declared that it was more through passion of Religion then to acquire the possession of that Kingdomâ— unless by losing the hope of getting the whole we be voluntarily induced to render the parts we have gained If the said House being considered all together had had this designe she would have endeavoured to retain the conquests which she made in the North which upon occasion would have opened her the passage to other Besides that she hath always restored such States as she hath purchased by quarrels both in Italy and elsewhere in such sort as that I see not by what means and in how many Ages she would be able to reach to this pretended Monarchy But upon what Branch of this Family shal this Monarchy be placed Upon that of Germaty The Emperour Charles could not endure to see according to the report
prevented by the aforesaid Prince who made his Army march at one of the clock after mid-night and pitched his Camp near the said Weymarians in such sort as that Melo coming some hours too late durst not meddle with them and avowed that he had to do with one of the cunningest Captains in the world But whilest these things passed Baron John de Werdt returned out of France and shewed that he had not forgotten his Trade by the discontinuance thereof for in less then two months there were above two thousand horses sold at Colein which he had taken from the enemy Let us now pass into Catalunia and see the condition of the affaires of that Country commanded by Monsieur de la Motte Houdancour who so often beat the Castilians took so many Towns and succoured so many more that he deserved and had the Marshalls staffe The King and Cardinal went thither The great progresse of the Frénch in Catalunia and the French took Salces Perpinlan and all the County of Roussillion which had been formerly engaged to the Crown of France but was restored by Charles the eighth Monsieur le Grand had such an advantagious possession of the Kings favour at that time that the great Cardinal was alarmed by it and found himself ready to be cast out of the Saddell For he let the King know how necessary a Peace would be for his kingdom which was impoverished and exhausted by so many Taxes and Warres and had already disposed him to listen to an Accommodation with the King of Spain But he warped a Web into which he so involved himself that he was not afterwards able to put it off For they who recommended Peace were held for malefactors and worthy of death Monsieur le Grand beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon saved by whom Wherefore he was sent to Lyons with Monsieur de Thoii where they were both beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon had run the same Fortune had he not been saved by the high and sharp intercession of the Prince of Orange and the consideration of the Town of Sedan For the said Prince had newly preserved the Weymarian Army and rendred France a most remarkable service whereby he could not merit less then the safety of an innocent mans life The execution of the two young Lords aforesaid augmented the hatred which all the world bore this ambitious Cardinal yea and the King himself expressed some coldnesse to him The great Cardinals death which together with so many other inconveniences encreased his sickness and the fourth of December 1642 sent him to the other world since he had troubled this enough already Never did any man ascend to such an immense greatness and maintain himself so well in it His life was very like that of Seianus but their deaths were different this being naturall and that violent Don Alvarez de Luna rose very high but his fall was so heavy that it brake his neck Cardinal Wolsey disposed absolutely enough of his Master but his credit never passed the Sea but by sits and yet was he degraded before his death and in houtly expectation of the Hangman He was born at Paris of a noble extraction was well learned A brief relation of his life and took the Orders of Priesthood at Rome It is said that Pope Paul the fifth looking him once in the face told him That he would one day be the greatest cheat upon earth The Queen-Mother finding him a man of great wit procured him the Bishoprick of Luzon where he wrote a Book of controversie upon which she recommended him to the King her Son and afterwards to the Pope who sent him the Cardinals Cap and the taking of Rochel gave him so great an influence upon his Masters Mind that he left him almost the totall direction of his Kingdom He got himself shut of the Queen and all who favoured her cut off the Marshall of Marillacs head and destroyed all such as gave him any jealousie He never pardoned such as he had offended He was a most accomplished Politician beloved by the most zealous Protestants and hated by the most zealous Catholicks He made it his task to ruine the House of Lorrain by beginning with that of Guise as also that of Austria by labouring to conquer the Low-Countries so that he could not faile to be beloved by all such as hated the Church of Rome He is accused of having embroyled England to the end that for interest of State it might not hinder his seazing upon Flanders For an English Embassadour imputes to him the destruction of his King by most unjust and maligne practices and of setting all Europe by the eares in generall But he cannot be deprived of the praise of having done the Kingdom of France superlative services though it were with the huge oppression of the poor people A Polish Waywodt of great age and experience desired to outlive the said Cardinall to see what end he would have As he had done many people a great deale of hurt so was he alwayes in perpetuall apprehension and fear nor was there eyer Tyrant who lived in greater disquiet then he A great Volume might be made of the observations of his life which being wholly miserable was sustained but by a blast of ambition In fine whilest he was thinking to triumph over Europe his infirmities and troubles redoubled upon him till they made his soule go out of his wretched Body His death was lamented by few and such as had either feared him or fled from his persecution returned into France not to put on mourning but to give God thanks and repossesse themselves of their Charges and Estates CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Just The ' Battel of Rocroy The Battel of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein THe same Play was still acted under different names For they who had so much longed for great Gustaves death for the establishment of the Emperours Affaires were all amazed to see his Generalls accompanied by the same prosperity as if they had been destinated to consummate the begun-work Upon the other side many Princes and Townes openly favoured them in such such sort as the Emperours affaires weakened so fast to mens sight that they began to despaire of his redresse And so it was held for certain that that Great Cardinals death would cause a huge alteration in France and give the Spaniards the prize but it happened quite otherwise for the French defeated all their forces before Rocroy Let us therefore confesse that it is the Almighty who governes all changes destroyes subverts and augments States both when and how he pleases and that for the bringing of this Great All to an end he permits the Destruction to be Universall and the Confusion Generall Lewis the Just being arrived at his good City of Paris quite altered with the toyle and trouble of his long journey and extremely sad and melancholy began by little and little to lose his health and
let us leave Scotland in teares let us leave the different opinions concerning the successe of this war for those of our Continent call us speedily back and especially the difference which happened in Cleveland Wars between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The Electour of Brandenburgh in full peace sent four thousand men into the Duke of Newburghs Country who attacked the strong House of Angremont and performed all acts of hostility without having denounced the war This invasion much displeased the Emperour and much more him whom it more nearly concerned Religion served here for a pretext and this affront put a flea in the ear of the bordering parts which yet by the intermission of the Emperour and the States of Holland was soon taken out the Lorrainers who went to succour the Duke of Newburgh sent back the forces casheered and the Princes returned to their former good intelligence This war gave Colem much apprehension and no small distrust to the United Provinces which feared lest if the fire increased it might grow to burn their Neighbours houses according to the Latin Proverb Tum tuâ—res agitur paries cum proximus ardet When thou seest the next house burn Be sure the next will be thy turn Let us go seek out Cardinal Mazarin in his disgrace CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entry into Paris The joy for both the Dutchesse of Longuevilles and the Marshall of Turennes repasse into France The Baptisone of the young Prince of Orange and the dispute about his tutelage The Damme broaken near Waguening Uleseldt accused of having intended to poyson the King of Denmark Berghen St. Weynock taken by the Spaniards THe Queen being very often petitioned by the Members of Parliament to set the Princes at liberty for the Kings service and the kingdoms quiet and seeing the Resolute run up and down the streets of Paris requiring their deliverance condescended to it but the Kings Counsell on the other side was not a little staggered to hear the importunate voyce of the people Live the King Live the Princes no Mazarin His eminence finding France disgusted by his Ministery retyred himself as we have have already said and the Princes made their entry into Paris the 16. of February where they were received by the Duke of Orleans and all the great ones with very strong resentments of joy The conditions upon which they were released were that the hostility of Stenay and Turenne should cease The Cardinal departs out of France and takes an order for his banishment The Cardinal not being able to prevent or hinder this return of theirs so prejudicial to his Authority and seeing the Duke of Orleans who had consented to their detention so urgent now under pretext of the kingdoms good for their releasement got the King and Queen to approve of his retreat The joy for his departure was incomprehensibly great for every one gave him a wipe and acccused him of having exhausted the Finances or Exchequer nor is there in fine that wickednesse in nature wherewith he was not branded in such sort as it was believed that his absence would bring back the golden Age. But his banishment touched him much more to the quick His enemies had now their time and he not long after had his It is better to laugh at last then at first His departure was ignominious but his return was glorious The Spaniards offered him all kindness of favour in his disgrace which he discreetly refused upon the consideration of a former obligation The Parliament of Roüen Decreed also against him All the world yea even the Pope himself hated him And yet for all this the mischiefs whereof he was held to be the Authour ended not by his retyrement The King and Queen made a Manifest wherein they declared the Princes innocent Goes to Dinant and then to Bruel and approved all that which was ordered against Mazarin who passed by Perone Sedan and Dinant where he stayd some days and then went to Liedge and in fine retyred to Bruel to the Electour who received him according to his qualities Thus was he exiled cryed down and hated by all his services were forgotten and even they themselves who shewed him some courtesie in his retreat were made guilty thereby None but great spirits make their magnanimity appear in misfortunes The Vice-Count returns into France The Dutchesse of Longueville the Marshal of Turenne and the Count of Grandpre returned into France with their Troops where they were welcom leaving the care of finishing the work to the Spaniards who could not sufficiently wonder at this change however the Princes sent to Brussels to thank the Arch-Duke for his care of their deliverance Wilhelmus Henrious Prince of Orange nassau sonn of the Princis Royall London Printed sould by P Stent The great assembly at the Haghe In the mean while the great assembly persevered in the care of making the union stronger then ever and repayting some disorders in relation to which it was judged necessary to grant an Act of oblivion to put the Militia into good method to maintaine the Reformed Religion to keep the bitt in the Roman Catholicks mouthes and exclude such as followed that Doctrine from all Publick employments Separates All being concluded the Assembly sent for a Minister to give God thanks and parted with most perfect intelligence A day of prayer was held and alms was distributed and the Firewords and Ordnance made a concert for the Simbole of the union The Bank broken The yeare of 1651 towards the end of Winter the Snowes melting by a thaw the Waters of the Rheyn swol up in such sort that the Bank between Rhene and Waguening brake and put the inhabitants about Amerssort into great perplexities Indeed Many Inundations this year deserved to be called the yeare of deluge for there were very few Rivers in Europe which did not by the continuall raines exceed their bounds and bear down their banks The Scourge of God as water fire and sword are every where felt Let us go to the septemptrion where we shall finde one of the greatest Lords yea the high Steward of the House of the King of Denmark himself suspected and accused of having intended to poyson the King A wickedness unknown heretofore in the colds of the North. Ulefeldt the high Steward of the Kings houshold accused of having intended to poyson him It was Mons. Vlefeldt a man of great experience and much renowned for the Embassayes wherein he had rendred the King and Common-Wealth great services who was accused of this treason by a lewd woman who not being able to prove the said accusation was beheaded One Colovel Walter was also suspected who having defended his innocence summoned the said Vlefeldt but he in stead of appearing before the King departed secretly with his wife into Holland afterwards into Sweden His flight was extreamly ill
them with so free and open a breast that they were all most satisfied and promised to meet at the Diet of Ratishone Germany seeing her Head and Members in so perfect a harmony hopes that this Union will prove a wholesome Balme to cure the wounds of the Empire Italy is restored to a better state there being only the Venetians who alone sustaine the weight of the Ottoman Arms. They sent their Embassadour to Constantinople The Venetian Embassadour arested at Constantinople being advertised of the Grand Signors desire to compose the Difference who against the Law of Nations arrested him and would not listen to any overture of Peace at all unlesse the Republick would yeeld him up the whole Kingdom of Candy The Pope was disgusted at the disobedience of the Christians who stopped their cares to his remonstrances The heat of the war in Piemont cooled by little and little for want of nutriment The King of Spain after the Conjuration made against his person and stifled in the blood of the Authours after the peace restored to the States of Neaples Sicily and Perin had no other care left then to protect his Subjects maintain the peace with the United Provinces keep up his Armada or Navy send monies into Flanders to continue the war and succour the Princes of France thereby to divide in effect or weaken that Kings Authority as he hath also on the other side endeavoured by all means possible to deminish that of the House of Austria The Civil wars of France had taken away the vigour of that of Cataluniâ—â— and Barcelona having been blocked up about fifteen moneths Barcelons renders her self 1652. rendred hâ—r selfe in Autumne in the year 1652. La Motte Hodincour not having been able to succour it though he entred the Town by force no more then the Duke of Mercoeur was Tortoza and so they both returned into France with Don Joseph de Marguerita Cazal and Dunkeâ—k taken Cazall and Dunkerck being taken from the King of France with very little trouble and charge gave full joy to the one Party and grief to the other to see that their Conquests made with the mony sweat and blood of the poor people were torne from them as it were playing and without losse of men as we shall demonstrate They imputed all these misfortunes to the Civil wars but others to the injustice of their taking arms upon meer distrust and occasion in so favourable a conjuncture During this deplorable Civil War wherein this poor Kingdom findes it self miserably involved after having waged and kindled so many other wars throughout all Europe The Second State assembles it selfe at Paris the Second State began to hold their Assembly at Paris according to the example of the first but being broken by fair promises the true jealousie which proceeded from it vanished The poor Subjects were not yet enough oppressed by the Taxes but that they must be so more Bat it is broken by the dissolute and undisciplined Souldiers whose insolency was insupportable but their chastisemens was proportionable to their barbarity besides despair made both the Nobility and people of Campague take arms against them and dispatch a very great number of them and they of Senlis Meanx The Souldiers killed by the Country people Anergue and other places followed their example and massacred a great part of those Robbers in such fort as it was horrible to see all these disorders Moreover there hath been a perpetual Traffick or buying and selling of Charges The Venality or selling of Offices dammâ—â—gable and Offices since the Ministery of these two Cardinals which hath caused almost mortal Commotions to the State The troubles in Provence Guyenne Anergne and other parts proceeded from this turmoyle For a summe of mony hath often been given to some for such a Government and to others for such another whilest the Subjects have been averse from it And we must here adde that the venality or selling of Offices hath corrupted Integrity and Justice in such sort as that this Goddess having lost her strength all sorts of impieties extortions and blasphemies are now in vogue for the fear of God and equity being taken away men run post into vices and welter in wickednesse yea and Princes very often make their Subjects sin by their example Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis What ere the King is that we ever finde The people apt to be in their own kinde The Prince of Conde having received a supply from Spain and Paris another from Brussels by land Suttour from Spain as I have noted already the War was made in Xaintongue in the year 1652 and in the district of Aunts against the Count of Angnon Governour of the Isles of Broiiage and Oleron by the Count of Harcourt who retook some places and the Tower of Rochel But having received notice that the Cardinal would accommodate himself with Brisack posted thither Harcourt at Brisack and left his Army an Orphant This retreat of one of the most illustrious and most fortunate Warriers in the World who was so necessary and useful to the State was a Pill of hard disgestion which yet must needs be swallowed down without shewing the bitternesse thereof Let us here mark the inconstance of the French Nation which they themselves confesse to be as it were essential to them For they who had quite abandoned yea contemned the just choler of their Soveraign and incurred the Crime of High Majesty by pursuing with the naked Sword the deliverance of the Princes Renlarkal le Vihanges and calling in Strangers into the Kingdom both were astewards and yet are the onely men who fight against the Prince of Coinle The Duke of Boüillon was raised very high and cherished by the King and all the Court part of the year 1652. but he quickly lest those vain and inconstant honours to goe and receive incorruptible ones The Duke of Boüillons death for he died at Pontoise He was a great Captain and had learnt the discipline of War in Holland where he had the honour to Command the Cavalry and govern the Town of Mastricht He lost the affection of all the Hughenots by having embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and that of the King by having put himself into the League of the Princes of the Peace in such fort as being suspected of I know not what kinde of intelligence with Monsieur le Grand and imprisoned the Town of Sedan and the high intercession of the Prince of Orange saved his life The Marshal of Turenne after having refused many courtships and a present of great value from the Prince of Conde was chosen to command the Kings Army CHAP. XV The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King of France attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being come to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends an Army to Paris Takes Graveling and Dunkerck The English beat
himself of the advantage be hath upon any one alone by pursung him for fear of giving the rest the occasion of seizing upon his sheep This brave man did wonders Tromps praise but he had the displeasure of seeing seeing above twenty of his men of War fly without fighting at all The States ceased not during these fatal actions to employ all possible inventions to disingage themselves from these troubles which obstructed the Commerce either by force or friendship For the advantages which the Enemies had by the conveniency of their Havens before which they are necessitated to passe as at the mercy of the Canon oblidged such Fleets as were not furnished with sufficient Convoyes The Ships passe behinde Scotland to passe behinde Ireland and Scotland and before Norway a long paineful and perilous Voyage and which very often caused the merchandises to be corrupted and spoiled 〈◊〉 The great Fleet which departed this Spring from Rochel made this huge circuit and by an admirable felicity artiyed safely without having meâ— the Enemy who expected it at the passage that which was appointed towards the Baltick Sea was all the Summer at the Flie without daring to come out and that of the great Indies is not yet arrived In the Battel against General Deane Tromp was forced to retreat with considerable losse because he had a contrary winde General Deane beat the Hollanders and stayed before Flushing to repaire his Ships But the English kept the Sea and shewed themelves before the Brill and then before the Taxell where we will leave them to see what passes in the Province Seditions in Holland and chiefly at Enchuien During these Tragedies at sea murmurations and mutterings were heard a shore and certain Libells intitled the Lords of Louvenstein It was said that there was a design to ruin the House of Nassaw and that the Prince of Orange ought to be Governour of the Country and many other Calumnies which deserve to be suppressed When the Drum was beaten for the raysing of Souldiers the common people would needs have it done under the conduct of the Prince of Orange in such sort as that at Enchuysen there hapned a Tumult of very ill example The States considering the potency of their Enemies and many other affairs which might be thought of for security sent for a great Body of Horse into the very center of Holland and placed it near the Sea-coast The Horse comes into Holland But they chiefly expressed their infatigable care in the fitting and setting forth of a Fleet to chastise a Nation which neglected their friendship whereof the were deceived as the sequel will demonstrate Tromp having put his Fleet into a fighting posture again and the souldiers being payed and assured of maintenande in case they were may med set sayle towards the end of Iuly and went generously to face his Enemies and Witt Wittenson departed from the Texel to second him The fight began and the Hollanders charged twice through the English Fleet and in the third time it was A furious Battel wherein the Hollanders are worsted that this warlike Nation of the English shewed their magnanimity and courage by forcing the Hollanders to a retreat into their Havens three Dutch Fire-ships fastened on three of their Flag-ships But the English contemning all danger flung themselves into the flame and disingaged their Ships Tromps deaths The valliant Tromp dyed in this bed of Honour He was beloved and regretted by all in general for the mildnesse of his nature and for the services which he had done his Native Country He was ennobled by Lewis the thirteenth King of France in recompence of those services which he had done him and very much esteemed by Cardinal Richelieu Eâ—nobled by the King of France but Rarea took him a way before he had finished this War which drew the attention of the whole World upon it General Cromwel a most prudent Politician and most magnanintous Captain having surmounted the Royal Party subjugated the Irish defeated in many Battels Victorious Cromwel dissolves the Parliament and humbled the Scots as well in their own Country as in England and dissipated Charle's Forces had now no more to do then to dissolve the Parliament which he performed with as much glory to himself as shame to them So that he is now more absolute in Authority then any of the Kings ever were by vertue of his Army whereby he keeps the people in awe and order who governs the State not only like a Brutus but like a Caesar also He constituted a new Parilament which changed not their resolutions to hurt the Hollanders who had also the power to defend themselves This we see the State of England not onely under a Brutus but a Caesar afso Confusion in the Church of England the Church governed by Independents and full of confusions yea the women have preached against St. Pauls expresse Commandment and the Clâ—â—thes turned into Stables But a regulation of all these exorbitances is expected from the government of so sage a Ruler But in what condition have we lest Holland In the care of choosing a new Admiral and maintaining the Union of the Consoederated Provinces For conclusion we will go back to see that most famous Assembly of Ratisbone where there is nothing treated but what is of high The Assembly at Rausbone and noble consequence The saines are past the stormes scattered and the Mariners repair the Vessels the Sun of Justice shewes himself and such as have escaped shipwrack dry their Cloathes and rake together the fragments of what is left them However Ferdinand the third that most Religious and most August Emperour were arrived at Ratisbone together with the Electours and had sufficiently declared that for the good of the Empire is was necessary to provide a worthy Successor they endeavoured not yet to elect a King of the Romans till after the hews was come that the Swedes had restored into the hands of the Marquis of Brandenburgh The Hinder Pomerania rescorred Heir to the last Duke of Pomerania that Portion or Parcell which is called the Hinder-Pomerania the time being passed in visits divertisements and honest recreations But then the said Emperour transporting himself together with the Electoral Colledge and an infinite multitude of other Princes to Auxburgh his Son Ferdinand the fourth King of Bohemia and Hungary was with a common voice proclaimed King of the Romans Ferdinand the fourth proclaimed King of the Romans By the happy Conjunction of these Stars nothing could be expected but a previous influence of long repose through the whole Empire of Germany a reparation of disorders and an establishment of a good Peace by there-union of minds Great God! How infinite are thy wonders and how immovable is thy Providence The choose the Sen of him out of whose hand they laboured to pull the Helme to whom they give both with him and after him the government of this
watered with most fair and great Rivers which would make her most flourishing if she had not the Turk in her bowels But she hath an ayer a little too rough for strangers She hath produced a huge number of great Emperours most Religious Kings most holy Persons and men most learned in all kinds of faculties Atilas that scourge of God came from them with his Huns for the affliction of Europe and many other Tyrants who have often rended Germany and made the Emperours pay them tribute a long time to save their Country from the fury of their arms But vice reigns there now with so absolute an Empire as it renders the Hungarians very odious and despicable Ambition made them loose a King a saire Army and Buda the capitall City of the Kingdome Avarice hurries them blindfold upon all wickednesse and makes them sometimes sell the Christians prisoners to the Turks and Tartars without sparing so much as their own neer kindred when the insatiable hunger of mony hath vayled the eyes of their understanding Their Kings have had frequent experiments of their perfidie the Turks of their loosenesse and the Germanes of their cruelty treachery and hatred dangerous both to the one and the other as having made many Fields unfruitful and brought much profit to their enemies The Hungarians saith an old Bishop writing to the Emperour Frederick the first have ugly faces hollow eyes low of stature and barbarous both in manners and speech And yet it must be avowed that there also dwells vertue amongst them as well as amongst other Christians that they defend Christendome and that their bodies are such Bulwarks as the Ottomans have not hitherto been able to leap and which they must first cast to the ground if they intend to assayle Germany They are almost alwayes on horse-back and upon prey with them and they serve themselves of calamity for an aliment to their vertue And indeed that of the valiant Count de Serin amongst so many others shined with so much glory and constancy at the siege of Sigot that it purchased him everlasting praise The Hungarians with their Light Horse do more hurt to the Turks then to the Germanes and in this last Warre of Bohemia they offended more by surprises then by standing Fights In the Battel of Prague not being able to support the rough onset of the Walloons and Germanes they quickly gave ground and so were partly the cause of that remarkable Defeat CHAP. III Of Russia or Muscovia Their Religion The History of Demetrius THis Province which stretches it self to the Icie Sea is of a very large extent governed by an Emperour or Great Duke with most absolute authority after the manner of the Eastern Countries however it lye very near the North. The Muscovits follow the Greek Religion The Greek Religion under a Patriarch though yet it be mingled with very many superstitions which will never be corrected because the Great Duke suffers none of his subjects to travel and see other Countries This people is much tormented by the Turks and Tartars They have likewise waged great warres with the Polas and Swedes but with many losses They were very tyrannically governed by their Prince John Basil who was succeeded by his son Theodore a Prince of small sense for he let both himself and his Country be ruled by his wives brother called Borits Fedorits He died without children and his Brother-in-law was Great Duke after him He had a brother named Demetrius who as many Authors worthy of credit have written The History of Demetrius with great apparences of truth was stolne away in his infancy so to be saved from the evident danger wherewith he seemed to be threatened by the authority of the said Borits and another very like him put in his place was exposed dead to the view of the people Now this Demetrius being brought up in Poland with the Palatine Sandomir after he had travelled in Germany and Italy for the space of twenty yeares gave himself to be known for the son of Basil Brother to Theodore and by the assistance of the said Palatime the Jesnits and the favour of the King himself he entered the second time into Muscovy well accompanied by Germanes Poles and Cosacks Borits raises a most puissant Army to oppose him but the infidelity of his people together with some losses deprived him both of courage and desire of life And so he died the 13 th of April in the year 1605 not without suspicion of having voluntarily prevented his misfortune by despaire His son was received by such as were of his faction But the City of Mosco together with all the Country having admitted Demetrius for their Prince he was forthwith cast in prison Now Demetrius had no sooner made his entry into the said City but they began to murmure and say that he was not the true Demetrius The Lord Basil Chimouskie for having said that he had caused the right Demetrius to be buried brought his head upon a scaffold which yet by special favour he brought back again to weare the Crown and succeed the unfortunate Demetrius O strange effect of Fate The aversion of the people from poor Demetrius appeared yet more when they understood that he had acknowledged the Pope and introduced the Jesuits to work-about a Reformation He married the daughter of his Foster-Father who made her entry into the head City the 26 of April in the year 1606. The persidy of this treacherous people was clearly discovered a moneth after namely the 27 of May and their rage began its first effect upon the Poles and other strangers who yet sold their skins dear enough and others passed on to the Court there to finish the last Act of the Tragedy The Prince hearing of the tumult left the company of his wife wish whom he then was got away and leapt down from the top of a Tower through a window at the foot whereof being found yet alive he was forthwith dispatched This was done under the pretext of Religion He was a Prince of a great wit a lover of hunting and warre he had read much was very ambitious and went much in quest of the allyances of the Kings of Europe and nominatively of that of the Great Henry of France Thus unhappily ended Demetrius his dayes in the very April of his age and the cruelty of the barbarous multitude continued even upon his dead body which they tore in pieces so violent is hatred stirred up by Religion against such as endeavour to change it when fury has gotten the upper hand He was accused by a Declaration to have been a Monk an Heretick and a Witch and to have endeavoured to change the Religion of Russia supplant the Nobility of the Country and introduce that of Poland to have layen with his wife in the presence of an image of our Lady and many other things which are tedious to rehearse A memorable example of the instability of Fortune who when she
most smiles is then most ready to shoot her inevitable shots of her irradicable hatred against such as love vertue and constance It was necessary to recount this for the greater knowledge of what we are to publish concerning Muscovy which hath selt the tragical effects of Bellona as well as the rest of Europe whereof she is a good part CHAP. IV Of Poland The Government and Religion thereof Henry Duke of Anioii chosen King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battell THis Kingdome was governed by Sigismund of Sweden and had no other enemy at that time then the Swedes for the interest of their Prince But before we give an account thereof we will speak of the manners and Origin of the Country Poland is of very vast distent and takes her name from the great Fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn. The great Dukedome of Lithuania is a part of this Kingdome which is bounded on the one side by Muscovy and on the other Hungary Germany Livonia and Prussia or Borussia to the Baltick Sea there are many Fennes Lakes and huge Forrests Poland full of Forrests and Fennes as there likewise are through all the North where in the Trunks of Trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain Drink chiefly in Lithuania which is most delicate and yeelds not awhit in goodness to Spanish wine Now here well deserves to be inserted the story of a certain Peasant or Countriman who being fallen by accident into one of the Trunks which was full of hony ran great hazard to be drowned The story of is Peasant saved by a strange accident without an almost miraculous succour which came to him by chance And it was a Bear approaching the said place to lick the hony whereof these creatures are very lickorish the poor man layd hold of his tayle and the beast violently endeavouring to run away drew the man out of this sweet but fatall precipice The winter is there very long and sharp against the rigour whereof the Inhabitants who have no want of wood serve themselves of stoves and good furred gownes as all the Northern people do The Nobility is very studious of Warre and desirous of Travell and in short of an humour much like that of the French They express their gallantry in the beauty of their Cloathes Weapons and Horses in the sumptousness of Feasts Weddings Funeralls Christenings and in numerous Trains of servants too when they go a woing They are very stout and decide their quarrels for the most part by encounters so that there are more Fights then Duels They are very good souldiers whereof they have given frequent testimonies against the Turks whom they oppose not with Fortifications and Bulwarks for the defence of their Kingdome and all Christendome but with their Bodies in the Field The Tartars do them much hurt by surprizes who as soon as they have done their feat and find the Poles advancing betake themselves to their heels with their pray and fell their prisoners to the Turks by whom they are made slaves The Polanders anciently called Sarmass were very redoubtable to the Romans and contemned their power they embraced the doctrine of the Gospel and since learning and sciences have been in Vogue amongst them they are extremely civilized as all other nations like wife are which have changed the darkness of ignorance into light and their brutish manners into amiable society The Latin tongue is so common amongst them that there are very few Gentlemen who do not speak it The custome of drawing a sword when the Priest recited the Gospel in the Mass is now abolished for some misfortunes which happened thereby however by this zealous action they signified themselves to be willing to loose their lives for the defence of the Gospel and for the ingrandizement and propagation whereof they have often tought against the Pagans and do protect Christendome to this day against the puissance of the Infidels Though yet they were moved by this very zeal both inconsiderately and perfidiously to break the sworne Peace with the Great Turk and were consequently all cut off together with their King Vladislans near Varne They are very strong and tall and have faces able to imprint the figure of feare in the countenance of the most confident They slight the rigour of the cold and all other obstacles which may hinder them from a glorious death Yet is it also very true on the other side that vice hath placed its dwelling there as well as elsewhere and that the contempt of the Lawes is not lesse amongst them then in any other part of Europe They who travell through Poland and Hungary carry their beds with them yea and sometimes their victuals too to shunne the hazard of an ill supper and a hard lodging These two Nations have a fashion of cloathing almost alike which doth differ very little and they both weare furred Bonnets The Romane Catholick Religion is the chief however there be other also permitted and freely exercised amongst them as namely the Arrian and many other old Heresies which are still croaking there besides the Greck Church hath also a great number of adherents there The Kingdome of Poland is Elective and when the King is dead the Archbishop of Gssue takes the Government of the State and assembles the Senate and the Nobility for the election of another During the Interreign or vacancy there is committed great store of murthers and insolencies which moves such as love the publick Quiet to speed the Election The Nobility hath most high priviledges whereby the Kings authority is much bridled and retained within the Lawes of the Kingdom whereof in a word they are so jealous that they alwayes mistrust their Prince and imagine every moment that he will either take their lawes from them or at least diminish them to make himself more absolute Murthers are not so rigorously punished here as in other parts of Chrislendome For a Gentleman shall be quit for killing of another with one years imprisonment and if the person murthered be of a mean condition for a small forfeit The Ecclesiasticks have huge Revenues for which they are much envied The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senatours whom they call Waiwodes Chatellans and Starosts which are charges of Captains In a word they are all equall like Brothers not enduring any superiority at all The Duke of Anioll elected King The Kingdome being vacant by the decease of Sigismund Queen Katherine de Medicis sent the Bishop of Valence thither for the Duke of Anioll her son who was chosen with applause and the eloquence of the said Bishop prevailed much therein The magnificencie of the Dukes Reception made the French see that the Polanders skorn to fall short of any in gallantry But his Reign proved not very long For hearing of the death of King Charles and preferring the Hereditary Crown of France
before the Elective of Poland three moneths after his arrivall he secretly departed leaving the Polanders the repentance of having chosen him and the trouble to choose another Stephen Batorins succeeds who sell out to be Stephanus Batorins Prince of Transylvania He reigned ten yeares reduced Dantsick to her obedience kept the bordering places within their duty and rejoyned Livonia to the Crown He governed the Kingdome both happily and wisely died in the resolution he had taken to subdue Muscavy to Poland left great grief for his so sudden death amongst tho Poles and a good odour of his vertues to posterity The Polanders after the decease of King Stephen found themselves in a dangerous sicknesse by a division which threatned utter ruine to the Crown The great Chancellour Samotskie the Bishops and many other of the great Lords elected Sigismund of Sweden sonne of King John and Queen Katherine of Poland daughter to Sigismund of Jaguellonne The other party had chosen Maximilian of Anstria who entring 〈◊〉 Poland with an Army made up in haste besieged Warsaw from whence being repulsed Maximilian forces and recruting his forces in Silesia he was the second time defeated and taken prisoner by the Great Chancellour aforesaid After these two victories was crowned Sigismund in the year 1587 and called by the name of Sigismund the third He married Anne of Austria who brought him a sonne named Vladislans who afterwards was King of Poland And this is that which we thought very sit to recount and which must serve us for the present History of this Age. Let us now passe into Sweden and hear what the Swedes alledge against the Polanders with the reasons and arguments both of the one and the other CAROLVS GVS'TMVS ' King of S'wethens Goths Vandalls greate mince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Lot of Jâ—â—ria Ciou'ned An Dom 1654. CHAP. V of Sweden The discords happening between King Sigismund and his Uncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. SIgismund King of Sweden endeavouring to put two Crowns upon his head lost the Hereditary one See how all passed This young Prince had been brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion though yet he were the sonne of King Erick who embraced the Confession of Ausbourgh and introduced it into his Kingdome This Erick was sonne to King John and Nephew to Charles Duke of Sudermanic whom he left in Sweden to govern that Kingdome in his absence in the quality of Vice-Roy Now it often chances that Princes who have more then one kingdom grow by little and little to loose the affections of their remote subjects and their authority comes also by degrees to be eclipsed in regard that their said subjects are not warmed by the heat of their favour and prudence and so others grow insensibly to take place as well because their presence winnes the affections of the said subjects as also for that reasons are never wanting to such as have no will to obey And besides every one stands in fear of forraine Rule But the most powerfull argument of the coldness of subjects towards their Soveraigne is diversity of Religions which causes a change in State and alters and shakes it so as that many Princes for the strengthening and fixing of theirs have believed that they neither could nor ought to permit any more then one Sigismund goes into Sweden King Sigismund hearing many complaints from Sweden and conceaving some jealousies of his Uncle Charles resolved with leave of the States of Poland to transport himself thither with some Polish and German forces He departed from Dantsick with a fleet of sixty Sayle and was well received by the Governour of Colmar from whom he went to see his sister at Stebourgh Duke Charles hastened towards him from Finland with an Army to defend the kingdome against the King himself Sigismund beaten who as it was published came to take the Vice-King prisoner and change the State by subverting Religion So there occurred a fierce skirmish wherein the Vice-King had the better and Sigismund the King was forced to retite himself towards the Confines of Denmark In fine he was beaten again near Lincopin and his Fleet taken Upon which seeing his Uncle thus courted by Fortuâ—e through the mediation of some Lords he was fain to make peace with him under certain conditions by vertue whereof his Fleet was restored to him to go by Sea to Stockholm Makes Peace and Duke Charles in whose hands were put the prime Lords of Sweden who had been to fetch the King in Poland went thither by land Sigismund instead of going to the Assembly of States at Stockholm went secretly out of the kingdom which he thereby lost He retires our of the kingdom and regained Dantsick Some Authors have written that he had been advertised of some ill design of his Uncle Charles against him and a certain person who was then at Stockholm affirms that he sighed for his having let slip the bird which he had in his hand However those Lords were beheaded and their heads set upon stakes which were since taken away upon the request of a great Wanyer Duke Charles quickly recovered those places of strength which were in the Kings possession chastised the Citizens of Lubeck who had favoured him caused the States to approve of all his actions and ranged the Finlanders who held the Kings party under obedience to himself Some months after the States deposed the King by a publick Decree declaring him fallen from the Rights he had in the kingdom and renouncing all fidelity to him though yet still they were ready to receive his sonne Vladislans for King of Sweden in case he would forthwith send him thither to be bred in the Religion and customes of the Country But these conditions not seeming receivable were not accepted by the King and the proceedings of the States of Sweden cryed down by the Poles who resolved to take an account of them with the sword This is the summe of what is known of that difference which is yet remaining between the Heires of these two Princes and which is debated by very contrary reasons according to the predominancy either of Passion or Religion and according to the knowledge also of the Right of the Parties concerned The Polanders reproach the Swedes for that without any available reason and upon some ill grounded suspicions only yea even against all Right both Divine and Humane they took the kingdom from Sigismund to give it to Charles To which the Swede answer that the King against his promise had endeavoured under hand to bring in the Jesuits so to replant the Roman Catholick Religion and strangers to check and curb them and many other arguments there are both upon the one side and the other which I let passe in silence and which are found at large elsewhere Now you have had the words take also some effects of their arms Duke Charles after the reduction of Finlande went into
That mad League of the Pope the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain would have invaded any other State but theirs so much amazement did it strike into those Areopages who yet by their rare industry were able to untangle this fatal conjuncture and save their Common-wealth from the shipwrack wherewith she was much threatned In fine after that peace which they had made with the Turk and which followed close upon the glorious Battel but with small fruit of Lepante they finished that Age and began this present in good intelligence with their Neighbours The King of Spain enjoyes in Italy the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily and the Duchy of Milan upon which States the French have also their pretentions which often cause frequent warres between the two Crownes whereof we shall speak towards the end of this Treatise in the revolution of those last tumults The Grand Duke of Tuskany the Dukes of Mantua and Parma keep their Seates in peace and the Common-wealth of Genoa hers tyed fast for her profit to the interests of Spain Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy a Prince as subtle as inconstant but yet unlucky enough for having seized upon the Marquisat of Salluces found himself forced to put on his harnesse and to leave his rest in the first year of this age as we shall hereafter shew neither his journey to Paris nor all the politick craft he could use being able to warrant him from this check The Dukes of Savoy are very potent and often seen to make the skale hang towards that Crown to which they leane France seeks their friendship to have the gate open into Italy in the intrigues whereof she finds her self passionately concerned Lorraine was governed by Duke Charles a milde Prince who still complained of the wrong which the enemies of the League whereof the Princes of that house were the chief had made him suffer This Province which divides Germany from France is very fruitfull and takes her name from the Emperour Lotarius and her Princes their Descent from Charlemagne They have alwayes been great Warriers and Godfree of Bouillon through zeal of piety went and conquered the Holy Land The Dukes of Lorraine for interest of State keep good correspondence with their Neighbours and the last misfortune which happened in this Duchy was caused rather by the decline of the Emperours Affayres and the ambition of him who thought all lawfull to him then by the fault of the Prince who could not shelter himself from that storme which had already shivered both Masts Sayles and Helme These States aforesaid in regard they never knew any Religion but that of Rome suffer not any other so much as to bud or spring there and if peradventure there be any one found in Lorraine who hath embraced the Protestant Religion he retires himself to Metz or Geneva and they of the Country of Luxenbourgh to Sedan Diversity of Religions parts humours gives desire of motion to such as are ambitious and makes a Prince very little loved by them who are not of the same opinion We have already gone round about Europe therefore let us now enter into the middle and speak of those great Monarchies which by their motions have shaken all other States as being governed according to the influences thereof and accommodating their interests to the ballance of their greatnesse For since Warre hath been declared between Spain and France very few Princes have stood Neutrall some having joyned their forces to the party most necessary for them and some others though but spectators have not yet forborne to poise more to the one side then the other But none have been willing to have either of these Crowns suppressed by the other for the apprehension and fear wherein they all are of a Generall Monarchy CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy NOw to get entire knowledge of the interests of these two Crownes of the Causes which so often arm them to the great detriment of Christendom and the apprehensions which they give of aspiring to a general Monarchy though by unequall and different wayes we must goe up to the source and so come quickly down again drawing from thence a true explanation for our subject which we will follow as our guide to the end of our Course France being delivered from the warres with England and wholly restored to her self as well by the help of forren as the help of her Neighbours and even the very Spaniards themselves with whom she had a close friendship at that time Having I say shaken off the yoke of the English who were expelled from Guyenne and Normandy she became the most puissant Monarchy of Europe King Charles the 8 th went to feaze upon the kingdom of Naples which was no sooner got then lost by his departure thence Lewis the twelfth having made an Alliance with Ferdinand of Castile for the recovery of the kingdom enters Italy surprises Milan and the unjust usurper Sforce and so retakes the said kingdome of Naples But it sometimes happens that the sharing of stakes makes friends foes for these Allyes fell to oddes and Consalve having in many Encounters routed the French setled the kingdome upon the Castilians and the power and reputation of the Spaniards encreased much by the valour of the great Captain The first reason of the hatred between the Spaniards and the French Francis the first having broken the Swissers in a great Battail easily made himsel Master of the Duke dome of Milan and consequently of the kingdom of Naples But Fortune smiled upon the French only to betray them For she suddenly turned to the Spaniards who took King Francis prisoner and established themselves in the said kingdome and in the State of Milan Now from hence proceeded the hatred between the two Nations which hath since been augmented according to occurrences of State-jealousies and other considerable accidents whereof we will here give a short hint The second reason But there is a second and a more pregnant reason for which not only France but the neighbouring States also have conceived apprehensions of jealousies which is that of the Union of Spain by marriage with the houses of Austria and Burgundy and the latter of these began thus Philip de Valois none to John the sixth King of France for having well defended his Father in a Battail against the English was by marriage made Duke of Burgundy and Prince of the Low-countries and John his sonne succeeded him not onely in all the Provinces of his Parents but in the hatred also which he bore to the House of Orleans Now this young Prince going with a great force of the Nobility of France and the Low-countries into Hungary against the Turk fell into the hands of Bajazet who would have caused him to be beheaded as well as the rest of the prisoners had he not been advised to put him to a Ransom and send him home and this because it was
