Daughter to the Earle of Holland where it is said that Simoscus killed with one shot of Pistoll the Earle and his two sonnes and that afterward he would have killed Rowland Earle of Flanders but the Pistoll mis-giving Rowland did kill him with his sword and did throw the Pistoll in the Sea But we reade that Barbadigue Admirall of Venice was the first that carried them on his Gallies and Shippes wherewith he did terrifie the Genoweys being at hunting by their noise and Paul Iove in his third booke of illustrious persons writes that Barthelem Cokone Generall to the Venetians for the space of twentie yeares and more was the first that used Cannon in the Fields while as the banished people of Florence made warres against the familie De Medices being first used to make breaches in walles and to defend walles but afterward they came in use to breake the Battailes of horse and foote for if the warres of old and their inventions were compared to now adayes it were a sport to laugh at rather than warres Now of late the invention is found out of burning Bullets full of fire shot out of Cannon to fire houses within Strengths and to fire Pallesads and Gabeons set before Batteries on walles or in Fields whereof his Majestie of Polle Estien Bathon made good use in his warres of Musco within a few yeares This invention is thought to have been invented by the King of Pole himselfe in his civill warres of Hungarie finding other Cannon made greater noise than hurt The manner a piece is charged with a hot Bullet is the piece is charged with powder convenient then it is covered with sand in a little quantitie above the powder then with a little greene grasse presently pluct being a little dampish or moist then the hot Bullet being put in must be presently discharged otherwise the Invention is very dangerous for the Constables for oft-times minding to ruine others they are ruined themselves Albert Gantz writes that Christophel King of Denmarke was killed by a shot of Cannon in the yeare 1280. Also we have a deplorable storie written by Gyrrard de Rooe and Conrade Decius of the Battaile betwixt the Emperour Albert and the Poles in Bohemia Amongst their Cannons there was one Cannon greater than the rest which for her execution was most used shee killed so many of the Poles that they were so affraid that they ranne all away leaving their tents and it is reported that at one shot shee killed fourescore men the Divell as I said before was by the permission of God the inventor of such a Monster being offended with mankinde in this last old age of the world those thunder-claps putting us in minde that this whole round Globe shall be shaken and perish We reade also in the thirty-fourth booke of Paul Iove his story the answer of a Turke reprehended of his cowardize having runne away at the noise of a Cannon being besieged by the Emperour within Goullet Adrian Barbarossa reproaching Sinas for losing courage he answered so long as we have to doe to fight against Armed men you and my enemies doe know I served ever with reputation and credit but to fight against the Devill and the fury of Hell-fire having against us such terrible Monsters be not you astonished that I sought to eschew death to th' end I might remaine whole to doe you service We reade also in the bloudy battaile of Ravenne fought on Easter day 1512 betwixt the French and Dutch and the Spaniard that one shot of a double Cannon did kill as Michaell de Chochen forty Horsmen We reade also that in the Sea-fight betwixt the French and the Emperialists on the River of Melphe neere the straight of Salerne in the yeare 1628 shot out of the Gally of Captaine Philip Dore a Cannon Bullet that killed above thirty Spaniards and hurt many others as reporteth Paulus Eâ—terus in his story of the warres of Italy and Paul Iove writing of the same Battaile more largely and curiously being eye-witnesse himselfe or at least within hearing of the Cannon on the Isle of Aenary where he did see the smoke of the Cannon saith Philip Dore diligent to make good execution with Cannon and not in vaine spending pouder and shot on the Spaniard his great piece called the Basiliske the ball being monstrous great broke through the whole ship even to her keele and killing thirty wounded severall Captaines and Gentlemen that were mutilated or dismembred So that the Marquesse of Guat was all spoiled with the bloud and entralls of the dead Guicciardin roported that at the siege of Calis in the yeare 1558. by the Duke of Guise in name of the King of France on the three Kings day in the morning with thirty three double Cannon from one battery made such a noyse that the sound was heard five houres going beyond Calis being twenty English miles And lest the judicious Reader will thinke this an untruth I would warrant it from my owne deede for he that pleaseth may reade the story written by the Author Guicciardin But those peeces of Cannon that are farthest hard are called pot-peeces or Mortiers such as Mounts on the Castle of Edenburrough being so wide that it is reported that a man did get a Child within which I also warrant from my owne deede but the truth is it is a huge great peece from whence did come our old Scots Proverbe the Devill shoote Mounts in your arse Gentle Reader excuse my homelinesse since I was not the Inventer of this Proverbe These kinde of Peeces are very large and carry stones for bullets The Mortiers of Soliman at the Siege of Rhodes in the yeare 1522. their bullets wayed some of them two hundred weight the least one hundred and fifty pounds of great weight when they light on a house they goe through from top to ground and Paulus Iovius reports of a Mine made by Peter Valler which made entrance for the Spaniard within the new Castle of Naples kept