heard or at least requited with excusing the necessity of times and affaires For the sea was too much agitated by the windes and hatred of them who would have this potent house in obedience to the feeble commands of this * The Vnited Provinces living by the windes and waters Aeolus In brief they who spake to the States of peace were as welcome at the Haghe as they were at Venice who spake for the Jesuites notwithstanding their propositions were just and equitable and could not be rejected but upon meer distrust But what is impossible to man is facil to God and all fruit growes ripe in time Let us now see the reasons of this resistance The States could not imagine that the King of Spaine would ever renounce the Soverainty of so many and so illustrious Provinces and again they who were become Masters had lost the will of returning to obedience They were grown powerfull by the allyances of France and England by the trafique of the Indies by the picoryes or spoiles which they had made upon Spain and the obedient Provinces with which they offered to make an agreement and allyance by excluding the King and his heirs but by no means with his Majesty whereto the other could not listen as to a thing impossible and shamefull and which checked the oath of fidelity which they had taken The summons which the Infanta gave them of her arrivall at Brussels moved them not at all either to acknowledge her for Lady or induce them to peace or truce In fine in the yeer 1607. Great storms at Ester 1607. memorable for the great storms which happened throughout all the Low-Countries towards Easter this resistance began by little and little to grow warm and this ice to thaw For they opened their ears to the charming perswasions of that worthy Prelate and their hearts to the great successes of Spinola who surpassed or equaled all his Predecessors in military science So that the reverent father Iohn May Provincial of the order of the Franciscan Friers was a worthy instrument of this holy work who by his infatigable care and most painfull journeys sometimes from Brussels to the Haghe and sometimes from thence into Spaine by Brussels brought the two parties to a truce of seven moneths which grew afterwards to be prolonged CHAP. VIII The defeat of the Spanish Armada The Design upon Sluce failed A continuance of the Treaty Spinola arrives at the Hague The Treaty again broken was renewed at Antwerp where the Truce was made for twelve years The Flect beaten at Gibelaltar DUring these goings and comings to and fro Admiral Heemskerk went to attack the Spanish Fleet designed for the Indies which he defeated in the Streights of Gibelaltar to the great amazement of the Spaniards to see that people which they had so often beaten and so often despised come to assault them even in Spain it self a strange quipp of Fortune Times have their turns And so the first fruit which Spain tasted of a Cessation of Arms was the calling home of the Ships of the said Common-wealth which much incommodated her Costs and lay as snares to snap the Gallions coming from the Indies with some whereof they very often met slighting the danger for the advantage of the booty The enter prise upon Sluce failed for want of courage But before we sheathe our sword and hang it upon the naile let us speak a word of that memorable Enterprise upon the Town of Sluce which was in the year 1606. The Spaniards being advertised by two souldiers of the State of the Garrison of the Gates and of the Wall of the aforesaid Town sent three thousand six hundred men with that renowned French Gentleman Du Terrail who was since beheaded at Geneva for having but so much as thought of an Enterprise upon the City Now this valiant Cavallier had promised the Arch-Duke either to deliver him the place or die in the Attempt And so he marched with his Troops through the Drowned Lands without being discovered approached the Town set three * An Engine to force Gares Petards on work about the Gate the last whereof got it open but the hearts of the souldiers grew so cold that they durst not venter in Never was there an Enterprise of importance more easie to be effected without either danger or resistance and never was there any which more loosely fayled for want of courage and good command so that it proves most true that a Coward can never do a good action Du Terrail not having authority enough to animate these Cowards to enter the Town was constrained to retyre with them and ask leave to withdraw himself from them to a Nation which never failed in any occasion for want of courage as being more apt to offend in the other extreme Besides that danger urged him away in respect of the execution of three Captains who paid the score dear enough for all the rest Thus God disposes of all things contrary to the expectation of man Let us now come back to the begun Treaty The arrivall of the Arch-Dukes Depaties at the Hague Spinola Richardot Mamicidor Father Iohn Nay and the rest of the Deputies arrived at the Hague and were received there with many complements and tieated according to the dignity both of their employments and their persons and chiefly at the Court The Prince and the Lords of prime quality went to meet them at Riswick where after the ceremonies were performed the Marquis went into the Princes Coach A strange Metamorphosis to see the two chief Captains of the world most bitter enemies a litle before court one another now with true respect and draw the eyes of the people to admire thew Persons of honour and glory may be hated by the wicked but vertue never Now because it is not my design nor can this History permit me to particularize all along upon what passed in this illustrious Assembly I will content my self with saying that the demand of the said Embassadours concerning the forbearance of Traffick to the Great * America Indies and the reduction of the exercise of the Roman Catholick Faith had almost broaken off this Treaty In effect some advices from other parts and the retardment of the Provinciall aforesaid in Spain moved the States to sen forth a Protestation containing their finall intention And the Embassadours of the Princes who were Mediatours between them counselled the States to hearken at least to a Truce since there was yet no room for Peace They retire But they sticking fast to their resolution and the Embassadours of Spain likewise persisting within the limits of their Commissions there was no means at all to make them joyn or come to a conclusive Definition And so in fine they parted from the Haghe not without Protestations on both sides of the sincerity of their intentions for the good issue of the said Treaty each casting the fault upon the other But after their
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
the Enemy and retyre himself as fast as he could gallop to Wolfenbottel This was a great and bloody Fight and the Imperialists remained entirely victorious in it The Victory of the Imperialists and the death of Generall Fucks Brave Generall Fucks who had disswaded the Battell lost his life in this occasion and gave the King sufficient testimony that it was not through basenesse of heart or cowardize but upon strong arguments that he desired him not to precipitate Many other Officers were also slain together with above six thousand Souldiers Thirty Pieces of Canon three thousand Prisoners fourscore and ten Colours adorned the Conquerours Chariot and all the booty was given to the Souldiers in recompence of their Valour This was that famous Battell of Luther which happened upon the 27 th of August whereby the Emperours authority and the joy of his Allyes was much augmented and their Enemies fear redoubled and after this there followed a continuall thred of Victories and taking of Towns even to the very sea-side Favour flatters Fortune and when there is no more meanes lest to make open resistance against the storme the sailes must be taken in or the Vessel steered for safety to the shelter of some Wood or Rock The Duke of Brunswick quitts the League The Duke of Brunswick followed this Maxime by making his Peace and renouncing the League with Saxonie Tilly lost no time seized upon Rotemburgh and many other places whilest the King recollected the fragments of his Army and put it in Equipage during the Winter but to no purpose For this vessell was too much tottered to do any more service at all In conclusion Tilly having taken Nontheen drew neer the River of Elbe which was also to be conquered after the conquest of so many enemies But we leave France too long in Peace which yet was not all this while quiet CHAP. II The prosecution of the second Warre against the Hughenots The Peace made by the undertaking of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders Warre between France and England and why The beginning of the third and last Warre against the Hughenots Cardinall Richelieu makes himself known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell The Duke of Soubize takes some shipps WE have already shewed how the Peace was made in Italy as well upon the request of the Pope as to put a remedy to the inopinated Invasion of the Duke of Soubize who against all expectation and in full peace launched with a Fleet from Rochell came before the Port of Blavet and seized upon some ships which he found there But the Duke of Vandosme who was Governour of the Province transported himself thither with so much promptitude that he hindred the aforesaid Duke from making any farther progresse and forced him to retyre with two or three great Vessels and some of a middle burthen In such sort as that by this invasion The peace is broken the Peace which was made in the year 1622 before Montpellier was broken in that of 1625 and the Duke of Rohan his brother recommenced the Warre in earnest both in High and Low Languedock under pretext that the Treaty of Peace had been ill observed The King sends an Embassadour to the Hague This surprize so much displeased the King that he forth with sent all those Troops which were destinated for Italy towards Brittany and an Embassadour to the Hague to summon the States to his assistance with twenty ships according to the tenour of the Allyance made betwixt them But the Embassadour found some repugnance in the Colledge of the said States in respect of Religion though yet when he had remonstrated to them that the businesse was onely to humble the Kings subjects to their obedience and threatened them also with a breach in case of refusall they granted his demand My Master sayes he is of the same Faith with the King of Spaine and yet he maketh no difficulty to assist you against him And will you in a Warre of State expresse an inconsiderable zeale of Religion He obtaines twenty shipps Soubize being beaten retyres into England Hereupon the States dispatched Admirall Hantain who being joyned with the Kings Navie carried himself like a Mediatour of a Reconcilliation and obtained a Truce of three dayes which yet was ill enough kept by Soubize who hoped to draw some advantage from it but his Fleet was defeated and he forced to retyre into England with six or seven vessels and so the French took the Island of St. Martin and built two Forts there The King upon the intercession of the States pardoned them of Rochell but the Zelanders did not pardon Admirall Hautain who had for his recompence his house demolished by the people which were mad at the losse of the said Place But these were ruled by the passion of Religion and those by that of the preservation of the State The reason why Monsieur de Soubize brake the Peace was because the King had differred the demolishment of Fort Lewis raised near Rochell which served for a bridle to the Town and a Prospective to the Townsmen But the Governour indeed refused to do it upon some informations which he had received from the Town of some sinister designes In fine the Fort still remained entyre for all this and was to prove fatall to the Party illustrate the Kings Majesty throughout all France and cut off the root of all Religion It was believed that the Duke of Rohan had begged succour from the King of Spaine in this discord of the Reformates and his own and his brothers disaster but being pressed by the King of England the Venetians the Hollanders and the Savoyers he expected not the return of his Embassadour The Peace is made by an allyance against the Emperour and so upon the instance of the aforesaid King and States who could not indure the ingrandishment of the Imperiall Majesty in Germany the Peace was renewed the same year thas it was broken and the League was knit up in Denmark as we have lately said in the year 1625. But before that warre which was fatall to the Danes was finished began the disorders which thrust themselves in between the French and English the reason whereof as also of the third warre which consummated the ruine of the Reformed Party you shall forthwith understand King James a peaceful Prince King James jealous of his Royall authority and more prone to study then fight could never be induced to assist the Hughenots in France But after his decease King Charles his sonne by the reasons of Monsieur de Soubize and his Favourite the Duke of Buckingham suffered himself to be perswaded to it manifesting thereby in imitation of his Brother in Law that that Friendship which grew from the allyance of marriage was weaker then that of interest There wanted no pretexts as well of Religion as otherwise and the English being already pricked against the French and these
usually happen about that season of the year withdrew themselves likewise into Harwich and Yarmouth Roades Let us leave them both labouring to repayre their ships without examining the number of the dead and wounded or lending eare to the cries and groanes of Widows and Orphanes which ring even to heaven it selfe in all parts of Europe to see what passed at that time in Guyenne and we shall meet by the way some Vessels richly loaden The French â—â—bes some ships of the Spaniands which Mons. de la Mâ—ilheraye carried in triumph from Spain to Nantes We have told you already that Bourdeaux had recourse to the Kings clemencie The reasons why Bourdeaux yealds the cause of which change was this The length of the siege the Plague Famin and more then all secret Intelligence and the Act of Oblivion prevayled for the King The â—pâ—nish Fleet â—â—rives too late In such sort as the Spanish Fleet which arrived two dayes after the accommodation returned into Spain to see the Admiral thereof beheaded and the Princesse of Condè retyred into the Low-Countries to her husband who after this reduction had no body lest in those parts who sides with him Indeed the tardity of the Spaniards and the proceeding of the Prince of Conty gave France glory and such as knew the affayres of the world matter to examine the reasons thereof All these successes were attributed to the Cardinals prudence who by destroying the Princes Party fortifyed his own and prepared himself to have the King annointed The tumult in Languedock passes like a flash for that tumult of Languedock between the Count of Rieux and them of the Religion which looked as if it would have caused an embarassement proved but a flash and forthwith disappeared so that the troubles were allayed in those two great Provinces and they in condition to see thenceforth no other forces there then they that are usually raysed for Catalunia The heat of the English recalls us speedily towards the North besides there passed nothing worthy of memory in the County of Rossillion After that bloody Navall Battail which makes the haire stand on the heads of such as hear it related and which looked as if it must needs have cooled the courage of these Champions for entring the lists any more which all Christendome beheld with terrour the English were the first who endeavoured to resume the Dance A tempest indâ—â—â—ages the English Fleet. but a horrible tempest arising made them repent their temerity and sent them back to their ports many of their ships being much incommodated In fine these most valorous Sea-souldiers gave the Belgick Lyon so many jerks and â—hogs that almost all the States of Europe foreseeing and apprehending this terrible Power desired to gain their amity amongst which the Swedes were not the last The Swedes make Amity with England to evidence that interest of State was not less near their hearts now then the pretext of Religion was formerly from which they drew so great advantage The Hollanders fearing lest the prosperity of their enemies should make them enterprize somewhat upon them by land as well as by water made the Country people take Arms and keep good Guard every where without neglecting what belonged to the Sea and the furnishing of Ships The Country people take Arms in Holland about which they laboured incessantly But this was not sufficient for they must chuse an Admirall who fell out to be Opdam of the most ancient House of Wassenaer who forthwith transported himself to Amsterdam Opdim Admirall and thence to Texel at the mouth