discovered in his physiognomy that he should one day become the Author of much disturbance to Christendome which afterwards proved true For he caused the Duke of Orleans to be massacred which raised a huge warre between these two illustrious Houses to the great advancement of the English affaires in France But now for the remedy of all those evills a Peace was made and Duke John assassinated in a Conference in the presence of the Dolphin Now this dismal chance this unseasonable revenge and this mad Counsell was the cause why the English assisted by the Burgundians and Flemmings made themselves masters of almost all the kingdome of France For Philip surnamed the Good joyned with the English to revenge the death of his Father against Charles the seventh In fine there happening a civil warre in England between the Houses of Lancaster and York the White and Red Rose and Duke Philip drawing his stake out of the play the English came by degrees to loose all they had gotten in the said kingdome This good Prince instituted and established the Order of the Golden Fleece in the year 1430 and tyed so by succession all those Provinces into one body to which Charles the Combatant annexed the Duchy of Guelders sold to him by Duke Arnolt for the summe of 92 thousand Crowns The pretensions of the Duke of Juleers or Gulick were also granted by consent of the Emperour Frederick in consideration of the summe of eighty thousand Florens in gold He left one only Daughter named Mary of Valois who was a very vertuous Princess and was married to Maxmilian of Austria and her death proved fatall to the Low-countries in respect of the war which followed there Her sonne Philip having renewed his alliance with Henry the seventh went into Spain and married Iane of Castile who brought him Charles of Austria And thus these Provinces being bound first to the House of Burgundy and then to that of Austria came last into the possession of that of Spain which by the discovery and conquest of the Indies happening almost at the same time is become most puissant and terrible as well to other States and Princes as also to the Ottomans themselves who seeing the Romane Empyre governed by a Prince of this Family loaden with so many Crowns and so many potent States take no small pleasure in seeing so many Schismes amongst the Christians Charles being chosen Emperour had Francis the first for his Competitor which kindled great Warres between them The success whereof was that Francis being taken prisoner promised though he performed not to restore the Duchy of Burgundy and renounce the Rights which the Kings of France had had in some Provinces of the Low-countries land Italy so that the Heyres of Charles remained a long time in the quiet and peacefull possession of them France being enough embroyled at home by the tender youth of three Kings all sonnes to Henry the second and by Civill Warre without looking back into old quarrels The House of Austria encreased by Marriages and Navigation And here we may see how by marriages and Navigations the House of Austria is both amplified and elevated which hath maintained her self by arms given jealousies to the Princes of Europe by her victories and struck sear and hatred into the soules of the Protestants who have made Leagues to uphold themselves and put a flea into the eare of France which hath abandoned the interests of Religion to make her self great and check this formidable power From this Knot or Tye of so many Crowns and great States together wherewith the King of Spaines head is burthened sprang that ticklish and indissoluble difference of precedency or preheminency which the Kings of France by the title of Eldest sonnes of the Church and most Christian Kings have alwayes attributed to themselves CHAP. X A Relation of the mischiefs happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guilards The Evils in France through State-jealousie FRance by the deplorable death of Henry the second grew in a very short space to sink into calamities which dured to the end of the last Age. The evil began in the minority of Francis the second and under the Regency of Katharin de Medicis through a jealousie which thrust it self in amongst the Princes of the Blood the Constable Montmorency the Counts of Chattillon and Andelot Admiral Caspar de Colligny and other Lords on the one side and the Dukes of Guise the Princes of the House of Laâ—rraine and other Noblemen on the other The Princes complained of the Guisards or them of the House of Guise whom in mockery and to make them odious they termed strangers had the mannagement of all the Affaires of France in their hands They almost all embraced the Reformed Religion which at that time began to encrease much through the whole kingdome whereof they declared themselves Protectors The chief motive of hatred betwixt these two most illustrious and ancient Families grew from a jest which the Admiral de Colligny cast upon the Duke of Guise concerning the taking of Theonnille A prick of a Lance which drew such a deluge of blood as no Chirurgion was able to stench Hatred between these two Houses for a jest The greatest part of the Ecclesiasticks and the most zealous of the Romane Catholicks took the Party of the King and the Guisards Many Battails were fought many Siedges of Townes laid and many Peaces made and no sooner made then broken In fine under Charles the ninth at the Wedding of the King of Navarre at Paris upon the Eve of Saint Bartholomew hapned that abhominable Massacre so much and so justly exclained against by the Protestants and blamed even by the Romane Catholicks themselves In the Reign of Henry the third was made a League called the Holy League for the exclusion of Henry de Bourbon from succession to the Crown as being an Heretick whereof the Duke of Guise a Prince of courage and high esteem was the Head who having routed the Reyters or Germane Horse ented Paris in despight of the King where he was received by the Citizens with excess of honours and when the showes of joy were ended they raised certain Barricadoes which made the King retire himself to a place of safety A Fatall Honour to all subjects how innocent soever they be For redress of these disorders there was a Peace endeavoured betwixt the King and the Duke The place of Treaty was Blois where the King contrary to his Royal Word given him caused both him and the Cardinal his Brother to be treacherously murthered His Children were saved by the Queen-Mother for the King had resolved to extirpate the whole Race thereby to prevent the danger of revenge Paris revolted and in imitation thereof many other Townes besides The King applied himself to the Huguenot Party and sent for the King of Navarre which rendered him still more odious
and caused him to be published for an Heretick He besieged Paris but was unhappily stabbed by a Monk whereof he died having already declared Henry of Bourbon for his true successour and Heyr to the Crown to whom he also left a third Dispute for the kingdome of Navarre This stab extinguished the Race of the Valois ended the life of the Prince and there with also the desire he had to inflict a rigorous chastisement upon the City of Paris CHAP. XI Disturbances in the Low-Countries and why The Peace of Vervin followes The donation of the Low-Countries to the Infanta THe King of Spain was in no lesse trouble about the Low-countries for the conservation whereof he spared not his Treasures brought him from the Indies nor followed lesse the Counsell of Cardinal Granvel then the Roman Catholicks of France did that of the Cardinal of Lorraine But the Prince of Orange assisted by the Protestants of Germany eluded their care in such sort as that neither the wise conduct of the Duchesse of Parma nor the rough proceedings of the Duke of Alva nor the very presence of King Philips Brother himself no nor the inimitable valour of that Great Italian Alexander was able to prevaile so farre but that seven Provinces untied themselves from obedience to the King and formed a potent Common-wealth amongst themselves by the change of Religion without which it is very probable that neither the situation nor the Rivers not all that which could hurt the Spaniards would have been able to secure or defend them against the potency of Spain But now from whence came all these disorders Who laid the first stone and fixed the foundation of so dismal and fatall a Warre There are many causes and divers pretexts thereof to be noted We will therefore go to the fountain since the streams are sufficiently known Under the General Title of Low-countries are comprised seventeen Provinces so rich so well peopled so full of fair Towns and big Villages together with the situation and strength of the Inhabitants that if they were united together I know not who would presume to attach them how powerful so ever he were either by Sea or Land But plenty doth not more disunite people then want and the winde of ambition raises not lesse storm then ill-taken zeal in Religion These Countries have been almost a whole Age the Theater of a most sad and dreadful Warre caused by the two aforementioned Passions which have brought them to this state wherein they are seen at present They had every one their Prince or Goâ—ernour apart but by little and little as well by Marriages and Successions as other means they grew to be devolved under the House of Burgundy and afterwards under that of Austria as we have noted already For during the Warres of the Emperour Charles the sift and Francis the first they were governed by the Queen of Hungary Sister to the aforesaid Charles In fine this good Prince having with an unparallelled example of resolution transferred all his States upon his sonne Philip and the Empyre upon his Brother Fordinand so to retire himself into a private condition the said King Philip his sonne before his departure gave the government of the aforesaid Provinces in generall to his Sister and in particular to some certain Knights of the Golden Fleece who had faithfully served both his Father and himself in the Warres against France Now the Order given to pluck up the tender plants of new opinions in Religion was by such as hunted after a Change in State interpreted for the Spanish Inquisition and the retardment of the forraine Militia for the maintaining thereof The introduction of new Bishops made a double operation by giving an Alarme as well to the Clergy as to them who had embraced the profession of a Religion which excluded both Old and New The Governesse notwithstanding the coldnesse of some prime Ministers stopped the disease with agreeable nutriment and a sleight bleeding and so rendered a superficial kind of health to this Body so much stuffed with ill humours But King Philip irritated by the contemp of his authority and commandments had recourse to the arms of Justice which by violent proceedings applies both Sword and Fire amazes the Good represses the audacity of others inexorably punishes the bad and by demanding the tenth penny reversed or overthrew all that which was no more then shaken before Thus have you the seeds of the Evills which gave birth to those long warres which have had divers qualifications and various successes under many Governours who like unskilfull Physitians either performed not their care or else prescribed all things contrary because the Disease was incurable Some make William Prince of Orange Authour of all those troubles and others impute it to the cruelty of the Duke of Alva But be it what it will this People being very intense upon the conservation of their priviledges and most prone to jealousie motion and surprise was more agitated by the passion of others then by their own so that Ambition urging them to act under the pretence of priviledges and liberty of conscience and rigour falling upon them to make them unseasonably stoop to the commandments of their Master urged them to fly to the Sword Insomuch as sometimes neither naked Justice nor Treaties of Reconciliation were able to soften their exasperated and irritated Hearts And such of these Provinces as are nearest the Sea shewed then another kind of countenance both to the Church and Government and being succoured by their jealous Neighbours continued this warre with much advantage The King gives the Low-countries to the Intanta his Daughter The King therefore being tired with so prolix a warre made over all the the Provinces to his Daughter Isabell but it was after he had sent Alexander twice into France to relieve the Leaguers or Confederates which much advanced their Affaires and gave them meanes to lay about them for the settlement of their Common-wealth And this was the state of things in the Low-countries towards the end of the Age. Now Cardinal Albert was sent from Spain to govern the aforesaid Provinces who brought the Prince of Orange with him and falling in his Enterprise upon Marseilles through the vigilancie of the Dake of Guise he took possession of his aforesaid Government by the resignation of the Conde de Fuentes who had not long before seised upon Cambray and Dourlens Albert hearing that La Fere was streightned by King Henry resolved to make a diversion which might either be able to raise the siege or at least to recompence the losse of the said place in case it were taken Wherefore he sent Monsieur de Rosne to besiege Calis which he quickly took together with the Town of Ardre notwithstanding the succour from England and Holland La Fere rendred it self at the end of seven months siege and that which happened afterwards of most importance for the good of the Crown of France was the Reconciliation
of the Duke of Mayenne and the rest of the League with King Henry Albert resolved to make the united Provinces also feel the stroake of his Arms And so he presented himself before Ostend an Apple not yet ripe and afterwards before Hulet which after many Assaults he at length carried But the Marshall de Rosue had his Head taken off by a Canon Bullet and more then three thousand souldiers were also slaine The year following Prince Maurice had his revenge near Turnhawt where he cut off the Troops of the Count de Varax In the month of March of the same year Hernantello Governour of Dourlens like a Fox surprised Amiens by a stratagem to the great astonishment of all France and the King retook it like a Lion after six moneths siege He passed thither with strong forces and thought to have given a just retaliation to the Spaniards by surprising Arras but he was repulsed by the young Count of Buquoy who after wards rendred great and remarkable services to the Emperour as we shall shortly shew During the time of these changes the Pope forbore not to represent to the King the misfortunes and mischiefes which this long Warre brought upon Christendome and beseeched him to hearken to a good and firm Peace with the King of Spain especially being invited thereto by the disorders of his own kingdome and the fear of a new Revolt more dangerous then the former There was none but the Queen of England and the Confederated States who endeavoured by advantageous offers to divert him and keep him on horse-back Though yet he dissembled their reproaches and answered that the Queen was a gainer by this warre but for his part that his people was exhausted and that he received many and great dammages from the Spaniards who promised by this Peace to render all they had gotten in France That he was obliged as a good King and a good Father to solace and refresh his poor subjects So that all their offers and many more the Peace of Vervin 2598. were not able to hinder this holy work which was concluded and established at Vervin in the moneth of May 1598. The King of Spain also for his part was urged to make Peace as seeing himself crazed with age and having a young Prince and a Princesse his children to marry and Fortune very often against him Besides three enemies upon his back as France and the Confederated Provinces which threatened him with the utter losse of the Low-countries and England which either destroyed or spoyled his Fleets upon the Ocean endangered thereof the Indies and put him to great charges to secure it and lastly their taking of Cales the prime key of the kingdom and other Places Now by vertue of this Peace the places were restored But the pretentions which each of these Kings hath to some certain Demaynes of the other were not taken away From whence sprang the seed of new Warres which were one day to smoother the promises of arming no more even though there should be occasion for it The Peace was received by the poor people with such showes of joy and teares of tendernesse as cannot be comprehended but by such as have suffered and almost lost all The States in the mean while let not these occasions slip by the great distance of the Cardinals forces For Prince Maurice marched into the Field took Bergh Grol Oldenseel Lingen and some other places which progress purchased him the reputation of a very great Captain and of understanding the profession of the Militia as well as any man of his time After the publication of the Peace Philip the second by his Letters Patents dated at Madrid the 6 th of May 1598. conferred all the Low-countries together with the Duchy of Burgundy upon the Infanta Isabell his Daughter to which the Prince her Brother consented and confirmed it both by oath and writing upon condition that if the said Princesse came to die without children the said Provinces should return to the Dominion of Spain besides many other Clauses too long to recite Now forasmuch as the actions of great persons are examined and either approved or disapproved according to every ones passion this which I here note was not forgotten by the contrary party All things are profitable yea Lyes themselves provided they last four and twenty hours are of utility and advantage CHAP. XII The Areh-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Duchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable Patience THe Allyes of both parties were invited to the Peace of Vervin but the Queen of England not being able to induce the States to it resolved to joyn with them in warre under conditions of more advantage to her then before This gave the Arch-Duke subject to complain of her for continuing a warre with so great stomack and grudge upon him by whom she had never been offended But he having now received the Procuration of the Infanta his Wife was acknowledged and received for Prince of the Low-countries and he wrote a Letter to the Confederated States but received no Answer The Arch-Duke goes into Spain He departed for Spain with the Prince of Orange and passed through Germany to conduct Queen Margaret of Austria nominating for Governour during his absence Cardinal Andrew and the Admirall of Arragon for Captain General who led a strong Army into Cleveland and Westphalia where he took Rinberg and many other small places and made his Winter-Quarter there notwithstanding the complaints of the Lower-Ceroles He sent La Bourlette to the Isle of Bommel took Crevecoeur laid siege to Bommel which he was forced to raise and so after he had built the Fort of St. Andrews he retreated into Brabant where his souldiers began to mutiny for want of pay The Ceroles had raised another Army which was disbanded for want of order some of them being for the Spaniards and the other for the States It is in vain to lead great forces into the Field without a good purse to maintain them and good counsell to encourage them The death of King Philip. King Philip lived not long after the conclusion of the Peace which he also wished both with the English and Hollanders as being desirous to die in Peace He was long tormented with a feaver and two impostumes and in fine his whole body was so wasted that it was pittiful to behold But more admirable was his patience to suffer all as he did without murmuring He commanded like a great Prince and died like a good Christian In the beginning of his Reign he was happy but in the decline of his age he saw the losse of one part of the Low-countries and received many other dammages from the English He was much blamed for not coming himself in person into Brabant and for proceeding too roughly with that people which had been so affectionaâ—e to the Emperour Charles and in fine for constituting two Generals over the Fleet surnamed The Invincible
last King of the race of Valois Now the Royall race of the Valois being extinguished by the death of Henry the third son to Henry the second he succeeded to the Crown though with much dispute and repugnancie but his justice was accompanied by his valour and so by rejecting that which was most prejudiciall to him to wit the reformed Religion he quieted all his subjects and reduced them to their duty CHAP. II King Henry gives his sister in marriage to the Marquis du Pont espowses Mary of Medicis and wages warre with the Duke of Savoy The enterprizt of the said Duke upon Geneva Henry gives his sister to the Marquis du Pont THe King not content with giving the Hughenots all they had ever desired intended besides to obliege the house of Lorraine by allying the Princes thereof with his own And so he matched his sister to the Marquis du Pont who retained the exercise of the reformed Religion lived in most perfect amity with her husband and deceased without issue The Kings marriage being declared null and Madame Gabriell by whom he had many children the eldest whereof is the Duke of Vandosme ending her dayes by suddain death Marries Mary of Medicis he married Mary Medicis sister to the grand Duke of Florence who arrived in France in the moneth of December being the last of the precedent age Upon the delay of the Duke of Savoy to restore him the Marquisat of Saluces he prepared himself for warre And the Duke to divert the storm came to him at Lyons with store of presents and promised to render him the said Marquisat Makes war upon the Duke of Savoy or else the County of Bresses within the term of six moneths But the effect thereof not following the King quickly made himself master of all Savoy There is no amusing or retarding a potent creditor who hath both will and meanes to make himself payd In fine by the mediation of the Pope a peace was made whereby the Duke remained in possession of the Marquisat and the King of the aforesaid Country of Bresses Through this peace Italy was delivered from a great oppression and so the Troops of the Conde de Fuentes marched out of the Duchy of Milan towards Flanders During the civil wars a little before the terrible execution at Blois the aforesaid Duke easily recovered the said Marquisat by vertue as it was believed of Pistolls Gold He caused money to be coined with a Centaur treading under his feet a Gawlish Hercules with this Motto Opportunè But Henry after his Conquest and the accomplishment of his Pretensions stamped another sort representing a Gawlish Hercules treading upon a Centaur with this Opportunius We must never let our hearts be too much puffed up with prosperity but consider that the conquered grow often to be Conquerours We will not leave Savoy till we shall first have spoken of the enterprize Which the Duke had upon the City of Geneva The City of Geneva She is situated upon the Rhine neer a great Lake and was before that reformation the Seat of a Bishop She changed her Religion in the yeer 1535 since when no Romane Catholick as it is published is tollerated there above three dayes Now Charles Emanuel the aforesaid Duke attempred to make himself Lord of her by surprize He secretly listed twelve hundred men under the command of Monsieur d' Aubigny who by meanes of great store of ladders and other instruments got to the number of two hundered into the Town whilest the Duke was following with some Regiments of recruit But being discovered and the Citizens running to their armes they were strucken with terrour and returned the same way they came without having been able to seize upon so much as one of the Gates to let in the forces Thus this great designe so long premeditated so secretly carried so well begun and almost compleatly executed at last failed But whether through the valour of the townsmen or the cowardlinesse of the Savoyers I know not they were so nettled by this fright that Father Alexander a Scottish Jesuite with all his remonstrances and exhortations could never infuse any courage into their hearts But this hot Camisado or assault made them of Geneva stand upon their guard for their own preservation and to this effect they raised some souldiers and implored the assistance of the King who declared them comprized within the Peace of Vervin and gave them a pension since which time they have kept themselves in peace The Princes of the aforesaid family affirm that the said City is seated within the district of Savoy and consequently belongs to them But that which cannot be gotten by force will not be acquired by allegation of right CHAP. III. The Jubile Biron executed The battell of Flanders La Bourlotte killed Rinberg taken The Iubile THe first yeer of this age Pope Clement celebrated a Jubile at Rome whether there flocked an infinite number of people from all parts some out of curiosity and to see Italy and others out of devotion and to gaine the Indulgences But let us now return towards the Low Countries in regard that France grew to be even steeped in delights the fruits of peace and no body in motion but Mareschal de Biron Biron beheaded who attainted and convicted of the crime of high Treason for having kept correspondency with a forraigne Prince was beheaded in the Court of the Bastill Indeed that infinity of brave actions which had crowned his head with lawrell ought methinks to have saved him from this stroake But what Fortune had elevated him very high so to tumble him down headlong into this precipice The Archduke Albert seing it was but labour lost to solicite the States of Holland to a reconciliation and that all the exploits of the Admiral did more sharpen the bordering provinces then fright the confederates and that the enterprize upon Bommel proved as fruitlesse as that of La Bourlotte upon some places thereabouts yea and that one part of his forces mutinied and had taken up their quarter apart under the conduct of one Eelcto The mutiny of the Spaniards he began to lay about him to find money to content them and reduce his Militia to a good discipline but he could never be brought to pardon them who sold the Fort of St. Andrew The States upon the other side and Prince Maurice having shut up their Common wealth by the taking of such places as gave them enterance to the enemy and by consequence deprived him of all meanes of drawing contribution out of the said Provinces resolved to keep one foot in Flanders the most fertile Province of all thereby the more to incommodate the Archduke who hearing that the Prince was entered with a puissant army neer Newport made his troops march with all speed cut off seven or eight hundred Scots who kept the Bridge and being prowd upon this happy encounter advanced to affront his enemies
departure the States were advised by the Kings of England and France with both whom they had made a most streight Allyauce for the maintaining of the Peace in case it were concluded to renew the Treaty of a Truce And to this effect it was again taken into deliberation by the said Embassadours at Antwerp in the moneth of March The Treaty renewed at Antwerp whether the States likewise sent their Deputies namely Count William of Naffaw and the Lord of Brederode the â—5 of the same moneth and they concluded a Truce for twelve yeares upon the ninth of April 1609 which caused great rejoycing every where as well amongst the Neighbours as the Parties themselves concerned Truce made and the Embassadours were regaled and honoured with great presents During this Treaty many libels were made and dispersed some with reasons to countermine this sweet Peace and others to advance it Birds of mischief seck the dark and like Owlas blame the light as hurtfull and discovering their actions And so their fluttering was despised And here we see the end of this war for a while which sprung up at the beginning of the reign of King Philip the second and that upon divers pretexts as namely that of liberty of conscience and priviledges and under various Governours of different humours fomented by ambition Religion and diffidence under the Princess of Parma the Duke of Alva Don Lewis Don Iohn of Austria on the one side and Prince William and the States-Generall on the other the latter whereof made a strong union amongst themselves at Vtrick the Articles of which namely for the free exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion have been much altered They formed their Common-Wealth under the Arch-Duke Matthias and the Duke of Alanson under the Prince of Parma they begged the assistance of the King of France and the Queen of England They continued the Warre with much success against Count Mansfeld and Cardinall Andrew They repaired what was amiss in their Republick by the factions which arose under the Earl of Leicester They valiantly defended themselves against the Arch-Duke Albert and the Brave Spinola even till the very publication of the Truce We will now stay awhile and repose our selves in the rest of the Low-countries which we so much desired as being the part where the War was so long time carried on with so much expense and no lesse industry then good discipline though it were often disturbed by the frequent mutinies of the Spaniards for want of pay from whence the Confederares knew how to draw most considerable advantages CHAP. IX The State of France The King goes to Sedan Troubles in Austria and Bohemia A Conjuration discovered in Spain and the Mores banished thence THe hast we had to see an interruption of the misfortunes wherewith the Belgick * The Low-countries Lion had been tormented above fifty years together and his roaring heard throughout the whole Universe to the astonishment of all the greatest States of the world made us slight the reasons of them who partly out of hatred to the House of Austria and partly for the Roman Catholick Faith the utter abolition whereof they passionately desired endeavoured to hinder the Truce We will therefore turn back a little towards France which flourished now as if there had never been any warres at all Courtesie the essential vertue of that Nation together with the Beauty Bounty and Fertility of this kingdome founded upon most excellent Lawes fine Sciences and laudable Exercises attracted the Nobility of all Europe thither as to a School of vertue and glory In effect there was no remarkable Commotion able to give any apprehension or disturbance to the Publick Rest For the Warre of Savoy and the conspiracy of the Marshall Biron were almost as foon smoothered as known It was a kind of Terrestrial Paradise where they who were enemies about the difference of Doctrines lived in friendship by the authority of their Master who maintained peace both abroad The death of Charles Duke of Lorraine and at home Charles Duke of Lorraine a Prince loaden with age adorned with singular vertue and piety lest his Sonne Henry his Heyre to retire himself to the Coelestiall lerusalem in the yeare 1608. The King of France goes to Sedan with an Army In brief the fruits of Peace were most delicious when the King suddenly raised a great Army and conducted it to Sedan For there were some misunderstandings between him and the Duke of Boüillon which were taken away by the intercession of the forrain Embassadours However this Cavalcada gave no small jealousie to the Spaniards who found themselves obliged thereby to put strong Garrisons through all the country of Luxemburgh and the Confederates reaped great profit from it For it made men believe that it was but a fiction or rather a prelude of that huge preparation which we shall shortly relate However much talke there was of it and great indagation into the reasons thereof by men of curiosity The Duke of Boüillon feeling the pulse of the Protestant Princes his neighbours judged it not necessary to draw blood yet and that which was differred shall be found in sit time LEWIS THE XIIII KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARR Now these divisions between Brothers and Cousin-Germans of the same House were taken by such as meddle not a little to pick out the actions thereof but for artifices or tricks and men said it was the only right way to preserve Hungary Moravia Bohemia and other Provinces depending upon the said kingdome from falling into the hazard of a new Election A conjecture grounded upon probabilities of consideration enough Spain in the mean while looked not only upon the troubles of the Low-countries and means to bring them to an end but she had likewise a particular care to steer her Indian Fleets into a good Port For as for the rest there had in some years passed nothing which could disturb the tranquility of that kingdom But in the year 1609. there was discovered a Conjuration which had it taken effect would have involved it in a totall ruin supplanted Christian Religion and reduced the King to fly for Sanctuary elsewhere But the greatest storms are those which often do least hurt and are diverted by slight causes Yea a gentle rain often allayes the most furious windes The Mores implored the assistance of the Grand Signior The Conjuration of the Mores discovered in Spain and other Mahometan Princes the Doctrine of whom they followed in effect though in apparence Christians and they had also for a long time been heaping up Arms and with the slight succour of twenty thousand men they being already at the least a hundred thousand in Spain combatants they promised themselves to bring all Spain under their subjection But being detected They are banished into Africa the King of France having refused them his ayde they were all embarked in the kingdom of Valencia and transported into Barbary by the Kings
Crown upon the Head of King Henry And he seeing the disorder which happened in that Family and strengthened by the friendship of some Catholick Princes Paxadge demanded of them of Colem as well as most assured of that of the Protestants leaned visibly that way The Magistrates of Colein being intreated by his Deputies to grant Provisions for mony and passage for his Army were fain to avow that it would be temerity to opposeso great a King who had been alwayes victorious Besides the noises which some scattered up and down that he would allow and maintain three Religions to wit the Roman the Lutheran and the Reformed In brief his Designe seemed to be to extend the bounds of the French Monarchy at the cost of the House of Austria and some neighbour-Princes In the mean time the King Don Philip stood not with his arms a cross at the newes of this terrible Preparative The Arch-Duke puts an Army on foot which rejoyced all such as were enemies to his States The Arch-Duke Albert contracts all his old forces raises new and sends a strong Army towards the Consines of France under the command of Spinola who intrenched himselfe near Gambray In fine men talk of nothing but Armes and Horses in the Countries of both Crownes and the Pope sends his Nuncio to divert the King from his Designe but he was dispatched to Monzon Amazement every where Now all Europe stood amazed and the Princes of Italy seeing the Duke of Savoy in allyance with Henry by meanes of the marriage of his Sonne with the Daughter of France begin to think of their preservation The King in the interim confirms his Intelligences gives the Rendezvous of his Troops in Campagne and after having extraordinarily courted the Embassadours of the United Provinces conjures them to to send Prince Maurice with some Troops to attend his coming at the fronteer of Cleveland The Protestant Princes could hardly dissemble their joy The joy of the Protestants and fear of the Catholâ—â—ks and the Cartholick strangers their fear at the approach of so formidable an Army Infine both friends and enemies were ballancing or staggering in apprehension joy and uncertainty and every one in pain to know what he was either to hope or fear It came so farre as to be published that the King was to march with an Army of forty thousand men and leave as many to guard the kingdome whereof he declared the Queen Regent after her Coronation But he was treacherously murthered in his Coach the fourteenth of May 1610 and this fatall blow put all France in mourning his Corps into the Tomb and his great Designes into Smoak Above all this misfortune was impatiently taken by them of the Religion as also by the greatest part of his Allyes amongst whom his Arms had not as yet moved the least jealousie The most generall opinion was that after having established the Princes in the possession of the Dutchyes of Galick and Cleveland he was to go for Germany And indeed the House of Austria had reason to keep her selfe upon her guard as well knowing how much this Prince was affected to her opposers His death gave matter enough every where for men to inform themselves of who might be the Authour and the Jesuits were not forgotten to be called in question by the Protestants however Ravilliaâ— never confessed any such thing This King was brought up in labour and toyle and noursed in the the Civil Warres His first wife was Margaret of Valois His Life whom when he was come to the Crown he repudiated He had been Head of the Hugenots and wonne many Battails against them of the League When he was become Catholick and after the reconciliation of the Dukes of Mayanne and Mercoenr all stooped and layd down their arms He had a quick wit brave thoughts and excessive high points of judgement had in fine such eminent qualities as would have ranged him in the number of the grearest Kings that ever wore a Crown had ho not been too passionately inclined to handsom women a vicious habit which is familiar to Princes He alwayes loved the United Provinces of the Low-Conntrâ—es and assisted them with men money and counsell notwithstanding the complaints of the Arch-Dukes He was the Restorer of the French Monarchy which was horribly tottered and obtained by generall consent in regard of his heroick actions in arms the surname of Great He was beloved feared and redoubted and amongst all his Kingly vertues none shined more brightly then his Clemencie VVhy suspected to be a Hugenot Many were in doubts of his Religion for the Gâ—genots believed him of theirs and some others also besides in respect of the favour ge shewed to the Protestant Party and for that it was imputed to him to have said that the Crowne of France was well worth a Masse It is onely God who can judge of the Conscience of Soveraigns and therefore men must be silent and abey However it were he much loved Conferences and Disputes as it appeared by that of Cardinall Peronnâ— against Du Plessis Mornay The Confederated States had good reason to love him in regard of the care he alwayes took to conserve them though their seeing him expected by Prince Maurice with the forces of the Low-countries near Wesel and a Letter written by him to the Princesse Dowager of Orange intimating that he would come and visit her at the Hague not as a King but as her kinsman thrust a flea into their eare The said Prince of Orange above all impatiently took this strange and unexpected accident But indeed his death freed a good part of Europe from a great terrour filled the other with sadnesse and amazement gave way to the Prince of Conde to return into France with his wife and so the Armies to retire to rest till another season and another conjuncture which afterwards presented it self in the Warre of Gulick CHAP. XII A difference happening for the Dutchy of Gulick Jealosic between the Catholicks and Protestants and why A Tumult at Donawert an Imperiall Towne about a procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit the Sequestration VVE have already shewed how the pretext of the Arms of Hebry the Great was the succour promised to the Princes of Brandeabourgh and Newbourgh therefore let us now look upon the justice of the Competitors since the quarrell is not quite consopited yet Sone weeks before the the conclusion of the Truce Death of the Duke of Gulick deceased John Wolliam Duke of Cleveland and Gulick leaving no Children by the Countesse of Baden his former wife noâ— yet by the sister of the Count of Vandemon his later Now this Princesse passing through Colein was received by the illustrious Magistraces and Citizens of that ancient City with great magnisicence acclamations and wishes of fertility in this match and all this for their interests which are visible enough in themselves without any
need at all to speak thereof Mary Eleonor her eldest sister was married to Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia who died without issue male and left four daughters behinde him Anne who was the eldest was given to John Sigismund Duke of Brandenbourgh and Elector of the Empire The second to the Old Elector The third to the Duke of Courland The fourth to Duke John George of Saxonie brother to the Elector The second sister of the said Duke called Anne in the year 1574. married Philip Lewis Duke of Newbourgh in which marriage she brought Wolsgang William who kept his Court at Dusseldorp and died in the moneth of April in this year of 1653. The third who was Magdalen was made wife to the Duke der Deux-Ponts And Sibill the fourth was bestowed upon Charles Duke of Austria who had no childe Difference for sâ—â—cession Now Duke Iohn William dying without children Iohn Sigismund Elector of Brandenbourgh who married Anne as we have already said eldest daughter to the eldest sister of the said last Duke presented himself to be received by the States of the said Dutchy wherein he was opposed by the Duke of Newbourgh son to the second daughter Magdalen who was then yet living The Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh The Elector of Saxonie and the Duke of Neuers declared themselves also heirs so that the Emperour Rodolph summons the Parties to appear before him endeavours to sequester the Dutchies and to that end dispatches the Archduke Leopold Nâ—wburgh refuse the sequestration and demand relief from France Bishop of Straesbourgh who makes himself master of the Town and Castle of Gulick Whereupon the two first presumptive Heirs upon some articles of governing the Country made an agreement between themselves and in stead of addressing themselves to Prague before the Lord of the Fief who is the Emperour had recourse to the King of France O! How great is the strength of distrust which tyes the hands of justice and gets authority over ber They obtained a promise of strong relief The other Princes both Protestants and Catholicks yea even the Emperour himself sent their Embassadours likewise to Paris where the King sounded them all one after another In the mean time they take Arms make Excursions awaken the Neighbours The Germane Protestants receive the Alarm Germany takes the Alarm and assemble themselves at Hal and the Catholicks on the other side at Hirtsburg there to provide for their safety propose the Election of a new King of the Romanes and bring the said Protestants to a more strict observance of the accord of Passavia These are the first seeds of the divisions which being come to maturity will quickly fill all Germany with horrible disturbances as being watered by strangers for fear least they perish with moisture or humanity drawn out of the essence of Religions as we shall briefly shew in fit place The businesse of Donawerds Atumult at Donawerdt which is proscribed and foreed by the Duke of Bavaria which had already irritated the Protestants passed thus Some Religious or Conventuall men dwelling in the towne and endeavouring to make a Procession were desired by the Magistrates to desist for fear of some tumult But they answered that they would not quit their Rights which depended upon the Emperour In short they make a Procession the people falls upon them and affronts them The Emperour informed of the insolence demands an exemplary punishment wherein being disobeyed he proscribes the Towne and gives the execution thereof to the Duke of Bavaria who by a siege forced it to submit Now this proceeding very much displeased the Protestants and principally such as were grieved to see the Empire so long in a profound Peace But the enmity was not yet grown so strong for it shortly after brake out to the ruine of all this great Body But let us returne to the Country of Gulick The Princes excessively afflicted at the death of the King of France Gulick besieged and taken sollicited Prnice Maurice to besiege Gulick which he did and by the assistance of the French Army under the conduct of Marshall de la Castre constrained Leopold to render the said place into the hands of the said Princes upon an honourable composition Now it is to be observed that they would not admit of a sequestration nor the decision of the Emperour to whom it belongs by right but it looks as if they all endeavoured to weaken the Principall head of Europ And so the Princes were reproached for having ejected the Garrison of Gulick with forraine forces which was immediately to conremne the Imperiall authority and that they had thereby given cause to the Emperour to arme against them The Duke of Saxonie beares also the title of Duke of Gulick Cleveland and Montagues and draws his pretentions from Sibill Aunt to John William and Daughter to William who was given in marriage to Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie who lost the Electorac for having taken arms against the Emperour Charles He was admitted by the two Princes to govern the Country till the definitive decision of the difference It seems that diffidence and suspicion in affairs of State authorize the taking up of Arms without any other forme of Iustice and that it is no more lawfull to the Lord of the Fief to dispose of his Right CHAP. XIII A tumult in Poland and why They arme The Swedes and Muscovites serve themselves of this occasion against the Poles and loose Smolensko Treason discovered in England The troubles appeased at Paris Rodolph dies VVE left the King of Poland very busie about recovering his Kingdome of Sweden and the expulsion of the Swedes our of Livonia and now we finde him as busie to maintaine himself in the Elective after having lost the Hereditary Fortune never ceases to trouble Vertue and one disaster comes not without another The begining of the troubles was by a little blast or slash which kindled a fire that carried it self to the very highest loft or story of the building The scholars of the Jesuites through an impious zeale Yuâ—â—â—nlss in Poland rushed one day upon the Church of the Protestants of Posen and set it on fire Prince Radzivil and some other Ranting blades of the Party took arms for the defence as others said of their liberty and to revenge this injury under the vaile of Rakozians Fortune smiling upon them at first and they puffed up with a small victory endeavoured to expell the King and choose another unlesse he would subscribe to some certaine insupportable articles proposed by them Ill intentions grow to be discovered by good successe In a word the Warr was kindled in good earnest and the cloak of Religion not forgotten The Rakozians being beaten make Peace The Rebels or Rakozians being defeated and vanquished returned to be friends and good subjects But some space after the wound having been dressed by too milde a Chirurgion opened and gangroened and could not be shut up without
strong salves and fresh bleedings King Charles of Sweden having crowned himself and renewed the War in Livonie made use of this intestine sedition Sigismund made a brisk opposition as well to him as to the Swedes and Muscovites also whose Empire was then full of factions The siege of Smolensko He besieged Smolensko and after two years siege carried it This was a second Ostend if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the dead which if those authors who gave us the description thereof be worthy of credit amounted to more then twenty thousand men There was another Polish Army imployed to force the head City called Mosco whilest the rest of the Troops got huge victories and took the Yown of Novogrode and the great Duke Suiskie together with his two Brothers prisoners The the great Cham of Tartarie astonished at so many high Victories offered to submit himself to the King of Poland But Sigismond returned and the confederated Muscovites to be payd their Arreares followed him and being satisfied they were a further meanes to get yet more Victories The Muscovites rejell Uladislaus upon the adverse Party In fine the Muscovites tyred and vexed by a forraigne Rule rejecting Vladeslaus whom they had formerly chosen elected a new Emperour and endeavoured to compose their difference with Sigismund but in vain for they were chased away from before Smolensko and payed for their perfidie Now the King of great Britaine being the spectatour and very often the Arbitratour of the Controversies of his Neighbours lived in peace and his subjects of the Romane Catholik Profession were reduced to some discresse upon the discovery of that abominable conspiracy The son in England discovered against him his children and the whole Parliament For it seemed not enough to extend the punishment upon the guilty who received it according to their mâ—rit but all the whole body of them also mast be made feel it It was then that the doctrine of the Iesuites was carped and reviled and their Order brought into horrour through the whole Island as it was in France upon the death of Henry the great though yet they could not be convinced of having any hand in that as they evidently were in this But what shall we say of the English Puritans whom King Iames himself accused of having attempted to stifle him in his Mothers womb I know there are also some who make the Iesuites the cause of the Tragicall death of King Charles so great an aversion hath the contrary party from this Society I neither accuse nor excuse any but onely make a plaine and simple relation of what is passed and blame the rash judgement of such as are too passionate Whilest other Kings were in extream jealousie of their interests King Iames amuses himself with playing the Philosopher and the Divine by composing books of controversies against Cardinall Perronn and Monsieur de Coeffetean Bishop of Marseilles And since he had no warr with any body else he raised one against the Puritans and the Iesuites as making declamations against them both and their Doctrine which he said was most pernicious to the Potentates of Europe Take heed my son sayes he in his Book intitled the Roy all Present of these Puritans meer Plagues both in the Church and state a race not to be obliged by any benefit nor tied by any Oath or promise breathing nothing but seditions and calumnies And a little lower You will not finde amongst any High-way Robbers more ingratitude or more lyes and perjuries then amongst these Fanatick Spirits c. The Duke of Savoy demanded his Daughter Elizabeth for his eldest Son and offered him his for the Prince of Wales but in regard of the difference of Religions it was honourably refused Fate had reserved this Princesse for Prince Frederick Palatine of the Rheyn who arriving in England Frederick Prince Palatine marries Elizabeth Princesse of England married her and carried her to the Palatinat through Holland where they were received and regaled all along their passage being accompanied by Prince Maurice as far as Colein 1614. The never sufficiently lamented death of Henry the great one of the bravest Princes that ever wore the Crown of France was like to put Paris and all France into great tumults for the prevention whereof the Queen-Mother was declared Regent of the Kingdome and Lewis the thirteenth succeeded him at the age of nine yeers being consecrated at Rheims and all this great preparation for war was dissipated either because the Kings design was not known or else to say better because it could not be executed except the reserve of ten thousand men who were sent into the Dutchy of Gulick under the command of Marshal de la Cateres as we have lately expressed Now some time after all these embroiles and perturbations both in Bohemia and Austria were past the Emperour Rodolph either through vexation and trouble or otherwise Death of the Emperour Rodolph the twentieth of January 1612. for death hath alwayes a cause departed out of this fraile life to the immortall one He was son to that good Emperour Maximilian whose steps he followed He was a lover of sciences and chiefly of the Art of Painting He passed his time much in distilling he was fearfull and by consequence little undertaking and little feared by his enemies who knowing his nature did many things to the diminution of the Imperial Authority He died at Pragut in the year 1612. upon the 20 th of Ianuary The Empire had no need of a distillator but rather of a good Operatour to act powerfully against the ill plants which cast forth strong roots both under him and his successour and which have given so much pains and troubles to the Empire CHAP. XIV The Warre between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double Marriage in Spain The Town of Aix or Aquisgrane taken and Newburgh relieved by Spinola Chules Duke of Sudermain and afterwards King of Sweden sends an Embassadour into Holland CHarles Duke of Sudermaine took the Crown away from Sigismund his Nephew and possessed his States quietly enough but there rose a huge warre between him and the King of Denmark who very much disturbed his rest and whereof in his complaint of King Christian he takes the Jesuits for the Authors They are the Atlases who must bear upon their shoulders all kinds of Calummes and Detractions They must swallow down the faults of others He had had many conflicts with the Polanders and had tried the various effects of Fortune But this of Denmark touched him so much to the quick that they two came from complaints to brawles and reproaches and thence to the lye yea and at last to desie one another A strange thing that men disapprove in others what they do themselves Charles a little before had sent an Embassadour to the States-General to beseech them to make a close Allyance
