death Page 189. CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to an universall Monarchy and whether the reasons be sufficient which accuse it of aspiring to it Why France retaines Lorraine Page 191. CHAP. XIII Piccolomini raises the Siege from before Wolfenbottel with losse Torstenson arrives from Sweden with a supply Lamboy beaten and taken prisoner The progresse of the Swedes in Silesia The Imperialists defeated before Leipsick recollect themselves after having punished the slacknesse of the souldiers and raise the Siege of Friburgh The Battail of Honcourt The Expleits in Catalunia The death of Monsieur le Grand The death of the Great Cardinal An Epitome of his life Page 194. CHAP. XIV The death of Lewis the Iust The Battail of Rocroy The Battail of Dudling The Swedes enter into Holstein Page 198. CHAP. XV. Of the war of Denmark with all the circumstances thereof Page 200. CHAP. XVI Gallasso retyres out of Holstein and is ruined by Torstenson at Magdeburgh The Battail of Lankewitz The Exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh 203. CHAP. XVII The deplorable state of the obedient Low-Countries The taking of many of the strongest townes in Flanders Page 206. CHAP. XVIII The war of England The Tragical death of the King Page 208. CHAP. XIX A continuation of the Exploits in Flanders The Baâ—tail of Lenâ—â— Page 212. CHAP. XX. The Peace between the King of Spain and the Confederated States The remarkable siege of Brin Torstenson quits the Generalate Page 213. CHAP. XXI The difference which happened betwixt the two Families of the Landgraves The Battels of Mergendal and Nortlinghen Generall Mercy 's death Page 216. CHAP. XXII The Exploits of the Swedes upon the Franteers of Swisserland alarme the Cantons Gallasso's death Melander Generall of the Imperiall Armies Page 219. CHAP. XXIII The taking of Swinsfort and Eger Lamboy and Conninxmark incamped before Rene. The taking of Retschin The siege of Prague Page 222. CHAP. XXIV The breach of the Truce with the Duke of Bavaria A tempest upon the Elbe Melanders death The Peace of Germany The death of the King of Denmark and of Uladislaus of Poland Casimir succeeds him Page 223. CHAP. XXV Pope Urbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia Page 226. THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. THe tumults at Naples begun by Thomaso Aniello and why The history of Conradin Prince of Swaveland his death the Sicilian Vespers or Even-songs The history of Catenesa and of the Tragedies which happened at Naples Page 230. CHAP. II. The war of the Turks and the Venetians and why The taking of Canea The Knights of Malta take a great Booty a great number of Gallies and the young Sultanesse with her Sonne The Venetians obtain succour but are beaten Page 234. CHAP. III. The troubles which happened at Paris The City is besieged The Arch-Duke comes to succour it The Siege and taking of Ypers Cambray besieged in vain Hennault ransacked Page 237. CHAP. IV. Tumults in the Province of Luke or Liedge The Election of a Coadjuter Tumules at Trevirs The Lorrains in the Kingdom of Aix and in the Dutchy of Gulick beat the Peasants The war is kindled again at Naples Page 239. CHAP. V. The Jubily at Rome The Princes imprisoned The Princesse of Conde the Duke of Bouillon and other Lords retyre themselves so Bourdeaux The Dutchess 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 Page 244. CHAP. VI. Containing what passed in the Summer of this year of 1654. The Offers of the Portugal Embassadour The Fleet in the Indies does nothing The Princes complaints The Siege of Amsterdam The Imprisonment of six Lords carried to Louvestein The Prince of Oranges death His praises Page 247. CHAP. VII The deplorable death of the valiant Earle of Montrosse The war of the Polanders against the Cossacks Page 250. CHAP. VIII Blakes Fleet in Portugal Charles Stuart in Jersey The Kings Goods sold Charies Stuart goes into Scotland The English go thither with an Army The Scots are beaten The continuance of the War in Candy The war made with the Pen. An Embassadour from Spain at London The Chineses or people of China become Christians Page 254. CHAP. IX The Coronation of the Queen of Sweden The dammage at Paris by the River The diliverance of the Princes Mazarin being banished departs out of France The Great Assembly at the Haghe The arrival of the English Embassadours at the Haghe The war against the Cossacks The King of Scots enters into England with an Army is beaten at Worcester and slyes disguised Page 256. CHAP. X. The Coronation of Charles King of the Scots His entry into England He looses the Baetiel near Worcester The miserable condition of the Scots Charles's marvellous escape He arrives in France The difference between the Electour of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made Page 258. CHAP. XI Cardinal Mazarins retreat into the Province of Liedge The Princes make their entrance into Paris The joy for the one and the other The Dutchess of Longueville and the Marshal of Turenne returne into France The Prince of Oranges Baptism and the dispute for his tutelage The Bank broken near Waghening Uiefeldt accused of having intended to poison the King Berghen St. Winock taken by the Spaniards Page 260. CHAP. XII The Cardinal returnes into France The Lords who had been prisoners restored to their Charges The Prince of Conde retires to Paris The King declared Major Prodigies seen at sea The beginning of the troubles between England and Holland and why Spirings death Page 262. CHAP. XIII The miseries at sea caused by Pirats The present state of Norway Denmark Sweden Poland Hungary Germany Italy Spain and France etc. Page 264. CHAP. XV. The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends back an Army to Paris takes Graveling and Dunkerek The English beat the French Fleet. The Cardinal of Retz induces the King to come back to Paris The Prince of Conde retyres into France Cardinal Mazarins praises The Cardinal of Retz carried to the Bois de Vincennes Page 267. CHAP. XVI The English attack the Convoy of Fishermen Tromp returns to Sea findes Blake a tempest separates them and he comes back into Holland De Ruyter attacks Ascue Van Galens victory before Ligorne Tromp conducts the Fleet safely into France Divers Combats Tromps death Cromwell and his Exploits The Assembly at Ratisbone The Election and Coronation of Ferdinand the fourth King of the Romans Page 271. The Continuation Page 275. Reader The Corrector to the Presse intreats thee to amend with thy Pen these faults which have escaped his eye PAge 1. line 28. read sent p. 2. l. 27. Now. p. 6. l. 16. then p. 7. l. 1. other by p. 12. l. 4.
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
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
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
last King of the race of Valois Now the Royall race of the Valois being extinguished by the death of Henry the third son to Henry the second he succeeded to the Crown though with much dispute and repugnancie but his justice was accompanied by his valour and so by rejecting that which was most prejudiciall to him to wit the reformed Religion he quieted all his subjects and reduced them to their duty CHAP. II King Henry gives his sister in marriage to the Marquis du Pont espowses Mary of Medicis and wages warre with the Duke of Savoy The enterprizt of the said Duke upon Geneva Henry gives his sister to the Marquis du Pont THe King not content with giving the Hughenots all they had ever desired intended besides to obliege the house of Lorraine by allying the Princes thereof with his own And so he matched his sister to the Marquis du Pont who retained the exercise of the reformed Religion lived in most perfect amity with her husband and deceased without issue The Kings marriage being declared null and Madame Gabriell by whom he had many children the eldest whereof is the Duke of Vandosme ending her dayes by suddain death Marries Mary of Medicis he married Mary Medicis sister to the grand Duke of Florence who arrived in France in the moneth of December being the last of the precedent age Upon the delay of the Duke of Savoy to restore him the Marquisat of Saluces he prepared himself for warre And the Duke to divert the storm came to him at Lyons with store of presents and promised to render him the said Marquisat Makes war upon the Duke of Savoy or else the County of Bresses within the term of six moneths But the effect thereof not following the King quickly made himself master of all Savoy There is no amusing or retarding a potent creditor who hath both will and meanes to make himself payd In fine by the mediation of the Pope a peace was made whereby the Duke remained in possession of the Marquisat and the King of the aforesaid Country of Bresses Through this peace Italy was delivered from a great oppression and so the Troops of the Conde de Fuentes marched out of the Duchy of Milan towards Flanders During the civil wars a little before the terrible execution at Blois the aforesaid Duke easily recovered the said Marquisat by vertue as it was believed of Pistolls Gold He caused money to be coined with a Centaur treading under his feet a Gawlish Hercules with this Motto Opportunè But Henry after his Conquest and the accomplishment of his Pretensions stamped another sort representing a Gawlish Hercules treading upon a Centaur with this Opportunius We must never let our hearts be too much puffed up with prosperity but consider that the conquered grow often to be Conquerours We will not leave Savoy till we shall first have spoken of the enterprize Which the Duke had upon the City of Geneva The City of Geneva She is situated upon the Rhine neer a great Lake and was before that reformation the Seat of a Bishop She changed her Religion in the yeer 1535 since when no Romane Catholick as it is published is tollerated there above three dayes Now Charles Emanuel the aforesaid Duke attempred to make himself Lord of her by surprize He secretly listed twelve hundred men under the command of Monsieur d' Aubigny who by meanes of great store of ladders and other instruments got to the number of two hundered into the Town whilest the Duke was following with some Regiments of recruit But being discovered and the Citizens running to their armes they were strucken with terrour and returned the same way they came without having been able to seize upon so much as one of the Gates to let in the forces Thus this great designe so long premeditated so secretly carried so well begun and almost compleatly executed at last failed But whether through the valour of the townsmen or the cowardlinesse of the Savoyers I know not they were so nettled by this fright that Father Alexander a Scottish Jesuite with all his remonstrances and exhortations could never infuse any courage into their hearts But this hot Camisado or assault made them of Geneva stand upon their guard for their own preservation and to this effect they raised some souldiers and implored the assistance of the King who declared them comprized within the Peace of Vervin and gave them a pension since which time they have kept themselves in peace The Princes of the aforesaid family affirm that the said City is seated within the district of Savoy and consequently belongs to them But that which cannot be gotten by force will not be acquired by allegation of right CHAP. III. The Jubile Biron executed The battell of Flanders La Bourlotte killed Rinberg taken The Iubile THe first yeer of this age Pope Clement celebrated a Jubile at Rome whether there flocked an infinite number of people from all parts some out of curiosity and to see Italy and others out of devotion and to gaine the Indulgences But let us now return towards the Low Countries in regard that France grew to be even steeped in delights the fruits of peace and no body in motion but Mareschal de Biron Biron beheaded who attainted and convicted of the crime of high Treason for having kept correspondency with a forraigne Prince was beheaded in the Court of the Bastill Indeed that infinity of brave actions which had crowned his head with lawrell ought methinks to have saved him from this stroake But what Fortune had elevated him very high so to tumble him down headlong into this precipice The Archduke Albert seing it was but labour lost to solicite the States of Holland to a reconciliation and that all the exploits of the Admiral did more sharpen the bordering provinces then fright the confederates and that the enterprize upon Bommel proved as fruitlesse as that of La Bourlotte upon some places thereabouts yea and that one part of his forces mutinied and had taken up their quarter apart under the conduct of one Eelcto The mutiny of the Spaniards he began to lay about him to find money to content them and reduce his Militia to a good discipline but he could never be brought to pardon them who sold the Fort of St. Andrew The States upon the other side and Prince Maurice having shut up their Common wealth by the taking of such places as gave them enterance to the enemy and by consequence deprived him of all meanes of drawing contribution out of the said Provinces resolved to keep one foot in Flanders the most fertile Province of all thereby the more to incommodate the Archduke who hearing that the Prince was entered with a puissant army neer Newport made his troops march with all speed cut off seven or eight hundred Scots who kept the Bridge and being prowd upon this happy encounter advanced to affront his enemies
to the great good of the whole Country But now the women had also a minde to shew that they likewise knew how to handle their arms and gave an experiment thereof at Delpft about some Imposts or Taxes where they so stoutly assailed the Town-House that it was necâ—ssitated to send for both Souldiers and Counsell from the Hagâ—e to make them retire to the distaffe Perhaps there were amongst these some of them who had beaten the Franciscan Friers out of their Cloyster so great a reputation of courage have the good wives of Dâ—lft And these are all the perturbations and whatsoever else of note happened in the confederated Provinces during the Truce Before we contrive our Discourse of the Warres of Germany we will return a little towards France which is the kingdom where Fortune by her various effects of mutability seems rather to have established the Empyre then elsewhere The nature of the Germans is such as not to suffer themselves so easily to be induced to take arms for it costs much trouble to bring them to it and they walk with leaden heels but having once taken them up they lay them not down till they be able to bear them no longer and till all be brought to the extremity of desolation But the French on the other side both easily take them up and more easily lay them down in such sort as their Warres are very often finished and pacified before it be knowne that they were in arms After the consecration or unction of King Lewis during the six first years of his reign there were rather Tumults then Wars The Malcontent the Complaints as well of the Princes as of the Hâ—genots their ill-grounded distrusts and jealousies exercised the mind of that great Queen who dissipated their bad designes sometimes with money and augmentation of Pensions and new Governments and sometimes also by making them exactly observe the Edict of Nantes an interest which the said Prinoes are accustomed to take during the minority of their Kings so to adde to their own power what they take away from that of their Master The Moon and the Starres endeavour to weaken the light of the Sun by borrowing a part thereof of him But that which is to be lamented is that all this is done at the charge of the poor people In effect the great care of this wise Queen dispelled many mists and no lesse preserved the kingdom for her son then the succeeding Ministers who have laboured to augment it France having smothered with the blood of the Marquis d' Ancre all the grievances both of the Princes and people saw likewise the end of that The troubles in France appeased which the Prince of Conde gave the King by the obstacles which he was resolved to put to the confirmation of his marriage The Duke of Guise conducted the young Princesse of France to the Confines of Spain and reconducted the Infanta of Spain and the Prince of France was lodged in the Battail The Constable Luynes became the subject of a new Commotion and his great favour the object of hatred to some Grandees who absented themselves from the Court under pretext of defending the Queen-Mother who was extremely exasperated against Luynes for that he being the Counsellour of the ruine of the Marshall d' Ancre had taken possession of his Place and gotten his spoyles and so she retired her self to Angonlesine to be secured by the Duke d' Espernon Now this fire being kindled by the just disgust of an afflicted Queen begot an opinion that it would be scattered through all France For men began to be active and busie already as well at Metz as within the very middle of the kingdom and the motion being in a fronteer Town gave cause to fear lest perhaps strangers might put themselves into the dance For the Duke d' Espernon departed from Metz to go serve the Queen-Mother to whom he was reconciled by the common necessity of an equall Banishment The Nobility and the Armies began already to march all was full of fear and fury and such as loved novelty The Prince of Conde leapt already for joy But the King assisted by the Counsell of the first Prince of the Blood who was now reconciled to him instantly seased upon the Castle and Town of Caen went and beat the Queenes Troops before the Malcontents joyned with theirs and reduced them all to a necessity of submitting to his Grace From thence he conducted his Army into Bearne Reduction of Bearne and by his presence effected that in few dayes upon the Ministers and chief of that Country which the Edict of the year 1617. had not been able to obtain He reduced the whole Province under his obedience re-established the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion rendered the Ecclesiasticall Benefices put other Garrisons into the places of strength and four months after returned to Paris where he was received with an universal applause though he left behind him an immortall disgust amongst the most zealous of the Hugenot party by the re-establishment of a Religion without striking stroake which in sixty years before was not so much as knowne there but by calumnies and reproaches and matter also for a new warre with such stomack and animosity as wanted nothing but the occasion to draw the sword The Marriage of the Lady Christine of France with the Duke of Savoy In the mean time the Cardinal of Savoy arrives at Court to thank the King for the care he had vouchsafed to take of the preservation of his Fathers Dominions as also to mediate a Match of the Lady Christine of France with his eldest Brother He was made very welcom and obtained in fine a favourable grant of all he demanded We will now give to the Hugenots of France leasure to study a way to revenge themselves of so sensible a displeasure and stop the King from getting thenceforth any so great successe as might encrease their diffidence and bring a detriment upon their Religion Let us now pass on to a Warre of much more horrour and larger extent for we can no longer forbear it being high time to speak of it we cannot I say withdraw our selves it furnishing us with matter enough to believe that the Age wherein we live is the most unhappy of all Ages yea the very sink and last of all THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I The Prodigies which preceded the Warrs of Germany A discription of the Kingdome of Bohemia Old differences about Religion The wars of Zisca compared to these I Abhor to begin the discourse of the longest and most cruell Warr that ever was in Christendome and which drew more blood more altered the Christian Faith and caused more ruine and desolation then all that ever were in Europ Let no man tell me of the Exploits of Atilas with his Huns for he did but passe like lightning Let there be no comparison made of the Warts of the Goths
Crosse on the side and the Half-Moone on the other CHAP. VI. The warre of Transylvama The King of Poland treacherously wounded Warre between the Poles and the Turks BEthlem Gabor having made an allyance with Frederick and seeing Ferdinands forces employed in Bohemia began to consider not onely of making a powerfull diversion but also of winning a Crown We have Ambition and we shall also quickly find Religion He raised a great Army under very abstense and farre-fetch'd pretexts thereby to puzzle and baffle such as had power to resist him This man for a fine beginning oppressed Gabriel Batorius his Lord by the assistance of the Turk and so being grown Master of Transylvania and propped by the Ottomans he possessed it in the quality of Prince thereof He made a League with the Archdukes but seeing them entangled in dangerous Wars he pricked up his ears and raised a potent Army to seize upon the Kingdom of Hungarie Convenience moves men to break ally ances as well as necessity and good successe covers the injustice of the Cause or at least urges the doubt that if Right be to be violated it ought to be onely to winne a Crown War of Transylvania In fine he secretly armed took occasion by the fore-lock and cloathed the Lyon with a foxes skin He got possession of Cassovia before the people thought themselves in danger They whose affections he enjoyed were discovered by their Religion The Romane Catholicks and such others also as had any resentment of their duty being frighted some armed Gaber takes Posen and others fled He took Posen under the title of Prince of Hungarie marched to Vienna and joyned with the Confederates to besiege the Town But the Polanders having defeated his Troops which remained in Hungarie Is declared King of Hungarie made him return and mould his businesse after another form so much did he stand in awe of the King of Poland though he went backwards onely to leap the better For he obtained a Truce which he quickly brake proclaimed himself King by them of his Caball entered again into Austria and if Fortune had not turned her back upon the Confederates in Bohemia it is very likely he might fully have accomplished all his pretentions and ruined the said House of Austria it self There is something wanting we rise either too early or too late The Emperour was shut up in the Town and constrained both to hear and suffer the insolency of some seditions Citizens which was repressed by the Count of Dampiere who departed not long after towards Posen with intention to surprize it but he was killed by a Musket bullet Dampiete killed He was by birth a Lorrain had done the Emperour many most considerable services and was much deplored by the whole Patty Bethlem finding this thorn out of his foot and having bought the amity of the Turk with money brake the Truce but his Letters by which he invited the Tartars and wherein he gave them testimonies of what services he would perform to the Grand Signior at the cost of the Empire and all Christendome by allying himself with the Turk being intercepted he disobleiged the prime Lords of Hungarie who cast themselves into the Emperours armes and fell upon Gabors forces and handled them almost as ill as the Polanders had done the year before The Count de Bucquoy in Hungarie Hereupon the Count de Bucquoy entered into Hungarie took many Townes and amongst others Posen it self and the Tartars coming to relieve Gabor were cut in pieces by the Poses under the command of that great Captain Cotqueviets The Emperour had run great hazard of loosing the Kingdome of Hungarie Is killed had not Fortune saved it by the death of the brave Count of Bucquoy who attempting to repulse the Hungarians when they sallyed out of Newhewsel was layd upon the ground with no lesse then sixteen wounds He could not more generously surrender his soul nor finde a more illustrious bed of honour to crown the greatnesse of his actions had not his souldiers so basely forgotten their duty His A my disbands it self and disbanded themselves so ignominiously For they might by carrying the body of this Mars with as much reason have expected to winne Victories as the Spaniards did by that of their Rodrigues but after the losse of their Generall they found themselves without pulse life and motion And so we may easily think how sensible a losse this was to the Emperour and all his family to whom he had rendered so potent services Thus by the death of this one brave Captaine Fortune changed and the Conquered became Conquerours They who before were reduced to a meer feeble and fearfull defensive Warre regained courage and returned to besiege the places which they had lost But Fortune lighter then the winde made Bethlem know how necessary it was for him to make Peace and Ferdinand desirous to remedy so many evils as surrounded him on every side easily suffered himself to be induced to it by his own naturall inclination And so upon the restitution of the Crown and the relinquishment of the Title of King the Peace was made and Arms laid down for a while though Gabor never cast off the desire of moving nor the hatred which he carried to his Lord the Emperour The King ' of Poland hurr Now since we are gotten so neer Poland let us deliver that which hapned there in the year 1620 The King being at Wartsawe where the Diet was held and going into the Church upon the fifteenth of November a Gentleman gave him two blows with a Pole-axe upon the head and another on his shoulder which very much endangered his life But the Parricide received his reward and the King was heard by the standers by with a faint and feeble voice to pronounce these words What said he do the Polanders learne of the French to kill their Kings Let us go hence till we shall first have related the subject for which Osman the Emperour of Turkie with an Armie of above four hundred thousand men attempted to swallow up all this puissant Kingdome which was this The Waywood of Walachia being revolted from the Grand Signior and calling in the Poles to relieve him was attacked by the Tartars and Turks who in the first fight having the worst and in the last the best of the day the Waywode was killed and the Polish Nobility defeated and this Victory so much inflamed the heart of the Great Turk that he shamefully banished the Poland Embassadour from his Court and declared a war upon the King Fortune is the Mistresse of young Princes for by good successes Osmà n attacks Poland she fills them with temerity to destroy them CHAP. VII The warre in the Palatinate Tilly beaten revenges himself and defeates the Marquis of Baden The Bishop of Halberstadt makes himself known in Westphalia and is beaten passes with Mansfeldt through Lorraine and incamps himself before Sedan THe prosperous progresse
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
