he let alone the nether County of Benthem and also Schuttorp and Nyenbuys beinâ— a Fief belonging to the Province of Over Yssel Certain it is that the Bishop had had a piquâ— at the Count of Benthem for many years anâ— in the end you find how he brought his designâ— about He writes a Letter to the States General upon this Subject sign'd at Hostmer the 14. of September 1668. that the Souldiers who had been before the Fortress of Benthem were absolutely free from the Oaths of Fidelity which they had sworn to him and Cashier'd out of his service and that presently after they had given their Oaths to his Imperial Majesty to the Holy Empire to the Circle of Westphalia and the Holy County of Benthem which was testify'd by the Count himself in a Letter dated from the Castle the 28. of August and yet the Bishop in the same Letter immediately after the words already recited says We must confess that we did assist the said Holy Count for the security of his Castle and Person Thus hitherto the Flames of War between the States of the United Provinces seem'd to be in some measure extinguish'd and yet upon every slight occasion you might perceive that the Embers were but cover'd up to kindle the materials of a new fire This same Prince altogether given to quarrel never desisted from making his Levies either privately or publickly which gave the States General sufficient occasion and that not without reason to be jealous of his proceedings For they knew him too well to be deluded by his fair words In the Year 1669. he augmented his Levies to a very considerable number Yet no person could dive into his intentions He assembl'd the States of his Diocess and though by his last Wars they were very much impoverish'd for he not only shore his Sheep but flay'd off their skins he demanded of them a considerable sum of mony that is to say that they should furnish him between the Feast of the Purification and Easter with a hundred seventy five thousand Crowns and as much more between Easter and Michaelmass The Estates would by no means agree to this because the Bishop had not dismiss'd certain Troops of Horse and several Reformado Officers without which being done they would not break up their Assembly for they were certainly assur'd that he was meditating some unnecessary War The Bishop to inveigle them and the better to obtain his ends dismiss'd the Lieutenant General of his Artillery a Major General three Captains six Lieutenants and four Ensigns but the deceit of his heart was quickly discover'd by his soon after Listing these very Cashier'd Officers again into his service And besides this he kept an exact correspondence at Paris the French mony was also very plentiful at Munster which bred no small mistrust among his Neighbours In the midst of these Transactions the City of Hamborough began to tast of his turbulent spirit Some persons had persuaded him that they could find a quicker passage for the Post-Letters that pass'd and repass'd through his Countries if they might be furnish'd at Haerburgh and not at Hamburgh The Bishop very inclinable to lay hold of this opportunity order'd that all Letters and Pacquets directed into Holland should be sent back and stopp'd up the Post-Road This caus'd the Magistrates of Hamburgh to fix upon their Posts that no person should send any Letters to the Low Countries but by the Post-Masters of their City and because the Bishop would admit no Posts but his own to pass through his Territories and still rais'd great Forces besides publickly giving out that no person should prescribe him Laws in his own Country there was some apprehension that this affair first stirr'd by the Trouble-world of Munster would come to the decision of dry blows the rather because the Dukes of Brunswick were also concern'd At that time the States General began to mistrust the King of France fearing that he would one day invade their Dominions because that by their good management they had prevented him from making himself Master of all the Low-Countries knowing he had no kindness for them ever since As for the Bishop too many things were variously reported of him every day that no body knew what to believe Fear and terror so possess'd the Country of Guelders that many people retir'd into the strong Holds of Doesburgh and Arnheim which caus'd the like consternation in all places through which they pass'd though there were nothing certainly known which way the Episcopal Troops intended their march The Inhabitants of Grol were no less in fear because that some of the Bishopâ— Troops were seen roaving about the Country every day but their dread increas'd upon the report that the Bishops design was upon Borculo Hoogheim Holten or some other place The same thing was reported of Groningenâ— but without any certainty It was also said that some other German Princes were in Confederacy with the Bishop and that when theiâ— forces were joyn'd they would make up a veâ— puissant and numerous Army but that fear haâ— no foundation at that time in regard thingâ— were not yet ripe for action In the Year 1670 he pick'd a new quarrel with Duke Radolph Augustus of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel about thâ— City of Hoxter six Leagues a this side Casseâ— Ever since Martin Luther's time and the Waâ— of Smalcald there had been great contesting abouâ— this place between the Duke of Brnnswick Lunenburgh and the Abbot of Corvay to whom this City belongs with five or six Villages the yearly Revenue whereof amounted to 5000 Crowns But at last this affair was determin'd and the agreement approv'd at a Dyet of the Empire Thus it remain'd till the death of the last Abbot after whose decease the Monks of that fair Abby had chosen the Bishop of Munster to to supply his place though not by a unanimous consent And now was it possible that he who was so little a lover of Peace should let such an opportunity as this fall asleep There were at Hoxter two Protestant Churches of which there was no use made and therefore he wrote to the Duke of Brunswick Lunenburgh to request one of them for the Roman Catholicks But the Duke as Protector of the City made him answer that he would never consent that the Priviledges of the Cities should be taken from them but that he would preserve them according to the above-mentioned agreement and the Peace made in the Year 1649. And thus the business rested till some differences arose about the priviledges of Brewing So that the Duke for the preservation of a Protestant City was forc'd to send some Companies both of Horse and Foot to Guard it The Bishop of Munster was highly offended at the placing of this Garrison in the Town and as he was one that sought all occasions of contention and War he thought he had now found a smart opportunity To this purpose he wrote immediately to all the Electors and Catholick Princes except
