held there December the 7 17. without authority or reason and concluded meerly out of passion against all Humane and Divine Laws the fundamentall Statutes of the Diocesse and against the peace and power of Caesar and the Archbishop Elector of Collen to whom they owe obedience not only by dishonouring the present Governour with the false imputation of treason against his Country but also by tyrannizing over the consciences of their Christian brethren by continuing their inhumane and cursed bloud-shedding and exposing the life of the now Commander at Hoy to sale for the prize of 300 Patacons And now because that neither the Law of Nature nor Nations can give any security for the proscribed persons it is resolved to proceed against them by way of Retorsion Wherfore after a solemne protestation before the whole World of their unwillingnesse to take this course if any other meanes for their safety might happily be devised they the Governour Senate and Counsell of Warre at Hoy judge likewise all Colonels Captains Lievtenants Ancients and others of the Counsell of War at Liege apprehensible and guilty of treason and promised 200 Patacons for each of those Colonels 150 for each of those Captains and 100 for each of the rest so apprehended and brought in either alive or dead Reserving withall all other Retorsions for our use if the Counsell of Liege do prosecute their late Placard or invent any new one pronouncing all those which shall lodge or receive any of the fore-mentioned and condemned men lyable to the sentence pronounced against them and admonishing all good Patriots and wel-wishers to their Native Country to continue faithfull to their Prince Subscribed By order of the Counsell of Warre at Hoy and a little lower Le Recht Secretary Thus the Condrusii Agrippinenses or Luicklanders were divided but the capitall City which should give the law to all the rest and the major part of the Province held out for the Christian King levied forces for his Majesty supplyed them with arms The order taken by the Liegois to defend their Country against the Spaniards necessaries and the King again to confirme his amity with them understanding the distraction of their state by his Agent Ian 30 old stile and letters signed by himself offered the forces which were levied there for him to their service promising to assist them with more if need required it and to pay them out of his own Exchequer It was a gracious offer and worthy of so Royall a King but the Liegeois were not so distressed they provided sufficiently for their owne safety both by a Martiall and Politike way Daniell de Rive a valiant and experienced Souldier was made Generall over 4000 men whom they armed against all such as they imagined would offer to infringe their liberties and he performed his charge so well by keeping a carefull and strong watch in the Countrey and Hesbay that he secured them from the private practices of the Malecontents and publike injuries which might otherwise have been put upon by their professed Enemies One thing still remayned which was to take order for the common Magazine of victuals that the Natives might not want bread and that the Chapiter of Liege which pretends a dominion over the whole Province provided for by an Edict dated Ianuary 17 27 commanding all the Boors to thresh out their corn and to bring it to the capitall City where it should be laid up in the publike Granary and be delivered out at a certaine rate for the use of the people And this order took so good effect that the peasants reserving only so much as was necessary for their owne use brought the remaynder to the publike storehouse whence the seller was supplyed with mony and the buyer with bread for his family The Cardinall Infant at Bruxels though not then imployed in Acts of warre was busie in preparing for it against the spring and because men and mony are principally required for such expeditions The Cardinal Infantae's preparation for warre hee sent to his brother the Catholike King for both the King answered his desire and in a Fleet of 32 sayles of shipping sent him 45 tuns of gold if the figures deceive me not and 4000 fresh souldiers all which arrived successefully at Dunkerke about the midst of December where the gold is to be coyned save one Frigate loaden with Salt which stragling from the Fleet fell into the hands of Swartk a Statish man of War who surprized it and brought it into Zeland Decemb. 