sent speedily after Papenheim and resolved to stand fast and expect the Enemy The Shock or Ouset was furious and bloody The Croats did well enough at the beginning and the Swedes better and if Papenheim had stayed a little longer the Imperialists had fled But he came time enough Papenheim slain to redresse the Army which already began to stagger and to repulse the enemy but the shot of a Falkon a piece of Ordnance so called put a period to his life and all his glorious enterprizes Germany hath produced but few such Souldiers as he was for Valour Felicitie and Courage His elogies and the Emperour hath had few who have equalled him in fidelity He first made himself known in the Valtelme and at the Battail of Prague he was found amongst dead He finished the Tumults of the Peasants in Austria and above all after the Battail of Leipsick he redressed his Masters desperate party in Westphalia He seemed to dye content when he was told that the King was killed and it is held that if he had lived yet some years more he would have restored the Imperial Majesty to the first splendour The Horse basely gave ground as they had done in the first Battail It is beleeved that the King was slaine about the beginning of the Battail having receaved five wounds two whereof were mortal but it could never be learnt by whose hand he fell and opinions were so different that the truth could never be discovered The Swedes have reported that he was killed Gustave slain by a great Lord of his own Army others by Papenheim but neither the one nor the other is very likely to be true He was found amongst the dead so trodden and tumbled by the Army which had passed over his body that he was hard to be known What shall we say of the potency of this world since so much glory and merit is trodden under foot by horses This Prince who like another Alexander was grieved and vexed to stay so long in Germany and wished nothing more His praises then to go seek new Trophies elsewhere is borne down and that so venerable Majesty so much respected and feared every where is now reduced to dust This great Warrier this invincible Monarch the delight of the Protestants the terrour of the Catholicks the Darling of Fortune lost his life in the middle of Triumphs and of Germany His fall caused so much rage and despaire in the soules of his souldiers that they chose rather to die then retyre and obliged the Imperialists after they had fought till dark night to make a retreate but little more modest then plain flight towards Leipsick His life Duke Bernard and Cniphanse gave great testimonies of themselves in this bloody Fight and the whole Army melted in teares to see the King their Generall without sense and motion He was Son to Charles Duke of Sudermam who had taken away the Crown from his Nephew Sigismund King of Poland It is reported that he had made his Apprentiship in War disguised and unknown under Prince Maurice and that even after he was King he made a journey into Germany in the quality of an ordinary Horseman His Governours son hath told me that he was in the war of Bohemia saw the Count of Bucquoy's Army discovered himselfe to some Princes and then sowed the first seeds of his intelligence in the Empire He made War in Livonia and Prussia with a most singular odour of his great felicity His many Victories changed his sweet and tractable nature into a too rough and austere severity an hereditary Vice in the race of Erick as soon as they are past forty years old Thus gloriously ended Gustavus Adâ—phus his dayes and Parca by cutting off the thred of his life made him triumph to manifest that if he had lived some years longer Europ would have been too little for the number of his Conquests and his glory He presumed against the content and opinion of the Chiefe of his Council to come into Germany with an Army of eight thousand men to defend the Lutheran Religion and to check so vast and formidable a Power as that of the House of Austria but he was sure of his Allyes and of the affections of all the Protestants in general Also that though Fortune should have treated him as she had done others he had still the means left to save himselfe in his own Kingdom and draw up the Bridge after him But she was too kinde to him to break company with him so soone and his designes too high to please his Allyes Never was there Prince more regretted and deplored then he and all the North put on mourning whilest the South rejoyced at his fall but it felt the rough Attacks of his Generals after his death and the Swedes went not out of Germany till they got a Peace the spoiles and a share of the Empire a notable recompence The Battel of Lutzen the sixteenth of November for having whipped it so well This Battel hapned the sixteenth of November some dayes after deceased King Frederick at Mentz a milde Prince and much bewailed by his people He accompanied Gustave into Bavaria who was willing to restore him to the Palatinat The death of Frederick but under hard and unreceiuable conditions Let us see what passes in France CHAP. XXVIII The Elector of Trevirs takes the protection of France Monsieur enters into the Kingdom with an Army The death of the brave Duke of Montmorancy THe fidelity of the Ecclesiastical Electors was so great that they chose rather to suffer all the rigour and extremity of Fortune then untie themselves from the Emperour The French drivo the Spâ—niâ—ds from Trevirs save onely that the Elector of Trevirs sought to shelter his Country under the protection of France and received a French Garrison into Harmestein an inexpugnable place neer Cobelents where the Mosell casts her selfe into the lap of the Rheyn And he would have done as much at Trevirs if he had not been prevented by the Chapter which put a Spanish Garrison in before whereby the King was moved to send the Marshal De'stree to dislodge it and put in another Whilest the said King and Cardinal were looking upon the affairs of Germany Monsieur his Brother marched out of Brabant with an Army and published that he would deliver France from the Tyranny of the Cardinal The Duke of Montmorancy ranged himselfe with him Monsieur enters France and it looked as if all were disposed to Richelnis ruine Many of the Grandees inâ—lined also that way being jealous to see the King of Sweden destroy the Catholick League in Germany shouldered by the Allyance of the Eldest Sonne of the Church upon the suscitation of this proud Minister The Marshal of Schoonbergh followed this said Army with some ordinary forces There hapned a Skirmish wherein the Duke of Montmorancy would needs be nibbling and so was wounded and taken and his Party ruined
of the Empire The more judicious sort of men conceived that it was to fall suddainly and unexpectedly upon Colein the most important Town in Germany thereby to have communication with the Hollanders take it away from the Spaniards with the Empire and so this gate together with that of the Sea being shut by the States Ships beat them out of all the Low-Countries But an unforeseen blow an unthought of thunderbolt a strange accident brake that which all the invention of man was not able to divert and this it was Gasper Bamberger being advertised of the slacknesse and carelesnesse of them to whom this Golden-Fleece was recommended and in whose custody this Horne of plenty was sent some of his most faithful Officers in the habit of Peasants and a party of his Regiment Which is taken by craft who passed upon the Ice for it had frozen and the Winter was one of the sharpest of this Age killed all the Court of Guard and with small resistance grew Masters of the place And this Enter prize quashed all the faire advantages of the French made them take other resolutions freed Colein from a most evident danger and disposed the rest of the Winter together with the beginning of the Springs to a Treaty of Peace There were found two millions of Gold above a hundred Brasse-Pidâ—es of Orduance above four hundred thousand Sacks of Corne Oaâ—â— Barly Pease and Beanes twelve thousand Sacks of Salt an incredible Magazine of Powder without counting the riches of particular persons which were brought thither as it were to Jupiters feet that is to be secured It was easie enough to judge by this preparation of the greatnesse of their designes and confidently to affirme that it is in the disposal of States that the great God makes his Divine Providence shine brightest The losse of Philipsburgh was not sufficient without the addition of that of Trevirs together with the Elector the Town being taken the six and twentieth of March 1653. and he carried to Brussels by the Garrison of Luxeburgh The Cardinal Infanto having by this great Victory eluded the ambushes or snares The Cardinal Infanto at Brussels and the Duke of Orleans retires himselfe into France of such as envyed that Government made his entry into Brussels in the moneth of December The Duke of Orleans for some reasons which were clear enough would not be present at his reception but by the advice of Puilanrent his Favourite retired into France where he was received by the King with the wonted testimonies of affection however he caused his marriage with the Princesse Margaret to be declared Null in Parliament This Puilanrent for this service was proclaimed Duke and Peer of France and married the Cardinals Niece but they raised him on high to make him catch a heavy fall CHAP. IV The King declares war against the Cardinal Infanro and why The Spaniards are beaten The taking of the Fort of Schenck THe King being irritated by the losse of this most important Place and for that his protection had not been sufficient to cover the Elector of Trevirs sent to re-demand him from the Cardinal Infanto who answered him that he could hot dispose of such a businesse without the knowledge and consent of the Emperour and the King of Spana which answer not pleasing him and finding no hope of any orther he resolved to declare war against the said Infanto under this specions pretext The King of France declares war upon the Spaniards Now in regard that this War'v as derived like a contagion from that of Germany by which as by a great fire all the circumjacent parts were so scotched that they kindled with the first winde we will returne again to the Source The Civil Wars as we have already shewed stopped the motion of those old quarrels and Henry the fourth was diverted from them by a violent death But the Cardinal having well weighed the strength of the House of Austria and the furious shocks or foiles she had sustained conceived that it was now time to make her fall for he was fully confirmed that some Provinces as that of Flanders Artoise and Luxemburgh had formerly depended upon France howheit King Francis had renounced his propriety in them for all perpetuity by way of Ransome from his captivity which the French themselves do not deny but they say that the Kings cannot alienate the Rights of the Crown If so how can there be any firme and sure Treaty made 〈◊〉 For there may as much be said of the Emperour the King of Spain and other Princes and so it will be a businesse without end But it might with more equity be alleadged that in regard they lost those Rights by arms a hundred years agoe they may upon a faire occasion endeavour to recover them by the same means Now in these so confused embarassments there might some pretext be found which might perhaps be rendred just by the lot of Arms and that of the Elector made all the French murmure nor was there ever a fairer opportunity to beat out the Spaniards and therefore it was not fit to neglect it However the Spaniards rejected it and affirmed that they were punctually informed that the King had signed the League for the Offensive war with the Hollanders at the Loivire upon the eighth of March at seven of the clock in the Evening Insuch fort as though they had not taken the Elector they were neverthelesse sure of a War fifteen dayes after as by consequence they had They would not make mention of many frontier Towns which the French had attempted to surprize by treachery as Cambray and Graveling to the Governour whereof they offered a hundred thousand Pistols All which infractions they had prudently dissembled to keep that part of the Country in quiet Neither was it the vanity of the Spaniard A French writer accuses the Spaniards of vanity which sought that war so to make themselves great by the losse and at the charge of others but their admirable prudence laboured to divert it and their power preserved it self still hitherto in the Low-Countreys But let us leave disputing and make the Armyes march into the Field The French were to scuffle with a Nation which is not startled at noise The King contracted formidable forces neer Sedan under the conduct of the Marshals of Chastillon and Brezè and sent them to enter the King of Spaines territories at the same time when the Herald arrrived at Brussels A brave Army neer Sedan to denounce the war they having begun their march three dayes before with the bravest Army that could be seen A trick which couzened the Spyes The Spanish Spyes couzened and proved to be of much advantage Their order was to joyn with the Prince of Orange and proceed under his experience to the conquest of the whole Country that so it might be shared between them The Skinn was sold before the Bear was taken and they who reckon before their Host
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
easily annihilated and then the Conquerours would have all or nothing The Plempotentiary-Embassadours had already treated at Munster and Osuabrugh the space of four years when it pleased at length the Father of light to dissipate the darkness of ambition and to send back peace into poor Germany which was so much tottered dispeopled and desert that it was not any more to be known The Tragedy both began The war begun and ended in Prague and ended in the City of Prague Great God grant this Peace may last tul the coming of thy Son our Lord Amen It is here to be marked that after the death of King Gustave of Lewis the thirteenth and the Landgrave William the Daughter of the first and the widowes of the two others continued the war against the Emperour by their Generals with so great constance prosperity and glory that he had very little less trouble and loss then he had before Moreover the hatred which the Conquerours shewed towards the Hollanders for the Composition which they had made rendied their design evident enough The Peace was conlud d ordered and signed at Munster and the Instruments there of sent to the principall persons concerned to be ratified which was effected and a Diet convocated at Nurembergh The Peace made at Mâ—â—stâ— 1649. there to treat about the restitution of Places and the disimission of the Armies as also of the meanes to content the Swedish Militia Such as had their swords in their hands were not ill handled The kingdom of Bohemia was declared Hereditary to the House of Austria and put out of dispute with Silesia and Moravia The upper Palatinat and the Electorall Dignity to the Hâ—use of Bavaria The Crown of Sweden retaines Pomerania except only that part which is called the Hâ—nder-Pemerama and the Archbishoprick of Bremen which is secularized into a Dukedom Item the Town of Wismar The gain of the Conquerours and Meckelemburgh The Marquis of Brandenburgh hath in recompence the Bishoprick of Magdeburgh which is also secularized and some other besides There are most ample Treatises written of this Peace to which I reser the Reader but I will first tell him that there are eight Electors and that the Prince Palatin is re-established in the lower Palatinat France hath Brisack and a good part of Alsatta with the renunciatton of the Empite to the pretensions of the Bishopricks of Metz Thoul and Verdun The Complaints of the House of Burguady and the Duke of Lorraines affairs were remitted to a particular Treaty between the two Crowns Thus ended the great Revel or Dance in Germany which lasted about thirty years wherein all the Nations of Europe had their pate Thus was the Emperour Ferdinand the third delivered from so many troubles and vexations who sits yet at the Helme of this noble Vessel Thus every body was contenred in apparence at least however there be some who could have wished to dance longer Thus was the Maske laid aside and the design of the French and Swedes discovered who vanted that they took Arms only for the liberty of Germany Thus were the Germans in excessive joy and in some care also to finde mony to pay the Charges content the Minstrills and the Dancers and take their leave Let them go to Nurembergh so weary with having danced so much that they can hardly stand upon their feer and let us transport our selves into Italy to see whether that prudent Nation dances with better grace and more judgement CHAP. XXV Pope Vrbans death The wars of Italy and Catalunia THe war which was made upon the Emperour by the Swedes had so divided the people of Europe that there were very few persons to be found who shewed not themselves either glad or sad upon the issue of any remarkable Battel The Lutherans who looked upon it only for the interest of their Doctrine were afraid least if the Emperour grew victorious he should deprive them of the exercise thereof by a Reformation and retake from them all the Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions The Catholicks guided by zeal were inwardly afflicted at the decline or decay of that Great House which alone sustained the hatred of the Protestants and could not forbeare to murmur and cry our aloude against Pope Vrban The Complaints of the most zealous Catholicks whom they conceived to be tyed to the Interests of France How is it possible said they that the Common Father of Christians should either by secret agitations plot the ruin or resist the designes of a House by which he is so powerfully propped She hath raised a just quarrel both for her own interest and that of the whole Clergy is grown odious to the contrary Party and bath hazarded her States And not with standing all these essential reasons he depended wholly upon Cardinal Richelieu What can he expect after the destruction of the Empire but another inundation of the Goths in Italy who will sack Rome and evert the Holy Chaire He prefers the advancement of his Nephews before the care of the Church whilest the Protestants and some feigned Catholicks are labouring to abolish and overthrow her The praises which the Protestants gave him by saying that he was a most learned and able man and a good Politician and that he did very well to contribute to the humbling and abasing of this House which if she could once come to her end would make but a simple Chaplaine of him and take away part of his Authority augmented and grounded their complaints yet more But he in despight of all these noises Pope Urban affellionate to France leaned alwayes towards France For the interests of States enter as well into the Conclave as those of the Church He forbore not for all that to exhort the Princes to Peace and to promise Ferdinand some succour whereof there appeared some effects now and then This unhappy Age could not produce but miserable fruits since the Ecclesiasticks as well as the Seculars forsook Gods Cause to serve their own irregular Passions and evil Customes Some instead of quenshing this fire kindled it on every side and in Italy it selfe yea they were the Minstrills themselves of this Universal Revel or Dance The Cardinals the Minstrilis of the great Ball. which hath violated the Church and her Sacraments destroyed the Theological and Cardinal Vertues and utterly extinguished Christian Charity This good Pope left this mortal habitation the nine and twentieth of July 1644. after having held the Chaire about two and twenty years The Popes death 1644. a very knowing man and a goot Poet. A little before his decease he had almost all Italy in arms against him for the Dutchy of Castro and some other pretentions of divers partyes but by the King of Frances intercession all was accommodated for this war being dammageable to the Catholick Doctrine and advantageous to the Protestant was quickly lulled asleep and so St. Peters Ship hath not quite made Shipwrack yet by the tempest of scandals
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
Who are beaten to retire themselves by night in confusion leaving part of their Baggage their Canon and many thousands of prisoners behinde them This Victory sent from above rejoyced all Poland and caused Fire-works and the Embassadours who were at Lubeck treating the Peace between them and Swedes imparted the newes to their friends who expressed great rejoycings as the ancient Town of Lubeck also did by their example Hitherto we have seen Traffick almost abolished by land by means of the war which hath ruined and devoured all things and we shall forthwith see it in almost as miserable a condition by sea though there be no Mountains nor Forrests to receive and shelter Rovers After the Peace was made the Great Master of the Knights of Malta sent his Deputies to the Haghe to redemand the Lands or Goods The Knights of Malta take the Holland Ships The French do the same belonto his Order but having obtained nothing he got Letters of Reprisal and his Knights took many Holland Ships in the Levant as the French also did so that the complaints and mennaces of the Merchants were heard against France yea Monsieur Boreel Embassadour for the Common-wealth at Paris made them sound loud but he reaped nothing but promises with very small effect which would have caused a great alteration had it not been moderated by the prudence of this solid and stayd Nation Robleries at Sea Prince Robert also being favoured by the Portugueses did what he could to hurt the English the effects whereof were so much resented by the Merchants of that Common-wealth that they had no will at all to laugh And besides the Pirates having Commission from the King of Scots did extreme mischief and had their retreat at Jersy and Sicilly two Islands situated at about fifty degrees between England and Ireland for they took all without distinction in such sort as it was necessary to send Admirall Tromp thither and the English Fleet which unnestled these Theeves and a little while after seazed upon the said Isle of Iersy The Irish were also bold enough to seek their advantage with the same Orders though with lesse strength But small Theeves make themselves sometimes feared These losses which were praecursory to greater evills much diminished Trade by the great Guards or Convoyes which it was needfull to send with the Merchants ships and by the Charges of insuring the Merchandizes The Dunkerkers did no great hurt But they aforesaid made themselves feared by the number and bigness of their Vessels and the conveniency of their Havens Envie Avarice and Vengeance produced these misfortunes We have already spoken of the triumphant Coronation of the Queen of Sweden therefore let us now go and see that of the King of Scots amongst the tumults and disorders of war yea and as one may say on horse-back and with his sword in his hand CHAP. X The Crowning of Charles Stewart His entrance into England He lost the Battail near Worcester The miserable State of the Scots His admirable flight He arrived in France The Difference between the Elector of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Newburgh The peace made CHarles being arrived in Scotland found many difficulties as we have already said The Crowning of the King of Scotland which after he had happily vanquished and taken a solemn Oath the Earl of Argyle together with a Baron and a Citizen put the Crown upon his head to the great contentment of the Assembly which cryed Live King Charles the second Whereupon Douglasse the Minister went into the Pulpit and exhorted him to revenge his Fathers death but he had enough to do to save his own life within a short space after For not being able to drive his enemies out of Scotland he resolved by a very hazardous design to transport the war into England there to animate his friends to take Arms for his service He enters into Scotland and so he entered upon a suddain with an Army of about eighteen thousand fighting men and by often skirmishing came as far as Worcester but either for want of Arms or will no body stirred for him but the Earl of Derby with some three hundred men which were cut in pieces very few escaping but the said Earl himself who carryed him the newes General Cromwell being recovered of his sicknesse and informed of this inopinated invasion followed him and the Parliament raised also new forces to resist him The Battail was given near the said Town of Worcester where the Seots and Royalists animated by the presence of their King carryed themselves well at the beginning but the Horse being broaken took flight and such as were not killed could not escape Is defeated by Cromwell in regard that all the passages were stopt so that the condition of these was more miserable then theirs who died fighting There were seven thousand taken prisoners together with the whole Train of Artillery for they were all caught in a pit-fall except their young King who made a marvellous escape as we will forthwith shew He was conceived to be slain but the Parliament ordained that no body under pain of death should either lodge or relieve him in any wise which begat a suspicion that he was living and enjoyed some kind of fearfull liberty For when he saw that the Battail was lost he fled with twelve Gentlemen in his company whom he was forced to leave for fear of being discovered and known retaining only the Lord Wilmot with whom he hid himself in an hollow Tree for the space of two dayes The King of Scots maiâ—ailously escaped and at length retyred to a certain Gentlewomans house who changed his cloathes conducted him to Bristoll and afterwards to London in the habit of a Gentlewoman where he stayed above three weeks and then he passed into France though he were known to the Master of the Vessel and arrived at Roüen where he was received by the Duke of Longueville and next at Paris by the King the Queens and all the Court. Thus we see how Fortune raises some and pulls down others For had Charles gotten the Battail it is very probable that England had been the price of the victory The victory advantageous to the Parliament This victory confirmed the Parliaments authority and destroyed that of the other Party lost the kingdom of Scotland cast an infinite number of Widowes and Fatherless children into excessive affliction and the poor prisoners into unexpressible calamities The first who appeared upon a Scaffold was the Earl of Derby and his Wife after a capitulation put the Isle of Man into the Parliaments hands The prisoners of note were put into the Tower of London and the most famous and victorious General Cromwell was received with such applauses as were wont to be heretofore given to the first Roman Emperors The Lands of the principal Gentlemen and such as were most affected to the other Party were confiscated But let us now leave England and the Parliament