with him against his Nephew the Spaniards and the Jesuits for it was upon them that he chiefly aymed and whom he so much mistrusted who yet peradventure dreamt not at all of him and demanded a speedy succour before the Poles had quite subdued Muscovie He also mentioned the quarrell between him and the King of Denmark offering to referre it to them or any other Neutrall Princes and to acquiesce in their Decision The States also sent theirs to him but he was able to effect nothing with him The King declares a warre upon him In the moneth of April 1611. King Christian declares a Warre founded upon four points The first upon the Fishing of Lapponia or Lapland the third part whereof he pretended to appertain to himself The second a complaint formed upon Charles his having fortified Guttemburgh to the disadvantage of the Sound the third was the redemanding of the Isle of Oesel held by the Swedes And the last that Christian would not suffer him to put in his Arms the three Crownes nor the Title of Lapland and North-land Kings have never any better reason to make Warre then that which is offered them by occasion It is a Royal thing sayes a Disciple of that so much disclaimed Italian to attempt the Possessions of others Colmar taken The Danes seazed Colmar the prime key of the kingdom of Sweden and besieged the Castle both by Sea and land which unlesse it were famished was held impregnable by reason of the situation Neither was it taken now by that way but yeelded up by the levity of the Governour who went to fix his habitation in Denmark That which cannot be digged by Iron is often done by Gold The King of Sweden found work enough to do with two so potent enemies upon his skirts but that which most troubled him was that he could not bring the Danes to any Composition Fonce so that in sine having lost Colmar with above a hundred pieces of Canon six ships of Warre the Isle of Bornholm and some other The death of Charles also forced to bow to old age and afflictions caused by these losses he fell sick and coming to die made way for that great Captaine Gustavus Adolphus the very relation of whose victories makes the world tremble Charles was a Prince of great courage and lover of his Law for the only defence whereof the Swedes affirm that he accepted the Crown and not through any ambition he had to be a King He inclined a little towards the Reformates and could not endure to have prayers made in Latin He was speechlesse some time before his death and was much more prone to rigour then moderation yea even to Tyranny it self which is a vice much observed in the successours of Erick after they are past forry years old The Danes sayling with the winde in poupe took many ships near Elsburgh together with the Castle it self But the Swedes were fully revenged upon them by taking their measures well as it will appear in the continuation of this History With patience all things are effected In fine Peace made a Peace was made and Colmar upon agreement of some barrels of Gold restored to the Swedes The Kings were friends and afterwards an Enterview and an Allyance both Offensive and Defensive concluded against the King of Poland But let us go back to the South Italy produced no seed of sedition at all every one keeping himself within his own jurisdiction but the Duke of Mantua being taken out of his by death without sons his Brother succeeded him who assisted by the Spaniards waged a long warre against the Duke of Savoy who was supported by France Since the Truce in the Low-countries and the expulsion of the Mores there passed nothing in Spain worthy of memory but some Fights at Sea against Pirats who were defeated by the Spaniards and the Hollanders The match sought in Spain Queen Mary of Medicis willing to keep her subjects in Peace during her Regencie and prevent all occasions of disorder mediated a double match with Spain that is of her Son and Daughter with Prince Philip and the Infanta his Sister but the marriages were differred in regard of their too tender age though yet this good newes caused great rejoycing throughout all the Territories of the two Crowns with Tilts and Turnaments worth anmiration wherein the French Lords expressed as well the agility and fine disposition of their bodies as the gentilnesse of their mindes Let us now draw back to the Low-countries again which observe the Truce but let not their souldiers rest in favour of their Neighbours For the Dukes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh this being grown a Roman and that a Reformat renewed their old unhappy quarrel either for want of a right and mutual understanding or else for being the object of the ambitious passion of some other Princes The Arch-Duke had sent Spinola into the Field to execute the sentence given upon them of Aquisgrane Aix or Aquisgrane yeelds The Spaniards succour the Duke of Newburgh and the Hollanders the Duke of Brandenburgh who had incurred the disfavour of the Emperour by expelling the Roman Catholick Magistrates out of the Town and their sudden submission gave the Spaniards conveniency to hasten to the relief of the Duke of Newburgh by whom they were expected They took Wesel and some other small places and Prince Maurice on the other side who was sent by the States to succour the Electour took and fortified Emmerick and Rees It is most dangerous to have a Neighbour stronger then ones self for his succour is alwayes dammageable to him who accepts it These two Princes know it as well as any others But what Passion very often prevailes over Reason and the errour of the Hunters gives the Hare opportunity to escape But let us reprize this Webbe contrived of many threds of different colours and woven by divers Weavers The Emperors Authority proving inefficacious and his threats as it wore our of breath and saint as coming from so great a distance with these two Princes who proud of the assistance of two Kings and shouldered by a strong Common-Wealth equally shared the Government of the Dutchy for some time making their Residence together at Dusseldorp But by means of some small jealousies were quickly disunited and the Marriage of the Duke of Newburgh with the Duke of Bavaria's Sisters awakened as great suspicions in the Duke of Brandenburghs breast being a Reformate as the Allyance of the united Provinces in that of the Duke of Newburgh who was become Cathohok The Design upon Dusseldorp had no successe and that which was so prosperously executed upon Gulick by the Governours meanes manifested to the Arch-Duke a peacefull Prince that the Reformates in a fair occasion want no boldnesse no courage The Spaniards took the Allarme so much the more powerfully as the Treaties went on slowly and as the French seemed to favour the Duke of Brandenburgh more to put
to the great good of the whole Country But now the women had also a minde to shew that they likewise knew how to handle their arms and gave an experiment thereof at Delpft about some Imposts or Taxes where they so stoutly assailed the Town-House that it was necâ—ssitated to send for both Souldiers and Counsell from the Hagâ—e to make them retire to the distaffe Perhaps there were amongst these some of them who had beaten the Franciscan Friers out of their Cloyster so great a reputation of courage have the good wives of Dâ—lft And these are all the perturbations and whatsoever else of note happened in the confederated Provinces during the Truce Before we contrive our Discourse of the Warres of Germany we will return a little towards France which is the kingdom where Fortune by her various effects of mutability seems rather to have established the Empyre then elsewhere The nature of the Germans is such as not to suffer themselves so easily to be induced to take arms for it costs much trouble to bring them to it and they walk with leaden heels but having once taken them up they lay them not down till they be able to bear them no longer and till all be brought to the extremity of desolation But the French on the other side both easily take them up and more easily lay them down in such sort as their Warres are very often finished and pacified before it be knowne that they were in arms After the consecration or unction of King Lewis during the six first years of his reign there were rather Tumults then Wars The Malcontent the Complaints as well of the Princes as of the Hâ—genots their ill-grounded distrusts and jealousies exercised the mind of that great Queen who dissipated their bad designes sometimes with money and augmentation of Pensions and new Governments and sometimes also by making them exactly observe the Edict of Nantes an interest which the said Prinoes are accustomed to take during the minority of their Kings so to adde to their own power what they take away from that of their Master The Moon and the Starres endeavour to weaken the light of the Sun by borrowing a part thereof of him But that which is to be lamented is that all this is done at the charge of the poor people In effect the great care of this wise Queen dispelled many mists and no lesse preserved the kingdom for her son then the succeeding Ministers who have laboured to augment it France having smothered with the blood of the Marquis d' Ancre all the grievances both of the Princes and people saw likewise the end of that The troubles in France appeased which the Prince of Conde gave the King by the obstacles which he was resolved to put to the confirmation of his marriage The Duke of Guise conducted the young Princesse of France to the Confines of Spain and reconducted the Infanta of Spain and the Prince of France was lodged in the Battail The Constable Luynes became the subject of a new Commotion and his great favour the object of hatred to some Grandees who absented themselves from the Court under pretext of defending the Queen-Mother who was extremely exasperated against Luynes for that he being the Counsellour of the ruine of the Marshall d' Ancre had taken possession of his Place and gotten his spoyles and so she retired her self to Angonlesine to be secured by the Duke d' Espernon Now this fire being kindled by the just disgust of an afflicted Queen begot an opinion that it would be scattered through all France For men began to be active and busie already as well at Metz as within the very middle of the kingdom and the motion being in a fronteer Town gave cause to fear lest perhaps strangers might put themselves into the dance For the Duke d' Espernon departed from Metz to go serve the Queen-Mother to whom he was reconciled by the common necessity of an equall Banishment The Nobility and the Armies began already to march all was full of fear and fury and such as loved novelty The Prince of Conde leapt already for joy But the King assisted by the Counsell of the first Prince of the Blood who was now reconciled to him instantly seased upon the Castle and Town of Caen went and beat the Queenes Troops before the Malcontents joyned with theirs and reduced them all to a necessity of submitting to his Grace From thence he conducted his Army into Bearne Reduction of Bearne and by his presence effected that in few dayes upon the Ministers and chief of that Country which the Edict of the year 1617. had not been able to obtain He reduced the whole Province under his obedience re-established the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion rendered the Ecclesiasticall Benefices put other Garrisons into the places of strength and four months after returned to Paris where he was received with an universal applause though he left behind him an immortall disgust amongst the most zealous of the Hugenot party by the re-establishment of a Religion without striking stroake which in sixty years before was not so much as knowne there but by calumnies and reproaches and matter also for a new warre with such stomack and animosity as wanted nothing but the occasion to draw the sword The Marriage of the Lady Christine of France with the Duke of Savoy In the mean time the Cardinal of Savoy arrives at Court to thank the King for the care he had vouchsafed to take of the preservation of his Fathers Dominions as also to mediate a Match of the Lady Christine of France with his eldest Brother He was made very welcom and obtained in fine a favourable grant of all he demanded We will now give to the Hugenots of France leasure to study a way to revenge themselves of so sensible a displeasure and stop the King from getting thenceforth any so great successe as might encrease their diffidence and bring a detriment upon their Religion Let us now pass on to a Warre of much more horrour and larger extent for we can no longer forbear it being high time to speak of it we cannot I say withdraw our selves it furnishing us with matter enough to believe that the Age wherein we live is the most unhappy of all Ages yea the very sink and last of all THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I The Prodigies which preceded the Warrs of Germany A discription of the Kingdome of Bohemia Old differences about Religion The wars of Zisca compared to these I Abhor to begin the discourse of the longest and most cruell Warr that ever was in Christendome and which drew more blood more altered the Christian Faith and caused more ruine and desolation then all that ever were in Europ Let no man tell me of the Exploits of Atilas with his Huns for he did but passe like lightning Let there be no comparison made of the Warts of the Goths
Conspiracies and in fine open seditions The Emperour being busie about the Coronation of his Cousin caused his Embassadours to rebuke the priucipall of them as namely the President Slauata Iarislae Bazite and Philip Platore who without the knowledge or consent of his Imperial Majesty had convocated such an Assembly But they having having by-like forgotten the rank and quality they held or else desiring warre fell upon these persons who were sacred by their Commissions tumbled them down from the top of a Tower through the windowes expelled the Iesuits dismissed the Kings Officers from their charges which was to attack both Church and State and took up arms against all such as should endeavour to impugne this insolent kind of proceeding The Emperour labouring both by Letters and fair Propositions to remedy these disorders was already gone very farre in it and it is likely would have accomplished it had not the despaire of some withdrawne the most moderate persons amongst them from continuing the Work But in the interim Deâ—th of the Emperour Mathias the Emperour died leaving it to Ferdinand to untangle this inrricate and troublesome bottome This Prince had worne the Imperiall Crown about six hundred yeares he had sometime governed the Low-countries though with small authority but as it were only by form and more in title then in effect He was religious and gentle and beloved by all such as loved the peace and quiet of the Empyre Ferdinand elected limperom Now the Electours met at Frankefurt and chose Ferdinand to bear the most illustrious but most painfull burthen of the whole Universe And therefore let us see him go weakly enough accompanied to finish the War of Bohemia the cause and pretexts whereof we have already demonstrated The Bohemians under the Counts de la Tour and Mansfield Natural sonne to Count Ernest so well know in the Low-countries raised very puissant Armies contemn Ferdinands Remonstrances deprive him of the Crown as a Tyrant For such are all they whom powerful factions have a mind to suppresse give out that he was not lawfully Elected and fortify themselves with Alliances and succours On the other side the Pope Italy Spain and Poland will not suffer Ferdinand to perish The beginning of the warre whereof he seemed to be in imminent danger by this tempest without speedy relief for his ship leakes on every side and the wind of this Conjuration will infallibly sink both him and the Catholick Religion with him if he be abandoned by his Allyes The Arch-Duke Albert sends him the Count de Bucquoy attended by the flower of the Walloon and Luxemburgh Gentry Of Bohemia The Bohemians though amazed to see so many potent States interest themselves in the preservation of Ferdinand lose not their courage and resolve to adde politick craft The Wectour Palâ—time chosen by the States of Bohemia to open force They draw to their party the Silesians and Moravians keep their Intelligences in Austria and all Germany present the Crown to the Duke of Saxony and then to the Duke of Bavaria though with visible dissimulation and refusable conditions and last of all to Frederick Prince Palatine who by the advice of some Lords who yet basely deserted him afterwards accepted it Since he had married the Daughter of a King he might very take a Crown which was so freely offered him and so he was Crowned with his Sonne at Prague CHAP. III. The prosecution of the War of Bohemia The battail of Prague Frederick flyes and forsakes the Towne together with his People THus we see the Match made and the Game a playing between Ferdinand and Frederick the House of Austria and the Palatin and the Christians divided For almost all the Roman Catholicks either in inclination or effect espowsed the Party of Ferdinand and all the Reformates and the most zealous Lutherans that of Frederick These after their prayers to God for the defence of the Gospel and those to the same Authour of all good and to all the Saints for that of the Church The King of France was sollicited by both parties but he contented himself with sending thither the Duke of Angoulesme to mediate a reconciliation Let us note here such as declared themselves for King Frederick The united Provinces of the Low-countries by the sollicitation of Prince Maurice who disposed the States to this Alliance contrary to the opinion of Barnavelds who wished them was not to meddle at all with it And it is held that this opposition of Barnaveldts so greatly offended the Prince that he ever afterwards looked upon him as his enemy and so at length it grew to be partly the cause of his fall It is alwayes dangerous to cheok the Grandees and to crack nuts with them Christian Duke of Anholt John Frederick Duke of Winâ—â—â—bergh Maurice Landgrave of Hassia John Ernest Marquis of Ansbach and some Imperial Towns also together with the people of England for the King could never be induced to help his Son in Law alleadging that he had no right to the Crown For Ferdinand besides the aforementioned Allyes were leagued the Dukes of Saxony and Bavaria together with the Ecclesiastical Electours Souldiers were listed every where and the Rendezvous Bohemia the Theater of this fatall warre The principall Heads were the Duke of Bavaria with Monsieur de Tilly his Lieutenant Generall the Count de Bucquoy and Generall Dampiere On the other side the Duke of Anhok the Counts de la Tour and Mansfieldt Now these latter being sooner prepared then the other and having subjugated almost all Bohemia marched into Austria and besieged the Emperour in Vienna Bucquoy hastens thither routs Mansfeldt Vienna besieged Mansfeldt beaten and forces La Tour to raise the siege Dampiere enters the City with the Horse intending to chastise the insolence of the Citizens towards the Emperour their Master who yet vouchsafed to pardon them The Count de la Tour faced about and marched towards the Capitall City of the kingdom to divert the storm which threatened it But in fine after some encounters favourable to the Emperour and the Duke of Bavaria being entered with his Army into Bohemia and having reduced such as were gone astray into the right path of obedience the two Armies met and resolved to finish the disterence by a generall Battail the price and reward whereof was the kingdom of Bohemia Anholt pitched his Camp upon the White Alountain near Prague intrenched himself and performed the charge of a great Captain The Imperialists inflamed by the Remonstrances and Exhortations of Father Dominick a Carmelit Fryer slighted the dangers and difficulties which there were to come to an Onset in regard of the situation The Poles and Wallons began the skirmish which was followed by the whole Army and the Hungarians not able to sustain Prague receives the Conquerours as also all the Kingdom or withstand their attack basely gave ground and disturbed the Orders of the Generals in such sort as that the
by the death of the Marquis d' Ancre and by the return of the Princes leagued against the said Marquis and his greatness by that of the unfortunate wife that unhappy Favorite whose Possessions and Goods were liberally bestowed upon him The death of the Marquis d' Ancre by the King He was killed by his Majesties command and by the counsell of this new Minister just as he was entring into the Loüure and his Body torne in pieces by a people which thought it self going into a Golden Age after this Execution And his VVife His wife who had been the companion of his Greatnesse was likewise to be so of his disaster and fall She was cast in prison and notwithstanding she baffled and eluded the vanity of the witnesses who accused her of magick or witchcraft she was neverthelesse condemned to suffer a shamefull death upon the Market-place of Greve Her Exccution caused pitty in the soules of some contentment in others and amazement to strangers the eyes of whose understandings were not dazled by the clowds of passion For it was a strange thing to set a Lady upon a base and infamousscaffold who had been but a little before with so much power and greatnesse at the Court Ah false and treacherous Fortune How much gall dost thou hide under thy honey and how many treacheries under thy favours No marvel if thou destroy what thou hast made since thou overturnest even Kings and Kingdomes themselves which had taken their foundations from the hands of the Almighty himself This tragical Beginning being brought to his desired issue Luynes counselled the King to banish his Mother from the Court whom he knew to be in implacable indignation against him Her Exile which was taken for a Retreat the advancement of his two Brothers companions of his fortune and the total and entire disposal of the favour of the good King cast him into the hatred of the people which he could not faile to inherit as well as of the Queen and into the aversion of the Princes who took his government for a pretext of their discontentments and for a cloak to disguise their interests From the quality of an ordinary Gentleman he rid Post as it were to honours and was created Earl and Viceroy of Picardy Duke and Peer of France and within a very short time after Constable In fine all smiled upon him every one adored this Golden Calfe yea even they who if they could have gotten him in their power would have crushed and shivered him to pieces To secure himself from the Queen-Mother he procured the deliverance of the Prince of Conde but common necessity obstructed the course of his greatness though it hardly extinguished the hatred which all the French bore him and left him but two friends who caused his miserable Body to be secretly interred for fear lest be should receive the same treatment of him whose place he had taken O short felicity full of troubles disquiets cares and vexatious apprehensions O vain Glory so much hunted after so much envied and so dearly and painfully bought how deceitful is thy end O vain Honours How are you steeped and drenched in gall And how different from those which are prepared by Eternity for us On the other side Prince Henry was beloved almost throughout all France as well for his great vertue as for the open hatred he carried to the Constable ended his dayes upon the bed of honour before Montanban for the Catholick Faith and for the restauration of the Authority of his King and the whole Kingdom His life He was son to the deceased Duke of Mayenne so well known in the History of the precedent Age to whom France had this obligation that she was not dismembred and crippled during the fury of the cruell Warres Whilest he courted the Widow of the Count de Soissons she moved both him and the Duke of Nevers 1614. to this pernicious Warre to whom the Prince of Conde and the busie Duke of Boüâ—â—lon joyned themselves also which kindled by some certain Princess who respired nothing but vengeance and terminated by the prudence of that most wise Queen at Saint Menehout He retired from the Court for the hatred he bore to the Constable and followed the party of the Queen-Mother 1620. together with other Princes in regard of the ill treatment she received His choler caused him to commit a great fault before Moissac in Quercy whereof the of a frank and open humour without dissimulation such as is fit for a Prince and not for a Courtier He was also free to speak and deliver his opinion and very courteovs to his inferiours much more intense upon the ruine of the Hugenot Party then upon prolonging the Warre as many have done for their own proper interest In fine a Bullet sent him to his grave put the Army in disorder France into mourning The mourning of all France for his death an end to so many brave exploits which which will cause him to be eternally hurt to the siege of Montaubane and to the fear of the Hugenots who called him the great Butcher and the tears interrupted by sobbes expressed the true love which all the Orders of France really bore him and which was besides most amply decleared by the elegant Orations made at his Funerall The newes of his death being divulged at Paris so much moved the Common-people that they cast themselves upon the Reformates and fired the Church of Charenton yea and the mischief had yet gone further had it not been prevented and stopped by the Queens and the Lords of the Parliament Some dayes after the Pontan Change in English the Exchange Bridge and the Pont des Orfebures in English Goldsmiths Bridge were likewise set on fire with inestimable loss for which the Reformats were much suspected by their enemies thereby to revenge themselves of the affronts which had been done them for vengeance is sweet But much more diligence was used to finde out the riches which was fallen into the River then the cause of two such disasters However it be the Warre grew hot the next year after and the King made himself Master of the Isles St. Martin d'Oleron and Bronage After some small victories gotten upon the Duke of Rohan and his Brother The Peace made at Montpeillier 1622. A Tumult at Paris against them of the Religion The Peace made the Peace was concluded at Montpeillier by which the said Towne more by force then by inclination returned to her duty and all the party which had been attacked by many Armies throughout all the Provinces after frequent losses began to respire and shewed that it was no more invincible This Peace separated the Navies hindered the Duke of Guise from prevailing upon his advantage and the Fort Lewis built upon the Haven of Rochelle gave subject to renew the War as we shall hereafter shew The Venetians to procure reparation of the dammages received from the Croats 1617.
shewed in fine that all was lost There are many persons so passionate that they cannot endure to hear truth spoken if it be contrary to their expectation and others preferre before the infamy of lying the unsteady profit which comes from it Prince Maurice had often enough bid the Generalls of Bohemia have a care of themselves for that they had to do with a great Captain full of courage and experience Many have believed that it was his designe to make Frederick be raised to the Imperiall Crown neither were the means thereof so difficult had not God disposed otherwise of it They of Brabant on the other side by way of equall return to the Hollanders pictured the Emperour in his Throne Loaden with with feathers elevated on high with a King fallen at his feet and the Eagle loaden with feathers plucking the Crown off his Head But Painters and Poets have alwayes been permitted to set forth their fancies and the Common People feed themselves with them as with solid food Now the Contra-Remonstrancers as well by means of the Synod of Dort as by the company of the Prince who declared himselfe of their party having wonne the Day Maurice changes the Magistrates stayed not there For Maurice by the advice of some Lords having changed the Magistrates in many Townes as I have hinted already put in their places such as he liked and such as approved of the said Synod In such sort as the Arminians were fain to leave the Cushion against their wills and were ill treated too in some parts for making too free use of that which by vertue of their birthright and the successe of the Armes of the Common-wealth they conceived could not be denied them These changes begat many Libells and gave ground to the Politicks to make sine observations upon those proceedings which remained secret No definitive sentence can be pronounced upon what may be done but upon what is done Now as mens humours which were agitated began by little and little to relent or slacken and partialities partly for fear and partly for want of nourishment to be choaked in the desire repose just so did the Truce draw towards an end And it must be noted that these people how much soever divided in faction return forthwith to a coherence when they apprehend any forraine Enemy For really common danger hath so great a power upon their minds that it makes them speedily reunite to resist the attempts of strangers and if that come once to faile farewell Liberty for they will never want private enemies and their pride is growne too high not to be envied by many Their vertue is accompanied by envy but their Power is too considerable to be easily and openly attacked One of the greatest wits of our times advised the King of Spain to make a Truce with them if he had mind to tame them The nature of the Hollanders For they are said he like over which joyne together to repell the Wolves but as soon as the danger is once past they fall to oddes amongst themselves The Arch-Duke sounded them to see if they would hearken to a Peace and acknowledge him for Soveraign under such terms as seemed to divide the Soveraignty but they bore a deaf ear and would not hear of so much as a prolongation of the Truce and the Embassadour passing through Delph was entertained by the dregges of the people with durt and mud and most unworthily treated before it could be remedied An Embassadour cannot be welcome where his Master is hated This affront was dissembled Spinola being returned out of Germany went and incamped himself near the Rhein whilest Count Henry of Berghen blocked up Gulick which surrendered it self for want of food in the moneth of February 1622. The same year Papeâ—â—tz in English Priests-Cap was likewise taken by meanes of the huge quantity of Granadaes which were cast into it This was a Fort so called seated upon an Island in the middle of the Rhein built during the Truce to exact Contributions of the circumjacent Countries and to incominodate the Boats which could not pass without being examined and visited by it and it was sacrificed to the vengeance of the Priests because it carried both the name and figure of their Quadrangular Bonnets Count Maurice by the decease of Philip of Nassaw his eldest brother who died like a Catholick at Breda a little before the expiration of the Truce being become Prince of Orange and Heir by will to all his said brothers goods sent his other brother with four thousand men to enter into little Brabant and force the Contributions The Hollanders in Brabant This surprize very much amazed Spinola cast the Country people into despair to see their houses fired and moved the soul of the Infanta who beheld this spoil from the wals of Brussels to compassion The Citizens would have marched out with their arms to revenge this wrong but Spinola commanded the Gates to be kept shut and would not suffer them to go and expose themselves to slaughter and an inevitable defeat The inhabitants of a Town do enough when they defend their own walls for the Field is fatall to them against old Bands and trained Souldiers Count Henry of Bergues arriving too late to hinder the return of the Hollanders which he might have effected either with his forces or by stopping up the River of Demer grew to be suspected of intelligence with his Kinsmen He was reproached that he might have come six and twenty houres sooner and that if he had used all requisite diligence the enemies could not have escaped But he excused himself the best he could and satisfied most of the Councell though not all and after his retreat it was all more maturely examined and considered by the most judicious men The complaint of the Spanish Embassadour in his behalf The Embassadour of Spaine complained once to King Henry of France for his endeavouring to disingage the said Count from his Masters service to which the King answered that he was by birth a Germane and no subject of the King of Spains And thus passed this complaint together with many more which the ignorant people imputed to the hatred which the Spaniards according to their saying and belief carried towards him CHAP. X. Berghen besieged Mansfeldt and his Bishop being beaten by Cordoua come to succour the Hollanders The death of the Duke of Bouillon and a summary of his life Spinola quitts the siege Mansfeldt passes into Friezland A third Warre in France THe burning of many fair villages in the sight of the Court caused so much spite in Spinolas soule that he studied nothing more then the meanes of revenging himself of it He kept his designe secret and assembled a great Army one part whereof he assigned to Don Lewis de Velasco and conducted the other which was far the greatest himself He made a shew to draw towards the Rheyn thereby to amuse the Hollanders whilest the said
Don Lewis had order to march with all speed to Berghen op Zoom and to seize upon Emblee the Haven and the two Forts which defended it but whether out of jealousie or otherwise he want and took Steenbergh giging the Hollanders time to re-inforce the Garrison and secure the Isle of Tertollen The Marquis neverthelesse arrived and besieged the Place Berghen besieged but not being able to gaine the possession of the said Haven he wasted a good part of his Army about it We left Mansfeldt and his Bishop at Sedan in consultation with the Duke of Bouillon Minsfeldt at Sedan and let us now call them from thence since we are sure to learn nothing of their private conferences but onely by conjecture The King of France was then before Montauban and fearing least they might serve themselves of the fair occasion to make a strong diversion in fauour of the Hughenots who were very much weakened he commanded the Duke of Neuers The Duke of Neuers to raise speedily a Body of an Army in Champague and entertaine the said Mansfeldt with Treaties till his Troops were in condition to hinder his passage He also wrote to Don Cordona who promised him to come and relieve him in case the Germans made but the least shew of moving against his service Mansfeldt dares not succour the Hughenots Now this proposition of succouring the Hughenots being found most difficult and of too dangerous a consequence and the meanes of returning the same way they came taken from them they resolved to traverse or passe through Brabaus and go to succour Berghen which Spinola attacked both with Mines and Assaults as he had done Ostend and this so much the rather because they were invited thither by the States Generall and the Prince of Orange And so they marched and by their departure freed Campagne from the great oppressions wherewith they had very ill treated the Lasiere Cordona and Anholt followed them and having overtaken them near Floury compelled them to stop and face about The battail began hotly Is beaten by Cordona and Cordona was in danger of losing it if the enemies horse had stood fast and better seconded the foot which was almost all cut off by the Canon But five hundred Peasants of the Province of Liege who presumed to set upon them were cut in pieces and sacrificed to their displeasure which yet was quite forgotten as soon as they came to the Hollanders Camp The Mansfeldians excused their losse by the necessity they had to get the passage which since they had obtained by the sword the Imperialests said they ought not so much to boast of their Victorie The Bishop was hurt in the arme The Bishop loses his arme which was forced to be cut off which gave the Romane Catholicks ground to publish that that arme which made warre against the Priests had deserved to be struck off It is very likely that if the Protestants had not feared to alienate the King from their Party of whose favour they hoped one day to feel some effects they would have made no difficulty at all to set the Hughenots upon their feet again in such sort as that the King could not lay hold of a more opportune season to humble them then during the decline of the affairs of the Protestants in Germany The Duke of Bouillon after the departure of the Germans being quite crazed with age payed his tribute to Nature and it concerns us to speak briefly of his life that so we may come both to the knowledge of his experience and exploits The death of the Duke of Bouillon and of his right also to Sedan Religion and Nature tied him fast to his Kings service whose secrets and savour he enjoyed for a long time His first wife was the Princesse who was heiress to Sedan and notwithstanding that she died without Childrein and that there was another heir of the same House His life he left not to retaine the said Principat by the support of the Kings favour He marries the heiresse of Sedan He keeps the Principate and passes to the second marriage Believed in Germary 1609 Surprizes Sâ—â—â—â—y In his second marriage he had the daughter of Prince William of Orange by whom he had begat two sons who grew very famous afterwards and by this Allyance he acquired a most streight correspondence with the States Gonerall of the united provinces He much molested the Dutchies of Lorraine and Luxenburgh by arms wherein he purchased great reputation He went and surprised the Cittidell of Sâ—endy the very day of his wedding and was alwayes redoubted by his neighbours and in most high esteem with the Princes of Germany and it is believed that it was chiefly he who counselled the Prince Palatine to take the Crown of Bohemia After his designs and Communications with the Marshal of Bâ—ron were blown up he kept himself alwayes close in Sedan till the King at length came to awaken him But his peace was quickly made in consideration of the good which he was to perform and of the high enterprizes whereof he was both the most worthy and principall instrument After the sad death of Henry the Great the Prince of Conde being returned into France he used his utmost endeavour to tye him to the interests of the Hughenots by describing his to him quite otherwise He embroils France then they were to be understood which were in effect to embroil the Kingdome But the Prince would not revenge the injurie which he pretended was done him to the detriment of Religion and the destruction of the poor people which yet not long after he did against his promise to the Queen though yet that promise were quickly dissipated as well as many other which came out of the shop of his brest more for his particular advantage then that of the Publick which he alwayes pretended Now howbeit he had been brought up in the civill wars and factions he yet refused the generalship He refuses the Generalship of the Hughenot Party 1621. Why of all the Hughenot Armies which was offered him by the Assembly of Rochell and that upon very reasonable reasons as first his age then the Gout wherewith he was much tormented and lastly for the difficulty which he was likely to find to govern so many Heads as composed that popular State Let us return to the siege of Berghen Spinola finding his enemy recruited with so great a Body of Horse and his owne Army much diminished with toyle assaults sicknesse and disbandings speedily raised the siege for fear least the way should be stopped Spinola raises the siege and went and encamped himself three leagues short of Antwerp where having put himself in posture and sent away his sick and wounded men he offered the Prince Battell but he contenting himself with having succoured the Place made answer to some French Lords who advised him to accept the offer that it was better to make a
and gave an Alarme to all Italy But this fine appearance being stopped by a misfortune made the Troops return as being destinated for a supply against the Duke of Soubize and obliged the King by the request of the Pope to give peace to Italy The Valteline in the hands of the Pope and sequester the Valteline into his hands save only that both the Kings were to have their passage with their forces that way About the same time there was discovered a Conspiracie against the King of France and the Duke of Vandosme his Brother the great Priour the Marshall d' Ornano and many others put in prison where the two last ended their dayes without much noise and the Count of Chulois by the hands of a Common Executioner These accidens raised much hatred upon Cardinal Richelieu and produced many Pasquils against him Envy and Harred are ever companions to the vertue of great Ministers and their actions are never free from blame CHAP. XII Mansfeldt hunts every where for relief and sets an Army on foot The Marriage of the Prince of Wales with a Daughter of France after his return out of Spain HAnnibal was no sooner out of his infancy then he vowed the ruine of the Romanes and being revoked from Italy after he had domineered there the space of seventeen yeares to save Carthage he there ran his ship a ground which had been loaden with so many victories against the great Scipio But now what did he when all the strings of his Bow were broken He made to his wits for new ones He remembred his Oath begged succour animiated the Kings of the East against the insatiable ambition of the Romanes and continued his hatred even to the very last gasp of his breath Mansfeldt and his Bishop seemed to have taken the like Oath against the House of Austria and by consequence for the continuance in action against it they must have new forces Holland could furnish them with matter conveniency money and hatred enough England with desire enough to see Frederick again in the Palatmate and France with jealousie enough in regard of the growth of the aforesaid House There wanted no bellowes to kindle this fire mens humours being already disposed that way by diversity of Religions hatred envy self-ends and Maxime of State a Cover which is never either too long or too short and stronger then even Justice it self But now as these Captains had not so much trouble to perswade as that Great Affrican so had they notwithstanding to do with people of much better understanding then those Barbarians They went into France where Mensfeldt received some affronts from some particular persons for ill treatments given the French in Freezland Mansfeldt demands succour in France However he obtained his demand namely some Force the Minister who then began to climb the Horizon of favour being now no more mindfull of the services both asked by and granted to the Imperialists before Sedan in case of necessity Maximes of State are more forcible then obligations and Ministers turn their Allyances that way which their passions carry them Now King James though by the negotiations with Spain he had disgusted many of the Reformed Religion shewed himself neverthelesse willing to have as good intelligence with the Catholick States as the King of France had with the Protestant and so he sent Prince Charles his Sonne into Spain to espouse the Infanta Mary but after the losse of much time he came back into England and demanded in France through which he had passed disguised the Kings Sister who was more easily granted him Men have laboured to penetrate into the Mystery of this Treaty but all by conjecture only The Roman Catholicks of England who began already to feel some warmth of the businesse were extremely afflicted at the breach of the aforesaid Match and the misfortune which befell them was a testimony of the perpetuall Crosse which was ordained for them in the Britannick Islands A misfortune at London for being met in a private Assembly at London to hear masse the Loft overburthened by the multitude sunk down and bruised near a hundred persons together with the Priest When the aforesaid Prince had married the Daughter of Henry the fourth and sister to Lewis the thirteenth he and his Father undertook the care of re-establishing his Brother-in-Law in the Palatinate In such sort as that Mansfeldt had no great difficulty to transport ten thousand English into Holland who almost all of them perished at Gerthrudenbergh and served for bait to the Fish The French Cavalry consisting of three thousand did likewise no very long service for the Generalls marching towards the Rhein and tormenting the Arch-Bishop after their old fashion their Army diminished much by disbandings and themselves fell into a quarrel which had almost brought them to a Duell though at last they returned into Holland and went from thence to the North to warm those people against the Emperour The Spaniards passe the Isel Upon the seventeenth of February 1624. the Spaniards passed upon the Ice over the River Isel and caused a terrour as faire as Holland Whereup-the Prince was constrained again to lay about him and pass to Virick and the States to command the Country-people to break the Ice of the River of Vecht But Count Henry expected neither his enemies nor the thaw which would have made him to be caught in a Pit-fall but retyred himself much faster then he came and many of his souldiers found their graves in the River of Welaw His designe was to fright the Peasants and not to hurt the States CHAP. XIII The Siege of Breda The Enterprizes upon Antwerp SPinola was every moment devising now to wipe off by some notable enterprize the affront he had received before Berghen He marched into the field sent Count Henry towards the Rheyn who made a shew of besieging Grave and Count John of Nassaw with the Horse towards Breda who at his arrivall took a great multitude of Boats loaden with Provisions Himself followed with the Foot and in his Councell of War there was found no more then one Colonell who thought fit to begin the siege The siege of Breda and that upon the same reasons whereby Spinola himself was moved to it On the other side the Prince of Orange glad to see his Rivall engaged before a place so well provided of all necessaries as also of a strong Garrison did not so soon dispose himself to succour it but gave the Spaniards leisure to entrench themselves and they him to repent himself of it But he hoped by the successe of his designe upon Antwerp long before premeditated in his thoughts and held by him infallible The enterprize upon the Castle or Cittadell of Antwerp to unnestle them from thence and cast their state into an irremediable confusion He was well informed that there were but very few Souldiers in the Cittadell and they for the most part dismembred and cripled Wherefore
he sent some Troops which made a shew of coming from the Camp before Breda as carrying the same Motto's and Colours which Spinola carried they arrived undiscovered to the very Mote applyed their Ladders and set all their rare Engynes on work to render themselves Masters of the Place whereof they could not have failed had not their own hearts failed them first For one Who goes there of the Sentinell followed by the discharge of a Musket made theirs fall our of their hands and left them no more courage then onely to fly It was thought that he had a mind to bestow the honour of this expeditiupon the Hollanders whom he onely employed in it and that if he had mingled any of the other nations with them the businesse would have issued to his contentment This newes struck the Marquis almost into a feaver and sent the Prince loaden with Melancholy to the Hage where towards the end of the winter he died leaving his Army to his brother Henry Frederick and Spinola before Breda who seeing no meanes to take it by force resolved to famish it A former enterprize upon the same Cittadell The aforesaid Prince had had a former enterprize upon the said Cittadell and held himself so sure of it that he told the Burgomasters of Dort at his departure that none but God could hinder it And indeed he was no sooner embarked but there arose so violent and so extreamly cold a tempest that it put both his life and his Fleet in danger and so he was forced to return God hath put limits to Victories which cannot be passed by humane wisdome Spinola having sufficiently learnt how needfull it was to be vigilant with an enemy who slept not reinforced the Garrison of the aforesaid Cittadell kept himself fast in his trenches before Breda expecting the consumpsion of the Provisions of the Town and made magazin for the Winter and being advertised besides that the Enemy was assembling some forces and that four Kings had interested themselves in this Siege He sent for some Regiments from the Emperour Uladislaus Prince of Poland before Breda Prince Vladislaus since King of Poland came to see this famous siege and was received by the whole Army with such military honours as were due to the Sonne of a King and a very great Captaine The King of Spaine having foreseen this tempest which was contrived against his Low-Countries and being unwilling to hazard the whole for one piece thereof wrote to his Aunt that it was better to leave the siege then obstinately to persist in the impossibility of taking the Towne with the losse of all her States This savoured well with the Emulators of the said Marquis as Don Lewis de Velasco c. A Magazin burnt There happened also another misfortune which was that the Hollander fired a Magazin which would have staggered any other General but such a one as he who quickly requited this losse and by his vigilancie repulsed the English who with a most martiall courage went to attack a Quarter of his Camp Breda copitulates In fine after a Siege of ten moneths Breda was yeelded and it happened the very same day that the Kings Letters arrived with his absolute command to draw off the Army We left the King of Poland with his Nobility marching against the great Turk and therefore let us now look what the Swedes in the mean while are doing Gustavus laid hold of that occasion passed an army into Livonia and after the siege of five weeks to the great trouble of the Citizens took Riga The Swedes take Riga The Polanders hereupon made loud complaints of him for beginning the Warre just when they were busied against the Common Enemy and for breaking the Truce in the articles whereof it was comprized that the one of the Kings should not enter into the Lands of the other without having denounced the War three moneths before To which the Swedes made answer that they had sent their Embassadours And mâ—â—k at the complaints of the Foles and that they were not able to dispatch their Commissions any sooner being hindered by windes and tempests which were to be accused and not they a trick of War which must be made passe for good according to the Maximes of this Age. In short this occasion was favourable to the Swedes who cared as much for their reasons as Monsieur de Montmorancy did for those of the Magistrates of Metz when he was gotten into possession of their Towne This War was finished by a Truce whereby the Swedes were obleiged to return by Sea after they had well fortifyed Riga with intention never to restore it againe Now the Electour Palatine after being spoiled of his States was deprived also of his Dignities and his Electorat transferred upon the Duke of Bavaria his Cosin 1623. which much augmented hatred against the Emperour Duke Maximilian and all the Catholicks and caused in fine many new Allyances to be made which put spurts to the War we are going to discribe in this next Book The Electour Palatin spoiled of his States and banished This Prince was crowned King of Bohemia the fourteenth of November 1619. in the moneth of January following he made his Allyances and in the same year also he lost his Kingdome and his States was proscribed by the Emperours Edict and his Coronation declared Null He who grasps much holds little and it often falls out that whilest we are in pursute of other mens good we lose our owne THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I The Warre of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of France England Denmark and the States of Holland against the Emperour GEneral Mansfeldts arguments had as much efficacy in the North as they had towards the South because the dangers which seemed to threaten that Country were grown greater and besides a Prince which becomes potent makes himself both feared and hated Tilly wintered in Hassia in despight of the Landgrave Maurice nor were the States of Low-Saxony a little troubled to see the Imperiall Eagles fluttering up and down upon their fronteers and that not without giving them great incovenience besides that they feared lest they should peradventure come to replant their old authority there The King of Denmark together with many other Princes and States thereabouts were moved to much impatience by the ruine of Frederick as apprehending lest these Guests should come and take up their lodging amongst them Wherefore being advertised by common danger and by that which themselves perhaps would have done if they had had the same power and right which the Emperour had they made a League for the defence of the Circle of the Lower Saxony into which entred the Kings of England France and Sweden together with the States Generall and the King of Denmark himself was the Head A League against the Em perour as being General of the said Circle The Dukes of Brunswick Mekelenburgh and Holstein
against them for the bad treatment of the Priests and Officers of the Queen they were easily brought to break as well by the arguments of Soubize as of the whole Body together The English enter the Isle of Ray 1627. and so the English Fleet made a descent or disembarkment in the Isle of Ray in the moneth of July of the year 1627 and besieged the Fort of St. Martin which was not yet quite finished This Warre which in outward appearance had no other scope at all then that of Religion with many other petty punctilios which merited not so much as an ill look from either to the other proved fatall to the English and glorious to the French Are beaten off with shame by the enterance which they made into the Island and the chase they gave their Enemies from thence but yet more glorious to Monsieur de Toir as who defended the Fort neer four moneths both against them and famine and most glorious to the Marshal of Schoenbergh who put in the succour and forced them after they were lustily beaten to retyre to their ships So that upon the matter the English went away with the shame and the Rochelers stayed with the losse And this warre helped to forward the King of Denmarks ruine in regard that these Kings gave him not the assistance they had promised him by the Contract and so he struck a ground Rochell The Confederated States after the reduction of Rochel were saine to hear as well the reproaches and calumnies of the whole Body of the Hughenots of France as the taunts and raylings of the English Where blinde Passion rules there is no roome for Reason For it was not their fault that this difference was not decided by some other meanes then that of armes But let us now note the successe of this siege Rochell is a Town situated in the Country of Asins which is grown to have great traffick and riches through the convenienie of the Haven The growth of the Towne and by consequence insolent against the Kings authority The Inhabitants mutined under Francis the first but as soon as they saw him in Arms and that he would be obeyed their audacity quickly turned into humility After they embraced the Reformed Religion they became by little and little so powerfull and so considerable that the Kings through that the necessity of their affaires were often obliged to make a shew not to see or connive at that which was not invisible to any When we cannot correct Vice we must seem to be ignorant of it For having the principall Key of the Kingdome they made themselves chief of the Party and all such as for any discontentment absented themselves from Court and bent themselves against the King and his Authority could never faile to be welcome unto Rochell It is besieged by Henry the 3. They were once besieged by Monsieur who was afterwards Henry the Third but upon request of the Embassadours of Poland the siege was drawn off just at the time when they were in hazard of being tamed But since that their strength together with their Intelligence both within and without the Kingdome is so much augmented they have relyed upon their fortifications and have subtracted themselves from the yoke nor more nor lesse then the Imperiall Towns have done from that of the Emperour Cardinall Rechelieu having gotten full possession of the Kings favour for having dissipated some tumults and found out the Mine whereof the Count of Chalais payd the whole score as a Complice for all the rest had no more left to do then to acquire also that of the Clergie and People by some remarkable service to the State whereof he could not faile by the reduction of Rochell And then by Lewis the 13. in the year 1627. Now the King being informed of the descent of the English in the Isle of Ray commanded his Troops to march and as soon as he was recovered of a dangegous sicknesse which he had at that time he made them also intrench and advance all the shipps of France to stop the Haven even the Spaniards themselves comming to take possession of the place which the Hollanders had left under a specious pretext of mending their Vessels The Damme being perfected and the shipps sunk in the deepest and hollowest place of the Channell the besieged were reduced to a famine which exceeded that of Jerusalem All their hope was in the English and Buckingham made all the haste he could to succour them who had furnished him with victualls for his Army and now with most instant and urgent supplications begged some back againe from him but he being assassinated by a certaine Englishman Buckingham killed by Felton called Felton who went expresly out of Holland to sacrifice him to the hatred of the People the Fleet was retarded This murderer committed this fact by the meer and onely impulse of zeal to the Religion and so by thinking to forward the businesse he hindered it We very often aspire to that which is against us and reject that which is for us This Duke of Buckingham had entirely disposed of King James and was no lesse in the favour of the King his Sonne though neither his good countenance nor his gracefull carriage nor his liberality nor his courtesie was ever able to winne the People who held him still for the Authour of all imaginable mischief to the Kingdom The Reason of State whereby Princes maintaine Now the King of England being in some misunderstanding with his Brother in Law the King of France sent the Lord Montalgue to the Dukes of Lorraine and Savoy to animate them to a powerfull diversion thereby to withdraw him from this siege What cannot reason of State work upon Princes who ought to have a care to preserve their interests by all rationall meanes By this same reason have the Kings of France maintained the Hollanders and the Protestants By this might it seem lawful to these two Princes to passe by the consideration of Religion By this do the Swissers and the Venetians uphold themselves And the two aforesaid knew well enough that the French having fastened this pinne would not faile to trouble their Neighbours upon the very first occasion since there wanted no pretext besides that perswasion whereby some flatterers will needs make them believe that all Europe belongs to them The Cardinall to whom all these plots and practises were not unknown as having his Pensioners in England as well as elsewhere provided himself for them The Aequinoctiall brought the Fleet which was to break the Damm and put some food into the famished Towne The Damm The Nobility posted thither to serve their King and purchase glory All was hemmed in with Artillery and Souldiers and the passage so stopped as well by the said Damm and variety of Engines as also by the Vessels that the English not seeing any meanes to penetrate retyred The Rochelers of whom there was not