the Souldiers either to be delving or shooting So that they lov'd his room much better then his company Sometimes he stay'd two or three hours in the Trenches hazarding his person in the most dangerous places Nevertheless he was prudent for all that for he never expos'd himself to those dangers but he was attended by nine or ten persons habited like Footmen in the same Livery as himself which prevented his being discover'd by the Enemy Thus our Bishop shew'd himself to be a brave and vigilant Captain but such a one as undertook unnecessary Wars and such as the occasions thereof were sought by himself Should it be objected that the Sword of a Prince and the Bishops Crozier have no correspondence together it may be answered that he was not only a Spiritual but Temporal Prince Should any one go farther and ask the same question as was asked the Bishop of Cologn upon the same occasion If the Devil take the Secular what must become of the Spiritual Prince We can give no answer till we hear what the Bishop said for himself His restless humour has been sufficiently apparent He never could be at quiet but there was a necessity for him to be in Arms or in some contest before the Chamber of Spiers somtimes against his own City and Subjects somtimes against the States General the Dukes of Lunenburgh c. No person that had any intricate and perplex'd cause needed have done any more then gone to him for he never denyed them his Assistance especially if he perceived any advantage accrewing to himself All the world knows how inconstant he was in his words and his actions The Alliances which he confirm'd by solemn Oath and his Episcopal Cross endured no longer than stood with his Interest and Convenience He never continued long in Friendship with any Prince whom he did not either leave in the lurch or else become his Enemy England France the Low Countries and several others can well testifie the same His Avarice was a great if not the principal cause of his Inconstancy For when he had got the sum agreed upon he offered his assistance to another to make a new profit to himself though it were to the disadvantage of him that was the first purchaser He was so much a slave to his Covetousness that it was usually said of him that he would serve the Devil for mony he would willingly have had all the mony that was in the world for gain was the chiefest part of his Religion Neither did he spare any deceit or act of violence which was profitable to him For which reason he was a continual stumbling-block to his Neighbours and a thorn in their Eyes so that the Emperour never durst put any confidence in him finding him to be of the disposition of Ishmael whose hand was against all the world The Sieur Valekenier has very well observ'd that profit had the only Ascendent over him as being the only thing whereat he aim'd The words of that famous Writer are these For saith he Whatever filled and crammed his Chests and Coffers was his Interest as he has openly confessed himself and has given the world reason to believe by his actions And indeed as he is an Ecclesiastical Prince that cannot leave his Bishoprick to his Kindred and will therefore be nothing endamaged by the ruin of it for that reason be only endeavour'd to heap together vast Treasures for his Heirs who could expect from him nothing but ready mony So that if the States of the United Provinces had offered him more mony then the French he would have soon laid aside his old Antipathy and have become their choicest Friend Though he knew well that if by the uncertain chance of War be should happen to be expell'd his Bishoprick a rich Abbey in France well deserved by his Faithful services might prove more profitable to Europe troubl'd p. 183. him then all his Bishoprick whose Inhabitants were so impoverished Beside what we have already said he was altogether void of pity He is accused to have pocketed up the mony which has been sent by other Princes or Kings to make a divertive War for their convenience and then to have laid insupportable burthens upon his own Subjects That he quartered Souldiers continually in great numbers upon his Subjects who made no sin of violating married women ravishing Virgins and committing dayly Robberies the relations whereof never moved his heart When a considerable person and very aged belonging to the Chapter of the Cathedral Church laid before him one day the miserable sufferings of his Subjects as well by their Taxes as the Insolence of the Souldiers he made answer That it was not for him to suffer himself to be insulted over by his Neighbours but to defend his Honour Which could not be done without a War and to make War there was a necessity for mony and Souldiers The first he could legally demand from his Subjects as being set over them for their safety and honour For the other it was impossible to Discipline them so exactly If his Subjects did fuffer any hardship he was sorry for it But as these inconveniences were the companions of War he hop'd ere long for better times That if they considered what others suffered they had reason to count themselves happy and to thank God that they had a generous Prince that would take no affront but was mindful their Honor. He suffer'd his Souldiers to commit those insolencies in his Enemies Countries that the people dreaded the very name of Munsterians The French were rigorous enough in those Places and Cities of the Low-Countries where they had their Garrisons but not to be compar'd with the Bishops men for cruelty It is credibly reported that at the Siege of Groning some of his Chief Officers expressed their sorrow for the loss of so many brave and valiant persons and desired him to have pity upon the miserable cries of the wounded beseeching him at the same time that care might be taken of them to which he returned for answer How Are you one of my Officers and suffer your heart to melt upon the sight of a few dead men or the sight and groans of the wounded A good Souldier ought to have as little Compassion as the Devil However he would sometimes disguise his Natural Cruelty and appear tender and pitiful for fear of distasting his Souldiers and being also afraid lest his Subjects should have an utter aversion against him There are some perhaps who having read thus far may accuse me of prejudice and partiality But they must know that as yet we have not begun the History we have only made a preliminary description of the humour and disposition of the Bishop in respect of whom we thought ourselves not so much confined to the Duty of a Historian as to the bounds of Truth wherein we have follow'd the best relations of the time as well in High German as Dutch Ferdinand Duke of Bavaria Arch-Bishop of
conjecture that he was making those Warlike preparations against them Nor did he want the assistance of others For though Francis William Bishop of Osnaburgh and Adolph de Veck Bishop of Paderborn loved their Tranquillity too well to interest themselves in his troubles yet the three Ecclesiastical Electors of Mayence Treves and Cologn sent him some of their Troops Before he came to any Acts of Hostility he dispatched to the City Monsieur de Morien hereditary Marshal to make an agreement with the Inhabitants The Council put in writing the causes why they could not entirely confide in their Prince and what it was that burden'd the City And indeed the Peace would soon have been concluded would his Highness but have remitted or at least abated the burthen of their Taxes Nevertheless a Truce was agreed upon thereby to prevent farther extremities With these hopes the Pacificators parted and M. the Mareschal took with him the Articles propos'd by the City together with their first Declaration At that time Nicolas Dragter Syndie of the City coming from the Hague was taken Prisoner by the Bishops men which yet more exasperated the Townsmen Soon after open acts of Hostility began The City put it self in a posture of defence The Citizens stood to their Arms and took their Oaths at the Council rather to lose their lives than the Liberties and Priviledges of their Ancestors The Bishops Army was reported to be Nine Thousand strong in Horse and Foot He assail'd the City very vigorously shooting continually and threw Fire-Balls into it which set fire on several houses The Ecclesiastical persons ran to the Churches to beseech Almighty God to infuse thoughts of Peace into the hearts of the Bishop and the Citizens The old people and