of the North Sea to put all things in good order Eukhayse drawn out of the hands of the Rabble At the same time the Town of Enkâ—sen seated upon the South-Sea seven Leagues from Amsterdam was drawn out of the hands of the Rabble by means of some souldiers who entred very craftily whilest they were all running to the Town-house to heat a Proclamation This tumult was of so dangerous a consequence that it had dismounted the Magistrates but that of the Haghe about the young Prince A tumult at the Haghe and was begun by Children and augmented by some malicious persons who brake the glass-windowes of many houses made the Burghers or Townsmen run to their Arms and the Nobility get on horse-back to stop these petulances which deserved somewhat more then the rod. at Alckmaer That of Alckmaer had the same issue and was refrenated by the prudence of the Magistrates All which seditions had but one and the same Cause and their Pretexts were also very little different Indeed the Red-Lyon had very much to do both at home and abroad by the strength of his enemies Murmur against the States and by disunion of wills amongst his friends and such as were bound to the Helme were not a little exposed to the venimous traducements of evill tongues A tumult in England England felt also some Commotion for want of pay but that was smothered and no body stirred but some certain Seamen some whereof payd the score for all In the moueth of November the Holland Fleet having conducted another towards the Sownd and being fallen too near the Coasts was surprised by a suddain storme which cast many of the Ships so a ground A tempest afflicts the Holland Fleet. that they could not ger off into the Main and many poor Seamen miserably perished about a Musket-shot from the Mountains of Sand so that Fortune treated both parties alike in sight of the Coast laughed at their Enterprises but the more judicious sort of men foreseeing that at long running the Traffick would be utterly annihilated and the ruine of Holland advanced which was so much envied for her riches considered that a Peace though little glorious was better then a thousand triumphs The Embassadours of Holand return into England to begin the treaty of peace again Wherefore the States sent their Embassadours again to London to begin the Treaty for the last time and in case of refusal to tell the English that they would enter into a Confederation against them with some other Princes thereby to bring them to reason The confusion which was made by the plurality of voyces and the roaring of the Red Lyon rung so loud that the most considerate Lord Protector and his Parliament who regorged with booty taken from the Hollanders opened their ears to the Propositions of Peace But whilest these things were in agitation who would have believed but that many should needs be well disposed for the Kings eldest Son For the High-landers in Scotland had taken Arms and had received some from Holland the French spighted at the taking of their Fleet without a denunciation of war arrested all the English Merchants goods in Normandy the Hollanders made a shew of preparing themselves in good earnest for the war which yet notwithstanding they endeavored to shun as most pernicious to them Some beleeved
German Doctor Luther and Calvin whom we have so often mentioned and a French one likewise who first preached against those said superstitions and then ventured to set up their Standards against the Church her self with so universal applause that in a few years even whole kingdomes grew to separate themselves from the communion of that Body which acknowledged the Pope for the Supreme Vicar of Iesus Christ The Iesuits oppose Now at the same time as we have formerly shewed sprang the Iesuits and armed themselves to quell these valiant souldiers who skipped out of their holes so openly to attack a power which all the States of Christendom held in so much veneration They stopped the course of this Torrent which neither Fire Persecutious nor strict Prohibitions were able to effect and they have united to the Body a good part of those people which had untyed themselves from it It is not by fire but by force of Doctrine and not by words but by exemplary life that a remedy must be put to all these disorders which happens amongst Christians Now this Society could not but meet with meet with envy enough amongst the Clergy which felt it self so reprehended and pricked by such new men For Admonitions and in structions how necessary and profitable soever they be leave not to imprint some harshnesse upon the soul of the receivers An exact Captain is displeasing to lazy souldiers Violent remedies served for nothing In fine recourse was had to such violent remedies as so sharpened and stung the parts affected that there will never be meanes to introduce a reconciliation unless perhaps it fall out to be by ways full of suavity and charity For interest took this powerful occasion so fast by his fore-lock and these Divisions are grown so firmly rooted that it is probable they will not finish but with the world And this is the principall source of the evils which we have seen and yet daily see happen to the grief of all good men in this last Age. And thus we have shewed about what when for what reasons and by whom began these Reformations Nor must we wonder at the monstrous effects since they could not be more noble then their Causes If we would reflect often upon it we should find Ministers and instruments enough thereof The holy Scripture sayes that there must be scandals but cursed be they who shall give them THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I The Queen of England and the States of Holland refuse Peace King Henry of France polishes his Kingdome and makes War against the Duke of Savoy THE Peace of Vervin filled with joy not only the subjects of the Kings but also all such as acknowledged the See of Rome The Protestants invited to the said Peace by Henry the Great shut their eares to the Propositions and studied only how to make most streight Allyances for their preservation Where Diffidence gets the mastery Reason is not understood unlesse it be ushered in by strong and irrefutable assurance It was impossible for the Arch-Duke Albert to bring the States to a very advantageous Peace as the Ministers said for them since the arguments of King Henry could obtain nothing from them For his offers were as stints out of which they drew sire to kindle the warre with so much the greater animosity They sent their Embassadours into England Elizabeth and the states refuse Peace where they sound the Queen most disposed to receive theirs so that it was most facil to draw her to their opinion In the mean while the Arch-Duke receives a Procuration from the Infanta his future Spouse in vertue whereof he was generally and solemnly received and nominatively at Antwerp where the oath of sidelity was payd him by the Deputies of the obedient Provinces Albert goes into Spain 1598. And so he went into Spain but before his departure he signified to the confederated States that he went to marry the Infanta and that he had the Low-conntries for Portion with her and was already acknowledged Lord thereof Therefore he conjured them to associate themselves to the other Provinces in respect that the King had divided them from his other Demaines and that thus all distrusts being taken away he withed nothing more then to see that Body entire and in peace under his Government But all in vain For Religion and liberty were too charming subjects to be abandoned and they who are growne to be Masters abhorre to fall back into forvitude He began his journey in the moneth of September in the yeer 1598 leaving Cardinal Andrew his cosin for his Licutenant and sent his army towards the Rheyn which at his return he found full of confusion and revolt for want of pay He was received in all places where he passed together with the Princess Margaret of Austria spouse of Philip the third whom he conducted in his company with honours due to the greatnes of their quality He stayed not in Spain but as soon as he had married the Princesse Clara Eugenia The King of France repolisheth his Kingdome he brought her into the Low Countries and they made their entry into Brussels in the moneth of September 1599. He brings the Infanta 1599. King Henry of France having given his subjects a peace made it all his care to repolish his kingdom much depraved by the prolixity of the civil warrs to revive the laws strucken dumb by the licentiousness of the souldiers to place good order every where and in fine to establish two Religions in very good union aswel for his own service as for the repose of his people Whereas King Philip on the other side in his would have but one But some persons of very great experience have conceived that if he had embraced the same Maxime he might have preserved the seventeen Provinces though others have beleeved that he would rather have lost them all as being too far distant from them and consequently unable to accommodate himself to all occurrences which required a diversity of temperaments But this Prince namely Henry had been educated in the reformed Religion and so knew the humours the forces of that party not to be contemptible He was Son to Anthony of Bourbon who was slain at the siege of Roüen The Prince of Conde being slain in the battell of Jarnac and the Admiral remaining Generall of the Hughenot army he advised them to nominate for their Generall Henry of Bourbon a young Lord who had ever defended their party and so he being turned Catholick and upon that made King of France had alwayes a particular care to uphold them as a people from which he had received great services But there was very great danger of taking from them that which had been promised them by so many Proclamations or Edicts nor did they indeed forbear to cry up their services and bragg that it was they onely who put the Crown upon his head Henry the 3.
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
by his temerity It is in a general Definition and not in a particular fight that a General ought to shew his dexterity and valour A Peace was made in haste and the strangers who were ingaged with Monsieur very ill handled and he hoped to obtaine the aforesaid Dukes pardon but in vaine for he ended his life The Duke of Montmorancy beheaded by the hand of an ordinary Executioner and his House ended also with his life This brave Lord who had performed so many remarkable services was sacrificed to the interest which was taken in the Swedish Party his aversion from which was discovered by himselfe It is great wisdom to hide ones passions and to lay open those of others to hear much and say little This violent proceeding much amazed all the Lords of France augmented the Cardinals hatred and gave Monsieur a good horse to be gone again out of the Kingdom This very year the Embassadour of Spain arriving at London brought things so to passe with his frequent pursuits and instances Peace between Spain England that he terminated the difference between his Master and the King of England notwithstanding all the oppositions which were made and the thwartings which were brought by the Embassadours of France and the confederated States Pope Vrban to purge himselfe from the hatred which was born him by all the zealous Catholicks Pope Urban little loved by the zealous Catholicks for their seing him in secret intelligence with the Cardinal whom they made Author of all the misfortunes and mischiefs suffered by the Church published a Jubile but all that was not able to wash away the ill opinion which was conceived of him and in a Synod which was held in Spain they treated of abrogating his Authority in regard they saw him favour them who endeavoured to destroy a House which will never fall but with the ruine of the Catholick Religion Yea because he appeared not abroad at the publick rejoycing which was made at Rome for the death of King Gustave who had been so much feared many were heard to mutter and speak such bad and rash words as the licentiousnes and unlimitednes of the miserable Times produced When the Shepherd takes no care of his Sheep the Wolves get some of them very cheap Piety waxes cold and the weeds grow at length to stifle the good corne CHAP. XXIX The King of Sweden regretted and by whom Wallenstein causes some Officers to be executed John de Werdt makes himselfe known The Battel of Hamelen and the cruelty of the Victorious Brisac succoured by the Duke of Feria War in the Archbishoprick of Colein THe Body of this great Warrier was embalmed and carryed into Pomerania and from thence to Stockholme to be laid in the Tomb of his Ancestours He resuscitated the ancient glory of the Goths and the notice of his Army struck both Europ and Asia into terrour There was a report given out It is published that Gustave is not dead and beleeved by some of them who were most affectionate to him that he was not dead but had secretly transported himselfe into Sweden for some affairs of importance and to discover the humour of the Princes but this fiction was grounded upon Maxime of Policie and having gotten some Vogue was not unprofitable to the Party He was given neither to wine not women and he inexorably chastized all such as fayled of their duty He much changed at last from what he had been as his first entry into Germany and no marvail since his very Subjects themselves having been as gentle as Lambs before were now become arrogant by so much good success so many spoyles and the enjoyment of a Countrey so much better and happier then their own The Princes of the Party lamented him extrinsecally but were in effect glad enough to be rid of such a Conquerour who had gotten a far greater possession of the hearts of their Subjects then they had themselves But the King of France and the Cardinal were truly sorry for him because they had not brought that House lowenough which they had a minde to strip of some fayre States as it hath since appeared And now in regard they had payd the charge they prepared to go to the Banquet by buying the Towns which the Sweeds had taken neer the Rheyn He left one Daughter only He left behinde him only one Daughter Heyress to her Fathers vertues as well as his Crowne and he left his Lievtenants and Allyes the care to finish the worke not yet perfected The Hollanders began more to feare him then love him and by consequence expressed no great resentment of his death nor did they desire him at all for their neighbour wherefore they were not a little glad to see him leave Colein and march up into Bavaria He will never be forgotten either by his friends or his enemyes and his memory will live to the end of the world The Hughenots cal the Lutherans Brothers The Hughenots of France for his sake began already to call the Lutherans their Brethrea and it is held for certain that he was endeavouring to awaken the old quarrels in Italy and else where He was about two years and a half in Germany accompanyed by so much happiness yea too much to last long that his own very friends were amazed at it The Swedes make the Offensive every where To declare to all the world that he had obtained the Victory when he dyed his enemies retyred into Bohemia and the Swedes made every where the offensive The Duke of Brunswick and the Landgrave of Hassia brought War upon the Bishops in Westphalia who had lost their Souldier Gustave Herne and some others transported it into Alsatia and Swaveland and General Bawdas in the district of Colein Duke Bernard cleansed Misuia and Arnem subjugated Silesia But what did Wallenstein during all these floods He cut of the Heads of many of his Officers Wallenstein executâ—s some Officers and why And why for not having performed their duty Yea rather to begin thereby to warp the web of his treason and put in execution what he had hatched in his Soule and therefore he put to death such as he knew were most affectionate to the Emperours service Vertue comes upon the Scaffold as well as Vice There was no remedy for he had full power without appeal but the innocent blood spurted in his face sooner then he thought for the cry thereof never findes the ears of the great God stopped is must be revenged Baudits designe upon Tuits a small town upon the bank of the Rheyn opposite to Colein issued well but he was beaten out again and his proceeding abhorred for breaking the new trality So that he retyred to Siburgh a convenient place to incommodate the Archbishoprick Aldringers Victorâ— General Aldringers Victory was greater neer the Leck where he cut of the Troops of the Marquis of St. Andrew and retook some places in Sweveland and John