by the French the French were so astonished with the surprize of the Mine that they retired unto the last and furthest Court so that the guards had not time to draw up their Draw-bridges and the French letting downe the Portcullies to hinder the Spaniards entry coming with a furious presse the French bring a peece of Cannon to terrifie the Spaniards that had entâ—ed one Gate or the first Court and shoote amongst them where by chance the Iron bullet tooke hould of the thicke of the Port where it remaines to this day showne for a Monument unto strangers that have got the credit to goe within this Castle to see it Many such Stories we could inferre but let these suffise in this place for this time THE CHRISTIAN SOVLDIER GOING ON SERVICE HIS Meditations I. WHEN thou seest thy Camerade going to Muster with a faire shew outwardly deckt with brave clothes and delighting in his Plumes thinke with thy selfe such an outward shew is nothing without the
are signifying thereby that brave warriours Kings or Princes had no better right than their swordes Here also we see that nothing is more powerfull to bring our enemies to an accord than a strong Armie while as they want strength to oppose them for the Conquest will render and give such conditions to the Conquerour as he pleaseth to further good or bad We see also here as formerly His Majestie in respect of the Duke of Wimar his power in those Quarters which in effect is great appointed him Stat-houlder and supreame Commissioner in His Majesties absence in governing the Countrie and in strengthening the Armie by leavying of forces of horse and foote being a fit man for such employment that part of the Country being the most populous part in Germanie and cheapest to entertaine them through the fertilitie of ground in those parts rendering increase beyond any part of lower Germanie The twentieth Dutie discharged of our March towards Wurtzburg in Franconia THE twenty-six of September his Majestie divided the Armie in two Deales or parts considering the difficultie he had to march over During-vault with a strong Armie And therefore being minded to march unto Franconia to visit the Bishops of Bamberg and Wurtzburg he tooke the one halfe of the Armie with himselfe crossing over the Vault towards Konickhoffen and Swinfort and directed Lievetenant Generall Bawtish and Sir Iohn Hepburne with the other halfe of the Armie to march over the Vault unto Franconia upon Smalka and Newstat the Randezvouz appointed for the Army to meet at was Wurtzburg on the Maine being the Bishop his chiefe residence where there was a great Citie and a strong Citadell or Castle wherein lay a strong Garrison and the most part of the riches of the Country being esteemed by them as impregnable in respect of the Situation being seated on a high hill unaccessible save onely from the Towne so that it was hard to doe it any hurt by Cannon being so strong by nature and fortified with divers out-workes on the accessible side that lay to the Citie The Army thus divided and marching alike to one centre or Randezvouz his Majestie was provided to take in the strengths that lay in his way and Bawtizen and Hepburne had Orders to bring under Contribution such Cities as they marched on as they did His Majestie tooke in his way Konickhoffen by accord being strong and having beset it with a Garrison he marched from thence to Swinfort and tooke it in also and having beset it with a Garrison the Burgers being made to give their Oath of fidelitie Duke Ernest of Wymar was appointed Statholder over Franconia In this time we marched over the Vault to Smalka and from thence to Newstat Milerstad Gemond and Carlestat on the Maine The first night we quartered on the side of the Vault next unto Franconia in a Citie called Smalka where we were well quartered and the next morning we marched to Mainigen from thence to Mellerstat and then to Newstat on the Salt from thence to Hamelburg from thence to Gemond and from Gemond to Carlstat and these six Cities we tooke in by accord and having gotten a Composition of moneys of them they being sworne to give their obedience unto his Majestie having quartered in them as we past they were free paying the moneys they had promised and the monethly Contribution In this march though the Generall Lievetenant commanded in chiefe and made the Accord most to his owne advantage having got of these Townes above fiftie thousand Dollers whereof he made neither accompt to his Majestie nor yet was he any wayes beneficiall to the Colonells who did the service but put all in his owne purse neither yet did he acknowledge Sir Iohn Hepburne with the least token of his bountie whose merit at this time was not inferiour to his owne His Majesty having taken in Swinsort and beset it he continued his march to Wurtzburg and coming before the Towne he summoned them to render whereupon they did send Father Ogleby Abbot of the Scots Cloyster at Wurtzburg to capitulate with his Majestie in the behalfe of the Burgers who got granted unto them the like accord as was made with Erfort in all degrees the accord subscribed his Majestie entered the Towne the same day that our forces arrived at Carlstat being within two miles of them that night The Citie given over the Castle refusing to heare of any Treatie they begunne from the Castle-workes to plague his Majesties Armie with Cannon where ever they could lie or stand within or without the Citie on either side of the Maine they were cruelly tormented by the enemies Cannon so that at last it went on in earnest on both sides for his Majestie having had intelligence that Generall Tilly with a strong Armie of fiftie thousand men being joyned with the Duke of Loraine were coming for the reliefe of the Castle his Majestie resolved that