children who were not fit for labour went every day in public Processions from one Church to another accompany'd by the Dominicans The lusty women were divided through the City and had their particular employments allotted them some to fill Tubs of water others carry'd Raw Hides to clap upon the Granado's and Fire-Balls that were thrown into the City There was no place free from the Cannon-bullets which flew thick about their Ears Insomuch that as one of the Priests was saying Mass in the Church of St. John while he was Elevating the Host a Bullet took him away from the Altar Nevertheless the Citizens made a Sally and kill'd a good number of the Episcoparians In the midst of all this roaring of the Cannon the Nobility sought all means imaginable to bring things to a reconciliation To which purpose they assembl'd together at Gueest Thither the Nobility flock'd in great numbers being ill satisfi'd with the Bishops proceedings and some there were that did not forbear to say openly That a Siege so pernicious and violent was not the Act of a Prince but of a Tyrant They also sent to his Highness their Letters of complaint in reference to the said Siege The Contents whereof were That the agreement which he was about to have made before had been prosperously concluded had he not so soon begun open Hostilities That without the knowledg and consent of the Nobility and the Cities in general he had brought Foreign Forces into the Country and rais'd men upon his own particular Authority That he had assaulted the City of Munster like an Enemy contrary to the priviledges of the Country which he had confirm'd himself in these words We will not make any War or Alliance with any person without the consent of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church and other Estates of our Country And expresly against what was concluded at the assembly at Coesweld that all new Levies should be put off c. Then they complain'd that he had put the Country that had not yet recovered the miseries of the preceding Wars into a new confusion that he had shed the blood of the Innocent made many Widows and Orphans whose tears and moans cry'd loud to Heaven And therefore they besought him to raise his Siege and send away his Foreigners and for his own right to stand to the determination of the Imperial Court That he would no more oppress either them the City or the Country but that he would assume the Peaceful thoughts of a Father a Prince a Bishop and a Pastor of the Church Otherwise if he would not lend an Ear to their just complaints they protested their innocence of all the misfortunes that should fall upon his Highness and the Country This Letter was dated the first of September 1657. The Bishop answered fully that he had never other thoughts than to preserve his subjects in repose with the care and fidelity of a Father That he always was for Peace and Union but the City of Munster by its obstinacy had deserved not only this but a far more rigorous punishment That he had proceeded no otherwise than a Prince and Soveraign Lord ought to proceed against Rebels If the City or Country should suffer any damage thereby time would repair it That the City had rejected the Justice of the Imperial Chamber in regard they had desired succours from the Hans Towns and the States of the Vnited Provinces In conclusion he desired the Nobility to assist him as their Prince to reduce a Rebellious City to Obedience In the mean time the Bishop endeavour'd by all manner of means to do what mischief he could to the City Night and day he play'd with his great Guns and sent in his Bombs and Fire-Balls which did great Execution Which so heighten'd the indignation of the Townsmen against the Bishop that because they would not forget the year wherein their houses had been so ill handl'd by Fire they caus'd new Colours to be made with these words GaLen InCenDIt VrbeM The numeral Letters whereof are M. DC LVII With these Colours they march'd about their Streets and these Ensigns they flourish'd upon their Bulwarks As for their Bishop they gave him no other Title than that of Murderer and Destroyer of their City The women themselves at other times mild and tender hearted animated their Husbands against him as an Oppressor and a Tyrant In the mean time the Pope sent a Letter to the Bishop which did not very well please him For that therein he adviz'd him to forbear all farther acts of Hostility against the City or otherwise he threaten'd to Excommunicate him The Electors of Bavaria and Saxony wrote to him also to the same effect but in vain for he still pursu'd his design The sixteenth of September the Bombs caus'd a terrible Fire at Munster which lasted from Midnight till Morning Of all the former Fires this was the most lamentable After which the Bishop made a proposition to the City to receive a Garrison of a thousand men and to Cashier their Commander Wittenburg upon which conditions they might have Peace But they by no means would give their consent The three Electors Treves Mayence and Cologn exhorted the City to submission but all
to no purpose The Citizens exasperated would not be reappeas'd The Commonalty encourag'd one the other and lifting up their hands cry'd aloud Be of good Courage Munster be of good Courage the Hollanders are coming to thy assistance For the States General had sent them some succor Nevertheless they were much endammag'd by the Bombs and Granado's Two Churches and above two hundred Houses were already reduced to Ashes Afterward the Bishop made a general Assault but was repuls'd with loss The seventeenth of October a Truce was made for four days Which so enraged the Citizens that they openly revil'd the Council and were within a little of laying violent hands upon them All this while the Deputies of the Chapter of the Cathedral of the Nobility and the Town did all that lay in their power so that at length an agreement was made the twenty first of the said Month. That no person should be call'd to accompt for the troubles past neither in Munster nor without the City nor suffer either in Body or Estate That the Prisoners on both sides should be releas'd That the Council of the City should retain in their service three hundred Foot and admit of five hundred Episcoparians as also the ordinary Guards of the Bishops Body both Horse and Foot That their Commander should take an Oath not to act any thing contrary to the Priviledges of the City That when the Bishop was in the City he should give the Watch-word and in his absence that the Citizens Council should appoint it That in regard the Dispute about the Keys was before the Imperial Chamber the issue of their sentence should be expected In the mean time that the Citizens and Council should open the Gates of the City to the Bishop at all times when by him requir'd or thought convenient and that they should give him all the honor and respect due to his Person and Quality On the other side the Bishop promises to preserve the Priviledges of the City and the Burgomasters and Council promise to keep their Oaths inviolably The Bishop would not have consented to Conditions so favourable had not the forces of the States General been upon their march for the relief of the City They consisted of forty five Troops of Horse and ninety seven Companies of Foot This Army made an alteration in the Bishops thoughts who in the beginning of December made his Entry into the City He was receiv'd as became him by the Council The Townsmen were in Arms all along the streets as he pass'd But not a person would uncover to him as he rode in his Coach nor give him those Volleys of honour which are customary their outward