alledged of the stopping and visiting some of their ships are neither valid nor sufficient and therefore we will shew another The King of Dâ—nmarke always wished to see an and of that destructive war and consequently ceased not to sollicite the Parties to assemble themselves for the remedy of those mischiefs yea and he offered himself for Arbitratour of the controuersie The Swedes consented thereto and the Emperour being much troubled at this too long and too bloody dance very freely condescended and accepted him for Judge Munster was chosen for the dispute and the Embassadours were invited thither The King sent his and wrought so far with the Emperour that he withdrew his Garrison from Wolfenbottel and rendred it to the Duke of Lune burgh This gave the Swedes jealousie as imagining that the King was more affected to the Emperour then to them and that he would infallibly make them let go their prize In such sort as that in stead of sending their Embassadours to Munster they sent their Armies into his territories as also Commission into Holland to hire ships and raise Sea-men whereof that little Province is the Nursery Torstenton advanced into Holstein and his Cavalrie being almost all dismounted by the continuall march he made was quickly remounted in that good country He surprised Kiel whilest the Marohants and Gentry were assembled there took away the money passed on further and seazed with facility enough The Swedes occupats Intland upon Intland The King provided the small Isle of Fune intrenched the approaches and made all take arms who were able to beare them so that Torstenson was repulsed with losse as often as he offered to passe In the interim the King applyed all his thoughts to the Sea prepared a little Fleet and went with it before Gotemburgh and having given charge to make a greater he distributed Patents for the raising of men and dispatched his Embassadours towards the Emperour to implore his assistance in a farre greater danger then that of the year 1628. He complained of this invasion to all Neighbours Friends and Allyes and informed them that they made war upon him in full peace and without having denounced it before The Swedes in the meane while got ground in their Enemies Country and Coninxmarck subjugated the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen The Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen which belonged to the King when he was Prince so that the good old King had but two Islands left namely Zeland and Fune They having obtained leave to hire Vessels in Holland sent for a Fleet thence under the orders of Admiral Martin Ties The King attacked him with so much resolution that he forced him to retire into a Port. All the World wondered at the report of this Kings Expeditions who being about sixty seven years old was not startled at all The courage valour of King Christian to see many brave Lords fall on every side of him by Canon and Musket shot but breathing all blood cheered up his Souldiers and Mariners to stand stoutly to it Nor was there need of any other exhortations then his example and whosoever could have lost his courage by seeing him act would have deserved to loose his life He left the Seas to command the Land Army after having attacked the Swedish Fleet himselfe in person with so much magnanimity that after a long resistance it was constrained to retreat with full saile to the Haven of Kiel where the passage was so stopped up by the Danish Navy that in humane appearance it was in danger to fall into their hands The war in Holstein was waged by Skermishes and Torstenson had made himselfe master of the strong place called Christianprys so that there were no more then two more of importance left for the King to wit Gluckstat and Cremp which much hurt the Swedes by surprizes Gallasso comes to succour hun In fine Gallasso arrived at Oldesto entered Hamburgh and Lubeck and began to treat with the King about a League Offensive and Defensive against the common enemy Monsieur de la Tuillerie the Embassadour of France went into Denmark under pretence of being a Mediatour but in effect to quash the House of Austria's Negotiation The Politicks displayed all the subtility they had Who offered a League to server their Masters in this conjuncture however those of Vienna had as bad an issue here as they had in Poland when they counselled war with a very fine shew of well doing in the year 1635. The Dunkerekers being considerable at Sea offered to maintain at their own charge a Fleet of a hundred Ships and Frigots as well to defend the Sownd as to offend in all the Ports of Sweden and that the King might onely keep the said Streight with his own and forty of their Ships against all such as should come from Holland To which Leagve he much inclined as finding himselfe strong enough to attack Gustave Horne and the Imperialists able with some forces to stop Torstensons passage who could neither assault any more places nor hold those he had taken if he were compelled to put himselfe into a posture of defence The Embassadours of France and Holland represented to him the danger there was for him to involue himselfe in such an Allyance not forgetting the old argument that that formidable House which was in her decline and had alwayes aspired to the Universal Monarchy sought no other occasion to set her selfe up again and make his Kingdom the seate of the war They promised him to mediate an honourable and advantagious peace for him Which the other Embassadors hinder threatened him if he engaged himselfe so deeply and said aloud that they should finde themselves obliged to follow their own interests and succour their Allyes yea and they skared the States of the Kingdom by using the same language to them and weakened in fine the Imperial Party which had bad luck both in Camp and Court During these Transactions the Swedish Fleet escaped without any damage and got into the maine The King beheaded his Admiral Galde for not having well kept the passage and marched into Scania with a brave Army of sixteen thousand men almost all Germans intending to give Horue Battel But La Tuillerie seeing the Party unequal run betwixt the two Armies and with his Rhetorick stopped the Onset which was ready to be give promising the King mountaines of Gold and so both Hosts retired and the Imperial Forces suffered Torstenson to passe before them and return into Germany without stirring at all But Gallasso follwed him who when he might have hindered him from marching out or compelled him to fight upon disadvantage in the Dutchy of Holstein commitred a fault just like that of the Admiral of Denmark Gallasso suspetiet whereupon he was held by some for a traitour and as if he had been corrupted by the Swedes and such as defended him made use of a common argument to wit that he had no Order to hazard his Army But
The Father stripped himself of his States two years before his death to attend to pious exercises And the Sonne two years before his was afflicted with grievous pains and torments which he suffered with superlative patience Some Writers who take pleasure in looking back into the Causes of such accidents within the secrets of the Almighty have presumed to publish that it was a punishment from heaven for the cruelties which his Governours had practised as well in the Low-countries as in the Indies Others of more moderation have believed that God had a mind to shew in the person of this porent Prince that all the Greatness of this world is nothing but dust and vermin There is nothing constant in this world but the constant order of Change and Vicissitude The I'underbolt strikes none but the highest Towers and loftiest Mountaines By his endeavouring to succour the League in Francâ— he lost the confederated Provinces And in the design of invading England he lost a most powerfull Navy and armed enemies against his States who gave him much displeasure and trouble CHAP. XIII The differences which happened between the Earls of Frâ—ezland and the Town of Embden The States put a Garrison there THe knowledge of the difference of the Town of Embden with the Earls thereof is to be joyned to that of the Low-countries and so by consequence it is convenient to mention it here When Townes grow strong they ordinarily loose their will to obey for which they never want either examples or pretexts whether it be of Religion or Priviledge yea and to accuse the weaker party of injustice too if they get a good issue in it Now this Town whereof we are speaking being very much encreased and enriched by the great number of people which repaired thither there to seek as it were a sanctuary from the rigorous execution of the Placarts of the Duke of Alva against all such as had licentiously and perhaps by old priviledges broaken Images and thrown down Altars as also for the conveniencie of the Haven which was held then and still is one of the best of the Low-countries and of the North Seas In the first place the Citizens began to murmur against their Count saying that he would clip their priviledges and Religion That he bad already introduced a new one into his own House That he raised souldiers underhand That he forbad the Consistorial Assemblies and the like A bold and licentious pretext Tâ—â—â—ults in the Town Now their humours being thus prepared there wanted nothing but a hot â—iry and zealous Preacher to set them a work who also was quickly found in the person of one Mentzo Alting a man odious to the Count for some important reasons who got up into the Pulpit desplayed his Rhetorick cryed down his Masters actions foretold the ruine of the Town endeavored to excuse himself of what was imposed upon him protested to be gone with the consent of the Townsmen however he were content to stay with his Flock and live and die with his sheep and the like Words no lesse audacious then those of the Priests whom a certain learned person called Baals elsewhere for the League in France It concerns not Church-men to blow the Trumper nor such as thrust their noses into State-matters through passion of Religion to excuse in some what they accuse in others Iliacos intra muros peccatur extra These reasons were as welcome to the people which loves Novelty in State provided it be preached as a draught of water uses to be to a thirsty person In short they arm they choose six Collonels amongst the Citizens they invoke that Great God who hears and sees all and at length they turn their Ordnance upon the Counts Pallace O brave proceeding O true forms of Justice The Count asks the reason of this novelty and whether they disowned their obedience to the Emperour the Empyre and himself They answered that they had taken arms for Religion and their own defence against many falfe accusations That they made no difficulty to acknowledge the Emperour and him as their Lords and whatever else should be reasonable In these Contests they rush upon his House making themselves Masters thereof by force and dispatch their Embassadours to the Haghe as the Count also did his he to complain of the insolency of his subjects and they to justify their actions The effect of these Embasies was that they put themselves under the protection of the States A Garrison of the States in the Town and took a Garrison of a thousand men into the Town to the disadvantage of the said Count who at last was fain to suffer his House to be shut up and some other extremities which have much weakned and skattered his authority-The Townesmen embraced the Reformed Religion yea and they threw the Bowle yet farther For by a more ancient priviledge they had a grant of a Religion conform with that of Ausbourgh See Emmanuel de Merten From this disorder sprang much good to the united Provinces by securing to themselves this so advantageous Port which otherwise by these divisions might have fallen into the hands of their enemies But this agreement being made in hast could not last long and so there happened some disturbance which is an ordinary thing when any one party gets too much interest The Count complained to the Emperour of the said Town by which he was accused to have had some intelligences there so to make himself absolute Lord of it But these complaints as well as that which followed afterwards for the Traffick in Spain were quickly patched together with a weak thred In the mean time Count Edzard died and left five sonnes Enne Gustave John Christopher and Charles the Eldest whereof reconciled himself to the Town Christopher went to serve the Arch-Duke and was afterwards Governour of Luxenbourgh The Count will repaire his authority In the year 1602. Count Enne propped by some Gentry as Cuiphanse and others endeavoured to repayre his authority by imposing Taxes forcing the small Townes and nourishing a faction in Embden And so he raised souldiers under pretext of going against the Turk gave his Daughter to his Brother John who married her by a dispensation from the Pope and embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and fortified some villages to block up the River The States of Holland moved more by their own interest then by the complaints of the Town sent to oppose him drove him out of the Villages who retyred into Germany and justified their proceedings by suspicions and informations which they said they had received from Brussels that the said Count acted for the Spaniards and would bring them into the Town Now he had remonstrated before both to the Emperour and Empyre that it would be expedient to exercise an Admiralty upon the River of Enis so to prejudice the nearest Inhabitants with reasons strong enough to move that great and dull Body if it could be moved which so many Dyets have
and giving marks of his royall greatnesse to that glorious nation The principall motive of this enterview could never hither to be truly discovered and whatsoever hath been said thereof hath been grounded onely upon conjectures suspicions and mistrusts Spinola comes from Spain and takes Grol In the spring of the year 1606 Marquis Spinola returned from Spain and brought a vast sum of money with him which is the true sinew of war and the most excellent oil to anoint the dull armes of the souldiers and having therewith put the Militia in good discipline he sent the Count de Bucquoy towards the Rheine himself following shortly after but the continuall rains and the vigilancy of Prince Maurice made him lose the hope of re-gaining any access to Groening and the other places of strength on the way The Count de Bucquoy staying behind attempted to passe the Vehal with Pontons and smal Boats by the favour of a battery but he was repulsed But Spinola took Lothem and seeing then that amongst so many enterprizes none of them all prospered so as to get over the Rivers either neer the Soul or elsewhere he turned his armes against Grol which by furious attacks he quickly compelled to yeeld notwithstanding the Garrison were strong enough And not yet conrent with this Town he caused the Count de Bucquoy to invest Rhinbergh who could not hinder Count Henry from putting fourteen Colours into the place and some Cavalrie besides together with many French Gentlemen Voluntiers The complaint of the Spaniard against the French Catholikes The Spaniards and the most zealous Romane Catholicks of Europe have very often accused the French of levity and especially such of them as are Catholicks in regard that being of the same Law with the Spaniards and in peace with them too they contrary to the Treaty of Vervin embraced the other party not onely to strip their master of his Demaynes but the towns also themselves of the exercise of the Catholick Religion If there went none but Spaniards out of our States said the obedient Towns the passion of the French would be in some sort lawfull but since our Religion is banished together with their government they can alleadge no receivable excuse to exempt them from injustice and blame The Priests maintaining that it was a matter of conscience refused to give absolution to the souldiers as favourers of Heresie and enemies to the Church But they alwayes covered themselves under the cloak of policy and made the same answer which Henry the fourth their Master did to the Spanish Embassador that it was not a war of Religion but of State The complaints often enough made by the Archduke and Dutches upon this subject had no other satisfaction then that there might likewise be found enow in their Armies and that it was free for every one to choose what party he pleased But the French followed rather the inclination of their Prince then scruple in Religion laid more to heart the weakening of the Power of Spaine then the ruine of Hereticks and the interest of their Master then that of the Catholick faith So that the Protestants made use of them and have prevailed much by the jealousie of State which reigns betwixt these two potent nations CHAP. VII The taking of Rinbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce received VVE left Spinola so well intrenched at Rinbergh that the Princes courage was cooled to attack him who bethought himself a little too late of sending his brother to Venlo so to make a powerfull diversion For the Town being battered by a rough and smart assaulter and defended by resolute men Rinbergh rendered was at last forced to render and so the Garrison to the number of three thousand dislodged the second of October Now the taking of so important a place