above the tenth part left so much were they wasted with hunger rendered themselves into the hands of their King Rochell being starved yields who took them into his mercy and granted them the free exercise of their Religion but he discharged his just choler upon the Bastions and Works which he caused to be thrown down Never had the Hughenots a more sensible losse then this nor ever had the Catholicks a more gratefull Victorie Nor was the Cardinall without his share thereof the French every where singing his praises raising him to Heaven making him their Angel Guardian and even a God upon earth But this love was quickly changed and this second Tiberius made them feel that he was a Fox and governed himself meerly by the Maxims of Machiavell CHAP. III. The prosecution of the Warre of Denmark unfortunate to the Danes Wallenstein in vain besieges Stralsund The Peace made Tilly passes the Elbe SInce we have left Tilly near the Elbe let us march on with him and see what resistance he findes The terrour was so universal that every body fled yea the souldiers themselves forsook their Canon Forts Arms and Baggage at the very name of this great General Only the Marquis of Dourlac presumed to face about but the Count of Slick quickly made him turn his back and stick to his heels The number of the Gunnes and Colours much illustrated this victory There were no more left Dourlac Calembergh and Nell are beaten then the Generals Calembergh and Nell who being found intrenched were invested by the said Slick and having no hope at all of succour yeelded themselves to him Three thousand horse and two Regiments of Foot took part with the Conquerors But the Generals having gotten possession of Holstein and Iutland there remained yet some Townes to be subdued so that it was necessary to divide the forces to accomplish the work Papenheim was before Wolfenbottel which after it been long blocked up opened him the Gates Nerbrot defeated by Anholt There chanced yer another misfortune in the Countrey of Bremen which drove the Allyes quite out of the Field and it was that General Nerbrot was attacked and without scarce having fought for it utterly routed by Anholt so great power had fear upon such as were staggered by the puissant Genius of victorious Tilly and the souldiers being deserted by their General forgot their duty and embraced that party to which Fortune most inclined What strange felicity had this man yea even higher then that of Iulius Caesar himself since he could more clearly and truly say I came I saw and I overcame Townes besieged by the Imperialists The Armies finding now no more Armies to combat were employed about the taking of Towns by the resistance whereof many souldiers and much time was lost and leasure given the King to fortify himself in the Isles of Funds and Zeland Stade after a huge opposition yeelded to Tilly and Newburgh to the Duke of Brunswick The Imperialists attempted severall times to passe to the Islands but were repulsed with losse God had put bounds to their victories and would not suffer this generous Prince to be quite dispoyled of his kingdom The Conquerors in Meckelenburgh The Dukes of Meckelenburgh took part with the King for Fate it seems would needs involve them in the same disasters But at the arrivall of the Imperial Troops all gave way all stooped the Towns opened their Gates to receive Garrisons and their purses to sweeten the insolencies of the victorious souldiers A hard condition for that poor people who had so long enjoyed the sweet fruits of Peace But who can resist against the cruel lot of Destiny Having recovered some ships they tryed for the last time to passe and re-invest the poor King but were soundly cudgelled and compelled to make towards Pomerama which was already conquered except Stralsund and Steene the former whereof being a Maritime Town was besieged by Arnhem upon the command of his Generall And here it was that Fortune made the Imperialists confesse that if they could domineer by land Wallenstein besieges Stralsund in vain their enemies could do as much upon the water For Wallenstein thought to terrify the besieged by frequent Assaults but not being able to hinder the entrance of the ships he lost an infinity of good souldiers his own labour and some part also of his glory There was a rumour scattered as if he had vanted that he would take Stralsund The King haâ—cen again even though it were hung in the ayer and tyed with Iron chaines The King regained courage and footing in Pomerania but found still that Fortune was yet but his Step-mother as suffering him again to be benten near Wolgast so that he could do no more then re-inforce the besieged who were ready to yeeld and retyre himself into Denmark Canipo was forced by famin and there it was that the French who came to succour the King manifested their valour Gelucstat a strong place upon the River below Hamburgh was long time beleaguered in vain by Tilly who lost both his time and his labour about that as Wallenstein did his before Stralsund In fine a Peace was treated and a Warre finished in five moneths which had lasted five yeares Peace made 1629. The King abandoned by almost all his Allyes who had work enough at home with a Royall and indemptable heart employed all his abilities and industry not only to defend his Islands but also to expell his enemies out of Holstein But the peace concluded at Lubec put a period to all his troubles dislodged the Imperialists since they had lost the hope of conquering the whole Kingdom out of his Territories and freed all the North from the danger whereby it was threatned of a change both in Church and State By this Peace which a certain French Writer terms shameful for the Conquerours as being with intention to dispossess a Catholick Prince of his lawfull succession the King renounced the Provinces of Saxony and so the amity between the two Princes was renewed The Emperour writing to the King told him formally that their quarrel proceeded from nothing but the craft and practises of some certain Merchants The States Generall being fearfull left by so many losses heaped together and the felicity which accompanied this valorous Count the Imperialists should gain Zeland The Hollanders will defend the Sound and make themselves Masters of that famous Streight which is of so much consequence offered to defend it with their ships But the most desired newes of the Peace and Retreat stifled all these apprehensions Whatsoever was past was sunk into the gulph of oblivion all setled is it had been before the Warre and the Emperour gave sufficient testimony that he knew as well how to restore and pardon as to vanquish and that he had taken armes to defend the Majesty of the Empyre and his own Authority not to strip the King of his kingdoms This Peace was
received by all the Subjects of the King as a speciall grace sent them from God but that which was deplorable in it was that he was forced to abandon the cause of his Cousins the Dukes of Meckelenbergh who for having embraced his and followed his Party or rather for having conjoyned their armes with all the members of the Circle were proclaimed Out-lawes The Dukes of Meckelâ—nbergh excluded from Peace Their Dutchy given to Wallenstein and their Dutchy ingaged to Wallenstein who was afterward put in possession thereof as true Duke by the Emperour This proceeding as being very rigorous against Princes of so ancient and so illustrious a Family and totally contrary to Ferdinands clemency made the House of Austria suspected not only of intending to establish her Authority in the North but of making also the very Empire it self Hereditary and to go yet farther too if occasion were offered And this upon the matter was partly the cause of the Swedish warre as we shall shortly demonstrate But let us go into Austria where we shall find very fine house-keeping CHAP. IV The Warre of the Peasants in Austria VVHilest all the North trembled at the Imperial Eagles and that nothing but the salt ayer of the Ocean was able to stop either their flight or their victories behold a little spark in Austria both contemptible and contemned raised within a few moneths such an embarasment as frighted that invincible Monarch at the same time that all the Princes began with good reason to apprehend him through the constant felicity of his Generalls These disorders were caused by diversity of Religion and the Politicians together with such as aspired to change moved them on to that point which we are now going to describe The cause of the Revolt of the Peasants Ferdinand being a very zealous Prince thought it his duty to draw either by fair meanes or foul all his Subjects to the Roman Catholick Religion and his Councell alledged that his Authority would still be wavering as long as there should be any Hereticks in his States And so it was facil to perswade him to a thing which hè conceived to depend upon his conscience Whereupon he commanded all his Subjects either forthwith to embrace the Catholick Religion or depart out of Austria within a certain term prescribed them A bold resolution and found strange opposition He declared in his Letters Pattents that Heresie under the pretext of Liberty of Conscience and Priviledges hatched nothing in her bosome but Revolts Sedition and Devices to shake off the yoke of Soveraigns and lawfull Magistrates Princes look upon the interest of State and the People that of Religion which once lost farewell all respect with it The Peasants must therefore be stirred up to try if luck would turn and whether Fortune would be alwayes fixed with a Diamant-Nayle Complaints were rejected Count Hebersdorf the inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command was first chased away with stones and afterwards fury affoarded other weapons For the said Peasants to the number of ten thousand cut off his forces seazed upon many Castles and small Places and being at lenth re-inforced by forty thousand men and forty Peeces of Ordnance pillaged all Austria sparing neither Priest Monk nor Gentleman The Clergy hath ever served as Fee or prey to the seditious The Emperour wrote to them but they endeavouring to obtain by force what was denied to their supplication disdained to answer him Upon which he dispatched other Embassadours to endeavour to reduce them gently to their duty but they retained them and sent some from themselves to Vienna to demand free exercise of their Religion dismission of the souldiers and a generall pardon for what was past All which they had obtained had not their prosperity by the defeat of some of the Duke of Bavaria's Troops made them undertake more If any grow blind by happinesse it is chiefly the abject sort of the vulgar which waxes temerarily bold when it thinks it self feared But the Town of Lintz which they besieged cowed their courage and speeded the punishment which they had deserved by their rash Rebellion They assaulted it often but were still repulsed with huge losse so that Papenheim who was appointed to chastise them effected it not with so great facility as Trucses and some other Generals had done that of the like seditious Rabble above a hundred years before For he was fain to combat them at least seven times before he could vanquish them so chearfully and stoutly would they rally and defy their victorious enemies even in the fight The Romans found themselves once in great trouble by the revolt of their slaves and yet they more easily quenched that fire though it were even within the Walls of Rome then the Imperialists were able to do this because here was more combustible matter But under what Heads or Leaders Their Generals a Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith did this desperate Crew fight A Schollar a Shoomaker and a Smith With what weapons Sticks Stoones Whips Forks and Muskets And what more Potion and Enchantments To what end If we must judge Effects by their Causes it was for the exercise of Religion and to beat out their Soveraign Magistrate Who were those Aeoluses who letting loose the windes disturbed the Calm and raised their storms It is more easie to conjecture and believe then to prove They are at last defeated in many Encounters by Papenheim After the last defeat the most mutinous of them ran away and the rest pent up at home like slocks of sheep Thus ended this dangerous warre which teaches us how perilous a a thing it is to endeavour to command mens consciences We must contend with the word of God and not with the sword or to say better we must pray with charity for one another and not persecute our selves with arms unlesse we be commanded by Politick necessity The holy Scripture sayes Let the rares grow fear lest you root out the good corne Papenheim acquired no lesse glory nor merited lesse to Triumph then the two other Generals And thus was the Emperour delivered from a most apparent danger by the remotenesse of his Armies Let us now make a leap to the Low-Countries and see what passed there at the beginning of the year 1625. CHAP. V The death of Prince Maurice and of the King of England The Siege of Groll The State of Lorraine The Jubily at Rome Bethleeem makes warre upon the Emperour and obtains peace The death of Maurice 1625. PRince Maurice being returned to the Hague expressed no more then a certain pensiveness and melancholy proceeding from age and as it was believed from the errour committed in that memorable Enterprise upon Antwerp which grew to augment his feaver and brought him at length to his grave His reputation is too much known to speak much of him and the United Provinces would have had cause to be infinitely afflicted at such a loss had he
not left them that worthy Brother and that strong Atlas who forthwith took the burthen of the Government upon his shoulders This was he who firmly fixed this reeling Common-wealth by his Arms took many Townes in Freezland Overysell and Guelders with small charge few men and little bloodshed in such sort as that he merited to be termed as he was the Father of the Souldiers And of King James a peacefull Prince In the same spring also died King James a Prince who much loved Peace and learning After he had the Crown of England upon his Head all the disasters and misfortunes of his House begun upon his Praedecessours were stopped by him as water is by the opposition of a Dam or Bank so to gush out with the greater violence upon his children and succesours as we shall hereafter shew But who can penetrate into the secrets of Gods Judgments He governed his kingdom in peace and maintained his Subjects in riches and delights but there grew up a little Venim which wrought afterwards in fit time The â—vills which we see often happen draw their cause sometimes from afarre off Prince Henry having payed the last duties to his magnanimous Brother departed from the Hague to hinder the designe which the Spaniards had The Spaniards will joyne the Rhein to the Moâ—â— 1626. to joyn the Rhein to the Mose and by the erection of many Forts keep the Hollanders from passing over an Enterprise which unprofitably exhausted their money and made them seem able to make no more then meerly a Defensive warre Jupiter laughed at the Gyants who would scale Heaven Time hath declared the inutility of this work and to what intention also that advice was given For the Hollanders are Masters of that liquid Element and passe it when they will There chanced nothing worthy of note in that toylsome March save only that Count Henry of Bergues beat up the Horse-Quarter brought away the Count of Stirum his Cousin prisoner with some Horse Count Stirum prisoner In revenge whereof the Prince sent Count Ernest to unnestle the Spaniards from Oldenzeel and destroy the nest The Siege of Grol In the year 1627. he laid siege to Grol a small but strong Town upon the Confines of Westphalia which he carried in lesse then a moneth in the sight of a puissant Army Spinola in the mean time was busie about the fortifying of Sandflect a Village between Antwerp and Berghen op Zoom which was a design of more advantage and consideration then that of uniting the two Rivers By this exploit of the Prince it was judged that his Government would prove happy and the vessels loaden with mony which were brought out of Holland by Peter Hein moved him to undertake the siege of Boisleduc which was begun the first of May and ended the seventeenth of September a fatal day to the House of Austria Lorraine was peacefully governed by the wise conduct of Duke Henry son to Duke Charles but his term was but of sixteen yeers The death of the Duke of Lorraine He departed to a better life the twentieth of Iuly 1624. and shortly after him the repose and tranquility of all that Country by the ambition of her Neighbours He left but two Daughters the elder whereof was married to the Count of Vandomonts sonne her Cousin-German The Salick Law in Lorraine The year following the Salick Law having regained vigour and Francis of Vandomont being next heir by the said Law which excludes Females surrendred his right in that Dutchy to his sonne Charles which was approved by the States of the Country and so Charles Duke of Lorraine made his entry into the good City of Nancy and took full possession of the whole Dukedome Now some have written against this said Law as if it were to be observed no where but in France as coming thither with them out of Franconie But most Writers affirm that the ancient Franks established their habitation from the bank of the Rhein to the River of Loire in such sort as that Lorraine being comprised therein and having been also a parcell divided from that kingdom it followes that the Predecessors had the same intention to establish it as well in the kingdom of Austrasia as in that of France and that it hath been tacitly and quietly observed without any dispute Besides that it is proved by the Testament of Renè of Ierusalem Duke of Lorraine and Bar made in the year 1406. by which the Male are called to Succession and the Female excluded as it further appears also by experience it self A Jubily ar Rome This year of 1625. Pope Vrban celebrated an universall Jubily at which the Prince of Poland coming from the Low-Countries was present and the same year the Emperour Ferdinand Crowned his Son King of Hungary invited thereto by the States of that kingdom to be defended by so great and powerfull a Prince against the perpetual ambushes and snares of the inconstant Gabor Nor was it enough that he had one Crown The Crowning of the King of Hungary for that of Bohemia was also resigned him by his Father with the accustomed Ceremonies Let us not leave the Danub which was yet all red with the blood of the Peasants till we shall first have seen that of the Transylvanians and Turks stream also there together with the motives of that Warre Gabor breakes the peace This Gabor being swolne with pride by the Allyance of one of the most illustrious Houses of Germany honoured at his wedding by the presence of the two Emperours besides those of Kings and other Princes found himself tickled by a new desire to Reign and the occasions were so fair that they stifled the Peace so often sworne and so often broaken For the Armies were drawne towards the Baltick Sea and the Bavarians and Pahouheim had work enough with the revolted Peasants Whereupon he passed out of Hungary into Moravia and took many Townes the fear of so unforeseen an evill making the people have recourse rather to God then Armes But Mansfeldt having redressed his Army after being cudgelled in Saxony marched out of Silesia into Hungary and Wallenstein traced him affronted them all together and defeated them Upon this he called the Tartars who passed through Poland to his assistance but they being loaden with pillage were so hotly charged by the Poles The Tartars beaten that they were fain to lay down both their packs and their lives in such sort as that there remained not so so much as one alive to carry the newes so that there were only the Turks upon whom to look now and them he invited but it was only to augment the Triumph of Wallenstein And the Turks by Wallenstein who beat them took their Canon and pillaged their Camp which was full of riches The Grand-Signor desirous to keep the Peace called back his Troops and their departure gave Gabor Gabor repents and obtaines peace both disgust and
repentance for having so often offended the Emperour who was loaden with victorious lawrel and therefore he sent his Embassadours who found Ferdinand as ready to pardon as their Master had been light to offend and so he was content to accept all the conditions proposed to him by the Conquerors signe the Peace and be quiet The Hungarians rejoyced hereat because those disturbances held them in continual Alarmes And this was the end of the warres of Hungary and Austria besprinkled with the blood of the Peasants and Barbarians Let us now suffer them to repose some years and return again towards the Septemptrion CHAP. VI. Gustave King of Sweden attacks Borussia or Prussia The Imperialists succour the Polanders A Truce is made for six years PEace being made being made between the Emperour and the King of Denmark the Imperialists departed out of Holstein and all the other occupated places The Stralsundians under the protection of King Gustave who enters into Prussia and dispersed themselves throughout all Meckelenburgh and Pomerania The Citizens of Stralsund grown sturdy and proud by having eluded the Attacks of Wallenstein put themselves by content of the King of Denmark under the King of Swedens protection This action much displeased Ferdinand begat the most dreadfull warre of this Age and opened the passage to the Swedes to come and usurp a good part of the Empyre after having troubled it all Gustavus Adolphus having made himself Master of Livonia endeavoured to do as much with Prussia where he had powerful Correspondents When there there is not strength enough recourse must be had to shifts He entred unresisted with a puissant Navy took and fortified the Pilaw passed to Elbing which yeelded out of affection as also many other Places Onely Brunsbergh a Catholick Town durst make defence and was taken by constraint Takes many Towns All trembled between hope and fear love and hate and the desire of novelty seemed to prevail over ancient duty We desire saith the Poet alwayes that which is denyed us and labour to obtain that which is forbidden us I have heard some men of that Country worthy of credit affirme that if the King had drawn neer Dansick with the same bosdnesse and resolution that he did before Elbing it is very probable that the Citizens would have made their accommodation with him But opinion is as much subject to falshood as truth The River Wistule parts it self into branches the one whereof bathes Elbing and the other passes through Dansick and a little below it shoots it self into the sea Makes a Fort at the separation of the River The King lost no time but gained the Point and built a Fort there like that of Schenck at the separation of the Rheyn The River being thus bridled the Polanders who were wont to bring their corn to Dansick in certaine long Boats which they call Canes chose rather now to let it moulder and perish at home then carry it at a most vaste charge through their Enemies Quarters which caused a dearth in Holland and incommodated the Traffick so much that had this Warre lasted any long time it would have done the Spaniards businesse there The Polanders who boasted that they could easily drive out the Swedes made no great haste to put their Army into the Field The Polanders slight their enemies but were much amazed to see so many Trenches and the Townes which were lost half fortified in a trice There occurred many ambiguous Fights but the matter was never brought to a generall decision The Swedes made Warre after the Holland fashion and the Poles after the French and these were beaten before Strasburgh and those before Torn Generall Arnhem came to succour the Polanders but he brought them more hurt then good A truce made for six moneths In sine by the intervention of the Count d' Auanx Embassadour of France and those of the States Generall a Truce was made for six years to the great contentment of the Hollanders who were full of joy before by the gaining of Boisleduc which how it came to be taken the strength thereof making it held impregnable I will forthwith declare King Gustane being fortified by the relicks of the Polish Army marched back into Sweden to deliberate of the Germane Warre which was undertaken not by any Right but Usurpation and more for conveniency and jealousie then any justice at all Whatsoever other Princes do is lawfull merits praise and is put into the necessity of their affaires onely the House of Austria is guilty and culpable She must endure all and if the Lot of Warre favour her against such as presume to shook her she must not resent it but make a stop to her Victorie to avoyd the being accused of Usurpation The Empyre hath been too long in her possession it must be torn out of her hands though it were to be done by the destruction of the Catholick Religion and the fundamentall Lawes But great Preparatives call us back into Holland there is some huge Designe to which they are invited by the disorder of the Spaniards CHAP. VII The Siege of Boisleduc The Imperialists under Montecuculi joyne with the Count of Bergh who enters in Velaw The taking of Wesel THe Hollanders well knowing the Situation Fortification and Importance of Boisleduc were wont to say as by a common Proverb to demonstrate the small apparance there was of taking it I will pay you when Boisleduc is * Ours or of our Partâ— all which were called Gueuse Gueuse that is to say I will never pay you But the event hath manifested the contrary this Town having closely followed Rochell which was conceived to be unbesiegable in regard of the Haven But in this detestable Age there hath been nothing found impregnable for wickednesse being every where the Sword enters every where all gives way to Injustice and Impiety Nothing is able to resist insolence nothing so sacred but it is prophaned nothing so solid but it is moved and nothing so firme but it is broken The Prince of Orange seeing the Emperours forces employed in Denmark and Austria and those of Spaine a ground by the taking of the Indian Silver Fleet and carrying it to Amsterdam egged on from abroad and inflamed also with desire of taking this place by the very difficulties there were in it resolved after having maturely picked out all the circumstances to go a Maying there the last of April 1629. His Intelligences both within and without the Town were not small and the obstacles which offered themselves in bulke very great But considering that the greater the difficulties be the more luster they give to Vertue he slighted all Fortune forwards the stout The Siege of Boisleduc and hinders the timid He invested it with an Army of thirty thousand men and speedily finished his Trenches and Lines of Communication whilest they were disputing at Brussels who should command their Army Henry of Bergh General of the Army Count
other purpose then to make the constance of the Townsmen admired augment the story of King Lewis the Inst and elevate that of the Cardinal above the Stars A very great and most acceptable Victory to France had she remained in the same liberty which she enjoyed during the potency of this Town A most damnable victory to the House of Austria which the French themselves accuse of having then forgotten her interest A victory which ruined and brought to a full stand or Non-plus all that Party which divided the Kings Authority A Victory which gave that great Cardinal one half of his honour and upon which he founded the highest and most constant power that ever any Minister had to the ruine of many most illustrious Families and old Priviledges the confusion of all Christendom and even of his own great Benefactresse her self Now since the English had rather hindred then furthered the Party and were accused of being the cause of this irreparable losse a resolution was taken to seek to some other support elsewhere and so an Embassadour was dispatched into Spain to represent to that King that interest he had to keep this Party The Duke of Rohan deâ—â—ands siâ—â—cour in Spain and to beseech him to send mony only and to remember the King of France's Allyance with the Hollander whom he maintained with as much heat and zeal as if they were his own subjects and of his own Religion Whereupon the Spaniards by the permission of the Counsell Conscience resolved upon it thereby to give as many vexations to the King of France within his kingdom as they received from him in the Low-countries But the said Embassadour The death of the Negotiatour or Necessitator though a subject of the King of Spaines was taken and condemned to death by order of the Parliament of Tholosa his innocence founded upon the action of a publick Minister serving him for nothing however this Decree were censured by such as had not their eyes vailed by passion and who could speak freely of it without danger Makes his peace with the King and all obey King Lewis discovered all their plots and prevented them by the prudence of the Cardinal and having made but a slight peace with the said Duke he fell with his Army upon the Vivaret surprised Privas and took it by open force chastised insolence by putting all to sword treated well the Townes which submitted and assured them of the free exercise of their Religion Upon this the Duke had recourse to his clemency and he graciously embraced him and augmented his Pension Castras Niemes and some other places which might have given a long trouble also submitted without any other punishment inflicted upon then the demolishment of their new Fortisications which Commandment was of hard digestion to them of Montauban who were nevertheless disposed to obedience by the Cardinals presence and the force of his eloquence who alledged that the King could not endure any fortified place in his kingdom And so in fine they stooped and with regret enough brake down that which gave the jealousie which could not be obtained from them by violence and the noise of the Canon Time ripens all things and that which in the precedent Age was judged impossible hath been found feasible in this The end of the Hughenot Party This was the end of the Hughenot Party in France which had given so much labour and toyle to the Kings and so divided their jurisdiction It took birth from the doctrine of Luther and Calvin passed infancie under Henry the second got vigour and strength under Francis the second grew to strong youth under Charles the ninth and Henry the third through the favour of the Princes of the Blood enemies to the power and authority of the Dukes of Guise and by the valour of the King of Navarre It obtained free Exercife and some Townes of safety under Henry the fourth and remained quiet and without commotion out of respect and reverence to so great a Prince But under Lewis the thirteenth finding it self abandoned by some of the principall Heads it began to stagger and at last vanished quite away in such sort as that though the Religion be still there there is yet no formed party and the root of the ambition of the Grandies who under the shadow of Religion did very often disturb honest people on both sides is quite cut off Their distrust which is called the companion of safety which they conceived they should not be able to find in the Kings word made them often importune the Queen-Regent and the marriage with the Infanta of Spain a Nation which they abhorre above all other made them joyn to the Prince of Conde to hinder it which much hastened their disgrace The King being declared Maâ—or recovered Bearn more by veneration then by force and more by the brightnesse of his Majesty then by that of his sword He was the pralude of the first warre speeded by their Assembly at Rechel Father Arnour and counselled by Father Arnour who was preferred by the Duke of Luynes to the direction of the Conscience and partly also of the favour of his Majesty But as the said Luynes made the Fortune of this able â—esuit so did he also soon unmake it thereby to free himself from the jealousie it gave him Saumur The taking of Townes Saint Ieand ' Angeli and a great number of other Towns Burghs and Villages fortified were taken with incredible successe There was no more left then Montauban which forced the Conquerours to retreat and in some sort dimmed their Triumph The year following produced the Kings constant resolution to be obeyed and to punish the revolted Towns the reduction of Moutpeillâ—er and the Peace which followed by the counsell of the Constable d' Edignieres Edigniereâ— This Lord being of a mean extraction grew to be elevated to the highest Charge of France through all the degrees of a souldier His life and had heaped up a huge deale of treasure Not with standing his Belief which was the same of the Reformates he alwayes kept his faith inviolable with the King and was by consequence but little loved by the most zealous of the Party Makes himself a Catholiâ—â—â— A little before his death he embraced the Roman Catholick Religion as having promised it in a frollick to Urban as soon as he should come to the Pontificat The second warre made the Hugenots loose the Lordship of the Sea The third being begun with the assistance of a stranger was consummated by the direction of that potent Cardinal and so the whole conduct of that great Vessel was restored into the hands of the just and milde King Lewis Let us go into Hungary to see the end of the fickle and busy Gabor CHAP. IX The Death of Bethleem Gabor Ragoski his Suceessour The Marriage of Ferdinand the third with the King of Spain's Sister The death of Gabor BEthleem Gabor growne wise by
Troops assured himself of the Passe or Streight of the Suze and compelled the Spaniards to raise the Siege wherein he was better obeyed then the Emperour himself But the short durance of the Peace with the Hughenots in France obliged him to returne and humiliate theâ—o It is now time to send part of our forces from the Baltick Sea to carry the Eagles thither where they first commanded Fordinand to uphold his Authority dispatched thither an Army of twenty thousand men under the conduct of the Generals Alâ—ring and Galasso who having seazed upon the Passage of the Grisons effused themselves into Italy and got into their clutches the whole Dutchy of Mantua with as much good luck The Imperialists in Italy lesiege Mantua in with as the French did that of Savoy except only the Head City which they also besieged but the jealous Venatians endeavouring to remove all such as might be able to give their State any cause of apprehension were not slack in setting their hands stoutly to work for the Duke though yet the Imperialists took Goite from them and carried away all the booty or pillage thereof to their Camp But the French coming in the nick craftily snapt two Sentinels entred into a Quarter and put a huge number of them to the Sword So that the other finding the season improper and the small apparence there was of carrying the place retyred themselves much diminished into Garrison CHAP. XI The continuation of the warre of Italy The Venetians beaten Pignarola taken Mantua taken and pillaged The Peace made with restitution on both sides The Venetians beaten by Galasso THis retreat gave the Venetians a desire to retake Goite but they were broken by Galasso Whereupon they re-assembled their forces and having recruited and ingrossed them put them selves again in a posture of fighting wherein they were the second time put to flight and above six thousand killed and taken together with all their Artillery This losse much amazed the Republick But Fortune was more favourable to the French who as we have already said after the taking of Rochel shewed themselves very hot for the defence of the Duke of Nevers True it is that the Kings dangerous sickness at Lyons had almost been the cause of slackening this generous ardour and they who looked asquint upon the Cardinals potencye seemed to prognosticate that his ruine was at hand Envy still followes the Charrior of a growing Power And the Savoyers by the French The French took Pignarola and were re-inforced by the Swissers and this loss which was most sensible to the Duke was followed by many other The Spaniards were beaten by Monsieur de Bassompiere Cambery taken and Montmclian besieged The Duke of Guise landed near Nice to go joyne with the Army The King sent the Duke of Montmorancy towards Piedmont and followed himself afterwards Prince Thomas presuming to dispure his entrance with twelve thousand men was beaten the Colours presented to the King being the honour and all Piedmont the reward of the victory In such sort as that the poor Duke of Savoy who had so often ventured to contest sometimes with one of the Crowns and sometimes with the other found himself quite spoyled of his States For having nothing lest but Turin and not daring to shut himself up there he resolved to keep the key of the Fields and let the Mountains oppose the victorious Party by seeking to preserve his liberty in desert and inaccessible places We must here take notice of the Martial generosity of the French who in the beginning of warre are invincible make all bow to their Armes break through all oppositions and as soon take whole Provinces as other Nations do Towns but by the too sudden loss of patience on the other side Their impatience they grew also to loose whole Provinces almost as soon as other Nations do Townes Now Fortune favoured the Imperialists every where which they made both the Venetians and the Duke of Nevers feel For they returned the Siege upon Mantua and took it at length by a fine Stratagem Mantua taken by atrick of warre For the besieged by their frequent Sallies being reduced to a very small number demanded the succour of five thousand men from the Venetians and Letters being intercepted gave the Besiegers occasion to serve themselves of this trick to catch besieged They secretly drew into the field the number of men demanded who by a fight with powder without shot got near to one of the Gates which being forthwith opened by some who thought them to be Venetians they made themselves Masters of the Town to the great astonishment of the Inhabitants who were sacked by their imaginary Auxiliaries and the Duke yeelding up the Castle by Composition was conducted together with his wife and children to Ferrara Spinola before Casal This victory swelled up the spirits of the Imperialists and made the Spaniards continue the Siege of Casal under the command of Marquis Spinola who had acquired so much glory in the Low-countries and Toiras who was all crowned with lawrell for the honour he atchieved by the defence of the Fort of Saint Martin against the English defended the Cittadel The French making a shew to go and attack the Dutchy of Milan wheeled suddenly about upon the Besiegers the state whereof was this The Town and Castle were already yeelded to the Marquis and the Cittadel had capitulated that in case there came not sufficient succour to beat them from thence within a certain term which was the fifteenth of October Monsieur de Toiras was to march out The French Army appeared in Battaile array neare the Trenches and the Spaniards put themselves in posture to receive it The death of Spinola and of the Duke of Savoy All seemed to laugh upon the French by the death of the Marquis who was taken out of this world by the Plague and Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy being being stripped of his States and overwhelmed with grief and warre payed also his tribute to Nature When two great Bulls are ready to rush together and shock one another the whole Heard stand still and attend with trembling the issue of the Combat In the same manner was Italy the spectatresse of this furious shock and had no cause at all to rejoyce But it pleased God that by the Popes intercession The peace was made by the addresse of Cardinal Mazarin and Cardinall Mazarin's dexterity who made himself known by this first negotiation the Peace being concluded at Vienna was brought to the Armies just when the Trumpets were going to sound to draw the sword A fair escape happy newes By vertue of this Peace the French returned into France and restored all to the Duke of Savoy except onâ—ly Piguarola which had been privately bought by the said Cardinal A politick subtilty to have the Gate into Italy alwayes open mixt with Cousenage as the Spaniards say who rendred Montferrat as the Germans likewise did
despicable in many places And moreover the peaceful nature of some Emperours hath made them seeke rest and neglect the Rights of Majesty The Empire is not Haereditary but Elective and when the Emperour is dead The King of the Romans is elected for great affairs the Archbishop of Mentz writes to the rest of the Electors to assemble themselves at Francfurt within three months either in person or else to send their Embassadours During the Interreign or Vacancy the Elector Palatin is the Vicar or Lieutenant and he who is elected King of the Romans is declared Heir There three Ecclesiastical Electors and four Secular The Arch-Bishops of Mentz Trevirs and Colein The King of Bohemia the Prince Palatin the Duke of Saxony and the Marquis of Brandenburg who are not Kings but may stile themselves the said Kings Companions Being assembled at Francfurt they make Oath to the Elector of Mentz they will chuse one who shall be capable of the Charge They are obliged to finish the Election within thirty dayes and may not go out of the Town till all be accomplished If the voices happen to be equal he who receives the King of Bohemia's Vote is infallibly proclaimed Emperour The King of the Romans is not chosen during the life of the Emperour but for great Affaires and he cannot any way faile of succession as soon as the Emperour is dead All is observed according to the Golden Bull of Charles the fourth The King of the Romans is obliged to take Oath that he will not seeke to make the Empire Haereditary to his House but that he will maintain all the Rights and Splendor thereof There are two Fundamental Laws namely the Golden Bull and the Imperial Capitulation to the maintaining whereof he is bound by Oath Which makes me finde their opinion very weake who praesume to sustaine that the Emperour is a Mouarch in regard that his Authority is so parted and divided between him and the Electors that it looks as if they were associated to help him beare this heavy burthen Besides since Germany hath been so distracted by the diversity of Doctrines the Protestants have inhaunced so much of the Majesty to themselves through the too timorous bounty and moderation of some Emperours since Charles the fifth that his hath been but little more acknowledged and adored both in Germany and Italy And therefore it is no wonder if the Eagles Triumphant by so many Victories have endeavoured to look back upon some Rights which are now so many years old and if a general Conspiracy of the Neighbours of the said Protestantes have been made to hinder old Praetensions though grounded upon very much equity and justice But those forreign Princes who have thrust themselves into this quarrel have stopped their eyes to justice opened them to interest of State and to the means of either praeserving or ingrandishing themselves CHAP. XIV A discription of the three States of the Empire The Hans-Towns SInce we have spoken as much as is necessary to our purpose of the Emperour and the King of the Romanes his Vicar or Successour it concerns us to say also somewhat of the States of the Empire The first State The first and prime State therefore is that of the Electours as being the nearest to the Head or Chief They are the Fathers and Senatours and the maine and firme Prop of this Edifice They assist with their prudence the Head which they have chosen and are compared with the Kings of Europe The Ecclesiasticks have the precedencie in this ranck first the Archbishop of Mentz next he of Trevirs and then he of Celein The King of Bohemia the Duke of Bavaria who was advanced to the Electoral dignity by the deposition of the Prince Palatin and then he of Saxonie and he of Brandenburgh The second State is constituted first by foure Archbishops namely of Magdeburgh Salsburgh Bremen and Besansow The second State after whom follows the great Master of the Tentonick Order And afterwards there take place one and thirty Bishops who are followed by ten or eleven Abbots with the Title of Princes as the Abbot of Fulda c. The secular Princes are placed after these Ecclesiasticks and are in number eighteen Families the first whereof is that of the Archdukes of Austria divided into two branches namely of Germany and Burgundy And this Family hath of much praeheminence above that of the other Princes as the Archbishops have above the Bishops Then follows that of Bavaria of Saxonie of Brandenburgh c. After which sit the Abbesses as there of Quedelemburgh of Esson c. Some whereof have both the effect and title of Princesses And lastly sit the Counts and Barons whereof there is a great number Reinking to whom I referre the curious calculates about eight and fifty of them The third State The third state is compleated by the Imperiall and free Towns which are sixty five in number or thereabouts and they are to be considered two wayes the former and more noble whereof is that they immediately depend upon the Emperour and have nothing at all to do with any body else and the other that these also depend upon the Emperour but yet they owe some small recognitance to the Prince Lord or Praelat in whose territories they are seated however they leave not thereby to be free and to enjoy the rights of Royalty So that these Towns possesse the ancient liberty the priviledges of Princes have their Session and Vote in the Diets and are tearmed the Noble member and Pillars of the Empire wherein they are incorporated neither more nor lesse then the Princes and Praelats They are divided into two Benches The foure first are Lubeck Metz Auxburgh and Aix or Aquisgraue The other being in the quality of Subjects to Empire are not called There is yet another companie of Towns which by vertue of the union are called Hans-Towns The Hans-Towns which are composed partly of such as are free and partly Provinciall and obnoxious This said company or Vâ—â—â—ns hath no other ayme or end then that of commerce and it was approved first by Charles the fourth It hath foure Classes or Metropolitan Cities to wit Lubeck Colem Brunswick and Dansick and they have an annuall Assembly at Lubeck where they have their Charters or Rolls But theire last warrs have much altered all the orders which were formerly kept The ten Gerclet The German Empire is distributed into ten Cercles Franconia Bavaria Austria Swevia that of the upper Rheyn and that of the four Electours towards the Ribeynâ— Wastphaliaâ— Saxanie Low-Saxonie and Burgundy Now the Emperour as he is head of the Romane Empire is bound to swear that he will defend all the priviledges of the Empire but that doth not at all derogate from his Majesty in regard that all Kings at their consecration do the same and he is also greater then all the Members of the Empire and may command them as having received homage from them
though yet indeed when souldiers are once gotten into a place by force they make no account at all of command But really had they been able to enjoy this victory by an honourable composition they would have been able by the conveniencie of the passage and the Bridge to keep the warre alwayes in Meckclemburgh succour the places besieged and have Westphalia behind them for a little before the taking of this Town they had forsaken the Bridge of Dassaw upon information that the King was coming thither and for fear least he should serve himself of the said passage But however these sparkles incompassed all Germany with a fire which lasted till the year 1649. Change of Religion Commodityes Allyances Situation and Traffick had made this Town very insolent with impunity but the pot goes so often to the water that at length it returns crackt As long as the Relicks of St. Norbert rested there they saved according to the opinion of many the Town from the thunderbolt but after they were secretly stolne way the wrath of heaven fell upon it and crushed it Had not Vlyffes stolne the Image of Minerva Troy had not perished Magdeburgh being lost in her ruins and the poor inhabitants buryed or burnt in their houses nothing was left to the conquerours but a just displeasure to see the desolation thereof Tilly marched with his army entred into Saxonie Tilly goer into Saxonie took many Towns wrote to the Duke and assured him that if he renounced not the League he would compell the Emperour to call strangers into Germany as well as the Protestants had done by inviting the Swedes and all the Princes by choosing Gustave for head of the union and Protectour of the Interests of the said League The Electour was extremly afflicted to see his countrey was become the Theater where all the Armyes were to begin the tragaedie But he was reproached that it was the recompence of the so many and so great services as he had done his Imperiall majesty and that as being a Lutheran he ought to be chased our as well as the rest Wherefore he beseeched the King to make haste but he temporizing and demanding Wittembergh for his retreat he offered him all his Country by which franknesse he gave him so much contentment that he resolved to succour him without any condition at all Before this Gustave worsted Tilly before the Fort of Werben for he suffered him to draw neer him Tilly beaten near Werben under praetext that his Canon was nayled and Tilly having sent spies to his Camp for this effect and understanding that all was quiet conceaved that his enterprize would not faile to succed and so was repulsed with much losse and a little after he lost yet three Regiments more whereby he was taught that he had to do with a man who was neither Novice nor Apprentice and that he must dispute lustily to get any advantage upon him But he was not aware that his mifortune followed him to closely and that his thirteen years Victorie was to be shortly contaminated by the losse of one only Battail a Battail I say which overthrew the house of Austria destroyed so much and so great progresse and exposed the Catholicks to great afflictions Lansbergins foretold There shall come a King from the North who shall cause troubles in Germany Oh Bishops said he how much will you have to suffer c. CHAP. XXI The Battail of Leipsick The flight of the Imperialists The battail of Leipsick the 17 of September 8631 KING Gustave being joyned to the forces of the Electours a resolution was taken to goe and face General Tylly who having the wind favourable and taken the Town of Leipsick incamped himself hard by and stood fast to expect the Armyes of the confederates This Battail wherein were hazarded the Capps of two Electours the liberty of the Princes of Germany the conquests of so many years and the whole hope of the Roman Catholicks was very bloudy and the old bands which had never been scensly gave ground here The Saxons began the Shock or Onser whilest the king enlarged his Camp to get the winde But they withstood it not long before they ran and their very flight made the King winne the Victorie We are taught by hurt and misfortune it selfe is good for something There needed nothing to cause disorder for the Imperialists pursued the Saxons so far that they gave the Swedes occasion to gain with little trouble their Camp their Canon and the Winde and Generall Horne flanking them in their pursuite put them into such confusion that they knew not one another and hindred them from returning to their own Body from whence they had more hotly then wifely unfastened them selves Tilly seeing this rowte gave order for the Canon to be regained whereupon Papenheim with his Horse gave the Swedes two such furious Charges as that had it not been for the presence of brave King Gustave it was likely that they who had alwayes been accustomed to vanquish would also have triumphed now But he exhorting his men both by his Majesty actions and eloquence and a terrible execution being done upon the Imperialists as well by their own Canon as by that of their Enemies their Cavalrie began to fly Tilly followed though he were wounded and thereby gave the lye to such as had impudently published that he was invulnerable by vertue of some certain Characters or Charms If the Imperiall Horse had done their duty as well as the foot theirs the confederates had runne hazard to loose all But the Foot being abandoned The valour of the Imperial Foot fought so valliantly that they were faine to turne the ordnance upon five Regiments which were rallyed and fortifyed a part before they could break them All the Baggage Artillery Munition and sixscore Coulers fel into the Conquerours hands Now who will have forward trust to his own strength and power Who will presume to rely upon the number of his Victories Who will beleeve that fortune can be stopped with a Nayle of Diamant You see that an Army of foure and twenty thousand Caprains that is all old Souldiers were broaken in the plaine and open Field Was iâ— for want of courage or experience By no meanes By whom By Souldiers who understood it better then they Neither shall we finde the cause in the Justice of the Party Least of all for every one thinks he hath equity on his side and besides we must not judge of Right and Valour by ambiguous and underraine events Moreover we are taught by practice that Fortune ranges her self ordinarily with usurpers because they are full of courage and the Countreys they hold of ill humours factions and partialities This bloody battail which was the seventh of September 1631 which was called a Day of blood by the famous Astrologer Horlicins and which changed the countenance of the Affaires of Germany And the news of this victorie which got strength by going unspeakably rejoyced