behaviour being correspondent to the inward thoughts of their hearts And this was the end of the Siege Of the besieged about fourscore were slain but the Bishop lost above two thousand This was also the second agreement between the Bishop and the City concluded in 1657. The former being made in the Year 1655. Though the Peace were concluded the Bishop still retain'd in his service several Troops and Regiments and he enter'd into Alliances with other Princes without the knowledg and consent of the Estates and by consequence contrary to their confirm'd Priviledges Which caus'd both suspition and hatred so that there was no good intelligence between the City and the Bishop The Burgomasters mistrusted the Bishop and the Bishop had no affection for them This was the occasion of new differences which increas'd from day to day from whence might easily be discover'd the flames of a new approaching War Whereupon the City sent their Deputies to the States of the Vnited Provinces who return'd with a favourable answer About this time a report was divulg'd over all Westphalia that the Munsterians were resolv'd to admit the public exercise of the Reformed Religion into their City to oblige the States General But the Council publish'd an Edict wherein they declared this report to be a meer Invention And thus things pass'd on till the Year 1660. at what time the flames of a new War burst forth again By the Treaty in the Year 1657. It was concluded that the old and new differences between the two parties lying before the Imperial Chamber at Spiers should remain as they were At length the Chamber came to a Final determination to this purpose that since the City could not sufficiently prove their rights pretended in reference to the Garrison that the Keys Walls Gates Bulwarks and Watch-word should be at the disposal of the Bishop as their Prince The Burgomasters and Counsellors were much dissatisfi'd at the sentence and crav'd a rehearing On the other side the Bishop complain'd that they refus'd to submit to the sentence of the Chamber and demanded Mandate of Execution which was granted him if the City at the end of two months did not fairly comply In regard then that they did not submit but sought for Foreign assistance upon the tenth of Jan. 1660. the Council receiv'd an Order Imperial that they should recal their Deputies out of the Low-Countries and cancel whatever had been treated upon under penalty of Excommunication Neither had they above two months time to shew their submission to the Chamber and their promise of amendment and obedience for the future And this affair the Bishop manag'd so well that all things went according to his wish The City trusted in the succours that were promis'd them by the States General who had assur'd them of assistance in pursuance of the League made with the Hanse Towns wherein Munster was compriz'd So that at the same time the States sent a Letter to the Bishop desiring him that he would either pursue his action at Law or make a fair agreement lest they should be forc'd to concern themselves in the business Nevertheless a little while after the Munsterians sent Orders to their Deputies at the Hague to return home and desist from Treating any farther This was after the Imperial Command The Bishop made great complaints against the City at the Emperors Court sharply accusing them of disobedience to the Emperors Orders withal requesting that the Emperors Orders might be put in Execution The Council wrote to the Emperor that they had obey'd and had Commanded their Deputies home from the Hague upon which their being Excommunicated was put off Thereupon the Bishop not being able any longer to curb his unquiet humor began to block up the City with his Forces The Emperor sent to let him know that he expected he should desist from all Acts of Hostility and permit the City a free Trade But he slighted the Emperors injunctions and prosâ—cuted his own affairs Whereupon the City for the maintainance of their Libâ—rty put themselves in a Posture of Defence The States General endeavour'd to composâ— the differences and to that purpose sent their Deputies to Munster but without any success It the mean time the Bishops Souldiers exercis'â— all Acts of Hostility spoyling and burning thâ— Corn upon the
The Sieur De Amerongen remonstrated to him that this permission of passage did not enterfere with any thing that he had concluded with those Princes because the State had not rais'd those Troops but to be capable to make War with an intention to procure Peace and that they had not the least design to make use of these Forces against either of the two parties unless constrain'd by utmost necessity But all those persuasions wrought nothing upon him He spake fair enough but he persever'd in his first answer though by the first Article of the Treaty which he had made with the States he were oblig'd to permit their Souldiers free passage through his Country At last upon the urgent importunity of the Sieur De Amerongen he told him seeing that the Peace was already concluded between France and Spain at Aix La Chapelle that he thought he might give Liberty at least he would not impede the march of the said Troops of the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh through his Country provided they did no wrong to his Subjects but paid for what they had which was promis'd him At this Conference the Bishop twice assur'd the Ambassadour with great asseverations of his good intentions to the States and that he had resolv'd to live by them in a good correspondence and as a friendly Neighbour In the mean time he had violated the Treaty which he had concluded with the States as having already made considerable Levies To one Footman he gave eight sometimes ten Crowns and all the world knew that it was not out of own pocket so that when they added to this his so long time refusing the free passage of their Souldiers they could not but of necessity suspect him And indeed the plot that lay concealed under these probabilities appear'd afterwards He was in truth Ally'd to France and made his Levies with that Kings mony to Attacque the Vnited Provinces Certain Counsellors also of that Bishop had already written into Holland before that Monsieur De Amerongen was arriv'd in the Territories of Munster that it would be a difficult thing for him to obtain Liberty for the States Souldiers to pass that way Nor would he have ever consented had not the King of France over-aw'd by the Triple Alliance made a Peace with Spain For though the Bishop made use of the foresaid excuse he had secretly sent to the King of France to know how he should behave himself upon such a ticklish point and had obtain'd the Kings before he gave his own consent By this Peace the Bishop was no longer in a condition to assist France nor to execute the designs which he had projected against the Low-Countries Now though that in the Treaty of Peace with the States General he had quitted all his pretensions to the Signiory of Borculo yet it was alwaies his eager desire to have that Territory united to the Bishoprick of Munster And as an argument for it the Munsterians every-where discours'd that their Bishoprick was the only Bulwark against any Enemy that had an intention to invade the Provinces of Guelders Friesland Groningen and Embden so if the Estates would but keep a good Correspondence with the Bishop those Provinces need to stand in fear of nothing And therefore it would well be worth their while to quit that stumbling block and surrender Borculo to the Bishop But because he well knew that he should never obtain it by specious pretences he still made it his