just at the nose of so strong an Army produced such discourses as blinde passion dictated to men of blinde judgement and the Marquis as victorious as he was was not yet able to divert some mutinies in his Army for want of pay and therefore considering the huge inconveniencies they suffered by so many marches sieges enterprizes and the harshuesse of the season he thought fit to refresh them in the County of Gulick Now the Prince who desired to put nothing to hazard but be ever prying upon occasions met at length with this He caused Lochom to be besieged which quickly submitted Maurico besiges Grol Spinola rayses him thence and gives Diet to the inutiners and then went to attack Grol But the unexpected arrival of Spinola made him change the vexations of that siege which bred so many diseases in his army into a most advised retreat and send his souldiers into their winter quarters It is the part of a good Pilot to take his measures well amongst the rocks and of a good Generall to accommodate himself to time and not to struggle against the harshnesse of the season but make his retreat to save his army the conservation whereof is as landable as the hazardous gaining of a battell The Marquis having surmounted many inconveniences to deterr his enemies from the continuing the siege and made them at length dislodge endeavoured besides to sweeten the mutiners by granting Diet for their winter quarters where we will leave them and follow him to Brussels to contrive the first propositions of the Truce Never was there so much trouble to decide a businesse of importance as there was to bring the confederated States to hear of any overanes of Peaces or Truce It seemed more easie to make an agreement betwixt fire and water and all the mettals together then to reconcile these two parties But indeed the distrust was too great the hatred too much rooted and fortune too favourable And whereas other Countries grow poor by war this most rich most potent and most flourishing For on the one side the enemies army could not enter in regard of the frequencie of great rivers and on the other they are guarded by the sea in such sort as that by trafique they are risen to such a height that every body courts their friendship Many assemblies and mediations for Peace and accommodation were made but all vanished into smoak and served rather for a spur to war then a balsom to mollifie the ulcerated wounds of such as make their profit by Alarms For this was the common talk There is no trust to be given to the Spaniards or the Papists for they teach that they are not to keep their faith with Hereticks The fowler sings sweetly to draw the birds into his Nets and many other such reasons which served onely to destroy all propositions of Peace Nay even the Embassies of the Emperours so often reiterated were able to reap nothing but ceremonies and those of other Princes yet lesse The complaints of the neighbours endammadged and oppressed by the souldiers were not
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
an obstacle to the Arms of Spain then for any other consideration Brief the Army marches into the Field under the conduct of Spinola Aix or Aquisgrane stooped and the Romane Catholick Magistrates were re-established Mullem was battered down and Otroy taken besides many othes places where there was no Garrison of the united Provinces for fear of a breach The taking of Wesel seemed to countervail that of Gulick swelled the hearts of the Spaniards and made those people know that their Masters should have but a seeming Government as long as these puissant forces stayed in their States But if they had relyed upon the judgement of the Emperour it is likely that these misfortunes had not happened At that troublesome and vexatious Treaty of Santen all the Princes layd open their Interests the Leaven of partialities about Religions began to swell the Deputies went away discontented leaving the Businesse imperfect the occupated Townes retained their Ghests and the two Princes learnt to their own cost what many other had tryed before them CHAP. XV The Differences which happened in the United Provinces Barnaveldt beheaded and the Religion of the Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hugenots and reduces Bearne THE Peace without the united Provinces had shut up many turbulent and seditious humours within them which not being able to get out hatched some very dangerous tumults Commotions in the united Provinces The precious names of Peace and Rest were both odious and insupporatable to them We often flye from that which is advantageous to us and follow that which is hurtfull The first was at Alâ—mar the second at Liewerden and the third and most perilous at Vtrick where some of the bolder sort of the Mutiners fortified by a huge crew of their Caball constrained the Magistrates to abdicate their charges and chose others in their places who were most of them the Heads of their sedition But this sicknesse requiring a more violent remedy then the first Lepitives and the Town threatned with a siege all grew to be appeased and the Garrison augmented Disputes about Predestination Yet this was nothing in respect of that mischief which arose from a controversie in Divinity concerning Predestination and some other Articles annexed to it which like a thick Fogge so blinded all the Inhabitants that it left not any use of light at all to any but to such as served themselves thereof to theâ—â— own profit The two Champions who by their Sermons and Disputes divided all Holland into two Factions were Arminins and Gomarus Such as followed this latter who ardently maintained the said Predestination were called Contra-Remonstrancers and the other Remonstrancers of Arminians who were said to professe a Doctrine disagreeing from that of John Calvin This was too high and difficult a passage to be comprehended by the common people and so it brought with it nothing but confusion Yet the Dispute ended not with the life of Arminins but was more and more kindled by his Disciples and chiefly by Verstius who upon the Recommendation of the Remonstrancers was made Professouâ— From Disputes came Factions and Vorstius was deposed by the threats of the King of Great Britain In brief every one takes arms for his own defence They of Harlem Leiden and Vtrick by the counsell as was reported of Advocate Harnaveldt raise forces Prince Maurice hastens surprises Vtrick disarnis the Citizens and changes the Magistrates a remarkably action as he also did at Harlem and Leiden where they had barricaded the Town-House and imprisons the chief of the Arminian Faction But the Ministers notwithstanding all these proceedings ceased not to dispute not the Printers to set forth Books concerning this controversie Wherefore there was a Synod convocated at Dort where the Arminian Doctrine was condemned the Ministers who persisted in it imprisoned and some were banished and sought their abode in Holstein and other places Barnaveldt beheaded The great States-man Barnaveldt formerly much cherished by King Henry of France and greatly renowned for his services done to the Common-Wealth and chiefly for having drawne out of the clutches of the English the three places engaged to Queen Elizabeth as also for having made divers Embassies and sweated under various burthens of State finished his life by an infamous punishment This man being about seventy two yeares old was accused of being Head of the Arminian Faction of disturbing the tranquility of the Townes and checking the authority of the Prince whose power he wished indeed to see lessened thereby to secure the publick Liberty In sine there was a rumour scattered that he should have had a design to usurp the Government of the Common-wealth They who were of his party for proof of his innocence represented the greatnesse of his services and cares to maintain the power of the States And yet howsoever all his friends melted as it were like snow before the Sun of the Princes Authority and one of the most famous Writers of this Age sayes that he was condemned in the name of the States but by the practices of King James and Prince Maurice There is nothing sure in this world and the greatest fortunes are very often those which are upon the slippery top of their pracâ—pice If all they who are ambitious to go out of their condition to get up to another more clevated and high would but represent to themselves the disasters and misfortunes which we see fall upon those great persons they would have no other desire then to stay where they are The Treaty of the Truce which by his advice was made for twelve years against the reasons of Prince Manrice who being a souldier and for his own interest endeavoured to break it purchased his disfavour and his very great credit his hatred besides his disswading the Warre of Bohemia together with what we have just now said and many other accusations abbreviated his life for some dayes When Jupiter chides all the rest of the Gods are silens Hugo Grotius went to keep company with the other Ministers who were prisoners at Louwestein though by the prudent cousel of his Wife he brake quickly off from it afterwards Thus was this mist which threatened the Common-wealth with a dangerous convulsion dispelled the Churches employed by the Contra-Remonstrancers only and the Arminians reviled and disclaimed as no better then half Traytors by the very dregs of the People But really the blamable treason of the children of Barnaveldt who breathed nothing but revenge of their Fathers death was the cause why many retired themselves from this Party which for a time was much discredited It King Iames on the one side ardently prosecuted his destruction King Lewis sollicited his deliverance as hotly on the other and would scarce give ear to the multitude of excuses which was brought by the Embassadours for so passionate an execution Howsoever all these changes were not able to change the happinesse of these Provinces the popular Tumults growing by little and little to slacken
1307. Within a short space after the Emperour Albert was assassinated and his children being more busie about revenging his death then punishing the proceedings of the Switzers left them long enough in peace In fine Germany being divided by the Election of two Emperours Lewis of Bavaria and Frederick of Austria they chiefly out of the jealousie they had of the said House which they had offended constantly adhered to the Party of Lewis notwithstanding he were excommunicated and made no account at all of the Ecclesiastical Counsell which followed Frederick Leopold beaten Leopold sonne to Albert being puffed up by some Conquests and by a fair Army together with the motives of the expelled Lords led his forces against the Villages but they were defeated in the Mountaines near Morgarteâ— And this victory of theirs produced the perpetual Allyance of the three Villages which take their names from the woods to which the rest have likewise adjoyned themselves since for causes which would be too long to recite yea and very many Imperiall Townes near them have also leagued themselves with them in such sort as that now they have no enemy at all to fear The physick too strong Now it must be avowed that the Physick wrought too much and exceeded the bounds of duty and justice But ordinarily in Civill Warres when subjects exasperated against their Governours grow to get the upper hand they break through all fear and passe to another manner of Policy as egged on by the ambition of some particular men Hatred furnished Arms fury gave victory and fear of chastisement made them shake off the yoke of their Prince whom they accused of having violated their Priviledges Ambition is the moving cause and soule of tumults Revolts and Changes of State and injuries done to particular persons are the pretexts The form of their Common wealth Their Republick is composed of three Classes or Orders the Villages to the number of thirteen the Associates or Confederates and the Towns which depend upon their direction Now these Cantons have divers forms of government for that of the Villages is Democratical and that of the Townes Aristocratical In such sort as that this Whole being contrived of Parts entire of variours humours and conditions may well be called a mixt Common-wealth which is kept in unity by the onely care she hath of her own preservation At their Assembly which is made by a general Convocation to treat of Warre Allyance Peace and other affaires of importance the Embassadours of every Town are to meet A form much like that of the United Provinces which took Arms against their Governours and framed their Common-wealth by the advantage of their situation as well as they the Sea and the great Rivers being the same to those which the mountaines are to these They serve their Allyes with much fidelity but if their wages once fail they take their leave from whence that Proverb so much quoted in France No mony no Switsers They are accused of being clownish and simple but in requitall thereof Their fidelity and their vertue in arâ—â—s they are not stained with enormous vices except onely drinking as some other nations are Above all they detest cheatery and their fidelity hath been much esteemed in all times their verue in Armes very remarkable as much surpassing that of the rest of the Germans the one appearing about their Prince and the other in the Field however at present all being subject to change it doth not much cutstrip that of other nations and Francis the first made them know by a huge rout in the Dutchy of Milan that they were not invincible as themselves also manifested at the Battail of Pavia where they could tell how to leave Play when the Game did not please them Their Government as we have already said is in some parts Democratical and their Alliance amongst themselves incorruptible though it proceed rather from a common necessity of their own preservation then from perfect amity the Religion Their Religion in some of the Cantons is only and purely Roman Catholick in other Reformed and in some again mingled This Age of ours being the most fatall and most martiall that ever was hath not spared them bloody Mars having as well skip't over their Mountains as through the Seas the Deserts and vast Forrests The same year that that fatall scourge-bringing Torch appeared there happened an accident to the Grisons which sufficiently testified that there is no place secure from destruction The story of the year 1618. For upon the fourth of September 1618. towards the evening one of the highest Mountains fell down by means of an Earthquake and overwhelmed a Burgh Pleura overthrown by a Mountain or little Town called Pleura and crushed the Inhabitants in such manner as that neither their cryes nor groanes could be heard no not so much as any trace or signe at all lest of the place A tumuh in the Valteline Two yeares after the Inhabitants of Valteline being very ill treated by the Grisons in the Exercise of their Religion conspired against them and by the help of Rodolph Plante killed a great multitude and beat the rest out of the Valley and being succoured by the Spaniards for the advancement of their own interest made many Fortresses for their own defence The Venetians jealous to see the Spaniards there But the Venetians jealous of their interest and laying aside that of Religion were terrified by seeing the Gate of Italy shut up and the King of France also advertised by them of the common danger declared his interest by an Embassadour whom he sent to Madrid the fruit of whose negotiation produced a Promise of restitution provided that the Roman Catholicks were entyrely assured of ther Exercise For the Policy of the Spaniards is to tye the interest of Religion to that of State as many other Princes towards the North also do and upon these grounds cold and disinteressed Catholicks endeavour to make them pass for Hypocrites and perswade all the world that under this Cloak they will strip all Princes of their States Who are attacked by the Grisons The Grisons loosing their patience in the long expectation of the departure of the Spaniards fell upon them and were shamefully repulsed The Arch-Duke Leopold and the Duke of Feria hastened thither who compelled the poor Grisons to a peace and thereby acknowledge that themselves alone were not able to expell such Guests as these who were so advantageously lodged Yet this was not enough for the Spaniards though well intrenched for they could not remain there without continual fear and so the quarrel was renewed and Allyances made to force them out Upon which the Marquis de Cocurre entred with some Troops and rooted them out of their Holds On the other side the Savoyers joyned with the French under the conduct of that famous Constable de l' Edigniores brought a warre into the State of Genoa took many Towns