7 17. Occurrences in the Netherlands CHAP. II. THe new yeare came in with a new dresse A Tournament intended at the Hage at the marriage of the Counâ—â—â—â—e of Solmes The rough habit of war was put off for a season and a solemne Tournament more usuall in peace then in War was performed at the Hage by some noble personages designed therunto The occasion was this Monsieur de Brederode Generall of the States Artillery a man of so noble a house that the old Marquesse Spinola accounted him the only Gentleman in the United Provinces was to marry with Madamoselle the CouÌ„tesse of Solmes sister to the Princesse of Orange And to honour these Nuptials the gallantry of the Batavian Court to shew themselues not meer Courtiers but Souldiers also did not content themselves with bare Revels but resolved to run at the Ring And the Bride again to gratifie them designed a rich jewell for him that could oftenest take it in three courses To make the action beare some forme with the bravery of old times they divided themselves into parties one wherof stood as challengers and the rest as defendants The Cavalliers divide themselves into parties The Challengers were five Batavian Knights who under the disguised names of Bator Classicus Arminius Civilis and Mandrubace being indeed Monsieur de Bredode the Bridegroom the Vicount de Manshaw Monsieur de Verneul a Major of Horse the Baron de Vaustar and Monsieur de Chart published first a generall challenge in these words The Batavian Knights having for 3 years space given notice by their Heraulds Five Batavians send out the Challenge whom they have sent abroad to that end to all the Knights of the World that Feb. 6 16. 1638 they would keep an open Camp at the Hage in Holland their ordinary Randesvouz where every Knight that would return an answer to their Challenge might safely enter and try with them at 3 courses with the Lance or sharp Sword or what other arms they pleased with assurance that he got the victory might safely carry away the prize that the Ladies of the Court had designed to him which could winne it Now finding that the renown of their valour knowne through all the World hath struck a terrour into the hearts of those that would oppose them to the end that the Ladies might no longer expect the event they have agreed that 3 courses at the Ring shall suffice to give a testimony of their
of War But in the end their victuals Rhinefelden rebesieged and surrendred and Amunition failing their hearts fainted and March 12 22. after they perceived that Cullembach was returned that his Highnesse had sent to Hohenwielt for more and greater Ordnance and made great preparations for the assault they sent out a Trumpet to desire a parlee wherein first were offered them the conditions of Nordlingen and afterwards these ensuing which they accepted Articles granted by Bernhard Duke of Saxon Gulick Cleave and Bergue Lantgrave of Thuringen Marquesse of Misnia Count of Mark and Ravensberg Lord of Ravenstein c. to the Major and Commander in the Town of Rhinefelden 1 The Articles THe Governour and Garrison of Rhinefelden shall be permitted to depart with their baggage Horses Waggons Wives and Servants high and low armes matches burning and Drum beating with all the Officers and Souldiers which are retired thither since the two last battails except such as have voluntarily come in to their party not being pressed therunto who shall have licence to depart too but without their high Arms. 2 It shall be lawfull for all Ecclesiasticall persons Noblemen Boors as many Burgesses as shal desire it to depart with the Garrison or afterwards with their goods and baggage and as many as will stay to inhabit there shal be protected from injuries and enjoy their estates 3 All his Highnesses Officers and Souldiers which have been taken prisoners and shall be found in the Towne shall be set at liberty without Ransome 4 Those which have left the Campe without leave or Pasport and are found to be in the Town shall neither openly nor privatly be conveyed away but left there or restored 5 All victuals and amunition of Warre shall be left in the Town except that which the Souldiers can carry in their Knapsacks and Bandeleers 6 The wounded and sick men which are unable to march away with the Garrison shall be permitted to abide in the Towne till they can conveniently be carried away or are able to follow their Colours 7 Assoon as this accord is sealed on both sides the Commander shall be bound to open and surrender one of the Ports but none of the Campe shall enter into the Towne thereby till the Garrison be departed 8 The Garrison shall depart punctually on the morrow March 14 24 at eight in the morning 9 The Commander and Garrison shall have a safe Convoy and be carried neere Brisack and for assurance of the Convoyes safety the Commander shall leave behinde him sufficient Hostages which shall be dismissed peaceably at its returne And for the better surety and confirmation of this Accord two indented Copies shal be drawn interchangeably signed and sealed one by the Lord and Colonell Arsidius Forbush of the one part in the name by the command of his Highnesse and the other by the present Governour of the Towne on the other part to each of which persons there shall be one Copy delivered Given at the Campe before and in the Towne of of Rhinefelden March 13 23. 