business to lay hold upon all opportunities to get that Signiory into his clutches by force and as much more as he could But the Peace had put a conclusion to that affair however that he might not be idle he occasion'd new Trouble in Westphalia The Count of Benthem had renounc'd the Reformed Religion and had made publick profession of the Catholick in the City of Coesvelt O this people discours'd variously as their affections lead them some thought that the Counâ— finding his affection grown cool for his 〈◊〉 Wife was desirous to Marry another and tâ— put the children which he had by the first into Religious House But there was no probabilitâ— of his doing this so long as he professed the Râ—formed Religion But being turn'd Papist theâ— was a likelihood that the Pope would easiâ— permit him who dispences with many thingâ— more hainous than that Others think that he was persuaded there 〈◊〉 by the Bishop of Munster desirous to prejudiâ— the Low-Countries by the loss of so eminentâ— person as the Count. However it were so soon as the Count had chang'd his Religion the Bishop began to concern himself in his affairs Presently with a party of Horse and Foot and fourteen pieces of Canon accompany'd with the Count of Benthem he claps down before the Castle of Benthem believing that the Countess who was within it would stand upon her defence by reason that the place being built upon a Rock is so well Fortify'd by its situation that it is impregnable and can only suffer by fire But the Countess having sent her four others say six children to the Hague sent her Husband the Keys of the Castle into which the Bishop and the Count enter'd both together The Sunday following the Bells rung to Sermon as formerly and the Gentlemen and servants belonging to the Count with other people assembled to Church as they were wont to do But when the Minister came to perform his duty they would not let him come in telling him that he had nothing now to do there This very much surpriz'd those of the Reformed Religion but there was no remedy but patience Immediately after that the Fort was surrender'd into the Bishops hands to be kept by his Souldiers under the command of a Major The Catholick Religion was introduc'd and exercis'd therein and the Jesuites had an allowance of Lands and Goods bestow'd upon them to build a Colledg there The Countess was carry'd to Munster and lodg'd in the House of the Sieur Romer a Burgomaster of the Town From thence she wrote a Letter to some of her intimate Friends assuring them that her trust was only in God and that for all the world she would not alter her Religion In the mean time the Bishop of Munster told some of his Friends that he wish'd with all hiâ— heart and that he would give some thousands that the States of the United Provinces woulâ— concern themselves in this business that hâ— might but have an opportunity to march againsâ— them Nevertheless he sent to the States to assuâ— them he had no ill intentions and that he woulâ— live by them like a Friendly Neighbour That hâ— had done no injury to the Reformed Religioâ— in regard it was freely allow'd in the Townâ— Benthem But when they demanded of him tâ— have this promise put in writing he refus'd iâ— The Town of Steinfort wherein the Count wâ— lately deceased was kept by his Garrisons undâ— pretence that it was a Fief of his Diocess Nevertheless
the City and the Province That no Abbot shall be admitted to the Regency unless he shall engage and subscribe beforehand to observe the agreements made with the City and to maintain the Rights and Priviledges thereof which was done by the Bishop of Munster as Administrator of Corvay and consequently they had never sworn fealty to him It was concluded therefore because the Regent of the Province of Corvay had robb'd the Citizens of almost all their Cattel to the number of above 450 head of Cows and Oxen besides Horses because he had Arm'd the Country people because he had so many ways Tyrannically oppressed the City and for that the City had earnestly desir'd his protection that therefore the said Duke could not but put a Garrison into the City Which he did not do till he had demanded of the Regents of Corvay restitution of the Cattel offering sufficient caution withal that they should have what they requirâ—d in case the City were found to be in the fault To which they gave no other reply but only that the affair concern'd him not at all but only the Bishop of Munster All this while the Bishop of Osnaburgh meddled on neither side only offer'd his service toward an accommodation testifying by his Envoy how much he was troubl'd to hear these disputes One would have thought the Bishop should have thank'd him for his hind proposal but the Munsterian took it so ill that he held him for his Enemy and threatn'd him with open War if he would not promise not to molest him in the retaking of Hoxter As to the complaints of the City of Hoxter put up to the Dyet of Regensburgh against the Bishop of Munster they were five in number concerning Ecclesiastical matters and thirty two as to Civil affairs That contrary to the Peace in the Year 1649. by which the City was repossess'd of all their Prerogatives both Spiritual and Secular he had introduc'd the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and had by violence taken away from the Protestants the Church of St. Nicolas and given it to the Franciscans That he had erected a Tribunal of Spiritual Catholick Justice as he call'd it wherein he exacted Fines and punish'd those who had been already punish'd by the Council of the City That he cited before his Tribunal the Citizens Counsellers and Ministers of the Protestant Religion and condemn'd them in great Fines which if they refus'd to pay his Officers seiz'd upon their Houses That he constrain'd the Council under severe penalties to elect Popish Burgomasters When they made Holy-day for the Festival of St. Vit at Corvay he caus'd all the Country people of the upper Villages of the Province with their wives children and servants to march through the City Drumming and Singing and carrying about their Images and Baubles to the great scandal of the Protestants If it chanc'd that this Feast of St. Vit happen'd upon an Easter-day he suffer'd the same rabble to come to the Protestant Church-door and there to make such a disturbance that the Minister was forc'd to leave his Pulpit In Civils he had acted directly against the said Peace He had taken from the Magistrate all their Authority as well in Civils as Criminals which they had enjoy'd for many Ages If the Burgomasters and Counsellers offer'd to punish any Malefactor according to their duty he lay'd severe Fines upon them and levy'd them upon their Goods both within and without doors He lay'd an execution upon Burgomaster Wildenborer because he had stood up for the priviledges of the City above sixteen Years before in the time of the deceas'd Abbat He had taken from them their Right of Brewing by which it was granted that all the Beer bought in the Town should be bought of the Citizens only He had refus'd them their antient right of Imposts That he had constrain'd the ruin'd Citizens to quarter three whole Regiments of Horse and Foot and to provide them Fire Salt Meal c. with several other oppressions and breaches of their priviledges too long to recite In the mean while Colonel Bentink arriv'd at the Hague in the month of November 1670. to acquaint the States General of the cause of the Levies made by the Bishop of Munster that is to say to punish the obstinacy of the City of Hoxter in the Province of Corvay adding withal that his Master notwithstanding all the reports to the