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
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
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
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
Power and Majesty O Great God! Inexhaustible source of goodnesse and mercy guide thou my pen to the end that it say nothing but what is modestly true to the confusion of Atheists and the consolation of the Elect. Let us therefore begin at that miserable Kingdome the better part whereof which makes the extremity and bound as it were to Europe groanes at this time under the tyranny of Turks and Infidels CHAP. II Of the Warre of Hungary The Death of the Duke of Mercoeur From whence came the Inhabitants of Transylvania NOw since we must kindle our Torch in the age past which is to light us in the labyrinth of this of ours I will take notice by the way of the chief exploits and will begin from the Kingdom of Hungarie the Thenâ—er or Stage of the Warre of the Ottomans This kingdome is most fertile in all the blessings of the earth as in Corne in most excellent Wines in Gold The fertility of Hungary Silver and all other mettals In such sori as that some Authors have presumed to prefer it before all the rest of Europe At present the greatest part of it acknowledges the Turk another is grown desert by the insolencie of the Souldiers and that which lies next to Germany obeys for their King Ferdinand the fourth Son to the Emperour Ferdinand the third This Kingdom being tormented by the Arms of the great Turk had recourse to the Emperour Rodolph and he to the Princes and States of Germany but they blinded by the prosperity of peace and plunged in the delights which the fruits thereof produces slighting the danger which most neerly concerned the house of Austria from abroad slackly promised relief which yet was retarded by the jealousie of such as could not by any meanes brook the glory of that Family and passionately wished the decline or rather the utter ruine thereof Rodolph in the Diet or Assembly at Ratisbone made a remonstrance how Amurat the Sultan had broken the Peace of the year 1991. and taken many Towns and Places of strength Peace of the year 1591. broaken by Amurat. but he reaped nothing but winde for it is in vain to preach to such as will not hear He dyed in the year 1595 and his Son Mahomer succeeded him against whom the Christians had neither good luck nor blessing For Agria was lost because the succour came too late as being delayed by the raines and the Army appeared not till some dayes after it was taken howsoever there first grew some skermishes and afterwards a Battail wherein the Turks were roured and their Canon taken But the Conquerors casting themselves too soone and too inconsiderately upon pillage made them who fled regain their courage in such sort as that they rallyed and defeated an Army of sixty thousand men however they durst not pursue them By means of this memorable enterprize the lot sell upon the impregnable Town of Raab which issued very happily for the good of Christendome to the honour of the Count de Swartsbourgh and Mons de Vanbecour a Lorraine Gentleman together with the French Lorrains Low-burgundians and Walloons The Duke of Mercoeur having taken leave of the most Christian King Mutiny of the French and recollected the fragments of the League went thither for the service of Christendome but his Troops not having an equal zeal with that of their General sell to mutinie in the Fort of Pappeneer Raab chased away their officers and indeavoured to sell the said place to the Turks The Count de Swartsbourgh offered them their pay and conjured them to forbear that treason but they being obstinate in their wickednesse delivered to the Infidels in earnest of their perfidie of men women and children above six hundred Christians and this by way of recompence for some Provisions The Place was invested and the Turks could not succour it and the brave Earle of Swartsbourgh killed These detestable Mutiners after having made many desperate sallyes and fought long against Famine the gate of favour and pardon being shut to them who had so wickedly betrayed the Christian Party were at length almost all caught and punished according to the greatnesse of their treason Canisia was taken by the Turk and Stoul-Vessembourg by the Duke of Mercoeur where he atchieved so much glory that the great Turk intreated Henry the fourth to call him away This war was finished about the end of the year 1606. The Emperours Souldiers mutined for want of pay and committed a thousand robberies which caused rebellious and great famine The Duke of Mercoeur desirous to go visit his native country began his journey full of victorious palms and passed through Vienna where he was very well received by his Imperial Majesty and the whole Court. The death of the Dake of Marcoeur But Parca envious of his happinesse cut off the thred of his life at Novemberg Transylvania is a part of the aforesaid Kingdome of Hungary and is much peopled and most fortill The Inhabitants speak a language much like to that of Low-Saxony and it is also very credible that they sprang from thence but when or how is very uncertain Some Authors recount that a certain Quack-salver or Mountebank not being fully satisfied by the Citizens of Hamelen a Town seated upon the River of Weser according to their promise made him for freeing them from the trouble of an innumerable multitude of Rats which he drew out of the said Town with the sound of his Pipe revenged himself after this manner He gathered together all the children of the Town or to say better he charmed them so well with the sound of his said instrument that he going out and they following to a certain mountain not farre off the ground cleft and swallowed them up and as soon as they were entred closed up again and sometime after it was published and believed that the said children were transported into Transylvania And even to this very day Wheâ—oe came the â—â—thubitants of Transylvania there are some at Hamelen who write in these terms such a year since the departure of our children The Kingdom of Hungary for the most part followes the Romane Catholick Religion though yet both the Reformed party and the Lutherans especially in Transylvania have likewise their Churches But the stepping in of these latter created a great deale of distrust the inseparable companion of contradictory opinions The Soveraign authority hath lost part of her vigour and her power is so much diminished that the Hungarians could not subsist but by the Majesty of the Eagle Let us summarily and without deviating from our path speak of the glory of the ancient Hungarians of the vertues and ill habits which are found now amongst them and of the troubles which they suffer or still apprehend amongst themselves by the neerness and vicinity of the sworne enemy of Christendome Hungary anciently called Pannonia is a Kingdome most abundant in all which Nature covets for her contentment She is
most smiles is then most ready to shoot her inevitable shots of her irradicable hatred against such as love vertue and constance It was necessary to recount this for the greater knowledge of what we are to publish concerning Muscovy which hath selt the tragical effects of Bellona as well as the rest of Europe whereof she is a good part CHAP. IV Of Poland The Government and Religion thereof Henry Duke of Anioii chosen King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battell THis Kingdome was governed by Sigismund of Sweden and had no other enemy at that time then the Swedes for the interest of their Prince But before we give an account thereof we will speak of the manners and Origin of the Country Poland is of very vast distent and takes her name from the great Fields which produce a huge quantity of Corn. The great Dukedome of Lithuania is a part of this Kingdome which is bounded on the one side by Muscovy and on the other Hungary Germany Livonia and Prussia or Borussia to the Baltick Sea there are many Fennes Lakes and huge Forrests Poland full of Forrests and Fennes as there likewise are through all the North where in the Trunks of Trees is often found great store of hony whereof they make a certain Drink chiefly in Lithuania which is most delicate and yeelds not awhit in goodness to Spanish wine Now here well deserves to be inserted the story of a certain Peasant or Countriman who being fallen by accident into one of the Trunks which was full of hony ran great hazard to be drowned The story of is Peasant saved by a strange accident without an almost miraculous succour which came to him by chance And it was a Bear approaching the said place to lick the hony whereof these creatures are very lickorish the poor man layd hold of his tayle and the beast violently endeavouring to run away drew the man out of this sweet but fatall precipice The winter is there very long and sharp against the rigour whereof the Inhabitants who have no want of wood serve themselves of stoves and good furred gownes as all the Northern people do The Nobility is very studious of Warre and desirous of Travell and in short of an humour much like that of the French They express their gallantry in the beauty of their Cloathes Weapons and Horses in the sumptousness of Feasts Weddings Funeralls Christenings and in numerous Trains of servants too when they go a woing They are very stout and decide their quarrels for the most part by encounters so that there are more Fights then Duels They are very good souldiers whereof they have given frequent testimonies against the Turks whom they oppose not with Fortifications and Bulwarks for the defence of their Kingdome and all Christendome but with their Bodies in the Field The Tartars do them much hurt by surprizes who as soon as they have done their feat and find the Poles advancing betake themselves to their heels with their pray and fell their prisoners to the Turks by whom they are made slaves The Polanders anciently called Sarmass were very redoubtable to the Romans and contemned their power they embraced the doctrine of the Gospel and since learning and sciences have been in Vogue amongst them they are extremely civilized as all other nations like wife are which have changed the darkness of ignorance into light and their brutish manners into amiable society The Latin tongue is so common amongst them that there are very few Gentlemen who do not speak it The custome of drawing a sword when the Priest recited the Gospel in the Mass is now abolished for some misfortunes which happened thereby however by this zealous action they signified themselves to be willing to loose their lives for the defence of the Gospel and for the ingrandizement and propagation whereof they have often tought against the Pagans and do protect Christendome to this day against the puissance of the Infidels Though yet they were moved by this very zeal both inconsiderately and perfidiously to break the sworne Peace with the Great Turk and were consequently all cut off together with their King Vladislans near Varne They are very strong and tall and have faces able to imprint the figure of feare in the countenance of the most confident They slight the rigour of the cold and all other obstacles which may hinder them from a glorious death Yet is it also very true on the other side that vice hath placed its dwelling there as well as elsewhere and that the contempt of the Lawes is not lesse amongst them then in any other part of Europe They who travell through Poland and Hungary carry their beds with them yea and sometimes their victuals too to shunne the hazard of an ill supper and a hard lodging These two Nations have a fashion of cloathing almost alike which doth differ very little and they both weare furred Bonnets The Romane Catholick Religion is the chief however there be other also permitted and freely exercised amongst them as namely the Arrian and many other old Heresies which are still croaking there besides the Greck Church hath also a great number of adherents there The Kingdome of Poland is Elective and when the King is dead the Archbishop of Gssue takes the Government of the State and assembles the Senate and the Nobility for the election of another During the Interreign or vacancy there is committed great store of murthers and insolencies which moves such as love the publick Quiet to speed the Election The Nobility hath most high priviledges whereby the Kings authority is much bridled and retained within the Lawes of the Kingdom whereof in a word they are so jealous that they alwayes mistrust their Prince and imagine every moment that he will either take their lawes from them or at least diminish them to make himself more absolute Murthers are not so rigorously punished here as in other parts of Chrislendome For a Gentleman shall be quit for killing of another with one years imprisonment and if the person murthered be of a mean condition for a small forfeit The Ecclesiasticks have huge Revenues for which they are much envied The most eminent dignities amongst them are to be Senatours whom they call Waiwodes Chatellans and Starosts which are charges of Captains In a word they are all equall like Brothers not enduring any superiority at all The Duke of Anioll elected King The Kingdome being vacant by the decease of Sigismund Queen Katherine de Medicis sent the Bishop of Valence thither for the Duke of Anioll her son who was chosen with applause and the eloquence of the said Bishop prevailed much therein The magnificencie of the Dukes Reception made the French see that the Polanders skorn to fall short of any in gallantry But his Reign proved not very long For hearing of the death of King Charles and preferring the Hereditary Crown of France
before the Elective of Poland three moneths after his arrivall he secretly departed leaving the Polanders the repentance of having chosen him and the trouble to choose another Stephen Batorins succeeds who sell out to be Stephanus Batorins Prince of Transylvania He reigned ten yeares reduced Dantsick to her obedience kept the bordering places within their duty and rejoyned Livonia to the Crown He governed the Kingdome both happily and wisely died in the resolution he had taken to subdue Muscavy to Poland left great grief for his so sudden death amongst tho Poles and a good odour of his vertues to posterity The Polanders after the decease of King Stephen found themselves in a dangerous sicknesse by a division which threatned utter ruine to the Crown The great Chancellour Samotskie the Bishops and many other of the great Lords elected Sigismund of Sweden sonne of King John and Queen Katherine of Poland daughter to Sigismund of Jaguellonne The other party had chosen Maximilian of Anstria who entring 〈◊〉 Poland with an Army made up in haste besieged Warsaw from whence being repulsed Maximilian forces and recruting his forces in Silesia he was the second time defeated and taken prisoner by the Great Chancellour aforesaid After these two victories was crowned Sigismund in the year 1587 and called by the name of Sigismund the third He married Anne of Austria who brought him a sonne named Vladislans who afterwards was King of Poland And this is that which we thought very sit to recount and which must serve us for the present History of this Age. Let us now passe into Sweden and hear what the Swedes alledge against the Polanders with the reasons and arguments both of the one and the other CAROLVS GVS'TMVS ' King of S'wethens Goths Vandalls greate mince of Finland Duke of Esthonia Carelia Lot of Jâ—â—ria Ciou'ned An Dom 1654. CHAP. V of Sweden The discords happening between King Sigismund and his Uncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. SIgismund King of Sweden endeavouring to put two Crowns upon his head lost the Hereditary one See how all passed This young Prince had been brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion though yet he were the sonne of King Erick who embraced the Confession of Ausbourgh and introduced it into his Kingdome This Erick was sonne to King John and Nephew to Charles Duke of Sudermanic whom he left in Sweden to govern that Kingdome in his absence in the quality of Vice-Roy Now it often chances that Princes who have more then one kingdom grow by little and little to loose the affections of their remote subjects and their authority comes also by degrees to be eclipsed in regard that their said subjects are not warmed by the heat of their favour and prudence and so others grow insensibly to take place as well because their presence winnes the affections of the said subjects as also for that reasons are never wanting to such as have no will to obey And besides every one stands in fear of forraine Rule But the most powerfull argument of the coldness of subjects towards their Soveraigne is diversity of Religions which causes a change in State and alters and shakes it so as that many Princes for the strengthening and fixing of theirs have believed that they neither could nor ought to permit any more then one Sigismund goes into Sweden King Sigismund hearing many complaints from Sweden and conceaving some jealousies of his Uncle Charles resolved with leave of the States of Poland to transport himself thither with some Polish and German forces He departed from Dantsick with a fleet of sixty Sayle and was well received by the Governour of Colmar from whom he went to see his sister at Stebourgh Duke Charles hastened towards him from Finland with an Army to defend the kingdome against the King himself Sigismund beaten who as it was published came to take the Vice-King prisoner and change the State by subverting Religion So there occurred a fierce skirmish wherein the Vice-King had the better and Sigismund the King was forced to retite himself towards the Confines of Denmark In fine he was beaten again near Lincopin and his Fleet taken Upon which seeing his Uncle thus courted by Fortuâ—e through the mediation of some Lords he was fain to make peace with him under certain conditions by vertue whereof his Fleet was restored to him to go by Sea to Stockholm Makes Peace and Duke Charles in whose hands were put the prime Lords of Sweden who had been to fetch the King in Poland went thither by land Sigismund instead of going to the Assembly of States at Stockholm went secretly out of the kingdom which he thereby lost He retires our of the kingdom and regained Dantsick Some Authors have written that he had been advertised of some ill design of his Uncle Charles against him and a certain person who was then at Stockholm affirms that he sighed for his having let slip the bird which he had in his hand However those Lords were beheaded and their heads set upon stakes which were since taken away upon the request of a great Wanyer Duke Charles quickly recovered those places of strength which were in the Kings possession chastised the Citizens of Lubeck who had favoured him caused the States to approve of all his actions and ranged the Finlanders who held the Kings party under obedience to himself Some months after the States deposed the King by a publick Decree declaring him fallen from the Rights he had in the kingdom and renouncing all fidelity to him though yet still they were ready to receive his sonne Vladislans for King of Sweden in case he would forthwith send him thither to be bred in the Religion and customes of the Country But these conditions not seeming receivable were not accepted by the King and the proceedings of the States of Sweden cryed down by the Poles who resolved to take an account of them with the sword This is the summe of what is known of that difference which is yet remaining between the Heires of these two Princes and which is debated by very contrary reasons according to the predominancy either of Passion or Religion and according to the knowledge also of the Right of the Parties concerned The Polanders reproach the Swedes for that without any available reason and upon some ill grounded suspicions only yea even against all Right both Divine and Humane they took the kingdom from Sigismund to give it to Charles To which the Swede answer that the King against his promise had endeavoured under hand to bring in the Jesuits so to replant the Roman Catholick Religion and strangers to check and curb them and many other arguments there are both upon the one side and the other which I let passe in silence and which are found at large elsewhere Now you have had the words take also some effects of their arms Duke Charles after the reduction of Finlande went into
Livoma where he gained some advantage upon Samonskie besieged Riga but in vain and returned into Sweden in great danger to be drowned When he had gotten the Crown upon his head he gave the reasons thereof to all Christian Kings and Princes justifying his proceedings the best he could and seeking the allyance of his Neighbours and chiefly that of the States Generall Samonskie the Great Chancellonr aforesaid writ against him and cried our upon his ambition which greatly offended him and gave subject of great grudges between them which grew at length to implacable hatred Chules looset the Battel Fortune frowned upon him at Riga for his Army being much stronger then that of Poland was rooted by General Cockevietz who having senr four hundred of the Livonian horse over a River to attack the Swedes in the Reer wonne the Battel by this stratatagem and so Livonia came to be under the Polanders till the Reign of the Great Gustavus Adolphus who reduced it to his obedience All Livonia hath embraced the Lutheran Religion as well as Sweden where it is held for one of their Fundamentall Lawes as it also is almost through all the North. Sweden is the biggest of all the Northern kingdoms the Head City whereof is Stockholm a Town the Suburbs and Sea-thore or strand comprised of great distent There are many huge Mountains Rocks and Forrests where are sometimes heard great illusions and phancies as there likewise are in the water which are very troublesome and terrible both to men and horses which passe that way The country is not much inhabited and the chief Provinces are West-Gothland East-gothland from whence as also from the rest of Sweden according to the opinion of some Authours came the Goths who so much vexed the Romane Empyre This kingdom is full of Copper and Iron Mines The Swedes are good souldiers both by Sea and Land and have given incredible examples of their valour both in Germany and Denmark they are of a strong Complexion and sit to endure hardnesse and labour The Nobility is very mild and frank loves learning and languages but especially Latin and French travels much abroad is very dexterous at exercises and honours and seeks learned company Yea and they have this vertue above all other nations wherewith I have conversed that they heartily love one another our of their own country hide the vices of their Compatriots and stand much for the honour of their nation The Peasants or Country people send their Deputies to the Assemblies of the States to the end that nothing be coucluded there to the prejudice of their priviledges King Gustave and Queen Christine his Daughter now reigning created much new Gentry which in some sort is disdained by the ancient Families in regard the Nobility of the kingdom was almost exhausted by the Warres CHAP. VI Of Denmark The Description thereof DEnmark is a kingdom the best part whereof consists of Islands as namely Zeland and Fionia The Province of Scania reaches up to Sweden and Jutland to Holstein It was peacefully gouerned by the prudent conduct of King Christian the fourth successour to Frederick the second his Father and Duke of Holstein During his minority he had four Counsellours to help him to bear the charge of the Government He was crowned the 29 th of August in the year 1596. The principal strength of this Kingdom consists of good and stately ships whereof the King hath a considerable number as well for the defence of his said Islands as for that most important passage of the Sownd which is the streight that separates Scania from Zeland and which is of huge advantage by reason of the infinity of ships which must passe over it to go into the Baltick Sea in the same manner that those of all the Havens of the said Sea and bound for the Ocean are forced to passe that way The Nobility of Denmark as also that of Holstein is much more inclined to warres then learning zealous for their liberty and Rights and makes no allyance by marriage with the common people a maxime much observed through all the North Poland and Germany They rufuse Ecclesiastical Honours as below their condition defend their priviledges and make no esteem of others though by their experience and knowledge they may merit the best Offices and Employments in the Country The Government is not much unlike that of Poland in both which Elective Kingdomes the Kings undertake nothing of importance without the consent of the States and Nobility The Gentlemen are all equall and as it were of one Family there being neither Earl nor Baron The Officers of the Crown and Counsellours of the kingdome have the preheminency and assist the King in the most weighty affaires of the Countrey Norway an Hereditary kingdom opposite to Great Britain or England It is very big but very desert and hath no considerable Towns but such as are near the Sea side It yeelds great store of fish wood boards and good skins These three kingdomes were heretofore under the government of the King of Denmark But the Swedes not being able to suffer the tyranny of Christian the second divided themselves from his obedience They all follow the Lutheran Religion and the Capitall City of Denmark is Coppenhaghen a very fair town situated upon the streight of the Sownd near the Baltick Sea a passage of about four leagues most pleasant and recreative by means of a Forrest which borders upon the Sea from Coppenhaghen to Elsener of which passage because it is so much envyed we will hereafter speak more at large The Peasants of Denmark and Poland are treated almost like slaves for the greatest part of the Nobility licentiously abusing their liberty despises all who are not Gentlemen A fault which hath drawn ruine upon many Families which boasted of the story of their Ancestours But it is not enough to be born a Gentleman unlesse it appear by vertuous laudable and generous actions CHAP. VII Of Great Britain The History of the Earl of Gore ENgland is a most fertile and most potent Island as well for scituation as men and ships There reigned Queen Elizabeth a Princesse as happy in her allyances success of arms and love of her subjects as ever was She was Daughter to Henry the 8 th and Sister to Mary and Edward She changed the Religion declared her self Head of the Church She was alwaies well served She sent strong succours to the King of Navarre and her subjects wonne many victories by Sea from the Spaniard against whom she continued her hatred even till her death in favour of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-countries She was a sworne enemy to the Roman Catholick Religion and seemed to have made it her task to destroy that as well as she had the King who bears the surname of it Scotland is a kingdom which makes a part but not the better part of this Island There reigned as King Lames Stewart a Prince esteemed very wise who resented
That mad League of the Pope the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain would have invaded any other State but theirs so much amazement did it strike into those Areopages who yet by their rare industry were able to untangle this fatal conjuncture and save their Common-wealth from the shipwrack wherewith she was much threatned In fine after that peace which they had made with the Turk and which followed close upon the glorious Battel but with small fruit of Lepante they finished that Age and began this present in good intelligence with their Neighbours The King of Spain enjoyes in Italy the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily and the Duchy of Milan upon which States the French have also their pretentions which often cause frequent warres between the two Crownes whereof we shall speak towards the end of this Treatise in the revolution of those last tumults The Grand Duke of Tuskany the Dukes of Mantua and Parma keep their Seates in peace and the Common-wealth of Genoa hers tyed fast for her profit to the interests of Spain Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy a Prince as subtle as inconstant but yet unlucky enough for having seized upon the Marquisat of Salluces found himself forced to put on his harnesse and to leave his rest in the first year of this age as we shall hereafter shew neither his journey to Paris nor all the politick craft he could use being able to warrant him from this check The Dukes of Savoy are very potent and often seen to make the skale hang towards that Crown to which they leane France seeks their friendship to have the gate open into Italy in the intrigues whereof she finds her self passionately concerned Lorraine was governed by Duke Charles a milde Prince who still complained of the wrong which the enemies of the League whereof the Princes of that house were the chief had made him suffer This Province which divides Germany from France is very fruitfull and takes her name from the Emperour Lotarius and her Princes their Descent from Charlemagne They have alwayes been great Warriers and Godfree of Bouillon through zeal of piety went and conquered the Holy Land The Dukes of Lorraine for interest of State keep good correspondence with their Neighbours and the last misfortune which happened in this Duchy was caused rather by the decline of the Emperours Affayres and the ambition of him who thought all lawfull to him then by the fault of the Prince who could not shelter himself from that storme which had already shivered both Masts Sayles and Helme These States aforesaid in regard they never knew any Religion but that of Rome suffer not any other so much as to bud or spring there and if peradventure there be any one found in Lorraine who hath embraced the Protestant Religion he retires himself to Metz or Geneva and they of the Country of Luxenbourgh to Sedan Diversity of Religions parts humours gives desire of motion to such as are ambitious and makes a Prince very little loved by them who are not of the same opinion We have already gone round about Europe therefore let us now enter into the middle and speak of those great Monarchies which by their motions have shaken all other States as being governed according to the influences thereof and accommodating their interests to the ballance of their greatnesse For since Warre hath been declared between Spain and France very few Princes have stood Neutrall some having joyned their forces to the party most necessary for them and some others though but spectators have not yet forborne to poise more to the one side then the other But none have been willing to have either of these Crowns suppressed by the other for the apprehension and fear wherein they all are of a Generall Monarchy CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy NOw to get entire knowledge of the interests of these two Crownes of the Causes which so often arm them to the great detriment of Christendom and the apprehensions which they give of aspiring to a general Monarchy though by unequall and different wayes we must goe up to the source and so come quickly down again drawing from thence a true explanation for our subject which we will follow as our guide to the end of our Course France being delivered from the warres with England and wholly restored to her self as well by the help of forren as the help of her Neighbours and even the very Spaniards themselves with whom she had a close friendship at that time Having I say shaken off the yoke of the English who were expelled from Guyenne and Normandy she became the most puissant Monarchy of Europe King Charles the 8 th went to feaze upon the kingdom of Naples which was no sooner got then lost by his departure thence Lewis the twelfth having made an Alliance with Ferdinand of Castile for the recovery of the kingdom enters Italy surprises Milan and the unjust usurper Sforce and so retakes the said kingdome of Naples But it sometimes happens that the sharing of stakes makes friends foes for these Allyes fell to oddes and Consalve having in many Encounters routed the French setled the kingdome upon the Castilians and the power and reputation of the Spaniards encreased much by the valour of the great Captain The first reason of the hatred between the Spaniards and the French Francis the first having broken the Swissers in a great Battail easily made himsel Master of the Duke dome of Milan and consequently of the kingdom of Naples But Fortune smiled upon the French only to betray them For she suddenly turned to the Spaniards who took King Francis prisoner and established themselves in the said kingdome and in the State of Milan Now from hence proceeded the hatred between the two Nations which hath since been augmented according to occurrences of State-jealousies and other considerable accidents whereof we will here give a short hint The second reason But there is a second and a more pregnant reason for which not only France but the neighbouring States also have conceived apprehensions of jealousies which is that of the Union of Spain by marriage with the houses of Austria and Burgundy and the latter of these began thus Philip de Valois none to John the sixth King of France for having well defended his Father in a Battail against the English was by marriage made Duke of Burgundy and Prince of the Low-countries and John his sonne succeeded him not onely in all the Provinces of his Parents but in the hatred also which he bore to the House of Orleans Now this young Prince going with a great force of the Nobility of France and the Low-countries into Hungary against the Turk fell into the hands of Bajazet who would have caused him to be beheaded as well as the rest of the prisoners had he not been advised to put him to a Ransom and send him home and this because it was
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.
