forme a new army or thereabouts were found and to forme a new one required more time for preparing new Artillery raising new men and money and this could not be done neither without much regret and heart-burning of his subjects to feele the burthens of new impositions and weakning of Some his Towne being constrained to take downe the Ordnance which was appoynted for the defence of his Cityes and to bring them into the field The last of these were complained of by the Lipsickers and the first had like to have made a mutiny amongst the people In this destration Hazfeld advanced now to the Imperiall Generalate sends unto Goetz the Field-marshall to bring his forces and to conjoyne with him against the Swedes which he did accordingly The Elector drew out three regiments from the Garrison Silecia â—â—nds for Auxiliaries and they both joyntly sent to the Marquesse of Dormstat and George Duke of Lunenberg to the same purpose the last of which was then besieging Minden but hearing of the Swedes attchivenrents left it whether for feare of the Swedes and care to preserve his own Country or affection to the Saxon it is yet uncertaine for yet I find him not come into his aide and the other though afterwards hee yeelded to their desires for the present would have excused himselfe by letters which because the containe a briefe expression of the State of the Swedes and the Empire I have here set down as the conclusin of this history The letters bare date Octob 14. old stile and runne thus Your Electoral highnesse cannot be ignorant withwhat affeection I have alwayes implored my selfe to the avancement of your affaires A Letter written to the Elector of Sax. by 〈◊〉 M. of Dormâ— declaring estate of the Empire to which I have not spared to contribute al means possible yet because I know the strength of the Swedes which are already in the Empire is concealed from you extenuated too much by some neare your highnes I shall succinctly describe unto you the estate of their affaires in Almaigne that the truth being knowne some better way may be devised for the publicke good than by continuation of this Warre The Swedes had an Army lately in Pomerania under the Field-Marshall Wrangel which being re-enforced with 600 lately come out of Sweden having possessed themselves of Gartz Swedt 2 principal passages upon the Oder subjected the whole Vetter-marke and pillaged Barlin have now as it is reported a dangerous designe up on Silesia I neede not speake of the other army under Banniere the puissance thereof is too fresh and of bleeding memory But I would not have your excellency ignorant that besides their forces in open field the Swedes have yet in garrisoÌ„ neare 20000 men in those places which they hold In the higher Germany they hold only the Fort of Benefeldt and their lye 1000 men For the lower Germ. they have in Pomerania Colberg Stalsundt the Isle of Rugen Stetin and Griffenhagen in the Dukedom of Mekelberg Wismar which is the best port of the Baltike sea and Demitz upon the Elve which City alone they raise every yeare 50000 Rix-dallers for custome Rostock stands in neatrelity by consent of both partyes but in the March they have Havelsberg Werben BraÌ„denberg Ratenaw Tangermund the 2 famous passages of Ferberlin and Crenis all which they have upon a suddaine snatched out of the hands of your highnes Allies in the Dutch Lunenberg they hold the Cities Luneburg Winsen Vltzen in Brunswick-land and upon the Weser the Forts Newburg Stoltenaw with the Cities of Minden and Hamellen in Westphalia upon the River of Ems the Cities of Meppen Osnabrugge with the Fort of Petersburg many other places of this side of Ems yet in possession of the Lantgrave their friend Alley To which if you please to ad the succours of forraign Princes estates who have already declared themselves their confederates of others who are about to make their like league with them his Maiesty of great Britt being reported to have recalled Lesle Redwin his subjects to no other end than the recovery of the Palatinates by warre they will appeare no despicable enemy I neede not speak what small hope of succours you can expect from G. D. of Huneburg or the Elector of Brandenburg Caesar having testified that he knowe th not whether they be his friends or enemies I shal conclude briefly there will not be found in all Silesia Bohemia Austria Franconia and Swaben one Imperiall souldier to assist you if you should receive a new defeate therefore I beseech you rather to labour for a settled peace than a continued War that so these miseries which have befalne the Empire by this permitious warre may be removed Germany may againe reiovce to see their former tranquillity the Princes and estates of the Empire may be maintained in their rights and priviledges and no misprision as at this present is laid upon the Electoral dignity It was good advice but the Elector desired not his Counsell but present assistance nor were the Swedes to be dealt withall by perswasions the Spanish agent had before offered them 250000 Rix-dollers to depart the Empire but they refused it resolve to continue the warre what condition soever shal be offered them unlesse all their Allies the Princes of the Empire the neighboring estates the ChristiaÌ„ K. particularly might be included in the treaty with whom they had made an especial offensive defensive league who had already received as much benefit by their late victory as theÌ„selves had gotten glory that being supposed one meanes to recall the Imperiall armies from theinvasion of France whither they were advanced by the way of Burgundy CHAP. II. The severall passages of Italy and Provence this last Summer past 1636. TT is a question yet controverted betwixt the French and Spanish Statists Italy and Provence and was canvased in the Consistory of Cardinalls by the comprotectors of both Kingdomes whether the Allyes and Subjects of the Christian King or the confederates and subjects of Caesar and the Catholike King were most to be blamed for the broyles lately commenced in Italy The Cardinall of Savoy a man powerfull in speech and somewhat surmounting the Cardinall of Burghese Comprotector of Almaygne and the house of Austria in the favour of the Conclave by reason of his high birth being brother to the Duke of Savoy who is dignified by Patent by the Title of the Administrator of the fiefes in the Italian Empire in the vacancy as the most Illustrious Prince the Electour Palatine is in Germany from the first beginning of the warre till the end of this present summer stood stiffely in Iustification of the Christian King against the Catholike Kings favourites and so farre prevailed with the Pope himselfe that he procured especiall letters from that Bishop to the Duke of Medina the Marquesse of Leganez the Spanish Generall and the Cardinall Trivultio
Numb 1. THE PRINCIPALL PASSAGES OF GERMANY ITALY FRANCE and other places for these last sixe Moneths past Historically reduced to time place and action till the end of the yeare 1636 according to the Forraine Computation In which short space you will finde much variety of matter and no small alteration amongst Princes All faithfully taken out of good originals by an English Mercury LONDON Printed for Nath. Butter and Nicholas Bourne February the sixt 1636. To the Readers READERS I here present you not with Newes snatcht from the mouthes of every pratling Athenian but Historie confirmed by authenticall persons of good credit and that too not spunne out to a volume but digested into a compendious forme that it might serve as a conditure to your more serious imployments and neither hinder them nor cloy your attentions in the pervsing Scrinia de magnis me manus una capit I have not studied to please any particular persons Martial lib. â— epig. 4. by complying with the fancies of such as desire to have every action of that partie which they affect best varnished over with glaring colours of commendations and the designes of the other slubbered with ignominie what you read here are resfactae non fictae and where any thing is doubtfull or relisheth of untruth I have not spared to note the first Inventors The Papers were first intended for your use and now come to tender you their personall service Let me obtaine for them a favourable entertainment without any mis-construction or malignant interpretation Improbe facit qui in libro alieno ingeniosus est So shall you encourage me to goe on to a new discoverie of what is not yet come to your publike knowledge and that speedily Farewell N. C. The Contents THE principall passages of Upper Germany