contrary had no other intention toward the States than to be their good Neighbour and Friend his design being only to maintain his own rights against the Dukes of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel and Lunenburgh After that he departed from the Hague for Amsterdam and Vtrecht to buy Arms for his Master But the States of the latter Province understanding his Errand wrote immediately to the States General desiring that the River Yssel might be carefully guarded more especially that the Garrison of Doesburgh might be reinforc'd because the Bishop of Munster had quarter'd several of his Souldiers about Brevoort which City was in the Road to the Low-Countries and not to Hoxter Thereupon it was resolv'd that the Citieâ— of Guelders Zutphen Trise Over-Yssel and Groningen should be strengthn'd with an addition of 4000. Horse In a short while after the Bishop sent a Letter by a Trumpeter to the States General wherein he wish'd them all prosperity for the ensuing year offering to send them some of his men so soon as the differences between him and the Dukes should be compos'd in regard that the States had been so kind as to offer their mediation in the quarrel In the mean time the King of France made great Levies both Horse and Foot Insomuch that the Spaniards were afraid that he would Quarter his Souldiers upon them but the King of France assur'd them of his sincere intentions to the Queen of Spain However the States of the United Provinces knew not what to think For the King bent his course toward the Conquer'd Cities of Flanders in May he arriv'd at Tournay and in June he turn'd again toward France At last all the world perceiv'd that he had make all his Warlike preparations against the Dukedom of Lorrain for in a short time he made himself Master of all that Country Nevertheless he ceas'd not to raise new Forces continually and at the same time he made ready a certain number of Men of War He was wonderfully offended at the Prohibition against the importing of Wine and Brandy into the Low-Countries though all the world perceiv'd that he intended little good to the Dutch In opposition to this Placaert he forbid his own subjects to lade any Strongwater or Brandy in Dutch Vessells He also laid an Imposition of twenty four Livres Paris upon every eight Tuns of Salt Herrings coming from Holland which afterwards he augmented to thirty two Livers and three months after to forty He laid thirty per cent upon all sorts of Spices beside the former Impositions In April 1671. by the singular diligence of
time In the mean time the Bishops whole Army arrived before Coeverden which was as it were the Key of the Provinces of Friesland and Groningen It was lookt upon formerly as impregnable by reason of the Marshes and Fens that surround it and which may be easily overflow'd so that there is no coming near the Town but by three narrow passes which were guarded by seven Bulwarks by the name of the Seven Provinces with seven Ravelins seven half Moons and besides that an out-Wall a high Counterscarp deep double Motes two Gates and a Castle Fortified with five other Bulwarks and a deep Moat next the City This noble Fortress after the Peace with Spain was fallen much to decay through neglect as were many other of the Fortresses belonging to the States and beside that it was not over provided with Ammunition The 30. of June the place was invested by 1100 French Horse and six thousand Foot who most unmercifully pillag'd and plunder'd the Inhabitants of the Flat Country some also they put to torture and others they murder'd The seventh the place was summon'd but the summons was rejected The tenth it was summon'd again whereupon the Governour sent out Commissioners and made an agreement The Enemy being enter'd the Town were amaz'd that they should take so strong and so considerable a Fort in so short a time The Commissioners who were sent to capitulate with the Bishop were the Captains Rosiers Bachman and â—er Hâ—eve But here the Bishop that thought nothing in the world so Sacred but that he could prophane and sacrifise it to his advantage and ambition not only violated his word given by M. General St. Paul but also the Law of Nations For he declar'd two of the foremention'd Captains to be Prisoners of War suffering only the third to return to the Town to know whether they were inclin'd to surrender or no. This was not all for contrary to the Capitulation sign'd with his own hand he would noâ— permit the Garrison to go to Harlington according to the Articles but where his fancy thought most convenient The two pieces of Canonâ— which they were to take along with them hâ— would not permit to be stir'd out of the Town Nor would he suffer the Garrison to march oâ— with Drums beating and Colours flying and besides all this several of the Souldiers were plunder'd and constrain'd to take his party The rest were convey'd to Over-Yssel instead of Harlington from whence they march'd to Almelâ— where the Bishop gave peculiar command to the Inhabitants under pain of Confiscation of their Goods and other Corporal penalties not to supply the poor weary Souldiers either with meat or drink though they should pay for it After the Enemy had taken Coeverden they held a great Council of War to consult what was next to be done whether they should march into Frise and besiege the City of Greninger or whether they should Attack the Fortress of Delf-zyl But they were divided in opinion some believing this some that to be more expedient The Bishop would have follow'd their advice who were for the Attacking the place last nam'd had not Schulenburgh and Broersma two Traytors to their party as most Writers call them vigorously persuaded him to besiege Groningen While they were upon the debate the Elector of Cologn came into the Council who demanded smiling what they had agreed upon and perceiving that some were still for Attacking Delf-zyl No no said he we must go to Groningen that City will be ours in five days I have my Confidents there But he fail'd in his assurance Till this time a favourable Gale had swell'd the Sails of the Bishops hopes He had undertaken no enterprize wherein he had not prosperously succeeded No place was so strong or so well fortifi'd but that he made his way through either through the Cowardice or Treachery of the defendants His Master to whom he had Mortgag'd himself had penetrated even to the very Center of Holland So that in forty days the Confederates had taken fourscore Cities Forts and Fortresses from the States General As for the Conquests of the Bishop of Munster he thought himself sure enough of his prey not believing that the Vnited Provinces would ever reunite again but that he should injoy the places he had taken and which still remain'd to be taken Now said he to one of his Counsellers their High and Mightinesses may be callâ—d their Low and Lowlinesses Thus the Hereticks are to be dealt with The King of France is beholden to me for without my Assistance he never could have Conquer'd so fast nor so much At his request he obtain'd of the Pope the Government and absolute Authority to conser all Ecclesiastical Benefices in the Territories by him Conquer'd He constrain'd the Gentry of Over-Yssel to subscribe an agreement wherein they abjur'd the Union of the United Provinces in these words That they both in General and Particular being better instructed do absolutely abjure the Vnion of the Vnited Provinces and that they shall undertake for themselves and their Posterity to be separated from them for ever And that they do acknowledg the Bishop of Munster for their Lawful Soveraign voluntarily and without any constraint