command Now this expulsion of them together with so many Colonies as the Spaniards have in the Indies and an infinite number of other Islands hath much dispeopled the Continent of Spain and greatly retarded the progresse The cause of dispeopling Spain which this Warlike Nation might otherwise peradventure have made upon her enemies And this was very well foreseen by a certain Spanish Don who told King Philip the second that the transportation of the Natives would one day be the ruine of Spain But before we passe any further let us speak a word of this kingdom the power whereof is so great that it gives jealousie to all the States of the Universe CHAP. X A brief discription of the Kingdoms of Spain and France SPaine is separated from France by the Pirenaan hills and from Affrica by the Levant or Eastern Sea which communicates it self with the Ocean by that considerable passage called the streights of Gibelatrar The Romans made two Provinces of Spaine and in those two desperate sieges of Segungum and Numantia as well they as the Affricans tryed the constancy and courage of the Spaniards from whom they received great services in their armies So that it is not now onely that they are valiant souldiers The Goths enter into Spaine 168. The Goths Sweves and Vandals after they had ransacked the Empire made choice of Spaine for the seat of their domination as being very proper to command both Europe and Affrica They entered about the yeer 168. and remained in possession thereof more then four hundred that is till Rodrigues with almost all his nobility was defeated by the Saracons who were brought in by a certain Earl in revenge of the honour of his daughter whom the King had ravished Vengeance is against Christian Religion and yet this young Lady made her own native Country a prey to the Barbarians They maintained themselves there above seven hundred yeers as well against the French as the Spaniards themselves who endeavoured to expell them In precedent ages there were numbered about twelve Crowns or Kingdoms which were all reduced to one by Ferdinand and Isabell in the yeer 1474. except that of Portugal which being subjugated by Philip the second both by armes and right of succession hath been peacefully possessed by him and his heirs till the yeer 1640. when the Portugezes withdrew themselves from obedience to Philip the fourth and chose for their King the Duke of Bragaâ—sa under the name of John the jourth It was in the reign of the aforesaid Ferdinand The Indies found our under Ferdinand of Castill that the Indies and many other Islands were found out the riches whereof hath much augmented the potency of Spaine and made her aspire as her enemies say to the Monarchie of the whole world Philip the iv King of Spaine Now besides tho reasons aforementioned why there are so few inhabitants in a Country of large extent there is yet another which is this Ferdinand and Isabell having finished the Warr with the Moors resolved to expell the Jews also out of the territories under their obedience who transported themselves into Affrion Italy the Levant and Portugal The Jewes vanished out of Spaine and Portugall from whence they were likewise chased some yeers after And besides the women are sterill enough especially towards the south and again the warrs which their Kings have so long had in Germany Italy France and the Low-Countries not forgetting the infinity of Garrisons which they are obliged to keep to containe their people in their duty have so much exhausted Spaine that the King hath given great freedoms and immunities to such as have five or six male Children Yea moreover strangers are invited to come and dwell there under profitable conditions provided still that they be Romane Catholicks for the Inquisition suffers no other Religion then that Now this Inquisition so much cried down and reviled by other Nations was instituted at the first for the rooting out of the Mahometisme The Inquisition and Judâ—â—sme though it now extend it self upon all such as give but the least suspicion of not adhering totally to the definition of the Church of Rome If the said Kingdom were as well peopled as France the King would have made farre greater conquests then he hath and would not have been forced to expose his money and his armies to the infidelity of some strangers In fine the King of Spaine hath so many Kingdoms so many Provinces and so many Islands in all parts of the Universe that it was with good reason that a certaine great person in the yeer 1624 refuted Sleidan concerning the four Monarchies in these tearms Philip the fourth who now reigns saith he upon whose lands the sunne never sets is more potent then was any one of those Monarchs for the continuance of neer four score yeers together This nation walks slowly to conquest but she keeps well what she hath gotten She is tardy to resolve but she stoutly pursues what is resolved She is not frighted at the encounter of any difficulties and accomplishes her ends for the most part by pertinacy and obstinacy She foresees afar off and never looses either patience or hope howbeit that length of expectation makes her often loose good occasions She doth marvels under an Italian Generall which was observable in the Prince of Parma Marquis Spiâ—ola and others The Spaniards constant and haughty This proud Nation better understands the art of governing then all other and she hath in her some witts so subtle and acute that her very enemies themselves who hate her are fain to praise her And now let us come back againe over the hills to take notice of the complexion of that brisk Nation her rivall which hath often stopped her victories in the heigth of their course both in the Low-Conntries Germany and Italy France most populous France is a most large most rich and most populous Kingdome divided from Italy by Savoy and the Alps from High-Germany by Lorraine from England by the Sea and from Low-Germany by Luxemburgh Hennanlt Artoise and French-Flanders The Romans who subjugated the Gawles and distributed them into Belgick Câ—ltick and Aquitanick were beaten out by the opinion of some Authors by Cloâ—â—â—s the first Christian King about the year 500. The Francks passed the Rhein under Pharamond the first King Clodion went not beyond Cambray and was forced to return by Stilicon Aetins cut off his Army made him repass the Rhein und hurried him back in Francony-Meroâ—e laying hold of the advantage of the confusions of the Empyre took Trevers passed into Campagne from thence to Paris and then to Orleans and so then and there began to establish the French Monarchy giving to Gawl which he had conquered Gawl takes the name of France the name of France This kingdom by succession of time hath been been very much augmented and hath soon raised to the Throne Royall two and twenty Kings of the
he sent some Troops which made a shew of coming from the Camp before Breda as carrying the same Motto's and Colours which Spinola carried they arrived undiscovered to the very Mote applyed their Ladders and set all their rare Engynes on work to render themselves Masters of the Place whereof they could not have failed had not their own hearts failed them first For one Who goes there of the Sentinell followed by the discharge of a Musket made theirs fall our of their hands and left them no more courage then onely to fly It was thought that he had a mind to bestow the honour of this expeditiupon the Hollanders whom he onely employed in it and that if he had mingled any of the other nations with them the businesse would have issued to his contentment This newes struck the Marquis almost into a feaver and sent the Prince loaden with Melancholy to the Hage where towards the end of the winter he died leaving his Army to his brother Henry Frederick and Spinola before Breda who seeing no meanes to take it by force resolved to famish it A former enterprize upon the same Cittadell The aforesaid Prince had had a former enterprize upon the said Cittadell and held himself so sure of it that he told the Burgomasters of Dort at his departure that none but God could hinder it And indeed he was no sooner embarked but there arose so violent and so extreamly cold a tempest that it put both his life and his Fleet in danger and so he was forced to return God hath put limits to Victories which cannot be passed by humane wisdome Spinola having sufficiently learnt how needfull it was to be vigilant with an enemy who slept not reinforced the Garrison of the aforesaid Cittadell kept himself fast in his trenches before Breda expecting the consumpsion of the Provisions of the Town and made magazin for the Winter and being advertised besides that the Enemy was assembling some forces and that four Kings had interested themselves in this Siege He sent for some Regiments from the Emperour Uladislaus Prince of Poland before Breda Prince Vladislaus since King of Poland came to see this famous siege and was received by the whole Army with such military honours as were due to the Sonne of a King and a very great Captaine The King of Spaine having foreseen this tempest which was contrived against his Low-Countries and being unwilling to hazard the whole for one piece thereof wrote to his Aunt that it was better to leave the siege then obstinately to persist in the impossibility of taking the Towne with the losse of all her States This savoured well with the Emulators of the said Marquis as Don Lewis de Velasco c. A Magazin burnt There happened also another misfortune which was that the Hollander fired a Magazin which would have staggered any other General but such a one as he who quickly requited this losse and by his vigilancie repulsed the English who with a most martiall courage went to attack a Quarter of his Camp Breda copitulates In fine after a Siege of ten moneths Breda was yeelded and it happened the very same day that the Kings Letters arrived with his absolute command to draw off the Army We left the King of Poland with his Nobility marching against the great Turk and therefore let us now look what the Swedes in the mean while are doing Gustavus laid hold of that occasion passed an army into Livonia and after the siege of five weeks to the great trouble of the Citizens took Riga The Swedes take Riga The Polanders hereupon made loud complaints of him for beginning the Warre just when they were busied against the Common Enemy and for breaking the Truce in the articles whereof it was comprized that the one of the Kings should not enter into the Lands of the other without having denounced the War three moneths before To which the Swedes made answer that they had sent their Embassadours And mâ—â—k at the complaints of the Foles and that they were not able to dispatch their Commissions any sooner being hindered by windes and tempests which were to be accused and not they a trick of War which must be made passe for good according to the Maximes of this Age. In short this occasion was favourable to the Swedes who cared as much for their reasons as Monsieur de Montmorancy did for those of the Magistrates of Metz when he was gotten into possession of their Towne This War was finished by a Truce whereby the Swedes were obleiged to return by Sea after they had well fortifyed Riga with intention never to restore it againe Now the Electour Palatine after being spoiled of his States was deprived also of his Dignities and his Electorat transferred upon the Duke of Bavaria his Cosin 1623. which much augmented hatred against the Emperour Duke Maximilian and all the Catholicks and caused in fine many new Allyances to be made which put spurts to the War we are going to discribe in this next Book The Electour Palatin spoiled of his States and banished This Prince was crowned King of Bohemia the fourteenth of November 1619. in the moneth of January following he made his Allyances and in the same year also he lost his Kingdome and his States was proscribed by the Emperours Edict and his Coronation declared Null He who grasps much holds little and it often falls out that whilest we are in pursute of other mens good we lose our owne THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE FOURTH BOOK CHAP. I The Warre of Denmark The Allyances of the Kings of France England Denmark and the States of Holland against the Emperour GEneral Mansfeldts arguments had as much efficacy in the North as they had towards the South because the dangers which seemed to threaten that Country were grown greater and besides a Prince which becomes potent makes himself both feared and hated Tilly wintered in Hassia in despight of the Landgrave Maurice nor were the States of Low-Saxony a little troubled to see the Imperiall Eagles fluttering up and down upon their fronteers and that not without giving them great incovenience besides that they feared lest they should peradventure come to replant their old authority there The King of Denmark together with many other Princes and States thereabouts were moved to much impatience by the ruine of Frederick as apprehending lest these Guests should come and take up their lodging amongst them Wherefore being advertised by common danger and by that which themselves perhaps would have done if they had had the same power and right which the Emperour had they made a League for the defence of the Circle of the Lower Saxony into which entred the Kings of England France and Sweden together with the States Generall and the King of Denmark himself was the Head A League against the Em perour as being General of the said Circle The Dukes of Brunswick Mekelenburgh and Holstein
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
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
the French and shortly after Prince Francis of Lorranâ— himself did the same with the maine body of the Army upon conditions that he should enjoy the Dutchy of Bar and the County of Vaudement as also a penssion from the King of France sufficient to maintain himself and his Family and the Lords who had been Commanders in his Brothers Army under him and were come with him restored to their Estates The faid Forces were all dispersed and ranged under Marshal Turâ—nns orders in Picardy The disgust of some Fronteer Governours The lansenists in France There hapned a great disgust between the King of France and the Governours of Dourlans Arras Peronne and Corby about some contributions and other Advantages belonging to their Goverments in so much as it looked a great while as if they intended no less then to revolt and undertake the Prince of Condes party but seasonable satisfaction being given them they returned to their obedience to the great elusion and frustration of the expectation of the Spaniards and the Dutchesse of Chatillon who was imprisoned for having endeavoured to incite the Marshall D'hocquincourt Governour of Peronne towards a defection was also set at liberty About this time Complaint was made to the Court of France of the great increase of the Iansenists or such as adhered to the doctrine of Iansenius Bishop of Ypers in Flanders which notwithstanding it had been consopited by Pope Innocent the Tenth some years before by a speciall Bull authorized and sent by him to that effect began now to be again resuscitated by Doctor Arnault and some others of the Sorbon as also some of Lovain in such sort as had there not been very mature prevention used it might have grown by degrees to be a businesse of difficulty enough to allay the principles of the said doctrine having much affinity with what was held by Saint Augustin and is now in conformity with that of the Reformed Churches touching Predestination Free-Will Merit of Works c. besides that it is no way displeasing to many learned and considerable persons amongst the Roman Catholicks themselves on this side of the Alps and therefore the more caution was used for the timely silencing thereof The King of Sweden after his former great victory the King of Polands flight and the generall successe of the Swedish Arms in Poland and the Dominious thereupon depending besieged Cracovia and took it by Composition called a Diet or Assembly of the States of Poland at Warsovia drew an Oath of Fidelity from them The Polish Quartians submit and setled the affaires of the Kingdom under obedience to himself at which time the Polish Cavalry called Quartians together with their General Podolskie Great Standard-bearer of Poland submitted themselves to him five thousand whereof he took with himself sent two thousand of them with Licutenant Generall Muller into Great Poland and employed the rest upon other occasions This done and an agreement being made with Chimlinskie Generall of the Cossacks who came to offer himself to the King of Sweden with about sixty thousand men he sent his Armies into Prussia which took Thoren and Strasburgh by Composition and marched to Marienburgh An Embassadour from Portugal at Rome Upon the twentieth of November Francisco de Sowza arrived at Rome in the quality of Extraordinary Embassadour to his Holinesse in the behalf of the Churches of Portugal in despight of all the powerfull opposition made by the Spaniards and their Faction in that Court The Swedish Fleet consisting of fifty ships commanded by Generall Wranghel after having layn long near Wismar launched into the Road of Dantzick and attempted to seize upon the little Town of Hoste but was repulsed by the stout resistance of the Inhabitants and forced by ill weather back into Pomerania The Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont finding the Agreement made between the Duke and them to be very disadvantageous to them as well in regard of the rigour of some of the Articles thereof as also for that the demolishment of the Fort Saint Martin and some other promises made them by their said Duke goe slowly on towards performance feel themselves in as much calamity and insecurity as before and consequently cease not to send their complaints and implore the assistance of their Brethren abroad as much as ever There happened also not long agoe a great controversie between the Protestant and Catholick Cantons of Swisserland about the falling off of about thirty families from the Romish Religion and embracing the other which if not quickly pacified may peradventure produce much misfortune It is said that the Pope having offered the King of Poland some assistance of mony the said King made answer That the summe was too inconsider ble to advance him to the recovery of his States and that for his own subsistance as a King he thanked God he had treasure enough and finally that however he had lost his Crownes yet could he not lose his Kingly Title But it is fully conceived that the Emperour and some of the Catholick and Ecclesiasticall Princes of Germany will at length resolve to affoard him such relief both of men money and other necessaries for war as may enable him to appear in the Field against his Enemies and make the Game fairer for him then hither to it hath been not withstanding the Emperour aforesaid have made a kinde of Declaration to the contrary and sent his Extraordinary Embassadour to the King of Sweden to complement him and intercede for a friendly Accommodation for he hath already sent divers Regiments into Silesia and still goes on with his Leavies which he distributes and ranges near the fronteers both of Sweden and Poland and indeed this prodigious prosperity of the Swedish Arms in Poland gives an Alarme not only to all Germany but even to Italy also and makes them stand upon their guard not knowing whose turn may be next During the distractions of Christendome the Pope hath not been much asleep since his coming to the Chayre but hath uncessantly laboured by Letters to the Kings of Spain and France to draw them to a firm peace yea and he hath sent two of the most eminent and most potent Cardinals of all the Colledge namely Cardinall Barberini and Cardinal Grimaldi who have shewed themselves upon all occasions great servants to the French Interest to the Court of France to negotiate the matter and it is thought that the Spaniard being on the loosing hand and almost desperate will give France whatsoever she askes rather then misse a peace however some be also of opinion that they will be able to effect little therein in regard that France hath made her Peace with England which was published at Paris and London with extraordinary joy and splendour the ninth of December 1655. with very much advantage to the English Nation FINIS
THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE VVherein is set dovvn the true state of EUROPE as it was in the year 1500. ALSO The Original and Causes of all the VVarres and Commotions that have happened Together with A Description of the most memorable Battels Sieges Actions and Transactions both in Court and Camp from that time till this present year 1656. Illustrated vvith the lively Effigies of the most renowned Persons of this present Time Written Originally by J. PARIVAL and now rendred into English by B. HARRIS Gent. LONDON Printed by E. TYLER and are to be sold by J. Crook S. Miller and T. Davies at the Ship and at the Starre in Pauls Church yard 1656. TO THE HONOURABLE JOHN RVSSEL Esquire c. Brother to the Right honourable THOMAS Earle of Bedford c. Honourable Sir AS the Sun by the circumfusion of his corruscant beames doth not onely extrinsically discover the vast extent of the Vniverse but intrinsically foment and nourish all the particular productions thereof by the infusion of heat the same doth Nobility and Vertue in great Persons the reputation of whose worth and merit being carried through the World by the nimble and happy wings of Fame makes them not onely known but engenders an Admiration of their vertues and a certain kinde of respect also and reverence to their Persons even in such as never saw them This Noble Sir is the principal motive which not onely animates but instigates me to consecrate this Translation to you with as much assurance of your benigne acceptation as if Fortune had been as favourable to me in making me knowne to your most worthy Person in England as Fame hath been liberall in making me participant of the report of your high Birth and Qualities abroad Wherefore being upon the matter a kinde of halfe-stranger to my Country not to the Idiom thereof to whom should I addresse the first fruits of my small labours after my late return into it but to so worthy a Branch of the most illustrious and Heroick Stock of the Russells And to whom should I dedicate a History which contains the most renowned Exploits and the most remarkable and most imitable Actions Transactions and Examples both in Court and Camp of the bravest Hero's of Europe for so long a Series of years but to him the reputation of whose in vincible Courage in war and whose incomparable Courtesie in Peace together with his singular Generosity Clemency and Benignity to all persons of all conditions and in all occasions in generall gives me sufficient ground to hope that he will not onely vouchsafe to patronize the Worke but pardon the presumption of the Workman whose lively zeals and respect is the onely cause of his ambition Be pleased therefore Most noble Sir to embrave it as propitiously as it is presented to you humbly and excuse the in-elegancie and roughnesse of the stile in regard that besides that the Subject is an Historicall Relation my occasions suffered me not to attend nor correct the Presse If you meet with any Passage in the Booke upon the reading whereof you may thinke fit to entertaine your noble Thoughts in some of your vacant hours as doubtlesse you will there being great variety of all kindes of humane Actions Passions and Accidents it will not onely be an object of present Contentment but a subject also of future Encouragement to me to speake my selfe in other and better Language what the height of my Ambition makes me aspire to be Honourable Sir Your most humble and most devoted Servant B. H. TO THE READER Dear Reader I Have one Request to make thee which thou wilt have much ado to refuse me and it is That thou wilt be pleased to suspend thy judgement till thou shalt have maturely weighed my Work that so nothing may fall from thee which may be too pracipitate or too passionate Thou wilt finde some things which will please thee and will make thee pardon such as will be more for other rains palats then thine But above all I conjure thee by Chriâ—â—an Charity that I have spoken according to my opinion without any flattery at all and if thou findest some things whereof thou art better informed then I thou wilt do me the favour to remember that being in a private Condition and not having been admitted into the Cabinet I am not the first who hath erred through ignorance I praise not vice by praising vicious persons but the vertue which is found in them as a Diamond upon the Dunghill and if I speak not all I know understand that there is more danger to utter all then profit to silence all I call this Age the Iron Age in regard that all the Evills and Prodigies have happened in grosse which were in praecedent Ages but in retail For if disorders were then great in some corners they are so now every where If thou laugh at my opinion Noah was also mocked for having exhorted the people to Repentance and began the Ark about a hundred years before the Deluge No body knowes when the Great Judge will come but the Prodigies advertise us to keep our selves ready that so we may not be found as in the dayes of Noah Eating and drinking without care Farewell A TA. A TABLE Of the Chapters PART I. BOOK I. CHAP. I. THe State of Europe towards the end of the precedent Age. Page 1. CHAP. II. Of the war of Hungary The Mutiny of the French rigorously punished The Duke of Mercoeurs death Whence came the Inhabitants of Transylvania Page 3. CHAP. III. Of Russia or Muscovia the Religion The History of Demetrius Page 5. CHAP. IV. Of Poland the Government the Religion Henry Duke of Ainioü elected King and afterwards Sigismund of Sweden and Maximilian of Austria who was taken prisoner in a Battail Page 6. CHAP. V. Of Sweden The disorder which happened between King Sigismund and his Vncle Charles and why The successe of their Arms. Page 9. CHAP. VI. Of Denmark the description thereof Page 11. CHAP. VII Of great Britain The History of the Earl of Gowrey Page 12. CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorrain and Savoy Page 13. CHAP. IX The jealousies between the two Crownes and why The House of Burgundy Page 15. CHAP. X. A relation of the evils which have happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guisards or the House of Guise Page 17. CHAP. XI Commotions in the Low-Countries and why In fine the Peace of Vervins followes The Donation of the Low-countries to the Infanta Page 18. CHAP. XII The Arch-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Dutchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable patience Page 21. CHAP. XIII The difference which happened between the counts of Freezland and the town of Embden The States put in a Garrison Page 22. CHAP. XIV Of the changes which happened about matter of Religion in the precedent Ages and motives for our