them with so free and open a breast that they were all most satisfied and promised to meet at the Diet of Ratishone Germany seeing her Head and Members in so perfect a harmony hopes that this Union will prove a wholesome Balme to cure the wounds of the Empire Italy is restored to a better state there being only the Venetians who alone sustaine the weight of the Ottoman Arms. They sent their Embassadour to Constantinople The Venetian Embassadour arested at Constantinople being advertised of the Grand Signors desire to compose the Difference who against the Law of Nations arrested him and would not listen to any overture of Peace at all unlesse the Republick would yeeld him up the whole Kingdom of Candy The Pope was disgusted at the disobedience of the Christians who stopped their cares to his remonstrances The heat of the war in Piemont cooled by little and little for want of nutriment The King of Spain after the Conjuration made against his person and stifled in the blood of the Authours after the peace restored to the States of Neaples Sicily and Perin had no other care left then to protect his Subjects maintain the peace with the United Provinces keep up his Armada or Navy send monies into Flanders to continue the war and succour the Princes of France thereby to divide in effect or weaken that Kings Authority as he hath also on the other side endeavoured by all means possible to deminish that of the House of Austria The Civil wars of France had taken away the vigour of that of Cataluniâ—â— and Barcelona having been blocked up about fifteen moneths Barcelons renders her self 1652. rendred hâ—r selfe in Autumne in the year 1652. La Motte Hodincour not having been able to succour it though he entred the Town by force no more then the Duke of Mercoeur was Tortoza and so they both returned into France with Don Joseph de Marguerita Cazal and Dunkeâ—k taken Cazall and Dunkerck being taken from the King of France with very little trouble and charge gave full joy to the one Party and grief to the other to see that their Conquests made with the mony sweat and blood of the poor people were torne from them as it were playing and without losse of men as we shall demonstrate They imputed all these misfortunes to the Civil wars but others to the injustice of their taking arms upon meer distrust and occasion in so favourable a conjuncture During this deplorable Civil War wherein this poor Kingdom findes it self miserably involved after having waged and kindled so many other wars throughout all Europe The Second State assembles it selfe at Paris the Second State began to hold their Assembly at Paris according to the example of the first but being broken by fair promises the true jealousie which proceeded from it vanished The poor Subjects were not yet enough oppressed by the Taxes but that they must be so more Bat it is broken by the dissolute and undisciplined Souldiers whose insolency was insupportable but their chastisemens was proportionable to their barbarity besides despair made both the Nobility and people of Campague take arms against them and dispatch a very great number of them and they of Senlis Meanx The Souldiers killed by the Country people Anergue and other places followed their example and massacred a great part of those Robbers in such fort as it was horrible to see all these disorders Moreover there hath been a perpetual Traffick or buying and selling of Charges The Venality or selling of Offices dammâ—â—gable and Offices since the Ministery of these two Cardinals which hath caused almost mortal Commotions to the State The troubles in Provence Guyenne Anergne and other parts proceeded from this turmoyle For a summe of mony hath often been given to some for such a Government and to others for such another whilest the Subjects have been averse from it And we must here adde that the venality or selling of Offices hath corrupted Integrity and Justice in such sort as that this Goddess having lost her strength all sorts of impieties extortions and blasphemies are now in vogue for the fear of God and equity being taken away men run post into vices and welter in wickednesse yea and Princes very often make their Subjects sin by their example Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis What ere the King is that we ever finde The people apt to be in their own kinde The Prince of Conde having received a supply from Spain and Paris another from Brussels by land Suttour from Spain as I have noted already the War was made in Xaintongue in the year 1652 and in the district of Aunts against the Count of Angnon Governour of the Isles of Broiiage and Oleron by the Count of Harcourt who retook some places and the Tower of Rochel But having received notice that the Cardinal would accommodate himself with Brisack posted thither Harcourt at Brisack and left his Army an Orphant This retreat of one of the most illustrious and most fortunate Warriers in the World who was so necessary and useful to the State was a Pill of hard disgestion which yet must needs be swallowed down without shewing the bitternesse thereof Let us here mark the inconstance of the French Nation which they themselves confesse to be as it were essential to them For they who had quite abandoned yea contemned the just choler of their Soveraign and incurred the Crime of High Majesty by pursuing with the naked Sword the deliverance of the Princes Renlarkal le Vihanges and calling in Strangers into the Kingdom both were astewards and yet are the onely men who fight against the Prince of Coinle The Duke of Boüillon was raised very high and cherished by the King and all the Court part of the year 1652. but he quickly lest those vain and inconstant honours to goe and receive incorruptible ones The Duke of Boüillons death for he died at Pontoise He was a great Captain and had learnt the discipline of War in Holland where he had the honour to Command the Cavalry and govern the Town of Mastricht He lost the affection of all the Hughenots by having embraced the Roman Catholick Religion and that of the King by having put himself into the League of the Princes of the Peace in such fort as being suspected of I know not what kinde of intelligence with Monsieur le Grand and imprisoned the Town of Sedan and the high intercession of the Prince of Orange saved his life The Marshal of Turenne after having refused many courtships and a present of great value from the Prince of Conde was chosen to command the Kings Army CHAP. XV The Prince of Conde comes to Paris The King of France attacks Estampes The Duke of Lorraine being come to succour the Princes receives some money of the King and returnes The Arch-Duke sends an Army to Paris Takes Graveling and Dunkerck The English beat
upon one of the Magazins whereby not only the House and all the Ammunitions were blown up but many other houses also thereto adjoyning were fired and rent in pieces however through the mercy of God there were but few persons killed but great store of goods spoiled The Garrison of La Bassee five some Villadges and lost The Licutenant Governour of La Basses having notice that the Spaniards had quitted the Fort of Lilers which they kept all the last Winter sent out a Party of that Garrison consisting of about three hundred and fifty to which a Party of Bethane being joyned they marched under the command of the Count of St. Front and plundered and fired the Town of Altembergh and four Villadges beyond Ypers which refused to pay their Contribution which put such a terrour into the adjacent Country that most part of the people sled with their best goods to secure themselves in the strong Towns The Spaniards began to discover their apprehensions of the English Fleet viz that of General Pen in the West-Indies and that of General Blake which after the businesse of Tunnis was fallen back upon the Coast of Spain in order to which take here the Clause of a Letter from the Count of Linares General of the Spanish Gallyes written to a friend of his at the Court of Madrid upon the tenth of June from St. Lucar A Clause of a Letter from the Count de Linares We are now in sight of thirty of the English Men of War who lie at sea three leagues from the Bay and this is the very same Squadron with which I spake at Alicant in November 1654. The Commander then told me that they were going to chase the French but now though they know where to meet with the French in Catalunia they come hither When this said squadron went by this way at first they shewed more friendship to us and more confidence in us for they came in hither but now their sliness and strangness makes us presume and I do presume that they have some unhappy designes against the Gallions of silvèr which are expected It is also feared that another squadron much greater then this which went to the Indies may do us much greater mischief there that we shall hardly know what belongs to a Piece of Eight in Spain Wherefore it will concern men of prudence to hoard up what they can for if that designe prosper all manner of Rents in Spain will come to nothing The Town of Landrecies after a long and sharp siedge was rendred to the French the twelfeh of July upon these following condition 1. That Monsieur de Maugre the Governour and Don John Morphy Colonel of an Irish Regiment together with all Officers and Souldiers Horse and Foot should march out the next day at eight of the clock in the morning with their Arms Baggage Goods Horses Cattel and other things belonging to them Colours flying Bullet in mouth and Marches lighed at both ends and should be safely convoyed to Valenciennes the nearest way 2. That for that end a hundred Waggons and Carts should be affoarded them for the security whereof they should leave two Captains behinde who should be sent to Valenciennes presently after the said Waggons were returned 3. That all Prisouers and also the Horses taken on both sides should be restored and the Souldiers who were run away delivered 4. That such souldiers as were either sick or wounded and not able to march out presently should remaine safe there and be maintained and attended till their recovery and then have Passes to be gone 5. That all Magazines both of Provisions and Ammunitions and all the Artillery not embezeled should be the same day surrendred to such as should be appointed to receave them with restitution of whatsoever might be found to have been diverted by sale or otherwise to the benefit of any private person 6. That the Inhabitants should be free to remain there enjoy their Goods and accustomed Immunities and Priviledges and if any would be gone he should have three moneths time granted him to sell his Goods both reall and personal 7. That the Officers of the Magistrate of Judicature should be maintained in their Places they taking an Oath of Allegiance to the King 8. That such Church-men as were fled into the said Town should have power to go out with their moveables and Church-Ornaments yea and even with those belonging to other Church-men Cloisters and Monasteries which were absent 9. That he Country-people who were there for refuge should have liberty either to returne home or go any whither else with their goods within the terme of three moneths 10. That the said Governour and Colonel should upon the subscribing of these Articles deliver the whole Bastion of the Attack for security of the performance of the said Articles The successe of the French Neer about the same time the Prince of Conti took Castillon and Solsona in Cataluma and the Spaniards having made many attempts upon the later for the recovery thereof were alwayes repulsed with losse so that in fine Te deum was sung at Paris for the prosperity of their Arms in both Countries The King of Swedens great successe in Poland The King of Sweden finding no likelihood of bringing the difference between himself and the King of Poland to a desired accommodation sent Generall Wittembergh with a great Army into the said Kings Territories who making a very great and fortunate progress there the King himself followed shortly after in person whereupon fifteen thousand of the King of Polands Souldiers and three great Provinces revolted to him besides divers other remarkable successes the particulars whereof will appear by these following Instructions for a solemn day of Prayer and Thanks-giving which I heer insert for the Readers satisfaction Whereas his Majesty our most gratious Lord and Soveraigne hath been moved by just and most necessary causes to make war against the King and Crown of Poland and for that purpose ordered Generall Wittembergh to enter that part of the Enemies Country neer Kron which lies next to Germany It hath pleased the most high God so to blesse and prosper his Majesties Armies and undertakings as that the said Generall hath not only taken divers Castles and Garrisons in the said Country but making progresse also as farr as Wsee in the province of Posen the two Palatinates of Posen and Calissen together with the Cities of Posen Calissen Lesno and Micdzirez as also an Army of fifteen thousand men immediatly renounced all Allegiance to the King of Poland and came under the tuition and protection of his Majesty our Soveraigne which was done before the fifteenth of July 1655. Now seeing that it can be no other then the wonderfull worke of God that so great a part of our Enemies Dominions should without so much as one blow be reduced under his Majesties obedience we are bound to render thanks to Almighty God from the bottom of our hearts for
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
watered with most fair and great Rivers which would make her most flourishing if she had not the Turk in her bowels But she hath an ayer a little too rough for strangers She hath produced a huge number of great Emperours most Religious Kings most holy Persons and men most learned in all kinds of faculties Atilas that scourge of God came from them with his Huns for the affliction of Europe and many other Tyrants who have often rended Germany and made the Emperours pay them tribute a long time to save their Country from the fury of their arms But vice reigns there now with so absolute an Empire as it renders the Hungarians very odious and despicable Ambition made them loose a King a saire Army and Buda the capitall City of the Kingdome Avarice hurries them blindfold upon all wickednesse and makes them sometimes sell the Christians prisoners to the Turks and Tartars without sparing so much as their own neer kindred when the insatiable hunger of mony hath vayled the eyes of their understanding Their Kings have had frequent experiments of their perfidie the Turks of their loosenesse and the Germanes of their cruelty treachery and hatred dangerous both to the one and the other as having made many Fields unfruitful and brought much profit to their enemies The Hungarians saith an old Bishop writing to the Emperour Frederick the first have ugly faces hollow eyes low of stature and barbarous both in manners and speech And yet it must be avowed that there also dwells vertue amongst them as well as amongst other Christians that they defend Christendome and that their bodies are such Bulwarks as the Ottomans have not hitherto been able to leap and which they must first cast to the ground if they intend to assayle Germany They are almost alwayes on horse-back and upon prey with them and they serve themselves of calamity for an aliment to their vertue And indeed that of the valiant Count de Serin amongst so many others shined with so much glory and constancy at the siege of Sigot that it purchased him everlasting praise The Hungarians with their Light Horse do more hurt to the Turks then to the Germanes and in this last Warre of Bohemia they offended more by surprises then by standing Fights In the Battel of Prague not being able to support the rough onset of the Walloons and Germanes they quickly gave ground and so were partly the cause of that remarkable Defeat CHAP. III Of Russia or Muscovia Their Religion The History of Demetrius THis Province which stretches it self to the Icie Sea is of a very large extent governed by an Emperour or Great Duke with most absolute authority after the manner of the Eastern Countries however it lye very near the North. The Muscovits follow the Greek Religion The Greek Religion under a Patriarch though yet it be mingled with very many superstitions which will never be corrected because the Great Duke suffers none of his subjects to travel and see other Countries This people is much tormented by the Turks and Tartars They have likewise waged great warres with the Polas and Swedes but with many losses They were very tyrannically governed by their Prince John Basil who was succeeded by his son Theodore a Prince of small sense for he let both himself and his Country be ruled by his wives brother called Borits Fedorits He died without children and his Brother-in-law was Great Duke after him He had a brother named Demetrius who as many Authors worthy of credit have written The History of Demetrius with great apparences of truth was stolne away in his infancy so to be saved from the evident danger wherewith he seemed to be threatened by the authority of the said Borits and another very like him put in his place was exposed dead to the view of the people Now this Demetrius being brought up in Poland with the Palatine Sandomir after he had travelled in Germany and Italy for the space of twenty yeares gave himself to be known for the son of Basil Brother to Theodore and by the assistance of the said Palatime the Jesnits and the favour of the King himself he entered the second time into Muscovy well accompanied by Germanes Poles and Cosacks Borits raises a most puissant Army to oppose him but the infidelity of his people together with some losses deprived him both of courage and desire of life And so he died the 13 th of April in the year 1605 not without suspicion of having voluntarily prevented his misfortune by despaire His son was received by such as were of his faction But the City of Mosco together with all the Country having admitted Demetrius for their Prince he was forthwith cast in prison Now Demetrius had no sooner made his entry into the said City but they began to murmure and say that he was not the true Demetrius The Lord Basil Chimouskie for having said that he had caused the right Demetrius to be buried brought his head upon a scaffold which yet by special favour he brought back again to weare the Crown and succeed the unfortunate Demetrius O strange effect of Fate The aversion of the people from poor Demetrius appeared yet more when they understood that he had acknowledged the Pope and introduced the Jesuits to work-about a Reformation He married the daughter of his Foster-Father who made her entry into the head City the 26 of April in the year 1606. The persidy of this treacherous people was clearly discovered a moneth after namely the 27 of May and their rage began its first effect upon the Poles and other strangers who yet sold their skins dear enough and others passed on to the Court there to finish the last Act of the Tragedy The Prince hearing of the tumult left the company of his wife wish whom he then was got away and leapt down from the top of a Tower through a window at the foot whereof being found yet alive he was forthwith dispatched This was done under the pretext of Religion He was a Prince of a great wit a lover of hunting and warre he had read much was very ambitious and went much in quest of the allyances of the Kings of Europe and nominatively of that of the Great Henry of France Thus unhappily ended Demetrius his dayes in the very April of his age and the cruelty of the barbarous multitude continued even upon his dead body which they tore in pieces so violent is hatred stirred up by Religion against such as endeavour to change it when fury has gotten the upper hand He was accused by a Declaration to have been a Monk an Heretick and a Witch and to have endeavoured to change the Religion of Russia supplant the Nobility of the Country and introduce that of Poland to have layen with his wife in the presence of an image of our Lady and many other things which are tedious to rehearse A memorable example of the instability of Fortune who when she
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.
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
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
without granting his souldiers who were tired with their long march so much leisure as to breath But Maurice having drawn back his fleet into the main thereby to hinder his souldiers from flight and obleige them rather to die honourably The Battell of Flanders then to seek a shamefull retreat made a generous resistance and won a glorious victory The Mutiners gave a remarkable account of themselves Gotten by Maurice and the first of this Age. and almost all lost their lives in the dispute The Admirall was taken prisoner and many Officers of note And this was the first battell of this age which proved favourable to the Hollanders who conferred all imaginable honours upon their victorious Prince by shouts of joy Bonefires c. The Archduke having tasted the bitter fruits of bad counsell forthwith reinforced his army and sent troops into all the forts about Ostend in such sort as that Maurice finding no gap of advantage imbarqued his foot and repassed into Holland La Bourlotte killed Collonell La Bourlotte going to defend Fort Issabell was killed there by musquet shot and his death much regretted by the Archduke he having given great characters of himself in divers actions and occasions of his service as the taken of many towns and fighting of many battels His life He was a Gentleman born in Lorraine ascended to very high military charges by his huge courage esteemed one of the greatest Captains of his time Henry the fourth endeavoured to disingage him from the service of the Arch-Duke in case there happened a good agreement but he being too passionate for the service of the House of Austria would not hearken to it at all Now the warre was continued by enterprises which for the most part issued to the dammage of the undertakers and almost ever of the Treaties The greatest incoveniences were by Sea where the Dunkerkers who were snapt were hanged without mercy who likewise often repayed the same coyn to the Herring-Fishers and others The Zelanders continually complained of the mischiefs they received from Spinola's Gallies at the Sluce which indeed were neither small nor insensible But this thorn was quickly taken out of their sides and the said Town taken by famine whilest the Spaniards were engaged at the siege of Ostend Rhinl eâ—gh taken by agreen â—nent Rinbergh was besieged by Prince Maurice 1601. and well defended by the Garrison which was strong But the relief coming too late and sinding the Hollanders well intrenched durst not venter and so the Governour D'Avila was constrained to yeeld up the place not without having performed the action of a valiant Captain upon honourable conditions about the beginning of August the same year And Meurs likewise followed the victorious Chariot of Prince Maurice CHAP. IV The Siege of Ostend Maurice attempts the surprise of Bois-le-Ducque and besieges and carries the Grave ALbert importuned by the States of Flanders to free them from their ill neighbours and those Birds of prey at Ostend in regard that the Forts thereof could not stop their occasions nor hinder them from fixing their cluches in the flat Country suffered himself to be induced to that high and most difficult enterprise partly to draw Maurice from Rinbergh and animated also partly by the vast summe of monies which the said States undertook to furnish at different terms for this work For their interest urged them to unnestle those enemies and it belonged only to the Eagle to make so high a flight But a place which hath alwayes one Gate open and where so many neighbours pretend an interest is not so soon gotten The said Town was ever very carefully conserved and kept as well by the Queen of England as by the confederated States so to draw great contributions from it It was before the troubles but a very small paltry place a Retreat for Fishers but very well known since by the most famous and memorable siege that ever was The siege of Ostend begun thes of July 1601. It was invested as much as possibly it could be in the year 1601 upon the 5. of July and first revictualled afterwards by an English Knight called Veer and above three thousand fresh souldiers of his country sent by the Queen In the month of September Admiral de Varniont came with a hundred and seventy Sayl of Ships loaden with all kinds of Munition both for wat and mouth for the winter so that all was better cheap there then even in Holland it self This made the Prince resolve about All-hallown-tide to go and attack Boisle-Due And the Arch-Duke well knowing the importance of the place sent an Armythither and put some colours into the Town But the coldness of the weather proved the strongest enemy and forced him to pack up his Baggage and march another way In the monoth of September aforesaid the Queen of Spain was delivered of a Daughter and the Queen of France of a * The title of the eldest son of the Crown Dolphin who by a happy destiny were afterwards joyned together in marriage as we shall shew in fit place Prince Maurice finding his enterprise upon Boisleduc crossed and that the Spaniards continued their siege raised more souldiers the year following and towards the end of Iune with a terrible train he marched down into Brabant The Arch-Duke informed of his great preparation enabled by some money from Spain and the reasons for the continuation of the siege in which the Honour of the House of Austria was engaged and all difficulties well ballanced by that most cautelous and advised nation resolved for his part to make a great defence It is in trouble that vertue shines with most luster He sent the Admirall into Brabant to stop the progresse of the Princes who having some Italian Regiments with him intrenched himself near Tirlemont a Town grown famous since by her deplorable misfortune and buried in her own ashes The Hollanders not being able to draw the Spaniards who were yet mindful of their losse received before Newport to a generall decision diverted their course and incamped themselves before Grave which Town being well fortified was two moneths after surrendred upon conditions Grave yeeld upon agreement Mutiny The Spaniards seaze upon Hoochstrade And the Admirall not able to raise the siege was constrained to retreat neither could he hinder the disbanding and mutinies of some of his Souldiers who seazed upon the Town of Hoochstrade and began a new policy amongst themselves The Arch-Duke hastens thither and the Admiral drawes his stake out of play and retires himself into Spain But Albert instead of water cast oyle into the sire and contrary to the advice of the States under his obedience proscribes them and declares them Rebels Traitors attainted Mecauban and convicted of High Treason in a superlative degree c. But it is in vain to be angry without strength and the weak Lawes yeeld to the unjust violence of Armes The Squadron of Mutiners remained not