Chap. 1. The passages of Italy and Provence Chap. 2. The passages of Picardy and of the Card. Infanta there Chap. 3. The passages of Burgundie and the French County Chap. 4. The passages of the Nether-lands Chap. 5. The Passages in vpper GERMANY NAturall reason though it may apprehend much by way of composition and division yet in contingent Futures such as are the issues of warre it can onely conclude probably never demonstrate scientifically The sword a faithfull Minister to it's supreame Commander will not returne to sheath it selfe what ever man can project to hinder it till recalled from making slaughter by him which first gave it Commission The Elector of Saxony having concluded a Peace with Caesar the yeere last past conceived withall that both his Dukedome and the whole Empire should enjoy a firme universall Peace and be no longer plundered by any either intestine or forraine Broyles But this hope was of no continuance the Conditions of the Treaty were distasted by the Crowne of Sweden the Lantgrave of Hessen Cassell Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymer and some other Princes of the Empire and the Electors confederacy with the house of Austria was the Procreatresse of the Swedes hostility with him The Marquesse Elector of Brandenburg and the Duke of Lunenburg stood a while as Neutralls ceasing from doing offence either to the Imperiall or Swedish party till by the instigation of the Duke of Saxon they at last came in and bore Armes against their late friends and confederates whose powerfull alliance had preserved these three Princes especially from utter ruine by the Caesarean Armies Magdenburg a City famous of late by her miseries was the first city of importance or note against which the Saxons and Imperialists marched The city was defended valiantly by the Swedes within it Magdenburg surrendred by the Swedes to the Saxons for the space of sixe moneths siege and then their expected succours out of Swedland fayling being hindered by a contrary wind after that by divers sallyes they had slaine many of their enemies much weakned the two puissent armies which besieged it fortified their Fort at Werben for their more convenient continuance of the warre in Saxony and the march Brandenburg upon the supplications of the distressed inhabitants rendered it to the Saxons Iuly 4 14 upon good tearmes and advantagious conditions and marched out with their armes and baggage and two peeces of great Ordnance The Swedish garison was conducted to Werben and three Saxon Regiments were immediately laid into the city the inhabitants utterly refusing to admit any Imperiall Praesidiaries The losse of this city was some prejudice to the Swedish proceedings yet their stout Commanders who were resolved to forge out their owne fortunes or perish with their armies held on play still sometimes getting and sometimes loosing till the the maine Rest at Witstock being wonne againe advanced their cause more then this losse had slackned it The Lantgrave of Hessen who alwayes before suspected the Treaty of Prague and preferred a just war before a perilous and dishonourable Peace at this time giving care to tearmes of Peace lost almost his whole countrey before he was aware of it The Imperiall army under Goetz Grava Gleere and other Chieftaines did not doe him so much damage when he stood upon his guard as did his owne security He had beene often perswaded by the Elector of Saxony the Duke of Brunswicke and the Marquesse of Dormstat to entertaine the Articles concluded at Prague yet could not be induced thereunto The Bishop of Witzburg in the end sent his Agent to the same effect who not prevailing for the Maine put in for the Bye a cessation from Armes for the space of three weekes betwixt his and the Imperiall Forces whilest the Emperour might be wrought to condescend to such propositions as he desired During the time which he appeared in the Field with his armies he not onely preserved the Lantgrave from the fury of the Caesareans but joyning his Forces with those Swedish troopes under our brave Countreyman the Field-Marshall Lesle whose merit and memory for that and other his valiant atchieuements will live to after ages though the circumstances of that particular come not within the verge of this concise History sheltered also his friends and confederates from the storme which threatned them Hanaw a city in the Weterawe and nursery of the Evangelicall Religion Hanaw relieved by the Lantgraue and the Field-Marshall Lesle and the siege raised was straitly beleaguerd by foure severall Imperiall armies and he by the military skill of Ramsey the Governour a man of whom we may glory in that his actions there spoke him a true Brittane and no stranger to our English Orbe defended from the insulting Enemy which breathed out threatnings against it and had promised himselfe a glorious victory till the contagion within had deprived him of the one halfe and more of his fellow defendants and the Imperiall armies without supplyed dayly with fresh men made him not despaire of reliefe but expect it from abroad In the height of this necessity the Lantgrave having joyned his forces with the Field-Marshal Lesle put in to succour him
at the gate of the city by the Magistrate under a Canopy the people present falling upon their knees where he was entertained with an Oration made by the Syndicke of the city and then rode away in his Coach to the Cathedrall at the entry whereof the Bishop met him did him the like obeisance which the people had done at the gate presented him with his Crosier which he kissed conducting him first into the Church singing Saint Ambrose his Hymne and afterwards to the Episcopall Palace the place where his Majesty intended to reside during the first Sessions of the Diet finding his spirits decayed and his strength of body to be abated though no evident cause of his weakenesse could be assigned Two dayes after the Duke of Bavaeria pretended the Title of Elector by donation from the Emperour and right of succession The meeting of the Princes came thither also accompanted with his Dutchesse and attended with 500. horse to give his Vote in the Electorall affembly and was lodged as neere the Emperour as might be The Elector of Mentz appeared in person the day following and the Elector of Colen by his deputies the Counts of Meternick and Romseck The Elector of Mentz tooke up his lodging in an house appointed for the Archbishop Elector of Triers who being under guard at Namur was conducted like a prisoner not a free Prince towards Regenspurg about one moneth afterwards by a Convoy of some hundred horse commanded by an Imperiall Collonel called Gonzaga And being arrived at Donawerth as he was upon his journey he there fled into a Cloyster called Saint Crosse otherwise Saint Iohns Hill in hope in that place of particular priviledges to remaine free as in a Sanctuary Vpon Letters received from the Emperour to whom Collonel Gonzago had sent word thereof the said Commander did attempt to neglect those priviledges and would have drawne the Elector out by force But upon better thoughts and counsell the Popes Nuncio was imployed unto him who with faire words and promises perswaded him to come out voluntarily and so he was againe taken and carryed on his journey to Passaw Passing neere Ratisbone or Regenspurg he desired much to bee suffered to come in and to be admitted into the presence of the Electors and the Electorall Colledge but all in vaine From Passau he hath bin carried further to Lintz where he yet remaineth His cause having lately bin discussed himselfe condemned to be diskeyed from his Electorall dignity Bishoprick and to be kept betwixt 4 walls in prison all the rest of his life What from divers places was written concerning this Prince particularly that he had sent his Vote in writing to the Colledge is all a fiction For knowing that all his Papers and Letters with his Chancery were in his enemies hands whereby did sufficiently appeare what he had treated with forraine Princes in prejudice of the Empire and specially of the house of Austria He did not stand upon high tearmes of his justification but rather in all humility offer and promise his Vote and himselfe to the Emperours command and pleasure The Marquesse of Brandenburgh appeared by the Count of Swartzenburgh his assigne and the Duke of Saxony his by Frederick Lebselder his Chamberlaine both by Agents but not authorized by any commission as his Deputy in the Electorall negotiation The absence of the Saxon somewhat displeased the Emperour who sent Duke Henry Iulius