discovered in his physiognomy that he should one day become the Author of much disturbance to Christendome which afterwards proved true For he caused the Duke of Orleans to be massacred which raised a huge warre between these two illustrious Houses to the great advancement of the English affaires in France But now for the remedy of all those evills a Peace was made and Duke John assassinated in a Conference in the presence of the Dolphin Now this dismal chance this unseasonable revenge and this mad Counsell was the cause why the English assisted by the Burgundians and Flemmings made themselves masters of almost all the kingdome of France For Philip surnamed the Good joyned with the English to revenge the death of his Father against Charles the seventh In fine there happening a civil warre in England between the Houses of Lancaster and York the White and Red Rose and Duke Philip drawing his stake out of the play the English came by degrees to loose all they had gotten in the said kingdome This good Prince instituted and established the Order of the Golden Fleece in the year 1430 and tyed so by succession all those Provinces into one body to which Charles the Combatant annexed the Duchy of Guelders sold to him by Duke Arnolt for the summe of 92 thousand Crowns The pretensions of the Duke of Juleers or Gulick were also granted by consent of the Emperour Frederick in consideration of the summe of eighty thousand Florens in gold He left one only Daughter named Mary of Valois who was a very vertuous Princess and was married to Maxmilian of Austria and her death proved fatall to the Low-countries in respect of the war which followed there Her sonne Philip having renewed his alliance with Henry the seventh went into Spain and married Iane of Castile who brought him Charles of Austria And thus these Provinces being bound first to the House of Burgundy and then to that of Austria came last into the possession of that of Spain which by the discovery and conquest of the Indies happening almost at the same time is become most puissant and terrible as well to other States and Princes as also to the Ottomans themselves who seeing the Romane Empyre governed by a Prince of this Family loaden with so many Crowns and so many potent States take no small pleasure in seeing so many Schismes amongst the Christians Charles being chosen Emperour had Francis the first for his Competitor which kindled great Warres between them The success whereof was that Francis being taken prisoner promised though he performed not to restore the Duchy of Burgundy and renounce the Rights which the Kings of France had had in some Provinces of the Low-countries land Italy so that the Heyres of Charles remained a long time in the quiet and peacefull possession of them France being enough embroyled at home by the tender youth of three Kings all sonnes to Henry the second and by Civill Warre without looking back into old quarrels The House of Austria encreased by Marriages and Navigation And here we may see how by marriages and Navigations the House of Austria is both amplified and elevated which hath maintained her self by arms given jealousies to the Princes of Europe by her victories and struck sear and hatred into the soules of the Protestants who have made Leagues to uphold themselves and put a flea into the eare of France which hath abandoned the interests of Religion to make her self great and check this formidable power From this Knot or Tye of so many Crowns and great States together wherewith the King of Spaines head is burthened sprang that ticklish and indissoluble difference of precedency or preheminency which the Kings of France by the title of Eldest sonnes of the Church and most Christian Kings have alwayes attributed to themselves CHAP. X A Relation of the mischiefs happened in France under the minority of the Kings and by the diversity of Religions The jealousie about the power of the Guilards The Evils in France through State-jealousie FRance by the deplorable death of Henry the second grew in a very short space to sink into calamities which dured to the end of the last Age. The evil began in the minority of Francis the second and under the Regency of Katharin de Medicis through a jealousie which thrust it self in amongst the Princes of the Blood the Constable Montmorency the Counts of Chattillon and Andelot Admiral Caspar de Colligny and other Lords on the one side and the Dukes of Guise the Princes of the House of Laâ—rraine and other Noblemen on the other The Princes complained of the Guisards or them of the House of Guise whom in mockery and to make them odious they termed strangers had the mannagement of all the Affaires of France in their hands They almost all embraced the Reformed Religion which at that time began to encrease much through the whole kingdome whereof they declared themselves Protectors The chief motive of hatred betwixt these two most illustrious and ancient Families grew from a jest which the Admiral de Colligny cast upon the Duke of Guise concerning the taking of Theonnille A prick of a Lance which drew such a deluge of blood as no Chirurgion was able to stench Hatred between these two Houses for a jest The greatest part of the Ecclesiasticks and the most zealous of the Romane Catholicks took the Party of the King and the Guisards Many Battails were fought many Siedges of Townes laid and many Peaces made and no sooner made then broken In fine under Charles the ninth at the Wedding of the King of Navarre at Paris upon the Eve of Saint Bartholomew hapned that abhominable Massacre so much and so justly exclained against by the Protestants and blamed even by the Romane Catholicks themselves In the Reign of Henry the third was made a League called the Holy League for the exclusion of Henry de Bourbon from succession to the Crown as being an Heretick whereof the Duke of Guise a Prince of courage and high esteem was the Head who having routed the Reyters or Germane Horse ented Paris in despight of the King where he was received by the Citizens with excess of honours and when the showes of joy were ended they raised certain Barricadoes which made the King retire himself to a place of safety A Fatall Honour to all subjects how innocent soever they be For redress of these disorders there was a Peace endeavoured betwixt the King and the Duke The place of Treaty was Blois where the King contrary to his Royal Word given him caused both him and the Cardinal his Brother to be treacherously murthered His Children were saved by the Queen-Mother for the King had resolved to extirpate the whole Race thereby to prevent the danger of revenge Paris revolted and in imitation thereof many other Townes besides The King applied himself to the Huguenot Party and sent for the King of Navarre which rendered him still more odious
of the Duke of Mayenne and the rest of the League with King Henry Albert resolved to make the united Provinces also feel the stroake of his Arms And so he presented himself before Ostend an Apple not yet ripe and afterwards before Hulet which after many Assaults he at length carried But the Marshall de Rosue had his Head taken off by a Canon Bullet and more then three thousand souldiers were also slaine The year following Prince Maurice had his revenge near Turnhawt where he cut off the Troops of the Count de Varax In the month of March of the same year Hernantello Governour of Dourlens like a Fox surprised Amiens by a stratagem to the great astonishment of all France and the King retook it like a Lion after six moneths siege He passed thither with strong forces and thought to have given a just retaliation to the Spaniards by surprising Arras but he was repulsed by the young Count of Buquoy who after wards rendred great and remarkable services to the Emperour as we shall shortly shew During the time of these changes the Pope forbore not to represent to the King the misfortunes and mischiefes which this long Warre brought upon Christendome and beseeched him to hearken to a good and firm Peace with the King of Spain especially being invited thereto by the disorders of his own kingdome and the fear of a new Revolt more dangerous then the former There was none but the Queen of England and the Confederated States who endeavoured by advantageous offers to divert him and keep him on horse-back Though yet he dissembled their reproaches and answered that the Queen was a gainer by this warre but for his part that his people was exhausted and that he received many and great dammages from the Spaniards who promised by this Peace to render all they had gotten in France That he was obliged as a good King and a good Father to solace and refresh his poor subjects So that all their offers and many more the Peace of Vervin 2598. were not able to hinder this holy work which was concluded and established at Vervin in the moneth of May 1598. The King of Spain also for his part was urged to make Peace as seeing himself crazed with age and having a young Prince and a Princesse his children to marry and Fortune very often against him Besides three enemies upon his back as France and the Confederated Provinces which threatened him with the utter losse of the Low-countries and England which either destroyed or spoyled his Fleets upon the Ocean endangered thereof the Indies and put him to great charges to secure it and lastly their taking of Cales the prime key of the kingdom and other Places Now by vertue of this Peace the places were restored But the pretentions which each of these Kings hath to some certain Demaynes of the other were not taken away From whence sprang the seed of new Warres which were one day to smoother the promises of arming no more even though there should be occasion for it The Peace was received by the poor people with such showes of joy and teares of tendernesse as cannot be comprehended but by such as have suffered and almost lost all The States in the mean while let not these occasions slip by the great distance of the Cardinals forces For Prince Maurice marched into the Field took Bergh Grol Oldenseel Lingen and some other places which progress purchased him the reputation of a very great Captain and of understanding the profession of the Militia as well as any man of his time After the publication of the Peace Philip the second by his Letters Patents dated at Madrid the 6 th of May 1598. conferred all the Low-countries together with the Duchy of Burgundy upon the Infanta Isabell his Daughter to which the Prince her Brother consented and confirmed it both by oath and writing upon condition that if the said Princesse came to die without children the said Provinces should return to the Dominion of Spain besides many other Clauses too long to recite Now forasmuch as the actions of great persons are examined and either approved or disapproved according to every ones passion this which I here note was not forgotten by the contrary party All things are profitable yea Lyes themselves provided they last four and twenty hours are of utility and advantage CHAP. XII The Areh-Duke goes into Spain and the Admirall into the Duchy of Cleveland The death of King Philip. His admirable Patience THe Allyes of both parties were invited to the Peace of Vervin but the Queen of England not being able to induce the States to it resolved to joyn with them in warre under conditions of more advantage to her then before This gave the Arch-Duke subject to complain of her for continuing a warre with so great stomack and grudge upon him by whom she had never been offended But he having now received the Procuration of the Infanta his Wife was acknowledged and received for Prince of the Low-countries and he wrote a Letter to the Confederated States but received no Answer The Arch-Duke goes into Spain He departed for Spain with the Prince of Orange and passed through Germany to conduct Queen Margaret of Austria nominating for Governour during his absence Cardinal Andrew and the Admirall of Arragon for Captain General who led a strong Army into Cleveland and Westphalia where he took Rinberg and many other small places and made his Winter-Quarter there notwithstanding the complaints of the Lower-Ceroles He sent La Bourlette to the Isle of Bommel took Crevecoeur laid siege to Bommel which he was forced to raise and so after he had built the Fort of St. Andrews he retreated into Brabant where his souldiers began to mutiny for want of pay The Ceroles had raised another Army which was disbanded for want of order some of them being for the Spaniards and the other for the States It is in vain to lead great forces into the Field without a good purse to maintain them and good counsell to encourage them The death of King Philip. King Philip lived not long after the conclusion of the Peace which he also wished both with the English and Hollanders as being desirous to die in Peace He was long tormented with a feaver and two impostumes and in fine his whole body was so wasted that it was pittiful to behold But more admirable was his patience to suffer all as he did without murmuring He commanded like a great Prince and died like a good Christian In the beginning of his Reign he was happy but in the decline of his age he saw the losse of one part of the Low-countries and received many other dammages from the English He was much blamed for not coming himself in person into Brabant and for proceeding too roughly with that people which had been so affectionaâ—e to the Emperour Charles and in fine for constituting two Generals over the Fleet surnamed The Invincible
had so much adoe to awaken In sine Whatsoever is profitable in matter of State seems lawfull But what we do our selves we ought not to condemn in others the Peace made 1506. The suspicion daily encreased and that chiefly because Count John of Ritsbergh was become a Roman Catholick But at last by the intercession of the King of England and the States-Generall the Peace was made at the Haghe in the year 1606 as also that of the Christians and Turks and all jealousies which could come from thence quite take off CHAP. XIV Of the Changes which happened in precedent Ages about matter of Religion and the motives of our Design drawn from these revolutions Luther writes against the Pope The Rebellion of the Peasants of Germany THe differences which have happened amongst Christians upon the diversity of Religions the distrusts which have sprung from thence as the fire from the flint and the reasons of State precious covers for manifest wickednesse have proved the cause of the greatest part of all our present mischiefes and languishments Therefore let us seek out the true root of it and leave passion to such as cannot receive any other impressions then those by which they are utterly blinded My purpose is not to dyve into questions of Divinity but only to search in History after the causes of so many alterations and so much hatred drawn from so holy and innocent a subject Pope Julius the second We will therefore begin with Pope Iulius the second who died in the year 1513. This Pope more carefull of the Temporall then of the Spiritual and more studious of propagating the Jurisdictions of the Church then the kingdom of God made an Allyance with the Emperour and the Kings of France and Spain to the utter ruine of the Venetians But he quickly changed his Cards forsook the Allyes reconciled himself with his enemies animated Henry the Eighth King of England against the French and Ferdinand against the King of Navarre whom he spoyled of his kingdom for refusing him passage He embroiles Europe He also dissolved the Allyance between the Emperour and the King of France and called the Swissers into Italy to drive the French out of the Milan In fine having sunk all Europe into inexplicable confusions and scandalized his Flock he made place for Leo the 10 th a man who loved rest and was lesse a souldier then Iulius of whom is written this great praise that he once cast some Keyes into the Tyber saying that St. Pauls Sword should have more power then the Arms of St. Peter The duty of a good shepherd is to keep his sheep in peace and feed them and not scatter them and send them to the shambles Whilest these warres lasted which ruined the Publick and Human Laws the Divine ones were also very ill kept The ignorance of the Prelates caused superstitions and their loose and vicious lives together with their great and vast possessions the hatred of the people The learned desired a redresse in the Ecclesiastical Policy as well as Peace required in the Secular Divorce which continues to this day with as little apparence of Reunion as there is of seeing the Rivers run back to their springs And it is that the Pope published a Iubily for the collection of monies to resist the Turk which was most necessary at that time But the impudence of a certain Monk called Teâ—zel exceeded so farre as to presume to sell the Indulgences or Pardons for the sinnes committed and to be committed I have horrour to recite this cheaâ—erie the companion of superstition ignorance and avarice and forthwith to draw soules out of Purgatory Martin Luther Martin Luther opposes Tyrzel Dector of Divinity at Witembergh and Monk of the Order of St. Austin briskly opposed this Impostor made a Thesis or General Position which he dedicated to the Pope himself to testify the will he had to relye upon his definition But through excess of indignation he passed the limits of Christian modesty and Catholick Truth Insomuch as that at length he grew to write against the Popes authority wherein he was impugned by a Divine called Eckins See Florimoud of Remond He is excommunicated Now Pope Leo desirous to quench this spark excommunicates Luther but that was to cast oyle into that fire and put poison to the wound For Martin raises his Batteries against him and calls him Antichrist which the Pope too much slighting applyed all his thoughts to warre Those enemies who are most despised are very often most hurtfull But the God of Peace drove him out of this world to make room for another more worthy and more vâ—â—tuous though lesse politick then he However Policie be a very convenient Science for such as govern great States and Empyres Pope Adrian the Preceptor or Tutor to Charles the 5. was born at Vâ—rick and promised to bring a wholesom Balsom to the diseases of Christendome For he had already elevated the hopes of the Good by abolishing Simony punishing sins against nature and not alienating the possessions of the Church But his too suddain death declared that God had otherwise disposed of him that his two Predecessors had too much embroyled the Flock that the sicknesse must have its course and that the Body was filled with too many bad humours to be cured by one single purge or one Blood-letting onely His doctrine in Saxony Now Luthers doctrine passed from Saxony into Sweden King Gustave and Frederick of Denmark being leagued together against Christian who deserted by his people was fled and they also forsook the Pope as well as their King and much ranged the authority of the Bishops of their kingdomes And as Luthers Doctrine grew to be received so diffidence and hatred grew equally up with it together with a desire also to maintaine it against all who endeavoured to suppress it There was besides another accident which very much troubled the Church and it was that Charles the Emperour and King Francis the first had very often entreated the Pope and Cardinals to call a General Councill for the reformation of abuses in the Church and Clergy But this song was little lesse unpleasant then the opposition of Luther And so these two Princes laying aside that care they being too nearly tyed to their own interests meditated nothing but warre upon each other Pope Clement successor to Adrian seeing the King of France prisoner made speedily a secret Allyance with his own subjects and almost all the Princes of Italy so to put a limit to the power of the Emperour who in revenge thereof abrogated his Authority in Spain surprised Rome and took him prisoner who was very ill treated by the Germans as being for the most part Lutherans Now these two Monarchs being the chief Pillars of Europe ought to have favoured a Reformation and hindred a separation But what The impiety of the people whets the sword of the Almighty who comes slowly to vengeance though
his stroakes be heavie and the justice of his wrath will reduce this wretched world into dust In Germany they who laboured to revive the Gospel fell to oddes principally about the Sacrament of the last Supper It is easier to pull down an old Building then to set up a new one Erasmus of Rotterdam that great Wit flourished at this time and contented himself only by scoffing the Monks without medling with the party of the Reformers For he well knew that the abuses came from men and manners and not from the 〈◊〉 Doctrine heretofore taught by the Church The horrible Rebellion which arose about this time did not a little deform Doctor Luthers new-born Doctrine For the Peasants thinking all things lawfull to them for the liberty so called they this new Reformation of the Gospel took arms and assayled the Church-men Cloisters and Gentry Their number was growne to be a hundred thousand men and their chief leader a Minister called Muntzer The holy Scripture teaches us to obey our Magistrates and not to exterminate and cast them out But ambition dwells both in Cabans in Churches and even under ragged Cloakes They are defeated They were routed in three distinct Battails the first by the Lord Trueses the second by Philip Landgrave of Hassia and the last by Anthony Duke of Lorrain who cut them off when they were endeavouring to enter France where they hoped to play Rex by meanes of the Confusion which they imagined they should find there by the Kings captivity who was carried into Spain Charles endeavours to humble the Protestants Now the greatness of the Emperour Charles being reconciled to the Pope and counselled by him to reduce the Protestants for so were the Princes and States termed who had received Luthers Doctrine into the lap of the Church either by threats or force gave no small apprehension to the German Princes And he being glad of any subject to establish his power in Germany was not willing to lose this fair occasion So the Armies marched into the Field and Francis the first after him his sonne Henry were requested to give relief for the maintaining as they styled it of the German liberty now like to be lost under the Spanish Domination which was granted by the French foâ— State-interest though they were enemies to the Religion But neither Arms nor Victories nor Disputes nor the Majesty it self of the Emperour was able to deracinate or root out this Doctine and so in fine it was permitted by his Authority at the Diet of Ausbourgh Now it was not Luther alone who rose against the Popes authority For a certain Revolted Monk called Menno began also to preach a Doctrine different enough from his and his Adherents were called Anabaptists Besides that learned man Iohn Calvin carried on that Reformation much farther then Luther as well in France as elsewhere and fixed his Chayre at Geneva They agreed well about combating the Pope and some other points but yet since they remained not in perfect unity of Doctrine In so much as that this party and that of Luther are very little better friends amongst themselves then either of them is with the Roman Catholicks as we shall see in the sequel of these Tragedies CHAP. XV The Anabaptists at Munster The Reformers in France The Change of Religion in England and by what meanes The King repudiates his Wife The Queens Speech The King makes himself Head of the Church Luther writes to him His unhappy death NOw we have seen the Lutherans established in Germany let us see what the Anabaptists do at Munster an Episcopall Town in Westphalia which was to be the Head of a Chimerical Kingdom and serve for a precious testimony of the wrath of that great God which for a time suffers his Word to be abused and the wicked to cover their pernicious Designes under the Cloak of Religion and the mask of Hypocrisie Oh Lord Thou dost hourâ—ly admonish us by so many prodigies and monstrous accidents but our eyes are shut our eares stopt and our hearts hardened John de Leide King of Munster John of Leiden by trade a Taylor and his adherents seized upon the aforesaid Town and he was made King thereof and fought long against the Bishop by whom they were at length subdued and chastised according to the measure of their crimes The extremity of their rigour was against the Church men a clear argument of the indignation of God against them because they had deviated from their duty and were lulled asleep in ignorance idlenesse and pleasures They likewise desclaimed the Authoriry of the Pope and brake down the Images without sparing the very Pictures of the Church-windowes A zeal too violent to proceed from the Holy Ghost and of little conformity with that of the Primitive Christians These insolencies being once repressed at Amsterdam returned there no more The Anabaptists which are now in the united Provinces and the Confines thereof disown the proceedings of the former and count them in the number of Hereticks The Reformed Religion in France Now the Doctrine of Martin Luther passed into France under the reign of Francis the first though yet it could not take fast root enough there as well because of the persecutions and the Kings aversion from it as also for that it was too far distant from the Author and Teacher thereof And so it quickly grew to be transformed into that of John Calvin and his Disciple Theodore Bezâ—â— and so much encreased in few yeares throughout the greatest part of the Country during the troubles caused by Envies of State and the League that the Kings after many bloody Wars were constrained by various Edicts or Proclamations to grant them free exercise of their Religion through all the Kingdom King Francis was a great persecutor of the said Doctrine Obtains free exercise and made open protestation that he would not spare even his own Arm if it were infected with Heresie And yet the â—â—â—lousie which he had conceived against the prosperity of Charles the Empeâ—our moved him neverthelesse to succour the Protestants King Henry succeeded in his Fathers hatred to them but being sent to his grave by the thrust of a Lance they began to respire saw the end of their persecutions lost the smell of the Fagot and propped by some Princes of the Blood rendred themselves at length no less considerable in France then the Protestants are in Germany The Protestant Church in England Let us now make a step into England and see how the Protestant Church hath sowen her first seed supplanted the ancient Doctrine and established her self as Mistress there King Henry the eighth for writing a Book against Luther in defence of the Roman Church and her seven Sacraments was honoured by the Pope with the Title of Defender of the Faith His prime Minister was that great Cardinal Wolsey who ruled all So that it is not only from this day that Cardinals have introduced them selves into
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
first Family Breâ—â— oâ—â— and thirteen of the second the first whereof was Pepin Father-in-Law to Charlemagne Hugh Capet the first King of the third Family by the exclusion of Charlos Duke of Lorraine through force of Arms and the favour of some of the Grandies got the Government of the French Monarchy about the year of our salvation 993. Lewis the fourteenth who reigns at present is the thirtieth of that Family This kingdom is composed of four and twenty Provinces wherein there are fifteen Arch-Bishoppricks ninty seven Bishoppricks ten Parliaments fourteen Vniversities and four Orders of Knighthâ—od that of the Starre was eclipsed under Charles the fist that of St. Michael now little valued and the third and that which hath most luster is of the Holy Ghost instituted by Henry the third The fourth is not much pursued In ancient times there were but twelve Peâ—rs of France six Ecclesiasticall and six Secular and they were the Arch-Bishop of Rhenns the Bishops of Lâ—ton Langres Chalons Noyon and Beauâ—ais The Dukes of Burgundy of Normandy of Guienne and the Earles of Flanders tholose and Champagne But the number of Dukes and Peers is now very very much encreased as also that of Marshals and the Rights of both very much diminished The French inclined to ams The French areso naturally inclined to Arms that the Proverb sayes they are born Souldiers nor can they indeed stay long at rest for if they have no warre with their Neighbours they quickly make it amongst themselves by the ambition of some Lords or other as also by the Martial humour wherewith they are tormented Points of honour make them runne into the Field as to a Feast in such sort as that the greatest part of the Nobility unhappily falls in Duels They are very impatient and enemies to the Spaniards by maxime of State whom by all means possible they oppose to the end that they may not arrive to the Vniversal Monarchy or else that under this pretext they may atchieve it themselves They go like Thunderbolts to Combats and Conquests and reverse whatsoever oppugnes them but as soon as this heat growes to be a little cooled they turn their backs and suddenly loose what they had gained with so much reputation It is no lesse laudable to keep thou to get which the Spaniards know very well Prosperity easily makes them slight their enemies and jeer their Allies to whom they render themselves suspected by the vanity of their tongues in such sort as this kind of levity does them much harm The French are more then men sayes the Proverb at the beginning of a Fight and lesse then women towards the end But they have given a contrary account of themselves in many Battails in Italy and the Low-countries where after they been repulsed or routed they have rallyed and carried away many glorious victories as we shall hereafter see Besides it must be confessed that the French Cavalry is the stoutest and best of the whole world There is also a saying that the French are wise after the businesse and the Spaniards before it In effect they are rash yea and they have very often wonne Battails by this very Passion Their generosity is remarkable in regard they grudge not to give praise to the vertue even of their enemies when they deserve it They are of so gentile an humour that they make themselves admired by strangers but they agree so ill out of their Country by occasion of petty envies and shamefull detractions that they are generally blamed every where for it and make themselves disesteemed by it The Clergy the Gentry and the People are the three States Three States upon which the Monarchy rests the Priviledges and Liberties whereof if well maintained would make it the most flourishing in the World But let us now see what passed there during the Peace for it is not our scope to make a most ample relation of the particulars of every kingdom CHAP. XI The King of France arms The Spaniards do the same All is full of joy and fear The King killed his Educacion Croupir KIng Henry having too generous a heart to be longidle was meditating Warre even during the Peace For which effect he had alwayes a special care by the admirable oeconomy or stewardship of the Duke Sâ—illy to Preparation of war in France to mannage and husband his Finances or Exehequer and accumulate great treasures On the other side he saw a brisk Nobility which longed for nothing more then the occasions to express their Martial courage under the conduct of so great and valorous a Captain He therefore resolves to raise an Army for the execution of some huge Designe which he kept private to himself to give exercise to his warlike People The pretext was the Warre of the Princes Heyres to the Dukedom of Gulick Cleveland and Bergues But because the truth of the principall motives of this arming of his Vnder pretex of the war of Juliers or Julick could never yet be known we will only note such conjectures thereof as are grounded upon very receivable probabilities He would not so easily have pardoned the Heads of the Leagus for the mothereing of the Civill Warres had it not been to revenge himself one day upon the Spaniards who had so powerfully traversed or thwarted his lawfull succession the Crown He saw himself cherished by his subjects feared by his enemies loved by all his Allyes and chiefly by the States Generaâ—â— of Holland Moreover the interest of the Crown seemed to invite him to reduce under his States all such Provinces as speak French and consequently the greatest part of all the Low-countries which had formerly been of the Demaynes of France as namely the Counties of Flanders and Artoise the Dutchy of Luxemburgh and many other which would not have been able to esape his ambition The flight of the Prince of Conde caused this speedy Arming and the honourable and Christian protection which he found in the States as well of the King of Spain as in those of the Arch-Duke in the Low-countries seemed likewise to give some colour of justice to the most Christian King irritated against a Prince of his own blood This Prince when he was two and twenty years old married Margaret Daughter to he Constable Montmorency a most beautiful and vertuous Princess whom he veretly carried to Brussels so to quench the fire which her Charms had kindled in the heart of the King But Love holding the Empyre over the Reason of this generous Alexander commanded him to recover by force that which vertue so justly denied him In so much as that for this chast Helen of France all Europe was like to be cast into most dangerous troubles Now the Princes of Germany weary of seeing the Empyre so long in the possession of the House of Anstria as also of the prolix rest they had enjoyed together with the encrease of their Treasuries would not have been offended to see the Imperial