mute and the intercession of the Nuncio proved fruitlesse the Arch-Duke being resolute and they re-inforcing themselves with men and mony by the near neighbourhood of the consederated Provinces Now these Revolts gave advantage to the States and meanes to go in execution through all the Country of Luxembergh and such as refused contribution had the grief of seeing their house set on fire This Cavelcada or Inroade was finished in lesse then a moneth and without any resistance at all During these interludes the Mutiners governed themselves in form of a Republick observing a most exact discipline and amongst other Lawes forbidding Cards and Dice They were besieged in Hoochstrade Are besieged and succoured by Prince Maurice and succoured by the Prince upon certain conditions which done he returned again before Boisleduc But this Conquest was reserved for his Brother as we shall hereafter shew The Arch-Duke notwithstanding so many inconveniences mutinies vexations and losses stood as firm and immoveable as a Rock against the greatest stormes before Ostend though to his no small displeasure saw it often relieved And Prince Maurice not yet satiated with so many victories both by Sea and Land resolved to vanquish his contumacie by a more sensible diversion The expences of this siege could not choose but be great but the people liberally consented without grudging So pleasant is victory how dear soever bought Money The arrivall of Marquis Ambrose Spinola with the Golden Fleece was a Spinola came into Flanders with mony wholesome Balsom to cure the disease of the mutinied Squadron for it made them return to the Arch-Dukes service and hastened the rendition of the Town by the order of continuall mining which was given by the said Marquis The Prince in the interim was not asleep for he departed in the moneth of April with a huge number of Boats took many Forts besides the Towns of Isendike and Ardenbergh and incamped himself before the renowned Town of Sluce Sluce taken by famine which with some Gallies was rendred three moneths after by famine though Spinola acted all the parts which could be invented by the most subtle wit and used all the force which the most valiant and resolute souldier could manifest to relieve the besieged But his enemies were too well intrenched and his provident Rivall kept himself too much upon his guard Ostend taken 1604. The taking of Ostend 1604 followed close upon the heels of that of Sluce and the composition made by the besieged was very honourable There marched out of divers nations about three thousand men the number of the dead as well on the one side as the other surpassed the beleif of man and the issue of this siege kept all the power of Europe in suspense This Age which was to be all Iron fire blood and slaughter This Age I say which was to be the totall ruine of Christendome together with that of Faith and Charity could not begin better then by such a siege This was the most famous Schoole of warre that ever was before as where all the Martial Spirits resorted to learn Discipline and to put it in practice as they have done since in their own Countries The French the English the Germans and the Scots The Siege lasted above three years together with the Hollanders defended this place about three yeers through the advantages and commodities afforded them by the Sea The Spaniards Italians Walloons Burgundians and other Germans attacked it with all the force and industry the greatest courages were able to invent All such as were not present at this bloody exercise but remained mute at home at the noise of so much blood-shed expected the dubious issue of so hazardous a siege upon which the Monarchy of the whole world seemed to depend Yea even the Great Turk himself ravished with joy by the ruine of the Christians was not a little glad to see such an obstinate resolution on both sides Let us here take notice of the Divine Providence which like another Jupiter laughs at the folly of Mortalls who like other Gyants will needs make themselves masters of all and endeavour to outbrave the very Elements themselves The fiercest enemies to mankind are War Plague and other Infirmities The Reward of victory a morsell of earth and houses buried under their own foundations And now if courage and generosity egged on many to this certainly pitty moved infinitely more there to bewayle their friends buried under the ruines of this second Troy and view a little piece of ground which had cost so much pains so much sweat so much time so much blood and so much mony All the industry of man was set on work there on both sides and the Arch-Duke and Arch-Dutches had both the trouble and the charge of repairing this place and putting it into that state wherein we now see it Necessity caused this siege at first judged easie to be begun Reputation to be continued and power in despight of interest by the industry and valour of Spinola brought it to an end CHAP. V Peace between the Spaniard and the English King Henry of France re-eshablishes the Jesuits Father Cotton hurt Warre about the Rhein Peace made between the Kings of Spain and England 1604. THe Spaniards having sufficiently tried the great hurt done them by the English during the life of Queen Elizabeth as well in Spain it self as by Sea and in the Low-countries yea and at the Siege of Ostend also and finding that all satisfaction endeavored to procure from them either in Ireland or England had not any kind of good successe began to think that a peace with these insulary people would prove necessary for the State Nor had they much trouble to obtain it King James being easily inclined to it by some certain jealousie which had taken root in his soul The Arch-Duke and his Dutchesse were comprehended in it and it was concluded the very same day that the Garrison went out of Ostend France through the enjoyment of seven yeares peace was so well restored that there seemed not to have been any warre in more then half an age before King Henry being a great husband of his Finances or Exchequer made a journy to Metz where two Jesuits cast themselves at his feet beseeching him with a very elegant speech to vouchsafe to re-establish them through all the kingdome The Parliament of Paris and the Sorbon opposed them but the King by special grace admitted them The Jesuits re-established in France and demolished the Pyramide which had been erected against them for that one of their Schollars had hurt the King in the mouth And the Mines which the Hughenots sprung against their Society were either discovered or despised At least they wrought no effect But Father Cotton going once to the King was attacked in the Loüure by a great number of Lackies Father Cotton hurt by Lackies at the Lonure who after many quipps and scoffes very dangerously wounded him
and giving marks of his royall greatnesse to that glorious nation The principall motive of this enterview could never hither to be truly discovered and whatsoever hath been said thereof hath been grounded onely upon conjectures suspicions and mistrusts Spinola comes from Spain and takes Grol In the spring of the year 1606 Marquis Spinola returned from Spain and brought a vast sum of money with him which is the true sinew of war and the most excellent oil to anoint the dull armes of the souldiers and having therewith put the Militia in good discipline he sent the Count de Bucquoy towards the Rheine himself following shortly after but the continuall rains and the vigilancy of Prince Maurice made him lose the hope of re-gaining any access to Groening and the other places of strength on the way The Count de Bucquoy staying behind attempted to passe the Vehal with Pontons and smal Boats by the favour of a battery but he was repulsed But Spinola took Lothem and seeing then that amongst so many enterprizes none of them all prospered so as to get over the Rivers either neer the Soul or elsewhere he turned his armes against Grol which by furious attacks he quickly compelled to yeeld notwithstanding the Garrison were strong enough And not yet conrent with this Town he caused the Count de Bucquoy to invest Rhinbergh who could not hinder Count Henry from putting fourteen Colours into the place and some Cavalrie besides together with many French Gentlemen Voluntiers The complaint of the Spaniard against the French Catholikes The Spaniards and the most zealous Romane Catholicks of Europe have very often accused the French of levity and especially such of them as are Catholicks in regard that being of the same Law with the Spaniards and in peace with them too they contrary to the Treaty of Vervin embraced the other party not onely to strip their master of his Demaynes but the towns also themselves of the exercise of the Catholick Religion If there went none but Spaniards out of our States said the obedient Towns the passion of the French would be in some sort lawfull but since our Religion is banished together with their government they can alleadge no receivable excuse to exempt them from injustice and blame The Priests maintaining that it was a matter of conscience refused to give absolution to the souldiers as favourers of Heresie and enemies to the Church But they alwayes covered themselves under the cloak of policy and made the same answer which Henry the fourth their Master did to the Spanish Embassador that it was not a war of Religion but of State The complaints often enough made by the Archduke and Dutches upon this subject had no other satisfaction then that there might likewise be found enow in their Armies and that it was free for every one to choose what party he pleased But the French followed rather the inclination of their Prince then scruple in Religion laid more to heart the weakening of the Power of Spaine then the ruine of Hereticks and the interest of their Master then that of the Catholick faith So that the Protestants made use of them and have prevailed much by the jealousie of State which reigns betwixt these two potent nations CHAP. VII The taking of Rinbergh The mutiny of the Spaniards The siege of Grol raised by the promptitude of the Marquis The first overture for a Truce received VVE left Spinola so well intrenched at Rinbergh that the Princes courage was cooled to attack him who bethought himself a little too late of sending his brother to Venlo so to make a powerfull diversion For the Town being battered by a rough and smart assaulter and defended by resolute men Rinbergh rendered was at last forced to render and so the Garrison to the number of three thousand dislodged the second of October Now the taking of so important a place just at the nose of so strong an Army produced such discourses as blinde passion dictated to men of blinde judgement and the Marquis as victorious as he was was not yet able to divert some mutinies in his Army for want of pay and therefore considering the huge inconveniencies they suffered by so many marches sieges enterprizes and the harshuesse of the season he thought fit to refresh them in the County of Gulick Now the Prince who desired to put nothing to hazard but be ever prying upon occasions met at length with this He caused Lochom to be besieged which quickly submitted Maurico besiges Grol Spinola rayses him thence and gives Diet to the inutiners and then went to attack Grol But the unexpected arrival of Spinola made him change the vexations of that siege which bred so many diseases in his army into a most advised retreat and send his souldiers into their winter quarters It is the part of a good Pilot to take his measures well amongst the rocks and of a good Generall to accommodate himself to time and not to struggle against the harshnesse of the season but make his retreat to save his army the conservation whereof is as landable as the hazardous gaining of a battell The Marquis having surmounted many inconveniences to deterr his enemies from the continuing the siege and made them at length dislodge endeavoured besides to sweeten the mutiners by granting Diet for their winter quarters where we will leave them and follow him to Brussels to contrive the first propositions of the Truce Never was there so much trouble to decide a businesse of importance as there was to bring the confederated States to hear of any overanes of Peaces or Truce It seemed more easie to make an agreement betwixt fire and water and all the mettals together then to reconcile these two parties But indeed the distrust was too great the hatred too much rooted and fortune too favourable And whereas other Countries grow poor by war this most rich most potent and most flourishing For on the one side the enemies army could not enter in regard of the frequencie of great rivers and on the other they are guarded by the sea in such sort as that by trafique they are risen to such a height that every body courts their friendship Many assemblies and mediations for Peace and accommodation were made but all vanished into smoak and served rather for a spur to war then a balsom to mollifie the ulcerated wounds of such as make their profit by Alarms For this was the common talk There is no trust to be given to the Spaniards or the Papists for they teach that they are not to keep their faith with Hereticks The fowler sings sweetly to draw the birds into his Nets and many other such reasons which served onely to destroy all propositions of Peace Nay even the Embassies of the Emperours so often reiterated were able to reap nothing but ceremonies and those of other Princes yet lesse The complaints of the neighbours endammadged and oppressed by the souldiers were not
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
Crown upon the Head of King Henry And he seeing the disorder which happened in that Family and strengthened by the friendship of some Catholick Princes Paxadge demanded of them of Colem as well as most assured of that of the Protestants leaned visibly that way The Magistrates of Colein being intreated by his Deputies to grant Provisions for mony and passage for his Army were fain to avow that it would be temerity to opposeso great a King who had been alwayes victorious Besides the noises which some scattered up and down that he would allow and maintain three Religions to wit the Roman the Lutheran and the Reformed In brief his Designe seemed to be to extend the bounds of the French Monarchy at the cost of the House of Austria and some neighbour-Princes In the mean time the King Don Philip stood not with his arms a cross at the newes of this terrible Preparative The Arch-Duke puts an Army on foot which rejoyced all such as were enemies to his States The Arch-Duke Albert contracts all his old forces raises new and sends a strong Army towards the Consines of France under the command of Spinola who intrenched himselfe near Gambray In fine men talk of nothing but Armes and Horses in the Countries of both Crownes and the Pope sends his Nuncio to divert the King from his Designe but he was dispatched to Monzon Amazement every where Now all Europe stood amazed and the Princes of Italy seeing the Duke of Savoy in allyance with Henry by meanes of the marriage of his Sonne with the Daughter of France begin to think of their preservation The King in the interim confirms his Intelligences gives the Rendezvous of his Troops in Campagne and after having extraordinarily courted the Embassadours of the United Provinces conjures them to to send Prince Maurice with some Troops to attend his coming at the fronteer of Cleveland The Protestant Princes could hardly dissemble their joy The joy of the Protestants and fear of the Catholâ—â—ks and the Cartholick strangers their fear at the approach of so formidable an Army Infine both friends and enemies were ballancing or staggering in apprehension joy and uncertainty and every one in pain to know what he was either to hope or fear It came so farre as to be published that the King was to march with an Army of forty thousand men and leave as many to guard the kingdome whereof he declared the Queen Regent after her Coronation But he was treacherously murthered in his Coach the fourteenth of May 1610 and this fatall blow put all France in mourning his Corps into the Tomb and his great Designes into Smoak Above all this misfortune was impatiently taken by them of the Religion as also by the greatest part of his Allyes amongst whom his Arms had not as yet moved the least jealousie The most generall opinion was that after having established the Princes in the possession of the Dutchyes of Galick and Cleveland he was to go for Germany And indeed the House of Austria had reason to keep her selfe upon her guard as well knowing how much this Prince was affected to her opposers His death gave matter enough every where for men to inform themselves of who might be the Authour and the Jesuits were not forgotten to be called in question by the Protestants however Ravilliaâ— never confessed any such thing This King was brought up in labour and toyle and noursed in the the Civil Warres His first wife was Margaret of Valois His Life whom when he was come to the Crown he repudiated He had been Head of the Hugenots and wonne many Battails against them of the League When he was become Catholick and after the reconciliation of the Dukes of Mayanne and Mercoenr all stooped and layd down their arms He had a quick wit brave thoughts and excessive high points of judgement had in fine such eminent qualities as would have ranged him in the number of the grearest Kings that ever wore a Crown had ho not been too passionately inclined to handsom women a vicious habit which is familiar to Princes He alwayes loved the United Provinces of the Low-Conntrâ—es and assisted them with men money and counsell notwithstanding the complaints of the Arch-Dukes He was the Restorer of the French Monarchy which was horribly tottered and obtained by generall consent in regard of his heroick actions in arms the surname of Great He was beloved feared and redoubted and amongst all his Kingly vertues none shined more brightly then his Clemencie VVhy suspected to be a Hugenot Many were in doubts of his Religion for the Gâ—genots believed him of theirs and some others also besides in respect of the favour ge shewed to the Protestant Party and for that it was imputed to him to have said that the Crowne of France was well worth a Masse It is onely God who can judge of the Conscience of Soveraigns and therefore men must be silent and abey However it were he much loved Conferences and Disputes as it appeared by that of Cardinall Peronnâ— against Du Plessis Mornay The Confederated States had good reason to love him in regard of the care he alwayes took to conserve them though their seeing him expected by Prince Maurice with the forces of the Low-countries near Wesel and a Letter written by him to the Princesse Dowager of Orange intimating that he would come and visit her at the Hague not as a King but as her kinsman thrust a flea into their eare The said Prince of Orange above all impatiently took this strange and unexpected accident But indeed his death freed a good part of Europe from a great terrour filled the other with sadnesse and amazement gave way to the Prince of Conde to return into France with his wife and so the Armies to retire to rest till another season and another conjuncture which afterwards presented it self in the Warre of Gulick CHAP. XII A difference happening for the Dutchy of Gulick Jealosic between the Catholicks and Protestants and why A Tumult at Donawert an Imperiall Towne about a procession Gulick besieged by Prince Maurice and the French yeelds The Princes will not admit the Sequestration VVE have already shewed how the pretext of the Arms of Hebry the Great was the succour promised to the Princes of Brandeabourgh and Newbourgh therefore let us now look upon the justice of the Competitors since the quarrell is not quite consopited yet Sone weeks before the the conclusion of the Truce Death of the Duke of Gulick deceased John Wolliam Duke of Cleveland and Gulick leaving no Children by the Countesse of Baden his former wife noâ— yet by the sister of the Count of Vandemon his later Now this Princesse passing through Colein was received by the illustrious Magistraces and Citizens of that ancient City with great magnisicence acclamations and wishes of fertility in this match and all this for their interests which are visible enough in themselves without any
strong salves and fresh bleedings King Charles of Sweden having crowned himself and renewed the War in Livonie made use of this intestine sedition Sigismund made a brisk opposition as well to him as to the Swedes and Muscovites also whose Empire was then full of factions The siege of Smolensko He besieged Smolensko and after two years siege carried it This was a second Ostend if we consider the length of the siege and the number of the dead which if those authors who gave us the description thereof be worthy of credit amounted to more then twenty thousand men There was another Polish Army imployed to force the head City called Mosco whilest the rest of the Troops got huge victories and took the Yown of Novogrode and the great Duke Suiskie together with his two Brothers prisoners The the great Cham of Tartarie astonished at so many high Victories offered to submit himself to the King of Poland But Sigismond returned and the confederated Muscovites to be payd their Arreares followed him and being satisfied they were a further meanes to get yet more Victories The Muscovites rejell Uladislaus upon the adverse Party In fine the Muscovites tyred and vexed by a forraigne Rule rejecting Vladeslaus whom they had formerly chosen elected a new Emperour and endeavoured to compose their difference with Sigismund but in vain for they were chased away from before Smolensko and payed for their perfidie Now the King of great Britaine being the spectatour and very often the Arbitratour of the Controversies of his Neighbours lived in peace and his subjects of the Romane Catholik Profession were reduced to some discresse upon the discovery of that abominable conspiracy The son in England discovered against him his children and the whole Parliament For it seemed not enough to extend the punishment upon the guilty who received it according to their mâ—rit but all the whole body of them also mast be made feel it It was then that the doctrine of the Iesuites was carped and reviled and their Order brought into horrour through the whole Island as it was in France upon the death of Henry the great though yet they could not be convinced of having any hand in that as they evidently were in this But what shall we say of the English Puritans whom King Iames himself accused of having attempted to stifle him in his Mothers womb I know there are also some who make the Iesuites the cause of the Tragicall death of King Charles so great an aversion hath the contrary party from this Society I neither accuse nor excuse any but onely make a plaine and simple relation of what is passed and blame the rash judgement of such as are too passionate Whilest other Kings were in extream jealousie of their interests King Iames amuses himself with playing the Philosopher and the Divine by composing books of controversies against Cardinall Perronn and Monsieur de Coeffetean Bishop of Marseilles And since he had no warr with any body else he raised one against the Puritans and the Iesuites as making declamations against them both and their Doctrine which he said was most pernicious to the Potentates of Europe Take heed my son sayes he in his Book intitled the Roy all Present of these Puritans meer Plagues both in the Church and state a race not to be obliged by any benefit nor tied by any Oath or promise breathing nothing but seditions and calumnies And a little lower You will not finde amongst any High-way Robbers more ingratitude or more lyes and perjuries then amongst these Fanatick Spirits c. The Duke of Savoy demanded his Daughter Elizabeth for his eldest Son and offered him his for the Prince of Wales but in regard of the difference of Religions it was honourably refused Fate had reserved this Princesse for Prince Frederick Palatine of the Rheyn who arriving in England Frederick Prince Palatine marries Elizabeth Princesse of England married her and carried her to the Palatinat through Holland where they were received and regaled all along their passage being accompanied by Prince Maurice as far as Colein 1614. The never sufficiently lamented death of Henry the great one of the bravest Princes that ever wore the Crown of France was like to put Paris and all France into great tumults for the prevention whereof the Queen-Mother was declared Regent of the Kingdome and Lewis the thirteenth succeeded him at the age of nine yeers being consecrated at Rheims and all this great preparation for war was dissipated either because the Kings design was not known or else to say better because it could not be executed except the reserve of ten thousand men who were sent into the Dutchy of Gulick under the command of Marshal de la Cateres as we have lately expressed Now some time after all these embroiles and perturbations both in Bohemia and Austria were past the Emperour Rodolph either through vexation and trouble or otherwise Death of the Emperour Rodolph the twentieth of January 1612. for death hath alwayes a cause departed out of this fraile life to the immortall one He was son to that good Emperour Maximilian whose steps he followed He was a lover of sciences and chiefly of the Art of Painting He passed his time much in distilling he was fearfull and by consequence little undertaking and little feared by his enemies who knowing his nature did many things to the diminution of the Imperial Authority He died at Pragut in the year 1612. upon the 20 th of Ianuary The Empire had no need of a distillator but rather of a good Operatour to act powerfully against the ill plants which cast forth strong roots both under him and his successour and which have given so much pains and troubles to the Empire CHAP. XIV The Warre between the Danes and Swedes the reasons why Colmar taken Charles dies The Queen-Regent purchases a double Marriage in Spain The Town of Aix or Aquisgrane taken and Newburgh relieved by Spinola Chules Duke of Sudermain and afterwards King of Sweden sends an Embassadour into Holland CHarles Duke of Sudermaine took the Crown away from Sigismund his Nephew and possessed his States quietly enough but there rose a huge warre between him and the King of Denmark who very much disturbed his rest and whereof in his complaint of King Christian he takes the Jesuits for the Authors They are the Atlases who must bear upon their shoulders all kinds of Calummes and Detractions They must swallow down the faults of others He had had many conflicts with the Polanders and had tried the various effects of Fortune But this of Denmark touched him so much to the quick that they two came from complaints to brawles and reproaches and thence to the lye yea and at last to desie one another A strange thing that men disapprove in others what they do themselves Charles a little before had sent an Embassadour to the States-General to beseech them to make a close Allyance
an obstacle to the Arms of Spain then for any other consideration Brief the Army marches into the Field under the conduct of Spinola Aix or Aquisgrane stooped and the Romane Catholick Magistrates were re-established Mullem was battered down and Otroy taken besides many othes places where there was no Garrison of the united Provinces for fear of a breach The taking of Wesel seemed to countervail that of Gulick swelled the hearts of the Spaniards and made those people know that their Masters should have but a seeming Government as long as these puissant forces stayed in their States But if they had relyed upon the judgement of the Emperour it is likely that these misfortunes had not happened At that troublesome and vexatious Treaty of Santen all the Princes layd open their Interests the Leaven of partialities about Religions began to swell the Deputies went away discontented leaving the Businesse imperfect the occupated Townes retained their Ghests and the two Princes learnt to their own cost what many other had tryed before them CHAP. XV The Differences which happened in the United Provinces Barnaveldt beheaded and the Religion of the Arminians condemned King Lewis humbles the Hugenots and reduces Bearne THE Peace without the united Provinces had shut up many turbulent and seditious humours within them which not being able to get out hatched some very dangerous tumults Commotions in the united Provinces The precious names of Peace and Rest were both odious and insupporatable to them We often flye from that which is advantageous to us and follow that which is hurtfull The first was at Alâ—mar the second at Liewerden and the third and most perilous at Vtrick where some of the bolder sort of the Mutiners fortified by a huge crew of their Caball constrained the Magistrates to abdicate their charges and chose others in their places who were most of them the Heads of their sedition But this sicknesse requiring a more violent remedy then the first Lepitives and the Town threatned with a siege all grew to be appeased and the Garrison augmented Disputes about Predestination Yet this was nothing in respect of that mischief which arose from a controversie in Divinity concerning Predestination and some other Articles annexed to it which like a thick Fogge so blinded all the Inhabitants that it left not any use of light at all to any but to such as served themselves thereof to theâ—â— own profit The two Champions who by their Sermons and Disputes divided all Holland into two Factions were Arminins and Gomarus Such as followed this latter who ardently maintained the said Predestination were called Contra-Remonstrancers and the other Remonstrancers of Arminians who were said to professe a Doctrine disagreeing from that of John Calvin This was too high and difficult a passage to be comprehended by the common people and so it brought with it nothing but confusion Yet the Dispute ended not with the life of Arminins but was more and more kindled by his Disciples and chiefly by Verstius who upon the Recommendation of the Remonstrancers was made Professouâ— From Disputes came Factions and Vorstius was deposed by the threats of the King of Great Britain In brief every one takes arms for his own defence They of Harlem Leiden and Vtrick by the counsell as was reported of Advocate Harnaveldt raise forces Prince Maurice hastens surprises Vtrick disarnis the Citizens and changes the Magistrates a remarkably action as he also did at Harlem and Leiden where they had barricaded the Town-House and imprisons the chief of the Arminian Faction But the Ministers notwithstanding all these proceedings ceased not to dispute not the Printers to set forth Books concerning this controversie Wherefore there was a Synod convocated at Dort where the Arminian Doctrine was condemned the Ministers who persisted in it imprisoned and some were banished and sought their abode in Holstein and other places Barnaveldt beheaded The great States-man Barnaveldt formerly much cherished by King Henry of France and greatly renowned for his services done to the Common-Wealth and chiefly for having drawne out of the clutches of the English the three places engaged to Queen Elizabeth as also for having made divers Embassies and sweated under various burthens of State finished his life by an infamous punishment This man being about seventy two yeares old was accused of being Head of the Arminian Faction of disturbing the tranquility of the Townes and checking the authority of the Prince whose power he wished indeed to see lessened thereby to secure the publick Liberty In sine there was a rumour scattered that he should have had a design to usurp the Government of the Common-wealth They who were of his party for proof of his innocence represented the greatnesse of his services and cares to maintain the power of the States And yet howsoever all his friends melted as it were like snow before the Sun of the Princes Authority and one of the most famous Writers of this Age sayes that he was condemned in the name of the States but by the practices of King James and Prince Maurice There is nothing sure in this world and the greatest fortunes are very often those which are upon the slippery top of their pracâ—pice If all they who are ambitious to go out of their condition to get up to another more clevated and high would but represent to themselves the disasters and misfortunes which we see fall upon those great persons they would have no other desire then to stay where they are The Treaty of the Truce which by his advice was made for twelve years against the reasons of Prince Manrice who being a souldier and for his own interest endeavoured to break it purchased his disfavour and his very great credit his hatred besides his disswading the Warre of Bohemia together with what we have just now said and many other accusations abbreviated his life for some dayes When Jupiter chides all the rest of the Gods are silens Hugo Grotius went to keep company with the other Ministers who were prisoners at Louwestein though by the prudent cousel of his Wife he brake quickly off from it afterwards Thus was this mist which threatened the Common-wealth with a dangerous convulsion dispelled the Churches employed by the Contra-Remonstrancers only and the Arminians reviled and disclaimed as no better then half Traytors by the very dregs of the People But really the blamable treason of the children of Barnaveldt who breathed nothing but revenge of their Fathers death was the cause why many retired themselves from this Party which for a time was much discredited It King Iames on the one side ardently prosecuted his destruction King Lewis sollicited his deliverance as hotly on the other and would scarce give ear to the multitude of excuses which was brought by the Embassadours for so passionate an execution Howsoever all these changes were not able to change the happinesse of these Provinces the popular Tumults growing by little and little to slacken