Wallenstein takes the Generalat with conditions of toâ— much advantage An Earth-quake at Naples the Mountain of Soma vomited fire THe Hollanders amazed at the admirable progresse of the King of Sweden conceived that it would be for the interest of all the Allyes as well as their own for them to assayle their enemies They were Masters by Sea without controversie And after the taking of the Money-Fleet they seazed upon the Bay and Town of Todos los Santos or All-Saints where the booty they got was great enough to excise their desire to seek more But the King of Spain taking it from them again obliged them to go and attack the Town of Olinda in Pharnambus which deligne issued well and all the Country there about followed quickly after without much resistance In such sort as that the two Branches of the House of Austria tryed almost by turns the cruel effects of that inconstant Goddesse however she have not strength enough to make them loose their courage they having means sufficient to maintain and uphold themselves Now the Spaniards were afflicted with so many losses both by Sea and Land that they resolved to endeavour some revenge They secretly prepared a Fleet of Shalops and vanted of great secrets yea that there was a certain Priest who would make souldiers go under the water and fly in the ayre c. The Hollanders were allarmed at this and Prince Henry incamped himself in the Isse of Tertollen to watch the designes of the Enemy The Fleet hoysed Sayle passed through the mouth of Safting The Fleet of Shallops taken the thirteenth of September 1651. and turned round about the Island but for want of good Pilots to observe the Tyde and staying for some Shalops which were aground in the sands they lost the time and gave it to the Hollanders to attack them and take them as it were in a field of corn and that without so much as fighting for they all rendred themselves up to the mercy of their Enemies and their Cavalry which was come to the bank to help them was fain to return as it came There were more then four thousand prisoners who were all pillaged and then put to ransom by a singtilar favour of the Prince of Orange for they were taken because they could not fly not walk under water and in a place where there was no quarter to be given The truth of their design was never yet known some thought it was upon Willeinstadt others to make Fortresses and separate Holland from Zeland This great victory happened the thirteenth of September 1631 and that of the King of Sweden four dayes after An Earthquake at Naples About two moneths after there chanced a terrible Earthquake at Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many horrible bellowings vomited out burning streams of fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea and cast out a huge deale of ashes The Hill of Soma This was renewed the year following in the moâ—eth of February with so great hurt and losse to the circumjacent places is well in houses men women children and cattell that it cannot be expressed nor comprehended Those three aforesaid losses astonished the House of Austria which to put a powerfull stop to the impetuous torrent of the victories of King Gustave her most dangerous Enemy who was inseparably accompanied both by Fortune and Favour cast her eyes upon the Duke of Frithland a most happy and most experimented Captain who in the affront of having been deprived of his charge received an incomparable contentment from Count Tilly's misfortunes And so Embassadours were dispatched to mitigate him Wallensiein retakes the Generalship and offer him the Generalship again and with most ample Commissions and a huge summe of money He suffered himself to be much intreated and courted covering his ambition or rather his vengeance with a thousand dissimulations But at last under conditions which divided the Soveraign authority he was brought to accept it and forth with gave Pattents for the raising of sixty thousand men and so there was an Army of forty thousand on foot as it were in the twinkling of an eye as if with striking his foot against the ground he had raised souldiers and he Generalissimo or Chief Genorall of all the Emperours Armies and Arbitratour of Peace and Warre It often happens that when we endeavour to shuune one kind of Rocks or Sand-banks we hit against another Necessity seemed to command this extremity and to remit the course of affaires to the Divine Providence He did both good and evill and received at length the Crown of his works CHAP. XXIIII George Landgrave of Darmstadt obtains newtrality and why Horne beaten by Tilly The King makes his entry at Nuremberge and Tilly retires The King takes Donawerdt passes the Leck makes Tillyes forces retreat with confusion Tillyes death his Elogies The Siedge of Ingolstadt The taking of Ratisbone Divers instructions of the Embassadours of France The Eagle in danger succoured by whom THe rejoycing which was caused by the Kings victory before Leipsick in the Vnited Provinces to see themselves freed from great apprehension was very much whereas the other as also all the subjects of the Crown of Spaine expressed no lesse sadnesse and cryed aloude that it was high time to arme and stop the progresse of these Goths least both the Empire and all Europ should come to be destroyed by them Between this joy and fear of the people King Gustave played not truant King Guestave posses the Rheyn but having made his entry into Francfurt like a great Conquerour he receaved the Embassadours and Congratulations of his Friends His Armes had droven his enemyes over the Rheyn and therefore he resolved also to passe it and the Spaniards who came to relieve the Electour of Mentz endeavoured to hinder him but they were not able to resist his happinesse and so they gave way to force though not to industrie He took Wormes Spiers and Oppengeim only Mentz and Creutznach made a shew of defence but were quickly compelled to follow the other and the Spaniards either to repasse the Mosell or to be shut up in Frankendal The King having visited the Seate of the mouth of the Mayne resolved to build a strong Town Gustave burgh under his own name opposite to Mentz below Francfurt and so he set men on worke about it and many great Lords built faire houses there but both this Town and the Victories of this great Prince vanished away a few years after as we shall shortly shew Amongst all the Princes of the confession of Auxburgh The Landgrave of Darmstedt obtaines new trality there was none but George Landgrave of Darstadt who kept newtrality and fidelity to the Emperour He sent to demand it also of the King by his Embassadours whom he answered that he wondered that he came not himself in Person since he was so neer Whereupon the Prince assembled the principal Ministers of his Countrey and proposed to
them the Oath which he had made to his Father never to bear Arms against the Emperour unlesse he forced him in his Law or Religion and made war upon him and asked them whether in this conjuncture it were lawfull for him to break it without any wrong done him by the said Emperour or any dammage at all brought upon him by his Souldiers They all held the Negative and with this sentence he went to the King at Francfurt and so handsomly represented his reasons to him that he obtained what he asked Whilest Gustave was in doubt whether he should go down the Rheyn where all was full of fear and trembling to seaze upon Colein he receaved newes that Tilly had beaten Horne in Bambergh defeated foure thousand of his men took twenty Pieces of Canon a multitude of Coulers Horne beaten by Til'y and made a shew to attack Nuremberge This was the last favour Fortune did this Darling of hers whom she abandoned to court another Whereupon he instantly marched wich all diligence and Tilly not knowing what to doe was constrained to retyre speedily by a strong accident which was that his powder took fire did a great deal of hurt amonst the Baggage-Waggons and drew this complaint out of the mouth of this old Souldier Let us retyre said hee For it is high time since fortune turns her back to us Indeed he had reason for she was preparing him a bed of honour Who repasses the Danub upon which he was quickly to repose He was followed by the King who entred Nurembergh in Triumph and that illustrious Senate presented him with a Goulden Globe as a Symbol of the Monarchie which they prognosticated for him But he foresaw not the misfortune which he was to suffer that Summer For being accompanyed by King Frederick who came from the Haghe in the middle of Winter to see his Countrey and his Deliverer and after compelments falling to treat of businesse the conditions displeased him and changed the love which the Princes bore him into diffidence which was so much the greater by how much the lesse they durst shew it Oh! the inconstance of things in this world Oh I how subject is all to change Is refulsed He took Donawerdt and passed the River Look in despight of poor Tillyes resistance who though crazed with age left not yet to encourage his Souldiers His death till he was mortally wounded and then they retyred a gallop though with an orderly retreat enough to Ingolstadt where this famous Captain dyed of his wounds His elogies He was by birth a Walloon and a Gentleman He had alwayes been happy til the last year when he tryed the effects of the inconstancie of fortune He was one of the most Valliant and Prosperous Warryers that ever bore Arms. He dyed on a bed of honour for the defence of the Church and his Prince Honours to Gustave at Auxburgh Rain and Newburgh were yeelded to King Gustave and the Citizens of Auxburgh opened their gates singing his praises and exhibiting all the honours and testimonies of amitie that could be given to any mortall man Yea I know there were some who wore his Medall with as much love and reverence as the Roman-Catholicks doe their Relicks or Agnus Dei They took the oath of Fidelity to him as to their lawful Lord and consented to the destroying down of the faire Gardens about the Town to begin the fortifications This done he turned towards Swaveland where the Lutherans who make the biggest party in that Province The exploits of the Swedes in Sware rendered themselves to him and received Garrisons from him nor was there scarce any but Lindow a Town situated upon the Lesk which remained constant Italy was allarmed by the report of so great prosperitie and Feria the Governour of Milan made an Army to defend the entry Some trembled and others who desired change of State and Money rejoyced But the mischief went no further the Italians had but the feare for their punishment was able enough to fall upon them without expecting it from the hand of strangers The Siege of of Ingolstadt Ratisbone taken by the Bavarians The King having brought so many faire Towns in Swaveland under his Laws whilest the Saxons afflicted Bohemia and Papenheim domineered in Brunswick returned to the Siege of Ingolstadt a fatal Town to the Protestants full of spight to hear that the Elector of Bavaria had craftily seized upon Ratisbone an Imperial Town which he fortifyed as being wholly his own and upon which depended the ruine of that which he went to besiege in vaine The Letters which had been written by the Inhabitants of the said town being intercepted gave the Bavarians opportunity to enter at a Gate which was opened them as thinking them to be Swedes The traitours went to pot the town was saved from pilladge and the Inhabitants condemned to a forfeit of Money and to work about the fortifications They had forgotten gotten their Oath to the Emperour and the Empire and novelty and the triumph of the Swedish Armies had dazled the eyes of the Protestants who like Israel sung their deliverance Ingolstadt in the mean while saw the principal forces of the Protestants before her Walls and if she yeilded farewel Bavaria But the King found work here and this was the first town which taught this great Conquerour that he was to have bounds to his Victories besides that he was very likely to loose his life by a Cannon Bullet The Elector feeling himselfe so roughly attacked by an enemy whom he had never offended unlesse Princes take the occasion to hurt for an offence sent the French Resident Monsieur de Sainct Estienne to the King to remonstrate to him that in regard he was so deeply ingaged in the Allyance with the King of France he could not be assailed by him A notable observation without making himselfe his enemy The Resident spake confidently with him and endeavoured to divert him some other way but the King interrupted him and said I know your Masters intentions better then you do and for the rest I pardon your French liberty for you are not sent to me in the quality of an Embassadour But the President followed his instructions and Monsieur de Carnasse his in such sort as that these two being both Officers of the same Master fell to difference and were very like also to come to blowes This was not the first prank of activity which the Cardinal played in Germany though it were well observed by the Elector and would have been taken for couzenage in another Age but in this for politick craft Howsoever he made his profit of it stood fast with the Emperour and so neately and dexterously retorted the ball upon the French that the Cardinal himselfe was faine to avow that the Duke of Bavaria was the most cautious and subtile Prince in Germany When we have to do with Cheaters we must take heed of all things and
sent speedily after Papenheim and resolved to stand fast and expect the Enemy The Shock or Ouset was furious and bloody The Croats did well enough at the beginning and the Swedes better and if Papenheim had stayed a little longer the Imperialists had fled But he came time enough Papenheim slain to redresse the Army which already began to stagger and to repulse the enemy but the shot of a Falkon a piece of Ordnance so called put a period to his life and all his glorious enterprizes Germany hath produced but few such Souldiers as he was for Valour Felicitie and Courage His elogies and the Emperour hath had few who have equalled him in fidelity He first made himself known in the Valtelme and at the Battail of Prague he was found amongst dead He finished the Tumults of the Peasants in Austria and above all after the Battail of Leipsick he redressed his Masters desperate party in Westphalia He seemed to dye content when he was told that the King was killed and it is held that if he had lived yet some years more he would have restored the Imperial Majesty to the first splendour The Horse basely gave ground as they had done in the first Battail It is beleeved that the King was slaine about the beginning of the Battail having receaved five wounds two whereof were mortal but it could never be learnt by whose hand he fell and opinions were so different that the truth could never be discovered The Swedes have reported that he was killed Gustave slain by a great Lord of his own Army others by Papenheim but neither the one nor the other is very likely to be true He was found amongst the dead so trodden and tumbled by the Army which had passed over his body that he was hard to be known What shall we say of the potency of this world since so much glory and merit is trodden under foot by horses This Prince who like another Alexander was grieved and vexed to stay so long in Germany and wished nothing more His praises then to go seek new Trophies elsewhere is borne down and that so venerable Majesty so much respected and feared every where is now reduced to dust This great Warrier this invincible Monarch the delight of the Protestants the terrour of the Catholicks the Darling of Fortune lost his life in the middle of Triumphs and of Germany His fall caused so much rage and despaire in the soules of his souldiers that they chose rather to die then retyre and obliged the Imperialists after they had fought till dark night to make a retreate but little more modest then plain flight towards Leipsick His life Duke Bernard and Cniphanse gave great testimonies of themselves in this bloody Fight and the whole Army melted in teares to see the King their Generall without sense and motion He was Son to Charles Duke of Sudermam who had taken away the Crown from his Nephew Sigismund King of Poland It is reported that he had made his Apprentiship in War disguised and unknown under Prince Maurice and that even after he was King he made a journey into Germany in the quality of an ordinary Horseman His Governours son hath told me that he was in the war of Bohemia saw the Count of Bucquoy's Army discovered himselfe to some Princes and then sowed the first seeds of his intelligence in the Empire He made War in Livonia and Prussia with a most singular odour of his great felicity His many Victories changed his sweet and tractable nature into a too rough and austere severity an hereditary Vice in the race of Erick as soon as they are past forty years old Thus gloriously ended Gustavus Adâ—phus his dayes and Parca by cutting off the thred of his life made him triumph to manifest that if he had lived some years longer Europ would have been too little for the number of his Conquests and his glory He presumed against the content and opinion of the Chiefe of his Council to come into Germany with an Army of eight thousand men to defend the Lutheran Religion and to check so vast and formidable a Power as that of the House of Austria but he was sure of his Allyes and of the affections of all the Protestants in general Also that though Fortune should have treated him as she had done others he had still the means left to save himselfe in his own Kingdom and draw up the Bridge after him But she was too kinde to him to break company with him so soone and his designes too high to please his Allyes Never was there Prince more regretted and deplored then he and all the North put on mourning whilest the South rejoyced at his fall but it felt the rough Attacks of his Generals after his death and the Swedes went not out of Germany till they got a Peace the spoiles and a share of the Empire a notable recompence The Battel of Lutzen the sixteenth of November for having whipped it so well This Battel hapned the sixteenth of November some dayes after deceased King Frederick at Mentz a milde Prince and much bewailed by his people He accompanied Gustave into Bavaria who was willing to restore him to the Palatinat The death of Frederick but under hard and unreceiuable conditions Let us see what passes in France CHAP. XXVIII The Elector of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters into the Kingdom with an Army The death of the brave Duke of Montmorancy THe fidelity of the Ecclesiastical Electors was so great that they chose rather to suffer all the rigour and extremity of Fortune then untie themselves from the Emperour The French drivo the Spâ—niâ—ds from Trevirs save onely that the Elector of Trevirs sought to shelter his Country under the protection of France and received a French Garrison into Harmestein an inexpugnable place neer Cobelents where the Mosell casts her selfe into the lap of the Rheyn And he would have done as much at Trevirs if he had not been prevented by the Chapter which put a Spanish Garrison in before whereby the King was moved to send the Marshal De'stree to dislodge it and put in another Whilest the said King and Cardinal were looking upon the affairs of Germany Monsieur his Brother marched out of Brabant with an Army and published that he would deliver France from the Tyranny of the Cardinal The Duke of Montmorancy ranged himselfe with him Monsieur enters France and it looked as if all were disposed to Richelnis ruine Many of the Grandees inâ—lined also that way being jealous to see the King of Sweden destroy the Catholick League in Germany shouldered by the Allyance of the Eldest Sonne of the Church upon the suscitation of this proud Minister The Marshal of Schoonbergh followed this said Army with some ordinary forces There hapned a Skirmish wherein the Duke of Montmorancy would needs be nibbling and so was wounded and taken and his Party ruined
the Dutchy of Wirtembergh after which they sighed and longed as the Children of Israel did after the Land of Promise but they must first passe the Red Sea and winne a Town whole Garrison was strong and required a Siege before they could arrive to the bank The Swedes sent for all their own forces and those of their Allyes Horne joyned with Duke Barnard and argued against him that it was better to let go one Town then hazard the Publick Cause and that an occasion for fighting would be found in time with more advantage The Duke disputed the contrary alleadging that the winning of this Bartail The Siege of Northinghen Austria would be open Bavaria a prey and their Party our of all danger That they must venter it before the Spaniards came In fine it was concluded that it should be the next day being the sixth of September and the proceeding of that Imperiall Colonel who asked to speak with a Kinsman of his of the same Charge in the Swedish Army upon the word of a Cavalleer to whom he proposed an overture of Peace in his Masters name which was rejected by the Party was taken by the Swedes for a good augure It would require a volume to recount the particulars of the most bloody fight that ever happened amongst Christians The forces of the Duke of Wirtembergh the Landgrave of Hassia and Count Cratz who left the Bavarians when he saw that his Treason was discovered which was to deliver Ingolstadt to the Enemy were already arrived so that there wanted none but the Rhingrave who was beyond the Rheyn with four or five thousand men But they would not expect him for fear lest the Imperialists who had gotten to them the Armyes of the Duke of Bavaria and Cardinal Infanto might chance to escape them The Battail of Nordinghen 1634. the sixth of September The Fight began in the morning the most furious shock was given for the getting and keeping of a Hillock and the Swedish Infantry received great losse about the storming of a mined Fort. The Canon it self being hidden behinde some thick bushes did terrible execution by piercing quite through all the squadrons and the Swedes upon the other side amazed to see the grave motion of the Spaniards who did not recoyle or start back but gently retreat and advance with a sure discharge were constrained to fly and the Cavalry being pursued by the Duke of Lorrain John de Werdt The absolute victory of the Imperialists who gave a brave account of themselves that day was almost utterly defeated and the quarter given at Hamelen was exactly observed till the the King of Hungary ceased the slaughter All the Canon to the number of eighty Pieces and three hundred Colours were the irreproachable marks of an entyre victory which crowned the heads of both the Ferdinands It is held that there were above twelve thousand men killed upon the place and near six thousand prisoners amongst whom was that brave Generall Gustave Horne who was received by the King with such testimonies of benevolence as were suitable to the merit of so courteous and valorous a Captain The pillage was for the souldiers and the fruit of the victory a peace which poor Germany enjoyed not long for she was not yet enough drained Whereof the first was a peace and she had still some ill humours left within her which were not suffered to settle by her Neighbours But if the Protestants and they who had mixed their interest with them received much joy by the first Battail of Leipsick no lesse were the hearts of all the Catholicks both in and out of Germany accumulated with alacrity and gladnesse by this The joy of the Catholicks And the Generalls divided this great Army into many small Bodies as the Swedes had done theirs after the Battail of Lutzen to carry an offensive war up and down into many places whereof we will speak as briefly as out matter will permit us Nortlinghen forthwith surrendred the Dutchy of Wirtembergh quicky in her Enemies power and the Duke unwilling to be spectator of so pitifulla State got himself together with the most prompt of his party to Strasburgh The luster of the Eagles Majesty and of the glory acquired by her as well in Germany as Denmark had been much discoloured and obscured by the happinesse of that great Septemtrional Mars But now she sufficiently recovered it The Swedes will have war in their victory and the Imperialists peace in theirs by this memorable victory of Nortlinghen and to shew that she durst follow her enemies she contraried their proceedings For they would have war in the continuation of their Conquests and she declares her desire of Peace in hers They would carry away all with violence and extremity and she would restore all to the first order and state by a moderate accommodation In effect the King of Hungary offered it to the Duke of Saxony and the rest of the Princes by whom it was accepted but it lasted not long no more then the deceitfull favours of that variable Goddesse did by the puissant odour of the Flower de luce as the drift of this History will shew The Cardinal Infanto after having embraced and taken leave of his Brother-in-Law departed towards the Low-Countries whether we will let him go and stay yet a while in Germany to note the carreer of Ferdinands victories in the disorder of the Protestants THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE BOOK I. PART II. CHAP. I The Peace made at Prague after the reduction of many places and small States The complaints of the Swedes ALL the Towns of Swaveland and the Lake of Bregants returned to the Emperour their Lord. The Imperialists divide themselves Auxburgh was taken by famine and pardoned Rain and Newburgh followed Vlme and Neuremburgh were invested but this Prince who fought for nothing but Peace and won it for no other end then to give it such as would have it received them into favour take many places The Castle of Wurtzburgh held out a long time for fear of not being forgiven Gonnixhof after a long Siege was taken by Hatsfelt Piccolommi plaied Rex in Turing and Coloredo in Saxony in such sort as that he compelled the Elector to hearken to a Peace from which indeed as also from the Emperour he had no aversion at all but onely his own interest and that of Religion Which the King of Sweden very well observing in the midst of his prosperity and knowing the amity which was between these two Princes was fearful least it should come to be renewed I know there were some who beleeved that he was the first who discovered to his friend and Master the Emperour the Treason which the Duke of Frithlund had brewed against him However it were the Peace was made at Pragne The Peace made at Prague 1635. in the moneth of May 1635. with advantage enough to the Ghospellers for their Religion was setled
not condescend to it for feare of offending the Emperour and Empire nor did they ever render him any other answer at all to all his replyes which gave him excessive rancour and disgust however he thought fit to make but little shew thereof For it was not indeed the feare of offending Ferdinand which kept them from it for they had done that enough already by many oblique wayes and especially by sending Coronel Pinsen with a strong Brigade into Westphalia But it was because they had rather have for their Neighbour a weak Bishop of Colein then a strong King of France It is Maxime of State which carries it above all obligations and Allyances how strong soever they be are easily broken in these times if Interest command it They sent General Bandits word that if he did not retire himselfe from thence they would drive him away by force So that these former circumstances and the utter route of the Swedes being motives to make the Cardinal differ his designe upon Colein for a sitter season for vengeance waits occasion made him he fixed his thoughts upon things of neerer concernment as thus He had already almost ruined or quite depressed the branches of the House of Lorraine in France and persecuted the Duke of Guise The House of Lorraine afflicted even till his death and therefore he resolved to unroot the maine Stock and destroy the whole Family The Duke of Lorraine after being stripped of all his Places of strength and of Nancy it selfe to get a peace found that France sought nothing but his destruction and that when he resented any of the astronts which were done him by the Cardinal the King who was often ignorant of the cause was forth with made beleeve that he had broken his faith and so his lawful excuses had no accesse where his enemies were stronger then he We very often judge ill because we know not the principal Causes Wherefore haveing no other rolyance then upon God and his Sword and not being able any longer to dissemble his just resentment The Duke of Lorraines Manifesto he published a Manifest wherein he declared that being a Soveraigne Prince borne and seeing that his Enemies whom he could not content sought after his Country and his life he transferred all his Rights upon his brother absolved his Subjects from their Oath of fidelity to himselfe and commanded them to obey him Which done he returned into Germany to serve the Emperour whom the Cardinal studied to ruine with him from whom he received the quality of General of the Catholick Army and passed towards the Danub with the Cardinal Infanto And three or four moneths after the Princesse Nicoll his wife The Princesse Nicoll at Paris made her entrance into Paris where she was well received by their Majesties and entertained according to her condition Richelieu being well informed of all and imagining that this Transport or Deed of Gift was but conditional and for a time and knowing also Prince Francis marrie his Cousin is imprisoned retiers to Vienna that the Cardinal brother to the said Duke had sent to Rome for a Dispensation to marry his Cousin German and render the Cap into the hands of his Holinesse judded it expedient to crosse this match and so sought to surprize the Post but in vaine for he passed through the Guards and the same evening the marriage was consummated But both he and his Princesse were carried prisoners to the Cittadel out of which they both secretly escaped as also out of the Town disguised in the habit of Country people and passing through Savoy Florence and Venice arrived at length at the Imperial Court in Vienna It was indeed in vaine for him to attempt the extinction of this most illustrious and most ancient Race issued from Charlemagne and so many other Kings who have performed so considerable services to Christendome yea and even to France it selfe in the Battel of Crecy and during all the Wars with the English For God raised a young Maid of this Family like a second Judith The Maid Jane of Orleans to save the Kingdom from the oppression of Strangers and the Cardinal after having deprived it of the lawful Prince called in the Gothick Nations to ruine it This noble House I say hath afforded Princes which have defended and maintained the Catholick Religion throughout the whole Kingdom and the Cardinal made the Lutherans flock to subdue it Indeed there are none but the Hughenot Party who have any ground to complain of it since it hath furnished many noble Lords who have alwayes shewed themselves enemies to that Doctrine We must confesse that this Dutchy merited better treatment since it had never offended France That it is a poor maxime of State to oppresse a Prince who desires nothing but Peace and upholds himselfe in the justice of his Cause This proceeding will produce much misfortune for they who accuse him of having so often falsyfied his faith silence the cause thereof either through malice or ignorance CHAP. III. The Imperialist's wast in the Dutchy of Wirtembergh The French come to succour the Swedes Philipsburgh taken by a prank of War The Cardinal enters Brussels and the Duke of Orleans departs FRance hitherto waged War against the House of Austria obliquely and indirectly enough though yet with advantage and seized upon Lorraine more like a Fox then a Lion as more by craft then open force But it was time to throw off the Vizard and lay hold of all Europe since it appertaines to it according to the opinion of that famous Impostour who is so learnedly refuted by Jansenius a Professour of Lonain and a certain Spaniard who argues thus If the Empire belong to France because it was governed by Charlemagne with much more reason doth Languedoc and some other Provinces in France occupated by the Goths belong to the King of Spain as he is Successour of the said Goths who established their Monarchy in Spain and preceded the said Charlemagne in time But let us leave these old trifles and fond Commentations and stay in our corrupt Age where Might amongst many is more esteemed then Right and where the most crafty Cheats are held the best Politicians Duke Bernard being escaped with many other Officers had recourse to the favour of France where being a German he was judged capable and fit to beare the burthen of the War together with Marshal de la Force The French in Germany Such as are least suspected and most interessed as well in matter of Religion as otherwise are alwayes chosen for the expedition of any great Enterprize Make a huge Magazine at Philipsburgh There passed nothing worthy of memory between the two Partyes the Imperialists being grown slack and lazie by the abundance and fertility of the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and the French making a Magazine at Philipsburgh the like whereof was never heard as being sufficient to pay and feed whole Armies together for the entire Conquest
of the Empire The more judicious sort of men conceived that it was to fall suddainly and unexpectedly upon Colein the most important Town in Germany thereby to have communication with the Hollanders take it away from the Spaniards with the Empire and so this gate together with that of the Sea being shut by the States Ships beat them out of all the Low-Countries But an unforeseen blow an unthought of thunderbolt a strange accident brake that which all the invention of man was not able to divert and this it was Gasper Bamberger being advertised of the slacknesse and carelesnesse of them to whom this Golden-Fleece was recommended and in whose custody this Horne of plenty was sent some of his most faithful Officers in the habit of Peasants and a party of his Regiment Which is taken by craft who passed upon the Ice for it had frozen and the Winter was one of the sharpest of this Age killed all the Court of Guard and with small resistance grew Masters of the place And this Enter prize quashed all the faire advantages of the French made them take other resolutions freed Colein from a most evident danger and disposed the rest of the Winter together with the beginning of the Springs to a Treaty of Peace There were found two millions of Gold above a hundred Brasse-Pidâ—es of Orduance above four hundred thousand Sacks of Corne Oaâ—â— Barly Pease and Beanes twelve thousand Sacks of Salt an incredible Magazine of Powder without counting the riches of particular persons which were brought thither as it were to Jupiters feet that is to be secured It was easie enough to judge by this preparation of the greatnesse of their designes and confidently to affirme that it is in the disposal of States that the great God makes his Divine Providence shine brightest The losse of Philipsburgh was not sufficient without the addition of that of Trevirs together with the Elector the Town being taken the six and twentieth of March 1653. and he carried to Brussels by the Garrison of Luxeburgh The Cardinal Infanto having by this great Victory eluded the ambushes or snares The Cardinal Infanto at Brussels and the Duke of Orleans retires himselfe into France of such as envyed that Government made his entry into Brussels in the moneth of December The Duke of Orleans for some reasons which were clear enough would not be present at his reception but by the advice of Puilanrent his Favourite retired into France where he was received by the King with the wonted testimonies of affection however he caused his marriage with the Princesse Margaret to be declared Null in Parliament This Puilanrent for this service was proclaimed Duke and Peer of France and married the Cardinals Niece but they raised him on high to make him catch a heavy fall CHAP. IV The King declares war against the Cardinal Infanro and why The Spaniards are beaten The taking of the Fort of Schenck THe King being irritated by the losse of this most important Place and for that his protection had not been sufficient to cover the Elector of Trevirs sent to re-demand him from the Cardinal Infanto who answered him that he could hot dispose of such a businesse without the knowledge and consent of the Emperour and the King of Spana which answer not pleasing him and finding no hope of any orther he resolved to declare war against the said Infanto under this specions pretext The King of France declares war upon the Spaniards Now in regard that this War'v as derived like a contagion from that of Germany by which as by a great fire all the circumjacent parts were so scotched that they kindled with the first winde we will returne again to the Source The Civil Wars as we have already shewed stopped the motion of those old quarrels and Henry the fourth was diverted from them by a violent death But the Cardinal having well weighed the strength of the House of Austria and the furious shocks or foiles she had sustained conceived that it was now time to make her fall for he was fully confirmed that some Provinces as that of Flanders Artoise and Luxemburgh had formerly depended upon France howheit King Francis had renounced his propriety in them for all perpetuity by way of Ransome from his captivity which the French themselves do not deny but they say that the Kings cannot alienate the Rights of the Crown If so how can there be any firme and sure Treaty made 〈◊〉 For there may as much be said of the Emperour the King of Spain and other Princes and so it will be a businesse without end But it might with more equity be alleadged that in regard they lost those Rights by arms a hundred years agoe they may upon a faire occasion endeavour to recover them by the same means Now in these so confused embarassments there might some pretext be found which might perhaps be rendred just by the lot of Arms and that of the Elector made all the French murmure nor was there ever a fairer opportunity to beat out the Spaniards and therefore it was not fit to neglect it However the Spaniards rejected it and affirmed that they were punctually informed that the King had signed the League for the Offensive war with the Hollanders at the Loivire upon the eighth of March at seven of the clock in the Evening Insuch fort as though they had not taken the Elector they were neverthelesse sure of a War fifteen dayes after as by consequence they had They would not make mention of many frontier Towns which the French had attempted to surprize by treachery as Cambray and Graveling to the Governour whereof they offered a hundred thousand Pistols All which infractions they had prudently dissembled to keep that part of the Country in quiet Neither was it the vanity of the Spaniard A French writer accuses the Spaniards of vanity which sought that war so to make themselves great by the losse and at the charge of others but their admirable prudence laboured to divert it and their power preserved it self still hitherto in the Low-Countreys But let us leave disputing and make the Armyes march into the Field The French were to scuffle with a Nation which is not startled at noise The King contracted formidable forces neer Sedan under the conduct of the Marshals of Chastillon and Brezè and sent them to enter the King of Spaines territories at the same time when the Herald arrrived at Brussels A brave Army neer Sedan to denounce the war they having begun their march three dayes before with the bravest Army that could be seen A trick which couzened the Spyes The Spanish Spyes couzened and proved to be of much advantage Their order was to joyn with the Prince of Orange and proceed under his experience to the conquest of the whole Country that so it might be shared between them The Skinn was sold before the Bear was taken and they who reckon before their Host
must reckon twice Prince Thomas his Troops defeated They cutt of Prince Thomas's Troops which presumed to oppose such an Army as that the Vant-guard whereof only put them to flight and which was a terrour both to Friends and Foes yea the Prince of Orange himself and the States when they beheld this so gallant an Army and above seven thousand Horsemen with scarlet Cassocks were so amazed that they would have made the signe of the crosse thereat had they been accustomed to it But afterwards distrusts and jealousies the obstacles to all brave exploits wriggled themselves in amongst them and continued till the end of the Field The first prey was Tirlemount famous for the ruine thereof for all imaginable cruelties and unnaturall actions were perpetrated and executed in this unhappy Town The Churches Tirlemount taken and burnt Grâ—at cruelties and whatsoever the Catholicks held in greatest Veneration was handled with lesse reverence then if they had been meer Tartars All was pillaged all violated and burnt and almost all massacred A fine beginning cannot choose but haue a fine end The Cardinal Infanto in the mean time retyred and incamped himself before Brussels expecting succour from Germany and gathering together the forces of the Provinces all which were not sufficient to stop this impetuous torrent which carried all before it The Armies pitched their Camp before Lovaine the seat of the Muses which Mars ought to spare and by consequence he did nothing for Jupiter saved it Grotendonck with six or seven Regiments commanded in the Town and the Enemy stayed in this Siege about twelve dayes Lovaine besieged but French at length being better furnished with Pistolls then Bread found themselves besieged by hunger which caused fierce muttering and then disbanding Is succoured and the Hellanders retyre The Prince of Orange seeing this disorder and the relief came out of Germany under Piccolommi concluded with the French Marshals to make a retreat and the Infanto with his Supply to pursue them They went and incamped neer Grave and the Spaniards neer to the Fort of St. Stephen where they stayed not long for the Prince being advertised that the fort of Schenck was surprized hastened thither speedily with three thousand men and the Armies followed him This Fort stood upon a point which divided the Rheyn into two Arms or Branches and was so well strengthened and furnished that it was not besiegeable But Captain Eenholt a native of those parts desiring nothing more then a favourable occasion to revenge the death of his Father who was beheaded at the Haghe pryed so well into matters and layd so fit hold of his time that he got it with small trouble and losse to the great cost of the United Provinces whose Army camped at Besaw and the French at Emmerick and Rees And besiege the Fort of Scheck taken a little be fore The Spaniards who vanted that they found the key of Holland kept this Fort nine mouths but the Lock was changed insomuch as that they were in deliberation of blowing it up Thus Fortune played the wagge with them by giving victory sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other The French demy much diminished and afflicted This French Army which was the lustiest and gallantest that had been raised since the beginning of this Age being reduced to five or six thousand men of forty thousand which it was felt the whole winter the crosses of irreconcilable Fortune or rather the effects of that great God who was so much irritated by them for the souldiers were constrained to sell their Horses and Cassacks and go a begging It was a pittifull thing to see Gentlemen of good birth dye of sicknesse in Hospitals and the souldiers miserable by the expectation of the wind which was almost four months quite contrary Thus passed the first Field which looked at first as if it would swallow and devoure all and so both Parties were equall But if Fortune smiled upon the Assailants in the beginning she did so yet more upon the Defendants who prepared themselves to attack the other the year following and so the war grew hotter then ever towards the Rheyn in the Low-Countries and in France CHAP. V The Imperialists beat back the French into Lorraine Oxenstern passes into France Bannier renewes the war and beats the Saxons Hatsfeldt succours them Magdeburgh yeelds The Battail of Witstock Leipsick succoured THen offers it self so much to be said in the carrcer of this deplorable war which as streaming Rivers swell bigge by receiving many other brooks into them embraces so many other in it and growes so universall that if I made any longer stay then only to pick out every one in their particular circumstances I should never come to an end Wherefore having sufficiently declared the motives and praetexts I will speak of them only in bulk especially since we are now descended to those which are known to all men for the wounds thereof are bleeding yet in the most illustrious Families and the Villages still smoaking some whereof have so far lost their form that they are reduced as it were into a certain First matter or Chaos and serve for nothing but a retreat to Wolves and Scritch-Owles or Birds of ill augure which advertise us that it is time to aspire to some other place since this land is cursed and desert producing nothing but nettles and thistles The abomination of desolation is in the holy place let us hope for no amendment but fly to the mountains An inundation in Holstein This year of 1635. by means of a flood which happened near Glucstat there were drowned about six thousand persons and more then fifty thousand beasts The like misfortune chanced in Catalunia some years before and the Plague which began in the North passed through Holland and carried away above twenty thousand mortalls in the Town of Leyden only without counting such as were consumed in Amsterdam The plague at Leyden and other Townes And this contagion seemed to be fomented by the famine which had been in Germany where the very dead were disinterred to be eaten in the Palatinat and Alsatia The French beaten out of Germany The French had no better luck at fighting in Germany from whence they were expelled with losse of men Canon an Baggage and Iohn de Werdt went beating them to Monthelgard and Galasso having made them quit Mentz Gust aveburgh and other places went pursuing them in the Reer as farre as Metz in such sort as that Weimar and Cardinall de la Valette were compelled to forsake all and the Imperialists being tyred with following them and want of food were fain to return and give them leave to take breath In other Ages such revolutions as these would have produced peace but in this these losses were but as matches to kindle them to a continuation for he who got a great victory hoped forthwith to suppress his enemy and if Fortune changed desire of revenge
Duke of Mercoeur had been before Canisse in Hungary Hatsfeldt fell sick and the Swedes being re-inforced divided themselves into two Bands or Bodies the one under Bannier to go towards Silesia and the other under Wranghel towards Marche but this latter was met and defeated by General Bredaw which losse obliged them to stay in Pomerania During this bloody knocking where Fortune remained not constant the Landgrave William being advertised of the retreate of the Swedes began also to think of his own for Cassel was not able to shelter him and so he retyred into Holland with his Wife and Children himselfe and his Army The Landgrave retires into Holland with his Wife His death put themselves into East-Freezland to be shouldered by the States and the North-Sea but Parca cut off the thred of his life by a pestilent Feaver and left the Game to be played by his wife who did it with much felicity Let us leave them forging new designes and passe to the other side towards Lorraine CHAP. VI. Coleredo taken The Spainards pass into Picardy John de Werdts exploits The Siege of Dole raysed Gallasso enters into Burgundy War against the Duke of Parma who makes peace Truce prolonged in Prussia DUke Bernard of Weymar and Cardinal de la Valette having with very much adoe gotten loose from their Enemies by whom they were both followed and flanked retired themselves fighting to Metz but with the losse of Canon Baggage and a great number of men as well by the Sword as Famine And John de Werdt and Gallasso tracing them were also so received by this scourge and sicknesse that after a good part of their Army was consumed they were forced to retreate the latter into Germany and the former into the Province of Liedge The defeate of young Coleredo by young Crecqui in Lorraine brought the war back again into Alsatia The Spaniards in Picardy with a potent Army The House of Austria to make France feel what she had made her suffer in Germany and the Low-Countries resolved to carry the war into her very bowells and to the very Gates of Paris it selfe The greatnesse of the Spanish Nation was engaged herein to make the French know that they had force enough to revenge themselves effectively and not by vaine rodomont ados or ranting For which end the Cardinal Infanto was making huge preparations all the Winter long He entred by the way of Picardy with an Army of sixteen thousand Horse and fifteen thousand Foot The Imperialists were conducted by Piccolomini and John de Werdt and the Low-Country Country Forces by Prince Thomas It was thought that Army would have devoured all France there being none but the Count of Soissons with ten or twelve Regiments to hinder their passing the River of Some Take some places Catalet Capelle and Corbie made small resistance and the other places served but for pillage Count Soissons retyred with some losse and the ransack which Iohn de Werdt made together with the dust of his Army cast terror into the City of Paris He surprised some beat others and went on with so much speed that he compelled his Enemies who were very much steeightened to keep themselves upon their guard The King raised a puissant Army and marched directly to his Enemies who not being willing to hazard the Country by a generall Battail retyred and he having after some weeks siege retaken Corbie and finding the the winter near at hand did the same But the Hollanders upon the other side not enduring to see the Spaniards in the Fort of Schenck after a siege of nine moneths constrained them to change their lodging Let us pass into Burgundy and see in what condition the Prince of Conde is there The Burgund ans say that he attacked them contrary to his own word given them Dole besieged 1626. is sueâ—ured by the Duke of Lorraine Gâ—llasso retyred into Germany and that a Prince who breaks word can never have good luck He laid Siege before Dole and the Inhabitants were resolved rather to perish all with their swords in their hands then yeeld themselves to him The Duke of Lorrain came from the Low-Countries and made him raise the siege and Galasso went out of Germany with an Army of thirty thousand men and fell upon France but stayed not long there and returned with small glory and a smaller Train after he had shewed the French that the Germans knew how to plunder as well as they However he left no mark at all of his valour behinde him for his Army being diminished by almost the one half as well through famin as flight he returned from whence he came and Monsieur de Rantzaw behaved himself so valiantly against him that he acquired the Marshalls staffe These Attacks upon the one side and the other between these two Crowns not having wrought the effects which were both feared and expected it looked as if the Kings would open their eares to the holy propositions of Peace which were made them by Pope Vrban But this Iron Age admits no such Remonstrances and all the mischiefes must be fulsilled because they have been foretold it is an Age of slaughter and not of peace Piccolomini returned into Germany and Iohn de Werdt to the Diocese of Colein after having humbled the Country of Liedge and carried the Eagles into the Kingdom of France but the Flower de Luce had yet too strong a smell for thern to suffer Hermestein bâ—eked renders by faâ—â—in the sixteenth of June 1638. The Fort of Hermestein had been two yeares blocked up and the Garrison forced by famine to consume all their horses for the Hassians were in Frienland and in France too farre off to give succour to a place which was like to be lost for want of it Some Waggons there went from Wesel with Victualls and Cloathes but Iohn de Werdt having notice thereof marched and charged the Convoy with so good successe that he routed the Cavalty and took all They of Hannaw went more cunningly to work and put three Barks loaden with provisions into their Town which passed before Mentz with a Burgundian Crosse and two souldiers clad like Monks thereby to cozen their enemies It is not the Habit which makes the Monk This Euterprise issuted well but the second was not so happy and so the French were constrained to render this good place into the hands of the Imperialists Ferdinand the Think Emperour of Germany c The Italians were not exempt from the fury of warre for after the Cardinall Infanto's departure the Duke of Parma upon some discontentments made a League with the Duke of Savoy and took the protection of France which was of much more advantage to him then it had been to the Electour of Trevirs and his subjects The two Confederates besieged Valencia where they lost their time mony and a multitude of men The Dake of Parma at Paris The said Duke of Parma was received at Paris 1636.