that they will never revolt from him but will hazard their lives and fortunes for him and with him as their Lawful Soveraign The King of France never impos'd so much upon the Province of Vtrecht but on the contrary Capitulated with them that the said Province should be comprehended in such agreements as he should make with the States General But the wheel of Fortune if it be lawful for Christians to make use of the Phrase began to turn so that from this time forward the Tide of the Bishops prosperity began to Ebb. It pleas'd God that he follow'd the worst Counsel of them that adviz'd to lay Siege to the City of Groningen and to inspire the Inhabitants of that City with courage and resolution to repel the victorious Bâ—shop and to force him to rise from before their Walls with loss and shame After which he never did any thing that brought him either profit or honor but all his enterprizes prov'd destructive to him Groningen then was the place which he design'd to besiege for by the taking of this City which they imagin'd would have been an easie matter they had made themselves Masters of two Provinces that and Friseland The Place was sufficiently strong but the Garrison was too weak not consisting recruits and all of above one thousand and two hundred Souldiers But the valor of the Townsmen and Scholars supply'd that defect as also the Conduct of the Commanders among whom the Sieur Charles Rabenhapt was the chief The Burgers were divided into Eighteen Companies besides Four Companies of them who had been formerly excus'd The Company of Scholars consisted of a hundred and fifty The 19. of July the Country people brought word that the Enemy appear'd on every side of the City The 20. they shew'd
so to break that way into Friseland Upon which the States of Friseland Muster'd together a little Army of about eight thousand Foot and a hundred Cornets of Horse and sent them toward the Heeren-Veen to oppose the Episcoparians who finding such provision made against them and that they could not force their passage retreated and marcht with all their forces toward Steenwick There the Munsterians and the French parted the latter retiring into their Winter Quarters at Zutphen Arnbeim Doesburgh and other places having lost in all eight hundred men in this march Certain it is that the Bishop promis'd himself great matters could he have made his intended Incursion into Friseland for the Elector of Brandenburgh being now enter'd into an Alliance with France he had nothing to fear from that side of the world though by the care and diligence of the Friselanders he made no other advantage of it than the loss of eight hundred men already mention'd The Emperor all this while observing the Alliances made with the King of France by his own subjects and members of the Empire to the common prejudice thought it now but time to send a considerable force toward the Rhine and for the satisfaction of the world publish'd his reasons for so doing which consisted of these heads First for that the King of France had marcht his Forces through the Territories of the Empire to Assail the Low-Countries and taken many places in the same Territories contrary to the Peace of Munster Secondly Because the said Souldiers still quarter'd upon the subjects of the Empire at their own pleasure committed several Extortions and Rapines upon them and particularly had burnt the Bridg of Strasburgh Thirdly Because the French had made themselves Masters of the Arch-Bishoprick of Treves where they did nothing but burn plunder and spil Fourthly Because the Elector of Cologn and the Bishop of Munster contrary to the Peace concluded at Cleves in the year 1666. had undertaken an Offensive War against the States of the United Provinces with the consent of the Emperorr and Empire and rejecting the Emperors commands to the contrary During these Paper Skirmishes the French were got into the heart of the United Provinces though soon after the face of their success began to change The Inundations in Holland had put a stop to their Conquests there The Bishop of Munster had been repuls'd in the Provinces of Friseland and Groningen insomuch that he despair'd of doing any good in those parts though he did all he could to regain Coeverden To which purpose all the Summer long he had very much distress'd the said Garriâ—on by stoping the course of the River Vecht so â—hat it was fear'd the place would have been â—orc'd to yield for want of water The Dam that carry'd off the water was wonderfully strong two Leagues and a half in length and three or four Foot broad at the Bottom and â—ight at the top Besides the Episcoparians had built two Forts to Guard it and planted above sixty pieces of Ordnance upon the Dam to prevent any coming near it So that when the Bishop understood how high the water was risen Now said he to some of his Officers the Devil cannot hinder me from taking Coeverden But upon the first of October arose such a terrible storm as destroy'd all the Labour and Travel of the Episcoparians and made such a gap in the Dam that all the Art and Industry of the Enemy could never repair again And after that the Tempest continuing brake down three gaps more and drown'd four or five hundred Souldiers that were upon the Guard of the Dike and carry'd away Collonel Horstmans Coach with several Ladies in it A little before this the Prince of Orange had taken Narden from the French which caus'd a great consternation at Vtrecht But that which troubl'd them more was that the Prince began to bend his march toward Germany where being reinforc'd by the Imperial Troops he had besieg'd the City of Bon which he also took together with some other places which made the French at Vtrecht afraid lest by making farther Conquest he should cut off all Commerce and Correspondence between them and the Enemy And it appeared by the offer of Neutrality which they made in behalf of the City and Province of Vtrecht in what a pannick dread they were though the proffer would not be accepted They also offer the Bishop of Munster to change their Province with him for that of Over-Yssel nay they offered to give it him provided he would joyn with the Forces which were in Germany but he did not accept their kindness whether the Bishop considered the turn of Affairs or whither he had not time sufficient to Consult and Treat However it were the King of France was constrained to quit all the places which he had Conquer'd of which Woerden was the first and after that the City of Vtrecht though very much impoverish'd by the exactions of her new Masters T is thought that the main reasons which induc'd the King of France to quit his new Conquests were first the March of the Prince of Orange into Germany 2. The Alliance between the Emperor the King of Spain and the States General 3. His despair of gaining any thing upon Holland without which his other Conquests were but a burthen to him 4. He consider'd that the King of England was ill satisfi'd with his proceedings and fear'd lest he should make a Peace with the States General as he did in the year 74. 5. He was afraid lest the Bishops of Munster and Cologn should change their sides â—â—nding such a turn of their good Fortune which jealousie of his was not ill grounded for they perceiving the King not to be so victorious as he was desir'd a reconciliation with the Emperor to avoid a total ruin Though because they stood upon too favourable Conditions they were not listen'd to at that time while the Subjects of the Elector were punish'd on both sides for the miscarriage of their Prince For after they had been sufficiently tormented by the French in thunder'd the Hollanders taking from them their Cities and putting the whole Diocess to pay Contribution And it was but reason to think that the Hollanders would carry the War into their Territories who had open'd their dooâ—s to let in France both into Germany and the Low-Countries Soon after in the beginning of the year 16â—4 the Peace was concluded between the King of Great Britain and the States General which was to them a great lightning of their burthen in regard they were freed from the charges of such a vast Navy All this while the Bishop had a longing desire to be Master of Groningen not that he was in hopes to gain the place but that he had a design to Plunder the Country and to gratifie his murmuring Souldiers with a good Booty which was all the Pay they received from him To which purpose in February he Muster'd together 4000 Horse and sent