of Saxon Lawenberg to the Elector to require his personall appearance and that speedily but was returned by the Elector with an excuse for himselfe and a commission to his Agents to giue his vote in that Parliament The King of Bohemia was onely wanting he had beene visiting the Army under Gallas upon its march to ward Burgundy and after his labour reposed himselfe somefew dayes in Brissach and thither a Currier was dispatched August 13.23 with letters requiring his speedy and personall presence which he received and posted thence to Ratisbone Some prodigies as it is related from Ratisbone happening in sundry places of the Empire before the meeting of the Princes had dis-heartned the common people and made them despaire of any good issue by that treaty One was at Wels the suddaine uncovering of the Emperours house of pleasure there where hee was lodged it being seated in the midst of a Moorasse by a violent tempest and this was accompanyed with two others at Lintz the first whereof was the suddaine fall of an Arch of the Bridge made over the Danuby Some feareful accidents before the Dyet esteemed prodigious which his Imperiall Majestie had no sooner passed over but it tumbled into the River The other this Three carved Eagles placed upon the house of a Burgesse of Lintz being broken downe by the fury of the Tempest were mounted by the same violent blast into the Ayre scattered three sundry wayes and the one in the end fell upon the house appointed for the assembly of the Province the other upon the State-house and the third upon a Publike Aquae-duct Distracted wits upon every light occasion project terrible things These conceits were fond and Superstitious not rationall and sound The harsh beginning of the first Session was more to be feared as a fatall Prognosticke of no happy conelusion then those antecedent accidents Some dayes were spent in private visites Complements and conferences each of the Princes fathoming the others breasts in their retiring Chambers before they met at the publike place September the 15.5 The first Sessions of the Diet beganne though somewhat inauspiciously A difference falling out betweene the Saxon Deputies and the Elecctor of Mentz the Saxon Deputies being much discontented with the Elector of Mentz who had summoned the Princes to meete pretending that Office to belong to the Duke of Saxony and his Deputies in the absence of the Marshall of the Empire The Controversie like all others in point of honor was not so soone appeased as raysed The Emperout to quiet them Is composed by Caesar in Person heard their differences in his Privie Chamber and in a short Oration declaring that the intent of that mecting was for the publike good of the Empire which might suffer more by such civill dissensions then forraine Enemies desired the Saxons to complie with the Times and gave his notes openly to the Archbishop of Mentz containing the Propositions Considerable in that Parliament His Majesties authority siding with the Archbishop did not extinguish the flame at the first but make it breake out more fiercely the Archbishop followed Caesars directions and began to propound his desires The Saxons for the time broke off his discourse and as jealous that they were not equally interessed with him in the Imperiall Grace The Archbishop of Mentz makes the propositions in the Diet. protested against him that hee incroached upon the Electorall priviledges and ingrossed the grace of the Diet to himselfe Yet afterwards somewhat cooled by his Oratory and a president in the last
principall procurator for the Imperiall and Spanish Armies to forbeare and cease committing such outrages as they dayly did in the Dukedome of Parma though the Prince had joyned with the Christian King The Cardinal of Savoy relinquisheth the Comprotection of France and adhereth to Caesar his Countrey being a Fee appendant to the Church of which said he I have the tuition But in fine the French Advocate the Savoyard Cardinall wonne with large promises the King of Spaine offering to confirme unto him 40000. crownes of yearely revenew in Church living and a pension of twenty five thousand Crowns if he would relinquish the King of France and adhere to Caesar he accepted the proposition to the incredible joy of the Spanish and displeasure of the French not so much for his losse as his disloyalty A golden cosse-way pleaseth the eye though the pavement is not of sure footing Philip of Macedon by this false light bleared the sight of the Graecians and the Iberian King Philip made the same Minerall Sunne to dazell the eyes of this great Cardinall who as the French both at home and abroad at Rome relate it not regarding the sleights which the Spaniard put upon the deceased Cardinall Oâ—sino once Comprotectour of France but taken off in the end by the like allurements from the Christian King to serve the Catholike turned away his principall servants best acquainted with his French negotiations his late Secretary and Auditor ceised upon their writings and accounts whilest they were walking upon the banks of Tyber for their recreation forbad them his house and as quite eloigned from the King of France pulled downe the Flower de-Luces which the day before garnished his gates and at night set up in their stead the Armes of the Pope the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Hungarie This project was intended further then the gaining onely of the Cardinall who might promote the French affaires in the Consistory and could doe no more the Duke of Savoyes Armes in the field joyned with Criqui and the Parmesan were more to be suspected then the Cardinall of Savoyes words in the Counsell and the maine aime of the devise was to take off the Duke by the meanes of his brother the Cardinall The Spanish polity in gaining the Cardinall but the Spanish Artillery could not reach so farre the shaft fell some bowes short the Embassadour of Savoy then at Rome received the Secretary and Auditour into his house though the Cardinall had casheered them and the Duke of Savoy himselfe with as much zeale as ever doth yet prosecute the warre in Italy neither sparing his owne personall paines as being Generallissimo of the confederate Armies nor purse in making necessary provisions of warre to secure his owne men and offend the enemy Had the Cardinall stood firme to France yet his negotiation in the consistory could not have proved so prejudicious to the Imperiall and Spanish States as the mutiny of some malecontents and the appearance of the Galleys of Bizerta a port towne of the Kingdome of Tunis upon the coast of Italy were formidable to the Catholike Kings subjects in his Kingdome of Naples The Histories are thus reported The Count of Monterey Viceroy of Naples A mutiny in the kingdome of Naples zealous for preservation of his authority and the dignity whereunto he was advanced offended with an Ensigne of his Guard which let fall his colours upon the arrivall of the Duke of Medina de las Torres who came to visit the Viceroy at his Palace Iuly 6. new stile that ceremony of honourable observance being usually exhibited to none but the Kings Vice-gerent imprisoned the Ensigne with his Serjeant Major and casheerd the Captain of the company The Duke conceiving that the Viceroys sentence against those officers of his guard trencht on his honour his esteeme of the people might suffer some prejudice if he did not beare up and carry himselfe like a Grandee immediately thereupon provided his Caroch to be drawne with 6 Horses and rode in the state of a Viceroy through the streets of Naples to the discontent of the Count that being the proper garbe of the prorex and permitted to no other who first sent his monitory letters to the Duke forbidding him to appeare so magnificently and those not prevailing commanded him immediately to depart the Kingdome and returne to Spaine His order was obeyed by the Duke whose dismission wrought severally on the fancies of the Friends and Allies of the young Princesse of Stigliano lately married to the Spanish Duke each of them according to the capacity of their judgements projecting how to be avenged of the Viceroy The old Princesse Mother to the Dutchesse in melancholy betooke her to a Cloister and bequeathed all her goods money plate and Iewells after her decease to the Church of S. Peter at Rome The young Gallants of the Dutchesses Family tooke up Armes drew many of the Commons already offended with the Count for his government which they supposed to be somewhat tyrannicall and the heavy impositions which by reason of the present occasion were