the Administratour of Magdeburgh and the Bishop of Bremen subscribed also to it The Emperours forces in the mean while grew strong and Tilly began to smell that under the mask of amity there were some new designes a brewing however they protested that they were doing nothing against the Emperour But he answered that the Embassadours of the States of Holland were not there Tilly in Hastis to thred pearles and that he was sure that nothing was treated to his Masters advantage where they had any credit and consequently for a greater testimony of his diffidence he sent for Wallâ—stain with an Army to come and succour him Causes lye hidden under pretexts drawn from necessity and justice but they are easily discovered by people of the same profession Many Prodigies preceded the fatall warres as Armies fighting in the Ayre raining of Blood great Tempests bearing down Trees Houses and Dammes But that which was by all interpreted for an ill Augure or Token was that the King going one evening to walk upon the Rampars The Prodigies or Walls of the Town of Hamelen to visit the Sentinels his horse stumbled at a plank and threw him into the Mote or Ditch out of which he was drawne two houres after and conceived to be dead for more then three dayes together In the mean while they who laid most to heart the love of their Country and Rest employed all diligence to find a means to reconcile this Difference thereby to divert the misfortune wherein all Lower Saxony was likely to be involved To which effect a Treaty of Peace was held at Brunswick and it was already agreed that the Armies should be licensiated They treat of peace in vain by Regiments to wit that the King should casheer the first Tilly the next and so consecutively by turnes to the end But this Treaty was broken off by ambition and so such advantages as could not be reaped thereby were sought by way of Arms. The Gamester is more willing to hazard another mans money then his own I will note only the principal actions of the warre and content my selfe with saying that it is very probable that the Emperour had a design to make his Authority and Religion flourish afresh in those Countries where there was no more left then a faint and languishing knowledge thereof and The ayne of the League that mingled with coldness contempt and hatred But as for the contrary Party they endeavoured not onely to repell the aforesaid Guest but also by vertue of the Allyance to restore the Prince to his States by force of Arms since it could not be done by intercessions and so in fine deliver all the Princes from the jealousie which was given them by this House puffed up with so many victories The King retyred with his Army as farre as the Bishopprick of Werden and thereby gave the Imperialists opportunity to seaze upon many places But Fortune varied at Niemburgh from which Town after the losse of a very great number of their men they were constrained to retreat though yet the said losse were repayred shortly after by the taking of Calembergh and the defeating of some companies of Dragoons Tilly followes the River of Weser and Wallenstein that of the Elbe Wallenstein followed the River of Elbe and Tilly that of Weser who having occupated the Bishopprick of Hall entred the Dutchy of Anholt and fortified the Bridge of Dassaw Mansfeldt attacked this Fort and being repulsed joyned with the Administratour of Hall to besiege that Town Wallenstein hastened thither so they fell to work and the Fight as well through the valour of the souldiers as the experience of the Generals was long time dubious enough but at last the Horse giving ground the Foot found themselves reduced to the necessity of doing the same and such as could not save themselves by flight were either killed or taken Mansfeldt beaten near the bridge of Dassaw In this memorable Battell at the Bridge of Dassaw all Mansfeldts glory was buried howsoever he lost not his courage by so furious an overthrow but having gotten on foot a fresh Army of sixteen thousand men for Germany and the Septemtrion were yet full of brave Souldiers he drew towards Silesia took in some places passed thence into Transylvania where he gave up his Army to the Duke of Wimar and accompanied by some of his principall Officers put himself in the way towards Venice but a Dysentery or Bloody Flux or rather according to the opinion of some a Potion stopped the course of his journey His death designes and life altogether and delivered the Emperour from a troublesome Enemy and the Duke of Wimar also a short space after followed him not to Venice but to the other world Thus ended the life of this famous General who had been fortunate enough in raising Armies but not in fighting Battels Wallenstine having stifled the War of Transylvania marched back into Silesia dissipated Wimars Troops and retook the occupated places And Baudis and Holck being sent to joyne with the said Duke were cut off by Merode and Beckman So that Wallenstein having put an end to all their disorders returned towards Brunswick Tilly being intent upon the occasions of hurting his enemies went and unexpectedly attacked a Quarter commanded by that Valiant Souldier Obertrawt who together with one of the Dukes of Anholt and some hundreds of Souldiers Obertrawt killed was slaine in this encounter and when Tilly went to visit and comfort him he answered him Monsieur de Tilly in such waters are taken such fish Now the King finding himself in great danger by the losse of Mansfeldt and the Bishop of Halberstadt who died at the same time at Wolfenbottel after he had vomited up a Worm of about four ells long did not yet lose his courage The death of the Bishop of Halbersiadt Nature shews her strength in despair and Vertue hers in extremity He saw two Armies upon his skirts to be opposed by him and therefore he resolved to attack the one of them being more inflamed to vengeance by the losse of Munden which he slighted and the furious blow which was given his Cavalrie by Count Furstembergh But he was a little too tardy in going to drive Tilly from the siege of Gothing Besides that he stayed at Luther against the advice of his Lieutenant Generall Fucks and Tilly thereby to make himself as glorious as Wallenstein desired nothing more earnestly then to slight I fine the Battell was given with so much obstinacie that the old Bands which had been accustomed to vanquish Battell of Luther the twenty seventh of August 1626. began almost to stagger towards flight but their time was not yet come and the puissant Gemus of their Generall had a great advantage upon that of the King who perceiving his Horse fly and not being able either by his presence or exhortations to detaine them was compelled to abandon his Foot to the mercy of
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
the King of Denmark and all the Protestants of his Party after having so often chastized Bethleem Gabor destroyed the dreadful revolt of the Peasants of Austria and pardoned such as were too deeply ingaged in the Prince Palatines patty who was deprived of his Stages and fled for resuge into Holland and after the death of Mansfeldt and his faithful Bishop the Emperour resolved She complaints of the Catholicks to satisfy the complaints of the Roman Catholicks who demanded justice upon such as by usurpation detained many Possessions and goods after the contract of Passavia For being the Head of justice he could not deny them and the Bishops are as well members of this great Body as the other Princes but it was to move a stone which threatned the fall of the whole building It was represented to him that the Prorestants had very ill observed the Peace and that the Catholicks had not dispured with them what was already granted them by the said contract however it were done by force and for the establishment of firme repose but that they not being glutted with those Prebendries had leapt beyond their bargains and against the Signed Promise violently ravaged and taken many other But we must not keep our word with Hereticks Who must be upbraided with this maxine he who sayes it or he who does it The Emperour upon mature deliberation finding the equity of the cause slighting the danger which yet was most vilable for he went about to shock the Electours Princes States and Towns of the Empire who would not suffer such dainty bits to be plucked out of their mouths with out contesting and hazarding all even though they were forced to call in strangers A command to rander all eccle siesticell goods taken after the Controll of Passavia Wherefore upon the sixth of March 1629 he sent a most expresse command from his good City of Vienna to all the Princes and Towns of the Empire forthwith to restore all ecclesiasticall Lands or Goods seazed or occupated after the composition of Passavia upon pain of losse of all Pâ—â—viledges Rights Immunities and the Imperiall Eccommunication The Thunderbolt which falls before the feet of the travayler doth not so much astonish him as this sentence did all the Protestants But before we passe to this disasterous War let us see the motives and reasons of both patryes I have already shewed upon what Right the Emperours command was grounded There son why the execution whereof was assured him to be facil enough by so many victorious Armies which it would be no less then evident temerity for them to oppose since he had already ventered to expel the Heriticks out of his own Haereditary Countries had brought the sedition of the Peasants to a good issue But the occult causes were that he could not better fix his Authority then by this way in regard that it he would be generally adored and root the Imperial Crown fast in his Family he must needs first resorm and re-establish the Roman Catholick Religion every where That he had a fooring in the Bahick Sea and that since he had so well begun he ought to prosecute and finish That he was obliged to God the Church and the Holy See and that at serves for nothing to undertake without perseverance and the Iron must be struck whilest it is hot c. Now the Protestants found this Command of as hard digestion as the Belgicks or Low-country people did the exaction of the Tenth Penny A hard Proposition imposed upon them by the Duke of Alva Men fight sometimes sayes a learned Writer with more resolution for the Harth then for the Altar Wherefore Pro arri focis it was held sit to oppose it by some Protestation and so they beseeched his Majesty to suspend the execution thereof till it were decided in a Generall Diet. But in the mean while there grew murmuration and grumbling every where the hatred for Religion was renewed and a most manifest aversion of the people discovered The Emperour granted them a Generall Assembly at Ratisbone The Assembly at Rathbone and transported himself thither at the same time that the newes was brought him that the King of Sweden was entred with an Army into the Territories of the Empyre Whereupon the Protestant Embassadours even ravished with joy required not only a Revocation of the said Edict or Command in order to the Ecclesiasticall possessions but also that all might be restored to the same state wherein it was before the Revolt But Ferdinand would not hearken to this for either he must make himself obeyed or leave to Command Hereupon the Embassadors sneaked away And at Leppsick and assembled themselves at Leipsick The Neighbouring nations seeing this alteration were not a little glad to understand that there was a preparation made to give this Majesty a general check in the very foundation and root thereof In a word Leagues and Confoederations were concluded and strangers who by occult wayes helped to fabricate this fire called in and embraced the ambition of Spain not forgotten which aymed at nothing but the Universal Monarchy the Inquisition canvased and the Jesuites as Parricides Incendiaries Enomies to peace and Authours of all sedition coupled The Roman Antichrist carried also his pack by the writings of such as whose whose party was supby the cruell lot of Armes and in fine by all the Protestants The Imperial Majesty it self was exposed to the rage of the people which wished for nothing but a change Yea even the Imperial Townes which suspected that Majesty and which by the licence of the change of Religion had appropriated to themselves all the aforesaid Lands and Goods thrust on the wheel augmented the distrust and offered the profusion of their treasures thereby to hinder the drawing of the principall source thereof It was also alledged that the Princes and States had had ground and cause to employ the Ecclesiasticall Lands and Goods to better uses and that the Priests and Monks lived ill fatted themselves like hogges and gave scandal to the whole world That they had peacefully enjoyed them above sixty years and that such of them as were left them by their Ancestours might be retaken by them to provide for their children In fine complaints reasons and libels were not wanting And after a great wind commonly sollowes rain so all here being disposed they came from words to blowes CHAP. XVII The Assembly of Ratisbone where Frithland is dismissed from his Charge The Allyance of the Duke of Bwaria with the King of France 1630. DUring the Assembly at Ratisbone in the year 1630. Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and Electour made a League Defensive and Offensive with the King of France whereby his Majesty promised to maintain the Electorat in the House of Bavaria and defend it against any who might be so bold as to attack it with an Army of fifty thousand men and he promised the King to succour him
of Forusalem Saguntum and Numantia yea of Sancorra and Tirlemour But we will deliver the motives thereof and the Prodigies which praeceded it The couse of the disturbance The Arch-Dukes Embassadours were sent to Hall and Magdeburgh to press the Inauguration or Investure re-demand the Churches and dismount the Evangelical Canonries This infinitely displeased the Administratour Christian of Brandenburgh who could not brook that such a dignity together with so great Revenues wherewith he could maintain himself according to his quality should be forced from him Nor was he ignorant of how the Electour of Saxony took this proceeding with what eyes these new Catholicks were looked on and that Fortune did forward the valiant and hinder the timid and therefore he fell to work On that one side he perceived the Assembly of Leipsick and the intention thereof on the other the King of Sweden who made great progress and who was expected by all as a true Liberatour or Deliverer and in the middle all the people extremely affectionate to the Party and desirous of nothing more then to be in action for it We alwayes covet that which is hurtful to us and ask that which we ought to shun The A Iministratour enters into the Town and gaines the people He entred into Magdeburgh disguised with Marshal Falkenbergh and brought things so to pass by his practises and shifts that he gained the Principall of the Town privately and they the people publickly He asked them whether they would hold with the King Sweden and with him To which they answered with a loud voyce Yea. Ah! Blind people what do you You tumble both your fortunes and lives into apracipice by a fatality which no body can comprehend and yet lesse resist You have forgotten your first sicknesse but you will perish in the relaps You see not any of the Prodigies which admonish and threaten you One part of your Walls and Bulwarks tell you by their tottering that they are to be thrown downe and that flaming sword which appeared aver your Town five or six moneths before your ruine whilst you stept announced to you that fire and sword should destroy you Prepare your selves to suffer Armes since you demand warre he who laves danger shall perish in it Now this was a Master-piece for the King of Sweden as being one of the chief Instruments to smooth the way to his victories For this Town retarded the Armes of the Imperialists and opened the passage to those of the Swedes who thereby got meanes to hunt them quickly out of all Pomerania and Meckelenburgh and terrified them in fine like an Earthquake so that they knew not to what Saint to pray most They had their enemies within without and on every side If they opposed such as were before they were beaten behind The victory of the â—wedes in Pomerania and Meckelenbergh so such sort as that the first year Gustavus having made an Allyance with Duke Bogislaus cleansed Pomerania and Meckelenbergh by almost a general Insurrection of the people and Generall Tilly's absence The Maritine Townes as Colbergh Rostock Damitz and Wismaer when they had been very long blocked up yeelded themselves one after another for want of succour and the King having wedged up the Imperialists asfar as into Silesia carried on the war to the very bank of the Elb but it was after the elestruction of Magdeburgh as we shal forthwith shew He found a little repugnance in Pomerania from them who knew Perdinands forces but his violent arguments made them bow his complaints moved the Electors also to change their note who had not qualified him in their Letters with the title of King He frighted the Ladies at Berling and got Spawdan for his