Imperialists victualled the Town but the magazine being spoyled by fire they were constrained to send other Provisions which happily arrived but Fortune smiled upon them to deceive them For they were furiously attacked which they sustained with advantage and the fight was stubborn the Generals being both old Souldiers but the inconstant Goddess forsook them and so their Army of twelve thousand men was utterly defeated The besieged had patience The Imperalists beaten again Brisack besieged till another was raised where with Lamboy made such a happy assault that he got possession of a Fort neer the Bridge but not being soon enough seconded he was forced to quit it again The Duke of Lorrain who took to heart the praiservation of this place had no better luck then the Imperialists General Goetz being suspected of having too much temporized was made prisoner And Reinaker the Governour after having combated a desperate famin was compelled to surrender with a huge magazine Renders by famin in the maneth of December 1638. And the Weymarian goe into Burgundy and much riches the said Town of Brisack the very pillow upon which the House of Austria reposed and the best key of the Empire If this Victory were glorious to France it was so much the more dammageable to her Enemies and Duke Bernard to take off all impediments from the French in Germany fell in upon the Free County of Burgundy which he so quelted with Sieges Encounters Picories or Robberies that he reduced in almost all under obedience to them by whose power he had fubsisted after the Battail of Mortlingen He did also as much in Lorraine and it looked as if fortune would never abandon him Duke Berrard refuses to go to Paris The King in the mean while invited him to Paris under pretext to thank him for so many Victories obtained but he chose rather to stay at Brisack which was his heart the center of all his praetentions and the inestimable Pearl of all his conquests His refusal though coloured with some reason pleased not the Cardinals palat who desired to asture himself of that Gate whatsoever it cost him In matters of State interest is only observed and all other affections pass not beyond civility This brave Prince wanted no judgment and knew well of what importance this place was and therefore had no mind to give it the French but he had to do with a man who was more cunning then himself In fine he fel sick and after having made his Wil died in the flower of his age in the midst of his Victories and of his Army Some Germans published Falls sick and dyes hat he dyed of poyson wihich was sent from afar off as if a naturall death were not as well to be found in Armies as a violent one His life This Prince was desended from the Electoral House of Saxony which dignity was taken from his Praedecestors by Charlos the fifth and transferred upon them who have and dopossess it ever since upon which account he was always an enemy to the house of Austria even to the very last gasp of his breath After the King of Sweden no Prince was more lamented by all the Protestants then he and indeed withour lying he was one of the most valliant and prosperous Captains of this Age. The King sent forth with a hundred thousand Dublous to pay the Army and keep it in his service and the Duke of Longueville went out of Burgundy to command it who left the Germans the possession of Brisack Let us leave them to untwist their jealousies and make a turne through Germany to see what passes in Westphaha since it is all in trouble again Our right way thither is by Hannaw a strong Town neer Francfurt which being well seated and considerable was in the hands of the Earle of Ramsey a Scotch Coronel who commanded there like a petty Tyrant without sparing any yea not not so much as the Count himselfe who was Lord of the Place But this domination of his proved short Hannaw taken for as good a Souldier as he was he found himselfe attacked upon a faire occasion and taken in it though he left not his small Empire but with his life The Count of Dillingburgh was chiefe of this Enterprize and of all the Associates who had interest in it Pâ—terbone by the Swedes Meppen by the Imperialâ—â—ts The Hassians upon the other side took Paterborne by force and the Baron of Velleen the strong Town of Meppen by an enterprise upon the Prince Palatin His Army was defeated by Hatsfeldt neer Lemgow and Prince Robert his brother taken prisoner and carried to Vienna Which blow made him returne to the Haghe and confesse that Fortune was not yet weary of afflicting his Family and let us go the same way with him let us be gone I say out of this poor Empire all tottered by a Tyrannical war to see another beâ—tâ—r disciplined Indeed if Evils grow worse Prodigies went also multiplying and Christian vertues being ecclipsed gave way to all forts of impâ—etiâ—s horrours blasphemies and sacriledges CHAP. IX Breda renders it selfe to the Prince of Orange Venlo and Ruremund to the Cardinal Infanto Landrecies taken The French beaten from before St. Omers and Fontarriby The Queen-mother goes into England returns to Colein and dyes The defeate before Theonuille and that of the Hollanders before Callò The ruine of the Spanish Armada or Navy The revolt of the Normans ALbeit that these two unfruitful Fields and these huge Armies on both sides made more noise then effect as it ordinarily falls out yet could not the Popes exhortations dispose the Soveraâ—gne Heads ever the sooner to a good peace but that they would needs begin again the yeare following 1037. The Prince of Orange having affronted the Spaniards with his Fleer went unforeseen and unexpectedly to besiege Breda which in eleven weeks space he took Bredà besieged and taken and Charnasse the French Embassadour was killed there with a Musket bullet The Spaniards defeated before Leucate This year was happy for France by the defeate of the Spaniards before Leucate a strong place in the County of Rossillion which was both beleaguered and succoured on Michaelmasse Eve by the Duke of Alvin and by reprize or retaking of the Isles St. Margaret and St. Honorat which had been held by the Spaniards two years by the brave Count of Harcourt with but a handful of men Landrecies a most strong Town in the County of Hemâ—nwlt The French take â—â—â—y Towns in the Low-Countries was taken by the Marshal of Chastillon after a Siege of six weeks and many other small and untenible places followed it Capell was also retaken and Danvilliers having sustained some assaults yeilded to the Count of Soissons The Cardinal Infanto not being able to succour Bredà marched towards the Moze took with small trouble Venlo Ruremund And the Spaniards Venlo Ruremund and a great Magazine appointed for
Mastricht which was of much advantage to him and in some measure recompenced so many losses and had not the Enterprize so excellently begun upon Rhinbergh failed by the cowardise of the Enterprizers all would have remained equal enough For the Spaniards had cast bridges of bulrushes into the Motes without being discovered the selfe same evening that the rejoycing was made for the taking of Breda upon which having passed and made themselves Masters of some Bastions they fell into the Town it selfe but the Souldiers of the Garrison tumultuarily and suddainly taking arms put them to a retreate and the Horse seeing the Gate open durst not enter and so the Town got a fine escape The next year 1638. Fortune returned to the Spaniards For the French laid Siege before St. Omers a strong and well munitioned Place siâ—â—ted upon a little River which empties it selfe into the Sea neer Graveling St. Omers â—â—sieged the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of Seâ—tember 1638. but having lost the Fort neer the Bat and a great Convoy they were compelled to rise with great losse which was mollified by the birth of the Dolphin the fifth of September the joy whereof was universal and the Queen after a marriage of three and twenty years sterility manifested an admirable exception to that Rule which sayes that the Spanish Ladies beare no children after they are four and thirty years old But it is true that this blessed fecundity was sent by the Divine Providence for the good of France Two dayes after this the French were beaten from Fontaraby and their Army defeated The French beaten before Fontaraby which misfortune hapned as it is beleeved by the Prince of Condes bad correspondence with the Duke de la Valette and the losse of this victory obscured the luster of that which they got at Sea as their taking of Reuty a place considerable enough softened a little the wound received before St. Omers Cattelet was also retaken and the Governour together with all the Captains beheaded for not withstanding so much as one assault and expecting the succour which was already neer the Town When Fortune laughs too much she ordinarily carryeâ— venim in her taile which the Hollanders experimented this year For they craftily got into Planders took two little Forts and besieged that of St. Mary where they were so well intrenched that had they kept that Station they had gone neer to make Antwerp quickly change her Master But they were so briskly and frequently attacked by the Spaniards that they grew faint-hearted And the Hollanders before Callo and endeavoured to returne by flight the same way they came but were almost all taken prisoners and all their Artillery and Shallops fell into the Enemies â—iandsâ— There were of them more smothered in the marshes then killed in the fight and Count William had very much adoe to save himselfe with a few more in his company The prisoners had the same treatment which the Spaniards had received who were taken in the Sallops in the year 1631. Nor was the Prince of Orange himselfe much happier before Guelders though he retired with lesse losse and trouble These alternative victories and these great Changes of Fortune constant in her inconstance ought to have made the Princes remember that being Christians they were bound to lay aside their animosities but they were so fleâ—hed upon one another that they aspired to nothing lesse then peace and took nothing more to heart then the utter ruine of each other Their thirst was not yet quenched with humane blood The Queen-Mother arrives in Holland goes into England comes back to Colein Her death nor their heat deminished by reposing all the Winter The Queen-Mother departed from Bruffels passed through Holland where she was received with respect enough in all the Towns but principally at Amsterdam where that illustrious Magistracy performed the honours of the Republick and then embarked for England where she was embraced by her Son in Law and her Daughter with honour and sense of tendernesse and joy There was a report that it was she who counselled the match of the Prince of Orange with the eldest Daughter of England and the English imputed the first seeds of the divisions and wars of their Kingdom to her as if this unfortunate Princesse had every where carried ill luck in her company like some contagious sicknesse But seditious persons are glad to cast the fault and guilt of their ill intentions upon such as are not beloved by the ignorant people nor is there any more vicious and corrupt Soul then that of a detracter She repassed by Zeland to Colein and seeing that he whom she had raised so high slighted her disasters stood fast in favour and in the entire administration of the affairs of the Kingdom she fell sick and after having pardoned all her enemies dyed This great Queen Mother to so may Kings being overwhelmed with miseries and old age left this mortal habitation and taught us thereby that there is no sure and stedfast felicity in this pilgrimage She had most wisely governed the Kingdom of France during the Kings minority and elevated to the highest degree of honour him who rendered her most miserable afterwards If the little ones are trodden under foot the Great ones are also precipitated and tumbled down headlong from the highest honours and dignities into the abysse of calamities to the end that every one may resent the disasters of this constantly deplorable Age. The Season being proper the Armies were led again into the Field and Fortune shared the Victories The French beâ—ten before Theonuille The Army of Campagne under the command of Monsiâ—ur de Feuquieres went to besiege Theonuille where it was quite defeated by Piccolomini and Beck who presented himselfe before Monzon but the Duke of Chastillon having recollected the fragments thereof and joyned them with his Troops for Fenquieres was dead of his wound made him change his route and follow the Infanto's order to come to the reliefe of Hosdin which was furiously attacked by Marshal de la Meilleraye and most excellently defended by the Garrison Though yet at length the Governour having sustained many assaults and spent all his powder and seeing on the other side the Assaultants animated by the Kings presence was saine to yeild it upon a good composition Hosdin rendred to the French â—638 1638. It was belâ—eved that had he been able to hold it out two dayes and two assaults more the Siege would have been raised but Pâ—ccolomini came too late and the Ambuscado which he had laid for the King in his returne from the Field was discovered too soone The Prince of Conde seized upon the strong place of Salces in the County of Rossillion which was quickly afterwards retaken by Marquis Spinola and the King of Spain who often sent forces into the Low-Countries found himselfe quickly in a condition to draw some from thence into Spain This very year Prince Cassimir now
Halberstadt and his Body was carried to Stockholm His Elogies He was a valiant souldier and more happy after the death of his King then before Bohemia and chiefly Saxony felt the effects of his cruelty which was covered with the title of vengeance He redressed the Swedish affaires in Germany after the Peace and Forstenton his Successour made them glorious The Swedish and Weymarian Armies being joyned together and fearing lest the Imperielists should succour Wolfenbottle which was besieged by the Dukes of Brunswick they all marched and incamped themselves before the said Town where we will leave them wasting and consuming in expectation of the success of the Siege CHAP. XI The prudence of the Cardinal Duke The Duke of Lorraine â—goes to Paris and why The Count of Soissons the Duke of Guise and Bouillon retire to Sedan The fight with Lamboy The Marshal of Chatillon The taking of Aire The Cardinal Infanto retires to Brussels his death GOod Mariners very often foresee a great Storme in a great Calme In high prosperity we must apprehend some misfortunes which being prevised will be lesse able to hurt by meanes of the preventive remedies which may be procured This potent Minister during the time of good successe had his eyes upon the Poupe of that vast Vessel the government whereof he had in his hands thereby to observe which way the Tempest might chance to come He easily discovered by the discontentment of some certaine Princes a kinde of fog which by condensing might cause a furious blast It is not sufficient to know what passes but to foresee also what is to come Wherefore he secretly caused the Duke of Lorraines pulse to be felt and laboured to untie him from the interest of Spain by rendring him his States The Duke who had so often experimented his pranks and who never had any other then good thoughts for France and never changed them till he saw that they endeavoured to deprive him of his Dutchy listened to the overtures made him received the Promises which were sent him signed to Brussels for his entire re-establishment and thereupon departed towards Paris where he was received with much honour more then a hundred and fifty Coaches going to meet him and the King expressed great kindnesse The Duke of Lorraine goes into France and benevolence to him They would make him sweare to the Treaty and yet they would keep Nancy for a pledge of his promise So that the poor Prince perceiving the Cardinals jugglings and the aversion of the Courtiers dissembled some affronts and endeavoured to withdraw himselfe thence to returne into Lorraine For they would needs ingage him against the Spaniards which he neither could nor would do The Cardinal conceiving that he would not be able to do any harme nor finde any credit in the Council of Spain suffered him to go A piece of cunning whereby he had couzened many In the mean time the discontented Princes contracted forces at Sedan with whom the Duke of Lorraine The discontented Princes at Sedan having already gotten a small body of an Army on foot refused to joyne but kept his word with the King But seeing that La Motte and some other small Places were not restored him and that he was but scoffed at by them at length full of generous resentment and zeal of revenge he cast himselfe again into the interest of Spain with intention to remaine therein till a General Peace Why would they needs retaine Nancy What assurance could he have of the restitution And what hope or apparence of constraining so great a Monarch to render it to him if he were untyed from the Spaniards If when he was re-established he should not keep his word whereof yet there was no doubt at all the King had but too much means with the forces in Germany and France to make him repent himselfe of any such light Change No no had it not been for the full restitution of his Country he would not have gone from Brussels and had they performed what they promised him he would have lived in pence and quiet with his Subjects But such as penetrated into this Ministers designes saw well enough that they would never render it him because they intended to adde to France such other Conquests as they had already made and hoped to make in Germany Those Writers who flattered the Cardinal and accused the Duke of levity either did not or would not know the bottome of the businesse and had a minde to make men believe that a Prince ought to want resentment and interest when they break their word with him in order whereunto I could produce the example of some others if it might be done without offence As soon as the season permitted the King of France put a strong Army into the Field Ayre besieged and taken under the command of Marshal de la Meillieraye who took some small places as the Islers and laid Siege to Ayre a strong Town in the Province of Artoise but the strength thereof served for nothing but to kindle the generous courage of the French who notwithstanding all the desences both within and without took it in leste then two moneths 1641. The Princes disemtented and why He sent also another Army under the conduct of Monsieur de Chatillon to watch the designes of the Princes of whose discontentments and the grounds thereof it is necessay to speak The Count of Soissons a Prince of the Blood having received au affront at the Siege of Corbie and many other at the Court too sensible to be endured removed himselfe and retired to Sedan where the Duke of Guise came to him and all complaining of the Cardinals unjust Ministery and of the oppression of the Kingdom they published a Manifest containing their complaints and the subject for which they took Arms which was for the peace of Europe and the expulsion of him who fomented the War They make Alliance with the House of Austria Beat the Duke of Chatillon and the Count of Soissons They made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Cardinal Infante and joyned their forces with those of General Lamboy In fine there grew a Battle wherein the brave Count of Soissons against the advice of all the Great ones would needs ingage and the Duke of Chatillon lost it and was pursued as farre as Resol This Victory was bought by the death of this brave Lord brought small profit to the Vanquishers but much more to him who was vanquished For if he had lived he would have raised more then halfe France The King left the Frontier of Flanders but the Cardinal would not leave him and so being followed by a gallant Army which shouldered that which was before Ayre they marched towards Sedan The Infanto lost no time for whilest the King was setting his Minister on work to make the Duke of Bouillon abandon the Party by promising him mountaines of Gold he besieged the Besiegers who not having
of that learned writer the Imperial Crown upon his brothers head because he would rather have had it upon his Sonnes and the Germans will not see it upon that of a Spaniard How then shall these instruments be tuned I conclude that she hath been moved to act by Interest only to uphold her self and not to hunt aster this chimericall Monarchy The Emperours which have been since have manifested no excess of ambition and Philip the third made no stir at all So that it must be either Fâ—rdinand the second or Philip the Fourth Let us examin the grounds which may give these jealousies and authorize these opinions The said Ferdinand the second had War with the Bohemians and the Prince Palatine every one knows for what He would have the three Episcopal Townes had he not right to them The Victories he got in Low-Saxonie moved him to restore and re-established his Authority there was he out of reason Here-demanded as Soveraign Judge the Ecelesiasticall Lands and Goods according to the tenour of the contract at Passavia was he ill-grounded The Lutherans themselves will not say so Shall we therefore suffer this House to swallow up all Now it is that we must have recourse to the interest which every body ought to have in commendation and not stray from the path of Justice As for Hypocrisiy whereof he accuses them of this Family by comparing their piety to the colours of the Rain-bow which are but deceipts and illusions it is acalumnie which confutes it self and a malice convinced by the testimonies of the Lutherans who have frequented the Imperiall Court A calumny convinced and have wished that all the Courts of the Protestant Princes were regulated like that Indeed the words which he uses to cure as he sayes the mindes of such as are praeoccupated by errour are not strong enough to make them passe for good even in his own opinion For a may be cannot form a determinate truth of future things Yet it is not my intention to approve all the actions of this House and defend her ends and much lesse to deliver the Bordering Princes from the fear which they may have of her greatnesse by the refutation of those arguments but only freely and plainly to lay open the justice of her Arms and the strong necessity of her interests to maintain her self against so many enemies I combat no Soveraign Family but reverence them all without exception and praeoccupation I only demonstrate the practices cheateries and effects of ambition together with those of self-advantage which render whole Provinces desert and breed general calamities In the Treaty of peace at Manster we shall discover the intentions of all the Princes without amusing our selves any more with the words of interested Clarks But we must first consider why France which hath always restored to the Dukes of Savoy such of their States Why France wi keep Lorrain as she hath seazed upon by arms doth now yet so obstinatly retaine Lorrain as she also did the three Bishopricks I answer that she hath done the former to avoide giving jealousie to the Princes of Italy whole good correspondence she holds necessary for her so to maintain her interests there But she will not let Lorrain go in regard of her conquests made in Germany and because the Princes of that Country being divided into Parties are not sourgent for the restitution of the losses of their Neighbours as those others are France calls the Princes of the House of Austria and all such as are tyed to her interests her Enemies and in regard that this irreconcitiable-hatred is not very ancient we shall quickly finde out the source thereof During the English Warrs in France the Spaniards being then great friends and Allyes with France always succoured her and there were some Lords of that Nation who possested great Charges in the said Warrs Yea in that memorable assembly of Arras where to the confusion of the English the Peace was made between the King and the Duke of Burgundy a certain Spanish Knight in a contention of honour took the White Cross without giving any other reason for it then that it was a sign of Amity But now The causes of the hatreds between France and Spain the said House being annexed to Spain the first spark of division sprung up in Italy the second and the greatest was about the Imperial â—â—â—â—n and jealousie of State which lasted til the death of Henry the second a 〈◊〉 as a wakened again under Henry the third by the counsell of the Hughenots and his brother the Duke of Alencon sudddenly made Duke of Brabaâ—t Philip the second of Spain did the like for him by favouring the Heads o the League to the deminution of his Authoritie and the Hughenot Party Henry the fourth took his revenge advanced the hatred always contraried opposed and laboured to weaken this power which gave him jealousy And then it was that not only the Hughenots but the Catholicks also began to hate that Nation Not did the Spaniards remain their debtors therem In such sort as the hatred of the people is formed by that of State But this kings death stopped the currnet of those partialities that double marriage seemed quite to stifle them out in vain for these two proud Nations the most potent of Christendom have many pretensions upon each other and cannot endure any praeeminence at all In so much as that when the one makes any progresse the other endeavours to stop it besides sides the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambition and desire to raise their Families have from time to time kindled these suspitions which have hatched these fatall wars to the destruction of all Europe The one of these Houses styles her selfe most Christian and yet meddles not much with the businesse of Religion for she ordinarily attracts the Reformates to her interests who are enemies to the Pope and by consequence to the other House which suffers not their Doctrine in her Dominions The other is tearmed Catholick and abandons not the interests of Religion no more then she doth her own unlesse it be by force proceeding from the necessity of State-affaires through some new conjuncture as we shall see in the sequell of this work Lewis the thirteenth shocked this House with so much authority and power and procured her so many Enemies that she had very much adoe to keep her self up in such sort as that great Cardinal the Angel-Gardian of France by his puissant Allyances begat an opinion in the Soules of many Politicians that he sought the Universal Monarchy In effect by this great Conquerours means he hoped to overthrow the Emperour and had already devoured the possession of the Low-Countries by the help of the Hollanders But man purposes and God disposes But let us withdraw our selves out of this Labyrinth since we have already gon round about it and if we enter into it we have not a sufficient thred of
Politick knowledge to get out wherefore let us untangle our selves I say from a mater which is understood only by them of the Cabinet and go rowze up the sluggish Protestants neer that Banck or Damm by advertizing them of the approach of the Imperalists CHAP. XIII Piccolomini rayses the Siege of Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenton comes from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick who after having punished the stacknesse of the Souldiers recollect themselves and raise the Siege of Friburgh The hattail of Honcourt The Exploits in Catalunia Mons. le Grands death The Cardinals death An Epâ—â—â—e of his life The Siege of Wolfenbottel WE lest all the Protestants forces with the Duke of Brunswick before the strong Town of Wolfenbottel which they laboured to reduce to their obedience by means of a certain Damm or Banck wherewith they stopped a brook which watered the said Town and the water was already grown so high that the Inhabitants were fain to forsake the lower parts of their houses Ficcolomini knowing the importance of the place and the affront he should do this great Army if he constrained it to retyre from thence advanced with his Troops And the losse of the Imperialists who constraine the besiegers entred into the Town and commanded some Regiments to attack them who garded the said Dike The combat was furious but the Seaâ—e and advantage of the Protestants put the Catholicks to a retreate with the losse of about two thousand men This frighted him not at all but he took another way and surprised some Towns from whence they received their provisions To retire which made them resolve to abandon the Siege and march oft though first they peirced the Dike and the Impetuosity of the water did as much hurt to Brunswick by slowing as the detention thereof had been little profitable before for of this water it is that they brew that good beer called Mum which is so much esteemed through all Low-Saxony and chiefly in Holland The Armies divided themselves as they had done the year before the Swedes expected Generall Torstenson who was come from Sweden with seven thousand men to whom Coninxmarck and Stalhans being joyned they all advanced to wards Silesia the Imperialists towards Bohemia and the Weymarians to the Rheyn whether we will accompany them to see the Bridge of Boats which they made to passe the River near Wesel The Confederated States had not yet forgotten the Cavalcade or Inroad of Papenheims and the favour he found in the Diocese of Colein It is most dangerous to offend such as can revenge themselves when they please Lamboy was in the said Country and his Regiments being distributed amongst the Villages were defeated one after another Lamboy beaten and taken the â—7 of January 1642. for want of good Guard upon Saint Authony's day 1642. and in one of the Villages which was dedicated to the said Saint bore his name and acknowledged him for Patron or Defender the Generall himself was taken prisoner and carried together with many others to the Bois de Vincennes to visit Iohn de Werdt and tell him that it was time to go and make head against the Weymarians This Army being uttery cut off the victorious enemy made great booty in those parts The Count of Guebriant for having behaved himself so well merited and received the Marshals staffe took many small Towns as Ording Nuits Campen and other and was supplyed by some Regimens of Britany which stayed not long in that Country The Swedes under their new Generall performed exploits of no lesse renowne For in May they took Glogow by force and in Iune Suchâ—â—t And the Imperialists in Silesia Olmâ—â—z surprised after having beaten the Imperial Troops commanded by Duke Francis Albert who died of his wounds and finally in Iuly Olmitz the Head Town of Moravia These sensible losses were followed by one of more note The Arch-Duke Leopold together with Piccolomini marched into the Field to stop this progresse Torstonson passed into Misnia and besieged Leipsick The Imperialists charged him and Piccolomini who commanded the Right Wing brake through the Left The defent of the imperialists near Leipsick the 2. of November 1642. but his men falling forthwith to plunder the said Swedes rallyed and attacked their enemies so sharply that they slighted the Arch-Dukes command refused to fight and through cowardize mixed with treachery began all to run So that the Swedes had a good bargain of it for there were found above six thousand men who never shot Pistoll nor Musket The Arch-Duke retyred with extreme displeasure into Bohemia and Piccolomini was full of confusion and spight to see so much perfidy and the losse of so fair a Game After this Battail which was fought the second of November 1642. the Swedes shewed themselves before Leipsick which forthwith submitted to them and in Ianuary following before Fribergh which sustained the siege for two months to the great amazement of all Saxony and Piccolomini after having chastised some Regiments in Bohemia and redressed his Army succoured it and so wiped off the affront which the base dastardliness of his souldiers had made him receive Which done he took his leave of the Emperour and the Electour of Saxony Fribergh succoured who feasted him and did him great honours for this advantageous exploit But he being loath to hazard his reputation amongst men of Arms so forgetfull of their duty came back to Brussels and put himselfe into the King of Spaines service The Swedes returned to Torgow and the Imperialists to General Gallasso The Weymarians domineering at their pleasure upon the Rheyn Hatsfeldt was commanded to face them who sound himself too weak but soon after there happened another change For Don Francisco de Melo now Captain General for the King of Spain having received some millions of money put the souldiery in state of action and marched from Brussels the last week of Lent 1642. forthwith took Lent and the first day after the Holy-days incamped himself before La Bassee which within seventeen days after opened him the Gates and the Garrison of above three thousand men marched out The French beaten by Melo near Harcourt and he came and surprised the Wâ—ymarians The Count of Harcourt indeavoured to succour it but found it too perilous an enterprise And so Melo went to attack the Marshall of of Guiche whom he utterly defeated and made it appear that Fortune was divided in her self This victory layd France open to him and his Van-guard by a fine stratagem was already entred when the news came to the Prince of Orange who was incamped at Littoye that his Reer and the Battalia or full Body of his Army were neer Mastricht This crafty Spaniard would not leave so potent forces behind him and would also surprise the Weymarians before he fell into France A great Design had it not been both prevised and
finding himselfe decaying employed the small strength he had left upon the care of his foul and the quiet of his Kingdom The death of Lewis the Just He declared the Queen Regent or Governesse of his Sonne the King recommended Cardinal Mazâ—â—â—n to her and then rendred up his spirit to God This Prince alwayes loved Justice and was carried to warre more by the ambition of his Minister then any motive of his own and consequently would have been glad to see a Peace made which he much instanced before his decease He destroyed the Huguenot Party which gave jealousie and obscured his Majesty after which he assisted the Duke of Nevers in his succession to the Dutchy of Mantua seazed upon Lorrain made an Ally-ance with the King of Sweden and all the Protestants against the Emperour and waged warre both against him and the King of Spain under the pretexts which we have already recounted The Bâ—â—tail of Rocroy glorious to the French Don Francisco de Melo went to besiege Rocroy 1643. with a most gallant Army but having declared the Duke of Alburquerque a young Portuguese Lord Generall of the Horse he so much offended the Officers thereof that when the French came they would not do their duty but forthwith began to run so that all the Foot was defeated by the Duke of Angnien now Prince of Conde This victory was very great in which Generall Gassion gave a high character of himself and was the cause of the taking of Theonâ—ille And Melo was so much discredited that the King was constrained to call him away and give the government to the Marquis of Castel-rodrigo who kept it till the Arch-Duke Leopold arrived The successe of the Armies was various and if one Party lost a Battail the Allies got another so that there could not faile to come a totall mine CARDINAL MAZARINE Rgoywood focit P Stent excudit These were two of the most memorable Battails of our Age the one whereof hapned in the moneth of May and in the beginning of the raigne of Lewis the fourteenth given-by-God by the conduct of the young Duke of Angulen and the other towards the end of November under that of the Duke of Lorrain and they may be compared to those of Leipsick and Nortlinghen After this glorious Victory the French treated with him but without any fruit at all For he had been once at Paris to be jeered and he would returne thither no more but with forces to take his revenge Wherefore he marched back to the Low-Countries took Falkenstein a strong place in his way and left the command of the brave Army to Francis Baron of Mercy who after having taken Rotweil went and besieged Vberling a place of importance upon the Lack seazest upon before by Stratagem for want of good Gard but it yeelded now upon composition for want of Victuals sower moneths after In the meau time the Garrison of Brisack mutinied for want of pay and whilest the disorder lasted there was found a certain Marchant who offered about fower hundred thousand Rixdollers but General Erlach by his care brake this bargain and punished five or six of the Authours of the sedition General Mercy having fayled to retake Hoheniwiel by treaty left it blocked up by five Forts and went to attack Friburgh and Brisgaco where we will leave him till the valliant Duke of Anguien came and disolodged him and see in what tearms the Swedes are We said that Generall Torstonton having been compelled to raise the Siege from before Friburgh marched and planted himself upon the Elbe General Counixmarck slept not in the interim but skipped up and down to and fro with so much speed and activity that he always surprized his Enemies and never returned without booty Crackow was sent into Pomeranid to make a diversion but he had not the wit to faise the Siege of Domitz not resist Connixmark though enough to runne away though Poland Torstenton went into Moravia where he beat Bucham and came back into Misnid At the beginning of December he entred Holstein with so much promptitude that he was seen passe before Hamburgh when he was thought to be upon the Fronteer of Bohemia The Swedes enter into Hollstein 1643. At that same time came news that Gustave Horns was entred into Scania with an Army of twelve thousand men whereat all the world was amazed and men began to beleeve that the Imperialists would grow to respire by this new War but it proved quite contrary for they made no protis of it at all and the Swedes marched our to earry the terrour to the very Gates of Vienna Let us speak a little of the pretexts of this expedition since the Danes themselves were ignorant of the cause which could not well be found but in the Generall Maxime This the French and Weymariant were beaten and the Swedes gone out of Germany to ingago themselves in a frest quarrel so that the Imperialists had fine sport and did wonders CHAP. XV Of the Warre of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof NEver did Fortune more undertake the Swedish Interest then in this War and never was good King Christian in more danger of being stripped of his States then in this perillous conjuncture It is said that that great Astrologer Ticho Brahe had foretold him that he should be droven out of his Kingdome that he should depart with a staffe in his hand and that this immutable fate should defal him in the moneth of Jannary in the year 1644. I know not whether this report be true but sure I am that the prediction was false though yet there were once very great apparence and probability that it would come to pass For had the Swedes been able to snap the ships and Barks which were in a certain haven of that Province as their designe was to do they would easily have entred into the Isle of Fune and crastily rendred themselves masters of the whole Kingdom at unawares and without striking stroake The war of the Swedes against the Dams But the most premeditated Enterprizes are sometimes hindred and overthrown by a meer matter of nothing for the Soule of great designes is silence and he who knows not how to keep that will never bring any thing to good effect The Swedes fayled not of themselves but God only made them faile The King was strucken with as much amazement at the first notice of this invasion as it a thunderbolt had fallen upon his head and writing to his Resident at the Haghe he commanded him to tell the States General that this irruption seemed so strange to him And why that he would father have believed that the Sky would fall then that he should see the Swedes enter into his dominions But what could move the Swedes to begin a new War having so great a one already in Germany and knowing that this latter endangered the losse of all their conquests yea of their very Kingdom it self For the reasons which they
together with the Generals Hatsfeldt Mercy Broy Zaradeske and six or seven Colonels This Battail fell our upon the six of March 1645. near Iankow which caused the Emperour to retyre to Prague and expose his kingdom to the Conquerours made the siege be raised from before Olmitz and brought the enemy even to the Gates of Vienna in such sort as there was nothing but the River betwixt them A strange thing and a prodigious felicity Fortune constantly continued victories to divers Generals and every one thought that the Emperour was lost if the Swedes chanced to pass the Danub This Nation which was little known in the fourteenth age was now become so puissant that she thought by the help of her Allyes to stumble that formidable house which is composed of so many other The Roman Emperour was almost destroyed by the Goths Visigoths and Vandals who came from the North and those Writers wrong the Swedes who say that they came not out of their Country it being too sterill to feed so many people However it is not my design to refute that opinion which refutes it self but I remain within the limits of that war and in great amazement to see the Swedes at one and the same time at the Gates of Vienna Copenhaghen and Bremen every where tredding down their Enemies Baron Iohn de Werdt who was wronfully blamed for not well mannaging his advantage through over much rashness met with some Weymarian Regiments the fifteenth of May and sacrificed almost fifteen hundred of them to the soules of such as were slain in the Battel of Iankow from which he got off with as much temerity as felicity but his Party was more afflicted by the losse of two hundred men then his enemies were by that of six hundred I should never have done if I should particularize upon so many takings of Towns so many furprizes and encounters so many Provinces grown desert and so much poverty by continuall invasions but it suffices me to note the Fields and Battails And to the end that we may not go a stray in the constant victories of the Swedes we will return to the French Weymarians The defeat of Durling seemed to have annihilated all that Body and buried the memory of that illustrious Prince Bernard of Weymar His Troops were ill enough handled after his death by the Bavarians towards the Rheyn but they had their revenge upon the bank of the same River against Lamboy This last blood-letting made them become French and had nothing left of Germans but the meer name A politick prank to preserve the amity of the Nation The Duke of Anguien a most Martiall Prince went to succour the Marshall of Iurenne in Atsatia The Siege of Friburg The Baron of Marey besieged Friburgh 1644. and after the taking thereof seemed to threaten Brisack The French Weymarians passed the Rheyn and endeavoured to draw the Bavarians to a Combat but they contented themselves with repulsing their ardour by a moderate defence The French lost an infinity of men at the attack of some certain Forts and constrained their enemies rather to abandon their advantage with the losse of foure pieces of Canon then to ingage in a generall Decision against the expresse Commandement of their Master who would not expose his States to the temerity of a Nation which wanted neither people nor intelligence nor practice This said attack deserved to be published in regard that the Generals themselves affirmed that they had never been at a Feast of this kind where there was greater effusion of blood with more obstinacy without defining the difference And indeed the onsert was made by the boldest Nation of the world and which more despises danger then all other The furious attacks near Fribâ—â—gh The magnanimous Duke of Anguien being joyned with the Marshall of Turenne resolved to storm a Fort but he was fain to retyre with loss The day following the Assault was begun again upon the other with so much fury that the report thereof cannot be heard without trembling Yea the sky it self being quite absconded with clouds at such a slaughter shed so many tears in the afternoon that it dulled the ardour of the Babes of Mars and made them retyre into their Quarters leaving the ground quite covered with dead corps The last attack was so horrible and the blood-shed so great that one would have said that they had a design to kill all and perish like Barbarians not like Christians A massacre worthy of this present Age. A detestable slaughter to winne one Fort and a morcell of ground The French who were much superiour to the Bavarians in Cavalry having refreshed their Infantry and not being able to draw them into the plain Field departed from thence leaving the ground strewed with dead bodies Never was death seen so much braved by two contrary Patties with more courage and resolution and lesse fear then in these reiterated Encounters It was not for Religion but for Rule Oh great God thou comesb with a soft pace but how hard and heavy are thy blowes when thou strikest The conflict of some Lorrain Regiments near the Rheyn with Collonel Teste de Corbean in English Crowes-head by whom they were surprized and at first worsted till they were seconded by one of the Counts of Nasseaw was glorious to them but with lesse slaughter For the victorious Hassians were constrained to fly and acknowledge that they who go about to catch are very often the first caught Philipsburgh taken by the Duke of Anguien The Bavarians marched into the Dutchy of Wirtembergh and the French being reinforced towards the Rheyn where they seized by incredible successe upon Philipsburgh for want either of sufficient Garrison or sufficient resolution and afterwards upon Spiers and Mentz made the Flower de luce spring again upon the Rheyn and carried the terrour of the French Name into the very heart of Germany In fine they returned towards Bavaria and met the Electours Army near Nortlinghen where the brave Baron of Mercy The second Battel of Nortlinghen who was born at Longui and by his valour and addresse was ascended to this high degree cooled their courage a little and put them to a gentile retreat but he being slain in the shock and they seconded by Giese a Hassian General they defeated some Regiments and the Bavarians having been all the night in Battail marched away the next morning by the Electours Order with sound of Drummes and Trumpets sixty three Colours being carried away the day before and left their enemies nothing but the pride of seeing them depart without resuming the Dance for this retreat of theirs gave the praise of the victory to them who stayed and the Duke of Auguien after having been in danger to be taken in this Combat returned into France The Duke of Saxony being troubled and tired by so many disasters demanded Newtrality of the Swedes The Duke of Saxony takes Newtrality and obtained it by the
were all detained prisoners contrary to the Agreement made by a maxime little usual for they would not release them because they would not draine the Source of them and exhaust the Country of Souldiers It is to be noted that this said Fort before which there perished the Flower of the French Nobility and which merited not to be attacked had it not been for the consideration of the Haven yeelded to testifie to the French that the honour thereof was due to the Hollanders And these small grudges served but to sharpen their stomacks hasten the taking of Dunker and Fuernes The eleventh of October 1646 Thus almost all Flanders being conquered they doubted no more of expelling the Spaniards since there wanted onely one effort or last blow for it whereof France for her part was resolved Wherefore the King sent to intreat the Prince of Orange to lay siege before Antwerp and promised him the succour of six thousand men demanding onely four Churches for the Roman Catholicks in lieu thereof to which the Prince consented but the found some difficulty in the determination of the States For they of Zeland protested against it and they of Amsterdam would not have the said Town taken for feare least the Commerce should return thither again But there was yet another stronger and more considerable reason and jealousic had already taken too firme root to be so easily plucked up The Marshals Gassions and Rantzaw after having put good order at Courtrack advanced with their Troops towards the Channel betwen Gaunt and Bridges secured the Princes passage and drove back Piccolomini who durst not venture any thing against them The Prince after having passed made a circuit found plunder for his Souldiers rendred the Duke of Orleans a visit then crossed the River Skelde and entred the Land of Wass General Back seeing this storme ready to fall upon him after having stopped the Hollanders below Gannt retired himselfe and pitched his Camp a league beyond Antwerp for the safety whereof all being in confusion he left the fruitful Land of Wass to the Enemy as also the Town of Hulst which the Prince forced to yeeld Hulst besieged and taken after a moneths Siege Fortune which had alwayes accompained him made it appeare that he was yet her Darling in this occasion for though it were in the moneth of October it was faire and dry weather and had it been rainy according to the Season he had run hazard of loosing the benefit of this Field and of blemishing in some sort the splendour of so many gallant exploits as had been happily accomplished by him CHAP. XVIII The War of England The Tragical death of the King FErdinand the third at present Emperour had good reason to say these words which are reported to have been once uttered by him by way of deploring the calamity of this Age. The Princes of the Empire said he will be râ—â—ved and the evils and disasters which we suffer will rebound upon the heads of them who make us suffer them He is now in repose and sees all the calamities of Germany transported into England and other places But let us first begin with England without seeking the speculative Causes or casting them at all upon the sins of men To the end that we may speak with the more ground of what hath passed in this Kingdom we will derive the Source thereof from William the Conquerours time CHARLES PAR LA GRACE DE DIET-ROY D'ANGE ETERRE sould by P. Stent The curses of Fathers and Mothers upon their Children are of most dangerous consequence Behold here a proofe thereof by which this said Kingdom hath bâ—â—â—n afflicted since many Ages past and by the late Tragical Act which turned it into a Common-wealth Robert Son to the abovesaid William being gone to conquer the Holy Land gave his brother Henry the first of that name occasion by his absence to seize upon his Crown who having a desire to marry the Princess Mawde Sister to King Edgare of Scotland who had been long before an inclosed Nun in a Monastery caused her often to be asked with great instancy but the devour Princesse remained constant to her Vow but finding that she would not voluntarily yeeld her brother Edgare King Henry of England marries Mâ—wde Princesse of Scotland fearing Henry's fury was constrained to make her condescend so that she perceiving it to be a businesse of force made a prayer to God that all the issue and posterity which should spring from them might live in perpetuall disquiets and quarrels This malediction of hers hit right and extended it self not onely to the third and fourth generation but even to our Times also in such sort as that there have been few Kings ever since who to raigne in security have not been either necessitated or induced to kill their Brothers or near Kinsmen and who have not also experimented Civill Seditions whereby the Brothers Uncles Children or Brothers in Law have seized upon the Crown In fine the Division under Edwards Children between the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke existed under the Colours of the Red The quarrels between the Houses of Lancaster and York and the White Rose which quarrell after having caused many Battels and the death of above eighty Princes was composed by the marriage of Henry the seventh with Elizabeth of the House of Yorke and so the Roses were re-united to bury the two Factions and terminate the Difference however the Kingdom were not thereby cured of Mawdes Curse for in the year 1587. Queen Elizabeth who then raigned put to death Mary Stewart her Kinswoman after detaining her prisoner almost twenty yeares Thus farre reaches Stephen Basker a Writer of very much esteem but I must passe further and call a milde King upon a Scaffold After Queen Elizabeths decease it looked as if the course of misfortune were stayed by the raigne of King Iames and the Union of three Crownes but this great Calme continuing yet about fifteen yeares after his death turned into the blackest and most furious Tempest that ever was and those waters had not been stopped but to overflow this Field with so much the more violence and desolation Iames Stewart King of Scotland was murthered by a detestable Treason The misfortunes upon the House of Stewart and the Queen his Wife was beheaded in England where shee thought to sinde her Sanctuary from the Faction of her subjects Her Sonne afterwards King of England was likely to be stifled in her wombe Her Grand-Childe ended his dayes as she did hers by the hand of an Executioner and his distressed Children retyred into France to their Mother A strange Catastrophe and a malediction more Tragicall in the end then in the beginning But let us begin this Tragedy by this first Act. The English under a pacificall King lived in such superlative delight and riot produced by an uninterrupted course of many yeares Peace that they grew almost to forget God For it is but
in adversity onely that we are apt to remember him and such as were not content to live in such delicious idlenesse betook themselves to the warre either in Germany or the Low-Countries King Chales will have a Conformity of the Chu ches of Scotland with that of England King Charles made Proclamation for a Conformity as well in Ceremony as otherwife of the Churches in Scotland with these of England The Puritans opposed iâ— a tumult was raised against the Bishops and principall parsons of quality and a new Allyance or Covenant amongst the Puritans The King warned them to renounce it â—ut they on the other side persisted published scandalous Writings made a League abrogated the Episcopall Authority fortified some places and constrained him to leave his rest and take arms The Scots arms The Scots having gotten possession of the Castle of Edinburgh entred in to England took Newcâ—stle and Durham The King called a Parhament which being for the most part composed of Puritans he found them inclined to favour the Scots Whereupon he marched with an Army towards the Botders where he slighted the advice of one of the chief of his Kingdom who told him that if he would be a King and were not weary of raigning he must hazard a Battell But he preferring a pernicious peace before a necessary warre made an accommodation and at the same time called a Parliament which forth with assembled and the Scots after having finished a fine Master-piece of businesse whereof they felt excessive inconveniences after wards returned home The Deputy of Ireland prisoner his death The King gave this Parliament all full and absolure power provided that in any wife it touched not his Preroâ—ative nor such as were near it an individuall point by verâ—ue of a Law made in Henry the seventh's time But the first thing they did was to imprison the Lord Deputy of Ireland who could not be saved by the Kings requests nor his own defence but that he must needs be sacrificed to the hatred of the ignorant people who expressed their brutality by demanding his death and their folly by being moved to compassion at his firm and immutable constance to the last The Prince of Orange in England The Prince of Orange having demanded the eldest Princesse for his Son and obtained her he sent him thither to espouse her where he heard the said Deputies arguments and saw him brought upon the Scaffold and after his departure the Queen conducted her Daughter to the Haghe where she was received with very great honours but found the States more inclined to Neutrality then to meddle with that intestine warre For the King finding his Authority sensibly checked was already retyred to York where he set up his Standard sent for the Knights of the Garter and having neither Ships nor money sought some support in the affections of his subjects but too late for the forces whereof he had dif-invested himselfe were in the Parliaments hands however he was succoured by the greatest part of the Nobility The Malignants and Round-heads who and Gentry upon whom was imposed the name of Malignants as that of Round-heads was upon the Parliament souldiers The Queen having received some money upon her Jewels and drawne a good summe from the Prince of Orange repasted into England War between the King and Parliament but was cast back by a most horrible tompest upon the Coast of Holland though yet some weeks after she arrived in safety with all the Munitions which she had been able to purchase and afterwards retired into France leaving her husband in this storm wherein he was swallowed up S r. Thomas Wentworth c. Lord Debuty of Ireland sould by P. Stent In sine understanding that the English had called in the Scots by vertue of the Covenant concluded and confirmed by Oath on both Parcies wherein they swore the destruction of the Bishops he dispatched Prince Robert against them The Royâ—lists beaten by the Scots who joyned his forces though not his opinion with the Earl of Newcastle for he would needs venter a Battail which he lost and the said Earl fled into Germany and all the Kings felicity with him During these interludes the Earl of Montroffe did wonders for the King in Scotland for with a very small Army he gained a Battail came off with advantage in many encounters and repayred in fine the Kings affaires there Montrosse for the King in Scotland whilest they impayred in England for having lost another victory to Fairfax he was compelled to retyre to Oxford where he was besieged Whereupon his Son went into France and himself fled disguised to the Scotch Army The King flies to the Scotch Army and is sold who received him at first with great honour and complement though afterwards they delivered him up to the Parliament Army for a summe of mony He was made passe amongst the people for a Papist and a Tyrant and that he had a design to annull all the Priviledges of England c. Ah ungratefull People Ah Scotch Captains You who have the renown of being Souldiers how could you consent to such a basenesse Had avarice more power over your soules then respect vertue and duty For though you had an opinion that the King were a Papist is it lawfull for subjects to act against the Annointed of the Lord that which they would not have done to themselves As soon as the news of the Deputies imprisonment arrived in Ireland The revolt in Ireland the Irish took Arms to free themselves from the Captivity of the English as they called it but with so much barbarity and cruelty that they rendred themselves detestable thereby especially to such as knew how they had been treated by the English But what will not people undertake which from a long time are grown brutish and savage when they crush the head of their Governours with their own Chaines The Collections which were made in Holland for the succour of the Reformates in that Country The Collections in Holland for what begat as well the admiration of the Charity of that Nation towards their Brethren as doubt also on the other side whether such large summes ever arrived there The King being near London found himself reduced to the extremity of granting them of the Parliament whatsoever they asked and not being able to suffer some inconveniences which were cast upon him he made his escape to the Isle of Wight where he was treated like a prisoner But in fine being led back again to London and the Vpper House being abolished The King is executed the 30. of January 1649. he was accused by the Army and brought before a High Court of Justice where he was tryed condemned to be beheaded and executed the thirtieth of January 1649. There have happened enormous accidents in this Age but none which hath so much astonished the world as this strange proceeding Such as are curious have made a shift