not unnecessarily laid upon them to their party elected the Duke of Matalona one of the Peeres of the Kingdome for their Chieftaine and had gone further to the plundering of the Spanish Families dispersed in the Kingdome had not the Cardinall Aldobrandino a popular man Appeased by the Cardinall Aldobrandino and Vnckle to the Dutchesse by the Mothers side interposed himselfe and disswaded the hot-spurrs from such a rebellious insurrection promising to write to the King of Spaine in the behalfe of his grieved Neece and the State and giving them an assurance of a gracious answer prevailed so farre that they laid downe their armes and write he did but received this onely summary answer from his Majesty that he was ignorant of the marriage of the Princesse with the Duke and that the necessity of his affaires so requiring it He could not alter the courses of his Viceroy in that Realme Yet in the end the Catholike K. moved with the importunate complaints of the Friends and Allyes of the Princes and willing to compose the differences which the Dukes absence had caused returnes the Duke to Naples in the beginning of September with letters to the Viceroy to permit him his state and dispatched soone after him the Marquesse D Alcaniza with a commission to establish the Duke of Medina Viceroy of Sicilie The Duke thus authorized shewed his state Quite settled by the King of Spaine riding to the Court at Naples in a Caroch of blacke Velvet imbroydered with gold and drawne with sixe Horses and the Princesse his Wife being carried in a stately Sedan in the like equipage yet with this devise in thankefulnesse to his Majesty Philippi Quarti Munificentia Before the returne of the Kings answer the Mutineers grew cold laid downe their Armes and returned to their severall dwellings to the joy of the Neapolitane Court as being past feare of that
The squadron of Normandy consisted of 14. bottomes The Vice-Admirall of 500. tunnes carrying 40. pieces of Ordnance and commanded by Manty the Vice-Admirall the Lowis of Saint Iohn de Luz of 500. tunnes the golden Lyon the Saint Iohn the Lowis of Holland and the Lievetenant each of 300. tunne the Hope the Lyon of Houfleur each of 250. tunnes The Saint Francis the Salamander each of 200. tunnes the Margarite the Cardinall the Frigat of Gascoigne each of 150. tunnes and the Angell of 300. tunnes made up that number It was a gallant Navy furnished with Artillery in a fit geometricall equipage the vessels of 500. tuns carried each of them 32. pieces of Canon those of 300. 20 pieces those of 150. and 200. 6 pieces each The two Frigates of 200. tunnes each 12 pieces the tenne Flemish Floytes each 14 pieces and the eye of France was fixed upon the good successe of these Argonauts The Admirals Cōmission extended no farther than the scowring of the Seas from Pirates the recovery of as many Christians as stood not enemies to the Crowne of France from the Mahometans and Turkes if they met with any such the securing of the coast of Provence and the landing of some Auxiliarie land-men for the service of the Duke of Parma and the confederate Armies in Italy An Hollander a renegado habited like a Sally-man was the first Pyrate they met with Hee was discovered An Holland renegado taken in the habit of a Sally-man July the first new stile by one of the Frigates chased and forced to yeeld with conditions to save his ship of 200. tunnes burden and to yeeld the Christian slaves which he had taken to wit 29. English and 4. French men This happened at Cape-Ortigall thence the Fleete put forward sometimes with a faire winde and sometimes becalmed without opposition or discovery of any enemy till the end of August at which time the Navies of the great Duke of Florence and the Duke of Tursy sent from Ligorne under the command of Melchior Borgia to vittaile the Islands Honoria and Margarita with their perspectives beholding the gallantry of the French Fleet and in hast hoysed up sayle as knowing how unable they were to grapple with so puissant and well furnished Navy and retired to the port of Alagon Some pillaging rovers appeared behinde when the French Fleete was gone and those such onely as might dammage a Merchant not encounter with a man of warre one of which being a Spanish Pinnace well provided both of men and ammunition A Spanish Parate taken by Saint Nazare and warranted by letters of Marque from the Catholike King to pillage the Coast of Bretagne after a sharpe conflict with a French Merchant and the death of the Captaine of the Pyrats and some of his complices was taken neere 8. Nazare and brought up the Laire into the harbour at Nantes the prime City of that Dukedome with 12 surviving Spaniards his whole Artillery and a pavilion enriched with the Armes of Spaine that eing the onely wealth which the vessell ordained for spoile not traffique carried And the ill successe of these adventures disheartened their co-partners from attending longer thereabouts The Fleet as it sailed along the coast of Provence was fortified daily by a new supply of Souldiers and Marriners 100. Tartanes vessels of the burthen of 500. each carrying 8. land men 5. Pirats men vessels and Ordnance which they tooke by the way being added thereunto by the Sea townes The Fleet increaseth Marseilles and the rest and by the helpe of their small Barks the Admirall first landed 5000. men at Nissa an harbour and Citie under the Duke of Savoy for the aide of the Prince sent some shipping to Marselleis for 8000. others which he dispatched after the first 5000. to the same intent and then put to sea againe towards the Principality of Norgues The inhabitants of Menton Roquebrane flee for feare and are recalled by the French Admirall where the inhabitants of Menton and Roquebrane affrighted with their comming forsooke their houses generally and fled to save their lives the religious persons whose more ingenuous education made them conceive wel of the Admirals goodnesse onely excepted Sixe of these Capuchins by their order came in all submission to the Count offering him the keyes of those places which the amazed people had abandoned and wrought by this voluntarie humility so farre upon the Generall that he not onely assured them of all gentle usage but restored them the keyes and charged them to seeke out and recall the lost inhabitants promising to secure them from any manner of violence which they could expect or feare might bee offered them by his Army The faire promise of the French Admirall Monaco is the usuall name it is in Liguria wrought effectually with the poore inhabitants of the Country they returned quickly upon the credit given to his word to their several dwellings But the strong Port of Morgnes or Monaco stood in defiance of his power and shewed all testimonies of hostility with him The weather then was calme and the Navy could not put forth to Sea and the Count partly to avoid idlenesse and partly with desire to be avenged of the Turke drew out of the shippes sixe Pieces for battery and a convenient number of Pioners to make way for his approches thitherward promising himselfe to winne the place before any other urgent occasion might call him thence or the cessation of the calme might serve the Fleet to undertake an expedition by Sea The Spanish Galleys 38. in number which at that present were in the Bay of Savona in the Signiorie of Genoa apprehending that the still face of Neptune would bee favourable to their Galleys which moved better upon the water by the strength of the Oares then the breath of winde the next day appeared neere the French Fleete and began with some volees of Canon-shot to play upon the French Gallions riding at anchor neere Menton This unexpected offer of combat altered the Counts designe against Monaco his desire was then to put to Sea but the ordinary shipping was winde-bound and the Galleyes embarred by the Spanish and Florentine Fleete within the Harbour Three Sea fights betwixt the French and Spanish Fleets An unexpected helpe came in this extremity some French Galleyes taking advantage of the calme made haste from Ville-Franche a Sea-towne in Liguria but under the command of the Duke of Savoy to the French Armado carried out the Admirals Gallion who having got sea-rome and attended still with these new-come friends spread all his sailes to recover the little winde that then blew and in fine having got the advantage of a breathing ayre made up to the Spanish Galleyes and discharged upon them so furiously that one of three which had gotten neerest the French Navy was so shattered that her two other attendants were constrained to relinquish their intended fight with the French men in the Bay and to wait