Church of Rome and taken up their Quarters apart to be very different from that of the Primitive Christians amongst the Pagans and Gentiles those remaining in the Predicament of Passion onely and these adding also that of Action True it is that ambition and desire of novelty both in the one and other State have been the efficient causes of these great changes If they who have cried out with a loud voice for the reformation of manners had been heard as well as they who have called in doubt many Maximes of Faith we should really now live in the Golden and not in the Iron Age. They assault the Images Zisca tames Bohemia The first warr they made was upon the Images the Prelates the Cloisters and the Magistrates who opposed their unbridled licentiousnesse A Truce was made and no sooner made then broken Zisca that famous Head of the Faction made himself Master of Bohemia and commanded all the Churches dedicated to the Saints to be battered down alleadging for his reason that they must be consecrated onely to God He defeated all the Armies that oppugned his Designes like a Torrent which carries away and destroyes all whiles Fate made him loose that one eye which was left him He marched into Austria and quite blinde as he was left not nevertheless to crush his Enemies and arrived time enough to chastize the Citizens of Prague who were revolted from him because of the demolition of the Churches and Imaâ—es In fine Fortune by an occult mystery of the great God averted the Prelates from their duty and humbled the Emperour so far as to bring him upon his knees before this blind man yea and constrained him moreover to offer him the Government of the Kingdom and the Militia But that Eternall power having served himself sufficiently of this scourge drew him out of the world by a contagious sicknesse though even at his death His death he signified his martiall humour and the passion he yee had to further mischief for he commanded that after his decease a Drum should be made of his skin saying that his enemies would fly at the very sound thereof Let Divines discourse upon these mysterious chances where they will finde work enough to entertaine themselves The Hussits continued the warr under the orders of a certain person called Procope at the very report of whom whole armies were suddainely terrified yea fourty thousand men being entered into Bohemia and having taken some towns through a certain panick or phantastical fright threw down their arms and betook themselves to their heels Zisca's skin works miracles to save their infamous an I cowardly lives even before the Bohemians appeared Perhaps Zisca's skin wrought all these miracles and would have merited a Temple if he had not demolished those which were dedicated to the Saints It is therefore no wonder if in this last Age there have hapned such strange changes proceeding from causes so little foreseen or wholy contemptible in regard that a handfull of men at that time rendered themselves Masters of a Kingdome and beat the forces of the Emperour as often as they durst encounter them besides that their meer reputation put their enemies to flight as much as their arms Athists open your eyes confess these changes proceed from an infinite power The Turks a barbarous and despicable people have subdued a great part of Asia and destroyed the empire of Greece Tamberlaine from a shepherd Tamberlaine being become a souldier was the instrument whereof God served himself to abate the pride of that great Emperour Bajazet These are revolutions the reasons whereof are not discovered to man It is lawfull to seek the causes of them by probable conjectures but not to pronounce a definitive sentence or conclusion upon them I was willing to relate a part of this History because I find therein a great similitude or resemblance with that of our Age as well in order to Causes and effects though not successes for a proof of this instability of the things of this world CHAP. II. The Bohemians arme and why All the Princes interest themselves in this Warr. Ferdinand chosen Emperour NOtwithstanding the licence granted to the Bohemians by the Fathers of the Councell of Basill to receive their Communion under two Forms or Species there ceased not still to be Factions amongst them against the authority of the Pope and favour to such as oppugned it Now because the greatest Rivers draw their Origin for the most part from some small abstruse and unknown springs just so this deplorable war of Bohemia which being once kindled and diffused in that Kingdome grew to skatter and sly up and down like wilde fire throughout all Europ and is not extinguished even yet began at first from so contemptible a spark as might have been quenched by one single tear had it but chanced to fall right upon it But it must needs draw deluges of blood and general destruction of Christendom Where Sins are great Repentance must be proportionable And why In the year 1616 the Hussits layd the foundations of a Church at Brunaw The Abbor who was Lord of the Place opposed them and complained to the Emperour Mathias who commanded the Magistrates to appear before him and to suspend the building till the Cause were decided but in vain for the Church went on and was finished without answer as if it had suffised that it pleased them who loved novelty to build it Whilest this passed Mathias finding himself without issue by the consent of the House of Austria adopted his Cousin Ferdinand and Crowned him King of Bohemia with the general applause of the Bohemians Which done it was shewed to the abovesaid Hussits that the States onely had power and authority to build Churches and so they were all condemned and such as presumed to resist imprisoned and their Church demolished And this was the first motive of this war and this the leaven which hidden for two years together under the Past of ambition of the chief of that Kingdom made it rise and sharpen so much as that there was nothing expected but onely the hour to put it in the oven The Lutherans Jubily The year following the Lutherans by way of a generall thanks giving to God for having already preserved their Religion the space of an hundred yeares made a Iubily as they also did some Leagues amongst themselves at Heilbron against the Roman Catholicks which proved advantageous to the Bohernians as seeming as it were to give them the Signe or Watch-word to which all their humours were disposed and prepared for in regard that after so many Books composed and so many Disputes held there could be no Accord made in matter of Religion there seemed a necessity to try the strength of their Arms All tends to Warre and come from words to blowes The demolition of the aforesaid Church was of hard digestion to the Hussits and so it caused murmurations Monopolies or private
of the Emperours Generals repaired and raised his Authority to so much splendour that every body desired to keep himself fast with him and gaine his favour there remaining none who durst openly act for Frederick but such as were droven by despaire For the Duke of Anholt finding the gate open to a reconciliation stooped to get in and many Townes also did the same And the Landgrave William sonne to Maurice of Hassia who finding Bellona too hard and rigorous a Mistresse betook himself to the society of the Muses followed the example of the former and was received with the same benevolence yea and adorned with a new Title of Honour besides We are forced in a scorn to make a good Part which when the danger is past we do not value Mansfeldt recollected fragments of the Armies found means to repair his losses Mansfeldt uses deceit in the Palatinate and grew likely to restore things to the point from whence they were fallen In effect not being able to get into Bohemia he wheeled about towards the Palatinate where by the taking of some places and fighting some prosperous skirmishes he raised the courage of his souldiers and struck astonishment into his enemies But the Duke of Bavaria seased upon the upper Palatinate reduced him to such extremity that upon the condition of a summe of mony and some very high title of Honour he was content to seek Peace with the Emperour however it were intended by him but onely to save his Army and so to kill two birds with one stone Foul play or cheaterie when it succeeds well passes for a gallant piece of warlike craft and wickednesse never seeks long before it findes an occasion For as soon as he arrived in the Lower Palatinate he threw off his Vizard broke his word took many Towns which served for a Fee to his hunger-starved souldiers sacked Alsatia Takes Hagenaw and surprized Hagenaw Frederick upon the noise of these successes left Holland passed incognito through France and not without huge paines and danger got to the Army There happened a surious Encounter near Wisloch The Bavarians beaten where the Bavarian lost abost above two thousand men a great number of Colours and four Field-Pieces which were testimonies that the victory was not coutemptible But Tilly was not long before he found meanes to revenge himself of this affront It is good to lend to such as are alwayes read to render For having joyned his Troops with Don Cordocia and being informed that the Marquis of Baden was separated from Mansfeldt he followed him so close that he overtook him neer Wimpfen where after a stubborn fight of some hours he put the Cavalry to flight But the Infantry or Foot finding themselves abandoned with a masculine resolution mingled with despair and desire of an honourable death fought very valiantly and made Tilly know that he should not have their lives at so cheap a rate They have their revenge as not to wrangle stoutly for them howbeit by an unlucky chance they were deprived of the meanes though not of the will Victory of the Imperialists near Wimpson to continue it For by the perpetual playing of the Ordnance the fire got into the powder which sprung the Waggons with so unfortunate hurt that all the Foot fell into disorder and was cut in pieces And eight and thirty Pieces of Canon a great deal of Baggage and money with six score Coulors falling into the hands of the Conquerours made the Conquered confesse that they received a huge and most sensible losse The Field was strewed with dead Bodies and the perishing of six thousand men upon the place gave cause to count this for one of the greatest Battails of this Age. The Bishop of Halberstadt in the interim was not asleep but having contracted great forces The cruelties of the Bishop of Halberstadt in Westphalia he went ravaging and pillaging all Westphalia sparing neither Monkes Nunnes nor Ornaments of the Church it self to satiate his cruelty leachery and avarice Indeed the scandall he gave was too great for his proceedings were blamed even by them of his own Party and he purchased the name of the Mad Bishop But the Catholicks were too much tyed to the Emperours service and therefore he thought fit to chastise them since there was no other means to hurt their Victorious head and besides the disgust of their so often singing Te Deum was too sharp and hot to be endured At Paterborne he took a Statue of Sains Liborius of massive Silver and melted it into Rex Dollars which he signed with an Arm stretched out and a sword with this motto A Friend to God and an Enemy to Priests The youthfull insolencies and unreasonable actions which he committed in a certain Cloyster of Nunnes must be buried in silence for the like could not happen but in a corrupt Age. This Army cast the greatest bulk of the war Warre again the Ecclesiasticks upon the Ecclesiasticks nor can there be imagined any kinde of sacriledge which was not perpetrated by them neither went they in fine very farre before they received the Crown of their works For being coasted or overtaken by the Count of Anholt who was now joyned to Tilly they were strenuously assaulted near the River Maine and endeavouring to passe in confusion the Bridge brake and made fine sport for the Imperialists who cut off such as were stopped and the River conspiring to their destruction thruzled a great many more so that only they who could swimme escaped and through their great diligence made a shift at length to reach the Avantguard of the Army where their Bishop marched and so ranged themselves under the wings of General Mansfeldt so that the River shared stakes with the Imperialists in the honour of this victory as having drowned about three thousand of them Frederick after this so rough a check having no means at all left to maintain his forces any longer disbanded them and retired himself back to the Hague there to expect the issue of the Treaty at Brussels by which Frankendal with the consent of King Iames of England was sequestred into the hands of the Infanta Tilly went afterwards and took Heidelberg by force and Manhein by composition and that great renowned Library Heidelbergh taken and the Library carried to Rome was transported to Rome for the Pope would have also his part of the booty to the great trouble of all the Electorall Family but who can resist against Fate Mansfeldt and his Bishop marched on towards Lorrain through which they passed without any repugnance the Duke being surprized by their unexpected approach and stayed some weeks at Sedan and Cardâ—â—â—a who was at their heels incamped himself at Ivoy We will leave them there to plot new Designes with the Duke of Boâ—â—llon and return into Poland to see what great body of Nobility march so briskly on to face that potent Emperour Osman CHAP. VIII The continuance of the warre
golden Bridge for his enemies then engage them in fight which is often gained by dispaire And so he retyred to the Hague where he was well received by the States Mansfeldt shewed himself likewise there and the Bishop grew to be known and hated and was sometimes in danger of being well rubbed for his former insolencies But these two guests after some consultations quickly dislodged for Mansfeldt having received five thousand men from France Mansfeldt and the French in East-Freezland The Bishop defeated in the year 1623. neer Statloo was sent into East-Freezland for fear least Tilly should come and take up his quarters there and the Bishop returned into Westphalia where living after the old fashion he was snapt neer Statloo and most basely defeated With much more reason might that have been said of Tilly which the Emperour of Turkie said of the French when he heard the newes of the huge Victorie gotten by them upon the Venetians namely That they had to do with Calves Six thousand Imperialists cut off an Army of eighteen thousand men and the Bishop in stead of retyring himself to his Bishoprick returned speedily into Holland with the nimblest runners of his broken Armie to take new counsell and recollect his scattered Troops in the Fronteer Towns There were about six thousand of his men taken prisoners and the Spanish Garrison of Grol contributed no small matter to this entyre Victorie in the year 1623. If the Bishops Souldiers used great cruelties the Mansfeldians did not much better in Freezland in such sort as that good Country which was able to maintaine above fifty thousand men in good order for fifteen years together was exhausted in lesse then seven moneths These two Generals return into Holland and the Count of Oldenbergh sound reason to complaine of them besides as bad neighbours for making excursions upon his lands But they got not all off and of five thousand French there returned not twelve hundred into France to revile their Generall and relate the good treatment which they had both given and received in these parts all the rest being knocked in the head by the Peasants Mansfeldt being rejoyned to the Bishop with the fragments of both Armies performed no great exploits but being beaten againe at Frisoit they both went back againe into Holland where they plotted new designes against the House of Austria But now let us go visit the Swissers in their Mountaines for they will give us matter also to discourse of them CHAP. XI Of the Swissers and Grizons and their Government The fall of a Mountaine Soubise breakes the Peace The death of the great Priour and of the Marshall Ornano Description of the Cantons BEfore we enter upon the motives of the Wars which happened in the Grisons we will first shew that the Swissers area People of Germany divided into thirteen Cantons of whose valour Julius Caesar in his Commentaries of the Gawlish War makes very honourable mention They are shut up within Mountains and great Lakes which make their Countrey inaccessible The Tyranny of some Governours caused them to shake off the yoke both of the House of Austria The first League and their owne Nobility Their first League was made between three Country men or Peasants who within a short time after grew much augmented by the aversion of the People from the abovesaid Government Let no man trust to his own power and maintaine it by rigour for enemies often come from whence they are least expected They have upon the one side the States of the Republick of Venice and the Dutchy of Milan and Burgundy Alsatia and the Dukedome of Wirtemberg on the other They were long in peace and rest being protected by their Hills and their poverty till Charles Duke of Burgundy at length stirred them up to his own confusion For having a desire to extend his domination as far as Italy he notwithstanding all their humble supplications for peace and liberty and offers to serve him brought a war upon them Irregular ambition prepares her self a fall Charles of Burgundie beatea For their humility being turned into dispair they fell to the use of arms which they had almost forgoten and defeated his Army without so much as almost any fighting for it and glutted themselves in fine with the spoiles both of the Burgundians and Flemmings Since which time their Allyance hath been sought by the Popes Kings and Princes of Europ and especially by France Their allyance which by keeping her self fast with them through a yearly pension hath drawn no small advantages from them Let us speak a word also of their beginnings which are worthy consideration They were heretofore wont to receive their Governours from the Emperours by whom Justice was administred Their beginings and their Priviledges maintained so that they lived in peace with the Ecclesiasticks upon whom by donation of the said Emperours if not all yet a great part of them at least depended In fine they being a people of a strong nature and lovers of Liberty as all such as dwell within the mountains are found themselves contemned by the Nobility which through delights produced by great riches was grown insolent and from contempt drawn into servitude and therefore laying hold of the opportunity of the confusions of the Empire they assaulted the said Nobility and expelled it by force of Arms and so redeemed themselves from the Yoke The Emperour Albert having a great charge of Children endeavoured to joyn also that which immediately depended upon the Empyre to what he held there already as well by inheritance as by donation and purchase but in vain wherereupon he turned his desires into threats but still in vain For his Governours had used tyranny The Governours Tyrants and brought this people to seek entyre Liberty by way of revenge of some crimes committed and some affronts done to some particular persons the first whereof was to him who had alwayes disswaded them from putting themselves under the yoke of the House of Austria The second and principal was for having attempted the chastity of a woman a vice which caused the Kings to be expelled from Rome the Infidels to enter into Spain and whole nations to go out of Conquered Countries The third was a most absurd and ridiculous Command namely to do reverence to the Hat of a Governour which was at the end of a perch when they passed by it And it happened once that a certain follow being brought before the Governour for having slighted this order he commanded him to shoot a Apple from his childes head with an arrow which he performed to the great amazement of all such as were present The first League of three men Now in revenge of these and the like cruell proceedings a secret League was made amongst three Husband-men the number whereof being quickly encreased they cunningly seazed upon the Castles of the said Governours and drove them out of their Country in the year
and gave an Alarme to all Italy But this fine appearance being stopped by a misfortune made the Troops return as being destinated for a supply against the Duke of Soubize and obliged the King by the request of the Pope to give peace to Italy The Valteline in the hands of the Pope and sequester the Valteline into his hands save only that both the Kings were to have their passage with their forces that way About the same time there was discovered a Conspiracie against the King of France and the Duke of Vandosme his Brother the great Priour the Marshall d' Ornano and many others put in prison where the two last ended their dayes without much noise and the Count of Chulois by the hands of a Common Executioner These accidens raised much hatred upon Cardinal Richelieu and produced many Pasquils against him Envy and Harred are ever companions to the vertue of great Ministers and their actions are never free from blame CHAP. XII Mansfeldt hunts every where for relief and sets an Army on foot The Marriage of the Prince of Wales with a Daughter of France after his return out of Spain HAnnibal was no sooner out of his infancy then he vowed the ruine of the Romanes and being revoked from Italy after he had domineered there the space of seventeen yeares to save Carthage he there ran his ship a ground which had been loaden with so many victories against the great Scipio But now what did he when all the strings of his Bow were broken He made to his wits for new ones He remembred his Oath begged succour animiated the Kings of the East against the insatiable ambition of the Romanes and continued his hatred even to the very last gasp of his breath Mansfeldt and his Bishop seemed to have taken the like Oath against the House of Austria and by consequence for the continuance in action against it they must have new forces Holland could furnish them with matter conveniency money and hatred enough England with desire enough to see Frederick again in the Palatmate and France with jealousie enough in regard of the growth of the aforesaid House There wanted no bellowes to kindle this fire mens humours being already disposed that way by diversity of Religions hatred envy self-ends and Maxime of State a Cover which is never either too long or too short and stronger then even Justice it self But now as these Captains had not so much trouble to perswade as that Great Affrican so had they notwithstanding to do with people of much better understanding then those Barbarians They went into France where Mensfeldt received some affronts from some particular persons for ill treatments given the French in Freezland Mansfeldt demands succour in France However he obtained his demand namely some Force the Minister who then began to climb the Horizon of favour being now no more mindfull of the services both asked by and granted to the Imperialists before Sedan in case of necessity Maximes of State are more forcible then obligations and Ministers turn their Allyances that way which their passions carry them Now King James though by the negotiations with Spain he had disgusted many of the Reformed Religion shewed himself neverthelesse willing to have as good intelligence with the Catholick States as the King of France had with the Protestant and so he sent Prince Charles his Sonne into Spain to espouse the Infanta Mary but after the losse of much time he came back into England and demanded in France through which he had passed disguised the Kings Sister who was more easily granted him Men have laboured to penetrate into the Mystery of this Treaty but all by conjecture only The Roman Catholicks of England who began already to feel some warmth of the businesse were extremely afflicted at the breach of the aforesaid Match and the misfortune which befell them was a testimony of the perpetuall Crosse which was ordained for them in the Britannick Islands A misfortune at London for being met in a private Assembly at London to hear masse the Loft overburthened by the multitude sunk down and bruised near a hundred persons together with the Priest When the aforesaid Prince had married the Daughter of Henry the fourth and sister to Lewis the thirteenth he and his Father undertook the care of re-establishing his Brother-in-Law in the Palatinate In such sort as that Mansfeldt had no great difficulty to transport ten thousand English into Holland who almost all of them perished at Gerthrudenbergh and served for bait to the Fish The French Cavalry consisting of three thousand did likewise no very long service for the Generalls marching towards the Rhein and tormenting the Arch-Bishop after their old fashion their Army diminished much by disbandings and themselves fell into a quarrel which had almost brought them to a Duell though at last they returned into Holland and went from thence to the North to warm those people against the Emperour The Spaniards passe the Isel Upon the seventeenth of February 1624. the Spaniards passed upon the Ice over the River Isel and caused a terrour as faire as Holland Whereup-the Prince was constrained again to lay about him and pass to Virick and the States to command the Country-people to break the Ice of the River of Vecht But Count Henry expected neither his enemies nor the thaw which would have made him to be caught in a Pit-fall but retyred himself much faster then he came and many of his souldiers found their graves in the River of Welaw His designe was to fright the Peasants and not to hurt the States CHAP. XIII The Siege of Breda The Enterprizes upon Antwerp SPinola was every moment devising now to wipe off by some notable enterprize the affront he had received before Berghen He marched into the field sent Count Henry towards the Rheyn who made a shew of besieging Grave and Count John of Nassaw with the Horse towards Breda who at his arrivall took a great multitude of Boats loaden with Provisions Himself followed with the Foot and in his Councell of War there was found no more then one Colonell who thought fit to begin the siege The siege of Breda and that upon the same reasons whereby Spinola himself was moved to it On the other side the Prince of Orange glad to see his Rivall engaged before a place so well provided of all necessaries as also of a strong Garrison did not so soon dispose himself to succour it but gave the Spaniards leisure to entrench themselves and they him to repent himself of it But he hoped by the successe of his designe upon Antwerp long before premeditated in his thoughts and held by him infallible The enterprize upon the Castle or Cittadell of Antwerp to unnestle them from thence and cast their state into an irremediable confusion He was well informed that there were but very few Souldiers in the Cittadell and they for the most part dismembred and cripled Wherefore