retreat In brief they who invited him were constrained to se-joyn themselves in apparence from him and make a shew to apprehend and fear him though in their soules they adored him as their deliverer but this dissimulation caused the ruine of Germany and repentance in them who so dexterously served themselves of it The Administratour being glad boyond measure to see that his design had succeeded so well hoped to be very shortly in a condition not only to expell his enemies but to advance the war also to some other part Papenheim hastens and begius the Siege 1630. But Papenheim posting thither succoured the Castle of Hall retook forth with all all the Towns stopped up the Fox in his hole and began the fatal Siege of â—hisuâ—happy Town the 18. of December 1630. The King seeing his enemies engaged in a long and tedious Siege and desirous to serve himself of the advantage thought of another diversion and so he sent Francis Duke of Laâ—enburgh with some Troops towards the Elbâ— to raise a great fire there Chastises Duks Francis near the Elbe but Papenheim quenched it with their own blood took the said Duke prisoner in a small Bark and sent him to the Emperour for not having kept his promise which he gave him never to bear Armes against him Having thus furiously dispatched this Commision he came back to the Siege and Tilly having mustered his Army though he found it not so great as he conceived Tilly in Meckelenbergh marched neverthelesse to Meckelenbergh Gustave the other side seeing his onemies melt before Magdeburgh and having performed very great Exploits both in Summer and Autumne marched in the month of December up the Oder to manifest thereby that he was more vigorous in the winter then the Summer In effect Tilly returns to the Siege and and the King beats the Imperialists as Francfuâ—t the Imperialist durst not expect him at Gartz but after the loste of many of their men retyred themselves in confusion and made a stand again at Francfurt upon the same River though yet he returned and intrenched himself without hazarding any combat at all or opposing Tilly who took Newbrandenburgh and put the Garrison to the sword before his face But he had his revenge and made Tilly return towards Magdeburgh whilest himself took Frankfurt in the month of April 1631. with incredible felicity beat the Emperours old Bands flew above three thousand upon the place and forced the rest to double their pace towards Silesia After having plucked out this thorne he bent all his thoughts to the succour of Magdeburgh where we will leave him to see what passed at that famous Assembly of Leipsick where there was present that renowned Capucin Father Joseph to animate together with the other Embassadours the Protestants to warre against the Catholick League But interest of State is more considerable then Religion the Body then the Soule this world then the other and man then God If Right must be wronged it must be done only to gain a kingdom in all other other things piety must be reveranced This proceeding had no other justice then reason of State and yet the Reformates will be sure not to excite the Catholicks to the destruction of
any nation which purely followestheir Doctrine When you shall see the abomination of desolation save your selves upon the Mountains The Assembly of Leip sick was convocated by the Electour of Saxony as Head of the Protestants thereby to hinder the restitution of the Ecclesiastical Lands and Goods to succour a Magdeburgh and joyn with the Swedes to resist the Emperour whose potency was too formidable to them And this was the ground of their calling King Gustave into Germany to be Captain Generall of all the forces who being fortified by the Allyances of France England and the Conforderated States of the Low-countries promised himselfe no lesse then the Empyre it self if he could winne but one Battail CHAP. XX The Protestants make an Allyance with King Gustave Magdeburgh taken by force They arm every where VVHilest the Embassadours of the Princes Imperial Towns and Protestans States were treating an Allyance and the King was growing formidable the Drummes were beating and the Trumpets sounding every where in such sort as that the two Electours in the month of July 1631 seeing themselves with an Army on foot of twenty thousand men threw off their vizard wrote to the Emperour as accusing him of having broaken his Oath overthrown the Peace and Liberty of Germany and in fine Complaints against the Emperour of having taken away the bonds of Religion And if he revoked not that Edict for Restitution of Ecclesiastical Lands and Goods and that there were not some means found out to remedy these diforders the whole Empyre would go to rack But it was now too late to talk of remedies strangers being already gotten in and Ferdinands honour too deeply ingaged Nor did their distrusts and jealousies derogate one jot from the justice of the Edict no more then their possession of so many yeares made them true and lawfull Proprietaries For That which is differed is not lost And for the praescription it served for nothing it being as lawful for the Emperour to take the said Lands and Goods from them by way of Justice as it had been for them to dispossesse the Ecclesiasticks thereof by violence or to retain them against the agreement made after they had withdrawne themselves from the ancient Church Refused by other to marry and so much the rather because he was obliged thereto by his Authority Right and Interest Besides he wanted not arguments to retort For he accused them of deceit for that under pretext of consulting they had assembled themselves to take Armes and joyn wich Gustave That it was they who had long agoe ruined the supports of Religion and divided Germany by factions and distrusts to the detriment of the publick quiet and that himself as being the Head was bound to restore all to the former splendour and good intelligence So every one pretended to have right on his side and the sword was to do the office Now Tilly who by the strength of * Gold Ducats had opened the conscience had purchased the Pen of a Secretary knew all that was treated in the said Assembly and effectively saw that there was neither Burgh nor Village under the jurisdiction of the Protestants where souldiers were not listed Tilly passes into Hastia Wherefore he passed into Hassia where he found the Landgrave William much changed as being far more mindfull of what he had concluded at Leipsick then of what he had promised the Emperour at Vienna For he refused both Garrison and Pension as also the casheering of his forces and shewed himself resolute in fine by the most manifest signs of aversion he gave to defend himself if he were attacked Upon which Tilly preparing himself to make him sing another tune Returns to the Siege was informed that the King advanced towards the Elbe and so his menaces were but Chimera's for he was forced to return to the Siege Count Turstembergh in Swave and Wittemberg The Count of Turstembergh an old Souldier stood not with his Arms acrosse for there was work enough cut out already without expecting any more Wherefore he was sent into Swaveland and Vlme both which he quickly ranged and from thence into the Dutchy of Wirtembergh where the eleven thousand men newly raysed were not strong enough to keep the Duke within the League in such sort as that those Provinces were constrained to renounce the Protestant allyance almost as soon as it was known that they had sworne to it All these commandments were prosperous enough in High Germany but the face of all things was changed in Low Saxonie and the Maritine Towns the principal subject of the distructs which had long been blocked up and put themselves again into King Gustaves hands Tilly and Papenheim being resolved rather to dye then abandon the Siege dissembled their losses received and continued it with so much order that they quickly made themselves masters All the Forts taken of all the Forts and Out-works so that there remained nothing but the Town which perished more out of hatred and by the industrie of wise Falkembergh then by her own strength The Inhabitants were summoned to render the Mines were ready and the hand listed up to strike and yet through their obstinacie and blindnesse they would needs expect extremityes which at length they found For Papenheim irritated as well by their flowts as by their contumatious resistance entred first by force and was repulsed by the Valour of the Marshal who being killed by a bullet And the Town by force which is all burnt the Inhabitants quickly retreated into their houses the neerest whereof he commanded to be fired and almost at the very same instant the fire was seen very far from thence neer the Elbe and so in lesse then four hours this fine Town was reduced into ashes whilest the Souldiers were fighting with the Citizens for plunder without taking any care at all to extinguish the devouring flames This was the end of that deplorable Town the ashes whereof produced such animosities amongst the Lutherans and Reformates against the Imperialists that they cannot be highly enough expressed and principally against Tilly whose actions they carped and said that he had stained all his gallant Victories with the smoaky ruines of Megdeburgh What ever were in the matter true it is that Tilly after this ransack found fortune alwayes against him and the Protestants reproached him with the indignation and vengeance of God for the shedding of so much innocent blood The Catholicks on the other side retort the fault upon the insolencie of the Burghers or Townsmen who refused honorable conditions when there was time for them and whilest the gate was yet open to favour and pardon and say besides that the Swedes seeing the place lost lest it on fire for feare least it should fall entyre together with the Magazin into the hands of their enemies alledging for proof thereof that the fire was kindled in many parts of the Town from which the imperialists were very far off
had begun But Seruient found himself repugned by such as had power and was not able to hinder however his arguments sufficiently incumbred the Colledge but the Peace which was signed at Munster the 8. of January was ratified at the Haghe published at Munster and proclaimed through all the Towns and Villages of this puissant and glorious Republick the 5. of June 1648. And here by the way we may take notice of the admira ble conduct of the Spaniards who though at a great distance and having no other passage then by sea have neverthelesse against all human apparence defended these Provinces the space of thirteen years against three most potent Enemies Such as have more sence of particular then publick interest have condemned this Peace as having been too much precipitated alled ging that the States ought not to have separated themselves from the French but that they ought to have helped them to drive out the old enemies and come to share stakes and many other arguments making for the prolongation of the War To which it may be answered that all Wars which have not a necessary defence and true Peace for their scope are unjust Besides if the Hollanders obtained by this Peace whatsoever they desired and asked it needs must follow that they were obliged to ratify it And as for the interest of France which was also to accept it for the repose of her Subjects and for the great advantages offered therein they clearly perceived that that great Minister would not have it and therefore they resolved not to obey his passion besides that the Embassadours themselves advised them to embrace it in case they could bring the King of Spain to an utter renunciation both for himself and his Successours which after the attendance of a whole year togegether was effected All the world is also of opinion that for the good of their State it is better for them to be separated from the French There are likewise some other reasons which remained in the Cabinet and which some events not foreseen by many have made to be judged very pregnant France hath sufficiently declared by the taking of many Holland-Marchants ships how displeasing this Peace was to her but Holland hath dissembled this proceeding with admirable prudence as attributing it to the passion of the great Ministers Creatures Allyes of different nature bold good in common necessity but at the end of the reckning that frienship growes faint This War which had lasted almost ninety years and which was conceaved to be immortal expired in the Spring time 1648. to the great contentment of such as love peace and tranquillity and the great discontentment of the French who had much reason to be angry at it for two subjects the one for the division or Stake-sharing and the other because they had not quite chased the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries The pence was not pleasing to all It was observed nevertheless that this joy was not universal and that some others beside the French would have been more glad to carry on the War to the total expulsion of the Spaniards Indeed the Bonefires were kindled with more zeale and shined with more light in one Town then in another and coldnesse appeared in the countenances of many persons But above all they who made their advantage of following the Armies and such others also as with whom passion of Religion prevailed more then interest of State expressed their dissatisfactions The number of such as embraced the Reformed Religion and the doctrine of Luther growing in despight of all Placarts and Prohibitions to encrease and multiply sowed the first seed of the division to which was added the ambition of some certain Governours who according to their own sence The causes of the first tumults were ill enough divided the discontentment of the Nobility the Clergie and all in general for augmentation of the Bishops and the retardment of the Forrain Militia in the Low-Countries Cardinal Granvels authority and the report which ran of the Inquisition caused excessive commotions in the Provinces but ambition change in Repigion the exaction of the tenth penny the bloody proceedings of the inexorable Duke of Alna the weakening of the Royal Prerogative and the pretexts of maintaining priviledges were the windes which brake the bounds of respect and concord and caused the Warrs against the Governours and the Duke of Parma's Victories having made the King burie the confederates moved them to begin the War against him which lasted till the valliant Henries death In the beginning of the tumults they first indirectly set upon the Catholick Church by destroying Altars and Images under colour of abuse Idolatries and liberty of conscience and then upon the King under that of the Tyranny of his Governours togeather with the avarice cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers But in fine by the succour of strangers the War was carried on directly and that with so much dexterity and good successe that the King hath lost seven Provinces and the said Church her exercise in such sort as that Philip the fourth now raigning by the articles of this Peace hath declared the said Provinces Free States Let us now see in what coudition the Emperours affayrs are after a losse so little expected All his Subjects on this side the Danub were fled for fear and some also ou the other side saved their goods in Stirmark and in the district of Salsburgh in such sort as that had the Swedes endeavoured to passe the River though it were very large all the hereditary Countries of the House of Austria would have run hazard of being handled like the rest of Germany They took Grembs by assault and laid Siege to Brin And hear it was that Fortune made a pause gave the Imperialists leasure to breath and look about them The siege of Brin as also the Inhabitants beyond the River to put themselves into better posture Mons de South governour of Brin The Governour of this place was one Mons. de Souch a native of Rochels who upon some very great disgust had abandoned the Swedes whom he had served with great zeal of Religion and affection and in the quality of a Colonel which charge he now possessed on the other Party Torstenson after three weekes Siege summoned the Town advertizing him that in case of refusal there would be no quarter for him He answered That he would never ask any and that he would also give none When a Gentleman of merit burns with desire of revenge and acquisition of honour there is no difficulty which he wil not surmount The Siege raised Torstenson after having made many assaults mined undermined and cast a multitude of Granada's into the place was forced to retire And this Siege lasted four moneths destroyed about four thousand Swedes without counting run-awayes and attcheived the Governour an immortal reputation besides the Emperours favour who being desirous to distinguish this rare vertue from the common made him