providence called upon lustice to use her sword for his rescission who otherwise had exposed the whole body to putrifaction It is counted a master-piece in the Science of Defence to beate another at his owne weapon and in warre to blow up the Miner by his owne worke or to make use of a like project or stratagem to the ruine of the first deviser The Duke of Savoy received intelligence in the Camp of the Spanish designe and posted thence to Turin to give order for the defence of Nissa and the territory about The Garison of Spaniards in Crevecaeur driven out and no blow given where being informed of the arrivall of the French Fleete and conjecturing by probable arguments that the state of his Sea-townes was now secure hee returned with as much speed to the Campe at Candie for performance of his charge having stayed but two dayes onely at his Courtat Turin In the time of his neutrality he had laid a Spanish Garison in Crevecaeur a Towne in Gallia Cisalpina to defend it against all forraigne invadors but now not without cause jealous of the presidiarie Souldiers fidelity which at first were brought in to prevent a feared mischiefe which by this overture was taken away Hee sent to the Prince of Masseran to avoid them not by violence but subtiltie unwilling to expose his Subjects to the danger of intestine broyles if it might be effected otherwise The project was not trayterous but delusive the Spanish Souldiers were not amuzed to betray any of their Soveraignes Forts into the hand of a stranger but to relinquish their forcible possession and resigne it quietly to the right owner The Prince followed the Dukes directions and whilest one part of the Spanish Garison was abroad without the Castle sporting after the condition of mad yong blades the Prince privately brought in some hundreds of his men whom he prepared for his turne who caused the remainder of the old Garison to quit the place with a still silence glad that they could keepe in their tongues when noyse and clamour might have beene prejudiciall to their lives And thus the Duke of Savoy got an assurance of one of the principall Frontiers of his dominion Leganez the Spanish Generall to regaine the losse of Creuecaeur Rotofredi taken in by the Spanish Army or to equalize it with a parallell atchievement first attempted upon the Fort of Breme and failing thereupon the first adventure unwilling to spend the remainder of the summer without action turned toward the Fort of Rotofredi sited upon the Poe distant from Piacenza about 6 English or Italian miles under the Dominion of the Duke of Parma and tooke it by composition in the space of three dayes The Duke was then gone to Mantua to crave 4000. men of the Mantoese and sent to the state of Venice to desire as many voluntary auxiliaries to helpe him in his extremity His voyage was not altogether fruitlesse the Duke of Medina by mediation of friends laid down armes the Mantuan and the Venetians granted his desire and at his returne finding Rotofredi yeelded to the Spaniards Valditaro surrendred to the Prince Don Iohn d'Auria he first chopt of the heads off both the Governours and then divided his Army into two bands with the first intending to avenge himselfe of D'Auria by the siege of Saint Stephano Valditaro taken by Iohn d'Auria and with the latter to recover Rotofredi if it were possible out of the hand of the enemy the place being the Key of his Country and fit to yeeld no small succour to Piacenza if that City should happen to be attempted by the enemy Saint Stephano was taken in by his forces St. Stephano taken by the Du. of Parma and the Prince d'Auria and the Duke stood upon equall tearmes in point of martiall honour and military gaine yet not without an hostile emulation and to reconcile them the state of Genoa sent first Alessandro Santy a man of note in that City to mediate a peace the Prince being a Citizen and free Burgesse of Genoa and he not prevailing the Pope sent out a Patent Edict thereby commanding the Prince to restore Valditaro to the Duke and the Duke to restore Saint Stephano to the Prince but whether their swords were blunted by his Keyes it is yet uncertaine Rotofredi was well manned both for number of the men and resolution Rotofredi rebesieged by the Parmesans and though there wanted not remonstrances of difficulty and danger to disswade the Duke from besieging it yet he knowing of what perillous consequence it was to have the Spaniards to hold it resolved to beleaguer it and if possible to recover it The Garison within spared no cost to fortifie it and if art could doe it to make it impregnable The Army without resolved to relieve it and if their complices in the Fort were necessitated to succour the Garisons And yet the Duke changed not his first counsell on he went and about Iuly 17 27. sate downe before it planted his batteries blockt up the passages by which the Spanish succours should passe and played upon the Citadell with his Artillery hoping in the end to carry it The Garison answered him by their Canonadoes and the shot fayling to endammage his well entrenched Army the Souldiers tooke up their lesser Armes and frequently sallied out upon the Campe still returning with some tokens of gaine and though in one which happened August 4. new stile they were chased back to their very walles by the Marquesse Hannibal third sonne to the Count Fabiano Scoti an hopefull yong Gentleman not above 18. yeares of age yet they shot him then with a Spingarde a kinde of Musket charged with many bullets and slew him and in another fally afterwards killed the horse under one of the Marquesses brethren who desiring to avenge his brothers bloud was ranging his forces to encounter them and somewhat too boldly pressed upon the fleshed enemy Sixe weekes the Dukes Forces lay before the Fort enduring many shockes by the Spanish Garison which then beginning to be in extremity was fortunately relieved in the beginning of September by their confederates in the Campe of Leganez who first sent the Colonell Geldas with 2000. Relieved by the Spanish Army horse to discover the Parmesans posture and afterwards followed himselfe with the maine body of the Army to raise the siege and relieve the Citadell It was a piece of hot service and the Spanish Generall shew'd himself to be both a discreet and valiant Commander His way was to be cut out with the sword or he could get no passage The Parmesan however inferiour to him in number yet had the advantage of place and that notwithstanding Leganez assaulted him at once in all his Quarters and by the helpe of the presidiaries who acted their parts well in the prosecution of the adventure that they killed 600. of the Parmesans common men and sixe Commanders tooke 300. prisoners put the rest of the
Sheriffes which should take a list of the Souldiers and renew their Muster every 10. dayes This provision to be paid in specie and not to be exchanged into money upon any pretence whatsoever It was ordered also that the Souldiers receiving these provisions should exact nothing else of their Hosts save only customary Vtensels as a Bed Table-linnen a Pot a Gridiron a Spit a Chimney and a Candle-stick and hee which would be better accommodated should pay for it out of his purse upon paine of exemplary punnishment To which Conditions all the Captaines and Officers were to subscribe their hands upon paine to answere for their defaults in their owne persons This Decree was made at the Campe of Demvin October 28. 18. 