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
the Administratour of Magdeburgh and the Bishop of Bremen subscribed also to it The Emperours forces in the mean while grew strong and Tilly began to smell that under the mask of amity there were some new designes a brewing however they protested that they were doing nothing against the Emperour But he answered that the Embassadours of the States of Holland were not there Tilly in Hastis to thred pearles and that he was sure that nothing was treated to his Masters advantage where they had any credit and consequently for a greater testimony of his diffidence he sent for Wallâ—stain with an Army to come and succour him Causes lye hidden under pretexts drawn from necessity and justice but they are easily discovered by people of the same profession Many Prodigies preceded the fatall warres as Armies fighting in the Ayre raining of Blood great Tempests bearing down Trees Houses and Dammes But that which was by all interpreted for an ill Augure or Token was that the King going one evening to walk upon the Rampars The Prodigies or Walls of the Town of Hamelen to visit the Sentinels his horse stumbled at a plank and threw him into the Mote or Ditch out of which he was drawne two houres after and conceived to be dead for more then three dayes together In the mean while they who laid most to heart the love of their Country and Rest employed all diligence to find a means to reconcile this Difference thereby to divert the misfortune wherein all Lower Saxony was likely to be involved To which effect a Treaty of Peace was held at Brunswick and it was already agreed that the Armies should be licensiated They treat of peace in vain by Regiments to wit that the King should casheer the first Tilly the next and so consecutively by turnes to the end But this Treaty was broken off by ambition and so such advantages as could not be reaped thereby were sought by way of Arms. The Gamester is more willing to hazard another mans money then his own I will note only the principal actions of the warre and content my selfe with saying that it is very probable that the Emperour had a design to make his Authority and Religion flourish afresh in those Countries where there was no more left then a faint and languishing knowledge thereof and The ayne of the League that mingled with coldness contempt and hatred But as for the contrary Party they endeavoured not onely to repell the aforesaid Guest but also by vertue of the Allyance to restore the Prince to his States by force of Arms since it could not be done by intercessions and so in fine deliver all the Princes from the jealousie which was given them by this House puffed up with so many victories The King retyred with his Army as farre as the Bishopprick of Werden and thereby gave the Imperialists opportunity to seaze upon many places But Fortune varied at Niemburgh from which Town after the losse of a very great number of their men they were constrained to retreat though yet the said losse were repayred shortly after by the taking of Calembergh and the defeating of some companies of Dragoons Tilly followes the River of Weser and Wallenstein that of the Elbe Wallenstein followed the River of Elbe and Tilly that of Weser who having occupated the Bishopprick of Hall entred the Dutchy of Anholt and fortified the Bridge of Dassaw Mansfeldt attacked this Fort and being repulsed joyned with the Administratour of Hall to besiege that Town Wallenstein hastened thither so they fell to work and the Fight as well through the valour of the souldiers as the experience of the Generals was long time dubious enough but at last the Horse giving ground the Foot found themselves reduced to the necessity of doing the same and such as could not save themselves by flight were either killed or taken Mansfeldt beaten near the bridge of Dassaw In this memorable Battell at the Bridge of Dassaw all Mansfeldts glory was buried howsoever he lost not his courage by so furious an overthrow but having gotten on foot a fresh Army of sixteen thousand men for Germany and the Septemtrion were yet full of brave Souldiers he drew towards Silesia took in some places passed thence into Transylvania where he gave up his Army to the Duke of Wimar and accompanied by some of his principall Officers put himself in the way towards Venice but a Dysentery or Bloody Flux or rather according to the opinion of some a Potion stopped the course of his journey His death designes and life altogether and delivered the Emperour from a troublesome Enemy and the Duke of Wimar also a short space after followed him not to Venice but to the other world Thus ended the life of this famous General who had been fortunate enough in raising Armies but not in fighting Battels Wallenstine having stifled the War of Transylvania marched back into Silesia dissipated Wimars Troops and retook the occupated places And Baudis and Holck being sent to joyne with the said Duke were cut off by Merode and Beckman So that Wallenstein having put an end to all their disorders returned towards Brunswick Tilly being intent upon the occasions of hurting his enemies went and unexpectedly attacked a Quarter commanded by that Valiant Souldier Obertrawt who together with one of the Dukes of Anholt and some hundreds of Souldiers Obertrawt killed was slaine in this encounter and when Tilly went to visit and comfort him he answered him Monsieur de Tilly in such waters are taken such fish Now the King finding himself in great danger by the losse of Mansfeldt and the Bishop of Halberstadt who died at the same time at Wolfenbottel after he had vomited up a Worm of about four ells long did not yet lose his courage The death of the Bishop of Halbersiadt Nature shews her strength in despair and Vertue hers in extremity He saw two Armies upon his skirts to be opposed by him and therefore he resolved to attack the one of them being more inflamed to vengeance by the losse of Munden which he slighted and the furious blow which was given his Cavalrie by Count Furstembergh But he was a little too tardy in going to drive Tilly from the siege of Gothing Besides that he stayed at Luther against the advice of his Lieutenant Generall Fucks and Tilly thereby to make himself as glorious as Wallenstein desired nothing more earnestly then to slight I fine the Battell was given with so much obstinacie that the old Bands which had been accustomed to vanquish Battell of Luther the twenty seventh of August 1626. began almost to stagger towards flight but their time was not yet come and the puissant Gemus of their Generall had a great advantage upon that of the King who perceiving his Horse fly and not being able either by his presence or exhortations to detaine them was compelled to abandon his Foot to the mercy of
the Enemy and retyre himself as fast as he could gallop to Wolfenbottel This was a great and bloody Fight and the Imperialists remained entirely victorious in it The Victory of the Imperialists and the death of Generall Fucks Brave Generall Fucks who had disswaded the Battell lost his life in this occasion and gave the King sufficient testimony that it was not through basenesse of heart or cowardize but upon strong arguments that he desired him not to precipitate Many other Officers were also slain together with above six thousand Souldiers Thirty Pieces of Canon three thousand Prisoners fourscore and ten Colours adorned the Conquerours Chariot and all the booty was given to the Souldiers in recompence of their Valour This was that famous Battell of Luther which happened upon the 27 th of August whereby the Emperours authority and the joy of his Allyes was much augmented and their Enemies fear redoubled and after this there followed a continuall thred of Victories and taking of Towns even to the very sea-side Favour flatters Fortune and when there is no more meanes lest to make open resistance against the storme the sailes must be taken in or the Vessel steered for safety to the shelter of some Wood or Rock The Duke of Brunswick quitts the League The Duke of Brunswick followed this Maxime by making his Peace and renouncing the League with Saxonie Tilly lost no time seized upon Rotemburgh and many other places whilest the King recollected the fragments of his Army and put it in Equipage during the Winter but to no purpose For this vessell was too much tottered to do any more service at all In conclusion Tilly having taken Nontheen drew neer the River of Elbe which was also to be conquered after the conquest of so many enemies But we leave France too long in Peace which yet was not all this while quiet CHAP. II The prosecution of the second Warre against the Hughenots The Peace made by the undertaking of the King of England the Venetians and the Hollanders Warre between France and England and why The beginning of the third and last Warre against the Hughenots Cardinall Richelieu makes himself known admired and feared The siege and reduction of Rochell The Duke of Soubize takes some shipps WE have already shewed how the Peace was made in Italy as well upon the request of the Pope as to put a remedy to the inopinated Invasion of the Duke of Soubize who against all expectation and in full peace launched with a Fleet from Rochell came before the Port of Blavet and seized upon some ships which he found there But the Duke of Vandosme who was Governour of the Province transported himself thither with so much promptitude that he hindred the aforesaid Duke from making any farther progresse and forced him to retyre with two or three great Vessels and some of a middle burthen In such sort as that by this invasion The peace is broken the Peace which was made in the year 1622 before Montpellier was broken in that of 1625 and the Duke of Rohan his brother recommenced the Warre in earnest both in High and Low Languedock under pretext that the Treaty of Peace had been ill observed The King sends an Embassadour to the Hague This surprize so much displeased the King that he forth with sent all those Troops which were destinated for Italy towards Brittany and an Embassadour to the Hague to summon the States to his assistance with twenty ships according to the tenour of the Allyance made betwixt them But the Embassadour found some repugnance in the Colledge of the said States in respect of Religion though yet when he had remonstrated to them that the businesse was onely to humble the Kings subjects to their obedience and threatened them also with a breach in case of refusall they granted his demand My Master sayes he is of the same Faith with the King of Spaine and yet he maketh no difficulty to assist you against him And will you in a Warre of State expresse an inconsiderable zeale of Religion He obtaines twenty shipps Soubize being beaten retyres into England Hereupon the States dispatched Admirall Hantain who being joyned with the Kings Navie carried himself like a Mediatour of a Reconcilliation and obtained a Truce of three dayes which yet was ill enough kept by Soubize who hoped to draw some advantage from it but his Fleet was defeated and he forced to retyre into England with six or seven vessels and so the French took the Island of St. Martin and built two Forts there The King upon the intercession of the States pardoned them of Rochell but the Zelanders did not pardon Admirall Hautain who had for his recompence his house demolished by the people which were mad at the losse of the said Place But these were ruled by the passion of Religion and those by that of the preservation of the State The reason why Monsieur de Soubize brake the Peace was because the King had differred the demolishment of Fort Lewis raised near Rochell which served for a bridle to the Town and a Prospective to the Townsmen But the Governour indeed refused to do it upon some informations which he had received from the Town of some sinister designes In fine the Fort still remained entyre for all this and was to prove fatall to the Party illustrate the Kings Majesty throughout all France and cut off the root of all Religion It was believed that the Duke of Rohan had begged succour from the King of Spaine in this discord of the Reformates and his own and his brothers disaster but being pressed by the King of England the Venetians the Hollanders and the Savoyers he expected not the return of his Embassadour The Peace is made by an allyance against the Emperour and so upon the instance of the aforesaid King and States who could not indure the ingrandishment of the Imperiall Majesty in Germany the Peace was renewed the same year thas it was broken and the League was knit up in Denmark as we have lately said in the year 1625. But before that warre which was fatall to the Danes was finished began the disorders which thrust themselves in between the French and English the reason whereof as also of the third warre which consummated the ruine of the Reformed Party you shall forthwith understand King James a peaceful Prince King James jealous of his Royall authority and more prone to study then fight could never be induced to assist the Hughenots in France But after his decease King Charles his sonne by the reasons of Monsieur de Soubize and his Favourite the Duke of Buckingham suffered himself to be perswaded to it manifesting thereby in imitation of his Brother in Law that that Friendship which grew from the allyance of marriage was weaker then that of interest There wanted no pretexts as well of Religion as otherwise and the English being already pricked against the French and these
so many losses inviolably kept the Peace and maintained himself in amity with the Emperour till the coming in of the King of Sweden who being his Brother-in Law would easily with his arguments have perswaded him to take up Arms again had he not been prevented by a dropsie which drowned all his smoakie ambitions together with his life and deprived the aforesaid King of a man who would yet according to occasions have much tormented the Empyre and whose life deserved no more admiration then his last Will and Testament did For he bequeathed the Emperour forty thousand Ducats His Testardent and a brave horse with a saddle embrodered full of Pearles and precious stones to his sonne Ferdinand the third as much to the Emperour of Turkie as much to his wife Katherine of Brandenburgh a hundred thousand Rix-Dollars and a hundred thousand Florins besides three Provinces The Execution of the said Testament was recommended by him to the Grand Signor the widow and Transylania to the Emperour And this was the end of that Gabor who was so much renowned who so often re-incouraged them of the Party when they groaned under the Emperours forces and who was so soon beaten down by his own inconstance or rather by the unhappinesse of the said Party Ragoskie having bribed the Embassadour whom the widow sent to Constam inople was created Duke of Transylvania She opposed him and called her Tutour the Emperour to her assistance who sent her the Palatin of Costonia Ragoskie brough an Army into the Field His Successour by deceit is often beaten which was defeated and he in great trouble to raise another which had the same successe of the former as wel as which followed Thus finding the Cross too strong for him he looked towards the Mâ—on Three Bashaws came to succour him who were all beaten one after another by the aforesaid Palatine In fine since he had no better issue by Arms then his Predecessour he was fain to have recourse to the same practises and follow the same steps Wherefore he desired peace with Stephen Gabor brother to the aforesaid Bethleem and made him Governour of the Province restored the widow her Treasures and served himself of their mediation Make peace which was not infructuous to him for he obtained peace and Transylâ—ania remained under the Emperours protection Let us now go to the wedding of Ferdinand the third This Prince being destinated to wear the Crown of the Empyre as well as that of the Kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary sent to demand the Infanta Mary Sister to the King of Spain who was granted him The King her Brother accompanied her to Barcelona where she embaiked for Italy The marriage of Fordinand the third passed by Naples and made her entry at Vienna with so great pomp and gallantry that there could nothing more be added to augment the splendour thereof Before her arrivall her husband was Crowned Emperout at Ratisbone shortly after at Posen Let us leave them with all the joyes of the Court at Vienna and return into Italy to see a warre of Catholick against Catholick CHAP. X Warre in Italy about the succession of the Dutchy of Mantua wherein the Emperour and the two Crownes took part THe difference The warre of Italy for the Dutchy of Mantua which chanced about the succession of the Dutchies of Maentua and Monferrat embarassed all Italy awakened the ambitious jealousies of those two potent nations and so much exercised them in warre that it proved partly the cause of the entyre breach and desolations which followed In the year 1627 the twenty sixth of December Duke Vincent deceasing without Children the succession fell to the Duke of Nevers who received it and praecipitated his inauguration or investure without the knowledge of the limporour who is the Lord of Fief or Supreme-Heredirary thereof The Spaniards more through jealousie then by right or title took Arms as the Duke of Savoy also did for an old pretension he seazed upon many places in Monâ—ferrat and they besieged Casal O interest of State thou Idol how powerful art thou and how many mischiefs dost thou cause The apprehension which the Spaniards had of the Dutchy of Milan made them undertake this warre and hasten the Peace in the North. The Duke of Nevers put good Garrisons into the most tenible places and joyned with the Venetians who could not endure that the House of Austria should make any further progresse in Italy and shut up the gate to the French Ferdinand commands them to lay down Arms but is not obeyed The Emperour desiring to extinguish this sire by a remedy just enough though a little too suspect sent his Embassadours to injoyn both Parties to lay down Arms and in regard that the Duke of Nevers had not first demanded his investure in due form to remit the said Dutchies by way of sequestration into his hands that so he might proceed therein according to Right But he was obeyed here just as his Predecessour was at Gulick For the Duke rejected the conditions endeavoured to succour Casal and cut in pieces the forces which opposed his generous designe The King of France in the mean while was busie at the siege of Rochell which seemed long to the poor Duke who found himself oppugned in his lawfull succession by the Spaniards Succour from France the Savoyers and the Imperialists and that without hope of any strong relief from France The King dispatched away Marshall of Crecquy in Autumne and he went into the Field two moneths after the reduction of the Town which was in the heart of Winter The Duke agrees The Duke who conceived that the said Marshall marched too slowly and that he would busie himself about the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces and make a warre in Savoy changed his maxime promised the Emperour to obey him and to receive his Garrisons into the Townes and consequently sent his son the Duke of Duke of Rhetell to Vienna to make protestation of his obedience and innocence The Spaniards however much harassed and tyred by the frequent sallies of the besieged the length of the Siege and inundations of the Po disapproved this Treaty and to their own dammage continued the said Siege The Emperour sent other Embassadours to command observance The Spaniards continue the siege at Casal But Dou Cardâ—â—â—a who during these intrigues hoped to carry the place pressed it hard lent a deaf ear to the Emperours ouder and dispatched a Envoy or Messenger-Express to Madrid Nevers being irritated beyond measure to sind himself thus treated and that that the equity of his Cause was combatted with so much injustice and animated on the other side by seeing his King slight the rigour of the season to come and ayd him turned all his thoughts to warre The King of France passes by force through Savoy and makes them rise The Duke of Savoy refused the King passage but he got it by force defeated his
the Dutchy of Wirtembergh after which they sighed and longed as the Children of Israel did after the Land of Promise but they must first passe the Red Sea and winne a Town whole Garrison was strong and required a Siege before they could arrive to the bank The Swedes sent for all their own forces and those of their Allyes Horne joyned with Duke Barnard and argued against him that it was better to let go one Town then hazard the Publick Cause and that an occasion for fighting would be found in time with more advantage The Duke disputed the contrary alleadging that the winning of this Bartail The Siege of Northinghen Austria would be open Bavaria a prey and their Party our of all danger That they must venter it before the Spaniards came In fine it was concluded that it should be the next day being the sixth of September and the proceeding of that Imperiall Colonel who asked to speak with a Kinsman of his of the same Charge in the Swedish Army upon the word of a Cavalleer to whom he proposed an overture of Peace in his Masters name which was rejected by the Party was taken by the Swedes for a good augure It would require a volume to recount the particulars of the most bloody fight that ever happened amongst Christians The forces of the Duke of Wirtembergh the Landgrave of Hassia and Count Cratz who left the Bavarians when he saw that his Treason was discovered which was to deliver Ingolstadt to the Enemy were already arrived so that there wanted none but the Rhingrave who was beyond the Rheyn with four or five thousand men But they would not expect him for fear lest the Imperialists who had gotten to them the Armyes of the Duke of Bavaria and Cardinal Infanto might chance to escape them The Battail of Nordinghen 1634. the sixth of September The Fight began in the morning the most furious shock was given for the getting and keeping of a Hillock and the Swedish Infantry received great losse about the storming of a mined Fort. The Canon it self being hidden behinde some thick bushes did terrible execution by piercing quite through all the squadrons and the Swedes upon the other side amazed to see the grave motion of the Spaniards who did not recoyle or start back but gently retreat and advance with a sure discharge were constrained to fly and the Cavalry being pursued by the Duke of Lorrain John de Werdt The absolute victory of the Imperialists who gave a brave account of themselves that day was almost utterly defeated and the quarter given at Hamelen was exactly observed till the the King of Hungary ceased the slaughter All the Canon to the number of eighty Pieces and three hundred Colours were the irreproachable marks of an entyre victory which crowned the heads of both the Ferdinands It is held that there were above twelve thousand men killed upon the place and near six thousand prisoners amongst whom was that brave Generall Gustave Horne who was received by the King with such testimonies of benevolence as were suitable to the merit of so courteous and valorous a Captain The pillage was for the souldiers and the fruit of the victory a peace which poor Germany enjoyed not long for she was not yet enough drained Whereof the first was a peace and she had still some ill humours left within her which were not suffered to settle by her Neighbours But if the Protestants and they who had mixed their interest with them received much joy by the first Battail of Leipsick no lesse were the hearts of all the Catholicks both in and out of Germany accumulated with alacrity and gladnesse by this The joy of the Catholicks And the Generalls divided this great Army into many small Bodies as the Swedes had done theirs after the Battail of Lutzen to carry an offensive war up and down into many places whereof we will speak as briefly as out matter will permit us Nortlinghen forthwith surrendred the Dutchy of Wirtembergh quicky in her Enemies power and the Duke unwilling to be spectator of so pitifulla State got himself together with the most prompt of his party to Strasburgh The luster of the Eagles Majesty and of the glory acquired by her as well in Germany as Denmark had been much discoloured and obscured by the happinesse of that great Septemtrional Mars But now she sufficiently recovered it The Swedes will have war in their victory and the Imperialists peace in theirs by this memorable victory of Nortlinghen and to shew that she durst follow her enemies she contraried their proceedings For they would have war in the continuation of their Conquests and she declares her desire of Peace in hers They would carry away all with violence and extremity and she would restore all to the first order and state by a moderate accommodation In effect the King of Hungary offered it to the Duke of Saxony and the rest of the Princes by whom it was accepted but it lasted not long no more then the deceitfull favours of that variable Goddesse did by the puissant odour of the Flower de luce as the drift of this History will shew The Cardinal Infanto after having embraced and taken leave of his Brother-in-Law departed towards the Low-Countries whether we will let him go and stay yet a while in Germany to note the carreer of Ferdinands victories in the disorder of the Protestants THE HISTORY OF THIS IRON AGE BOOK I. PART II. CHAP. I The Peace made at Prague after the reduction of many places and small States The complaints of the Swedes ALL the Towns of Swaveland and the Lake of Bregants returned to the Emperour their Lord. The Imperialists divide themselves Auxburgh was taken by famine and pardoned Rain and Newburgh followed Vlme and Neuremburgh were invested but this Prince who fought for nothing but Peace and won it for no other end then to give it such as would have it received them into favour take many places The Castle of Wurtzburgh held out a long time for fear of not being forgiven Gonnixhof after a long Siege was taken by Hatsfelt Piccolommi plaied Rex in Turing and Coloredo in Saxony in such sort as that he compelled the Elector to hearken to a Peace from which indeed as also from the Emperour he had no aversion at all but onely his own interest and that of Religion Which the King of Sweden very well observing in the midst of his prosperity and knowing the amity which was between these two Princes was fearful least it should come to be renewed I know there were some who beleeved that he was the first who discovered to his friend and Master the Emperour the Treason which the Duke of Frithlund had brewed against him However it were the Peace was made at Pragne The Peace made at Prague 1635. in the moneth of May 1635. with advantage enough to the Ghospellers for their Religion was setled