taking of time was best and that it behooved him on the sudden to have it or not at all This Castle being a strong Strength sequestred on a height from the Towne and the Souldiers as they retired from the Towne they did breake off one Arch of the Bridge to hinder his Majesties passage over the Bridge unto the Castle being the onely way he could get to it and the Castle-workes did so command the Bridge that a single man could not passe over without great danger of life being the whole Bridge did lie open just under the Castle where there was one long plancke laid over the broken Arch being distant in height from the water neere eight fathom so that it seemed a hazard or torment to any man to passe over alongst the plancke where some valourous Officers and Souldiers would rather adventure to goe before the mouth of the Cannon than to crosse over the plancke though there were no danger of the enemies Cannon or Musket which still played furiously on that passe of the Bridge to hinder his Majesties Souldiers in setting over where at first two valourous Gentlemen of our Nation being brethren were killed on the Bridge viz. Sir Iames Ramsey his Major called Bothwell and his brother Neverthelesse before our coming from Carlstat being within two miles his Majestie had ingaged the rest of our Country-men that were with him on this piece of service being the most desperate and of the greatest importance that was ever done in Dutchland during the continuance of the warres And therefore Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton were made choice of with their Regiments by his Majestie who knew both their worth and valour being perswaded if they refused it none would undertake the service after them the passage being so dangerous and of such hazard that without great difficultie there was no probabilitie to gaine much credit there and his Majestie resolved except those Cavaliers with their followers would make way to others the wished event could not be hoped for at that time seeing the enemy was within
being going before their enemie to fight a thing very disallowable in either Officer or Souldier to preferre a little money to a world of credit It is a great part of a Colonels dutie timely to foresee for all things necessary that may give content to those under his command lest being justly discontented he might be greived whiles it were not in his power to helpe himselfe or others The liberality of a Colonell and his care in fore-seeing for his Regiment returnes to him oftimes with triple profit being with moderation familiar with his Officers making them as humble friends not as servant under command and he ought by all meanes eschewe to come in question or publique hearing with his Officers the onely meanes to make himselfe famous and his Regiment of long continuance The third dutie discharged of our Marâ—â— from the Waser towards Bysenbourg on the Elve HAving thus remained the space of ten weekes under the command of Generall Morgan on the Waser side we got orders to breake up and to continue our march over the Elve under Hamburgh and from thence toward Bysenbourg Skonce to joyne with the rest of our Regiment the Colonell and Lievetenant Colonell being absent Major Iames Dumbar commanded then in chiefe receiving all necessaries fitting for our march as ammunition proviant and waggons for our baggage our sicke souldiers being cared for were left behinde and we brake up from the Waser the tenth of Iuly 1627. a Regiment of Horse being commanded with us for our Convoy to the Elve the first night we quartered at Rottenburg a strong passe having a great Marrish on both sides accessible onely by one narrow causey which leades through the marrish to the Castell which is well fensed on both sides with Moates Drawbridges and slaught bomes without all The next day our march continuing in the morning our forâ— troopes having gotten Alarum retired on us whereupon we drawing into Battaile resolved to fight and provided our selves accordingly for the enemies comming which being found but a false conception nothing followed on it but the continuance of our march without further interruption The next night we lying in Quarters our Guards orderly disposed before day we had another Alarum our duety duely discharged of all both horse and foote if the enemie had come we were provided But the Alarum proving false we brake up continuing our march toward Buckstehood appointed for our first Randez-vouz where we were commanded to send to his Majestie at Stoade for receiving of further Orders and a company of Horse being directed with me for my convoy I was made choise of to go to his Majesty for bringing Orders unto the Regiment His Majesty being absent Orders were given to me by a Generall Commissary to continue our march thorough Buckstehood and to quarter over night in the old land by the Elve side till the next day we should crosse the River of the Elve at Blanckeneas and from thence to march by Hamburgh through their Territories and passe towards Lovenburgh where we quartered a mile from it continuing our march the next morning towards Bysenburgh where we quartered in the fields for five nights till we knew of his Majesties further resolution The third Observation ALl marches are occasioned by the accidents of the warfare The reason of this march was the enemies Army drawing strong â—o a head in Lâ—â—â—burgh land of intention to force a passage over the Elve to come the easier to Holsten his Majestie being weake of foote in this quarter having no great feare of his enemie on the Waser where we lay before we were therefore called to joyne with the rest of our Regiment at Bysenburgh Another reason of this march was the Kings forces in Silesia being also weake of Foote standing in