them toward the Province but all the Gates were so fast bar'd and so well guarded that there was no good to be done On the other side his Excellency Rabenhaupt march'd with his Frizons through the City of Coverden toward the County of Benthem At his first arrival he took the City of Northorn wherein he left 16 Colours of Horse and 6 of Foot From whence he advanc'd toward Nyenhuys but receiving intelligence by the way that Episcoparians had again begirt the City of Northorn and beat off the Out-Guards his Excellency marcht back toward them with seven Troops of Horse and five Regiments of Foot and set upon them the fifth of April but they still Retreated leaving behind them Sixty Slain and Fifty Prisoners with the loss only of three men Two days after Rabenhaupt took the Castle of Nyenhuys by force and thereby opened his way into the Bishops own Territories Upon that the Bishop began to fear lest he should be forsaken by the French who had already quitted the Province of Vtrecht and several other places in the other Provinces and so the flame of the War would blaze out in his own Territories For indeed the Imperialists had plunder'd several of his Towns and the Friselanders had fairly begun on their side Upon these considerations he began to forget the Alliance which he had made with France from whence he had received such considerable sums and for all that the King promis'd him the utmost of his Assistance And therefore by his Envoys at Cologn he sought to be restored to the favour and to be admitted into the Alliance of the Emperor which at length he obtain'd and a Peace was concluded between him the Emperour and the States General As for the Emperor he promis'd to submit to him to renounce the Alliance with France and to be regulated according to the Resolutions taken at Regensburgh for the defence of the Princes and Circles of the Empire The agreement made with the States General was to this effect That there should be a perpetual Peace between them That there should be a reciprocal Amnesty and Act of Oblivion for all things past since the Peace of Cleves unless for such as were guilty of Treason That the Bishop immediately after the Ratification should restore all the Places Towns Cities and Villages without any exception which he had Conquer'd or taken from the States and that he should restore to the Subjects of the States all their Lands Signiories and Houses which he had detain'd from them during the War That the Peace of Cleves should be of full force and effect in all things not contrary to this present Treaty That the Count of Benthem his servants Vassals and Subjects should also be compriz'd in the General Amnesty That the Emperor and the King of Spain be desir'd to be Cautionaries for the observation of this Treaty The French in their Conquer d Cities having intelligence of this Peace durst not hazard themselves there any longer though they extorted great sums of mony from the Inhabitants before they departed from Woerden 16000 Livers Bommel 36000 Vtrecht 45000 Campen 80000 Thuel 22000 Zutphen 70000 for Contribution and 70000 to save their Fortifications Anberm 14000 for the Governor and 100000 for the King Nimmeghen 55000 and the Upper and Lower Betuwe the same sum As for Wesel Enmersch and Rees the King of France had given them to the Elector of Brandenburgh so that he retain'd in his hands nothing of his Conquests from the States but Graef and Mastricht the first of which places was valiantly recover'd by the Prince of Orange and the latter restor'd by the Peace At what time the French quitted their Conquests the Elector of Cologn quitted also the City of Deventer after he had made an agreement for 42000 Crowns for Contribution mony The Munsterians also in pursuance of the Treaty quitted the Cities of Hasselts Swartsluys and Zwoll after they had committed several disorders in the Country This turn of the tide no way pleas'd the Roman Catholicks At Vtrecht and in several other places they were in hopes that the French would return and that then they should be put into possession of the Government of the Province nay they gave it out so in publick They were so obstinate at Otmarsum that they would not surrender their Churches to those of the Reformed Religion which caus'd some disorders at first though they were quickly appeas'd But though the Peace between the Emperor the States General and the Bishop of Cologn were thus concluded yet the Elector of Cologn did not so soon forsake the French Interest being still incens'd by the Bishop of Strasburgh However his Imperial Majesty had prescrib'd him a time to declare himself which was near expiration One main obstacle was that he could not brook that the Emperor should keep a Garrison in the City of Bon. He also demanded of the States as the price of his Friendship the County of Meurs the City of Rynbork and forty thousand Crowns toward the expences of the War But the States would allow him none of his Pretensions only they were willing he should put a Garrison into Rynborck but that he should renounce all his claim to the County of Meurs He had also demanded free exercise of the Catholick Religion in the Province of Over-Yssel but the Emperors Embassadors well knowing it would never be granted declar'd to him that it was not a reasonable request For that the States General never permitted the exercise of the Catholick Religion in any of their Territories Thereupon seeing the Cloud coming he quitted all his pretensions and upon that a Peace followed between the Emperor and him as also betwixt him and States General the chief Articles whereof were That there should be a firm and lasting Peace that after the Ratification of the Treaty the Elector should restore to the States all the Places which he had taken from them during the War in the same Condition as they were before they were taken without any wast or spoil or any demand of Contribution That he should keep the sums already paid but that he should release the the Hostages which he detain'd for the payment of such sums as were demanded That all Lands and Signiories taken from the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces shall be restored them On the other side that the State should quit all their pretensions to the Town of Rynbork and the Fortifications thereof The County of Lingen should be restor'd to the Prince of Orange Certainly the two Bishops never dreamt that the Face of Affairs would have alter'd after so strange a manner and that they should be forc'd to beg for Peace from the States More especially the Bishop of Munster was deceiv'd who in the month of July before sent to the City of Embden to send their Deputies to him to New-fort there to consult about such things as tended to their repose and security The Inhabitants of Embden had set themselves in an