1636. Signed Lovis SUBLET The Passages in BURGUNDY LORRAIN and ALSATIA CHAP. IV. MVltiplicity of Businesse cannot be effected without many hands much expence and diligence The Christian King was at once imployed in sundry occasions there was not a postern Gate whereby an Enemy might enter into his Kingdome but the opening thereof was attended either with the Imperiall or Spanish Armies which were ready upon the least opportunity to make their entrance therby The Imperiall Forces under the Earle of Gallas and Lamboy were ready to take their way into France through Alsatia Lorrain and Burgundy the Neapolitans and Spanyards prepared to do like by the way of Provenze and to that purpose furnished out a Fleet to Sea the Pampelonois and other Navarrois subject to the Catholick King would not be behinde therest but addressed themselves to make an inroad into Guiene and the Country about Bayon and either to repell them which had entred into his Kingdom or prevent them which intended it required both a full Magazin of Ammunition and multitudes of men To supply his necessities with Ammunition his Christian Majesty though he had formerly restrained the making of Gnn-powder in his Dominions The Patent given by his Majesty to some peculiar Powder-makers reversed and committed the care for that to some peculiar Patentees yet now Aug. 1 11 by a publick Proclamation signed by himselfe and Sublet his principall Commissary for open Edicts and sealed with the great seale of the Kingdom hee not only permitted but injoyned all Salt-peter men and those which had beene sellers or makers of Powder throughout the Realm formerly to use their former Mystery and the Powder-makers especially to repaire their Engines and make as much store of that sort of provision as they could possibly forbidding expresly the Patentees to molest them in their work his designes both for the present and to come being such as should require not their hands only to furnish him sufficiently but the help also of all such like Artists under his obedience and for men he raysed divers armies and disposed them severally under sundry Commanders The Earle of Harecourt and the Archbishop of Bordeaux being designed Generals of his Navy for the defence of Provenze by Sea and offence of the Neapolitan and Spanish Navy the Duke of Valette intrusted with the care of Gascogne and Guien and the P. of Conde D. Bernhard of Saxen Weymar and the Cardinall Valette second sonne to the D. d' Espernon being ingaged joyntly and severally as occasion served to attend his affaires in the County of Burgundy Lorrain and Alsatia The P. of Conde in the beginning of May had layd a strait siege to Dole a City upon the Ledan Dole beseeged by the Prince of Conde strong by situation but more fortified by Art and so plyed his businesse that though it was built upon a Rock of incredible hardnesse Aug. 4. new style he had brought a Myne therein to such perfection that upon the twelfth of the same month he gave an assurance to his Army it should be sprung to the purpose and admonished his fouldiers to prepare for the Assault In this extremity the besieged sent their Agent first to the Catholike Cantons in the King of Spaine's name to desire their succours The Agent discharged his office faithfully neither his labour in travelling from one place to another to speak with those States severally nor not prosecuting any remonstrance as their confederation made with Spaine in the yeere 1634. Sendeth to the Cantons for succour but is denyed nor the puissance of the King of Spaine as able or his known justice which would spurre him on to stand for them if they stood in need to move them to condescend to his desires The Helvetians besides their private answer given to the Garrisons Agent willing to give them what satisfaction they possibly could without giving offence to the French dispatched speedily a Colonell to Dole who comming as an Embassador from the Swisse was permitted to passe through the Campe peaceably and admitted into the Towne where he declared the causes why the States of Helvetia could not assist the Citie against the King and was heard patiently and dismissed quietly but before he could go out of the reach of Musquet-shot a bullet shot from the Citie whether at randome or by aime it is uncertaine hir him in the necke and slew him The French souldiers tooke up the body and buried it with their Millitarie Ceremonies at Auxonne a City upon the Some distant from Dole five French miles the Prince of Conde himselfe attending upon the Herse to honour his Funerals The besieged thus deprived of their hopes grew desperately valiant and resolving not to quit the place but with losse of their lives made divers fallies upon the Campe though with manifest hazard in the attempt and losse in the execution assayed to burne the French Galeries made of wood and though the issue did not answer their expectation concluded to stand upon their defence to the utmost Is releeved by the Duke of Lorrain without admitting a thought of agreement with the assaylants The Events of warre are probable no more The French conceived already a certain victory but the Dye turned an unexpected releefe came to help the Garrison they who were formerly confined to the precinct of their wals got liberty not only for their recreation and refreshment but for inlargement also of their spoyles and victories Charles Duke of Lorrain a tributary Prince to the Crown of France dispossessed of his Countrey by the Christian King and succoured by Caesar being now the Commander of an Army of 12000 men came before he was looked for to visit the Camp and sending first 2000 Crabats all horse-men for discovery of their enquartering about the end of Iuly by them alone surprized first Pontalier and Castelein belonging to the P. of Conde which he burnt to the ground and slew both women and children with the edge of the sword and in fine did the like to Marcilly Vouge and La Marche villages which were not able to resist them The Crabats thus fleshed with blood returne immediatly to their Leader informe him of their successe and hee with his whole Army marched strait
Cavallary and commanding twelve Trumpets to sound a charge fell so furiously upon the Caesareans that they put them to a disorderly flight slew many upon the place the number is uncertaine took 24 prisoners amonst whom was the Captain of the Crabats with his Commission and letters of instruction for this occasion But they gained more in the pursuit than in the fight the high wayes being strewed with Curasses which the flying Enemy had cast away in his haste and one hundred Barbed horses gained which were sent afterwards to his Excellency Duke Bernhard who was yet incamped at Brompt expecting that the Imperiall Generall would rise as a Monument of this victory The joynt Armies under the Generals Saxon Weymar The French armies march from Alsatia and Valette began their march from Alsatia Aug. 2 15 and put forward Marsar a Towne in the Frontiers of Lorrain whence the Cardinals Army foure dayes after under the conduct of the Vicount of Turenne marched towards Luneville the Cardinall himselfe going the same day to Metz the Army under Duke Bernhard abode at Marsar till Aug. 6 16 which day the Duke himselfe led one part of his forces towards Luneville and committed the charge of the other part to Colonell Ohem who according to the direction given him went went towards Blamont a small Citie manned only with sixty Snaphanses yet much troubling the French in Lorrain being commanded by a vowed Enemy to the Kings government being one of the retiring places for those Boutifeaus the Crabats after they had roved abroad to pillage plunder the Country The Colonel first summoned the place by a Trumpet but could obtain no fairer an answer than that he must expect nothing there but powder shot not staying to reply with words he charged them with the same materials battered the Town and Castle with the Canon made a breach in the wall by the afternoon to the terrour of the Governour who with his Garrison retired to the Castle leaving the Town not to the spoyle of the Dukes Army Blamond taken by D. Bernh and the Governour hanged himselfe a worse Enemie to the place than could bee expected from abroad having strowed the ground of the Citie with loose powder which taking fire according to his malitious desire destroyed a goodly Church devoured the goods of the Inhabitants and turned all the houses in the Citie which were generally stored with Corn provision six only being saved to heapes of Ashes The report of this wicked Act was by a nimble Currier carried to the D. at Luneville who incensed thereat took horse speedily posted to the Camp at Blamont and prepared to assault the Castle but changed his designe seeing a flag of treaty hung out being more willing to spare the lives of his Enemies in the Garrison than the Commander was to save the substance of his late friends the Citizens The Garrison at first began to stand upon termes of agreement as unwilling to submit themselves to the Duke or leave the Fort without an assurance of mercie signed by himselfe but the Duke perceiving the weaknesse of the place would not stand to indent with them and again prepared for the assault the conclusion whereof ministering just occasion of feare to the Enemy the Garrison yeelded upon discretion and the souldiers were permitted to depart with white staves but the Governour being a Major was justly hanged for his detestable treachery Thence the Duke himselfe Ramberville taken by Duke Bernhard with those forces marched to Ramberville