Italy to go against the King of Sweden The Duke of Nevers was fain to ask pardon and Investure which accordingly was performed and peace and rest restored to Italy How many combats how much blood-shed was here for a sume of ambition For Religion had nothing to do in the matter But it is credible that the Spaniards would not suffer so potent a French Prince at the entry into Italy and so near the Dutchy of Milan which they keep as tenderly as the ample of their eyes and that the French on the other side would establish him and uphold him without acknowledging the Emperour God makes justice appear when men will throw it under foot with Arms. Prodigies in Italy This warre had been praemonstrated by many Prodigies and Portents which praeceded it as namely by Earthquakes in Apalia whereby more then sixteen thousand persons were overwhelmed by dreadfull floods streams of blood and the like And really these two Nations after having stoutly wrangled and by sword famin and contagious sicknesses lost above a million of mortals came neither of them to the principal but secret end which they had proposed to themselves and reaped no other salarie then that of vain-glory drawn out of jealousie of State The Countries were destroyed the Neighbours oppressed Christian Religion contemned and altered and in the one of the aforesaid nations by many persons quite annihilated The Ministers who love to fish in troubled waters and blow the bellowes of their Masters ambition so to carry them rashly on to warres which might be diverted by one single conference will one day have much to answer before the fountain of all Equity and Justice The enemies of Cardinal Richelieu But let us leave this point to be picked out by the Casuists and return to France where we shall discover how the Cardinal falls as deep into the hatred of the Grandies as he is strong in the possession of the Kings favour The Queen-Mother repented her self of having promoted a Minister who was to destroy her Gastion was vexed to see the management of all the affaires of France in his hands without participating therein That devout Prelate the Chardinall of Berulles laboured to stop him from forging some designes as pernicious to the Catholicks abroad as they had been to the Hughenots in France But Parca cut off the thred of his life and deprived Richelieu of a most Religious Enemy who survived him to accomplish his end in other yea in all such as gave any jealousie and the Hughenots themselves were grown to sing his prayses when many Catholicks had him in horrour and execration CHAP. XII Cardinal Richelieu makes peace with the English and devises new Allyances to attack the House of Austria WHEN the Cardinal by his great prudence had broaken that puissant Party which in some measure both divided and shocked the Soveraign Power re-established every where the Catholick Religion and a fresh springing Amity amongst the people he perceived himself in danger to be cast out of the Saddle But he had acquired so great an influence upon the mind both of King and People by the good successe of his Counsels that he was not a jot moved at the puissant factions which he saw growing against himself at the Court all which he surmounted afterwards by a certain felicity which alwayes accompanied him and which after the Peace of Italy shined with more force and luster His designes seemed to be carried to a breach between the two Crownes The King makes peace with the English for the more eafie atchievement whereof and to involve the Church in this pernicious warre from which some Grandies were averse by the intermission or mediation of the Venetians he made peace with the English whom he could not attack by land and thought of finding another enemy whom he might lay aboard when he would His Master had deserved and possessed the name of Just by humbling with great moderation the Hughenot Party and there was no better meanes left to obtain it also amongst the Reformates who were yet very hot then by poasting to the succour of the Protestant against the Emperour The King of England after the fall of the Hughenots in whose defence he had lost both many men and much money finding the lot of arms unfavourable which was to be also fatall to him afterwards chose to sit still in Royall vacancie and repose The first war of the King against the Spiniards the second against the French and the third against his Subjects He was unfortunate in the first Expedition he made when he sent that Fleer with the Admirall of Holland who joyned with a great number of ships to surprise Cales For after having suffered many inconveniences and losses it was fain at length to return and the King of Spain remitted many prisoners into England to be punished like Pyrats because their King had not denounced the War One affront was paid by another In his second undertaking against France Fortune favoured him yet lesse and his third and lasi was the ruine of his Family as we will shew towards the end of this Epitome Suddenly after the reduction of Rochel the Cardinal pressed hard for the succour of the Duke of Nevers against the opinion of such as could not endure so glittering a Purple and who apprehended a breach But he began it and ended it as we even now said in the yeare 1633. The said Duke sold his homage and duty to the Emperour which gave contentment to the Duke of Savoy and the Marquis de Guastala in regard of their pretensions to the aforementioned Dutchies Now having already dissipated the smallest and weakest enemies of his Greatnesse he crushed that Party which had been so formidable to the precedent Kings and being confirmed by the assurances which his Master had given him of covering him with his Crown against all such as endeavoured his mine he resolved upon this great designe against the house of Austria A designe I say of huge danger and which could not be undertaken and set on worke The Cardinal disposes the Protestants to War against the Emperour but by means of potent Allyes for fear of incurring the hazard of destroying the State Therefore he thought it fir to awaken the Protestants all the North and all such as hated the Roman Catholick Religion nor were the Hollanders the last though the Spaniards courted them in vaine to a Truce The King of England was easily disposed to it in regard of his Son in Law and so great a Family as wherewith both himself and the Hollanders were burthened in a strange Country however the Communion of Religion and compassion made this charge seem supportable and gentle In briefe for the common interest of upholding themselves and for the apprehension which every one in particular had of this puissant House they were all resolved A powerful Oratour cannot faile to perswade when he pleads the Common cause But now there wanted both
a Captain and Cause sufficient to cover both this apprehension and the ambition also of some certaine people the former whereof they were resolved to finde quickly out though they were forced to goe seek him in the Ice and amongst the Deserts of the North and as for pretexts as well false as true they could not be wanting for since they were about to play their last Game they would hazard all and if they lost the consequence would be an universal Monarchie In the Treaty of Peace at Vienna the Embassadours of France promised that the French should not meddle with the affairs of Germany and yet there was another Treaty at Stockholne at the same time about an Allyance for the quiet of the Empire and a War against the Emperour But for the better understanding of what I shall say of that cruell fatality which hath made both Germany and all the Provinces neer it a kinde of a Church-yard it will very much import to make some short mention First of the quarrells and pretensions of the Emperours against France and then of the state of the Empire it selfe the Theater of the most destructive and deplorable War that ever was But there was a necessity in it to the end that the Prophesies might be accomplished nor is there any end even yet Henry the second seeing Germany in great combustion by jealousies drawn from the difference of Religion and being invited into Germany by the Protestants in armes against Charles and offered the protection of that Party and invited also on the other side by interest of State sent thither the Duke of Montmorancy with a puissant Army who seized upon those three Bishopricks by way of correspondence and would have done the same to Strasburgh if he had been able to get leave to march with his Troops through the Town as he had done at Metz. But the conclusion of a Peace between the Emperour and the Princes stopped the progresse of the French and made them return as Metz did that of the Emperour and forbide the Eagles any further flight Ferdinand the second having triumphed over all his Enemies whom the French by vertue of their Allyances The affront of the Bishop of Verdun had succoured with Councel Men and Mony and being irritated besides by the affront newly done to the Bishop of Verdun seemed willing to require satisfaction so to give exercise to his triumphant Forces and make War with better conveniencie and more advantage in Lorraine then in Italy At least the Cardinal was fearful least he should take old quarrels into deliberation again and send his Troops to replace the Eagle at Verdun which was beaten down to set ut the Flower de luce Wherefore for the diversion of this tempest and to make it burst upon Germany it self he complotted and projected with all his Allyances hoping the luck would turne and take away that Party The utility of those Allyances through France puffed up with so many Victories redoubted for greatnesse hated for the contributions by which it exhausted Germany and execrated for the redemanding of the Eeclesiastical Possessions which was executed about that time If this Dam were broken but by one single Victory of what a vast profit would it be to France The people would fall upon the Imperialists as they formerly did upon the Lutherans and so all that Party would be in confusion Lorraine and Alsatia would be but a Breakfast the three Ecclesiastical Electors would infallibly cast themselves into the King of France's armes thereby to shelter themselves from the fulminating fury of the Protestants and by consequence the Imperial Crown could not escape the head of his most Christian Majesty The Spaniards being shut up and deprived of succour from Germany would be easily droven out of the Low-Countries The secret Allyance and thus a certain secret Allyance which was discovered and miscarryed since that time would one day be a plank or foundation to the universal Monarchy This great Cardinal so admired and glorious after having broken the Hughenot Party succoured the Duke of Nevers in Italy and trodden upon the belly of the Savoyers prepared himselfe I say for this most dangerous designe disposed the Protestants to it by Father Ioseph in the Assembly at Leipsick Father Joseph at Leipsick and laboured earnestly for the destruction of the House of Austria as well knowing that it was better to prevent then be prevented and in what credit he should be amongst all such as sought the ruine of the Roman Catholick Faith and that of the aforesaid Victorious House But let us speak of the State of the Empire before this horrible tempest began to bruise it CHAP. XIII A Discription of the state of the Empire The election of the King of the Romans VVE finde in history that Charlemagne King of France Son to Pepin and Grand-child to Charles Mared going to Rome to defend Pope Leo was saluted by him to crown his merits and recompence his services Emperour of the West I will not here enter into the dispute between the two Nations of whether he were a German or no But sure it is that he was King of France before he was Emperour and the Germans themselves affirme that he transferred the Empire upon their Nation yea and that none can be elevated to that dignity unlesse he be born a German And so Maximilian of Austria being dead Charles was preferred before Francis the first King of France for that he was born at Gaunt a City of Low-Germany and the arguments of the Elector of Trevirs in the behalf of Francis were refuted and rejected Others alleadge that to save the West which was exposed to the excursions of the Barbarians by that remorenesse or slacknesse of the Emperours of the East it was transferred by the Pope upon the Gawles or French and that the race or Charlemagne coming to saile Pope Gregory the fifth transferred the Right of Election upon the Germans abolished the Hereditary and gave hope to Princes of vertue to be able to ascend to this charge which is the most glorious in the World The Emperours have been more absolute then they are at present and in the contentions with the Popes from whom they receive their Crown or at least their Confirmation they have been much disadvantaged Henry the seventh coming to die in Italy every several Town assumed to itselfe a peculiar principal in such sort as that the Emperours have had little there since save onely the bare Title Besides the same Popes have caused troubles in Germany on purpose to leave the domination to them there and cut off the opportunity of coming to rub up old quarrels in Italy Our Saviour indeed said that his Kingdom was not of this world and that his Apostles should not reign The Primitive Supreme Bishops declared it by the Crown of Martyrdom but some others spurred on by ambition have wrangled for another which both made them odious and their Authority
despicable in many places And moreover the peaceful nature of some Emperours hath made them seeke rest and neglect the Rights of Majesty The Empire is not Haereditary but Elective and when the Emperour is dead The King of the Romans is elected for great affairs the Archbishop of Mentz writes to the rest of the Electors to assemble themselves at Francfurt within three months either in person or else to send their Embassadours During the Interreign or Vacancy the Elector Palatin is the Vicar or Lieutenant and he who is elected King of the Romans is declared Heir There three Ecclesiastical Electors and four Secular The Arch-Bishops of Mentz Trevirs and Colein The King of Bohemia the Prince Palatin the Duke of Saxony and the Marquis of Brandenburg who are not Kings but may stile themselves the said Kings Companions Being assembled at Francfurt they make Oath to the Elector of Mentz they will chuse one who shall be capable of the Charge They are obliged to finish the Election within thirty dayes and may not go out of the Town till all be accomplished If the voices happen to be equal he who receives the King of Bohemia's Vote is infallibly proclaimed Emperour The King of the Romans is not chosen during the life of the Emperour but for great Affaires and he cannot any way faile of succession as soon as the Emperour is dead All is observed according to the Golden Bull of Charles the fourth The King of the Romans is obliged to take Oath that he will not seeke to make the Empire Haereditary to his House but that he will maintain all the Rights and Splendor thereof There are two Fundamental Laws namely the Golden Bull and the Imperial Capitulation to the maintaining whereof he is bound by Oath Which makes me finde their opinion very weake who praesume to sustaine that the Emperour is a Mouarch in regard that his Authority is so parted and divided between him and the Electors that it looks as if they were associated to help him beare this heavy burthen Besides since Germany hath been so distracted by the diversity of Doctrines the Protestants have inhaunced so much of the Majesty to themselves through the too timorous bounty and moderation of some Emperours since Charles the fifth that his hath been but little more acknowledged and adored both in Germany and Italy And therefore it is no wonder if the Eagles Triumphant by so many Victories have endeavoured to look back upon some Rights which are now so many years old and if a general Conspiracy of the Neighbours of the said Protestantes have been made to hinder old Praetensions though grounded upon very much equity and justice But those forreign Princes who have thrust themselves into this quarrel have stopped their eyes to justice opened them to interest of State and to the means of either praeserving or ingrandishing themselves CHAP. XIV A discription of the three States of the Empire The Hans-Towns SInce we have spoken as much as is necessary to our purpose of the Emperour and the King of the Romanes his Vicar or Successour it concerns us to say also somewhat of the States of the Empire The first State The first and prime State therefore is that of the Electours as being the nearest to the Head or Chief They are the Fathers and Senatours and the maine and firme Prop of this Edifice They assist with their prudence the Head which they have chosen and are compared with the Kings of Europe The Ecclesiasticks have the precedencie in this ranck first the Archbishop of Mentz next he of Trevirs and then he of Celein The King of Bohemia the Duke of Bavaria who was advanced to the Electoral dignity by the deposition of the Prince Palatin and then he of Saxonie and he of Brandenburgh The second State is constituted first by foure Archbishops namely of Magdeburgh Salsburgh Bremen and Besansow The second State after whom follows the great Master of the Tentonick Order And afterwards there take place one and thirty Bishops who are followed by ten or eleven Abbots with the Title of Princes as the Abbot of Fulda c. The secular Princes are placed after these Ecclesiasticks and are in number eighteen Families the first whereof is that of the Archdukes of Austria divided into two branches namely of Germany and Burgundy And this Family hath of much praeheminence above that of the other Princes as the Archbishops have above the Bishops Then follows that of Bavaria of Saxonie of Brandenburgh c. After which sit the Abbesses as there of Quedelemburgh of Esson c. Some whereof have both the effect and title of Princesses And lastly sit the Counts and Barons whereof there is a great number Reinking to whom I referre the curious calculates about eight and fifty of them The third State The third state is compleated by the Imperiall and free Towns which are sixty five in number or thereabouts and they are to be considered two wayes the former and more noble whereof is that they immediately depend upon the Emperour and have nothing at all to do with any body else and the other that these also depend upon the Emperour but yet they owe some small recognitance to the Prince Lord or Praelat in whose territories they are seated however they leave not thereby to be free and to enjoy the rights of Royalty So that these Towns possesse the ancient liberty the priviledges of Princes have their Session and Vote in the Diets and are tearmed the Noble member and Pillars of the Empire wherein they are incorporated neither more nor lesse then the Princes and Praelats They are divided into two Benches The foure first are Lubeck Metz Auxburgh and Aix or Aquisgraue The other being in the quality of Subjects to Empire are not called There is yet another companie of Towns which by vertue of the union are called Hans-Towns The Hans-Towns which are composed partly of such as are free and partly Provinciall and obnoxious This said company or Vâ—â—â—ns hath no other ayme or end then that of commerce and it was approved first by Charles the fourth It hath foure Classes or Metropolitan Cities to wit Lubeck Colem Brunswick and Dansick and they have an annuall Assembly at Lubeck where they have their Charters or Rolls But theire last warrs have much altered all the orders which were formerly kept The ten Gerclet The German Empire is distributed into ten Cercles Franconia Bavaria Austria Swevia that of the upper Rheyn and that of the four Electours towards the Ribeynâ— Wastphaliaâ— Saxanie Low-Saxonie and Burgundy Now the Emperour as he is head of the Romane Empire is bound to swear that he will defend all the priviledges of the Empire but that doth not at all derogate from his Majesty in regard that all Kings at their consecration do the same and he is also greater then all the Members of the Empire and may command them as having received homage from them
and if when they be cited or condemned they â—esose to appear he publishes and proscribes them by commanding some Prince neet hand to execute his order by arms from whence it follows that as he is obliged to defend and protect both them and their priviledges so are they also bound to obey him by Oath and by vertue of the Fief he possesses A happy Goverment and a happy Germany when the Members agree with the Head CHAP. XV The Principall motives of the Decline of the Empire The motives of the Declime of the Engire BEfore we speak of the causes of this last warre which put Germany into that condition wherein we see her yet and from which she begins by little and little to be repayred our Subject requires us to give a brief hint of those which have so weakened this Empire which all history both prophane and sacred tell us is to be the last The Pojes The Popes were the first who weakened it in Italy and gave matter thereby to the most ambitious of that Nation to appropiate some States to themselves as being either vacant or desecred by the troubles or care lesness of the Emperours wherein they served themselves of divers pretexts as either through zeal of devotion and respect or for the punishment of some faults which they imputed to the said Emperous or through the immensity of their own ambition or else by favouring the factions of the Ghilphes against the Gibellins or Imperialists in such sort as the Papal Authoritie obumbrating or overshaddowing the Imperiall hath both now quite away the heat thereof as I have already said The Translation of the States The Barbarians Secondly by the translation of the Seate of the Empire to Constantinople and by the inundation of the Barbarians which have come at certain times from beyond the Rheynt and from the North. Besides the Empire is much diminished by some Provinces and Towns yea The Kingdoms and whole Kingdoms also which upon divers praetexts have loosened themselves from this great Body which are mentioned in history and not for our purpose heer And moreover since the Germans have reduced the Empire within the praecincts of their nation and chosen the Emperours anoughst themselves by the exclusion of all strangers it is no wonder if others have separated themselves from them and erected particular Governments according to the hunour of theirs But let us now come to the principall subject of all drawne from the Germans themselves which makes the Empire so weak that any neighbouring Prince very often dares brave and affront it The diversity of Doctrines and ambition and this is the diversity of Religions the over great porencie of the Princes and States and distrust in side or dissidence mingled with ambition For remedie whereof the Emperoun and Princes have had many conserences and it hath been agreed resolved that there should be but two Religions tolerated in Germany as namely the Roman Catholick the confession of Auxburgh which is the Lutheran But the disease being too great to be cured by so gentle physick and the house of Austria too powerfull both in Spain and the Low-Conntreys not to give jealousie distrust and ambition sicknesses of State have alwayes peeped out their heads in the Diets after much time lost in disputing for place and praecedeucie So that these being gotten into the interiour of the first and making little account of the languishing authoritie of the Emperous have produced the hatred seditions and warrs which we have relared already and those also which are now going to describe From this diversity of Religions sprang the warre between Charles the fifth John Frederick Electour of Saxonie Philip Landgrave of Hassia and some other Protestants which rendred the said Emperours luster more glonous and begat such a hatred in all the Protestant States as is now grown almost irreconciliable There was a temperament or kinde of agreement in Religion concluded afterwards which was called The contract of Passavia The contract of Passavia which yet being taken again into deliberation hath since made a marveilous operation as we are about to shew In this aforesaid Treaty it was ordered and setled that the Protestants should enjoy all such ecclesiasticall goods and revenues as they had formerly possessed and that the rest should remaine in perpetuity to the Catholicks For example the Catholick Bishops coming to embrace the Luheran Religion should forthwith religne the place to be occupated by another who should make open not feigned profession of the Catholick and so consecutively of all the Cloisters Abbies and other dignities which yet the Lutherans cannot deny but they have conterveened and contradicted and that they retaine all such aforesaid goods and revenues against the will of the Testatonrs and against all Rights Justice and Equity Complaints against the House of Austria But we must not also let passe in silence the complaints which have been made by many of the States of Germany against the house of Austrin which hath uphold her self about two hundred years in the Imperiall dignity as if it were haereditary a suspicion ful of efficacie which shocks after a manner the elective right and strongly opposes the justest maxime of State To which it hath been answered that the elections have alwayes been lawfull and that at present This house by means of her two Kingdoms serves for a Bulwark to Germany against the Turk Besides that their is hardly any one to be found in the whole body of the Empire who is able with the reveneues of one Family to sustain or uphold the greatnesse of the Majesty wherewith Charles the fifth reproached those Princes which were revolted from him Were is is not said hee for my Low-Countryes I could not maintain my Table What profit have I of your Empire but a great charge and porpetual troubles Inferting thereby that the glory of this weighty burthen was deat enough bought without addition of disobedience After the decease of this invincible and most vigilant Emperour his successours either through too much timidity durst not make shew of seeing the sults and errours which were committed or cast them off to the following Diets which were often extinguished in the very dispute of precedencie only as I have said already And so the impunity of Vice enccuradging men to sin not only the Bishops married and kept their Bishopricks but the saecular Princes also seazed upon other ecclesiasticall Lands and Goods as it were for decencies sake and every one in fine would have his share thereof The long possession of a thing ill gotten warrants not the propriety therein nor excludes the true Owner from his lawful Right But they who can defend it with armes either mock or defy the strength of the Lawes CHAP. XVI The Emperour redemands the Ecclesiasticall Goods taken after the composition of Passavia The alteration amongst the Protestants AFter so many Victories gotten by the Emperours Lieutenants after having humbled