King of Poland going into Spain to be Vice-Roy of Portugal was beaten by a tempest into a Port of Province where being stayed prisoner and conducted to Paris he was detained a very long time there and not enlarged till after many reiterated Embassyes from the King and Common-wealth of Poland Charles Prince Palatin having in England received the news of Duke Bernards deceaseâ— and conferred with the King and the Spanish Embassadour there departed secretly and passed through France to winne the favour of that Orphan-Army and take possession of Brisack but he was discovered at Moâ—â—lins in the district of Burbon and carried prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes The Duke of Lorraine fought very unhappily against Monsieur du Hallier saw himself quickly stripped of the rest of his States and his poor subjects very ill treated The distressed Burgundians had also their share of the mischiefs of war and sufficient cause to repent themselves of having refused the Troops offered them by Galasso The Spanish Fleet beaten in the Downes 1639. We will finish this year with the huge victory which the Hollanders got of the great Spanish Armada or Navie upon the Coast of England which was almost all burnt and ruined the twenty one of September 1639. and a good number of ships carried into Holland The account of the dead and wounded men was very great and Spain resented this wound a long time by the dispeopling of her Inhabitants It hath not yet been known upon what design this Navie came into the North and all the discourses which have been held thereof have been founded but upon simple conjectures A Revolt in Normandy and in Pâ—â—ou The Normans fell into Commotions and seditions which quite ruined their Province The people were so oppressed by Gabells and Taxes that they had nothing left them but their miserable lives and those full of despaire too To what purpose is it to take some Townes upon the Fronteers of their enemies if it be done with the blood and ruine of the poor people I would take Towns enow saida certain great Warrier but they would cost my subjects too dear I desire to winne them not to buy them In fine not being able to support so many exactions they took Arms under the conduct of a certain Jean Vanuds-pâ—eds in English â—ohn Goe bare-foot At first they were despised and slighted but finding favour credit and intelligence it was needfull to send forces to defeat them which was done and Generall Gassion entring into Rouen disarmed the Inhahitanâ—s and used them as if it had been a Town taken upon the Spaniards without carrying respect so much as to that Illustrions Company some whereof he ignominiously casheâ—red Oh Times Oh manners If the reverence which we ought to bear to Justice be taken away in what esteem think you can the Lawes be The Inhabitants of Caen had almost the same treatment The revolt of the Croquans in Boiâ—oâ—â— had no better issue and all such as would endeavour to check this Great Cardinals authority made ship-wrack of both body and goods It was not lawfull to complain for that blinde Goddess had perhaps taken up her lodging in the head of this great Minister who could not faile It is said of the French that they Ride and not faile In effect were their potency so great upon the one of these Elements as it is upon the other and they as prudent to preserve as they are generous to atchieve they might openly pretend to an universal Monarchy For they have manifested in these last wars that they know how to correct their defects and that they can as well defeat Navies at Sea as Hosts ashore and Monsieur de Brezè with the Arch-Bishop of Bourdeaux shewed no less address and dexterity in the conduct of his Vessels then he had done in that of the Army which he led into Brabans so that work was every where cut our for the King of Spaines Subjects CHAP. X The revolt of Catalunia and Portugal The taking of Arras The Spaniards beaten beaten before Cazal The Hollanders beaten before Hulst THe House of Austria was not enough afflicted yet by so many losses and so many Plots and Treasons but she must be yet more tottered by other disasters and rebellions Spain was indeed within her singers breadth of destruction by the revolts which are yet in durance and which it was believed would make her loose the Low-Countries and her States in Italy But as a great Oak agitated by the windes resists strongly and raises it self up against them just so does this House which men labour in vain to overthrow For there are too many Allyes to maintain her It is in the deepest misfortunes that she shewes least apprehension and in the most imminent dangers that she makes her valour known This year of 1640 was almost fatall to her by the defection of Catalunia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and the unhappy success of her Arms in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish war to the bank of the Danub Let us take notice in due order as much as brevity will permit us of the motives of these stirres King Philip the fourth who now reignes in Spain being a milde Prince and a little more addicted to his pleasures then the state of his affaires required left the administration thereof to the Count of Olivares who as changes grow not without a cause rendred himself odious to almost all his Masters Subjects yea and complaints came of him even from the Low-Countries themselves besides that the Grandies who ordinarily pry upon all occasions to get themselves rid of a potent Minister so well fomented the grievances of the people that they brought them to open revolt upon these pretexts He had great forces of Spaniards and Walloons in Catalunia ordered to guard that Province against the invasion of the French But Rule and Discipline was not so exactly kept but that the licentiousness of the souldiers made the Inhabitants murmur who suddenly rising up in Arms slew their Guests and beat such as came to revenge the sedition Yea upon Corpus Christs-day it self The revolt of the Cataluniaâ—s 1640. they cruelly murthered their Governour With a mutinous people there is nothing sacred no more then there is reason The King was not able to stop this torrent by mildness and clemency and so since the Sluce was broaken the water must be let run For the very Bishops and Priests themselves wore plain Incendiaries and Don Ioseph of Margarita with some other great persons made them subtract themselves from the obedience of their Prince to embrace the protection of France A certain great Politician of this Age discoursing one day upon this matter said that the Catalunian took Armes for their Priviledges and to be succoured by a Nation which made profession of observing none at all The Marshall of Schoonbergh desirous to advantage himselt by this occasion offered them his forces and obliged
leasure to raise then Trenches retired into the Town which they had gotten but few dayes before Lamboy arrived with his Troops and the Infanto not being well in health Melo â—â—â—â—kes Ayre left the charge of the Army to Don Francisco de Melo and retired himselfe to Brussels La. Meillieraye hoping for no reliefe saved his small Army but could not save the Town nor his Artillery which were yeilded in the middle of Winter The discontentment of the Princes caused this losse and stopped the course of Victory for that Field There is alwayes some obstacle in the carrere of affairs and the water is selfe which beares the Vessel gives it some retardment The Duke of Bouillon made his peace and put his trust in a man who never pardoned for the more dead the fewer enemies but he repented himselfe of it before much time was past His Uncle the Prince of Orange laboured for this reconciliation and with much more ardour for his deliverance as we shall shortly shew The Cardinal Infusto's death The Infanto being arrived at Brussels gave now and then some likelyhood of recovery but God had otherwise disposed of him into whose hands he very piously rendred his Soul and the people being in much confusion were ready to knock the Spanish Physitians in the head for having let him too much and too often blood He was a most beautiful Prince of body and yet more of minde the delight of the Low-Countries which he left in extreame regret for his departure He was suspected of having intended to reader himselfe absolure Master of those parts and to make an Allyance of marriage either with France or with the Prince of Orange and yet this suspicion taking root in Spain was the cause of shortning his dayes God knows what it was but the least jealousies of State are irremissible offences Jupiter will not have the Gyants come up to his Throne These distrusts or rather these chimera's having no foundation or ground in reason disappeared and vanished before they were borne The Count of Soissons being killed very likely by treachery the Infanto dead and the Duke of Boüillon reconciled Cardinal Richelieu will overthrow the House of Austria our great Cardinal was delivered from a huge feare and therefore he armed potently to continue his ambitions Enterprises against the House of Austria but all in vaine for she will not fall said a certain great person but with ruâ—â—â— of the Roman Catholick Church or at least it will not be during his life True it is that he persecuted her with all extremity and without intermission and did her more hurt alone then all her enemies together He undermined her in her foundations and endeavoured both by his own writings and those of his Hirelings to perswade the World that she was full of Hypocricy and not truly Catholick A lye which lasts four and twenty hours makes great operation and wounds are not cured without scarrs He made her be painted with an immense ambition the reasons whereof our Subject commands us to pick out before we passe any further CHAP. XII Whether the House of Austria aspire to the universal Monarchy and whether the reasons of such as accuse her thereof be sufficient or no. Why France retains Lorraine AMongst all the Nations which combat the House of Austria at this time none does it with greater animosity then France indirectly by favouring her enemies and succouring them with men and money and directly by open war which was declared in the year 1635. Nay she hath yet other Arms which are not a little dangerous and which insensibly surprize such as have no other interest in their quarrels then that of Religion and Justice For she labours to perswade all Potentates that this House will not relinquish the designe she hath taken to ascend to an Universal Monarchy and to make the Catholicks belâ—â—ve that her zeal which seems to burne so hotly is but a painted fire But let us examine these two last points which stick so much in the braines of the World and cause so many evils and mischiefs as wherewith this last Age is so â—â—â—erably torne for the onely finding of the truth whereof we will answer those arguments of a certaine modrene writer The arguments of such as say that the House of Auftria aspires to the Monarchy First I find not in Ferdinand of Gastile any subject at all to believe that he had a mind to found an universal Monarchy because he discovered some certain Islands in America For his life was too full of vexations disquiet and jealonsies cast upon him by his Sonne-in-Law and Don Gansalvo to give him leave to think of a designe so ful of chimera's as this For we must secure what we have from peril before we seek more Charls the fifth is the principal object of his propositions and over whom he labours to triumph But I stay not upon words I come to effects which make us judge of unknown causes The advantage which Fortune gave this said Charles upon Francis his Competitour for the Empire made him obtain the Renunciation of the Fiefs or hereditary Titles which the said Francis had upon some Provinces in the Low-Countries though the restitution of the Duâ—chy of Burgandy the patrimony of his Grand-Mother Mary of Valois did not follow his promise The many victories he got in Italy Germany and Barbary crowned his head and more glorifyed his memory then amplifyed his States He bought the Soveraignty of Vtrick and the Dutchy of Guelders That of Milan was carryed by Arms and juridically disputed Had he aspired to the universal Monarchy he would not certainly have been diverted by some small crosses of Fortune but on the other side being some moneths elder then Henry the Great was when he prepared himself to give his Enemies a furious shake this great Monarch invincible to all but himself stripped himself of ad to choose a privat life His Sonne Philip found by the Warrs of the Low-Countries that his life would be too short to see the termination of them and as for his meddling with those of France the effects thereof have declared that it was more through passion of Religion then to acquire the possession of that Kingdomâ— unless by losing the hope of getting the whole we be voluntarily induced to render the parts we have gained If the said House being considered all together had had this designe she would have endeavoured to retain the conquests which she made in the North which upon occasion would have opened her the passage to other Besides that she hath always restored such States as she hath purchased by quarrels both in Italy and elsewhere in such sort as that I see not by what means and in how many Ages she would be able to reach to this pretended Monarchy But upon what Branch of this Family shal this Monarchy be placed Upon that of Germaty The Emperour Charles could not endure to see according to the report
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
alledged of the stopping and visiting some of their ships are neither valid nor sufficient and therefore we will shew another The King of Dâ—nmarke always wished to see an and of that destructive war and consequently ceased not to sollicite the Parties to assemble themselves for the remedy of those mischiefs yea and he offered himself for Arbitratour of the controuersie The Swedes consented thereto and the Emperour being much troubled at this too long and too bloody dance very freely condescended and accepted him for Judge Munster was chosen for the dispute and the Embassadours were invited thither The King sent his and wrought so far with the Emperour that he withdrew his Garrison from Wolfenbottel and rendred it to the Duke of Lune burgh This gave the Swedes jealousie as imagining that the King was more affected to the Emperour then to them and that he would infallibly make them let go their prize In such sort as that in stead of sending their Embassadours to Munster they sent their Armies into his territories as also Commission into Holland to hire ships and raise Sea-men whereof that little Province is the Nursery Torstenton advanced into Holstein and his Cavalrie being almost all dismounted by the continuall march he made was quickly remounted in that good country He surprised Kiel whilest the Marohants and Gentry were assembled there took away the money passed on further and seazed with facility enough The Swedes occupats Intland upon Intland The King provided the small Isle of Fune intrenched the approaches and made all take arms who were able to beare them so that Torstenson was repulsed with losse as often as he offered to passe In the interim the King applyed all his thoughts to the Sea prepared a little Fleet and went with it before Gotemburgh and having given charge to make a greater he distributed Patents for the raising of men and dispatched his Embassadours towards the Emperour to implore his assistance in a farre greater danger then that of the year 1628. He complained of this invasion to all Neighbours Friends and Allyes and informed them that they made war upon him in full peace and without having denounced it before The Swedes in the meane while got ground in their Enemies Country and Coninxmarck subjugated the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen The Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen which belonged to the King when he was Prince so that the good old King had but two Islands left namely Zeland and Fune They having obtained leave to hire Vessels in Holland sent for a Fleet thence under the orders of Admiral Martin Ties The King attacked him with so much resolution that he forced him to retire into a Port. All the World wondered at the report of this Kings Expeditions who being about sixty seven years old was not startled at all The courage valour of King Christian to see many brave Lords fall on every side of him by Canon and Musket shot but breathing all blood cheered up his Souldiers and Mariners to stand stoutly to it Nor was there need of any other exhortations then his example and whosoever could have lost his courage by seeing him act would have deserved to loose his life He left the Seas to command the Land Army after having attacked the Swedish Fleet himselfe in person with so much magnanimity that after a long resistance it was constrained to retreat with full saile to the Haven of Kiel where the passage was so stopped up by the Danish Navy that in humane appearance it was in danger to fall into their hands The war in Holstein was waged by Skermishes and Torstenson had made himselfe master of the strong place called Christianprys so that there were no more then two more of importance left for the King to wit Gluckstat and Cremp which much hurt the Swedes by surprizes Gallasso comes to succour hun In fine Gallasso arrived at Oldesto entered Hamburgh and Lubeck and began to treat with the King about a League Offensive and Defensive against the common enemy Monsieur de la Tuillerie the Embassadour of France went into Denmark under pretence of being a Mediatour but in effect to quash the House of Austria's Negotiation The Politicks displayed all the subtility they had Who offered a League to server their Masters in this conjuncture however those of Vienna had as bad an issue here as they had in Poland when they counselled war with a very fine shew of well doing in the year 1635. The Dunkerekers being considerable at Sea offered to maintain at their own charge a Fleet of a hundred Ships and Frigots as well to defend the Sownd as to offend in all the Ports of Sweden and that the King might onely keep the said Streight with his own and forty of their Ships against all such as should come from Holland To which Leagve he much inclined as finding himselfe strong enough to attack Gustave Horne and the Imperialists able with some forces to stop Torstensons passage who could neither assault any more places nor hold those he had taken if he were compelled to put himselfe into a posture of defence The Embassadours of France and Holland represented to him the danger there was for him to involue himselfe in such an Allyance not forgetting the old argument that that formidable House which was in her decline and had alwayes aspired to the Universal Monarchy sought no other occasion to set her selfe up again and make his Kingdom the seate of the war They promised him to mediate an honourable and advantagious peace for him Which the other Embassadors hinder threatened him if he engaged himselfe so deeply and said aloud that they should finde themselves obliged to follow their own interests and succour their Allyes yea and they skared the States of the Kingdom by using the same language to them and weakened in fine the Imperial Party which had bad luck both in Camp and Court During these Transactions the Swedish Fleet escaped without any damage and got into the maine The King beheaded his Admiral Galde for not having well kept the passage and marched into Scania with a brave Army of sixteen thousand men almost all Germans intending to give Horue Battel But La Tuillerie seeing the Party unequal run betwixt the two Armies and with his Rhetorick stopped the Onset which was ready to be give promising the King mountaines of Gold and so both Hosts retired and the Imperial Forces suffered Torstenson to passe before them and return into Germany without stirring at all But Gallasso follwed him who when he might have hindered him from marching out or compelled him to fight upon disadvantage in the Dutchy of Holstein commitred a fault just like that of the Admiral of Denmark Gallasso suspetiet whereupon he was held by some for a traitour and as if he had been corrupted by the Swedes and such as defended him made use of a common argument to wit that he had no Order to hazard his Army But
the most probable judgement is that he was commanded not to advance unlesse the League were first concluded upon the the same terms that it was between the French and the Swedes which it was conceived that the Danes could not refuse in regard that the Emperour came to extinguish the fire amongst them whilest he left it burning at home and for that being leagued together they might restore things to the same stare wherein they were before the warre especially since the interest of that kingdom apart seemed to require it thereby to dessen and abase the Swedish potencie King Christian deceived These reasons were strong and inclined the King to the match but he was not absolute and so the Dunkerkers came not the Imperialists returned and left the business to be mannaged by the Danes themselves who were sufficiently penitent when they heard that their Fleet was beaten by the Swedes to wit six as fair and stately ships as could be made taken and two fired And then the Treaty of peace went slowly and feebly on and La Tuillerie was not so hot as before For much of that which was granted before was now taken off and the King being of a different sense from the States reproached them with the disorder of the kingdom and told them that they were the cause of the ill successe of affaires The Swedes promised themselves no lesse then the Conquest of the whole kingdom since the principal strength thereof which consisted in the ships was very much maimed But the Kings vertue overpowring all his misfortunes he reassembled his whole Fleet before Copenbaghen to preserve the Isle of Zeland made the Peasants work upon the approaches and placed a good Guard to hinder ther the Descent or Disembarkment of the Swedes there which they were every minut projecting The Hollanders who have as much care of their interest as any Prince or Common-wealth in Christendome and who could not suffer the Swedes to be so puissant without betraying them and being morcover satisfied for some affronts which they pretended to have been done them as well in the Sound The Fleet of Holland before Copenhaghen as elsewhere and moved to compassion if there be any in matter of State by the troubles which this old Prince endured sent a Fleet under the conduct of Admiral Witteson who anchored before Copenhaghen and landed the Embassadours of the said Common-wealth The King conceiving this said Fleet to be come to assist his enemies was ready to defend self but the Embassadours moved him to a Peace and resumed the heat which La Tuillerie had left But the Swedes hoping to grow Masters of the whole kingdom and thereby continue the War in Germany the better would not hearken to it till seeing the said Embassadours so much in earnest and interest they suffered themselves willingly to be induced to it The peace madâ— In fine the Peace was concluded to the advantage of the Danes who renounced some Islands gave up some good Holds and King Christian being restored to rest and quiet died like a very good Christian some time after having reigned above fifty yeares He manifested by his death that the Prophecie was false and that Astrologers are men who very often abuse themselves by abusing others There was nothing remarkable in this war by land for the Danes but the generous resistance of the Garrison of Rensburgh which constrained the Swedes to quit that long Siege and the Enterprise of Bromorfund which issued happily for them CHAP. XVI Galasso retires out of Holstein Is ruined by Torstenson neare Magdeburgh The Battell of Lankewits The exploits of the French in Alsatia under the conduct of the Duke of Anguien The taking of Philipsburgh POsterity will not be able to comprehend how the Swedes could make warre in so many parts of the world and from whence they got so many men because though the Kingdom of Sweden be very great yet it is very desert and dispeopled in such sort as that in all these warres there never came sixty thousand men from thence by the confession of one of the Grandies of that nation it self I answer that two Reasons furnished them with so many and so strong Armies The former that almost all the Protestants leagued themselves with them like the Ivie to the tree and most of them believed that in the ruine of the Swedes was included that of all the Lutherans And the latter because Fortune being favourable to them favour turned also towards them principally in regard of plunder It is most certain that in Horus Army there were many women in the habit of men who like so many Amazons performed the actions of brave souldiers so much was the courage of this generous Nation inflamed by prosperity But let us go seek the Armies again Galasso ruined near Magdeburgh Galasso pitched his Camp near Magdeburgh and Torstenson a little above him who so much ruined him by famin rather then by skirmishes that he returned with very few men into Bohemia and his Charge whereof he had very ill acquitted himself was taken from him Coninxmarck one of the most prosperous and dexterous Captains of this Age Coninxmarck in the country of Bremen and another Papenheim in the Swedish Party after having defcated General Enkefurt returned into the Bishoprick of Bremer took Staden Boxtehawdt and all the Country whilest Torstenson marched into Bohemia Who could have believed but that after so great successe as accompanied the Bavarians and the departure of Torstenson with the chief forces the Imperialists would have every where redressed affaires We must confesse what we cannot deny which is that God clearly shewes his power by the disposal of several Governments For it was in vain that they blocked up Ohnitz in Moravia took Wolow in Silesia and made Ragosky some resistance However they put their Army on foot under the Orders of the Generals Goetz Hatzfeldt and other brave Officers to whom Iohn de Werdt joyned with sour thousand men The Battel of Lankow Inbtief a Batrail was given which was a long time ambiguous victory inclining sometimes to one side and sometimes to another General Goetz was slain in the beginning and Iohn de Werdt made so close an impression that he forced the Swades to retyre in confusion The Imperialists thinking the Day was theirs cast themselves according to their custom upon the Baggage where Generall Torstensons wife was who letting them alone awhile fell upon them at length with his reserve and put them all to flight He surprized them loaden with booty charged them off their horses easily routed them and went fighting with them above four Leagues long Unhappy for the Imperialists the 6. of March 1645. This was a most sensible defeat to the Imperial Party for it lest Bohemia as a prey and opened the passage into Morayin and the Empetours Hereditary lands as far as the Danub There were about three thousand killed upon the place four thousand prisoners