luck Wysembergh taken at the Siege of Wysembergh in Nortgaw of which place though it were excessively strong they grew Masters after the attack of some weeks Had they made such a business of it before Wysembergh as the Swedes did before Lindaw they had been reduced to the state of a troublesome and weake Defensive for many moneths after CHAP. XXII The exploits of the Swedes upon the Confines of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander General of the Imperial Armies THe prodigious Successes of the Swedes alarmed all that part of Swisserland which lies near the Lake The Swissers are alarmed and carried terrour to the very Gates of Italy Whereupon the Arch-Duke of Inspruck sollicited the Cantons to an Offensive and Defensive Allyance against these Conquerours but found lesse warmth amongst the Protestants as being farther from the fire then amongst the Catholicks However some Assemblies were made wherein a resolution was taken to raise some thousands of men to guard the approaches and order for more in case of necessity and then Embassadours were dispatched to General Wranghel who well knowing how dangerous it was to move this strong Body treated them with more courtesie then he had formerly done Charles Duke of Burgundy and promised them to maintaine good friendship and Newtrality with them The French Embassadours on the other side Whom the French cannot lull asleep endeavoured to lull them asleep by assuring them of their Kings sincere intentions But after the taking of Bregants of the strong Castle of Argents of some Islands the danger wherein Constance was by this new progresse and the Siege of Vberling begun by General Tisrenne and that of Lindaw by the Swedes the said Swissers rowsed themselves out of their drowsinesse and calling to minde their own interests which were stronger then all the assurances these cunning Conquerours could give them run to their Arms and advised their new Neighbours to retire from their Borders They run to their Arms. for that their Subjects had been ill treated by some Swedish Souldiers und moreover because they had taken Constance into their protection The Swedes wanting Forradge blew up the Castle of Bregants razed some Forts and marched towards Francony and the French towards Wiâ—temberg This retreate manifested that their Myne was discovered and that it was most dangerous to stay till they were farther detected The Swedes retire The Fowler sings sweetly to catch the Bird. This action hindred not the Treaty at Vlâ—â—e for a Cessation of Arms which was granted the Elector of Bavaria but the Emperours Deputies could obtaine nothing They treat of a Truce which is granted onely to the Duke of Bavariâ— for they had resolved to pluck off his Crown and destroy his House but in vaine for it will not fall how sierce assaults soever they give it It looked as if the Emperour would not be able to uphold himselfe any more since both his Arms namely the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony had sought their repose in the promise of the two Crowns which aimed at no other Peace then that of entire Victory or Conquest Howsoever he lost not his courage though he were in the middle of so many Enemies and abandoned by his Allyes yea of almost all his States which for their own particular interest left that of the Empire destitute and exposed to Strangers and yet notwithstanding in the Treaty for redresse or rectification of Aâ—fairs every one of them would enjoy his Right as well as he though they forsook the Common Cause On the one side Ragoski kept him alwayes in action and on the other the Conquering Armies after having dulled or subjugated almost all Germany came and fell in upon his Hereditary Lands And this Field having given them plunder for their labour and appeased a potent Enemy what had they more to do then to seize upon Austria and share the Double or Spred-Eagle betwixt them For behold the Ship split amongst the waves and raging Seas abandoned by all the Seamen attacked by three terrible windes at once and garded onely by the Master himselfe so that she must needs make Shipwrack But if she do they who have deserted her will not get ashore and the Confederates who think now to have her good cheap will snap them one after another without any difficulty at all Their procedings sufficiently discover what their intention is Ferdinand the third notwithstanding so many troubles the retreat of so many friends and the number of so many enemies lost not his care of the Empyre Ferdinand bolds oâ—t he calls the Mother of God to help him For it is after the losse both of Masts and Anchors and at the point of splitting or sinking and when all counsell is lost that the good Marriner makes his industry appear Great spirits never lose hope nor courage To whom doth he addresse himself in this revolution Not to Turks or Infidells but to him to whom his Father had also recourse when he was besieged in Vienna For he is Heyr to his Christian verutes and hath nothing short of his devotions He caused to be erected an Image of the Virgin Mary Mother of God directed his Vowes to her took her for Patronesse and Advocate not only of himself but of all his subjects of Austria his People and his Armies with a fine prayer to God Almighty and with so much religious zeal that all the by-standers could not sufficiently admire this good Prince They who know not that the honour which is given to that Mother returns to God himself to glorify his Incarnation disapproved of this piety others stood amazed to see that in so thick a cloud as was ready to burst upon him there was no other defence or opposition made then that which would not be able to stop that impetuous torrent But chear up for the water riscs much above it without passing and the enemies violence will slacken Melander called Holizappâ—â— General of the Imperial Army Generall Gallasso having paid his tribute to Nature the Command was conferred upon Melander Count of Hoâ—zappel who put the Militia in Discipline again and made the Rendezvous of his forces near Budiceis And Wranghel being retyred out of Swaveland as we have already said unexpepectedly attacked the strong Town of Swinsfort which by great fortune he brought under obedience to the Mistresse thereof and the Governour for having slighted the notice of the enemies approach had sufficient time to repent We left the French-Weymarians in Wirtembergh and now we will follow them to the Rheyn and into the Country of the Landgrave of Darmstaâ—â— where they made a deplorable shipwrack upon the Lands of a Prince who had not displeased but by his too constant fidelity Some little while after the Marshall of Turenne having received order to joyn with the Marshalls Gassion and Rantzaw in Flanders so to stop the course of the Arch-Dukes victories found himselt surprized by a suddain disunion amongst his Troops for
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
yet shewed themselves again so distinctly that they were able to discerne the Ropes and Cables Last of all they saw the great Vessels again which they had discovered first These visions lasted about three houres A Lyon on the North side of the Ships performed the last Act under which there appeared animals of different shapes which turned into Ships The Parliament of England being grown formidable by Charles Stewarts expulsion whom they quite expelled the Island and by the conquest of the Kingdom of Scotland was much intense upon War and desirous to diminish the traffique which hath inriched these united Provinces as by taking the Ships which they met either at Sea or came into their havens and then by giving Letters of Mart. The begining by Letters of Mart. Whereupon the complainrs of the Holland Marchants obliged the States to send their Embassadours to acknowledge them for a Free Common Wealth to renew friendship and to redemand their Vessels taken The first point pleased them and the second was payed with silence and the third differred as never to be granted The Propositions which they made the said Embassadours were so high and beyond their expectation that the High and Might Lords resolved upon War Whilest these things were in agitation there hapned an encounter betwixt General Blake and Admiral Tromp about striking The first attak wherein Tromp was so briskly received that he had much adoe to get handsomly off leaving two ships behind him in the possession of the English This action hastened the returne of the Embassadours and set the States on work for the fitting of a second Fleet which was retarded by the wary Hollanders out of hope of composing the difference by representing the necessity of a good harmony betwixt the two Nations They wanted neither strength courage nor convenience to hurtâ— but other considerations made them seek an accommodation which these new Republicans rejected Mousieur Spiring the Embassadour of Sweden used all diligence to prevent the States Embassadours departure Every one goes into England to acknowledge the Parliament and encouraged them to acknowledge England for a Free State The Title in his Letter of Credence not being well adjusted he met with some little difficulty yet nevertheless obtained Audience but death taking him soon away deprived that State of a great friend After the Spanish Embassadour had acknowledged them every body hastened to the Offering as fearing to be the last Only France seemed not much to care but after having suffered a very rough check she at last came as we shall shortly demonstrate But we must yet make another great circuit before we conclude our Work CHAP. XIII The miseries at Sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France c. HItherto we have seen the wars begun and caried on first for the authority and occupation or seazure of Countries under the princtpal pretext of Religion and then there hapned so great a Hotchpot and such a confused variety by the shuffling together of so many different Allyances and deceiptful practices that this precicus Cloak being grown quite thred-bare could be no longer worne and therefore the hatred of Nations and old quarrels must now be brought upon the Stage Indeed if according to the saying of Tertullian by forging so many Religions there grow at length to be none at all left with the like foundation may I also say that by making so many various Allyances which are so easily broken and so dexterously patched together again there is no Allyance at all I have to do said a certain Monarch with a bordering people which never keep their Faith but when they perceive no occasion to hurt me By this it is that there is so much trouble to make a peace and they who labour to joyne the two Parties finde so much difficulty and repugnance in regard of the indelible distrusts and jealousies between them that they cannot accomplish it Sea-Rovers Besides that there have alwayes been Sea-Rovers who as The The eves hidden in the Woods and Forrests have surprized passengers and laid wait for the Merchants Ships and at present we see whole Fleets the Sea loaden with Vessels to attacke not by stealth but open force the said Merchants Ships and the men of War also which accompany them Some years agoe the Sea was free and safe enough but now there are more and greater dangers there then there ever were by Land Let us passe through the North and end our Carrer in England The Kingdom of Norway being secured by its poverty feared not the year before nor this present year neither the war wherein the King of Denmark seemed ready to involve himself Thirty English Ships stopt in Denmark For he redemanded the Portion of his Aunt Anne Queen of England which being refused he stopped and confiscated some thirty English Merchant Ships and made a streight Allyance thereupon with the States of Holland for their Common Interests That Libell which was made in Sweden being washed and wiped off with the blood of the Authours thereof all was there in good order and diligence was used for the setting out of a little considerable Fleet which gave the bordering parts so much jealousie that King Frederick sent his Embassadours thither who returned with a good answer A Spanish Resident at Stockholme There was then a Spanish Resident at the Court of Sweden who treated secretly and the affairs of the last Assembly were conducted there so occultly that there was no light at all to be found thereof But true it is that Silence is the Soul of great Expedtions Livonia was well guarded against the invasion of the Polanders and the Treaties at Lubeck between them and the Swedes produced no good operation at all so that the Embassadours retired to the great displeasure of such as meddled in them The Muscovits did nothing in a long time which deserves to be noted here But the Polanders felt as well as the rest of the Nations of Europe the Rod of the Almighty by pestilence inundations and wars which continue even yet against the Rebellious Cossacks under the direction and authority of King Casimir The accidental fire which was like to burne the young Princesse was taken as an ill augure by such as were curious but the Kingdom is yet in vigour and the Armies in condition to ruin their enemies The Turks and Tartars made some irruptions into Hungary which gave both dammage and fear by the marching of some Troops but at present the Peace is exactly kept The Empire enjoyes the Peace made at Munster and every Prince labous by the offer of fair Priviledges to revive both his Country and the Religion he professes The Emperour who shewes that he took the redresse of the Empire more to heart then the preservation of his own life assembled all the Electors the last year at Prague The Electors at Prague 1692. and courted
Citizens who were killed by Musket-shot was like to have put that illustrious City into a deplorable confusion The English not content with taking their ships attacked and took also many other vessels which go every yeare to catch Herrings and other fish so that they hurt and do yet hurt this Republick by all the means and ways they could or can devise The Propositions of the English not receivable The Propositions which they made our Embassadours were so high and unequall that they sufficiently evidenced their design against this Common-wealth the principall whereof was this That we should enter into a League Offensive and Defensive with them and that we should make all their enemies ours c. Points of most dangerous consequences But let us go further CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of the Fishers Tromp returns to Sea and findes Blake The Tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens Victory before Ligorne The English take all without distinction Tromp safely conducted the Fleet into France Divers combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Diet at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Fetdinand the Fourth King of the Romans VVhen Nations cannot be reconciled by all kinds of reason and justice war must be endured The Astrologors foretold this in the observation of that Comet of the year of 1618. and that of the year before and advertised us that the wrath of God was not appeased The States having received the troublesome news of the taking of those ships of war which accompanied the fishermen gave order to attack the English by way of retorsion The Fleets at Sea Tromp departed in July with resolution to make the English repent their having neglected and slighted the Hollanders friendship and espying Sir George Asene in the Downes with a Squadron of Ships was not able to bear up with him by reason of the Calme and so going to seek Blaks in the North where some Vessels which came from the Great Indies were to pass he discovered him The prayers were said and the Onset begun A storm dammageable to the Hodanders 1952. but a great wind separated the two Fleets made the English retyre into their Havens and some of our Ships perish upon the Rocks and the rest were saved in Hitland and about forty came home with the Admirall Thus the Calme and the Tempest parted them two several times but de Ruyter going to convoy the Marchant-Fleet with forty Ships met Asonâ— with his Squadron and faced him so stoutly that he was constrained â—o â—â—treat into England and give him passage General Badiley bravely defended himself against twice his number of Ships in the Streights but being over-powred lost the Phanix which was after wards recovered by Captain Cox The Victory obtained afterwards before Ligorne by Admiral Van Galen was successful Van Galens Victory before Lavorno for three Vessels were taken and some other burnt yet was in some manner otherwise the said Admiral receiving his deaths wound in the engagement It very often chances that they who gaine the Battel have not the greatest booty for there are some who go out in Party and sometimes make their Fortune The Capes of Grip are certain particular persons who go to Sea with small Vessels set out at their one charge and they make huge profit and they lie at present about the Coast of England and cause much danger The conjunction of Vice-Admiral Witt Wittenson was rendred infructuous by the Cowardise of some Holland Captains