with four thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and he wrought so much by his frequent suites and instances with the Emperour induced thereto by Cardinal Richellen that he procured the Dignity of Generall to be taken away from the Duke of Frithland Frithland disâ— missed from his charge who had alwayes so well served him though by his behaviour he were growne insupportable chiefly to such as loved not the House of Austria Those powers which are trayled by so many puissant Aemulators together run post to destruction This councell proved dammageable to the Emperour and yet more to him who gave it and he who invented it was very likely to overthrow the whole Empyre The King of Sweden invited to come into Germany The King of Sweden being advertised of all which passed in Germany invited by the Germans themselves incited by France England Venice the Vnited Provinces and by occasion which he took up by the Forelock as also by his own peculiar interests began to make his preparatives There wanted nothing for a potent League but Causes and Pretexts whereof there would be found enough though it were no more then every one 's own advantage apart which is so strong that it ordinarily carries the ballance how full soever it be of reason and justice Men of this Age adore it neither is it without ground that a certain learned person calls it the Idoll of these times Towards the beginning of the year 1630. Europe was in a kind of Crisis war in Italy Germany full of old souldiers who struck terrour wheresoever they passed France apprehending lest this storm should fall upon her and that the Eagles should come and nestle again in those three Townes which were taken from them as I have noted already hindied a Treaty of Truce by hindring the acceptation of the Propositions and sent to the very bottom of the North to awaken Gustavus Adolphus to a League Nor needed there much eloquence to pers wade him who looked asquint already upon those puissant Troops upon the Baltick Sea which draw near him But knowing how he had been caught by his Neighbour he would not be content with promises but required a surety at Amsterdani before he would passe any further England besides the generall interest had that of the Prince Palatine which she conuld not handsomely abandon in such a conjuncture and yet was she also fain to give assurance for moneys before she could enter the League of this great Captain The States Generall were much concerned therein since by the growth of the House of Austria they foresaw their certain ruin in regard of the succour which she would be able to give the Spaniards And moreover they might well fear lest all the States of Germany humiliated or joyned to those of the Emperour he might come to redemand some Townes amongst them which are yet noted at the corner of the Eagle or Empyre The Venetians not warmed with the zeal of Religion as the Protestants were as being of the same with this House found for the interest of their State that it was necessary to put the said House into such termes as might not give so much jealousie And so the Protestants being inflamed and incouraged by the Catholicks which were interessed and desirous to see some disorder spring up in this powerful Body undertook the same designe And then it was that the Empire was to be torne in pieces since the Germans themselves conspired her ruine with her Enemies and subtracted themselves from her obedience because they could not endure her Majesty The House cannot faile to be burnt when the very owners themselves as well as the enemies help to set it on fire This unhappinesse was reserved for the latter times Let us see the King of Sweden come in for he will dance better then all who came before him CHAP. XVIII The entry of the King of Sweden into Germany His reasons why Those of the Emperour Allyances with Bogistaus He blocks up the Sea Towns Tilly takes the Generalate against his will VVHere shall I be able to finde tearmes and Inke black enough to expresse and write tragically enough the cruel and dismal effects of this sanguinary and horrible War Where shall I chuse words of energy or force enough to curse the inhuman actions and unnatural Tragedies which have been acted in wretched Europ and which are not yet ended and that onely by the immense ambition of some few persons It is lawful openly to blame Vice but not such as commit it It is God onely who must judge and we poor Subjects must bend our shoulders and expect our deliverance from above About Mid-Summer in the year 1630. the King of Sweden entred Germany with an Army having first cleansed the Isle of Rugia and the borders of Stralsund from the Imperial Garrisons The reasons which he published for his coming as an Enemy were First because his Embassadours had not been admitted to the Treaty of Lubeck Secondly in regard the Imperialists came against him in Prussia And thirdly for that some Letters of his which he sent to Bethleem Gabor had been intercepted in full peace But these were but pretexts for the true and moving grounds were these His reasons First because the Emperour had deprived his kinsmen the Princes of Meckelemburgh of their Dutchyes Secondly for that he had built Forts in all the Havens and made Ships to render himselfe potent upon the Baltick Sea with designe to passe one day further into Sweden then he was to expect that the Eagles would be suffered to coast And lastly in respect there was some apperance of extending his domination in Germany and in a word it is alwayes profitable to fish in troubled waters The answer to the aforesaid reasons The Emperour answered that he himselfe had begun by putting a Garrison into Stralsund and that there could be no treating with him without drawing it from thence As for his Letters besides that all the plots and practices both of himself and his Allyes were already discovered it was impossible but they must tend to his disadvantage being directed to a man who had as often revolted as opportunity was offered him to do it and who never kept his faith but when he wanted occasion to break it In relation to the Baltick Sea he had at least being Chief and Emperour as much to do with it as Gustavus had That the succour which he sent the King of Poland was sounded upon the same Maxims upon which himselfe had succoured the King of Denmark and Stralsund In order to the Dukes of Meckelemburgh he objected that he had nothing to do to controwl him in Germany and that himselfe would not take it well that he should medle with any of his kingdom That his cares were open to Intercessions but not to Commands But all these arguments served for nothing there must be blowes For the King was sure of his Allyes and of the inclination of all the
them the Oath which he had made to his Father never to bear Arms against the Emperour unlesse he forced him in his Law or Religion and made war upon him and asked them whether in this conjuncture it were lawfull for him to break it without any wrong done him by the said Emperour or any dammage at all brought upon him by his Souldiers They all held the Negative and with this sentence he went to the King at Francfurt and so handsomly represented his reasons to him that he obtained what he asked Whilest Gustave was in doubt whether he should go down the Rheyn where all was full of fear and trembling to seaze upon Colein he receaved newes that Tilly had beaten Horne in Bambergh defeated foure thousand of his men took twenty Pieces of Canon a multitude of Coulers Horne beaten by Til'y and made a shew to attack Nuremberge This was the last favour Fortune did this Darling of hers whom she abandoned to court another Whereupon he instantly marched wich all diligence and Tilly not knowing what to doe was constrained to retyre speedily by a strong accident which was that his powder took fire did a great deal of hurt amonst the Baggage-Waggons and drew this complaint out of the mouth of this old Souldier Let us retyre said hee For it is high time since fortune turns her back to us Indeed he had reason for she was preparing him a bed of honour Who repasses the Danub upon which he was quickly to repose He was followed by the King who entred Nurembergh in Triumph and that illustrious Senate presented him with a Goulden Globe as a Symbol of the Monarchie which they prognosticated for him But he foresaw not the misfortune which he was to suffer that Summer For being accompanyed by King Frederick who came from the Haghe in the middle of Winter to see his Countrey and his Deliverer and after compelments falling to treat of businesse the conditions displeased him and changed the love which the Princes bore him into diffidence which was so much the greater by how much the lesse they durst shew it Oh! the inconstance of things in this world Oh I how subject is all to change Is refulsed He took Donawerdt and passed the River Look in despight of poor Tillyes resistance who though crazed with age left not yet to encourage his Souldiers His death till he was mortally wounded and then they retyred a gallop though with an orderly retreat enough to Ingolstadt where this famous Captain dyed of his wounds His elogies He was by birth a Walloon and a Gentleman He had alwayes been happy til the last year when he tryed the effects of the inconstancie of fortune He was one of the most Valliant and Prosperous Warryers that ever bore Arms. He dyed on a bed of honour for the defence of the Church and his Prince Honours to Gustave at Auxburgh Rain and Newburgh were yeelded to King Gustave and the Citizens of Auxburgh opened their gates singing his praises and exhibiting all the honours and testimonies of amitie that could be given to any mortall man Yea I know there were some who wore his Medall with as much love and reverence as the Roman-Catholicks doe their Relicks or Agnus Dei They took the oath of Fidelity to him as to their lawful Lord and consented to the destroying down of the faire Gardens about the Town to begin the fortifications This done he turned towards Swaveland where the Lutherans who make the biggest party in that Province The exploits of the Swedes in Sware rendered themselves to him and received Garrisons from him nor was there scarce any but Lindow a Town situated upon the Lesk which remained constant Italy was allarmed by the report of so great prosperitie and Feria the Governour of Milan made an Army to defend the entry Some trembled and others who desired change of State and Money rejoyced But the mischief went no further the Italians had but the feare for their punishment was able enough to fall upon them without expecting it from the hand of strangers The Siege of of Ingolstadt Ratisbone taken by the Bavarians The King having brought so many faire Towns in Swaveland under his Laws whilest the Saxons afflicted Bohemia and Papenheim domineered in Brunswick returned to the Siege of Ingolstadt a fatal Town to the Protestants full of spight to hear that the Elector of Bavaria had craftily seized upon Ratisbone an Imperial Town which he fortifyed as being wholly his own and upon which depended the ruine of that which he went to besiege in vaine The Letters which had been written by the Inhabitants of the said town being intercepted gave the Bavarians opportunity to enter at a Gate which was opened them as thinking them to be Swedes The traitours went to pot the town was saved from pilladge and the Inhabitants condemned to a forfeit of Money and to work about the fortifications They had forgotten gotten their Oath to the Emperour and the Empire and novelty and the triumph of the Swedish Armies had dazled the eyes of the Protestants who like Israel sung their deliverance Ingolstadt in the mean while saw the principal forces of the Protestants before her Walls and if she yeilded farewel Bavaria But the King found work here and this was the first town which taught this great Conquerour that he was to have bounds to his Victories besides that he was very likely to loose his life by a Cannon Bullet The Elector feeling himselfe so roughly attacked by an enemy whom he had never offended unlesse Princes take the occasion to hurt for an offence sent the French Resident Monsieur de Sainct Estienne to the King to remonstrate to him that in regard he was so deeply ingaged in the Allyance with the King of France he could not be assailed by him A notable observation without making himselfe his enemy The Resident spake confidently with him and endeavoured to divert him some other way but the King interrupted him and said I know your Masters intentions better then you do and for the rest I pardon your French liberty for you are not sent to me in the quality of an Embassadour But the President followed his instructions and Monsieur de Carnasse his in such sort as that these two being both Officers of the same Master fell to difference and were very like also to come to blowes This was not the first prank of activity which the Cardinal played in Germany though it were well observed by the Elector and would have been taken for couzenage in another Age but in this for politick craft Howsoever he made his profit of it stood fast with the Emperour and so neately and dexterously retorted the ball upon the French that the Cardinal himselfe was faine to avow that the Duke of Bavaria was the most cautious and subtile Prince in Germany When we have to do with Cheaters we must take heed of all things and
de Werdt did as much in Franconie who grew by little and little to make himself so formidable that it was beleeved he was another Papenheim sprung up out of his ashes But all these were but Skermishes in comparison of the huge Victory gotten by the Hassians and Luneburgians neer Hamelen in the moneth of July 1633. They had besiedged the Town and the others would succour it Colein the Mother of Armyes The seventh of July quickly produced one But in stead of Papenheim there was nothing but discord amongst the Generals Souldiers there were enow but there wanted a good The defeate of the Imperalists neer Hamelen 1633 and perfect intelligence amongst their Leaders However they advanced and General Merode thought that in this occasion the Commanders would lay aside all partiality for the Publick good The Foot fell on but was deserted by the Horse and the poor Souldiers who were almost all Wallons found themselves shut up in a dale and cryed to them to stand and make good their ground but their cries and groanes were carried away by the wind to follow the base Cowardise of the Horsemen and the slacknesse of some of the chief Officers General Merode and Baron Quad a Souldier of merit chose rather to dye with their Swords in their hands then follow this infamy The Forraine Foot threw down their Arms hoping for quarter but they were all massacred without mercie and so above six thousand of them miserably perished Hamelen was rendred and Bonichawse took party with the Swedes The discord of the Generals appeared This Army was sacrificed to the hatred which Wallenstein already carryed to such as were able to hurt him and therefore being Generalissmo he s ent the chief command to Grondstfeldt against the opinion and advice of the Electour of Colein Had there been a good harmonic amongst them they had not only succoured Hamelen but easily brought the War also into Meckelenburgh and Pomerania But it was to beat the Dog before the Wolfe This check advanced the Swedish Party favoured Frithlands designe aflicted all the Archbishoprick of Colein and put the French in mind that it was time to go into Lorraine to catch some planks of that ship which threatned to make ship wrack The Italians succour Brisat The Duke of Feria came with an Army of Italians to succour Alsatia where he had the same vexations though a little better end for he succoured Brisac crossed Horns Progresse and made those Catholick Provinces a little respire but the poor Peasants had the worst of it and the Italians being much ransacked and wasted by diseases he was forced to returne the same way he came Wallenstein would have had him obey his Orders as Generalissmo but he made a deaf ears however the other laid so many ginns in his way that he had much adoe to escape them and so all Alsatia save only Brisac suffered the Swedish yoke But since we are upon the Fronteer of Lorraine let us look what passes there before we take our flight to any other place CHAP. XXX The Siedge Nancy Rantsaw makes himself known at the Encounter of Haguenaw and at the Siedge of Andernack GReat Princes are always obliged to maintain their Stats conserve their Subjects and by the Maxims of prudence and justice divert the storme before it fall and overwhelme them The Duke of Lorraine arms The Duke of Lorraine seeing almost all Alsatia subdued by the Swedes and knowing the danger could not be far from himself when his neighbours house was on fire judged it more then time to look about him Wherefore he made levyes whereat the King of France formalized and marched into the Field A sad condition for a Soveraigne Prince that he may not be permitted to raise men for his own defence But the weakest must to the Wall For neither were the reasons which they alledged sufficient to justify their proceedings nor his strong enough to secure him from shipwrack The Cardinal of Lorraine went to meet the King and endeavoured to divert him by acquainting him with his brothers intentions which were all good but all this was not able to stop him It was in vain to speak for words are fruitlesse to such as are already condemned All Europe belongs to the Crowne of France and by consequence Lorraine See Arroy The Siedge of Nancy The King besieged Nancy The duke protested that he had desired nothing but peace and good correspondence with his Majesty Whilest this was a doing the Princesse Margaret made her escape disguised and went into the Low-Countries to her husband who came to meet her at Namurs and conducted her to Brussels where she was received by the Infanta with honour agreeable to her quality They of Colein took the protection of France The Swedes and their Allyes having obtained so great a Victory as that whereof we have lately spoken with so little losse entred into the Archbishoprick of Colein and tormented it so much that the Magistrates induced by the arguments of their Syndick and some others together with the necessity of their assayrs concluded upon the dispatch of their Embassadours to the King of France to implore his protection They had recourse to a Catholick Prince to shelter them from the insolence of Protestants and that by consent of the Clergy but the Citizens being most affectionate to their old Master would not be satisfyed by these reasons The said Embassadours were most honourably receaved at the Camp before Nancy where the Cardinal spared none of his Compliments the holy-water of the Court nor feates of cunning and skil to accomplish so huge a Conquest as this which would be sure to draine all the Emperours resources or fresh springs about the Rheyn hinder the Communication of the Spaniards with the Empyre and serve for an infallible meanes to seize upon the Low-Countryes But it chanced that some inopinated accidents and the good successe of a Battail made them of Colein repent and this Bargain miscarry to the said Cardinals great displeasure Nancy rendred The Duke of Lorraine found himself obliged for the obtaining of peace to yeeld up Nancy upon the same conditions that he had done the three other Towns being counselled not to expect extremities lest peradventure he might thereby incur the hazard of losing all his States Wherefore he did it with much freedom and submission but it had been better for him to have sustained the siege and expected the worst for his Country was not restored to him nor ever will be till his Enemies shall not be able to keep it any longer and shall have enough to do also to keep themselves in regard of forrain revolutions They reproached him that he had given his Sister in marriage to the Duke of Orleans against the lawes of the Kingdom and that he had refused to do homage to the King for the Dutchy of Bar. The former of these was excused by the said Duke of Orleans himself upon the
seeking the end of their evills in a happy peace but there was a wind which hindred the sprowting forth of this good seed During the time of their negotiation the Infanta went to enjoy everlasting beatitude with her husband The death of the Infanta with whom she had so religiously lived Her subjects expressed very great grief for the departure of so good a Mother by whom they had been so gently governed and that which most afflicted them was to foresee that these Treaties would produce no good effect as it was easie to judge for the States stood fast upon impossibilities and these could not by any means exclude their Master besides the Prince going to besiege Rhinbergh which he took in three weeks made them conceive that they treated with them almost no other wise then Conquerors use to do with such as they have vanquished For they offered them conditions of advantage enough to testifie that their thoughts were very much inclined to peace but the wind of France quickly cooled that pious heat Charnasse made use of the two most potent wayes in the world to make this Treaty infructuous that is of Eloquence and of that divine Mettall which Inpiter knew to be the strongest In fine he effected so much by his diligent pursuits The Treaty of Peace vanishes and sollicitations that he brake off the whole match and brought the States to take Arms again with his Master The Marquis of Aitona not having force enough to face the Prince before Rhinbergh was content to fortify the Isle of Saint Stephen upon the Moze whereby to have the passage free And the Prince agitating in his mind a greater exploit then that of a Siege went The siege of Rheynbergh and incamped himself beyond Boisleduc or the Bosse and having sent for eighteen or Twenty Troops of Swedish Horse departed with a multitude of Waggons of Victualls and marched directly towards Aitona who though he had also received some Horse from the Imperialists for his defence kept himself upon his advantages as judging it beyond the maximes of a souldier to put the Country into a general joy by hazarding the Battail offered him For if the Prince had gained it he had found no resistance but if he had lost it he had left the Conquerours nothing but the glory of having wonne it without any other profit at all save only peradventure of a Town or two as Wenlo and Ruremund The Prince sent a supply to Mastricht and retyred himself faster then he came which caused the disbanding of many of his men And the Marquis hastened with three thousand horse to defend the Isle of Saint Stephen and thus ended the Field of this year of 1633 upon which the Swedes who had committed unknown insolencies in this Militia and some dissolutions which spoyled the Holland discipline repassed the Rheyn as the Imperialists on the other side also did But let us see the Field following before we repasse with them Some Lords prisoners Aitona having received money from Spain and ranged his Militia in a good state of obedience took some Lords prisoners who were suspected of having complotted with Count Henry of Bergues The Prince d'Espinoy was already fled into France and the Duke of Arscot gone into Spain and so this thick fogge being dissipated and Count Henry's Cause tryed he marched with his Army towards the Moze whether he had already sent the Marquis de Lede who took the strong House of Argenteau and retook the Dutchy of Limburgh and so made a shew of besieging Mastricht to have the passage open into Germany The Prince to divert him from this design went and planted himself before Breda but having received notice that the Spanish Army drew towards him to dislodge him from thence he retyred five dayes after Thus ended this Field in the Low-Countries let us go see other sport in the Empyre much more bloody then this CHAP. XXXIII The Siege of Ratisbon the taking of the Town The death of Aldringer The Cardinall Infanto joynes with the King of Hungary The Protestants draw all their forces together again The Businesse of Norlinghen The victory of the Imperialists The Cardinal Infanto passes into the Low-Countries THe chief of the Protestant Party had so great cause to mistrust Generall Wallenstein whose plots and practises they knew that it was no wonder if Duke Bernard gave no credit to the promises he made to hasten a Conjunction the retardment whereof was fatall to him and all his friends Duke Francis-Albert of Saxony Lailemburgh who was the instrument chosen to tye these two mettals of a different nature together proved not his Crafts-master and so was carried prisoner for his apprentisage to Vienna Ratish me taken by the Sweden Duke Bernard having taken Ratisbone by the good will of the Inhabitants and being assured too late of the intentions of the Duke of Fruhland was advancing already towards Bohemia when he received the newes of the just disaster which was befallen him whereupon he changed course Inpiter is patient but when his goodnesse is too much abused he darts his Thunderbolt and crushes all It is alwayes dangerous to meddle with ones Master and to crack nuts with him This great Symptome was advantageous to the Swedes as giving them opportunity to take Towns in Swaveland and towards the Lake of Bregants in such sort as that the terrour which King Gustave had cast into Italy was now renewed more strongly then ever The King of Hungary having cured the Army with a sweet shower of Gold and taken a new Oath from the souldiers made them march towards Ratisbone For since the servant had betrayed the Father of the Family it was necessary to sond the childe who was received by all of them with incredible joy and alacrity I will not stay upon the particulars of this famous siege which cost very much blood but content my self with only saying that newes being come to the Camp of a notable victory gotten by Arnem upon the Imperialists in Silesia and of his moving towards Prague the King sent so strong a supply And retaken by the Imperialists that the said Armens was constrained to raise the Siege and retyre himself into Saxony Aldringer 〈◊〉 at the very same time that Ratisbone began to parly and capitulate which was near the end of July and some dayes before the famous General Aldringer was slain near Lanshut He was born in the Country of Lâ—xenburgh and his vertue had drawn him out of the obscurity of his birth to raise him to so eminent a Charge He had fought happily with John de Werdr and his death was much regretted by the principal of his party Donawerds followed Rarisbone and the Cardinal Infanto who had now staid long enough at Milan passed with the old Spanish Italian and Burgundian Bands through Swisserland into Germany where they quickly taught the Swedes what it was exactly to observe Military Discipline The Armyes joyned and marched into
with great ceremonie and many complements from whence after a while he repassed into Italy and the French and Savoyers into the Dutchy of Milan where they were beaten and the said Duke being almost spoyled of all his States by the Spaniards and seeing no succour come from France nor any effects of the promises made him chose rather to reconcile himself with them then lose all the rest Reconciles himself with the House of Aust 〈◊〉 wherefore he subtilly dismissed the French out of Parma and Placentia and as soon as he had renounced the Kings Protection all his said States were restored to him 1636. Yet for all this the Warre departed not out Italy for the Spaniards besieged and took the Fort of Brema Brema taken The death of the Marshals of Crecqui and soiras and the Marshall of Crecqui coming to spy by what meanes it might to be succoured was taken out of that trouble by a bullet and sent to eternal repose from all his labours The same end had the Marshall of Toiras the yeare before and in the like occasion who was regretted by all for his incomparable dexterity and valour Verseil fell also into the hands of the Spaniards after the defence of about two moneths and so Cardinal de la Valettes succour proved fruitlesse And the Dukes of Mantua and Savoy In the moneths of September and October the Dukes of Mantua and Savoy passed to a better life but let us go into Poland to see if that King will draw his sword any more There was a Truce for six yeares which expired in that of 1635. Vladislaus raised a puissant Army with intention to drive the Swedes who were much ingaged in the German warre out of all Prussia and Livonia and reconquer the Kingdom of Sweden The House of Austria animated him in this fair occasion both for her own interest and his France and Holland for theirs counselled a peace which not being to be found amongst so many difficulties The Truce prolonged for six and twenty yeares between the Pole and Swedes 1635. there was concluded a prolongation of the Truce for six and twenty yeares and that by the perswasion of the Count of Avaux who had gotten a great influence upon the Senatours of the Kingdom of Poland By vertue of which composition Prussia was restored to the Poles Livonia remained to the Swedes and the interest of the two Houses neglected by the address of these fortunate and able Ministers though it were not indeed without regret that Vladislans being a great Captain re-sheathed his sword and suffered his magnanimous courage to coole in Royall and pompous vacancy CHAP. VII Ferdinand two dayes after the Diet of Ratisbone where his Sonnes had been Elected King of the Romanes dies The Relation of his life Bannier makes new progresse Many Princes take newtrality and afterwards the Swedish Party The Arthduke Leopold Generalissimo or Chief General THE Emperour Ferdinand the second feeling himself debilitated in body by the burthen of so many years and so many Warrs as whereby he had been tormented took nothing more to heart then the meanes how to provide for the establishment of that Empire which Domestick partialities seconded by the ambition of Strangers had much shaken Holy thoughts and worthy of such a Pilot as merited to govern such a ship in a storme which threatened this great world with destruction But it had passed the bounds of all Justice the great Sun-dyal of the Sea had no more strength recourse must be made to the Stars to implore their assistance and direction for fear of making Shipwrack by the extraordinary violence of the windes Wherein he was gratiously heard against the expectation of his enemies whose practises were faine to give way to the incomprehensible decrees of the divine providence He called a Diet at Ratisbone and sent for the Electour of Trevirs who was prisoner in the Low-countries The assembly at Ratisbone 1636. Ferdinand the third King of the Romanes In this assembly the Poland Embassadours speech had more weight for Ferdinand the third already King of Hungary then the under-hand dealings of the French for the Duke of Bavaria so that the voice fell upon him and the affection of the Protestants was declared with so great harmony that the General Showt was Live Ferdin and the third King of the Komans The ceremonies being accomplished the 22. of December 1636. the Emperour in most Christian manner rendred up his Soule to God the 15 th of February following The death of Ferdinand the second the 15 th of February 1637. His life Here we may admire the stupendious and supernaturall effects of the Divine goodness in this Prince who by the good successe and prosperity of his Lieutenants maintained his Scepter directly and indirectly at several times and all together against almost all the world For he was no sooner Crowned King of Bohemia then that people revolted and chose another When he was Emperour he had the seditions of the Hungarians and of his own subjects in Austria Mansfedt and the Bishop of Halberstadt never lelt to hate him nor ceased to hurt him till they ceased to live The Danes provoked his Arms and felt the effects thereof The English Scots and Hollanders conspired against him In fine the Swedes with an Army of six thousand English under the conduct of Marquis Hamilton and the whole Protestant body and the French by the profusion of their Treasures and the effusion of so much bood openly manifested the desire they had to pul the Crown from his head or at least to take it away from his House nor was it enough to excite the Peasans but they must also corrupt the faith of that impertinent General In a word this poor Prince was no sooner got out of one War then there sprung up two other and the weapons whereof he served himselfe in these extremities were the prayers he daily addressed to God which King Gustave seemed more to apprehend then he did all his Armies He experimented the Arms of the Tuks Catholicks Lutherans and Reformates over all which he triumphed saw his Sonne Crowned King of the Romans in despight of all his enemies the Swedes shut up in Pomeranta and the French beaten out of Germany yea and his own Army together with that of the Spaniards almost at the Gates of Paris a year before his death He was a so mild a Prince that the Lutherans themselves found nothing to blame in him but that he hearkened too much to the Jesuits and that he was too zealous for the Reformation Strong reasons for them to revolt Very zealous for the Reformation and call in the Swedes but they had cause to repent afterwards Let us now drive the Swedes out of Pomerania and hear the complaints of the Imperalists upon the disorder of their Army for want of bread The Swedes had formerly taken the Town of Luneburgh and put the Table or Altar of Gold to Ransom Duke