where another of the Enemies Garrisons lay and having summoned it also uneffectually Aug. 21. September 1. he presently skaled it in foure severall places and by foure the next morning took it The Commander within and the Garrison retreated to the Castle and stayed not thereto expect a summons but yeelded presently upon discretion and had this mercy shewed them liberty to depart with their low weapons but sans baggage or any other accomodation The Town was given for pillage to the souldiers yet with this speciall charge given by the Generall that the religiours houses should bee spared and the honours of the Women be preserved the Queen of France intreating this respect to be given to those in Orders and the weaker sex at his departing thence and his promise being past to her Majesty to observe it The rising of the Confederate Armies from the Camp at Brompt The Imperiall Army reenforced marcheth towards Burgundy gave opportunity to the Imperiall forces under the Croatian Commanders Isolani and Forgats the Germans Lamboy and Muse the Spaniard the Marquesse of Grana and Charles Duke of Lorrain to repaire to Gallas his Army who expecting the Irish Butler but not waiting his comming marched speedily towards the Dukedome of Burgundy and the Frank County being followed close by the Cardinall and Duke Bernhard which reenforced their Armies with the forces of the Prince of Conde and six thousand fresh souldiers under the command of the Field-marshall Ranzaw all ready in battell aray to fight with the Caesareans upon the first opportunity The Imperiall Army made on to their journies end with all the haste they could they passed by Montbelyard and Beffort and yet but only summoned them threatning the Inhabitants as Gideon did Succoth and Penuell but not with the like successe upon their returne from France to visit them But their haste was not with that good speed it was pretended for the Count of Suze Governour of the Country thereabouts stopped the Crabats under Isolani which marched in the reare cutting off the Bridges by which they should passe and skirmishing with him by the space of foure dayes together though with the losse of his Sarjeant Rennovill and Montplaisier one of his Guard which were slaine by the Crabats yet with gaine of two hundred and fifty prisoners one hundred horse and many Waggons loaden with ammunition Whilest the Cardinall Valette was attending with his Army upon the designes of Gallas Marange a rich Town in Lorrain taken by Roquespine Lievetenat Generall to the Cardinall Valette Roquespine his Lievetenant Governour in the Town and Cittadell of Metz and the Country adjacent seeing that the Inhabitants of Marange a Town then subject to the Spaniards situate betwixt Metz and Theonvelle did not only much oppresse the neighbouring Villages but that also part of the Garrison of Theonvelle in a discontent were gone thither also intending to plunder the Country hee resolved to prevent them esteeming it better to deale with an Enemy at his own home than to expect his comming abroad To this purpose about the midst of September hee mustered up a convenient Army about nine hundred horse and foot consisting of one halfe of Bovillons and Bussy's whole Company which was left by the Cardinall for defence of the Country two companies of light-horse one drawn out of the Garrison and another raysed by the Citizens of Metz three hundred other foot part of his own souldiers and part
Citizens and with these hee appeared before the Towne at noone day striking such a terror into the presidiary souldiers that they instantly left their out-works and retreated into the Town the one part using the Church which was strongly built the other a strong house in the Town as Citadels to secure them from the Assailants Men in danger of drowning catch at every Bulrush and are like Beasts in a storme which runne to a rotten hedge for shelter yet finde none These timerous Soule apprehended some hope of safety by those stone Wals yet were plyed so close by the French souldiers that before the night in both places they hung out a white Flag and yeelded to the discretion of the Conquerour who sent the most part packing away without ransome but reserved twenty eight of the principall whom hee sent prisoners to Metz. It was an atcheivement though not of a glorious appearance yet of speciall consequence the Villages about it being secured from further spoyle by two French Companies which were layd in Garrison there immediatly after it was taken and the Town it selfe being a wealthy one affording to the Souldiers besides much rich pillage five hundred Hogsheads of Wine and great quantity of Corne for provision Culembach the Alman Colonell Two regiments of Crabats surprized by Col. Culembach whom Duke Bernhard left behinde him to guard the passages betwixt Saverne and Hagenaw about the same time surprized two Regiments of Crabats which Gallas had left neere Weissem-burg with Commission and charge to use all the meanes they could to disturbe the garrison and Inhabitants of Hagenaw Egger the Croatian Colonell commanded both the Regiments and to deale with him in plain field the Alman selected one thousand Musquetiers out of the Garrison which he joyned with his own Regiment and then gave him battell the issue whereof was crowned with conquest the gaine of seven hundred horses many Waggons laden with baggage and other good booties all which were transported by the Victor to Hagenaw Montalont Governour for the Christian King in Barroys about the same time as if that time had been fatall to the Grabats and fortunate to the French happened upon the like adventure 300 Crabats surprised by Montalont in Barroys Advice was brought him of three hundred Crabats which were met in a wood to strengthen their bands with such straglers as they should meet withall of their own nation and afterward were to have their Randevouz at Momplome a village two leagues from Bar. To surprize this crew himselfe attended with eighty foot partly French and partly Helvetians and fifty horsemen of his own band and accompanied with the Baron of Angluce Captaine of the Hungarian horse under the Regiment of the grand Master of the Artillery marched all night to discover the Enemy yet heard no newes of them till the next night these Reysters not using to continue above foure in place and then understanding that they were retired to Montior upon Saut thither he poasted caused his Infantery to enter the village and assault the Crabats in their lodgings himselfe with the horse-men guarding the back-lanes and outgoings of the village which they did so suddenly that their enemies being unarmed could not defend themselves and so furiously that as many as could betook them to their heeles thinking to save themselves by flight which did but bring them from the talons of the Hawk to the Vulture the French horsemen making slaughter upon all the fugitives whilst the footmen gave quarter to them which begged it submissively eighty of these Crabats were slaine by the Cavallary upon the place and besides the slaine ten made prisoners of warre by the Infantery amongst which was the Lievetenant and Cornet of the Company which were carried captives to Barr and esteemed as good prize as a hundred and od horses which were gained by the French at the same time from that Enemy In this attempt a French Ensigne was slaine from a window as he was pursuing the Captaine of the Company though he escaped for the present and got off with a kinde or victory carrying with him as a captive a yong gentleman of Barroys yet he was taken the next day by the Sieur de Mihell father to the youth whose former griefe for the losse of the child was sweetned with a double comfort the surprizall of such an Enemy as was rallying up the small number which escaped meaning with them to plunder the Country and the recovery of his darling son The Caesarean and French Armies about the same time The French Caesarians several Quarters had taken up their severall quarters about the Frank County and the County and Dutchy of Burgundy each about one league from the other Gallas and his retinue neere Champlite Duke Charles about Gray the Duke of Weymar at Monsavion the Cardinall Valette at Cussey and the Troops of the Prince of Conde commanded by the Feeld-Marshall Ranzaw were enquartered betwix the Quarters of Duke Bernhard and the Cardinall The Imperiall Generall in person lodged in the Priory of Champelite two leagues from Channite where Picolomint's horse were lodged his own foot being placed about the Mountaines betwixt Champelite and Montelot