1638. This agreement was more truly observed amongst Enemies in this time of War then many civill contracts are amongst neighbours in time of peace 600 Imperiall Souldiers left the Town the next morning to the Victor but were not all conveiged to Brisacke yet none were detained violently the Convoy was ready for as many would make use of it but two hundred of them presently offered their service to the Duke of Weymar and the most part of the rest no sooner understood of the place to which they were designed but they did the like more fearing the famine which already rages there then hoping for reliefe from these inhabitants and presidiaries The time spent before the Towne was not lost it being a place of strength and importance and honoring the Dukes atchievement with eleven Ensignes which were saved there in the last battell and two old Ensignes belonging to Pappenheims Regiment which escaped and were kept there since the battell of Lutzen besides the gain of two faire Culverings many Bullets yet but one Quintall of powder and some small store of provisions His work is not yet done The care of the Town was committed to Forbush who imployed himself to repaire the breaches supply the Magazine and to work about new Fortifications while the Duke diposeth of his Army now grown stronger by 6000 men than it was in the first battell The Dukes proceedings and dayly expecting a fresh supply of a thousand who by that time were come as far as Monbeliard one part part wherof was sent against the Castle of Rotelu where they forced the garrison to yeeld upon discretion retayning the souldiers in their pay but detaining their pay but detaining their Captain and his Lievtenant prisoners and found an hundred Muyds of wine much corne cattell and other provision which should have bin transported to Brisack another under Rosa toward Wirtemberg who had before taken in Duthlinguen a passage upon the Danube and some other places himselfe going with the grosse of his army towards Fryburg a towne in Brisgaw three leagues from Brisack which as they write from Basill is already sensible of the inconveniences which attend them by his neighbourhood In a part of the third Chapter the titles over the head beeing Occurrences in the Netherlands should be Occurrences in upper Germany Further Occurrences in the Netherlands The jollity in the Netherlands before spoken of bore a resemblance of a firme peace and their Triumphs might have made a stranger beleeve that the States of the united Provinces were then so secure as they needed neither feare any hostility of an open enemy nor the clandestine practises of a private But Novit paucos secura quies the condition of all sublunary things is subject to change and The smiles of Fortune are more to bee suspected than her frownes The Cardinal Infant a potent adversary and one which tugged not meerely for honour but laboured as much to reduce that Aristocracie to the obedience of the Crowne of Spaine which claimed a title and dominion over the seventeene Provinces by marriage with the daughter and heire to the house of Burgundy as they to preserve it made strong preparation against them both by sea and land and some secret conspirators the more dangerous by their privacy for God defend me from my friends saith the Italian and from my foes I will guard my selfe inhabitants and garrison soldiers of Mastricht had plotted treacherously to deliver up that city into the hands of the Spaniards who attending the time for execution had drawn together six or seven thousand men and lay neer the city wel provided of scaling ladders other military instruments The chief conspirators were Veynck a friar A treason at Mastricht Padre Rector of the Minorites Iohn Lundsman or moone a Brewer Claudi de la Cour a Burgundian gentleman and his wife two Burgundian souldiers of Hauterives Regiment and two
a daring enemy An handfull of souldiers armed with resolution will doe more than a timorous multitude Mulheim was sufficiently provided for by the care of the Duke who to secure the city layd in an accrewt of 500 men but exposed to the pillage of the Imperialists by the remisse cowardise of those to whom the keeping therof was committed who yeelded upon the first sight of the Roman Eagles and had the reward of their falsehood and cowardise beeing stript starke naked and expelled by the Caesareans who immediately began to plunder the city and had utterly spoyled the Inhabitants had not the Generall Major Lamboy expressely forbidden them to goe on so roughly against that people to whome they came for succour in extremity without any commission to use them as enemies Santen a smaller City and not so strongly guarded stood upon its liberty and maintained it The Presidiaries there were fewer in number than those at Mulheim yet of more valour and better fortune they punctually denied to admit any part of the Caesarean army to be billited there and when Piccolomini would have forced them to it they took up their armes stood upon their defence and twice repelling those troupes which came to compel them made them seeke their winter station elsewhere and here the Polemicke occurrences betwixt the Prince Cardinal of Spaine and the States of the United Provinces and Allyes have their period Only about Artois and Henault something was done betwixt the cardinal of France and Infant of Spain the Duke de Candale surprising the little city of Semay three leagues from Avennes November the nineteenth or twenty ninth and the Infant recovering it soone after as also Beaumont which in the Summer had bin taken by the French Forces but was now regained by the Spaniard in Winter Policy was now the object of all their studies preparation for war reforming the regiments execution of justice and other attendants of a peaceable state as marriages and triumphs the cold breath of Winter giving some time of respit from military actions a short resemblance of quiet The Prince of Orange to settle himselfe in a sure possession of Breda more fearing the practice of intestine then forraigne enemies first commanded all those of the Roman Religion to depart the City and the order not prevailing soon after effected it upon this occasion Novemb. 