of that learned writer the Imperial Crown upon his brothers head because he would rather have had it upon his Sonnes and the Germans will not see it upon that of a Spaniard How then shall these instruments be tuned I conclude that she hath been moved to act by Interest only to uphold her self and not to hunt aster this chimericall Monarchy The Emperours which have been since have manifested no excess of ambition and Philip the third made no stir at all So that it must be either Fâ—rdinand the second or Philip the Fourth Let us examin the grounds which may give these jealousies and authorize these opinions The said Ferdinand the second had War with the Bohemians and the Prince Palatine every one knows for what He would have the three Episcopal Townes had he not right to them The Victories he got in Low-Saxonie moved him to restore and re-established his Authority there was he out of reason Here-demanded as Soveraign Judge the Ecelesiasticall Lands and Goods according to the tenour of the contract at Passavia was he ill-grounded The Lutherans themselves will not say so Shall we therefore suffer this House to swallow up all Now it is that we must have recourse to the interest which every body ought to have in commendation and not stray from the path of Justice As for Hypocrisiy whereof he accuses them of this Family by comparing their piety to the colours of the Rain-bow which are but deceipts and illusions it is acalumnie which confutes it self and a malice convinced by the testimonies of the Lutherans who have frequented the Imperiall Court A calumny convinced and have wished that all the Courts of the Protestant Princes were regulated like that Indeed the words which he uses to cure as he sayes the mindes of such as are praeoccupated by errour are not strong enough to make them passe for good even in his own opinion For a may be cannot form a determinate truth of future things Yet it is not my intention to approve all the actions of this House and defend her ends and much lesse to deliver the Bordering Princes from the fear which they may have of her greatnesse by the refutation of those arguments but only freely and plainly to lay open the justice of her Arms and the strong necessity of her interests to maintain her self against so many enemies I combat no Soveraign Family but reverence them all without exception and praeoccupation I only demonstrate the practices cheateries and effects of ambition together with those of self-advantage which render whole Provinces desert and breed general calamities In the Treaty of peace at Manster we shall discover the intentions of all the Princes without amusing our selves any more with the words of interested Clarks But we must first consider why France which hath always restored to the Dukes of Savoy such of their States Why France wi keep Lorrain as she hath seazed upon by arms doth now yet so obstinatly retaine Lorrain as she also did the three Bishopricks I answer that she hath done the former to avoide giving jealousie to the Princes of Italy whole good correspondence she holds necessary for her so to maintain her interests there But she will not let Lorrain go in regard of her conquests made in Germany and because the Princes of that Country being divided into Parties are not sourgent for the restitution of the losses of their Neighbours as those others are France calls the Princes of the House of Austria and all such as are tyed to her interests her Enemies and in regard that this irreconcitiable-hatred is not very ancient we shall quickly finde out the source thereof During the English Warrs in France the Spaniards being then great friends and Allyes with France always succoured her and there were some Lords of that Nation who possested great Charges in the said Warrs Yea in that memorable assembly of Arras where to the confusion of the English the Peace was made between the King and the Duke of Burgundy a certain Spanish Knight in a contention of honour took the White Cross without giving any other reason for it then that it was a sign of Amity But now The causes of the hatreds between France and Spain the said House being annexed to Spain the first spark of division sprung up in Italy the second and the greatest was about the Imperial â—â—â—â—n and jealousie of State which lasted til the death of Henry the second a 〈◊〉 as a wakened again under Henry the third by the counsell of the Hughenots and his brother the Duke of Alencon sudddenly made Duke of Brabaâ—t Philip the second of Spain did the like for him by favouring the Heads o the League to the deminution of his Authoritie and the Hughenot Party Henry the fourth took his revenge advanced the hatred always contraried opposed and laboured to weaken this power which gave him jealousy And then it was that not only the Hughenots but the Catholicks also began to hate that Nation Not did the Spaniards remain their debtors therem In such sort as the hatred of the people is formed by that of State But this kings death stopped the currnet of those partialities that double marriage seemed quite to stifle them out in vain for these two proud Nations the most potent of Christendom have many pretensions upon each other and cannot endure any praeeminence at all In so much as that when the one makes any progresse the other endeavours to stop it besides sides the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambition and desire to raise their Families have from time to time kindled these suspitions which have hatched these fatall wars to the destruction of all Europe The one of these Houses styles her selfe most Christian and yet meddles not much with the businesse of Religion for she ordinarily attracts the Reformates to her interests who are enemies to the Pope and by consequence to the other House which suffers not their Doctrine in her Dominions The other is tearmed Catholick and abandons not the interests of Religion no more then she doth her own unlesse it be by force proceeding from the necessity of State-affaires through some new conjuncture as we shall see in the sequell of this work Lewis the thirteenth shocked this House with so much authority and power and procured her so many Enemies that she had very much adoe to keep her self up in such sort as that great Cardinal the Angel-Gardian of France by his puissant Allyances begat an opinion in the Soules of many Politicians that he sought the Universal Monarchy In effect by this great Conquerours means he hoped to overthrow the Emperour and had already devoured the possession of the Low-Countries by the help of the Hollanders But man purposes and God disposes But let us withdraw our selves out of this Labyrinth since we have already gon round about it and if we enter into it we have not a sufficient thred of
prevented by the aforesaid Prince who made his Army march at one of the clock after mid-night and pitched his Camp near the said Weymarians in such sort as that Melo coming some hours too late durst not meddle with them and avowed that he had to do with one of the cunningest Captains in the world But whilest these things passed Baron John de Werdt returned out of France and shewed that he had not forgotten his Trade by the discontinuance thereof for in less then two months there were above two thousand horses sold at Colein which he had taken from the enemy Let us now pass into Catalunia and see the condition of the affaires of that Country commanded by Monsieur de la Motte Houdancour who so often beat the Castilians took so many Towns and succoured so many more that he deserved and had the Marshalls staffe The King and Cardinal went thither The great progresse of the Frénch in Catalunia and the French took Salces Perpinlan and all the County of Roussillion which had been formerly engaged to the Crown of France but was restored by Charles the eighth Monsieur le Grand had such an advantagious possession of the Kings favour at that time that the great Cardinal was alarmed by it and found himself ready to be cast out of the Saddell For he let the King know how necessary a Peace would be for his kingdom which was impoverished and exhausted by so many Taxes and Warres and had already disposed him to listen to an Accommodation with the King of Spain But he warped a Web into which he so involved himself that he was not afterwards able to put it off For they who recommended Peace were held for malefactors and worthy of death Monsieur le Grand beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon saved by whom Wherefore he was sent to Lyons with Monsieur de Thoii where they were both beheaded and the Duke of Bouillon had run the same Fortune had he not been saved by the high and sharp intercession of the Prince of Orange and the consideration of the Town of Sedan For the said Prince had newly preserved the Weymarian Army and rendred France a most remarkable service whereby he could not merit less then the safety of an innocent mans life The execution of the two young Lords aforesaid augmented the hatred which all the world bore this ambitious Cardinal yea and the King himself expressed some coldnesse to him The great Cardinals death which together with so many other inconveniences encreased his sickness and the fourth of December 1642 sent him to the other world since he had troubled this enough already Never did any man ascend to such an immense greatness and maintain himself so well in it His life was very like that of Seianus but their deaths were different this being naturall and that violent Don Alvarez de Luna rose very high but his fall was so heavy that it brake his neck Cardinal Wolsey disposed absolutely enough of his Master but his credit never passed the Sea but by sits and yet was he degraded before his death and in houtly expectation of the Hangman He was born at Paris of a noble extraction was well learned A brief relation of his life and took the Orders of Priesthood at Rome It is said that Pope Paul the fifth looking him once in the face told him That he would one day be the greatest cheat upon earth The Queen-Mother finding him a man of great wit procured him the Bishoprick of Luzon where he wrote a Book of controversie upon which she recommended him to the King her Son and afterwards to the Pope who sent him the Cardinals Cap and the taking of Rochel gave him so great an influence upon his Masters Mind that he left him almost the totall direction of his Kingdom He got himself shut of the Queen and all who favoured her cut off the Marshall of Marillacs head and destroyed all such as gave him any jealousie He never pardoned such as he had offended He was a most accomplished Politician beloved by the most zealous Protestants and hated by the most zealous Catholicks He made it his task to ruine the House of Lorrain by beginning with that of Guise as also that of Austria by labouring to conquer the Low-Countries so that he could not faile to be beloved by all such as hated the Church of Rome He is accused of having embroyled England to the end that for interest of State it might not hinder his seazing upon Flanders For an English Embassadour imputes to him the destruction of his King by most unjust and maligne practices and of setting all Europe by the eares in generall But he cannot be deprived of the praise of having done the Kingdom of France superlative services though it were with the huge oppression of the poor people A Polish Waywodt of great age and experience desired to outlive the said Cardinall to see what end he would have As he had done many people a great deale of hurt so was he alwayes in perpetuall apprehension and fear nor was there eyer Tyrant who lived in greater disquiet then he A great Volume might be made of the observations of his life which being wholly miserable was sustained but by a blast of ambition In fine whilest he was thinking to triumph over Europe his infirmities and troubles redoubled upon him till they made his soule go out of his wretched Body His death was lamented by few and such as had either feared him or fled from his persecution returned into France not to put on mourning but to give God thanks and repossesse themselves of their Charges and Estates CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Just The ' Battel of Rocroy The Battel of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein THe same Play was still acted under different names For they who had so much longed for great Gustaves death for the establishment of the Emperours Affaires were all amazed to see his Generalls accompanied by the same prosperity as if they had been destinated to consummate the begun-work Upon the other side many Princes and Townes openly favoured them in such such sort as the Emperours affaires weakened so fast to mens sight that they began to despaire of his redresse And so it was held for certain that that Great Cardinals death would cause a huge alteration in France and give the Spaniards the prize but it happened quite otherwise for the French defeated all their forces before Rocroy Let us therefore confesse that it is the Almighty who governes all changes destroyes subverts and augments States both when and how he pleases and that for the bringing of this Great All to an end he permits the Destruction to be Universall and the Confusion Generall Lewis the Just being arrived at his good City of Paris quite altered with the toyle and trouble of his long journey and extremely sad and melancholy began by little and little to lose his health and
in adversity onely that we are apt to remember him and such as were not content to live in such delicious idlenesse betook themselves to the warre either in Germany or the Low-Countries King Chales will have a Conformity of the Chu ches of Scotland with that of England King Charles made Proclamation for a Conformity as well in Ceremony as otherwife of the Churches in Scotland with these of England The Puritans opposed iâ— a tumult was raised against the Bishops and principall parsons of quality and a new Allyance or Covenant amongst the Puritans The King warned them to renounce it â—ut they on the other side persisted published scandalous Writings made a League abrogated the Episcopall Authority fortified some places and constrained him to leave his rest and take arms The Scots arms The Scots having gotten possession of the Castle of Edinburgh entred in to England took Newcâ—stle and Durham The King called a Parhament which being for the most part composed of Puritans he found them inclined to favour the Scots Whereupon he marched with an Army towards the Botders where he slighted the advice of one of the chief of his Kingdom who told him that if he would be a King and were not weary of raigning he must hazard a Battell But he preferring a pernicious peace before a necessary warre made an accommodation and at the same time called a Parliament which forth with assembled and the Scots after having finished a fine Master-piece of businesse whereof they felt excessive inconveniences after wards returned home The Deputy of Ireland prisoner his death The King gave this Parliament all full and absolure power provided that in any wife it touched not his Preroâ—ative nor such as were near it an individuall point by verâ—ue of a Law made in Henry the seventh's time But the first thing they did was to imprison the Lord Deputy of Ireland who could not be saved by the Kings requests nor his own defence but that he must needs be sacrificed to the hatred of the ignorant people who expressed their brutality by demanding his death and their folly by being moved to compassion at his firm and immutable constance to the last The Prince of Orange in England The Prince of Orange having demanded the eldest Princesse for his Son and obtained her he sent him thither to espouse her where he heard the said Deputies arguments and saw him brought upon the Scaffold and after his departure the Queen conducted her Daughter to the Haghe where she was received with very great honours but found the States more inclined to Neutrality then to meddle with that intestine warre For the King finding his Authority sensibly checked was already retyred to York where he set up his Standard sent for the Knights of the Garter and having neither Ships nor money sought some support in the affections of his subjects but too late for the forces whereof he had dif-invested himselfe were in the Parliaments hands however he was succoured by the greatest part of the Nobility The Malignants and Round-heads who and Gentry upon whom was imposed the name of Malignants as that of Round-heads was upon the Parliament souldiers The Queen having received some money upon her Jewels and drawne a good summe from the Prince of Orange repasted into England War between the King and Parliament but was cast back by a most horrible tompest upon the Coast of Holland though yet some weeks after she arrived in safety with all the Munitions which she had been able to purchase and afterwards retired into France leaving her husband in this storm wherein he was swallowed up S r. Thomas Wentworth c. Lord Debuty of Ireland sould by P. Stent In sine understanding that the English had called in the Scots by vertue of the Covenant concluded and confirmed by Oath on both Parcies wherein they swore the destruction of the Bishops he dispatched Prince Robert against them The Royâ—lists beaten by the Scots who joyned his forces though not his opinion with the Earl of Newcastle for he would needs venter a Battail which he lost and the said Earl fled into Germany and all the Kings felicity with him During these interludes the Earl of Montroffe did wonders for the King in Scotland for with a very small Army he gained a Battail came off with advantage in many encounters and repayred in fine the Kings affaires there Montrosse for the King in Scotland whilest they impayred in England for having lost another victory to Fairfax he was compelled to retyre to Oxford where he was besieged Whereupon his Son went into France and himself fled disguised to the Scotch Army The King flies to the Scotch Army and is sold who received him at first with great honour and complement though afterwards they delivered him up to the Parliament Army for a summe of mony He was made passe amongst the people for a Papist and a Tyrant and that he had a design to annull all the Priviledges of England c. Ah ungratefull People Ah Scotch Captains You who have the renown of being Souldiers how could you consent to such a basenesse Had avarice more power over your soules then respect vertue and duty For though you had an opinion that the King were a Papist is it lawfull for subjects to act against the Annointed of the Lord that which they would not have done to themselves As soon as the news of the Deputies imprisonment arrived in Ireland The revolt in Ireland the Irish took Arms to free themselves from the Captivity of the English as they called it but with so much barbarity and cruelty that they rendred themselves detestable thereby especially to such as knew how they had been treated by the English But what will not people undertake which from a long time are grown brutish and savage when they crush the head of their Governours with their own Chaines The Collections which were made in Holland for the succour of the Reformates in that Country The Collections in Holland for what begat as well the admiration of the Charity of that Nation towards their Brethren as doubt also on the other side whether such large summes ever arrived there The King being near London found himself reduced to the extremity of granting them of the Parliament whatsoever they asked and not being able to suffer some inconveniences which were cast upon him he made his escape to the Isle of Wight where he was treated like a prisoner But in fine being led back again to London and the Vpper House being abolished The King is executed the 30. of January 1649. he was accused by the Army and brought before a High Court of Justice where he was tryed condemned to be beheaded and executed the thirtieth of January 1649. There have happened enormous accidents in this Age but none which hath so much astonished the world as this strange proceeding Such as are curious have made a shift
to pick out some kind of similitude of his death to that of the Saviour of the world but for my part I will be silent Since that time the English have fought prosperously against the Irish and Scots But let us now end the war and the difference between the King of Spain and the States Generall and see the success of the Armes of France CHAP. XIX The continuance of the Exploits in Flanders The Battail of Lentz THE Prince of Orange made his last Field in the year 1647. when he passed into Flanders and received a supply of six thousand French conducted by Marshall Gramment who did nothing but plunder and gave proof of their courage and irregular Discipline to the souldiers of this Common-wealth He took a Fort before Antwerp which he presently after lost again He found so much repugnance in the States against the Siege of this Town that he changed his design Hemy Prince of Orange sick His death 1648. and marched towards Venlo but after the loss of many men there he retyred to the Haghe where he fell sick and died in the moneth of March 1648. and was interred at Delft by Prince William his Father This generous Prince gave so many testimonies of his valour in so many perilous Sieges that he made himself admired by all the world Armentiers and Landrecies taken 1647. The Arch-Duke Leopold being arrived in the quality of Governour of the Low-Countries besieged Armentiers the thirteenth of May which the French had fortified and made a Magazine there which he gained the twenty sixth of the same monoth But Gassion being intrenched with eight thousand men near Esterre hindred him from any further attempt upon Artoise and chiefly Arras upon which he seemed to have cast his eye Wherefore he went and invested Landrecies and brought it under obedience in less then three weeks The French take La Baneè Diemude end Tortoza But Gassion recompenced the first loss by the taking of La Baneè which he effected by an Assault only without a siege as Rantzow also did Diemude In such sort as Piccolomini was forced to lay a formall Siege to it and tear it our of the hands of Monsieur Palvaw the Governour Rantzow had an enterprise upon Ostend which being discovered was hurtfull to the Enterprisers Nor had that of Beck upon Courtrack any better success and La Baneè remained as a Curb to Lile But the Arms of France had better luck in Catalunia where the Marshall of Schoonbergh recompenced the loss which the Count of Harcoart made in raising the Siege of Lerida in doing the like for the Spaniards before Flix and by easily taking Tortoza From whence the name of Hibernia to Ireland a Town situated at the mouth of the River Ebro called by the Romans Iberus But Terragona was a stumbling-block for them as well as Casal had been to the Spaniards The next years Field must do miracles and shew the Hollanders that without them they were able to beat the Spaniards out of Flanders Indeed the Army was very great and the General had both luck and courage enough to undertake impossible things The French take Ypers and the Spaniniards Courtrack 1648. The fair and strong Town of Ypers was attacked and taken in twelve dayes and Courtrack retaken by the Spaniards in five Indeed the want of Victuals was so great that if Ypers had held out four days more the Army had been in danger of suffering much The forces of both Parties met near Lentz a Town though small yet famous for brave Gassions death Gassion killed who was killed by a musket bullet in the Approaches to the Town The Sraniards were about seven thousand and the French much sewer The Foot did their duty well enough The Battail of Lentz and especially the Lorraines but the Horse according to their custom sled and would not hearken to General Becks exhortations who was taken and died rather of vexation then of his wounds In sine the Spaniards lost the Battail and had almost lost the Imperiall Prince too had he not been succoured by the Prince of Ligne The victory of the French who remained in pawn for him For want of Foot the French were fain to be content with the Town of Fuernes which was afterwards retaken by the Spaniards to guard Dunkerk It was conceived that this victory would have been a means to ingrandish the French Monarchy but it was likely on the other side to make it stumble and indeed it gave it such a shogg that it hath not been able to recover it self wholly hitherto For this great Body being strong and nimble is fallen into a feaver which makes it frantick It is like a Watch the principall wheels whereof being broken keeps no true course or measure But let us go and finish the war of the United Provinces since the news thereof is already come for if we should stay to note all things we should never have an end CHAP. XX The Peace made betwixt the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable Siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate THe last Field having produced no remarkable effect at all was taken by many as the shooting off of a Musket without a bullet rather to content the Allyes then to advance upon the enemy rather to drive away the time then to make use of advantages and rather to tyre the French then to come to share stakes with them Indeed the Hollanders had a fine game of it for the enemy not being able almost to stoop was fain to avow that all their defences being taken away in Flanders they had nothing more left to oppose against them then the Walls of Amwerp Gaunt and Bridges for Guelders was half conquered Brabant open and Flanders almost quite subjugated so that there remained but one and the last Bowt to come to the sharing of stakes In the mean while the Embassadours which last arrived were the first dispatched for they found so much inclination in them of Spain that the Proposition for a Truce being changed into that of a Peace all their demands were granted them In such sort as more then a twelve moneths time was spent in attending and uniting the two Parties howbeit they had brought them so far already that whatsoever the French had gotten by conquest of the Spaniards and other enemies was to remain as their own for perpetuity and they had confirmed it amongst them by a sure and fast League in order to which Monsieur de Seruient had taken great pains at the Haghe yea he indevoured under this pretext to draw the States to a continuation of the war The Peate made between the Spaniards and the Hollanders and the utter expulsion of the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries and therefore it was no marvaile if Prince William leaned that way with him For this young Eagle being newly received as Governour and Captain Generall desired to accomplish what his Predecessors
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