great neede of a timely supply we being able to endure a long march his Majesty resolved after besetting well the passe on the Elve to send us for a supplie unto the Silesian Armie Neverthelesse many times we see in warres though things be long advised on and prosecuted after advise duely yet the event doth not alwayes answer to mans conjectures For it is a true old saying Man proposeth but God disposeth A Commander having the charge of a Regiment or partie on a march ought in all respects to be as carefull and diligent as a Generall that leads an Army being subject to the like inconvenience of fortune Wherefore he ought to be well provided of all things fitting for his march that in time of Rancounter with the enemy he might the better discharge his duty especially being provided with good store of Ammunition both for the mouth and service with sufficient fix Armes He ought also for his march ever to have good intelligence left his enemie should circumvent him He ought also to order his march according to the countries scituation he marches thorough appointing his Randez-vouz nightly short or long as his Quarters may fall in best security He ought also to keepe his Officers and Souldiers in continuall good order of discipline without suffering the one or the other to fall off from their Stations without great and urgent occasions and if any of them chance to fall off he is obliged to foresee to their timely returnes Likewise he ought not in any manner of way suffer violence to be used to Boores or strangers in his march and if such doth happen he is obliged to do justice to all and to see examplarie punishment done to terrifie others from the like He ought also to be carefull to give none under his command just occasion of complaint for want of their dues either in quarters or in distributing of their victualls according to their strengths He ought also on his march to be provident in causing to bring their Proviant timely to their Randevouz or Hawlts seeing it to be rightly distributed for avoiding of contentions happening most commonly at such times Also he must foresee before he makes a hawlt that the ground be convenient where he drawes up whether he be in feare of an enemie or not and at such times he must be carefull that centries be duly placed at all parts needefull and that no man be suffered to wander or go astray from the haulting part for feare he be to seeke when occasion should present either to breake up to march or otherwise in case of Alarum to have his Officers or souldiers wandering while as the enemie should charge were a grosse error Likewise he ought to be of strict command and authority to punish those that on a march leave their Armes behind them or that are carelesse in keeping their Armes both fix and cleane In quartering either in village field or Citie he must give orders for his posts to keepe Guards upon and he ought himselfe to recognize all avenues and inquire of the knowne countrimen the passes whereby his enemies may come unto him and of the distance he is from his enemy he must also direct
we feared we should not gaine so much time as to put our Armie in assurance within trenches before the enemies comming but being more affrighted than we had reason comming there betimes we intrenched our selves within a Close Leager before the Isle of Poule a mile from Wismere Where we made a draw-bridge over the passage to the Isle and fortified it with Skonces and Redoubts on both sides where we lay five weekes till his Majestie provided shipping for our transportation unto Holsten and fearing contrary winds might keepe us long on the Isle it being in the Harvest time we provided the Island with Corne and Cattle taken off the Country about sufficiently to have entertained us the whole Winter in necessitie In this Leager we had abundance of flesh and of drinke but we were slightly provided of bread and salt where a Souldier had but one pound of bread allowed him in ten dayes if that he tooke it not off the field Our Scottish High-land men called this Leager the flesh Leager and justly for the Souldiers were so cloyed with flesh that Oxen flesh was let lie on the ground the Hides taken off by the Souldiers and sold for a Can of Beere a Hide the whole body left on the place untouched and at last the Souldiers weary of Mutton also eating onely the heads and feet being boyld with Wheat brought off the fields In all this necessitie the Towne of Wismere did prove very discourteous unto us in not suffering to help us with any thing they might spare for our money but rather through their pride abused our Officers and servants that entred their Towne to buy necessaries The fift Observation HEre we have represented unto us the mutability of humane estates and especially of warres the wheele turning we that looked to go forwards were forced to retire humane affaires being opposed as a marke to all the shots of discontentment so that we ought not to rejoyce too much in a calme or prove faint hearted in a storme We reade of a Roman Captaine who did tremble being victorious as being uncertaine how long his good fortune might continue And the Romans as Scipio tould the Ambassadors of Antiochus were not puft up by victory nor cast downe by losse And Augustine said this life of ours was doubtfull blind miserable made of a floud of humors ebbing and flowing Notwitstanding whereof it is the duety of a wise Commander to make use of the time by diligent fore-sight and wise deliberation to save himselfe and others so long as he may and not to be dejected at every buffet unconstant fortune doth give him As this old Generall his resolution at this time having an enemy before him was good the enemy coming also behinde him tooke his march betwixt both and did