15 The Romanists banished from Breda 25 being Saint Katherines day the Romanists which lurked in the City undiscovered intended a Masse in the Cloyster of the Capuchines assembled together and for feare of apprehension in the very act barricadoed the doors shut up all the windows and so fell to the service Their Counsell and their act were both discovered to the Governour and Sheriffe of the place who in that nick of time commanded a party of the Garrison to attend them marched to the Cloyster forc't open the doores and windows laid hands upon the Priest that sung Masse and by him discovering the rest of that Religion which lay secretly there banished both him and them immediatly The Liegois though of the same profession with the Elector of Collen yet rather affected the Christian King then him and upon pretence of their liberty and revenge of the death of their late affected Governour Ruelle published a Placard December 7 17 against certaine spirituall and civill persons whom they suspected more to adhere to the Elector of Collen then their State the tenor wherof is as followeth Upon the proofs given in Court of the number of the late Magistrate of this City and about the seditions conspiracies sieges blocking up and other violent attempts against this City Some persons proscribed by the Liegois and Territory the Counsell hath condemned and judged as Traytors and Enemies to their native Country the Lord de Iehen de la Capelle Godfrey de Bocholt Horion de Heele the Burgomaster Rausin the Sheriffs Dormael and Zorne Lambert Tournaco Anthony de Marets Ernest de Marets Iohn de Henneff Francis Bertrand the Major of Hoy Kelenis the Quartermaster the Baron of Hollinghoven the Lord Chancellour Blocquerie Chockler and Proces both Canons of the Church of Saint Lambert and Doctour Dawuns Pastor of the 11000 Virgins Promising that if any of those condemned persons can deliver his fellow or any one of them though hee were one of those who had a hand in the murther of the Burgomaster la Ruelle he shall have besides his particular pardon 200 * A Patacoon is a Royall of eighth four shillings sterling Patacoones for his guerdon and if any of the Citizens can apprehend or kill any of the lay proscribed men hee shall have 300 Patacoones but who ever can bring in one of the Spirituall persons hee shall have 500 Patacoons and whosoever can deliver up Iohn de Werth or bring an authentike attestation that hee hath killed him shall have for his recompence 1000 Patacoons withall prohibiting all and each person to support mayntain or lodge any of these proscribed men upon paine of suffering the same punishment which is sentenced upon them Subscribed H. le Clercy Thus they expressed their love to the memory of their late Magistrate but their care in preserving their franchises more The name of a deceased Patriot yields a sweet odor to the survivors but stands in no equipage with the love that is justly challenged from every Citizen by the Common-wealth The Liegers declared both though in a different measure according to their severall objects Ruelle was reverenced for his care in preserving the publike state the state for it selfe and the publike good of the Denisons The Placard was proclaimed instantly and two Prebends of Saint Lambert were presently dispatched to Hoy a City upon the Maze 28 English miles West and by South from Liege with authority to command the Governour there to surrender up the place into the hands of the Liegers who without deliberation returned first The Liegois require the Governour of Hoy to submit and come in this doubtfull answer that he would first be paid 25000 Gilders which he was out of purse for maintenance of the Castle and Garrison and then a Categoricall deniall of the proposition adding that he was bound by oath to hold it for the Elector of Collen and with that answer dismissed them All this was done by word of mouth another course was followed advised and concluded of by the Governour the Senate and the Counsell of Warre Decemb. 17 27 and that was by way of retaliation to return Placard for Placard and proscription for proscription the Governour of Hoy or Huy being declared guilty of treason by the Leigois the tenor wherof runneth thus The Senate and Counsell of Warre at Huy who have taken a solemne Oath to live and die in the Neutrality which hitherto they have happily mayntained cannot but wonder at the barbarous proceedings of the Senate and Counsell of Warre at Liege The Senate of Hoy returne their answer and proscribe the Liegois