The Duke of Bouillon goes to Rome The Duke of Bouillon being forced to make a change of Sedan for another piece of Land went secretly with his wife out of France and so to Rome to Command Pope Vrbans Army but he arrived there after the Peace was signed In this quarrel of State the Treasures of the Church were consumed and scandals took also their place Cardinal Pamphilio being seventy two years old was elected to the Holy Chaire and the Faction of the Barbarins mistically overthrown Cardinal Pâ—mphilio chosen Pope For the succour demanded of the King of Spain being refused and a Victory gained upon them near Pâ—tigliano Te deum was sung at Florence and other places The loss of Tortona by the French a strong place which opened the passage from Milan to Genna 1643. was recompenced by the taking of Trino and Pontestura and the same year Piccolomini extorted Mouzon from them also which much incommodated the Arragonians notwithstanding the dammage which the Portuguezes put upon the Castillians by a puissant diversion This great General after having given markes of valour as well in Spain as in the Empire repassed with much danger into Flanders where Affaires required his presence In this conjuncture the Mores were desired to fall upon the King of Spain who as it seems had not Enemies enow yet They did it The Mores besiege Oran and are beaten and besieged Oran but twelve Gallyes made them repent of thrusting themselves into the Dance and abandon the Siege together with the desire also of dancing any more But the Portugnezes had better luck then these Barbaâ—ans in a certain Encounter wherein being routed and the Conquerours upon pilladge they raylled defeated them and killed above fifteen hundred of them upon the place Te Deum sung at Madrid and at Paris The great Victory gotten upon the French before Terragona and Lerida which were retaken by famine caused Te deum to be sung at Madrid at the same time that it was also sung at Paris for the taking of Graveling But very shortly after both Courts put on Mourning for the death of the Queen of Spam Sister to Lewis the Just and the Count of Harcourt went to take the Place of Monsieur de la Morte who was fallen by these losses so farre into disgrace that all his former gallant actions were not able to maintain him as if forsooth it were possible to be alwayes a Conquerour and keep Fortune in a chaine But he who governs all things disposes also of Victories as he pleases For this brave Count before he came thence experimented the same disgrace and the same lot and had enough to do to save himselfe from the Conspiracy of the Catalunians and such others as envyed his glory The French who had won so many Battels taken so many Towns subdued so many Provinces and refused so advantagious a Peace had the same luck which their Generals had and saw their Enemies again in the heart of their Kingdom When a worke is done it is easie to finds out faults Harcourt having by his presence and a strong succour put thing in security besieged and took Rosa after such a defence as made him in doubt of a good issue Harcourt victorious in Catalunia passed the River of Segra beat the Enemy almost as oft as he durst shew himselfe and made Te Deum be sung as often at Paris as the other Generals did who were in Flanders He took Balagüer by an admirable chance repulsed his enemies who endeavoured to relieve it and sent the fright even to the very Gates of Madrid The Spaniards hands were benummed with blowes and their eyes dazled by the glory of so great a Captaine and some Towns in such confusion as is ordinarily brought by tumult But let us see how they do in Italy Prince Thomas having seized upon Pontestura made St. Ja and Vinguevano also submit Prince Thomas in Italy the Spaniards not being able to exceed the terms of a Defensive War But this prevident Nation defended the blowes by retyring and craftily gave way to the heat of the French expecting in the coole thereof an occasion to hurt and take revenge The Barbarins being hated by the Pope and necessitated to give account of the Treasures of the Church The Barbarins disgraced besought the favour of France from which they were not fallen but to return with more splendor and obtain her protection But Cardinal Anthonies flying away with vast Summs of money so much kindled the choler of his Highnesse that he stopped his eares to all such as interceded for their reconciliation slighted the menaces which came from beyond the Mountaines and the reports which would needs make him passe for a Spaniard In effect he disapproved the Allyance made with the Enemies of the Catholick Church whose interests he embraced with more zeal then his Predecessour This mist troubled the serenity of Italy and made the French arme and lay a Siege both by Sea and Land before Orbitello But they were beaten upon both Elements Cebitello besieged 1645. Monsieur de Breze's head taken off by a Canon-ball and Prince Thomas compelled to raise the Siege in confusion They complained of the Pope for his having permitted the Neaples Forces to passe through his Countries to which he answered that he had done them the same favour This losse was repaired in the year 1646 by that happy Captain La Meilleraye who having fitted the Fleet went and seized upon Piombino and Portolongòno which he fortified Lerida besieged The Count of Harcourts eyes being dazled by the charmes of smiling Fortune went and laid Siege before the strong Town of Lerida and assaulted it violently but the great resistance of the Garrison and the difficulty he found to mine made him resolve to take it by Famine The Governour to spare his provisions sent all the women and children out of the Place who almost all died with hunger in the ditches A great cruelty though it passed for a feat of war for a necessity of State and for acquisition of honour But behold the inconstance of this imaginary Goddess They who had been so often knock't by this great General recollected themselves and ventured to affront him in his Trenches out of which they beat him after the third assault and made him leave Camp Canon and Baggage with a great number of dead men and prisoners behinde him This Attack was made the twentieth of October by the Marquis of Leganes Is suçcoured by Leganes the French beaten who had express Command either to succour the Town or to die in the attempt This mischance was followed by another at Sea where twenty French Gallyes were beaten by seventeen Spanish and near two thousand French perished in the Combat In fine Harcourt obtained leave to return into France and the Prince of Condè succeeded to make Shipwrack of so many Victories as well as he against that inchanted Rock which was as
faire Medea was gained at the point of the Sword with the losse of many brave Knights and carried to Malta And this newes I say did so much inflame his choler that he swore he would revenâ—e himselfe upon all the Christians and to this effect he contracted the principal Forces of all the Provinces and fitted a Fleet of near four hundred saile and lulled the Venetians asleep in the meane while by assuring them that it was not against them but to draw satisfation from the aforesaid Knights who put themselves into a posture to undergoe the storme by sending for all the Knights demanding the succour of Princes and fortifying all the approaches The said Venetians and other States of Italy thought also of their defence but a little too late and so they tryed to their cost and losse the Great Turks perfidy who having made a shew of attacking Malta returned towards Candy and took Canea by composition after he had battered it by a Siege and many assaults Some States shewed their zeal for the Common Good but the reliefe came too late like physick to the dead and the cause thereof was jealousie But this inopinated Invasion much astonnished the Illustrious Republick of Venice which asked assistance every where and in Holland Ships for their mony but was not able to restore Christendom to peace When the Wolves attack a flock of Sheep the courage of the doggs is cooled from falling upon the Common Enemy The ambition of Christians was too great the opinions in Religion too different and various their charity too much chilled and the ruin of the House of Austria which was judged infallible too much in their hearts This punishment seemed to have been drawn upon them by their not having well administred justice in the said Island upon the Governours Son who had committed a rape and violated a woman 1646. which crime made the Mores invade Spain and hath caused many afflictions in the world besides One misfortune followes another Fire got into the Arsenal at Venice for the fire got into the Arsenal at Venice and indangered the blowing up of that brave City which so much frighted the noble Senators thereof that as well for this mishap as also for many other advertisements they resolved to provide it well to the end that the Traitours might have no power to hurt it In this conjuncture the French were in danger to be ill treated being accosed of intelligence with the Turks and of having kindled this fatal war But that which is without ground is also without existency and what is not proved ought not to be believed The Turke caused his General to be beheaded for having lost too many men before Canea and failed to seize upon the Haven of Suda in the same Island and not with standing so many prodigies as appeared at Constantinople for many dayes together Prodigies at Constantinople he resolved to continue the war with all extremity for the space of seven years For the year before one part of the said City was consumed by fire and this year the contrary Element threatned to drown it and made the Inhabitants go up to the tops of their houses to save their lives In brief these supernatural signes make us hope that heaven being angry with these Barbarians will dissipate their Monarchy together with the impiety of their Alcoran but the incredulity of Christians together with their ill lives will quickly involue Mortals in the vengeance of the Almighty The Venetians blocked up Canea and the Turks being ill Neighbours to the Hungarians laboured to enter into Frioll and caused the Tartars to march into the Field but the Cossacks made a powerful diversion towards the Black-Sea which divided the said Turks Troops The Muscovits joyned themselves to the said Cossacks and the Basshaw of Aleppo revolted so that the Grand Signor found worke enough to do The Pope and Cardinals furnished thirty thousand Crowns a moneth towards the expenses of the war with many Gallyes The Popes succour and the Duke of Parma some Forces The State of Venice being mennaced by three Armies implored the reliefe of Christian Princes The defeat of the Venetions and beat the Turks in Dalmaria but received a furious overthrow in the Kingdom of Candy General Moresini took a good number of vessels appointed to re-victual Canea but he could not hinder the Fleet and so the Army was defeated there six thousand men with two Generals killed Retimo taken and all the Christians massacred This misfortune so much startled the Common-wealth that however Grimani had very happily taken a great many Gallyes Which implores the help of Princes she made it highly known at Vienna Paris Madrid and throughout all Italy that she was not able alone to sustaine the weight of the Half-Moon and that having already consumed about two and thirty millious of Crowns she should at last be constrained to enter into such unequal conditions with this devouring Wolfe as would be shameful to all Christendom Though Fortune had been unkinde in the Kingdom of Candy she yet shewed so gay and chearful a countenance in Dalmatia and in many Encounters at Sea that she made the Republick break off all Treaty of Peace and resolve to continue the war There arrived forty vessels from Holland and some from Denmark without counting the succour of Genna and that of the Pope who took the said Republicks Cause to heart as also the repose and quiet of Christendom Grinnani got many Victories and so much tormented the Turks that famin thrust it selfe amongst them in Canea The Common-wealths Victories where we will leave them scuffling for that fair Island without entertaining our selves to pick out the circumstances of Combats and Cruelties where with the Barbarians stuste their actions since Christians being become Barbarians do yet worse theâ— they LEOPOLD WILLIAM Arch Duke of Austra and Goâ—ueruour of y e Low Countries 〈…〉 P. Stuat Excuâ—it CHAP. III. The troubles at Paris It is besieged The Archduke comes to succour it The besieging and taking of Ipers Cambray besieged in vaine Hennawlt ransacked THe newes which came to Paris of the Victory obtained against the Arch-Duke before Lens in Artâ—ise upon the twentieth of August 1648. would have filled all France with perfect joy had not an unexpected accident disturbed the feast and almost put that great City into confusion mingled with blood and slaughter For whilest they were giving God thanks for this said Victory A tumult at Paris and why the people hearing of the imprisonment of Messiours de Brussels de Charton and de Blancmesnil President of the Parliament whom they acknowledged for their Fathers and Protectors began to cry Alarme and run in flocks to the Pallace Royall to require their liberty The Shops were shut up the Chaines made fast and all the approaches barricaded So that Paris was in greater disorder now or else the danger was greater then that which chanced in Henry the thirds
all for they made an attack upon the Citizens and exercised such cruelties as are sutable to the conditions of this cursed Age as pilladging houses ravishing women and maids massacring Fathers and Husbands and committing certain other prime pranks and exercises which were wont to be done there and which are ordinarily practiced in one Times besides cutting the throats of Infants murthering the sick in the Hospitals through reciprocal hatred and demolishing Churches to serve them for defenses Albis prophaned all Society broken Oh God! O Great Judge I may say with the great St. Jerome that when I consider these slaughters me thinks I already heare thy trumpet which bids us march Ah! how dangerous a thing it is to break promise with a people which have newly laid down Arms For if you once bring them to despair there will be no means to appease them by any promise The Duke of Guise goes to Neaples The Neapolitans armed again breathed nothing but vengeance desired the protection of France and the Duke of Guise for their Commander-General All which being promised them they stopped their eares to a Reconciliation and strangled their Governour Foralto after having barbarously dismembred and mangled him for having advised them to peace yea there were no cruelties so enormous and unnatural but they put them in practice Gennaro Annese caused the Streets which led towards the Cittadels to be stopped up and the Spaniards seeing the fire too great to be extinguished by their Arms endeavoured to restore the said Cittadels into the Popes hands who refused them The Adiacent Parts succoured the City with victuals the Bandites took and sacked other Towns and the Duke of Metelona who kept the Field with some forces gave the Neapolitans no quarter but they rendred him quid for quo The Duke of Guise arrived ordered all things and besiedged Capisa in vaine In short all was full of plunder blood and fire Oh! Austria where art thou Faith Hope and Charity where are you Where are the Commandments of God Let us go out of this Labyrinth for these particulars make ones hair rise on ones head let us see the end I say of these abominations here to go and seek them elsewhere The Count of Oneate newly made Vice-King and a second Prince of Parma in prudence allayed all these disorders by an enterprise the good successe whereof made him renowned and glorious For upon a fair opportunity he rendred himselfe Master of the Gates and all the people also with small resistance some will needs say by treason In so much as all the said people began suddainly to cry Live the King of Spain which some dayes before had cryed Live the King of France All was pardoned and the Imposts taken off by favour without constraint The Duke of Guise was pursued taken prisoner and carried into Spain Is made prisoner and carried into Spain together with some other French Lords All was re-established as it was before the troubles Te Deum sung and the Count of Oneates merits elevated to the Skies Oh the inconstance of things of this world For this Sedition was appeased The Peace made when it was conceived that it would have made the Flower de Luces flourish again throughout the whole Kingdom Thus was the blood stenched which by the continual streames thereof was to stifle the Authority of the House of Austria These were the effects of the Divine goodness which by a special grace would save a City when human prudence saw it tending towards utter desolation without being able to recover it Now after the description of so many calamities suffered and after the publication of the Peace amongst all the Towns of this great Body which was fatigated and exhausted both of blood and strength we will rest a little and take breath with it and then prepare our selves to go to the Jubily CHAP. V A Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Condè the Duke of Boüillon and other Lords retire themselves to Bourdeaux and the Dutches of Longueville and the Vice-Count of Turenne to Stenay The Allyance is made The Duke of Orleans in Flanders and a digression upon that Subject I Was thinking to make a full stop in the middle of this Age as hoping that the Great God being moved by so much blood-shed would stop his scourge and cast his rod into the fire but alas It is not yet done for it seems that they who contributed to the desolation of the Empire must now feel the effects of his indignation in their own States They danced in Germany and now the Revel is amongst them at home to the end that all may be accomplished If they have made some Conquests they will pay deare enough for them Whosoever takes a firy coale in his hand shakes and stirs it gently and shuts not his hand for feare of burning it My designe in the remnant of this matter is to do the like and to handle it so tenderly as not to burne my selfe in a season when the World is so easily toucht and when truth is hardly able to finde a lodging The great Jubily Whilest the City of Rome was full of Strangers who came thither either out of curiossity or for devotion to the great Jubily and whilest Pope Innocent was addressing his prayers to God for a General Peace the war marched still on as before The Imprisonment of the Princes of Conde and Conty and of their Brother in Law the Duke of Longueville The Imprisonment of the Princes 1550. was likely to bring Paris againt into trouble in order to the Duke of Beaufort who was reported to be of the number and gave such as were curiours desire to finde out the ground of so great a Change The Princesse of Condè retired her selfe to Bourdeaux where the Duke of Boüillon and many other great Lords came to her who for the hatred they bore Cardinal Mazarin and the Duke Espernon were all most welcome to her and found both safety and authority there and the Marshal of Turenne found favour also at Brussels The Dutchesse of Longueville got abord a Vessel which lay off before the Haven of Deep and passed into Holland and thence to the Province of Luxemburgh to make a streight Allyance with the Arch-Duke Leopold A Manifest published concerning their detention The King published a Manifest concerning the detention of the Princes the chiefe points whereof were the Prince of Conde's too great power and insatiable ambition which too visibly checked the Soveraigne Prerogative This proceeding caused a great alteration in the Court and burthened the Cardinal with too much hatred to let him sleep so securely as to forget the care of his own preservation The Queen her selfe was not spared and such Officers of the Court as were the said Cardinals Creatures wanted not their full measure The Allyance with the Arch-Duke The Viz-Count of Turenne having raised a great summe of money in Stenay caused the
mean condition had been employed for the erection of the said Company The Portugueses make themselves Masters of Brazil The Portugueses complaining of the cruelty and avarice of the souldiers took Arms and by the help of some certain Traitors made themselves Masters of the whole Countrey save only the Rocif a strong place built in the Sea This action stirred up the United Provinces to revenge and so they speedily accommodated a great Fleer to go and reconquer the said Country The Portugal Embassadour at the Haghe used all possible diligence to divert this storm and made offers of high consideration to wit either to render the said Country or to give so many millions for the Reinbursement of the Zelanders but it was in vain for the Fleet set sayle with a multitude of good souldiers but the Expedition proving fruitless and the Expences unprofitable the said Company remained almost without pulse and Vice-Admiral Wit Wittenson having been constrained to abandon the said Country for want of releif was arrested at the Haghe to answer the objections made against him for his so speedy retreat The States of Holland will dismisse some Troops Since that time there hath been other fish to fry and other knots to untye which have caused that to be for gotten For the States of Holland being willing to play the good husbands thereby to discharge themselves of a part of their debts considered that it was necessary to licentiate or dismiss part of their forces on foot to be eased of so much useless expence The Prince opposes it The Prince of Orange opposed this design alleadging against them how dangerous it was to disfurnish themselves of the souldiets during the war between the two Crowns They urged a Reduction and a yearly Pension for such Officers as should be deposed but the difficulty being found greater by the oppugnance of some Provinces and chiefly the Dutchy of Guelders it was held fit And goes amongst the Townes that the said Prince should go amonst the Towns to dispose the Magistrates to let the Militia remain in the same state wherein it was and to content themselves with that dismission of the new Troops which was already made In effect the Colonels having received orders to keep their souldiers together the Prince went to Dort the ninth of June and after he had been at Delfe Rotterdam Gorkom Dergawde c. He returned the sixteenth of the same moneth to the Haghe The Petition which was made him by two Deputies of Amsterdam not to come into their Town seemed not pleasing to him as appeared by what followed Upon the twenty seventh of the aforesaid moneth the Deputies who had accompanyed him made report to the Assembly of States that the Answer of the Towns had been different Some whereof refuse to give audience ane that some of them as Harlem Dolst Amsterdam and Medemblick had refused him audience and had remitted the businesse to the Haghe to be there decided by their Deputies Complaines Upon the 30 the prince complained alowd to the Colledge of the States of the refusal made him by them of Amsterdam which was against his dignity and respect as also against the greatnesse of the Province of Holland whereof he was Governour affirming that this proceeding tended to the deminution of his authority and contempt of his person wherefore he desired that reparation and satisfaction might be made him by the Magistrates of the said Town The answers To which the Deputies wanted no answer but alledged their Rights as may be seen in the Declaration of both parties to which I refer the Reader It was generally believed that these complaints would have gone no further and that they would have been peacefully resolved in the Cabinet when on a suddain Six Lords taken the news came that the Prince had caused six Lords to be seazed upon namely De Witt Burghermaster or Mayor of Dort John Duâ—st of Delft John de Wael Burghermaster and the Syndick Reul both of them of Harlem the Syndick Keyser de Horne and Stellinguerf of Medemblick some of them Deputies and others Counsellers Whilest all the world was waiting to know the subject of this so extraordinary Imprisonment there came other news more strange then this which struck the ears of every one in particular filled all Holland with amazement and the curious with desire to see the Issue When waters which have been stopped find passage they make themselves heard with more violence and at a greater distance then those which have but their natural course The Prince not having received satisfactions his complaints were to be manifested but in what manner Every body knows The night of the twenty ninth or thirtieth of July a remarkable night and day till next morning being Satterday and all quiet at Amsterdam the Post of Hamburgh arrived about eight of the clock and brought word to the magistrates Troops straight to Amsterdam that he had met a Troop of Horse which was confirmed by the Drossart of Muide and that there were many more which marched straight to the Town alongst the Coast of the South Sea There was but one of the Burghermasters then in Town who forthwith assembled the said Magistrates and provided the Town against these forces which the people thought to be the Duke of Lorraines Thought to be the Duke of Lorrains The Gates were instantly shut and resolution taken to put some companies of men in Arms to which effect the Drummes were beaten with so great concourse that in a very few howers They run to Arms. the Souldiers and Canon were seen upon the Walls and all in a posture of defence as well on the side of the water as that of the Land This City being the most famous and most celebrated of the whole universe in regard of the Traffick and infinity of the vessess which arrive there from all the Havens of the world had not had any Alarme in eighty years before and yet she lest not to bestir her self for her own preservation and the security of the commerce A very dark night It is to be noted that that night was so dark and rainy that it deprived the Souldiers of the knowledge of the wayes and of the strength to march stedfastly In such sort as the guydes stayed and being puzled at a crosse-way made the Van march as soon as they found themselves right but the rest wandered so much up and down that they found themselves in the same Village an houre after The Magistrates having caused the Bridges to be drawn up dispatched their Deputies to ask Count William to what end he came thither with so great forces Whereupon he put this little Paper of the Princes into their hands which said That he had lately been very Ill received in their Town The Princes Letter whether he came for the service of the Common Native Country and to the end that the like might be done him
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
how much apparence soever there were of repaying the affront received before it the precedent year The time passed in contest the Garrison of the Town reinforced and the Knight after two dayes sickness The knight of Guises death dead which death for the Violence thereof was suspected of some malignity as well to the Soule as to the body The suddain deaths of great persons give occasion of talke but those of mean ones are put into common necessity However it be one of his Masters drew profit from it and the other disavowed it Commandments are dangerous to such as execute them for not having their Commission in writing This unforeseen accident amazed such as were cleer sighted filled his most illustrious House with mourning cansed great alterations and designes which made more noyse then effect During these irresolutions the Arch-duke departed from Brussels and arrived at the Army neer Cambray to advice how and with what advantage the Field should be finished The siege of Rocroy Rocroy glorious by the defeat of the Spaniards was a subject which deserved to be brought under obedience wherefore the resolution was taken to besiege it and the French who had coasted their enemies to the Frontiers without hazarding any thing went and incamped themselves before Mouzon And of Mouzon I will say nothing in particular of these two Sieges though I were present at one of them but that Heaven being angry to see the two most generous Nations that ever bore the Christian Name ceased not to outrage or vex one another to their mutuall disadvantage powred down so many teares and the windes raysed so many stormes Ill weather that both men and horses felt excessived stresses It parted the victorres to open their eyes for Rocroy which was the first attacked These two Towns renders themselves yeelded two dayes after Mouzon i. e. the thirtieth of September and the Armies being fatigated by the over much wetness of the season went to seeke shelter almost naked The French being very impatient and desirous to be lodged more at large unnestied the Garrison of St. Menehout and the Lorrains And St. Menchout conducted by their own Master the Duke went to affict the Bishoprick of Liedge The Lorraines in the Bishoprick of Liedge The small success of the three last Fields in respect of the great advantages which were promised by the disorder caused by the discontentments of the Princes of the blood at least a second Peace of Vervins made fools talke who open their mouthes when the wise or at least the wary a most usual maxime in these present times keep them shut There was a misfortune foreseen and it fel upon the Abbot of Mercy and the Count of Bassigny who were cast in prison The Count of Bassigay and the Abbot of Mercy prisoners and their imprisonment gave such as were curious ground to scrue into the cause thereof and made others believe that it would discover some great mistery for which the lovers of novelty longed much This first Thunderclap struck but one only steple but before it was dissipated it crushed a Rock which so many Mariners in this Sea of miseries both doubted and feared and against which so many Vessels made Shipwrack For the Liedgers took an Alarme as also a resolution to make an Allyance with the French against the House of Spain Which blow must needs be fatall to his Catholick Majesty if not prevented and Cardinal Mazarin ful of joy to see himself at the Helme of the Ship began to hope that the webs which he had woven in that Country would be more difficult to untangle then it was to unty the Gordions knot The Duke of Lorraine was sent for to Brussels taken prisoner and carried to the cittadel of Antwerp And the Duke of Lorrain Neither the exploits of Mas-Aniello nor the death of the King Charles brought more astonishment to all Europe then this detention which gave things another countenance brake the neck of many designes sent back the great Faber with his forces to Sedan and retained the Liedgers in their liberty which they were about to loose together with their Peace The Imprisonment of this Soveraign Prince smothered all his Counfels which seemed to be great and was taken for one of the strangest accidents of the time and discovered that he was beloved by almost no body He is suspected to have imitated the constable of St. Paul Suspected to imitate the constable of St. Paul and to have sought his profit in this pernicious War where he danced better then he did in the great Ball or Revel which was made at Paris 1642. France blamed this proceeding more for her own interest then for that of the Prisoner his Troops expressed so great discontentments and fell into such disorder Prince Francs arrives aâ— Brussels that it was needful to send for Prince Francis to put them into the state of obedience who having taken leave of the Emperour and all the Court departed from Vienna being well received and cherished every where and principally at Brussels where he arrived with his two Soanes Whilest the Count of Fuensaldania in busy about securing the Lorrains to his Masters service and assigning them good Winter-quarters to the great displeasure of the Inhabitants of Lile we will go down a little lower Promps last battail The last Battail in the moneth of August wherein the valliant Admirall Tromp lost his life proceeded partly from disgust by seeing the Enemies brave or domineer so long upon the Coast before the havens of Texel and the Moze hindring the going out of the ships obstructing the commerce The Hollanders who had made so many bravadoes throughout all the whole Ocean and imagined that the Lordship of the Sea belonged without controversie to them were even almost dead with spight and displeasure to see themselves so highly and grossely affronted even at their own doors This baâ—tail Isay whereof I have hitherto made very little mention declared in the beginning the addres of both Parties by striving for the advantage of the winde and at the end their generous and obstinate resolution to overcome The losse which the Hollanders sustained was of about fifteen or sixteen Vessels and that of the English little as to Vessels but many were extreemly indammaged on both sides In this surious fight as also in all the former the English Vessels by reason of their hight and their number of bigg Brass Gunns had almost the same advantage upon the Hollanders which Curasseers In which as in many former many Captaines did not their duty or Corsler-Horsmen have upon the Light Horse Besides that many Dutch Captains did not their duty in such sort as that the Hollanders reaped no other profit of their valour then that of removing their Enemies from their Coast and were forced themselves into the Texel The English considering in what equipage their fleet was and fearing the violent storms that