and his Cavallery at Rigin and thereabouts Isolani and Forgats with their Crabats lay at Leffons and Ponyssons Lamboy at Iussey Colonell Meuz at Mons and the Marquesse de Grana at Meure both the Armies observing their severall advantages for attempting upon the other either by surprizall or raysing of their Camps but neither of them putting any thing as yet to the hazard The Caesareans were expected to have made the first attempt as comming not only to secure the Dukedome of Burgundy and the Frank County from the French but to invade the Kingdome yet stirred not till hee was spurred to it by the confederate Generals who fell first foule upon and provoked him to seek revenge The Cardinall Valette October 9 new style fell upon Isolani's Quarter at Lessons a great Town in the Frank County choosing the silence and obscurity of the night to conceale his march thitherward and commanding the Fieldmarshall Ranzaw to charge the one part of the Crabats Quarter whilest himselfe did the like to the other Night was secret and their Guides expert and faithfull which brought them a little before day-light to the place designed Isolani's Quarter raysed by D. Berwh the Cardinall de Valette and then they gave such a furious Camisado to the whole Quarter that it was raysed speedily the tents burnt three hundred Crabats slaine upon the place and the most part which escaped were wounded and put to their heeles one thousand two hundred horses the Waggons for the Luggage and the Officers Caroaches being taken from them and amongst the rest Isolani his owne Caroach in which was found his chaine of gold and his Ladyes Monkey Thus I finde this History delivered in a French Extraordinary though nor with that probability of truth as is expressed in a
and valours than their trenches came to handy-strokes immediatly with one part of his Army whilest the other part as they might with ease broke down the Palizadoes burnt the Gate and addressed the scaling ladders to the Wals. The Combat lasted doubtfull for the space of twelve houres and then the defendants oppressed with numbers of the assaylants were forced to retire to the Castle a place fortified only with a small Moat being not flankered and after a whole dayes battery with many hundreds of Canon shot were constrayned to capitulate and surrender it with conditions of saving their lives and livelihoods Secrecy is of as much availe in an Army as valour The confederate Armies as yet were ignorant of the Enemies designe Saint Iohn de Loone besieged by Gallas and remayned in their own Quarters till the losse of Mirebeaw and that was not till three dayes afterward was reported to the Cardinall and then the Imperialists being upon a new designe against St. Iohn de Loone a small town upon the Some consisting of about three hundred families and distant from Chaloon about five French ten English miles the united Armies made after them A strong suspition the French and their Allies had that Saint Iean de Loone was the next place Before it was known to the French armies at which the Caesareans aymed being induced hereunto by the menaces which the Imperiall forces had given out against it but were not assured of it till October 31 new style at which time a generall report of the siege arrived at the Camp and that being seconded by a particular relation of the day and manner of the siege confirmed them to beleeve that which before they only suspected A Souldier of the Train-band of the County having scowted about the Imperiall Army was sent that day by Machant his Captain to inform the Generals with the summe of his discovery The heads of his report were these That October 12 28 in the morning the enemies had surrounded Saint Iohn de Loone That the Garrison in two sallyes had slain threescore of the asseegers and brought ten prisoners into the Town amongst which was the Lievetenant of the Horse which with threats affrighted the Town with a strong and strait siege and had beaten the Imperialists from their Quarter at Saint Vsage That the Garrison at the first consisting of eight Companies of the Trainband belonging to the County was diminished by the Pest to the one halfe Saint Point the Commander being also extremely sick of the disease and yet were resolved to stand it out to the last man the inhabitants able to beare Armes being about the number of two hundred first decreeing that whosoever should talk of capitulation should be cast into the River and then concluding rather to fire the Town if they could not keep it than render it upon any tearmes to the Caesareans that so they might prevent his spoyles and keep the viands therein from him Each word was truth The Imperiall Army marching from Mirebeau October 15 25 16 26 17 27 passed the Rivers of Beze Tilly and Ousche with much hazard and inconvenience and the next day appeared before the Town The Towne summoned sommoning it with a Trumpet to yeeld to the Earle of Gallas as the Imperiall Generall the King of Spayn and the Duke of Lorrain a Cavalier seconding the Trumpet and telling the Officers upon the wall that unlesse they shewed their obedience speedily they should be beleaguerd with an Army of forty thousand men and batterd with twenty six peeces of Canon The Garrison returned no answer but prepared for defence and the Caesareans for battery Three dayes were spent by the beseegers in raysing of mounts and preparation for battery without any shew of open hostility save only that daily summons were sent by Drums and Trumpets for their surrendring and November 1 new style the Imperiall Canons were discharged against the city Battered that violent thunder being thought more availeable for the conquest than verball Rhetorick A Consultation was held in the meane time by the Prince of Conde Duke Bernhard and the Cardinall for releefe of the Town and in fine Ranzaw the Fieldmarshall with the men at Armes belonging to the Duke of Anguyen the Light-horse under the Prince of Conde his command seven other Companies of Light-horse drawn out of the Regiment of the Cavallery of Anguyen his own Horse-men and seven or eight hundred Musquetiers was sent to succour it His Expedition commenced the same day the Enemy began his batteries and though with much hardinesse the foot wading in water up to the neck and some losse ten of his Cavalliers being drowned hee past that day over the Tille arrived the next morning by seven of the clock to Auxonne a city upon the Sone distant from Saint Iohn de Loone ten leagues where hee was furnished with victuals for his army and boats to ferry down his men and thence hee sent a little Barge with six Oares to enforme the beseeged of his auxiliary forces Danger and hope presented themselves together to the beseeged The Imperiall Army hearing of Ranzaw's approach November 3 new style played upon the Town incessantly with eight Peeces of Canon from break of day till three in the afternoon and then drew out two main Battalions into the meadow the one whereof was sent against a small breach which their Canon had made in the wall the other against the Terras at the Dijon Gate a weak peece defended only by one Horn-work and without other fortification Sixty Musquetiers were brought into the Town the day before from Bellegarde Releeved and the siege raised and the Townsmen and Garrison animated with these small succours resolved to meet the Caesareans at the severall places and to adventure their lives for defence of the Burgh The assaylants at the breach came on courageously and the defendants stood to their tacklings as manfully the very women with a masculine spirit comming in to releeve the wearied men bringing materials to repaire the breach and hurling stones and whatever came next to hand fury supplying them with weapons to offend the Enemy The valour of the defendants and the unfitnesse of the gap for an assault the wall yet standing firme twelve foot high made the assaulters recoyle who seeing their attempt if not desperate extremely dangerous could not be induced by the words and strokes of their Commanders to renew their adventure and go on againe The Terras was in more danger and thither upon the retreat of the Imperialists the most part of them which were designed to make good the gap hasted to help their copartners and their comming was so happy that the Battalion there seeing a new accrew of opposers certified and their losse already in both places of above foure hundred men slaine outright besides those which were wounded turned tayle too and gave over the Enterprize Gallas who all this while had stood as a spectator to the play