to pick out some kind of similitude of his death to that of the Saviour of the world but for my part I will be silent Since that time the English have fought prosperously against the Irish and Scots But let us now end the war and the difference between the King of Spain and the States Generall and see the success of the Armes of France CHAP. XIX The continuance of the Exploits in Flanders The Battail of Lentz THE Prince of Orange made his last Field in the year 1647. when he passed into Flanders and received a supply of six thousand French conducted by Marshall Gramment who did nothing but plunder and gave proof of their courage and irregular Discipline to the souldiers of this Common-wealth He took a Fort before Antwerp which he presently after lost again He found so much repugnance in the States against the Siege of this Town that he changed his design Hemy Prince of Orange sick His death 1648. and marched towards Venlo but after the loss of many men there he retyred to the Haghe where he fell sick and died in the moneth of March 1648. and was interred at Delft by Prince William his Father This generous Prince gave so many testimonies of his valour in so many perilous Sieges that he made himself admired by all the world Armentiers and Landrecies taken 1647. The Arch-Duke Leopold being arrived in the quality of Governour of the Low-Countries besieged Armentiers the thirteenth of May which the French had fortified and made a Magazine there which he gained the twenty sixth of the same monoth But Gassion being intrenched with eight thousand men near Esterre hindred him from any further attempt upon Artoise and chiefly Arras upon which he seemed to have cast his eye Wherefore he went and invested Landrecies and brought it under obedience in less then three weeks The French take La Baneè Diemude end Tortoza But Gassion recompenced the first loss by the taking of La Baneè which he effected by an Assault only without a siege as Rantzow also did Diemude In such sort as Piccolomini was forced to lay a formall Siege to it and tear it our of the hands of Monsieur Palvaw the Governour Rantzow had an enterprise upon Ostend which being discovered was hurtfull to the Enterprisers Nor had that of Beck upon Courtrack any better success and La Baneè remained as a Curb to Lile But the Arms of France had better luck in Catalunia where the Marshall of Schoonbergh recompenced the loss which the Count of Harcoart made in raising the Siege of Lerida in doing the like for the Spaniards before Flix and by easily taking Tortoza From whence the name of Hibernia to Ireland a Town situated at the mouth of the River Ebro called by the Romans Iberus But Terragona was a stumbling-block for them as well as Casal had been to the Spaniards The next years Field must do miracles and shew the Hollanders that without them they were able to beat the Spaniards out of Flanders Indeed the Army was very great and the General had both luck and courage enough to undertake impossible things The French take Ypers and the Spaniniards Courtrack 1648. The fair and strong Town of Ypers was attacked and taken in twelve dayes and Courtrack retaken by the Spaniards in five Indeed the want of Victuals was so great that if Ypers had held out four days more the Army had been in danger of suffering much The forces of both Parties met near Lentz a Town though small yet famous for brave Gassions death Gassion killed who was killed by a musket bullet in the Approaches to the Town The Sraniards were about seven thousand and the French much sewer The Foot did their duty well enough The Battail of Lentz and especially the Lorraines but the Horse according to their custom sled and would not hearken to General Becks exhortations who was taken and died rather of vexation then of his wounds In sine the Spaniards lost the Battail and had almost lost the Imperiall Prince too had he not been succoured by the Prince of Ligne The victory of the French who remained in pawn for him For want of Foot the French were fain to be content with the Town of Fuernes which was afterwards retaken by the Spaniards to guard Dunkerk It was conceived that this victory would have been a means to ingrandish the French Monarchy but it was likely on the other side to make it stumble and indeed it gave it such a shogg that it hath not been able to recover it self wholly hitherto For this great Body being strong and nimble is fallen into a feaver which makes it frantick It is like a Watch the principall wheels whereof being broken keeps no true course or measure But let us go and finish the war of the United Provinces since the news thereof is already come for if we should stay to note all things we should never have an end CHAP. XX The Peace made betwixt the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable Siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate THe last Field having produced no remarkable effect at all was taken by many as the shooting off of a Musket without a bullet rather to content the Allyes then to advance upon the enemy rather to drive away the time then to make use of advantages and rather to tyre the French then to come to share stakes with them Indeed the Hollanders had a fine game of it for the enemy not being able almost to stoop was fain to avow that all their defences being taken away in Flanders they had nothing more left to oppose against them then the Walls of Amwerp Gaunt and Bridges for Guelders was half conquered Brabant open and Flanders almost quite subjugated so that there remained but one and the last Bowt to come to the sharing of stakes In the mean while the Embassadours which last arrived were the first dispatched for they found so much inclination in them of Spain that the Proposition for a Truce being changed into that of a Peace all their demands were granted them In such sort as more then a twelve moneths time was spent in attending and uniting the two Parties howbeit they had brought them so far already that whatsoever the French had gotten by conquest of the Spaniards and other enemies was to remain as their own for perpetuity and they had confirmed it amongst them by a sure and fast League in order to which Monsieur de Seruient had taken great pains at the Haghe yea he indevoured under this pretext to draw the States to a continuation of the war The Peate made between the Spaniards and the Hollanders and the utter expulsion of the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries and therefore it was no marvaile if Prince William leaned that way with him For this young Eagle being newly received as Governour and Captain Generall desired to accomplish what his Predecessors
faire Medea was gained at the point of the Sword with the losse of many brave Knights and carried to Malta And this newes I say did so much inflame his choler that he swore he would revenâ—e himselfe upon all the Christians and to this effect he contracted the principal Forces of all the Provinces and fitted a Fleet of near four hundred saile and lulled the Venetians asleep in the meane while by assuring them that it was not against them but to draw satisfation from the aforesaid Knights who put themselves into a posture to undergoe the storme by sending for all the Knights demanding the succour of Princes and fortifying all the approaches The said Venetians and other States of Italy thought also of their defence but a little too late and so they tryed to their cost and losse the Great Turks perfidy who having made a shew of attacking Malta returned towards Candy and took Canea by composition after he had battered it by a Siege and many assaults Some States shewed their zeal for the Common Good but the reliefe came too late like physick to the dead and the cause thereof was jealousie But this inopinated Invasion much astonnished the Illustrious Republick of Venice which asked assistance every where and in Holland Ships for their mony but was not able to restore Christendom to peace When the Wolves attack a flock of Sheep the courage of the doggs is cooled from falling upon the Common Enemy The ambition of Christians was too great the opinions in Religion too different and various their charity too much chilled and the ruin of the House of Austria which was judged infallible too much in their hearts This punishment seemed to have been drawn upon them by their not having well administred justice in the said Island upon the Governours Son who had committed a rape and violated a woman 1646. which crime made the Mores invade Spain and hath caused many afflictions in the world besides One misfortune followes another Fire got into the Arsenal at Venice for the fire got into the Arsenal at Venice and indangered the blowing up of that brave City which so much frighted the noble Senators thereof that as well for this mishap as also for many other advertisements they resolved to provide it well to the end that the Traitours might have no power to hurt it In this conjuncture the French were in danger to be ill treated being accosed of intelligence with the Turks and of having kindled this fatal war But that which is without ground is also without existency and what is not proved ought not to be believed The Turke caused his General to be beheaded for having lost too many men before Canea and failed to seize upon the Haven of Suda in the same Island and not with standing so many prodigies as appeared at Constantinople for many dayes together Prodigies at Constantinople he resolved to continue the war with all extremity for the space of seven years For the year before one part of the said City was consumed by fire and this year the contrary Element threatned to drown it and made the Inhabitants go up to the tops of their houses to save their lives In brief these supernatural signes make us hope that heaven being angry with these Barbarians will dissipate their Monarchy together with the impiety of their Alcoran but the incredulity of Christians together with their ill lives will quickly involue Mortals in the vengeance of the Almighty The Venetians blocked up Canea and the Turks being ill Neighbours to the Hungarians laboured to enter into Frioll and caused the Tartars to march into the Field but the Cossacks made a powerful diversion towards the Black-Sea which divided the said Turks Troops The Muscovits joyned themselves to the said Cossacks and the Basshaw of Aleppo revolted so that the Grand Signor found worke enough to do The Pope and Cardinals furnished thirty thousand Crowns a moneth towards the expenses of the war with many Gallyes The Popes succour and the Duke of Parma some Forces The State of Venice being mennaced by three Armies implored the reliefe of Christian Princes The defeat of the Venetions and beat the Turks in Dalmaria but received a furious overthrow in the Kingdom of Candy General Moresini took a good number of vessels appointed to re-victual Canea but he could not hinder the Fleet and so the Army was defeated there six thousand men with two Generals killed Retimo taken and all the Christians massacred This misfortune so much startled the Common-wealth that however Grimani had very happily taken a great many Gallyes Which implores the help of Princes she made it highly known at Vienna Paris Madrid and throughout all Italy that she was not able alone to sustaine the weight of the Half-Moon and that having already consumed about two and thirty millious of Crowns she should at last be constrained to enter into such unequal conditions with this devouring Wolfe as would be shameful to all Christendom Though Fortune had been unkinde in the Kingdom of Candy she yet shewed so gay and chearful a countenance in Dalmatia and in many Encounters at Sea that she made the Republick break off all Treaty of Peace and resolve to continue the war There arrived forty vessels from Holland and some from Denmark without counting the succour of Genna and that of the Pope who took the said Republicks Cause to heart as also the repose and quiet of Christendom Grinnani got many Victories and so much tormented the Turks that famin thrust it selfe amongst them in Canea The Common-wealths Victories where we will leave them scuffling for that fair Island without entertaining our selves to pick out the circumstances of Combats and Cruelties where with the Barbarians stuste their actions since Christians being become Barbarians do yet worse theâ— they LEOPOLD WILLIAM Arch Duke of Austra and Goâ—ueruour of y e Low Countries 〈…〉 P. Stuat Excuâ—it CHAP. III. The troubles at Paris It is besieged The Archduke comes to succour it The besieging and taking of Ipers Cambray besieged in vaine Hennawlt ransacked THe newes which came to Paris of the Victory obtained against the Arch-Duke before Lens in Artâ—ise upon the twentieth of August 1648. would have filled all France with perfect joy had not an unexpected accident disturbed the feast and almost put that great City into confusion mingled with blood and slaughter For whilest they were giving God thanks for this said Victory A tumult at Paris and why the people hearing of the imprisonment of Messiours de Brussels de Charton and de Blancmesnil President of the Parliament whom they acknowledged for their Fathers and Protectors began to cry Alarme and run in flocks to the Pallace Royall to require their liberty The Shops were shut up the Chaines made fast and all the approaches barricaded So that Paris was in greater disorder now or else the danger was greater then that which chanced in Henry the thirds
time till the Queen being supplicated to release them was content to grant it And thus Appeased was the first bout which was but precursory to greater evils past and a calme restored to that little world for three or four moneths It is very reasonable say the Strangers that the Shop where the Counsells of so many wars had been forged should feel a part of the Calamities by which Europe hath been so miserably tottered but the mischiefe falls upon the heads of the innocent Strange effects of the Divine Providence which leaves nothing firme and stable in this detestable Age and nothing unpunnished though deferred Let us passe to the second much more dangerous then the first The Queen together with the King and Princes went out of Paris upon the fifth or sixth of January at night 1649 which clandestine retreat The King goes out of Paris which causes a tumult gave the Inhabitants such an Alarme as imagining that she would revenge her selfe of the former Commotion that they took arms again with as much heate as they had done before and raised forces to conserve themselves under the command of the Duke of Beaufort Elbouf and Bouillon as also the Marshal de la Motte and their chief General was the Prince of Conty The King raised some also and there came many to him from all parts to reduce this great City to reason he had already seized upon some approaches and some hot Skermishes were made in one whereof The pretended Duke of Rohan killed His education that pretended Duke of Rohan was killed of whose education the Reader will be pleased to hear a word or two as I have been able to learne it Being yet an Infant he was carried into Holland by a certain Captain and put to nurse to a Country-woman in North-Holland where together with his milk he sucked in the love of the Roman Catholick Religion When he was grown pretty big he was sent to the Latin Schooles at Leyden but with so little care that he was as it were quite abandoned and almost reduced to the extremity of betaking himselfe to learne some Trade During this small state and low condition he told his School-fellowes and namely my sonne that he remembred well that he was come of a good House and that he well knew that he was the sonne of a French Gentleman He went publickly to the Sermons and privatly when he could to Masse which being come to the knowledge of some to whom he was recommended without knowing who he was they forbid him to go to the secret Assemblies of the Papists But in fine the vizard was taken off and the Dutchesse of Rohan acknowledged him by Letters for her sonne sent him men and mony to set up his Traine and bring him into France where he soone sound his grave for a Pistoll bullet decided the sure and the doubt of whether he were the true sonne of the deceased Duke of Rohan or no. Paris was in a more dangerous State then it had been in a long time before for the King held S. Dennis Mewdon Corbeil and Lagny so that to get out of one extremity recourse must be had to another and that to the uttermost parts of the Kingdom I mean they were faine to implore assistance of their Enemies which being favourably offered they received it The Arch-duke goes to sucour Paris 1649. The Arch-duke Leopold promised to succour the Parliament against the Perturbatour of the Peace and quiet of Christendom for so they tearmed Cardinal Mazarin with whom he refused to joyn in Arms to his own great advantage and the ruin of the Partsians Wherefore he departed in March 1649. with very good order in all parts where he passed but with discontentment to his Army which marched in the Enemies Countrey with their hands tyed without receaving mony or daring to take any thing from the Peasants Goodnesse is sometimes dammageabe and to spare ones Enemies is to give them will to hurt him and deminish his strength Cardmal Mazarin seeing the Arch-dukes approach and Parliaments care for the remedy of the disorders which threatned the Kingdome with a great breach gave way to this sterme which being once joyned might come to destroy him So that the Peace was made all those insurrections were pardoned and Leopold found at the bottom of this businesse what the Duke of Lorrain had told him before For he was advised to retyre with all speed for fear least his passage were stopt A considerable favour indeed for having saved Paris from ruin with the losse of almost two thousand Horses which dyed for want of sorrage This deceipt was imputed to the necessity of the rime which when it hath any ground passes for craft for otherwise The peace made it is but meer malice Parisians it will be payd you and your inconstance will be chastized for the busines will not be forgotten The Arch-duke being amazed at this piece of levity speedily retreated towards his borders Ypers besieged and gave the Marquis of Sfondrato order to invest Ypers which he did the 11 th of April with incredible diligence having taken some Forts which facilitated the succour of the Town from Dunkerk but he found more to doe then was imagined for they of the Garrison being in number three thousand having thrust out some fifteen hundred inhabitants such as were most suspected and shut up the Magistrates the Clergy and some of the Nobility in a Cloister til the Tragedie were finished made their Artillery sound lowde and their blowes fall heavy in many sallies and especially in that of the 24. of April when they went and beat up the quarters of the Spaniards which was a most glorious action for had the succour been ready the Town had been infallibly delivered from the Siege In fine after having well defended the Countersearpe and a Half-Moon they yeelded themselves up the eighth of May Renders it self the eighth of May 1649. after having consumed their powder and the Garrison in respect that it was Sunday went out the tenth which was Tuesday St. Venant submitted at discretion the sixth of April and the Garrison were made prisoners of War The French Army made Rendezvous between Perone and Guise being a body of five and twenty thousand effective men under the orders of that fortunate Warrier the Count of Harcourt who knowing that the Spanish Troops were scattered and dispersed marched with speed incamped and intrenched themselves before Cambray Cambray besiged and tâ—â—en This un-thought-of surprize did not a little puzed the Arch-duke who contracting all his forces hastened with the Duke of Lorrain to succour the place and so having put in a supply he obliged the Besiegers to raise the Siege This done he sent his Army into Garrison and the French out of revenge for this affront fell into Hennawlt took Conde and asked both that and all the whole County in such manner as if they had had no intention
ever to returne thither again Then they entred into the Dutchy of Brabant and carried themselves not a jot better where they passed then they had done in Hennawlt so that the Citizens of Brussels found themselves almost in the same apprehension wherein they were in the year 1635. And so this Field was passed at the losse of the Country-people and of the lives of some Souldiers who were killed in the skermishes Champagne and Luxemburgh rifled The Duke of Wirtembergh with fower thousand men pillaged Champagne and General Rose did as much in the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and so they all retyred into their Winter-quarters Obmiserable condition of this most miserable Age the Sink of all other which is turned to corruption by the infection of so much stanghter They who had tilled and sowed the land were knocked in the head for their paines or starved with their poor Children in the rigout of Winter to leave their Harvest for their murtherers And such as escaped sled into Holland to save their unhappy lives by Day-labour When shall we see an end of all these misfortunes Alas It will not be possible but with the end of the universe Now we have finished the Warrs of Germany and Holland let us go into the Bishoprick of Liedge and see with what fuell that fire is made CHAP. IIII. The tumults in the Province of Liedge The choosing of a Coadjutour Tumults at Trevirs The Lorraines in the Kingdome of Aix and the Land of Gulick or Juleers beate the Country people The War kindled again at Neaples THis fatall War is like the Hydra the more heads are cut off the more grow up out of one smothered in one place their sprang many in another If this impetuous torrent be stopped but with the least apparence of good successe it forthwith breakes out in many places It is a great embarassement the more water is cast into it the more it kindles Nor may we hope for any amendment since those horrible effects which we have now described and which we yet see dayly happen will not permit us to doubt but that this is the last Age. The people of Liedge are very firme Roman Catholicks and very much love novelty as well as the French they are stank and single-hearted A description of the City of Liedge but a little too cholerick and jealous of their priviledges The Town is faire and great and the Palace and S. Lamberts Church of an admirable structure It is situated in a Bottom and surrounded by Mountaines which take away the sight of it unlesse one be very neer it and it is bathed by the River Moze which passes both through it and before it Sciences so much flourished there heretofore that Historie affirme that there were fourteen Princes at one time all Sonnes of Kings or Soveraignes At least it is no hard matter to judge that it hath been one of the most flourishing Cities of Europe In the time of Ferdinand Duke of Bavaria Elector of Colein Prince and Bishop of Liedge there were some tumults and complaints tending to the destruction of his authority For they cryed aloud that their Priviledges were not maintained that the Prince came not to dwell in the Town and that he did not say Masse c. The power of these factions encreased which pretended nothing but the conservation of Priviledges and Liberty the general pretext of all such as love novelty and strangers endeavoured to blow this fire of division especially after the taking of Mastricht La Ruelle murthered by the Count of Warfuses treachery who was also cut in pieces The Burgher Master or Maior of the Town called La Ruelle who favoured of the people and was cherished by them was justly suspected by his Prince for Soveraigns will not have the affection of their Subjects divided So that it was judged that this thick cloude would power down a great Shower The Count of Warfuse after having betrayed his Master retyred himself into the said Town where thinking to wash away the old treason by a new one and winne the favour of the Prince to returne to that of the King caused the said Burghermaster to be unhappily murthered at a Dinner to which he was invited both him and the Abbot of Mouzon Resident of France his confident who had great intelligence and authority in the said town which murther being discovered whilest it was hot made the Citizens take Arms and cut the murtherers in pieces and so their grew great tumults Since which time the leven of the Sedition hath always remained and faction hath held up her head there Faclions in the Town under the names of Chiroux and Grignoux Such as kept their respect towards the Prince took pride to be called Chiroux and they who professed themselves for Liberty Grignoux In fine the Prince being no longer able to suffer the deminution of his authority nor the affront which was done him when he desired to enter into the Town armed himself to chastize the said Grignoux He put some thousands of men into the field under the conduct of Generall Spar armed the Peasants and drew neer the Town whereof he quickly grew Master by the intercession of the Chiroux The Prince enters into the Town and so the difference was drowned in the blood of both the Burghermasters and some others who followed A Cittadell was built to defend the one from the oppression of the other yea to maintain Justice and the Princes authority and to represse the insolence of the common People A calme being restored to the Town every body in quiet and the cabal of the Grignoux destroyed who had so much laboured under hand for help from the Hollanders and the French a coadjutour was elected and the votes fell unanimously by divine providence not upon the Prince of Conty whom his Brother endeavourd to establish by fayre meanes and foule but upon Prince Maximilian Maximilian of Bavaria â—â—adje tour Henry of Bavaria a most worthy Prelat and great ornament of the Church who ought to be imitated by all the other as being the most noble example that could be proposed There wanted a holy Pastour for so irâ—egular and undisciplined a Flock The difference at Trevirs Almost the same difference hapned of Trevirs for the same subject but without blood-shed and with lesse heat the temperament or constitution of these being more moderate then that of the Liedgers In fine by the intercession of some Electors all was appeased and the Election fell upon the Lord Charles Gasper of Leyen at present Arch-bishop and Elector The Lorraines beat the Liedgeoises 1549. The people of both these Electors had absolution but they were fain to do pennance and the Duke of Lorraines Souldiers have often and some years together since disturbed their rest For they went to seek their Winter-quarter in the year 1649. in the said Province beat the Country people who presumed to oppose them and the Characters
or Charms wherewith most of them were furnished served them for nothing In the last Wars of Germany these superstitions and obcecations of the Divel were much put in practice and were usefull for sometime but to the ruin of such as trusted in them The said Duke of Lorrain having received some satisfaction drew his forces out of the said Bishoprick and sent them towards the Kingdome of Aix which invasion put such a flea in the ear of all the bordering Princes and the Governour of Mastricht that they were already complotting an Alliance to fall upon them who had pillaged some Carts coming from Boisleduc and sent some Regiments into the land of Ravestein but they changed their way and went to the Dutchy of Gulick There wanted not Muskets but * Gold so talled Pistols to drive them into the Bishoprick of Trevirs where they shore the sheep which had very little more left then the bare skin because they had been shorn so often before One part of them repassed at the beginning of Summer into Flanders and the rest stayed to hasten the contributions This Army is at present the most odious and most revyled of all Europe because the last evils are more sensible then the first which are half-forgotten Indeed they do much harme but the Swedes did much more in Sazony through the spight which was caused them by the peace of Prague and through a resentment which they made ring very loud nor doth this Prince want any indignation as not having been comprized in that of Munster thought yet the tyrannies which his Souldiers have exercised as well in Germany as elsewhere be not excusable But all these desolations must be imputed to the corruptnesse of this Age which being cursed cannot produce any thing but abhomination not to be remedied by humane understanding The end of that destructive War of Germany made all the world see that the ay me of the French and Swedes was quite contrary to what they pretended For they said alowd that they took Arms and came into Germany to defend the Lutheran Religion the Liberty of Germany which lay gasping under the Tyranny of the House of Austria and for the re-establishment of such as were oppressed I intreat the reader whose judgement is not stolne away by passion to examine with me the proceedings of both Partyes In the year 1635. the Swedes would not accept of an excessive summe of money for a recompence offered them by the Duke of Saxony in such sort as that at the Treaty of Munster they were faine to leave them in the possession of Pomerania Wâ—smar and the Arch-bishoprick of Bremen to obtain peace and they abandoned the cause of the Ghospellers and Reformates from whom they had drawn most remarkable services in Austria Bohemia Moravia and Silesia For the satisfaction of France which served it self of the same pretexts they were constrained to yeeld it the Rights in the three Bishopricks leave it Brisack and a good part of Alsatia to the losse of a Prince allyed to it by bloud and forsake the Duke of Lorrains cause For though Peace were treated War was neverthelesse carryed on with extremity and the said Allyes imagined that they should have brought all the forces of the Empire to an end before it were concluded But the Hollanders being pacifyed obliged them to consider that Fortune often changes and to content themselves with what they seemed able to keep in all occurrences or accidents Thus were the Protectors of the German Liberty against the Soveraigne Head The Emperour being attacked by a Vassal of the Empire despoiled him of his States and having many times defeated them who acted for him imposed nothing more upon him for restitution of all his Lands and Goods then a meer single acknowledgement of his fault and a feigned humility by asking pardon I mean the King of Denmark who entred Germany in an hostil manner and was beaten and Ferdinand for the expences of the war manifested by restoring him all that he would have the world know that he sought not to give jealousie to any by retaining such States as he had occupated by a just Cause and by the lot of Arms. Oh you Clarks who vant so much of the sincority of the intentions of your Masters and who desire to make things appeare quite otherwise then they are confess now what you cannot deny namely that their designe was to fish in troubled waters and that in stead of the liberty of the Empire they effectively sought the ruin thereof Before you make a Family guilty of Vsurpation look first what they are whom you defend Give her leave to maintaine her interest as well as your Masters do theirs and never blame that in others whereof you are culpable your selves In this Treaty the King of Spaines complaints and the protestations of his Embassadours concerning the Circle of Burgundy obtained not that satisfaction they hoped and expected for the French had there too much authority and so the aforesaid King expressed his resentment thereof by retaining his Garrison in Frankendal as we will shew and manifested that he was able to cast yet more prejudice upon his enemies Let us return to Neaples where there grew to be a greater Combustion and that of greater vogue then it was under the command of Aniello The nearness and terrour of the Turkish Arms had not quenched the desire of the Spaniards from punishing against the Agreement made the people of Neaples The Comparison of the troubles of Neaples For the Prophesie concerning Aniello was to be accomplished as well upon this miserable City as in his person the losse of his authority was to be lamented Let us make a brief discourse upon this last misfortune which both for beginning progresse and end was not much unlike that of the Low-Countries Margaret Dutchesse of Parma by the wisdom of her Council dissipated and quashed all the disorders which sprang up during her Regency Together with those of the Low-Countries and appeased the complaints both of the one and the other as the Duke of Arcos also did by publishing a General Pardon But the Duke of Alna by violent examinations and inquires awakened what was consopited before since all was forgiven all ought to be forgotten the relapse very often causing death cast the people into despair and into a resolution of shaking off the yoak both of his and their Master Don John of Austria instead of receiving the honours which were prepared for him commanded the people to lay down Arms and thereby aggravated the wound by the saying of the Pope himself which was not yet well skinned For upon the refusal of some quarters or parts of the City the Spaniards began to batter her from three Cittadels and from some Gallyes also The cruelties in the Kingdom of Neaples with so much fury for the space of three dayes together that it looked as if they would have buried her under her own ruines Nor was this
all for they made an attack upon the Citizens and exercised such cruelties as are sutable to the conditions of this cursed Age as pilladging houses ravishing women and maids massacring Fathers and Husbands and committing certain other prime pranks and exercises which were wont to be done there and which are ordinarily practiced in one Times besides cutting the throats of Infants murthering the sick in the Hospitals through reciprocal hatred and demolishing Churches to serve them for defenses Albis prophaned all Society broken Oh God! O Great Judge I may say with the great St. Jerome that when I consider these slaughters me thinks I already heare thy trumpet which bids us march Ah! how dangerous a thing it is to break promise with a people which have newly laid down Arms For if you once bring them to despair there will be no means to appease them by any promise The Duke of Guise goes to Neaples The Neapolitans armed again breathed nothing but vengeance desired the protection of France and the Duke of Guise for their Commander-General All which being promised them they stopped their eares to a Reconciliation and strangled their Governour Foralto after having barbarously dismembred and mangled him for having advised them to peace yea there were no cruelties so enormous and unnatural but they put them in practice Gennaro Annese caused the Streets which led towards the Cittadels to be stopped up and the Spaniards seeing the fire too great to be extinguished by their Arms endeavoured to restore the said Cittadels into the Popes hands who refused them The Adiacent Parts succoured the City with victuals the Bandites took and sacked other Towns and the Duke of Metelona who kept the Field with some forces gave the Neapolitans no quarter but they rendred him quid for quo The Duke of Guise arrived ordered all things and besiedged Capisa in vaine In short all was full of plunder blood and fire Oh! Austria where art thou Faith Hope and Charity where are you Where are the Commandments of God Let us go out of this Labyrinth for these particulars make ones hair rise on ones head let us see the end I say of these abominations here to go and seek them elsewhere The Count of Oneate newly made Vice-King and a second Prince of Parma in prudence allayed all these disorders by an enterprise the good successe whereof made him renowned and glorious For upon a fair opportunity he rendred himselfe Master of the Gates and all the people also with small resistance some will needs say by treason In so much as all the said people began suddainly to cry Live the King of Spain which some dayes before had cryed Live the King of France All was pardoned and the Imposts taken off by favour without constraint The Duke of Guise was pursued taken prisoner and carried into Spain Is made prisoner and carried into Spain together with some other French Lords All was re-established as it was before the troubles Te Deum sung and the Count of Oneates merits elevated to the Skies Oh the inconstance of things of this world For this Sedition was appeased The Peace made when it was conceived that it would have made the Flower de Luces flourish again throughout the whole Kingdom Thus was the blood stenched which by the continual streames thereof was to stifle the Authority of the House of Austria These were the effects of the Divine goodness which by a special grace would save a City when human prudence saw it tending towards utter desolation without being able to recover it Now after the description of so many calamities suffered and after the publication of the Peace amongst all the Towns of this great Body which was fatigated and exhausted both of blood and strength we will rest a little and take breath with it and then prepare our selves to go to the Jubily CHAP. V A Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Condè the Duke of Boüillon and other Lords retire themselves to Bourdeaux and the Dutches of Longueville and the Vice-Count of Turenne to Stenay The Allyance is made The Duke of Orleans in Flanders and a digression upon that Subject I Was thinking to make a full stop in the middle of this Age as hoping that the Great God being moved by so much blood-shed would stop his scourge and cast his rod into the fire but alas It is not yet done for it seems that they who contributed to the desolation of the Empire must now feel the effects of his indignation in their own States They danced in Germany and now the Revel is amongst them at home to the end that all may be accomplished If they have made some Conquests they will pay deare enough for them Whosoever takes a firy coale in his hand shakes and stirs it gently and shuts not his hand for feare of burning it My designe in the remnant of this matter is to do the like and to handle it so tenderly as not to burne my selfe in a season when the World is so easily toucht and when truth is hardly able to finde a lodging The great Jubily Whilest the City of Rome was full of Strangers who came thither either out of curiossity or for devotion to the great Jubily and whilest Pope Innocent was addressing his prayers to God for a General Peace the war marched still on as before The Imprisonment of the Princes of Conde and Conty and of their Brother in Law the Duke of Longueville The Imprisonment of the Princes 1550. was likely to bring Paris againt into trouble in order to the Duke of Beaufort who was reported to be of the number and gave such as were curiours desire to finde out the ground of so great a Change The Princesse of Condè retired her selfe to Bourdeaux where the Duke of Boüillon and many other great Lords came to her who for the hatred they bore Cardinal Mazarin and the Duke Espernon were all most welcome to her and found both safety and authority there and the Marshal of Turenne found favour also at Brussels The Dutchesse of Longueville got abord a Vessel which lay off before the Haven of Deep and passed into Holland and thence to the Province of Luxemburgh to make a streight Allyance with the Arch-Duke Leopold A Manifest published concerning their detention The King published a Manifest concerning the detention of the Princes the chiefe points whereof were the Prince of Conde's too great power and insatiable ambition which too visibly checked the Soveraigne Prerogative This proceeding caused a great alteration in the Court and burthened the Cardinal with too much hatred to let him sleep so securely as to forget the care of his own preservation The Queen her selfe was not spared and such Officers of the Court as were the said Cardinals Creatures wanted not their full measure The Allyance with the Arch-Duke The Viz-Count of Turenne having raised a great summe of money in Stenay caused the
Drummes to be beaten and confirmed a most straight Allyance with the aforesaid Arch-Duke the principall conditions whereof were that neither Party should lay down Armes till the Princes were released the Duke of Lorraine restored to his States Sedan rendered and a firm Peace concluded between the two Crownes Which done they began to raise forces and the Spaniards disposed themselves to put theirs into the field The common opinion that the Spaniard sowes dissention in France refuted It is the opinion of many persons that the King of Spain endeavoured to corrupt the greatest part of the Nobleman of France with money and sowed sedition and revolt amongst them with this glittering mettall as if that Nation were not unquiet and turbulent enough of it self without his being necessitated to draine his Treasures to move it And yet suppose that he did it it was no more then what is ordinarily practised every where when there is an apparence of profit being incited thereto by Reason of State and then what was done by King Lewis the eleventh in England and elsewhere But to what purpose should it serve him save only to spend his mony unprofitably enough as appeared by their inconstance Many of them have often retyred themselves into his Dominions to seek their own security and his protection both which they have found and an honourable maintenance to boot but how have they taken their leave Lewis the eleventh being yet in his Dolphin-age withdrew himself to the Duke of Burgundy and for recompence as soon as he was in the Royall Throne he began and continued a war upon the Burgundlans But let us stay in our Age where we shall finde matter enough The Duke of Orleans twice at Brussels The Duke of Orleans fled twice to Brussels cast himself into the King of Spalnes arms who succoured him protected him and gave him an honourable allowance together with his Mother the Queen But being once reconciled and even after the King his Brothers decease he employed himself with as much heat as the most mortall enemy in the world to make warre in Flanders so to destroy his own Sanctuary And other Lords and spoyl his Protectour when all that people thought he would fix all his thoughts upon Peace The Dukes of Guise and Elbenf followed the same trace the former in Italy and the latter in Flanders And what shall we say of the Marshall of Turenne and the Allyance so solemnly sworne with the Arch-Duke The issue shewed that he returned with the same levity before the work was finished and so rendred that fair Field intructuous This is the profit of the Spanish Cathalicon and this the foundation upon which the King built his Conquests or rather this is the recompence of his liberality I praise the fidelity of the French but I blame their inconstance and presume to say aloud that the first obligation cannot dispense with the second made freely and without constraint Nor are there many such examples to be found amongst other Nations yea and it would be very ill taken in France if a stranger after having found his sanctuary there should after his reconciliation labour to make war against it Maurice Duke of Saxony Albert of Brandenburgh and some others made a League with Henry the second for the Liberty of Germany but findings that the French instead of Liberty layd hold of some Places they reconciled themselves with the Emperour and yet were they taxed of perfidy at the Court of France The Count of Fustenbergh having withdrawne himself from the service of King Francis the first and returned into the Emperours favour was beaten in seeking a passage upon the River of Marne and like to be knocked in the head for his ingratitude But let us returne to our purpose The renduclion of Belle-garde 1650. The King having assured himself of Normandy and many Places held by the Prince of Condes Lieutenants caused Bellegarde to be besiedged which quickly submitted for want of succour and he rendred the Inhabitants their Priviledges Let us passe the Sea Charles Stewart goes into Scotland The Scots being Assembled at Edenburgh resolved to take Charles Stewart for their King to which effect they sent Commissioners to treat with him at the Haghe and proclaimed him King of Scotland and England which extremely offended the Parliament at London He departed from Scheveling and we will let him go in great danger to behold the honour which was done Generall Cromwell for having reconquered almost all Ireland the Natives whereof being moved to take Armes by zeal of Religion and respect to the said Charles implored the assistance of the Pope and some other Christian Princes but not being seconded The Irish tamed and puâ—ished and falling into division amongst themselves they were easily tamed and chastized as well for having taken Arms as for having abused the English The Diet at Nurembergh In the same yeare the Diet was held at Nurembergh where after the agreement was made about the restitution of Places and the Assessement for moncy to pay the souldiers the rest of the time was spent in Visits and sumptuous Banquets Festivities and Fire-works of rate workmanship and skil The Duke of Amalsi formerly Piccolomini was there on the behalfe of the Emperours and acquired great admiration and Duke Charles for the Crowne of Sweden Some Counts were forced to pawne their wives Jewells and other Ornaments to be so much the sooner rid of these troublesome Guests Thus the Germans were whipt and payd for the Rodde for they were faine to give whatsoever they had left to recover that which was growne savage and desert The States of the Empyre sent an Embassadour expresse into Spain to beseech the King to draw his Garrison out of Frankendal which was granted at length that so the Peace might have full vigour as we will shew hereaster But since the Embassadours depart from Nurembergh let us go also out of Germany and hasten downe the Rheyn into Holland to see what passes there concerning the reduction of the Militia and other accidents Who will bee able to hide himselfe from the face of the Lord CHAP. VI Containing what passed in the Summer of this yeare of 1650. The Portugal Embassadours offers The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princ 's complaints The Siedge of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords who were carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His Prayer THe Zelanders before they would ratifie the Peace which they did with an ill will as well in regard of France as for the profit of some particular persons who were wont to go to the Cape of Grip would needs be assured of a prompt supply for the Company of the little Indies The estates of Orphans in Zeland employed in the Company of the Indies which was grown to decay by the revolt of Portugal Which was granted them because the Goods and Estates of many widowes Fatherless children and other persons of
mean condition had been employed for the erection of the said Company The Portugueses make themselves Masters of Brazil The Portugueses complaining of the cruelty and avarice of the souldiers took Arms and by the help of some certain Traitors made themselves Masters of the whole Countrey save only the Rocif a strong place built in the Sea This action stirred up the United Provinces to revenge and so they speedily accommodated a great Fleer to go and reconquer the said Country The Portugal Embassadour at the Haghe used all possible diligence to divert this storm and made offers of high consideration to wit either to render the said Country or to give so many millions for the Reinbursement of the Zelanders but it was in vain for the Fleet set sayle with a multitude of good souldiers but the Expedition proving fruitless and the Expences unprofitable the said Company remained almost without pulse and Vice-Admiral Wit Wittenson having been constrained to abandon the said Country for want of releif was arrested at the Haghe to answer the objections made against him for his so speedy retreat The States of Holland will dismisse some Troops Since that time there hath been other fish to fry and other knots to untye which have caused that to be for gotten For the States of Holland being willing to play the good husbands thereby to discharge themselves of a part of their debts considered that it was necessary to licentiate or dismiss part of their forces on foot to be eased of so much useless expence The Prince opposes it The Prince of Orange opposed this design alleadging against them how dangerous it was to disfurnish themselves of the souldiets during the war between the two Crowns They urged a Reduction and a yearly Pension for such Officers as should be deposed but the difficulty being found greater by the oppugnance of some Provinces and chiefly the Dutchy of Guelders it was held fit And goes amongst the Townes that the said Prince should go amonst the Towns to dispose the Magistrates to let the Militia remain in the same state wherein it was and to content themselves with that dismission of the new Troops which was already made In effect the Colonels having received orders to keep their souldiers together the Prince went to Dort the ninth of June and after he had been at Delfe Rotterdam Gorkom Dergawde c. He returned the sixteenth of the same moneth to the Haghe The Petition which was made him by two Deputies of Amsterdam not to come into their Town seemed not pleasing to him as appeared by what followed Upon the twenty seventh of the aforesaid moneth the Deputies who had accompanyed him made report to the Assembly of States that the Answer of the Towns had been different Some whereof refuse to give audience ane that some of them as Harlem Dolst Amsterdam and Medemblick had refused him audience and had remitted the businesse to the Haghe to be there decided by their Deputies Complaines Upon the 30 the prince complained alowd to the Colledge of the States of the refusal made him by them of Amsterdam which was against his dignity and respect as also against the greatnesse of the Province of Holland whereof he was Governour affirming that this proceeding tended to the deminution of his authority and contempt of his person wherefore he desired that reparation and satisfaction might be made him by the Magistrates of the said Town The answers To which the Deputies wanted no answer but alledged their Rights as may be seen in the Declaration of both parties to which I refer the Reader It was generally believed that these complaints would have gone no further and that they would have been peacefully resolved in the Cabinet when on a suddain Six Lords taken the news came that the Prince had caused six Lords to be seazed upon namely De Witt Burghermaster or Mayor of Dort John Duâ—st of Delft John de Wael Burghermaster and the Syndick Reul both of them of Harlem the Syndick Keyser de Horne and Stellinguerf of Medemblick some of them Deputies and others Counsellers Whilest all the world was waiting to know the subject of this so extraordinary Imprisonment there came other news more strange then this which struck the ears of every one in particular filled all Holland with amazement and the curious with desire to see the Issue When waters which have been stopped find passage they make themselves heard with more violence and at a greater distance then those which have but their natural course The Prince not having received satisfactions his complaints were to be manifested but in what manner Every body knows The night of the twenty ninth or thirtieth of July a remarkable night and day till next morning being Satterday and all quiet at Amsterdam the Post of Hamburgh arrived about eight of the clock and brought word to the magistrates Troops straight to Amsterdam that he had met a Troop of Horse which was confirmed by the Drossart of Muide and that there were many more which marched straight to the Town alongst the Coast of the South Sea There was but one of the Burghermasters then in Town who forthwith assembled the said Magistrates and provided the Town against these forces which the people thought to be the Duke of Lorraines Thought to be the Duke of Lorrains The Gates were instantly shut and resolution taken to put some companies of men in Arms to which effect the Drummes were beaten with so great concourse that in a very few howers They run to Arms. the Souldiers and Canon were seen upon the Walls and all in a posture of defence as well on the side of the water as that of the Land This City being the most famous and most celebrated of the whole universe in regard of the Traffick and infinity of the vessess which arrive there from all the Havens of the world had not had any Alarme in eighty years before and yet she lest not to bestir her self for her own preservation and the security of the commerce A very dark night It is to be noted that that night was so dark and rainy that it deprived the Souldiers of the knowledge of the wayes and of the strength to march stedfastly In such sort as the guydes stayed and being puzled at a crosse-way made the Van march as soon as they found themselves right but the rest wandered so much up and down that they found themselves in the same Village an houre after The Magistrates having caused the Bridges to be drawn up dispatched their Deputies to ask Count William to what end he came thither with so great forces Whereupon he put this little Paper of the Princes into their hands which said That he had lately been very Ill received in their Town The Princes Letter whether he came for the service of the Common Native Country and to the end that the like might be done him