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
Illustrious Family say Will they not accuse us and our posterity of the blackest ingratitude in the World Then were the obligations of the Common-wealth to the said House tepeated the services laid open and the merits so highly exalted and found so infinite that there was no means to recompence them A Manifest published by the States These noises I say and this liberty of censuring the procedings of their Masters with impunity produced that Manifest which by little and little swallowed up the tattle of such as were most hot amongst them refuted the Objections of the other Provinces and put Holland into firme tranquility again For my part I content my self with having hinted a word thereof for proof of the general malignity of this corrupt Age. This war having been prudently counselled by the most accomplished Politician of these Times against a Nation which was able to give the Law upon the whole Ocean The war began in regard of the jealousie which was amongst the Provinces had it not been unfortunatly divided by an unforeseen Siege and an unexpected Death was continued by him with very much dexterity utility and glory and terminated with so great advantage abd reputation that he hath rendred himself far more formidable then any great Conquerour ever was Hath much excreised the English This war restored the English to the perfect knowledge of the maritime Militia and oblidged the Hollanders who opened their eyes too late to seek this Peace for the redresse of their Traffick half ruined Whilst the sea was agitated by so many different humours there arrived news of the utter losse of Brezill The utter losse of Brezill together with the Recif which was believed when it could be no more doubted of and caused some to cry louder and especially them of Zeland who could not digest some Articles But General Schup who brought the confirmation of the said news was forthwith imprisoned together with some others Let us briefly dispatch what we have to say because it is quite fresh Cardinal Mazarin finding no more contradiction in the Council and perceiving that the heat of the French against him began by little and little to cool The Consecration of the King of France had now no other care then to get the King Annointed which accordingly was done at Rheims with the accustomed Ceremonies for the illustration whereof it was held necessary to adde a Triumph to it Stenay a small place but of great consideration between Verdun and Sedan was the Lawrel-branch worthy to guild the Head of this great Kings The Siege of Stenay and so it was invested and the Trenches opened in his Majesties presence The Prince of Conde who was not asleep led his Troops into the Field and made a shew of going another way whilest some other Forces seized upon the approaches of Arras And of Arras with so much felicity and speed that such as endeavoured to enter the Town were repulsed and beaten The Arch-Duke hastned thither the Peasants were commanded to come and work about the lines of Circumvallation and the Horse to hinder the French from entering into the Town the Garrison whereof was very weak A bold Enterprise and which could not be accomplished with so few men without making some diversion But let us make another turn through the North for the last time The Queen of Sweden quits the Crown Queen Christine performed a most extraordinary action and which is more easie to relate then to imitate for having worne the Crown of Sweden which was so much illustrated and augmented by the brave exploits of the Great Gustave her Father for some years together put it in the presence of all the States of the Kingdom upon the head of her Cousin King Charles in the month of June and after this Ceremony departed from Stockholms to Hamburgh Our Age produces nothing but Prodigies and Miracles Some loose their Diadems by force and others of their own accord The Polanders being extreamly disgusted to see the Muscovits keep Smolensko blocked up The Muscovits ravage Lituania and make havock at their pleasure in Lituania who had been formerly so often defeated by them though they were six times stronger and receiving no relief from Christian Princes knew so well how to represent to the Great Turk by their Embassadour their firmness and stability in the exact observance of their former Treaties with him and how they had constrained their King Vladislans to casheere his Forces which he intended to employ The Turk promises the Poâ—anders suceâ—ar to the disadvantage of the said Treaties that he promised them in fine to assist them It is already confirmed that the Tartars are joyned with them and that the rest most make an Invasion upon Muscovy but it is after the losse of Smolensko Smolensko taken which was most sensible to the said Common-wealth The cruelties which those Barbarians exercise in those parts would be incredible in an Age which were lesse cursed then this and we are made hope that the Poles will quickly have their revenge however such as are of opinion with me by the consideration of the giddy course of the affairs of Christendom suspect the relief of these Infidels The succour of the Insidels suspelled and fear least in the general Commotion of the Levant or Easterne people they may chance to seize upon this Kingdom instead of succouring it and effuse themselves according to the old prediction into Germany Time will shew us strange revolutions and it is best not to apprehend such evils as must needs happen The Greeks are groaning even yet for having desired and tasted the like succour This war of the Muscovits and Cossacks wherein Religion Rebellion and some other Causes make a concert is very dammageable to this strong Bulwark of all Christendome and teaches us that such as have alwayes been beaten heretofore have now the advantage Luck is turned every where Governments are changed Policy is reversed and men follow another and a very different habit Reformations in Germany The Germans by their dissentions and distrusts have very much weakned the Empyre and there is no discontentment heard now but about the Reformations which are made in the Emperours Hereditary Countries But such as councel them would do well to begin upon themselves or proceed at least more civilly therein For I know not whether Persecutions for diversity of opinions have ever been useful to the Church St. Martin disapproved them and indeed they ingender more hurt then they bring good in these latter times This Emperour continuing his care for the Roman Catholick Church the redresse of the Empire and the restauration of his most serene House to her first splendour by the Election and Coronation of his Son sees now his joy turned into mourning and the hope of almost all his people overthrown by the inopinate death of this young King The paines which were taken to remove him from infected
not at all the death of his Mother Mary who was beheaded in England preferring the hope of succession to the said kingdom before revenge courting the favour of the Queen and treading all other considerations under foot But heaven left nothing unpunished which often revenges innocence upon the Innocent themselves to chastise them who have not revenged it He married Anne Sister to Christian King of Denmark and lived in peace which yet was disturbed by dreadful conspiracy of a certain Earle called Gore whose Father was beheaded in the end of the said Kings minority Now this Gore returning from travel sent his brother to the King as he was hunting whom when he had made believe that there was a certain man who had found a great pot full of gold he led him into his said brothers Cabinet or Closet where had he not been succoured by his followers he had been unhappily murthered The Tragedy was afterwards acted upon them who intended themselves to have been the actors thereof and the murtherers were justly murthered In this tragedy they who were curious found such mysteries as their modesty kept in silence The Scots are held good souldiers but they were never very fortunate against the English Ireland is an Island both big and fruitfull between Spain and England where the English have exercised great power and authority as well in respect of Religion as for the Rebellion of the Irish against Queen El'zabeth calling the Spaniards to help them But they grew at length to be conquered and have long been governed since by Deputies or Vice-Kings under a most austere Disciplipe which hath constrained some of them to flye to the main Land and others to retire themselves into the Woods and Forrests amongst the wild beasts to seek their liberty after their own fashion This Island was heretofore conquered by the Saxons and a long time after by the Norman under William the Conquerour Their lawes have some resemblance to those of Normandy and Guienne which they had some ages in their possession where the Eldest sonnes take almost all the succession of their Parents leaving but very little to their Brothers and Sisters A very rough Law and almost quire contrary to that of Poland where when the Eldest hath divided the said succession the younger takes the first Portion and after him the other so that the last of all is left to the Eldest The English are good Souldiers both by Sea and Land not in valour and courage inferiour to any one Nation whatsoever and are more apt to offend by temerity and overmuch forwardnesse then cowardise Inghilterra bona terra mala gente The Nobility is generally very courteous and chiefly such as have travelled England sayes a famous Italian is a good Country but the Inhabitants are very bad The English are little affected to other Nations and especially to the French from whom they have a great aversion nor can the French or Scots on the other side endure the incompatible humour of the English After they had lost what they possessed in France and all the intelligence they had there they fell for a long time to Civill Warres But since under the reign of four Kings and two Queens they have seen various persecutions not only about Religion but for matter of State too where of we will speak in the sequel of this History The women are incomparably beautifull and consequently have a great influence upon the men yea the Queens have commanded there more absolutely and have been much better obeyed and respected then the Kings They treat their servants and horses very roughly which gave birth to the Proverb That England is Heaven for Women Purgatory for servants and Hell for horses King James to smother the hatred and partiality which had alwayes been between the people of these Islands by laudable advice entituled himself King of great Britain The Title of King of France which was possessed by many Kings of England hath alwayes checked the Salick Law which excludes the Heyres Femall of France from the Crown so that though the English possessed almost the whole kingdom of France it was more by the right of Arms then by that of the Lawes and Customes Let us now leave Great Britain and look upon Italy where there are many Seates and Republicks whereof we shall make but little mention to shun superfluities and keep our selves within the limits prescribed in this History CHAP. VIII Of Italy Lorraine and Savoy POpe Clement the 8 th held the Chaire and by the prudent administration of him the Venetians and the Great Duke of Tuskany there flourished a Peace throughout all Italy Every one preserved himself within his own interests nor could any little jealousies take root to the loss of the publick Quiet but it was suddenly strangled in the Cradle by wise conduct and most subtile policy The Popes as well by donation as other practises have not onely augmented the Patrimony of St. Peter but drawn also all the Soveraign Authority to themselves by removing the Emperours from the knowledge of the Affaires of Italy The Faction of the Guelphes for the Popes the Gibelms for the Emperours reigned there long and was not consopited or quieted but by eclipsing almost the whole Majesty of Emperours by endeavouring to constrain them to receive the Crown from their hands A difference not quite extinguished yet Besides that they have ever been unhappy enough in pursuing their Right by Arms the Italians cutting them out work enough amongst themselves and often hindring their coming out of Germany so that all the splendour of the Empyre remaines there and is no otherwise known throughout almost all Italy then only by name Under the Reign of Valentinian the Western Empire was much tottered by the Barbarians which forced most of the principall Families near the Sea to retire into the Islands of the Adriatick Streights and there lay the Foundations of that most puissant City of Venice and of that most Serene Republick which hath encreased maintained and conserved herself these twelve ages by an unparallelled blessing by the most perfect observance of the Lawes and by a policy worthy of admiration This gives just cause to judge that they who began her were of the most elevated and prime of all Italy and not slaves as they were who laid the first stone to the Common-wealth of Rome In the Peace which was made between the Emperour Charlemayne and the Emperour of Constantinople it was concluded than that Common-wealth which had already stood more then three ages and a halfe should serve for a bound and gate to the two Empyres They had for a long time in their possession the kingdom of Gypres which the Turks have now taken from them They have had many enemies and have often by their great prudence diverted the storms which have been ready to fall upon them and by the dexterity of their mannagements regained that which they had lost by the fate of Arms.
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
States to have the total administration of them This man being eminently ambitious hoped to come to be Pope by the recommendation of the Emperour The story of Câ—â—â—inaâ— Wollâ—y But seeing himselt frustrated of his expectation he turned his hate upon him whispered the King in the ear that his marriage with Katharine of Spain Aunt to the said Emperour was incestuous because she had formerly been married to his Brother O! How great is the wickednesse of such as have for saken God to serve their ambition and revenge This Prelate who ought to have framed the reformation of abuses and opposed Heresies since himself held for such all the Doctrines which checked the Pope was not content with so much honour and wealth as he enjoyed without seeing the Emperour thrown down and buried under the very ruins of that Church the Religion whereof he professed with so great Majesty and under the Purple of so great luster The King intangled in love with a young Lady newly come from the Court of France and disgusted with the Embracements of that most veâ—â—â—ous Princess his Wife was glad of this scruple and sollicited the Pope to grant him a Divorcement upon the aforementioned reason But the Pope temporizes and sends in sine his Legat to examin the matter The King and the Legat sir the Queen being summoned appears and in presence of the chief of the Kingdom makes a Speech in Latin to the King which is able to move a very rock to compassion How is it possible Sir sayes she that after having lived almost twenty yeares together in great concord and having had so many children as we have had it should now come into your thought to repudiate me Your Brother Arthur fell sick the very first day of our marriage and some dayes after dyed I take the great God and your conscience to witness that you found me a Virgin And if you are resolved to separate me from your Bed expect at least so long as till I may have advertised my Nephew Charles thereof to the end that I may know how to behave my self in this affliction since I can hope for no support in the equity of my cause here where you are Absolute King If I have offended God since I have been your wife it has been in being a little too curious to please you Ah Vertue This is not the first time that thy adversary endeavours to suppress thee Thy luster is too bright not to dâ—â—le the eyes of the wicked This poor Princesse in this tribulation had this imperfection that in regard Nature had been sparing to her of her rich gifts of beauty she had had recourse to innocent Art thereby to draw her Husband from the levities to which he was too much inclined as well by his own naturall Passion as by the attractive Charms of his fair subjects Her Speech being ended which produced but faint pitty in the soul of the King and some of the Auditory she retired her self together with her Daughter into a private House where the spake thus to this ambitious Cardinal who came to her in behalf of the King to intreat her to yeeld to his will It is thou said she O wicked and disloyal Minister who returnestâ—â—s this recompence To my Nephew for not advancing thee to the Holy Chayre and to me for not being able to suffer thy impudicity and naâ—ghtâ—â—esse The King divorced himself from the Church of Rome because the Pope would not condescend to his demand and from his Wife by whom he had alwayes been so respectfully loved to conjoyn in publick marriage with Anne of Bolein The King leaves his Wife an I the Church of Rome The Cardinal died in the year 1530 being not long before deprived of all his employments and fallen from the favour of his Prince which he had preferred before that of his God as he restified by these words full of christian and holy repentance which issued our of his dying mouth Ah! I would to God said he I had taken so much pains to serve my Creatour as I have done to serve my Prince He put into the Letanies From the tyranny of the Pope good Lord deliver us whose authority was abrogated thorowout the whole kingdome and the King by Act of Parliament declared Head of the Church of England He seized upon the possessions of the Church by the advice of Cromwell and some others who all ended their dayes unhappily Takes away the possessions of the Clergy He also bestowed part thereof upon the nobility for fear of commotion He hanged such as refused to subscribe that he was Head of the Church as aforesaid and condemned the protestants to the fire In fine after having crushed the Church and lived like a tyrant he died miserable and little regretted by his people Sir Thomas More that great Heroe fell under the rigour of his command and so did an infinite number of other noble persons Luther seeing him in ill tearms with the Pope and encouraged by the King of Denmark very humbly beseeched him Luther writes to the King and receives an affront by a letter which he wrote to him to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel but he received such an answer as he little expected namely that he should forsake his apostacie and his wife and return to his Monastery Now the Church of Rome seeing her head disclaimed and his authority banished out of England felt her self much shaken as well by Peter Martyr as orther Protestant ministers in such sort as that Edward Edward establishes the Protestant Religion son to the said Henry having taken the reines of the English Monarchie had no great trouble to throw her quite our and fixe the Protestant But he dying very young and Queen Mary succeeding him she had an intention to pluck up this tender plant and re-establisheth the old doctrin which yet could not recover its full strength before it was exterminated again Young trees by being re-planted get vigour but old ones wither and dye CHAP. XVI Queen Elizabeth banishes the Romane Catholike Religion again by degrees That of the Protestants passes into Scotland under the bastard Murrey who swayes the Scepter It is called the Congregation and is fortified by the above said Queen and the Hugenots of France QUeen Elizabeth who during the life of her sister Mary feigned her self a Roman Catholike and was like to lose her life by giving some suspicions of her being a Protestant being raised to the royall Throne forthwith unmasqued her self and began to treat of the meanes how to annull the one and revoke the other which was easie to be accomplished For the ignorance of the Priests was great the desire of their possessions greater and the curiosity to check a Religion full of ceremonies which few could solidly defend greatest of all It was represented to the People both here and elsewhere that the doctrine was falsified and in no wise congruous with that of the
Drummes to be beaten and confirmed a most straight Allyance with the aforesaid Arch-Duke the principall conditions whereof were that neither Party should lay down Armes till the Princes were released the Duke of Lorraine restored to his States Sedan rendered and a firm Peace concluded between the two Crownes Which done they began to raise forces and the Spaniards disposed themselves to put theirs into the field The common opinion that the Spaniard sowes dissention in France refuted It is the opinion of many persons that the King of Spain endeavoured to corrupt the greatest part of the Nobleman of France with money and sowed sedition and revolt amongst them with this glittering mettall as if that Nation were not unquiet and turbulent enough of it self without his being necessitated to draine his Treasures to move it And yet suppose that he did it it was no more then what is ordinarily practised every where when there is an apparence of profit being incited thereto by Reason of State and then what was done by King Lewis the eleventh in England and elsewhere But to what purpose should it serve him save only to spend his mony unprofitably enough as appeared by their inconstance Many of them have often retyred themselves into his Dominions to seek their own security and his protection both which they have found and an honourable maintenance to boot but how have they taken their leave Lewis the eleventh being yet in his Dolphin-age withdrew himself to the Duke of Burgundy and for recompence as soon as he was in the Royall Throne he began and continued a war upon the Burgundlans But let us stay in our Age where we shall finde matter enough The Duke of Orleans twice at Brussels The Duke of Orleans fled twice to Brussels cast himself into the King of Spalnes arms who succoured him protected him and gave him an honourable allowance together with his Mother the Queen But being once reconciled and even after the King his Brothers decease he employed himself with as much heat as the most mortall enemy in the world to make warre in Flanders so to destroy his own Sanctuary And other Lords and spoyl his Protectour when all that people thought he would fix all his thoughts upon Peace The Dukes of Guise and Elbenf followed the same trace the former in Italy and the latter in Flanders And what shall we say of the Marshall of Turenne and the Allyance so solemnly sworne with the Arch-Duke The issue shewed that he returned with the same levity before the work was finished and so rendred that fair Field intructuous This is the profit of the Spanish Cathalicon and this the foundation upon which the King built his Conquests or rather this is the recompence of his liberality I praise the fidelity of the French but I blame their inconstance and presume to say aloud that the first obligation cannot dispense with the second made freely and without constraint Nor are there many such examples to be found amongst other Nations yea and it would be very ill taken in France if a stranger after having found his sanctuary there should after his reconciliation labour to make war against it Maurice Duke of Saxony Albert of Brandenburgh and some others made a League with Henry the second for the Liberty of Germany but findings that the French instead of Liberty layd hold of some Places they reconciled themselves with the Emperour and yet were they taxed of perfidy at the Court of France The Count of Fustenbergh having withdrawne himself from the service of King Francis the first and returned into the Emperours favour was beaten in seeking a passage upon the River of Marne and like to be knocked in the head for his ingratitude But let us returne to our purpose The renduclion of Belle-garde 1650. The King having assured himself of Normandy and many Places held by the Prince of Condes Lieutenants caused Bellegarde to be besiedged which quickly submitted for want of succour and he rendred the Inhabitants their Priviledges Let us passe the Sea Charles Stewart goes into Scotland The Scots being Assembled at Edenburgh resolved to take Charles Stewart for their King to which effect they sent Commissioners to treat with him at the Haghe and proclaimed him King of Scotland and England which extremely offended the Parliament at London He departed from Scheveling and we will let him go in great danger to behold the honour which was done Generall Cromwell for having reconquered almost all Ireland the Natives whereof being moved to take Armes by zeal of Religion and respect to the said Charles implored the assistance of the Pope and some other Christian Princes but not being seconded The Irish tamed and puâ—ished and falling into division amongst themselves they were easily tamed and chastized as well for having taken Arms as for having abused the English The Diet at Nurembergh In the same yeare the Diet was held at Nurembergh where after the agreement was made about the restitution of Places and the Assessement for moncy to pay the souldiers the rest of the time was spent in Visits and sumptuous Banquets Festivities and Fire-works of rate workmanship and skil The Duke of Amalsi formerly Piccolomini was there on the behalfe of the Emperours and acquired great admiration and Duke Charles for the Crowne of Sweden Some Counts were forced to pawne their wives Jewells and other Ornaments to be so much the sooner rid of these troublesome Guests Thus the Germans were whipt and payd for the Rodde for they were faine to give whatsoever they had left to recover that which was growne savage and desert The States of the Empyre sent an Embassadour expresse into Spain to beseech the King to draw his Garrison out of Frankendal which was granted at length that so the Peace might have full vigour as we will shew hereaster But since the Embassadours depart from Nurembergh let us go also out of Germany and hasten downe the Rheyn into Holland to see what passes there concerning the reduction of the Militia and other accidents Who will bee able to hide himselfe from the face of the Lord CHAP. VI Containing what passed in the Summer of this yeare of 1650. The Portugal Embassadours offers The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princ 's complaints The Siedge of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords who were carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His Prayer THe Zelanders before they would ratifie the Peace which they did with an ill will as well in regard of France as for the profit of some particular persons who were wont to go to the Cape of Grip would needs be assured of a prompt supply for the Company of the little Indies The estates of Orphans in Zeland employed in the Company of the Indies which was grown to decay by the revolt of Portugal Which was granted them because the Goods and Estates of many widowes Fatherless children and other persons of