who forgot their duty whilest the English performed theirs with great advantage by taking the Spanish mony which was destinated to pay the Armies in the Low-Countries and carrying it to London where it was stop't The English detaine the mony which comes from Spain and rever restored because there were some Holland Marchants Goods or Wares in the Vessels and albeit the instances made by the Arch-Duke Leopold and the Spanish Embassadours were heard they yet took no effect whereupon some have believed that they were but faigned but however it were they kept the mony and have served themselves of it The Rendeznous of the Ships near Rochâ—l 1653. The States considering the greatness of the danger gave all the Marchant Ships order to assemble themselves in a General Rendeznuous before the Isle of St. Martin near Rochel and there expect the Navy consisting of seventy six Men of War and eight Fire-Ships which departed the first of December under Admiral Tromps orders to convoy home the abovesaid Merchant Ships which were above three hundred all loaden with Commodities The English approached but came off with losse and returned into the Thames and so the Fleet arrived in France without any dammage But during these great Attacks the little War was carried on with much partiality and prejudice to the Marchants For the mitigation of Gods wrath and the diversion of his scourge from the United Provinces the States ordered prayers to be made every Weducsday at four of the clock in the afternoone all Shops to be kept shut and all negotiations forborne during the time of the Sermon Thus was the War indirectly mennadged upon this blew Element between the two most potent Nations that are at present or ever have been in all the North for the Dominion of the Ocean and for the retention of Trade None but the Sea-Monsters are able to render an account of all the brave Actions which are done there as being Spectatours of them The said States being advertised of the great preparation which their Enemies were making to attack Tromp in his return with the Marchant-Fleet gave order for the speedy equipaging of some other Ships to go to meet him but they were hindred by contrary windes The Navall Battel which lasted three dayes 1653. Tromp being arrived near Bolein discovered the English Fleet and a little after began a Battel which continued three dayes the most furiously that could be Nothing was feen but fire and flame and one would have said that the Ocean was become combustible and had taken the nature of the contrary Element The Land had been already sufficiently steeped in blood and now the Sea must be also coloured with it The indignation of that just God extends it selfe upon all the Elements malediction is upon the Land and upon the Water The end of the Combas was that Tromp retreated into Calais Road and brought back the most part of the Fleet into Holland all which the English thought to eatch though they were faine to becontent with the taking of some Marchant Ships and some Men of War and with letting the Hollanders see that they had to do with most generous and redoubtable Enomies But our Admiral had two difficulties to overcome the one to charge the Enemies in their retreat and the other to guard the Marchandise When a Shepherd sees many Wolves coming to attack his flock he keeps it behinde him and cannot serve
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
places and where the fimall pocks domincered was uselesse No no most devoute Monarch it is in vaine to endeavour to conserve this dear Plant the Infinite Essence is too much provoked to wrath by the sins of Christians to grant them this precious Pledge of Justice There is no more fidelity to be found amongst them and when the Pillars shog the Building cannot stand The Archbishoprick of Bremen secularized The Arch-bishoprick of Bremen being secularized by the Peace of Munster fell to be shared by the Swedes for having tormented the Eagle and saved the Protestant Party from shiprack or rather for having crossed the House of Austria's designes They would not be content without the Capital Town it self which is situated upon the Weser a large River which discharges her self into the North Sea for the gaining whereof and to hinder the communication of the Sea The Swedes wil have the Town Count Conninxmark caused a Fort to be built below the said Town which was to bring it to the last gasp This strange proceeding which offended both the Emperour and Empire opened the eyes of the bordering people and discovered the ambition of the Swedes Montecuculi went into Sweden but was put off with delayes for the North understands dissimulation as well as the South Ferdinand threatned this haughty General with the Imperial Thunderbolt but it moved him not at all The impunity of offences provokes men to continue them The Inhabitants of the Town took Arms The Townesmen take Arms. with resolution to defend themselves and sent to implore the Succour of the Head together with that of their Allyes And gaint the Forts About the Summer solstice or Sun-stead in Conninkmarks absence they put their men into the field took those places which lighted them to neer and made the whole Dutchy contribute to this Wat. Connixmarck retakes them and shut up the Sweden Town These affronts were so sensible to this great Warrier that he quickly after revenged himself of them for being seconded by some new forces from Sweden he did not only reconquer the said places but also so streightly shut up the Bremeners that loosing all the confidence they had in their own forces they had recourse to those of their Allyes and especially the Hollanders The States Generall send their Embassadours thither Interest of Religion which is more potent amongst the Reformates as being more popular and lesse tyed then the Catholicks together with that of state and some other considerations made the States Generall resolver to send their Embassadours to mediate an accord and temper the hot demands of the Assailants which were so much preludiciall to the Empire They forthwith declared their Commissions and by mixing the strength of their interests with that of their arguments brought the Swedes to condescend to a more gentle Treaty for fear of obliging the mediatours to become Parties in favour of such as had the same law and whose assistance themselves had received according to their ability in other necessities and whom they could not abandon without being accused of ingratitude yea and there were forty ships equipaged for their relief in case the Swedes would needs try extremities The peace made Thus was this War of the Lutherans against the Reformates soone finished This is the state of the North and that of Germany which is not very safe by the death of the King of the Romanes the Emperours indisposition and the Arming of some Princes in Low-Saxonie for as for that of the Marquis of Brandenbrgh and the Duke of Newburgh time will shew us what scope it hath The King of Swedens marriage with a Priacesse of Holstein But let us now run to the mysterious Siege of Arras and we shal finde Queen Christine at Antwerp who receives the newes of her Cousins marriage with a Princesse of Holstein Arras which was taken by the French in the year 1640 before the face of thirty thousand men and had struggled against famin and some other difficulties which made the most judicious despaire of good successe was likely to be lost playing Wherefore they were thinking to quit the Siege which the youg King had begun presently after his consecration but yet they found meanes to continue it for his Majesties honour and to send the Marshal of Turenne The Marshal of Turenne at the succour of Arras with ten thousand men to succour this place Our young Alexander that accomplished Captain who in his first essay had shewed his mastership thought fit to go ruin those Troops whilest they were feeble The Prince of Conde proposes to goe and attack him but be is not heard and tyred by their long march according to the example of that German Mars that Tamer of Brisack and before they were re-inforced by the Nobility but this too judicious and prudent Nation which chooses rather to fall into the other extremity could not be brought to resolve it choosing rather to cover themselves in their trenches to hinder the reinforcement of the Garrison and to expect the Enemy with a firme foot The French Nobility comes to the succour Stenay yeeldeds The French Nobility which doth more for the love of Vertue and for the favour of their King then many other Nations doe for wages hastened thither Stenay was yeelded the Troops increased and the King himself thereby to animate his subjects to behave themselves well drew neer the place appoinred to get honour All the world expected the Issue of this Siege and some wondered how the Spaniards were able to hold out against such terrible forces The Spaniards â—â—o weake to â—ard so many works which so small ones and the attacks went so slowly on against so weak a Garrison For there were not men enough to defend the lines of so great a circuit to gard the Convoyes and force the Town It was believed that there was yet some Arrow hidden and more then one string to the flow Every body turned their eyes towards the sea and the Embassadours set that Divine Metral together with all their Rhetorick on work either to rayse or stop the tempest In fine the twenty fifth of August being the day of S. Lewis was designed to attack the Lines which were bordered by the Spaniards much deminished and fatigated The French advanced gave the Alarme The Siegeraysed in all the quarters entred by a turn-pike which was ill enough garded and beat down part of the Lines to make way for the Cavaltie There began a confusion in the Camp which made some fly Confusion in the Camp The Prince of Condes valour and addresse tosavt the Army and others resolve to defend themselves The Arch-duke seeing the cowardise of some tesolved to fly and the Prince of Conde vigorously to charge the enemies who contenting themselves with having gained the Artillery succoured the Town and made some hor Skermithes let this rock retite being too hard to be scaled and most dissicult
died the the seventh of this moneth of Iannary and the Cardinals after a long deliberation in the Conclave and the colluctation of the French and Spanish Factions elected Cardinal Ghisi to the See Cardinal Ghisi elected Pope who took upon him the name of Alexander the Seventh The States of Austria upon the twenty sixth of February did homage to the young Arch-Duke Leopoldus Ignatius Son to the present Emperour which was performed with great State The Treaty being ratified between the King of Sweden and the City of Bremen the said City disbanded many Companies and gave Generall Conninxmark passage over the Bridge The Duke of Newburghs forces so much much streightned the Lorrainers in their quarters that they had much adoe to subsist there and the difference lately hapened betwixt the Electour Palatine and the Electour of Mentz not being yet ended but referred to the Assembly now here at Frankfurt the orther two Ecclesiastical Electours kept a small Army on foot to be able to stand in readinesse upon all occasions The Governour of Theonville who had boasted upon a certain time that he would be in Arlon at dinner the next day having notice that the Prince of Simay who is governour of Luxemburgh was marching with a considerable strength to meet him changed his design returned to Theonville and sent his men into winter quarters The Factions in Hungary about the chusing of a Palatinate being grown very high the Emperour resolved to go thither as well to allay the said troubles as also to have his Son Leopoldus Ignatins crowned King of that Country at Presburgh The Emperours Sonne Crowned King of Hungary which after many difficulties and some satisfaction given by him to the States and people of the Kingdom was performed with the accustomed Ceremonies An Insurrection in England There was a great Insurrection of the Cavalier-party in various parts of England against the Lord Protectour and present government which had it not been seasonably discovered and dissipated might peradventure have involved the whole Nation in a most fierce and bloody war One Party of them was under the conduct of Sir Joseph Wagstaffe and was routed neer Salsbury in Wilishire many principall persons taken prisoners amongst whom was Mr. Penruddock who with some others was alterwards tryed and executed at Exeter but Wagstaffe himself as also many others made their escape beyond-sea There were many of the said Plot taken in divers others parts of the Nation About the same time a Gentleman of great quality of the Country of Provence in France was arrested and imprisoned upon suspicion that he kept correspondence with General Blake then at Ligorn and that he intended to have betrayed the Port of Tonlon together with the ships therein to the English but after the said Generall was gone with his Fleet towards the Coast of Barbary he cleared himself so well of that charge that he was set at liberty and his said accusation found to be but a meer suggestion of some enemies of his The Polanders beat the Muscovits and Cossacks The Polanders obtained a great victory over the Muscovits and Cossacks near Vsman where after a shrewd fight of three dayes they put them to a totall rout and killed about fourteen thousand upon the place themselves losing not above two thousand save only some persons of condition The booty and spoyle they got was very great besides seven hundred Waggons and near a hundred Colour of Horse and Foot Whilest the Cardinals were busie in the Conclave about the Election of a new Pope An Anti-Pope chosen at Ascoli there met seaventy two Archbishops and Bishops with some Abbots at a certain place called Ascoli upon the borders of Neaples where after some dayes conference they chose one of their Members to be Pope rendring him all the usual honours even to the very worshipping him This Anti-Pope called himself Eugenius But the news thereof coming to the Conclave at Rome it so much startled them that they sent to the General of the Church-Militia to march speedily thither with some Forces to secure the Chief Authors of this great Schisme but they having notice thereof to prevent being apprehended brake up and parted and the new Anti-Pope fled The Tinkish Emperour Crowned There was such a concurse of people at Constantinople to see the Coronation of the young Emperour that lodging was hard to be found there and provisions were also at an excessive rate the Cossacks according to their old custom having so wasted and spoiled the Country on that side near the Black-Sea that it made them very scarce The Dogi or Duke of Venice being dead the Forty one shut themselves up according to custom and after some debate unanimously elected the Lord Contarini heretofore Embassadour Plenipotentiary at Munster and one of the most ancient Senators who was Crowned with the Dukes Crown with the wouted Solemnity the five and twentieth of March. The Queen of Sweden widow to the great victorious King Gustave having lain long sick of a Quartan Ague followed by a strong Rheume which fell upon her breast died the last of March in the Town of Niccoping The Duke of Savoy cast a cruel persecution upon the Protestants in the Vallyes of Angrogna The persecution of the Protestants in Piedmont Lucerna and St. Martins by sending the Marquis of Pianella together with the Count of Quince one of the French Licutenant Generals who set upon them beat them our of the said Vallyes and forced them tofly to the Mountains where they suffered much hunger and cold The news hereof coming into England the Lord Protectour being moved with compassion The Lord Protectours charity to them and charity dispatched one Master Moreland one of his own Gentlemen by the way of Paris to the foresaid Duke to mediate with him in the quality of Agent in behalf of the said distressed Protestants sending them also some relief of monyes out of his own Treasury and animating the people besides to contribute and collect publickly in the Churches considerable summs for them which accordingly was performed with remarkable zeal and remitted them as they have at large acknowledged by a most humble and ample Letter of thanks which they wrote to his Highness the transcript whereof would be too long to set down here and so would that of the King of France to his said Highness in answer to his to his Majesty wherein the King clears himself of having had any hand in the persecution of the said Protestants and friendly assures his said Highness to intercede with the Duke of Savoy in favour of them So that in fine after many debates the difference between the aforesaid Duke and his said Subjects is accommodated and Master Moreland returned Upon the two and twentieth of June there hapned such an extraordinary Thunder A Tempest at Gulick and Lightning at Gulick or Juleers that it pat all the people in excessive fear and there fell a Thunderbolt