the Princes The Duke of Boüillon and the Duke de la Rochefancant raised a great Army But by the intercession of the Duke of Orleans all such as acted for the Princes The Accord made at Bourdeaux 1650 were pardoned Arms laid down every body restostored to favour and the Dutchess of Boüillon delivered There was none but the Princess Dowager of Conde who could not digest this bitterness for taking the detention of her children too much to heart and the repulse of her suits The Princesse Dowagers death she grew at last to yeeld under the burthen of her afflictions and left this vale of misery to go and take possession of the holy Jerusalem The King made his entrance into Bourdeaux the first day of October in a most sumptuous and stately Gally which was sent him by them of the Town where he was received with all testimonies of joy and a Generall Vive le Roy where he passed And the seventh of the same moneth he departed for Paris Cardinal Mazarin seeing the number of his enemies increase resolved to stop their monthes with a glorious action which proved usefull to the State and served for an evidence to all Europe that his Ministery was advantagious both to the King and kingdom of France He puts the Militia in order gave the souldiers money conducted the Army straight to Retel and after having given it three Assaults Mazarin retakes Retel made the Spaniards march out The Vice-Count of Turenne being a brave souldier for whose valour some certain Towns in Germany had declared themselves for him forthwith brought his Troops into the Field hastened to succour the Place and gave the besieged an advertisement of the reliefe but too late He advanced with six thousand horse for his foot could not follow but he was charged by the Marshall of Prastin and after a resistance which cost much blood defeated The Spaniards beaten The Spaniards recollected themselves in the Province of Luxemburgh and the Conquerours went to take up their winter quarters in Normandy and Lorraine where the Count of Lignevills progresse was soon stopped And the Lorraines for being beaten by the Marquis of Seneterre he was compelled to march away with the losse of about nine hundred men and four pieces of Canon This year the Deputies of the Cantons of Swisserland arrived in France to present their complaints and they were contented There needed no lesse then a whole Army to force the Leidgers or people of Leidge to open their purses and the Swedes having obtained the tax of Contributions repassed the Rhein The Princes demand the Investure The evacuation being finished in Germany and the Embassadours retyred the Princes sent an Embassie to the Emperour to demand the Investure of their Fief The King of Denmark asked it for the Dutchy of Holstein by Monsieur de Rantzow who returned with the honour of the title of Count. After these honours followed the Reformations almost every where I would to God that abuses andill customes were also reformed with as much zeal The Goods of the Swissers arrested since the precedent year caused many complaints and menaces which produced a meer restitution only Let us take a turn into Spain with the Emperours daughter newly espowsed to the Catholick King who was every where received with magnificent pomps and honours but principally at Madrid where there was at the same time an Embassadour from the Grand Signor The Embassadour from the Turk in Span. who being brought to a most stately Audience adorned with Diamants and precious stones first condoled the Queens death then congratulated the new marriage and demanded a private audience for his Commission The tenour of his letter of credence was To the most Glorious of all Christian Princes from Aly Solyman Lord of the House of the Ottomans c. First He offered the Holy Sepulcher Secondly True Commerce without further exercise of Piracy Thirdly He proposed a match between Don John of Austria and the Sultanesse of whom we formerly spake and who was now become Catholick at Maltha promising him a kingdom under the Turk And Fourthly and lastly That all prisoners might be released on both sides The Presents were rich and noble and the Embassy in apparence faire but the issue thereof declared that all was but Complement The Residents of the Parliament massacred at Madrid and at the Haghe Mr. Anthony Ascam being arrived at the same Court in the quality of Resident for the Parliament of England found his Tragicall end there as Doctor Dorislaw had already found his at the Haghe Charles Stewarts Embassadour being introduced to his Audience fell forthwith a weeping and thereby moved the King to compassion The King of Portugal by favouring Prince Robert caused the English Fleet to come and lye before his Havens which put him to so much dammage that both he and his subjects had leasure to repent themselves of having offended that Parliament CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stewart in Jersy The Kings Lands and Goods sold The aforesaid Charles goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuation of the war in Candie War by the Pen. The Spanish Embassadour at London The Chineses turned Catholicks IT is in the Britannick Islands that Bellona now exercises her rage for she hath established her sear there and looks as if she would stay some time Charles was in the Isle of Jersy where he distributed Commissions to fall upon the English ships and spoyle their Trade But upon a certain advice which was given him General Blake before the River of Lisbone The Kings Goods sold he departed and Generall Blake went and shut up Prince Robert in the River of Lisbone whilest the Kings Goods were sold at London as namely his three Crownes his Scepter the Golden Garter all the Jewels Pictures Images Rarities and whatsoever else of price and value Some put the Crownes upon their Heads the Garter about their Legs and took the Scepter in their hands saying Look how well these Ornaments become me Who would have imagined such a change The mony which was made of these said Goods was employed upon the States service They passed yet further they brake down the Kings Statue upon the old Exchange and set up this Inscription Exiit Tyrannus Regum ultimus The Parliament searing lest Charles through some good success should come and disturb the Peace of England by means of some Creatures of his there laboured to prevent him and Fairfax having surrendred his Commission to that most renowned Captain Generall Cromwell he marched with an Army of sixteen thousand men to face the Scots who were above five and twenty thousand killed above three thousand of them upon the place Cromwels victory over the Scots and took above ten thousand prisoners for the rest run away to publish the glory of the Nation Indeed he had as good success as Don John of Austria who lost
but nine men in the Battail near Namurs and he lost but about twenty in this yea and he got this as good cheap as he had that of Marquis Hamilton whom he utterly defeated the year before in England with a handful of men It was conceived that there were some Traitors amongst that Nation which yet is faithfull enough and that they who had sold their King were yet alive to sell this Army OLIVER Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Irelande c. Sould by P Stent There was no difficulty found in the Empire but about the Toll or Custome upon the River of Wiser adjudged to the Count of Oldenbergh The Tell upon the Wiser whom they of Bremen earnestly opposed but being affrighted by the Imperial Thunderbolt they obeyed The Emperour sent Embassadours to Mantua to demand the Princesse for his Wife and the Duke of Bavaria his to fetch the Princesse of Savoy The Grand Signor being tired by a war of so much durance offered the Venetians a peace by yeelding them the Kingdom of Candy whereat they laughed and resolved to continue the war The Turks attacked Candy in vaine and after having lost very many men returned towards Canea The Victory of the Venetians But the Venetians were yet more happy by Sea then by Land for they defeated the Fleet which carried telles to Canea retook the strong Castle of S. Theodore and ruined some Gallyes besides in such sort as Te Deum was sung at Venice with great solemnity The Chineses Converted Amongst all the disasters and afflictions of Christendom came the news of the Coversion of the Chineses or People of China to the Roman Catholick Religion which much rejoyced all such as took more to heart the propagation of that Religion then the interests of fading States As war was made with the Pike so was it also with the Pen. For Salmasius wrote a Book in defence of the King of England and a certain Englishman called Milton who was not known before Milton writes against Salmasius and grew famous by entring the Lists with this triumphant Champion most acutely and elegantly answered it The Schollars and even the very Women have been seen in Arms in many places and both Sexes have shewed that they know how to handle the Sword The Elements the Servants of this great God being irritated rise up to stifle the rest of Mortals the Mountaines vomis fire the Earth trombles the Aire being infected with pestilence wasts and ransacks Poland as it hath already done other Parts of Europe the continual raines make the Rivers break over their banks The Danub the Rheyn and the Moze do irreparable hurs The overflowing of Rivers and the carnal Embarasments which happen in many places destroy what was left by the Souldiers The dammages which were caused by the overflowings of the Sea and the raines were also excessively great in Italy from whence the war began by little and little to retire it selfe and was not carried on with so much fury as it had formerly been This world is full of wonders and unheard of accidents The Spanish Embassadour at London acknowledged England for a Free Common-wealth The Spanish Embassadour in England acknowledges the Parliament and was treated with were great respect and honour This businesse astonished all the World to see a great Catholick King who hath alwayes been an Enemy to Protestants make friendship with a people who had alwayes in times past beenutter enemiesiro his Family But the Politicians penetrated to sownd the grounds which might bring Philip the fourth and his Council to make amity with them Why Considering the assistance which the English had given the Hollanders against the Crown of Spain the ruin of the Spanish Fleet in the Downes the Allyance of the French with the Lutherans in Germany the wars with France and many other motives made him think it fit to make an Allyance with this Republick Let us accompany such as are curious to the Crowning of the Queen of Sweden God hath a minde to chastise mankinde he easily findes means to do it for no body can hide himself from his face The Lawrel which Cardinal Mazarin had upon his head could not secure him from the Thunderbolt for the Parisians having already forgotten his services would needs have him bannished The Parliament went to the Queen at the Palace Royal and demanded the liberty of the Princes for the tranquillity of the Kingdom She and her Council being surprized required some time to advise of what should be most expedient for the good of the State which was granted But the answer not coming after the expiration of the terme the Court of Parliament assisted by the authority of the Duke of Orleans concluded to give an Order or Decree for the justification of the Princes The Queen seeing the hear wherewith their deliverance was pursued consented and dispatched the Marshal of Grammont The Princes delivered and the Cardinal giving way to the powerful aversion of such as would not suffer him to be any longer Minister of State left Paris The Cardinal retires went and spake with the Princes and departed out of the Kingdom There is no place in this lower world where Fortune more absoludy raignes then in the Court of France For many began now to speak ill of him who were soon after glad enough to winne his favour Mottals put not your trust in this inconstant Goddess who often inebriates you to throw you under her wheel His departure amended not the businesse The United Provinces fell into some alterations which required a speedy remedy The Belgick Lyon put them in minde of their first Symbole The Country was without a Governour the choice of Magistrates and Officers returned to the Towns and the deceased Princes Guards took the Oath of Fidelity to the States of Holland from whom they received their pay The Deputies of all the Provinces were sent for the great Hall was prepared and they of Zeland arrived first The Embassadours of the Parliament in Holland The Embassadours of the Parliament of England came to the Haghe and were received with much honour however the people effectively expressed their aversion from them by breaking their windowes and other insolencies in such sort as the States to hinder greater inconveniences The aversion of the people and save Persons Sacred by the Law of Nations placed a great Court of Guard before their house But let us return into Poland and we shall hear that the perfidy of the Cossacks and their General suffers not the new King to taste a little rest in the very beginning of his taign For they brought back the Tartars The second war of the Cossacks The Grand Signor sent them a Sable and the Patriarch of Constantinople brought them a Benediction and yet they left not to loose four thousand men in a Battel where the King was present and were constrained some dayes after
taken and Hannibal Zeestadt for having contemned the Kings Authority was degraded from his charge and deprived of almost all his Estate These two Lords had marryed each of them one of the dead Kings naturall Daughters and were Brothers-in-Law to Count Wolmaor The Count Wolmaer goes into Muscovie who during his Fathers life went into Muscovie to marry the Grand Dukes Daughter where he tryed the perfidie of those Barbarians who in consideration of an advice come from another place would not give him the Princesse but upon unreceivable conditions In fine having unpesterest himself from their hands and received his liberty he repassed through Poland put himself into the Imperiall Armies whore he acquired great reputation and high employments and the Emperours favour to boot Thus all was appeased in that Kingdom and let us now returne post back through Germany where we shall find nothing but a reformation and some complaints which rang every where of the Garrison of Frankendal The French forces marched towards the Low-Countryes and committed some robberies and violences upon the Fronteers of Flanders the Spaniards opposed them and towards the end of the Summer drew out some regiments and made them march under the conduct of that great Captain the Marquis of Sfondrato who took Fuernes with small resistance Sfondrato takes Fuernes and Berghen St. Wynock 1651. but Berghen St. Wynock a strong place and ayded by the waters of the Sea which the Sluces being drawn let passe and which gave the Souldiers great vexations opened her gates the eleventh day to let the Spanish Garrison in and the French out The Fort Linck was also soon reduced and Burburgh being abandoned was put again into condition to defend it self It was conceived that the Spaniards would make an attempt upon Dunkerk but the continual rains the lateness of the season and sicknesses amongst the souldiers sent the Army back to rest CHAP. XII The Cardinal returns into France The Lords who had been imprisoned are restored to their employments The Prince of Condè retyres from Paris The King declared May or Prodigies seen upon the Sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why The death of Spiâ—ing The Cardinals forces passe through Holland HOwever Cardinal Mazarin was unhappy in a Crosse of fortune yet he omitted not either his care or any occasion to serve the King of France For he contracted some of the forces which were disinissed in Cleveland and sent them secretly down the Rheyn to Rotterdaim where being discovered and their leader summoned to the Haghe the Souldiers constrained the Boatmen to put them a shore and so every one went whether he pleased In the moneth of August there arrived neer two thousand Neapolitans before the Rammekens in foure ships who tryed the courtesie of the Zelanders heard their grumblings and were forced to returne to Sea since the passage to Antwerp was not allowed them The Printe of Condè retyres himself from coâ—rt After the Princes departure the Lords who were released were restored to their former charges But a sudden gust or blast which surprizes the Mariners at Sea in a great Calme doth not more hare them then the Prince of Condes sudden retreat did the French upon an advertizement which had been given him that the Queen would secure his person again She sent a protestation to him that she had no such design and that it was nothing but false reports scattered by the Enemies of France and so upon conditions that the Cardinals Creatures as Servient Tellier c. should retyre from the Court he came back to Paris but these conditions were ill enough observed The King declared Mayor the seventh of September 1651. The seventh of September the King being at the Parliament the Chanceller declared him Mayor as being entred into the fourteenth year of his Age and the Queen discharged her self of her Regencie The Prince of Condè upon another information given him that they would murther him retyred himself again to St. Maur and from thence to Bourdeaux where he drew the inhabitants to his party and the Spaniards came to succour him with seventeen Ships Mezarin returns into France The King and Queen went to Poictiers where they sent for the Cardinal who forthwith obeyed and came to them with some thousands of men and was received by them both with superlative testimonies of benevolence Thus was the fire grown greater then ever and more certain apparence of a general combustion throughout the whole Kingdom An order of Parliament was proclamed against Cardinal Mazarine declaring him guilty of High Treason as a Perturbatour of the Kingdom all his Lands and Goods confiscated his fine Library sold a hundred and fifty thousand Livers or Florins adjudged to any body who would bring him alive or dead The Spaniards come again into France and the Spaniards called again into France by the Prince of Condè under the conduct of the Duke of Nemours The Kings complaints were answered by other and the conclusion was that if his Majesty would expell the Cardinal the forrain forces should retyre out of France Let us leave the French thus divided some leaning to the Princes side and some to Mazarins and these latter were styled Mazarinists for we must take notice of the motion of the English towards a War with the Vnited Previnces which were of the same Religion their Friends and Neighbours For the English put out an Act forbidding the importing any commodities from any place but those of their own growth and in their own ships to the intention of increasing the shipping and Mariners of that Nation which act how highly it disgusted the Hollanders the effects of a most fierce War will demonstrate Some Prodigies preceded this War which I will set down briefly without staying upon the circumstances thereof Oh unhappy Age No sooner are we delivered from one misfortune then we fall into a greater For these united Provinces had no sooner given thanks to the Almighty for Peace then they found themselves ill looked upon by many Potentates envied by some and incommodated by others in their trade In fine the mischief came from that part which they least suspected Take heer the Prodigies which were seen by men of credit and report thereof made to the States in this substance Prodigees seen neer the mouth of the Sea That upon Fry day the twenty second of December 1651 about nine of the clock ten or twelve leagues from the mouth of the Moze they saw a plaine Field of the hight of a man about the Horizon and therein many Souldiers both foot and Horse which forthwith disappeared Next they saw neer about the same place a great Fleet coming from the North some of the Vessels whereof had their Sayles but half up By and by there appeared another from the South-east which came straight to attack the Former and then it seemed as if all the Ships were sunk to the bottom which
the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retires into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes THis young Mars this invincible Courage judging his person to be more necessary at Paris then at Bourdeans left his Lieutenants the direction of his own Forces shewed himself quickly amongst those of the Duke of Orleans and the Strangers and made the Marshal D'hoquincour feel that he was no more in Guyenne for after having lost his Troops Marshal D'hoquincour beaten he was constrained to sly The King made his Army march under Turenns orders who went to attack Estampes but finding the Duke of Lorraine to draw near he retired and confessed that the Strangers who were in the Town defended themselves bravely It looked as if the Princes would have a good bargaine of all such as made head against them when upon a suddain the Duke of Lorraine by the interposition of the King of Englands Eldest Son made a contract apart received mony and retired himself out of the Kingdom but he sent back his Army shortly after with the Spaniards because the restitution of the three places promised was not performed The Prince being irritated and the Parisians extreamly amazed began to revile the said Duke and all in fine discoursed of him according to their passion Some accused him of inconstance and others of avarice but such as had a straine above the vulgar judged that there was some vengeance hidden under this action and that the levity both of the one and the other so often manifested to them whose assistance they had both implored and felt ought to be recompensed by a just retaliation Be it what it will the Princes Troops being tired by frequent Skermishes and by that furious and bloody shock given in the Faubourgs or Suburbs of St. Anthony wherein the Mazarinists or Royalists had the worst being very much diminished the Arch-dukes succour was sent for again which being conducted by the Baron of Clinchant advanced quite to Paris But let us come back into Flanders Graveling besieged Mardyke abandoned yeelds and Dunkeâ—k afterwards The Arch-Duke finding that the fire was too great in France to be so soon extinguished made a shew of besieging Dunkerk but his design was upon Graveling one of the most important places of the Low-Countries which defended it self enough but for want of sufficient Garrison was yeelded upon the same Conditions that it had been formerly taken Mardyke was abandoned and Dunkerk expecting the relief by Sea which was dofeated by the English was retaken without either losse or bloodshed Thus were three places reduced to obedience with a hand-full of men which had cost the French mountains of Gold and Seas of blood Who would have said so much six years before when there seemed to be no doubt at all made of the utter expulsion of the Spaniards Times change men change victories are alternative and nothing is constant but the immutable Order of the Decree of the Everlasting This reduction deservedly rejoyced all Flanders which saw her Traffick and Inhabitants slourish again The Town of Dunkerk had been offered to the States of Holland for Mastricht for a summe of money but the bargain was not made The City of Paris seeing it self in violent and murtherous factions the Parliament in confusion the Country People frighted away strangers in the Kingdome the Princes in a very difficult passage to be cleared and the Clergy afflicted by these unhappy disorders resolved to dispatch the Cardinal de Retx to the King who was with a new Parliament at Pontoise to beseech him The King returns to Paris to return to Paris This Embassie was well received by his Majesty who having published an Act of Oblivion was so much better at Paris The Prince of Conde retyred himself with the forrain Troops took Retel and St. Menhout and his winter quarters at the beginning of the spring 1653. And the Duke of Odeans departs The Duke of Orleans having received order either to come to the King or to retyre himself rather chose the latter then to suffer Cardinal Mazarins presence who quickly caused the order to be annulled that was made against him because there was no body found who had a mind to earn a hundred and fifty thousand Crowns by killing him Thus we see the figure turned up-side down the Cardinal above the wheel and the Princes under it so that Conde chose rather to cast himself into the King of Spaines arms then to trust his own Masters Act of Oblivion and Conty was received at Bourdeaux together with the Dutchesse of Longueville his Sister whilest her husband stayed amongst the waves of this raging Sea in his Government Reader be not amazed at these Metamorphoses or changes for the causes thereof are not so hard to be comprehended as that of the Tyde of the Sea was to the Prince of the Philosophers What do you hope to see but monsters prodiges and miracles The Province of Gasconie being fertill in subtill wits and brave souldiers was no sooner got out of one danger then she fell into a precipice yet more perilous through blind temerity and as well to serve the passion of others as for not receiving the satisfaction promised them or rather for seeing their Complaints despised and that which had been promised them very ill performed The puissant Armies which were to ruine Mazarin returned without having done any memorable action at all The Parliament being in division knew not where to sinde it self the Citizens changed like the wind and wedded sometimes the one Party and sometimes the other Yea the Princes themselves were in discord for the Duke of Neâ—oâ—â—s was killed in a Duel by his Brother-in Law the Duke of Beaufort and the Count of Riâ—â—â— carriâ—d prisoner to the Bastill by the Duke of Orlâ—aâ—â—'s order for having resisted Goâ—de In such sort as all issued to the Kings advantage by the Great Cardâ—nals wise Counsell who like an experienced Pilot saved the vessel from ship-wrack and brought her over so many Rocks amongst so many Quick-sands in the darknesse of a cloudy night and amongst â—o many contrary winds to the Port. For he knew how to sow the tares of distention amongst them who would take the Helm from him and threw them out of that ship which he never abandoned in the very height of the storm Indeed to say the truth the King had need of such a man though he be more usefull to him then to the poor subjects and some have reviled him by following the passion others or for resentment rather then by the knowledge of affaires and therefore are as incapable to judge of him Cardinal Mazuins praise as a blind man is of Colours The rash judgements of the ignorant people cause tumults and seditions and kindle a fire which invirons a whole State for which there there must be a speedy remedy True
it is that he is blamed and that upon very probable arguments for not having made peace at Munster for the necessary rest and tranquility of the French and for the superlative advantage of France But Wherefore he did not make Peace he hoped to come to share stakes and conceived that the United Provinces would forsake their interests to follow his passion and his designes But God had otherwise disposed of it Why the Prince retyred himself The Prince of Conde being priviledged by his birth after having performed the Crown such services as surpasse the belief of man after having spilt his blood and exposed his life to so many hazards after having gained so many Battails and forced so many Towns was not able to digest an Imprisoment grounded upon conjectures which the brightnesse of his glory had ingendred in some distrustfull soules It is a great heart-sore to a generous spirit to have any other Guard imposed upon him then that of his â—â—us honour The information which was given him of that designe and then of the attempt projected upon his person as was reported moved him to endeavour to destroy his eneme which not being able to atchieve by almost a generall Insurrection he chose rather to withdraw then to see a man at Court who overshadowed him and made his heart swell with vengeance His Father retyred himself to Brussels The Father to save his honour had retyred himself also to Brussells and depositated his wife in the hands of that most vertuous Princesse the Cardinal Infanta And the Sonne to revenge the affront which he precended to have been done him and for which he could get no satisfaction in France took the same course sound the same protection and the honour to command the Armies The issue will shew us how to judge of the intentions and of the cause by the effects In fine every one would have the superiority and no body would stoop to make place for another For the Citizens of Paris The Cardinal of Râ—tz at the Bois de Vincennes who thought to finde their own interests in those of the Princes seeing the Game in danger to be lost easily disingaged themselves from the affections which they had vowel to them And the Cardinal of Râ—tz And Beaufort with the Duke of Orleans to Blois who had mediated the Kings return to Paris and rendred him superlative service was soon after carried prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes The Duke of Beaufort who had swumme in the affections of the Parisians not finding his safety any more amongst them retyred himself with the Duke of Orleans The reduction of Retel and Bourdeaux 1653. to Blois This last Field began with the taking of Retâ—l saw the Prince of Caâ—â—e with the whole Army in Picardy and the reduction of Bourdeaux God grant that the end therof may produce a peace for which so many people long and earnestly expect It must be looked for from his band for it is only he who can give it in our dayes it is he only who fights for us and who will graciously hear the prayers of his affected people The Duke of Guise returns into France Upon the intercession of this Prince the King of Spain set the Duke of Guise at liberty who was taken in the tumults of Neaples as hath been already said He retured into France but took not his intercessours part because he had not the same interests nor had received the same affronts Before we conclude our work we must passe once more into England to see how that Common-wealth is governed which as soon as it was out of the Cradle sell into a difference with that of Holland which had fought fourscore years for her liberty and in whose preservation the bordering Countries have their interest as we shall forthwith demonstrate The situation of Holland Holland is so situated and her number of shipping is so great that there arrive merchandizes from all the Havens of the world which are transported by the Hollanders to other parts as well by Sea as by the Navigable Rivers which surround it The People are very open and plain and govern their Trade with so much industry craft and cunning I speak in generall that they surpasse all other Nations of the Universe therein Now as the Liver in mans body makes the Chylus or Concocoction and diffuses the blood through all the vaines just so Holland receives the Merchandizes into her bowels and sends them through all the vaines of this world But the Liver being corrupted the body cannot long subsist so the Traffick being spoyled not only this Country but the other also would have too much to suffer Their knowledge in order to the Sea is so perfect and their proevidence so laudable that they seldom make shipwrack The English slight the friendship of the Hollanders All things being well considered it may be asked why that new Common-wealh being yet in her infancy full of danger and in the middle of so many enemies both at home and abroad sought not the friendship of this being almost conform in doctrine with her as also Aristocratical Government To which I answer that two Common-wealths so near one another which have but one and the same scope or ayme i.e. the Traffick are lesse able to agree then Rivals who court one Mistresse or two Neighbour-Kings Religion may do much to animate a people but profit mility and gain carries it quite away There is yet somewhat more for ambition makes face of the Piramide which doth not shew it self and is stolne from the eyes of the most clear-sighted persons Rome and Carihage were in perpetual controversies One of these two Republicks must needs perish to open the passage to the other for the Conquest of the Universe Whe prepare themselves for the war I leave the other reasons to be picked out by acuter wits and say that the States not being able to make any profit of theirs were constrained to lay about them for their own defence and to provide all approaches or Inlets They reinforced the Garrison of the Brill and of Zeland gave order to sit a good number of ships and to raise mony upon the people to furnish the expences whilest the English continued their hostilty But a certain faction flipt in amongst the people by such authours as were enemies to the publick quiet and we will first recount some particular misfortunes The tumult at Middleburgh 1653. was soon appeased That at Dort was yet of lesse consequence The fire which happened to the Town-house at Amsâ—erdam The Town house at Amsteâ—dam burnt 1652. brought some dammage and caused the hastening of that which was already begun to be built The audacity of the Seamen who brought back the vessels which remained in Hitland was repressed by the punishment of some amongst them A small â—â—nult appeased But a rash Commandment more unfortunately executed and which cost the life of some
how much apparence soever there were of repaying the affront received before it the precedent year The time passed in contest the Garrison of the Town reinforced and the Knight after two dayes sickness The knight of Guises death dead which death for the Violence thereof was suspected of some malignity as well to the Soule as to the body The suddain deaths of great persons give occasion of talke but those of mean ones are put into common necessity However it be one of his Masters drew profit from it and the other disavowed it Commandments are dangerous to such as execute them for not having their Commission in writing This unforeseen accident amazed such as were cleer sighted filled his most illustrious House with mourning cansed great alterations and designes which made more noyse then effect During these irresolutions the Arch-duke departed from Brussels and arrived at the Army neer Cambray to advice how and with what advantage the Field should be finished The siege of Rocroy Rocroy glorious by the defeat of the Spaniards was a subject which deserved to be brought under obedience wherefore the resolution was taken to besiege it and the French who had coasted their enemies to the Frontiers without hazarding any thing went and incamped themselves before Mouzon And of Mouzon I will say nothing in particular of these two Sieges though I were present at one of them but that Heaven being angry to see the two most generous Nations that ever bore the Christian Name ceased not to outrage or vex one another to their mutuall disadvantage powred down so many teares and the windes raysed so many stormes Ill weather that both men and horses felt excessived stresses It parted the victorres to open their eyes for Rocroy which was the first attacked These two Towns renders themselves yeelded two dayes after Mouzon i. e. the thirtieth of September and the Armies being fatigated by the over much wetness of the season went to seeke shelter almost naked The French being very impatient and desirous to be lodged more at large unnestied the Garrison of St. Menehout and the Lorrains And St. Menchout conducted by their own Master the Duke went to affict the Bishoprick of Liedge The Lorraines in the Bishoprick of Liedge The small success of the three last Fields in respect of the great advantages which were promised by the disorder caused by the discontentments of the Princes of the blood at least a second Peace of Vervins made fools talke who open their mouthes when the wise or at least the wary a most usual maxime in these present times keep them shut There was a misfortune foreseen and it fel upon the Abbot of Mercy and the Count of Bassigny who were cast in prison The Count of Bassigay and the Abbot of Mercy prisoners and their imprisonment gave such as were curious ground to scrue into the cause thereof and made others believe that it would discover some great mistery for which the lovers of novelty longed much This first Thunderclap struck but one only steple but before it was dissipated it crushed a Rock which so many Mariners in this Sea of miseries both doubted and feared and against which so many Vessels made Shipwrack For the Liedgers took an Alarme as also a resolution to make an Allyance with the French against the House of Spain Which blow must needs be fatall to his Catholick Majesty if not prevented and Cardinal Mazarin ful of joy to see himself at the Helme of the Ship began to hope that the webs which he had woven in that Country would be more difficult to untangle then it was to unty the Gordions knot The Duke of Lorraine was sent for to Brussels taken prisoner and carried to the cittadel of Antwerp And the Duke of Lorrain Neither the exploits of Mas-Aniello nor the death of the King Charles brought more astonishment to all Europe then this detention which gave things another countenance brake the neck of many designes sent back the great Faber with his forces to Sedan and retained the Liedgers in their liberty which they were about to loose together with their Peace The Imprisonment of this Soveraign Prince smothered all his Counfels which seemed to be great and was taken for one of the strangest accidents of the time and discovered that he was beloved by almost no body He is suspected to have imitated the constable of St. Paul Suspected to imitate the constable of St. Paul and to have sought his profit in this pernicious War where he danced better then he did in the great Ball or Revel which was made at Paris 1642. France blamed this proceeding more for her own interest then for that of the Prisoner his Troops expressed so great discontentments and fell into such disorder Prince Francs arrives aâ— Brussels that it was needful to send for Prince Francis to put them into the state of obedience who having taken leave of the Emperour and all the Court departed from Vienna being well received and cherished every where and principally at Brussels where he arrived with his two Soanes Whilest the Count of Fuensaldania in busy about securing the Lorrains to his Masters service and assigning them good Winter-quarters to the great displeasure of the Inhabitants of Lile we will go down a little lower Promps last battail The last Battail in the moneth of August wherein the valliant Admirall Tromp lost his life proceeded partly from disgust by seeing the Enemies brave or domineer so long upon the Coast before the havens of Texel and the Moze hindring the going out of the ships obstructing the commerce The Hollanders who had made so many bravadoes throughout all the whole Ocean and imagined that the Lordship of the Sea belonged without controversie to them were even almost dead with spight and displeasure to see themselves so highly and grossely affronted even at their own doors This baâ—tail Isay whereof I have hitherto made very little mention declared in the beginning the addres of both Parties by striving for the advantage of the winde and at the end their generous and obstinate resolution to overcome The losse which the Hollanders sustained was of about fifteen or sixteen Vessels and that of the English little as to Vessels but many were extreemly indammaged on both sides In this surious fight as also in all the former the English Vessels by reason of their hight and their number of bigg Brass Gunns had almost the same advantage upon the Hollanders which Curasseers In which as in many former many Captaines did not their duty or Corsler-Horsmen have upon the Light Horse Besides that many Dutch Captains did not their duty in such sort as that the Hollanders reaped no other profit of their valour then that of removing their Enemies from their Coast and were forced themselves into the Texel The English considering in what equipage their fleet was and fearing the violent storms that
and would needs make others also believe that the States of Holland chose rather a way of Accommodation then to enter into a war which if it had proved successefull to them would have redressed Charles Stewarts affairs and his Nephews to the detriment of their Authority Others maintained that this Peace being utterly broaken the Country would quickly be lost Be it what it will mens passions have been so much the more discovered upon this matter as the liberty of speaking is greater in Holland then elsewhere A tumult at London raised by the Portugucles The tumult which was so temerarily excited at London by the Portugal Embassadours brother made him carry his head upon a Scaffold some moneths after and all issued so well for the great and most prudent Cromwell that he acquired together with the Title of Protectour of the Common-wealth of England the renown of the most acute Politician of this Age. For good successe made the Enterprizers admired gave the Protector full power and authority and left desolate Charles nothing but complements of compassion France the sanctuary of the afflicted France which hath alwayes vanted her self to be the Sanctuary of such as are poor and afflicted labours at present to strip her self of that glorious quality through a maxime of State She hath already felt the strength of the English Will have no war with the English by the loss of her ships and so knowes how dangerous this enemy is and the trouble she had in former Ages to pluck him out of her bowels Wherefore it is better to appease him by politick craft and comply with the Times The reasons then to fall into another war The motions are great enough yet in the Kingdom and it suffices to have the Spaniards for her enemies without drawing the English upon her back too We must sometimes kisse the hands of such as we would have farre enough from us for fear of irritating them And therefore it is that the King sent his Embassadour to London to acknowledge the Republick and treat of a good peace and settle Traffick The Lord Preâ—â—â—tour a great Politician General Cromwel hath expressed his incomparable dexterity in the mannagement of Arms in the direction of Affaires in his Allyances with strangers in dissipating the ambushes and treacheries which have from time to time been land against his designes and his authority and principally in the wars against the Hollanders And you shall now sce how he came to rise higher He assembled another Parliament some of the members whereof being inclined to him proposed one day in full Assembly that the burthen of the Common-wealth was too heavy for them and that it was necessary to impose it upon the shoulders of General Cromwell Some of them not approving of this change retyred secretly to shelter themselves from the contrary winds and the rest were dismissed by him and so the rest went forthwith to conferre that honour upon him congratulate with him and gave him the Title of Protectour England hat 's changed her Gevernment three several times which is not new in that Island and occultly the Soveraignty of England so that in a few years this said Island hath changed her government three severall times and yet leaves not to flourish and to be most formidable to all the powers on earth Some moneths before the dissolution of the Parliament the Kings youngest Son commonly called the Duke of Glocester was sent to Dunkerck in the condition of a private Gentleman with a summe of mony to defray his expences Whilest the Peace is treated at London with many dissiculties by the intervention of the Reformed Cantons of Swisserland and the recommendation of the Queen of Sweden we will take a turn through the North. The King of Denmark being fortified by the Allyance of the States-General and the jealousies which the King of Swedens Leavies gave him The King of Denmark fortifies himselfe being taken away had no other care then to keep his Subjects in arms to hinder all surprises and to intrench the Approaches at the same time when the scourge of God went ransacking all the Inhabitants of the North. At Stockholme Fortune manifested her Empire by casting for a time Count Magnus de la Gardia under her wheel Count Magnus de la Gardia disgraced and depriving him of his Mistresses favour but she was not so rigorous to him as she was to the brave Earle of Essex in Queen Elizabeths time in England Whilest this August Queen is disposing her self to do in the greatest vigour of her youth what the Emperour Charles the fifth did in his decline we will make an in-road into Poland Searce had King Casimir unlaced his Armour yet all stained with the blood of the Rebellious Cossacks The King of Poland attacked by the Muscovites when he saw himself oblidged to put his foot in the stirrop again to resist the Moscovits This Kingdom which had been so much afflicted by the excursions of the said Cossacks by Inundations contagious Diseases Partialities and Distrusts which are ordinary in Free Countries findes her self now in the necessity of making a Defensive War and the Natives to make resistance against a barbarous Nation which they have so often beaten and chased as far as the very heart of Russia and the very Gates of the Capital City Mosco But Changes are as well universal as Chastisements The death of that great Minister Mons de Brum In the beginning of the year 1554. religiously deceased at the Haghe that great man and most faithful Minister Monsicur Anthony de Brun Baron of Apremont and Ordinary Embassadour for the King of Spain to the States He was born at Dole in Burgundy had served his Master from his youth in very great affairs and nominatively in the General Peace at Munster Towards the Spring the Peace was concluded at London against the opinion of many and the news thereof was most agreeable to the Hollanders but when the Articles came to be published The Peace made between the English the Hollanders whereby the young Prince was excluded from all Charges or Offices it much troubled the Provinces and was like to cause divorces and great partialities in so much as the other Provinces set forth complaints and Protestations which were amply enough answered in a Manifest published by the States of Holland and which the Reader may see at good leasure But there were nothing but murmurations they taxed the said States with ingratitude and reproaches and slanders were scattred at random Is this the recompence said they every where of so many services rendred The Princes his Predecessours The cause of the murmurations in behalfe of the Prince of Orange spared not their blood nor their lives nor their meanes to purchase our liberty and in lien thereof we make Agreements so prejudicial to his Authority and so contrary to our duty Ah! what will not the Allyes of this
so great mercy c. Besides these aforesaid advantages the Earle of Oppalinski nothing content to have forsaken the King of Polands Party himself drew also many of his friends and neighbouring Lords into the same engagement and they joyntly made an agreement with the King of Sweden containing these heads 1. That they should no longer own the King of Poland or acknowledge him for their Soverargne 2. That all such as should refuse to doe the same should be pursued with fire and sword 3. That the King of Sweden should have the same Authority over them which the Kings of Poland had and that for security of the performence of this Article they should deliver all their strong Holds to General Wittembergh And lastly That the King of Sweden should dispose of all the forces already raysed in great Poland The French after the surrender of Landrecies besieged and took Conde St. Ghistain and some other small places and made excursions even to the very walls of Brussels The Spaniards Embargo The Spaniards after having set out a Fleet to watch Generall Blake upon their Coast upon the news of the miscarriage of the designe of the Generals Pen and Venables at St. Domingo in Hispamola put a General Embargo upon the English Marchants Goods and imprisoned many of their persons also in all the Ports of Spain and the King published a Manifest which was quickly and roundly answered by the Lord Protectour whereupon there instantly followed actions of hostility at sea The Siedge of Pavia raysed The City of Pavia in Italy which had endured a long and fierce Siege by the Duke of Modena and Prince Thomaso was at length delivered by the valour of the Townsmen and the succour brought them by the Marquis of Caracena Governour of the Dutchy of Milan and the two aforesaid Princes forced to a disorderly retreat with the losse of many of their men some Canon and Baggage and the said Duke dangerously shot in the Arme. The Provaditore Morofini General for the State of Venice against the Turks got possession of the Island of Egina in the Archipelago and of the strong Hold of Vola which was surrendred the twenty second of March and which is the more advantagious in regard that the Turks had made their chief Magazine there for this summer expedition so that the Venetians gained besides their Ammunion a very great quantity of Bisquet and seaven and twenty pieces of great Ordnance most of them Brasse As much of the Provisions as could be carried away was put on ship-board and the rest syred that so the Enemy might not be benefited thereby and the best of the works demolished Victories of the Venetians a gainst the Turks About a moneth after they gave a totall defeat to the Turkish Fleet which endeavouring to come out of the Dardanelles upon the fourteenth of July at night after a very hot fight of eight houres was utterly routed and dispersed and forced to get shelter under the Castles of the said Dardanelles having lost in the battail sixteen ships six Gallyes two Mahones and many other Vessels foure thousand men taken prisoners who were all made slaves and a greater number killed This victory was so much the more remarkable for that the whole Venetian Fleet was not there a party thereof having been sent towards Canca a few dayes before to prevent the Turks relieving that place The Turkish Navy consisted of about a hundred ships and Gallyes and the Venetians but eight and thirty with eight Gallyes and two Galleasses The King of Sweden puts forth a manifest The King of Sweden upon his entry into Poland published a Manifest and sent a Letter also to the Emperour comprehending the reasons of his taking Arms against that King wherein he accuses him of eluding the Treatyes held between them of usurping the Title of the Crown of Sweden of endeavouring to debauch the people of Livonia or Leefland and to draw them to a defection of sending a Fleet into the Baltick Sea of attempting to intice the States of the Isle of Oesely to a revolt and many other charges he imputes to him in order to his having broaken the Articles of Truce concluded between the two Crownes From the very time that he entred Poland he went on with a conquering and irresistible hand all submitting partly by force and partly by composition and voluntary inclination to his obedience After he had taken and stayed some time at Warsovia he endeavoured by all means possible to joyne with Field-Marshal Wittembergh so to meet or seek the enemy with the more security whereof the Poles being advertized laboured to crosse that designe and hinder their conjunction to which effect they placed themselves in the woods so to sally out at unawares upon the said Field-Marshal as he marched by as not imagining that the King could possibly be yet arrived to him So that his Maâ—esty being sufficiently informed of their purpose fell in very good order upon them and advanced with such successe by entertaining them with his Ordnance and Forlorne The Polanders beaten that however they sometimes endeavoured to rally and draw to a head again they were constrained to quit the Field in great confusion with the losse of all their Baggage consisting of three thousand Carts and the Swedes pursued them in the Reer almost as farre as Cracovia putting most part of them to the Sword Nor was their prosperity a whit lesse in Lithuania the Nobility of that Country having abandoned their obedience to the King of Poland and sworne fidelity to the King of Sweden howbeit some of them shortly after began to repine at that yoke and the Muscovits desirous of amity with the conquerours departed Hereupon the Count of Steinbock Master of the Ordinance passed the River Vistula with his Troops and advanced against the Marsovians being there between nine and ten thousand strong where both he and his behaved themselves so valliantly that they rowted the said Marsovians killed and rook many of them and put the rest to flight The King and Queen of Poland fly The King of Poland finding the progresse of his Enemies so prosperous against him and himself deserted as well by his own Subjects as by Fortune and seeing at present small hopes of making any advantagious opposition to so impetuous a torrent fled together with his Queen into Silesia In the interim Christina lately Queen of Sweden being departed from Brussels Queen Christine declares her self a Roman Catholick betook her self towards Rome through Germany and made a solemne and publick Renunâ—ation of her former Belief embrancig the profession of the Roman Religion at Inspruck in Tiroll after which proceeding to her journies end she was received by the Pope with great magnisicence and splendom The Lottain Army goes to the French together with Prince Francis Whilest tuâ—sâ— things passed a Brigade of the Lorrain Army consisting of five Regiments â—eserted Spanish service and went to
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
To all which he answered with a consident aspect that he had done nothing but for his Masters service and that by his partionlar Command Gosimirus King of Poland Great Duke of Lithuanice c c. A o. 1649 But what do the Polanders do Are they in peace Are they exempt from the mischiefs under which all the rest of Christendom lies growning Let us step a little that way After the Truce was made with the Swedes the Common-wealth of Poland was without enemies and in repose which yet was disturbed by the Cossacks a people which follow the Greek Religion and depend upon the Government of Poland The Cossacks which they are obliged to serve on horse back against the Turks and Tartars whose passage they stop But for the rest they are hard to be ruled and are wont to receive the Peasants whom the tyranay of the Gentry drives out of Poland as also many others for any wickedness or oftence committed The death of victorious King Vladislans some Churches which were taken from them and a certain Gentleman called Chimenelisky who was their Head and Leader made them take Arms Take Arms. against the said Common-wealth For this General seeing the occasion fair to revenge himself of the affront which had been done him by some certain Lords put the Cossacks into the Field beat the Polish Armies twice and by these Victories opened the way into the Kingdom which was exposed to the cruelty Beat the Polanders barbarity and infamous avarice of this dreggy people The Peasants chastised in Lituania The fire flamed up again towards Litnaria and the Peasants began also to revolt but Prince Radzivil repressed them Pinskow was reduced into ashes and the Inhabitants for example to others put to the Sword The King goes into the Field a Battel Prince Casimir being chosen and crowned King at Warsaw went himself into the Field with his Army to stop the progresse of the said Turks and Tartars who were joyned together The Battel was given and the Enemies The Peace made after a stubborn Combat of five hours long retired with confusion enough and put themselves in posture again the next day for the number of them amounted to above three hundred and ninety thousand men In fine the Peace was made the Tartars returned malcontent the Priviledges of the said Cossacks were confirmed and Chimenelisky pardoned This newes came to Prince Radzivil who was in these termes with his Army He had beaten the Rebels taken many Towns and was of resolution to go and affront the rest but he returned and retired to Vilna Religion acted her part in this war as the jealousie which the Polanders ordinarily have of their King did also hers The Peace had so much rest and quiet as distrust and turbulent spirits are wont to afford and so by consequence It dares not long it lasted not long for Chimenelisk having attacked the Prince of Moldavia would needs compel him to give his Daughter in marriage to his Son which Prince Radzivil the said Princes Son in Law endeavoured to hinder This General seeing the Armies in the Field and the war resolved he who had corresponce in Poland sent his Embassadours to Constantinople of whose expedition we shall speak hereafter For France in the bickerment of Civil and Forraigne wars gives us no more leasure to stay any longer here The French being the most affectionate almost of all other Nations to the service of their King could not endure to see the direction of affaiâ—sin a forraign Ministers hands and indeed other Nations would never have suffered it so jealous are they of the confirmation of their Rights and by consequence were extreamly irritated by the imprisonment of the Princes The Orders of the Parliament of Bourdeaux and the Parliament of Bourdeaux renewed the Order given against the Marquis d'Ancre which contained that no Stranger should ever more have the great Ministery or Intendency of the Kingdom Whilest the Arch-Duke and the Vice-Count of Turenne were busie about sending the Armies into the Field and that this latter refused all the conditions which were offered him the French presented the said Arch-Duke a Peace with the Articles of Munster which he would not accept of whereupon a certain French Writer exclaimes and sayes that it is a convincing argument that the Spaniards will not have peace But this is but to amuse the poor people For doth he not know that the time is changed and that there was then a necessity of taking whatsoever was offered Occasion is bald behind The Spanish Army attacked Guise and took it by Assault but the Castle holding out The Spaniards before Guise and the news of the defeat of the Convoy being come made them retyre in hast with the losse of many men which hunger caused to runaway The said Convoy consisted of about fifteen hundred horsemen who had every one a bag of powder upon his back Retyred with losse and carried bread to the Camp but being attacked by four hundred men only they threw down their burthens and fled Thus were the first fruits of this Field spoyled and the Cardinal who knew not which way to turn himself to quench the fire went towards Bourdeaux to force the Allyes and the said Town to repentance for their faults leaving Champagne open to the enemies It was conceived that the King by his presence would have reduced them all to their duty but it proved quite otherwise for Mazarin raised more partialities hatred and obstinacy The Arch-Duke seeing the occasion faire sent his Army into the said Province took Retel and many other small Places and gave terrour to the Gates of Paris The Princes for better securities sake were carried to Marcoussy and from thence to Haure de grace Take Retel And the propesition of Peace being vain They goe to Mouzon and take it The Arch-Duke wrote from Basoche to the Duke of Orleans about a Peace who sent him an answer of the same substance but without effect The Spaniards having unprofitably consumed this Field went and besieged Mouzon which they took with much difficulty as wrestling with the raines and the overflowing of the River which caused many sicknesses amongst the souldiers who were beaten into their winter quarters by the season Te Deum is 〈◊〉 is sung at Brussels and at Paris and why Te Deum was sung at Brussels for the happy successe of the Kings Armies as well in Catalunie for the reduction of Tortosa as in Italy for the taking of Piambino and Portolongone as also that of Mouzon in France which had been so faithfully defended by the waters of the Moze It was also sung at Paris with no lesse joy for the recuperation of Bourdeaux and Retel with the defeat of the Vice-Count of Turennes forces See here how things passed The Inhabitants of Bourdeaux having conceived an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Espernon as we have already said declared themselves for