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
had begun But Seruient found himself repugned by such as had power and was not able to hinder however his arguments sufficiently incumbred the Colledge but the Peace which was signed at Munster the 8. of January was ratified at the Haghe published at Munster and proclaimed through all the Towns and Villages of this puissant and glorious Republick the 5. of June 1648. And here by the way we may take notice of the admira ble conduct of the Spaniards who though at a great distance and having no other passage then by sea have neverthelesse against all human apparence defended these Provinces the space of thirteen years against three most potent Enemies Such as have more sence of particular then publick interest have condemned this Peace as having been too much precipitated alled ging that the States ought not to have separated themselves from the French but that they ought to have helped them to drive out the old enemies and come to share stakes and many other arguments making for the prolongation of the War To which it may be answered that all Wars which have not a necessary defence and true Peace for their scope are unjust Besides if the Hollanders obtained by this Peace whatsoever they desired and asked it needs must follow that they were obliged to ratify it And as for the interest of France which was also to accept it for the repose of her Subjects and for the great advantages offered therein they clearly perceived that that great Minister would not have it and therefore they resolved not to obey his passion besides that the Embassadours themselves advised them to embrace it in case they could bring the King of Spain to an utter renunciation both for himself and his Successours which after the attendance of a whole year togegether was effected All the world is also of opinion that for the good of their State it is better for them to be separated from the French There are likewise some other reasons which remained in the Cabinet and which some events not foreseen by many have made to be judged very pregnant France hath sufficiently declared by the taking of many Holland-Marchants ships how displeasing this Peace was to her but Holland hath dissembled this proceeding with admirable prudence as attributing it to the passion of the great Ministers Creatures Allyes of different nature bold good in common necessity but at the end of the reckning that frienship growes faint This War which had lasted almost ninety years and which was conceaved to be immortal expired in the Spring time 1648. to the great contentment of such as love peace and tranquillity and the great discontentment of the French who had much reason to be angry at it for two subjects the one for the division or Stake-sharing and the other because they had not quite chased the Spaniards out of the Low-Countries The pence was not pleasing to all It was observed nevertheless that this joy was not universal and that some others beside the French would have been more glad to carry on the War to the total expulsion of the Spaniards Indeed the Bonefires were kindled with more zeale and shined with more light in one Town then in another and coldnesse appeared in the countenances of many persons But above all they who made their advantage of following the Armies and such others also as with whom passion of Religion prevailed more then interest of State expressed their dissatisfactions The number of such as embraced the Reformed Religion and the doctrine of Luther growing in despight of all Placarts and Prohibitions to encrease and multiply sowed the first seed of the division to which was added the ambition of some certain Governours who according to their own sence The causes of the first tumults were ill enough divided the discontentment of the Nobility the Clergie and all in general for augmentation of the Bishops and the retardment of the Forrain Militia in the Low-Countries Cardinal Granvels authority and the report which ran of the Inquisition caused excessive commotions in the Provinces but ambition change in Repigion the exaction of the tenth penny the bloody proceedings of the inexorable Duke of Alna the weakening of the Royal Prerogative and the pretexts of maintaining priviledges were the windes which brake the bounds of respect and concord and caused the Warrs against the Governours and the Duke of Parma's Victories having made the King burie the confederates moved them to begin the War against him which lasted till the valliant Henries death In the beginning of the tumults they first indirectly set upon the Catholick Church by destroying Altars and Images under colour of abuse Idolatries and liberty of conscience and then upon the King under that of the Tyranny of his Governours togeather with the avarice cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers But in fine by the succour of strangers the War was carried on directly and that with so much dexterity and good successe that the King hath lost seven Provinces and the said Church her exercise in such sort as that Philip the fourth now raigning by the articles of this Peace hath declared the said Provinces Free States Let us now see in what coudition the Emperours affayrs are after a losse so little expected All his Subjects on this side the Danub were fled for fear and some also ou the other side saved their goods in Stirmark and in the district of Salsburgh in such sort as that had the Swedes endeavoured to passe the River though it were very large all the hereditary Countries of the House of Austria would have run hazard of being handled like the rest of Germany They took Grembs by assault and laid Siege to Brin And hear it was that Fortune made a pause gave the Imperialists leasure to breath and look about them The siege of Brin as also the Inhabitants beyond the River to put themselves into better posture Mons de South governour of Brin The Governour of this place was one Mons. de Souch a native of Rochels who upon some very great disgust had abandoned the Swedes whom he had served with great zeal of Religion and affection and in the quality of a Colonel which charge he now possessed on the other Party Torstenson after three weekes Siege summoned the Town advertizing him that in case of refusal there would be no quarter for him He answered That he would never ask any and that he would also give none When a Gentleman of merit burns with desire of revenge and acquisition of honour there is no difficulty which he wil not surmount The Siege raised Torstenson after having made many assaults mined undermined and cast a multitude of Granada's into the place was forced to retire And this Siege lasted four moneths destroyed about four thousand Swedes without counting run-awayes and attcheived the Governour an immortal reputation besides the Emperours favour who being desirous to distinguish this rare vertue from the common made him
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
praises for the Peace made but his behaviour made him hated and manifested that he had a mind to command and be obeyed like a Tyrant For he forced the Cloisters and rich Citizens to give mony and made it appear that he would not forsake the Government Aniello insented In fine as wine troubles the brain of such as are not wont to drink any thing but water in the same state was Aniello troubled by so many honours done him and by so prompt obedience For he seemed to be rather a drunken man then one of right sence by tunning up and down doing actions and uttering words which prognosticated the end of this Dance or Maze and his own too The Gig followes the Play The shepheard thinks alwayes of his Pipes and it is far more easie for a King to act the part of a Peasant then for a Peasant to act that of a King 9. The ninth day was full of horrour and cruelty he hurt one killed another and played the pranks of the Furious Rowland 10. Insomuch as that the tenth day being abandoned by the people and even by himself also through a certain vaine and phantastical terrour he was killed by fowr Gentlemen and his head separated from his body He is killed which was dragged about the Town This was the end of that famous Thomas Aniello of whom God Almighty served himself to punish that proud City and make it feel the rough stroakes of his wrath and afterwards cast the rod into the fire It is to be observed that be never spake of his Catholick Majesty even in his very frantick fit but with respect Whosoever would make reflexion upon all the circumstances of this Tragedy would embrace a businesse of much prolixity and therefore I will say no more then that it is a lesson for the Great and a Mirrour for the small and that all these evills are fore-ruaners of the Lords Day But it is now time to frame the war of the Venetians and Turks CHAP. II The war of the Turks and the Venetians and why The taking of Canea The Knights of Maltha take a huge booty or prize as a great number of Gallies and the young Sultanesse or Emperesse of Turky with her Son The Venetians obtain succour but are beaten VVE had so much trouble to sinde an end of this war of Germany which the Swedes and the French terminated with regret and as through spight with the Hollanders for having too soon left the Dance which they had no minde at all to finish till after the Conquest of the whole Empyre that we signified thereby the small care we had to set down the other wars in fit place and order which yet were not despicable neither in successe not proceeding according to the boundlesse irregularities of the Age however they were not considerable in any other respect then for being dependent upon that great Body which makes according to the sense of some learned persons the fourth and last Monarchy Under the prerext of stopping the prosperity of this laudable House of Austria there was formed a puissant League to ruine her yea and the Eagle was already painted naked every where The Eagle peeled panting and grieving and even at the last gasp by the Arms of the said League and the Duke of Lorrame holding her head and giving her physick The Confederates on the other side had their hands full of her feather and stood waiting for her death But all these riddles served to no other end then to amuse the people feed the eyes of the curious and discover the intention of the said Confederates In fine Peace which it was thought would never have come down again but with the Revenger himself of innocent bloud and oppression checred up the hearts of such as were timerous made the Birds of prey withdraw and the Husbandman live in hope however let him who stands upright take heed of falling for there is nothing sure in regard that though the windes be râ—tyred home to their God Eolus the waves leave not still to beat against the bank Indeed the war having like a fire incompassed all Germany passed on into Denmark Sweden England and France in such sort as that there is not so much as any one Province which can boast of being or of having been free and exempt from this universal Disaster The Germans are hard to be moved but having once taken Arms they are very hardly brought to lay them down again The Turk in the kingdom of Candy In the interim the sworn enemy of Christendom took his time measure kept his cadency entred into Candy besieged Canea and couzened the most clear-sighted of the whole Company who thought that this storm would burst upon the Isle of Malta Let us lay open the counterfeit and mark the pretext and subject which kindled the Grand Signor's wrath who covering all the Levant or Eastern Sea with an infinite multitude of Vessels thought to surprize and devoure that most serene Common-wealth which must not perish but with the dissolution of the world The Mahometans serve themselves also of dissimulation and when they make a shew of drawing one way they go another The effects of the hatred which they bear the Christians had not been differred so long in so many fair occasions had it not been for the war between them and the Persians This war I say had taken away the meanes of prevailing against us by those disorders which had so much weakened us For neither the brooks of blood which was spilt not the Towns and Villages which were burnt not the fields which were made desert hastened them to come and dispatch the rest They seemed to have lost their interests and rejoyced to see the Name of Christian destroyed by the Christians themselves But when it seemed to them a fit time to act against a Body which was grown faint by the losse of so much blood and whilest they were momentarily deliberating amongst themselves where and how to begin the Round the Knights of Malta shewed them the way and let them see that there were yet Christians enow to give them exercise and make them pay the expences of the Revel Ibrahim the Sultan being a bloody Prince and spurred on to war by the Counsells of his Minion or Favorite for the Barbarians as well as our Princes have some who make them condescend to their passions was much more moved by spight and rage when he received the vexatious newes that the Knights of Malta had taken near the Isle of Rhodes The Knights of Malta take the young Sultanesse and her Son with a huge Ireasure the great Gallion and some Gallyes which conducted the young Sultanesse her Son and an Aga towards Alexandria with so great riches as amounted to more then three millions of Gold The affronts which we receive from such enemies as we despise are much more tormenting then those of such as we fear This Golden Fleece and this
time till the Queen being supplicated to release them was content to grant it And thus Appeased was the first bout which was but precursory to greater evils past and a calme restored to that little world for three or four moneths It is very reasonable say the Strangers that the Shop where the Counsells of so many wars had been forged should feel a part of the Calamities by which Europe hath been so miserably tottered but the mischiefe falls upon the heads of the innocent Strange effects of the Divine Providence which leaves nothing firme and stable in this detestable Age and nothing unpunnished though deferred Let us passe to the second much more dangerous then the first The Queen together with the King and Princes went out of Paris upon the fifth or sixth of January at night 1649 which clandestine retreat The King goes out of Paris which causes a tumult gave the Inhabitants such an Alarme as imagining that she would revenge her selfe of the former Commotion that they took arms again with as much heate as they had done before and raised forces to conserve themselves under the command of the Duke of Beaufort Elbouf and Bouillon as also the Marshal de la Motte and their chief General was the Prince of Conty The King raised some also and there came many to him from all parts to reduce this great City to reason he had already seized upon some approaches and some hot Skermishes were made in one whereof The pretended Duke of Rohan killed His education that pretended Duke of Rohan was killed of whose education the Reader will be pleased to hear a word or two as I have been able to learne it Being yet an Infant he was carried into Holland by a certain Captain and put to nurse to a Country-woman in North-Holland where together with his milk he sucked in the love of the Roman Catholick Religion When he was grown pretty big he was sent to the Latin Schooles at Leyden but with so little care that he was as it were quite abandoned and almost reduced to the extremity of betaking himselfe to learne some Trade During this small state and low condition he told his School-fellowes and namely my sonne that he remembred well that he was come of a good House and that he well knew that he was the sonne of a French Gentleman He went publickly to the Sermons and privatly when he could to Masse which being come to the knowledge of some to whom he was recommended without knowing who he was they forbid him to go to the secret Assemblies of the Papists But in fine the vizard was taken off and the Dutchesse of Rohan acknowledged him by Letters for her sonne sent him men and mony to set up his Traine and bring him into France where he soone sound his grave for a Pistoll bullet decided the sure and the doubt of whether he were the true sonne of the deceased Duke of Rohan or no. Paris was in a more dangerous State then it had been in a long time before for the King held S. Dennis Mewdon Corbeil and Lagny so that to get out of one extremity recourse must be had to another and that to the uttermost parts of the Kingdom I mean they were faine to implore assistance of their Enemies which being favourably offered they received it The Arch-duke goes to sucour Paris 1649. The Arch-duke Leopold promised to succour the Parliament against the Perturbatour of the Peace and quiet of Christendom for so they tearmed Cardinal Mazarin with whom he refused to joyn in Arms to his own great advantage and the ruin of the Partsians Wherefore he departed in March 1649. with very good order in all parts where he passed but with discontentment to his Army which marched in the Enemies Countrey with their hands tyed without receaving mony or daring to take any thing from the Peasants Goodnesse is sometimes dammageabe and to spare ones Enemies is to give them will to hurt him and deminish his strength Cardmal Mazarin seeing the Arch-dukes approach and Parliaments care for the remedy of the disorders which threatned the Kingdome with a great breach gave way to this sterme which being once joyned might come to destroy him So that the Peace was made all those insurrections were pardoned and Leopold found at the bottom of this businesse what the Duke of Lorrain had told him before For he was advised to retyre with all speed for fear least his passage were stopt A considerable favour indeed for having saved Paris from ruin with the losse of almost two thousand Horses which dyed for want of sorrage This deceipt was imputed to the necessity of the rime which when it hath any ground passes for craft for otherwise The peace made it is but meer malice Parisians it will be payd you and your inconstance will be chastized for the busines will not be forgotten The Arch-duke being amazed at this piece of levity speedily retreated towards his borders Ypers besieged and gave the Marquis of Sfondrato order to invest Ypers which he did the 11 th of April with incredible diligence having taken some Forts which facilitated the succour of the Town from Dunkerk but he found more to doe then was imagined for they of the Garrison being in number three thousand having thrust out some fifteen hundred inhabitants such as were most suspected and shut up the Magistrates the Clergy and some of the Nobility in a Cloister til the Tragedie were finished made their Artillery sound lowde and their blowes fall heavy in many sallies and especially in that of the 24. of April when they went and beat up the quarters of the Spaniards which was a most glorious action for had the succour been ready the Town had been infallibly delivered from the Siege In fine after having well defended the Countersearpe and a Half-Moon they yeelded themselves up the eighth of May Renders it self the eighth of May 1649. after having consumed their powder and the Garrison in respect that it was Sunday went out the tenth which was Tuesday St. Venant submitted at discretion the sixth of April and the Garrison were made prisoners of War The French Army made Rendezvous between Perone and Guise being a body of five and twenty thousand effective men under the orders of that fortunate Warrier the Count of Harcourt who knowing that the Spanish Troops were scattered and dispersed marched with speed incamped and intrenched themselves before Cambray Cambray besiged and tâ—â—en This un-thought-of surprize did not a little puzed the Arch-duke who contracting all his forces hastened with the Duke of Lorrain to succour the place and so having put in a supply he obliged the Besiegers to raise the Siege This done he sent his Army into Garrison and the French out of revenge for this affront fell into Hennawlt took Conde and asked both that and all the whole County in such manner as if they had had no intention
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
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
himself of the advantage be hath upon any one alone by pursung him for fear of giving the rest the occasion of seizing upon his sheep This brave man did wonders Tromps praise but he had the displeasure of seeing seeing above twenty of his men of War fly without fighting at all The States ceased not during these fatal actions to employ all possible inventions to disingage themselves from these troubles which obstructed the Commerce either by force or friendship For the advantages which the Enemies had by the conveniency of their Havens before which they are necessitated to passe as at the mercy of the Canon oblidged such Fleets as were not furnished with sufficient Convoyes The Ships passe behinde Scotland to passe behinde Ireland and Scotland and before Norway a long paineful and perilous Voyage and which very often caused the merchandises to be corrupted and spoiled 〈◊〉 The great Fleet which departed this Spring from Rochel made this huge circuit and by an admirable felicity artiyed safely without having meâ— the Enemy who expected it at the passage that which was appointed towards the Baltick Sea was all the Summer at the Flie without daring to come out and that of the great Indies is not yet arrived In the Battel against General Deane Tromp was forced to retreat with considerable losse because he had a contrary winde General Deane beat the Hollanders and stayed before Flushing to repaire his Ships But the English kept the Sea and shewed themelves before the Brill and then before the Taxell where we will leave them to see what passes in the Province Seditions in Holland and chiefly at Enchuien During these Tragedies at sea murmurations and mutterings were heard a shore and certain Libells intitled the Lords of Louvenstein It was said that there was a design to ruin the House of Nassaw and that the Prince of Orange ought to be Governour of the Country and many other Calumnies which deserve to be suppressed When the Drum was beaten for the raysing of Souldiers the common people would needs have it done under the conduct of the Prince of Orange in such sort as that at Enchuysen there hapned a Tumult of very ill example The States considering the potency of their Enemies and many other affairs which might be thought of for security sent for a great Body of Horse into the very center of Holland and placed it near the Sea-coast The Horse comes into Holland But they chiefly expressed their infatigable care in the fitting and setting forth of a Fleet to chastise a Nation which neglected their friendship whereof the were deceived as the sequel will demonstrate Tromp having put his Fleet into a fighting posture again and the souldiers being payed and assured of maintenande in case they were may med set sayle towards the end of Iuly and went generously to face his Enemies and Witt Wittenson departed from the Texel to second him The fight began and the Hollanders charged twice through the English Fleet and in the third time it was A furious Battel wherein the Hollanders are worsted that this warlike Nation of the English shewed their magnanimity and courage by forcing the Hollanders to a retreat into their Havens three Dutch Fire-ships fastened on three of their Flag-ships But the English contemning all danger flung themselves into the flame and disingaged their Ships Tromps deaths The valliant Tromp dyed in this bed of Honour He was beloved and regretted by all in general for the mildnesse of his nature and for the services which he had done his Native Country He was ennobled by Lewis the thirteenth King of France in recompence of those services which he had done him and very much esteemed by Cardinal Richelieu Eâ—nobled by the King of France but Rarea took him a way before he had finished this War which drew the attention of the whole World upon it General Cromwel a most prudent Politician and most magnanintous Captain having surmounted the Royal Party subjugated the Irish defeated in many Battels Victorious Cromwel dissolves the Parliament and humbled the Scots as well in their own Country as in England and dissipated Charle's Forces had now no more to do then to dissolve the Parliament which he performed with as much glory to himself as shame to them So that he is now more absolute in Authority then any of the Kings ever were by vertue of his Army whereby he keeps the people in awe and order who governs the State not only like a Brutus but like a Caesar also He constituted a new Parilament which changed not their resolutions to hurt the Hollanders who had also the power to defend themselves This we see the State of England not onely under a Brutus but a Caesar afso Confusion in the Church of England the Church governed by Independents and full of confusions yea the women have preached against St. Pauls expresse Commandment and the Clâ—â—thes turned into Stables But a regulation of all these exorbitances is expected from the government of so sage a Ruler But in what condition have we lest Holland In the care of choosing a new Admiral and maintaining the Union of the Consoederated Provinces For conclusion we will go back to see that most famous Assembly of Ratisbone where there is nothing treated but what is of high The Assembly at Rausbone and noble consequence The saines are past the stormes scattered and the Mariners repair the Vessels the Sun of Justice shewes himself and such as have escaped shipwrack dry their Cloathes and rake together the fragments of what is left them However Ferdinand the third that most Religious and most August Emperour were arrived at Ratisbone together with the Electours and had sufficiently declared that for the good of the Empire is was necessary to provide a worthy Successor they endeavoured not yet to elect a King of the Romans till after the hews was come that the Swedes had restored into the hands of the Marquis of Brandenburgh The Hinder Pomerania rescorred Heir to the last Duke of Pomerania that Portion or Parcell which is called the Hinder-Pomerania the time being passed in visits divertisements and honest recreations But then the said Emperour transporting himself together with the Electoral Colledge and an infinite multitude of other Princes to Auxburgh his Son Ferdinand the fourth King of Bohemia and Hungary was with a common voice proclaimed King of the Romans Ferdinand the fourth proclaimed King of the Romans By the happy Conjunction of these Stars nothing could be expected but a previous influence of long repose through the whole Empire of Germany a reparation of disorders and an establishment of a good Peace by there-union of minds Great God! How infinite are thy wonders and how immovable is thy Providence The choose the Sen of him out of whose hand they laboured to pull the Helme to whom they give both with him and after him the government of this
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
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
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