come fortunately to his wished forecast putting himselfe and his Army in assurance This old Generall was of good experience but not fortunate neither were they fortunate whom he served though of invincible courage and of great understanding in warres for to give his Majesty of Denmarke his due no man breathing I thinke carries a stouter heart then he doth Yet I have seene his Majestie far dejected in spirit through great losse and no wonder as you shall heare more particularly set downe in the seventh observation In this Retreat we were not voide of feare but suspecting the worst every man bethinking himselfe of his best safety to eschew an apparēt overthrow a thing at all times most dangerous in an Army Our Horsemen being afraid of a retreat by water and consequently the losse of their Horses for want of shipping and which was more they feared the losse of their goods and their owne imprisonment but it was in vaine they should torment themselves before hand for things without their powers to eschew But they ought rather to have made use of the present and to have foreseene the future so far as lay in them resolving patiently against all crosses and to referre the event to God Here also I did observe the inconvenience that comes to souldiers through eating much flesh without salt or bread which did bring diseases in the Leager so that many died of pestilence and flux but of our Nation fewest for to speake truth I never did see more durable men against all Toyle travell and tediousnesse than they were Likewise I did observe first here that the Townes of Germanie are best friends ever to the masters of the field in flattering the victorious and in persecuting of the loser which is ever well seene in all estates When we are happie in the spring-tide of abundance and in the rising floud of plenty then the world would be our servants but when these pleasant waters fall to ebbing then men looke upon us at a distance Wherefore adversity is like Penelopes night which undoes all that ever the day did weave And our misery is so that we can never tri◠a friend but in the kicke of malignant chance so I confesse he is happy that finds a true friend but he is happier that findeth not extremitie to trie him The sixt duety discharged of our expedition by Water from Wismer to Heligenhoven and of our service at Oldenburgh HAving remained five weekes in this Leager during which time preparation was making for the transportation of the Army unto Holsten seeing the Emperors forces come from Silesia and Tillies Army were joyned very strong which barr'd our passage from comming into Holsten by land which made us ship our Army for going unto Heligenhoven and from thence to the passe of Oldenburgh in Holsten of intention to ly secured there till thē rest of his Majesties forces might joyne with us The Army then consisted of eight thousand Foote and Horse besides those that were left behinde on the Iland under the command of Generall Major Slamersdorfe Having all safely landed at Heligenhoven we matched towards the passe of Oldenburgh where arrived before night our Leager was drawne out into the most convenient part for maintaining of the passe where the first night we begin to worke in the Trenches and continue working the whole night and the next day till noone that the enemy was seene marching towards the passe in full Battalions of Horse and foote which before three of the clocke had planted Batteries to play with Cannon on our Leager and to force a passage over the passe which our Generall perceiving gave orders to double the Guards both of Horse and foote As also strongly to Barricade the passe and to cast up in the night a redout before the passe the night drawing on being darke silence was over all on both sides of the passe But the day cleering the Guardes on both sides begin the skirmish the Cannons on both sides begin to discharge the Horse Guards charge one another till ours were forced to give ground the foote Guards beginning to fight the reliefes were commanded on both sides to second their owne the service growing hot and the
had sufficiently done towards him Hugh Murrey being desired in time of hot service to goe and take off his brother being killed he lacking powder said going towards his dead brother I will first emptie my brothers Bandeâ—iers as I have done mine owne to be revenged on his enemies before I take him off in the meane time he was shot in the eye himselfe and that wondrous favourably the Bullet some few dayes after having come forth at his nose which is most true though seeming incredible This day also I observed an ill custome too common to all Generals that they make most use in time of desperate service of those that doe best serve them and when once they have experience of their valour they never omit to employ them on the most dangerous exploits and for reward they onely doe commend their valour when others are scarce remembred at all Here also I did see that on hot service nothing can be more comfortable than the getting of a timely reliefe as we did get of the rest of our Regiment for having long smarted under the mercy of Cannon and Musket in hot service so that a Souldier was not able to handle his Musket for feare of burning having shot so oft till his shoulder did ake who can thinke but to such a one a reliefe was welcome truely I thinke no man that hath his foot in the fire but would gladly take it out yet I perswade my selfe there were some here who would suffer to burne before they retired with disgrace or discredit their honour being so deare unto them The best proofes a Souldier can inferre of his valiâ—â—t courage are his wounds got with credit not running away and the best exhortation a Leader can give common Souldiers is to shew himselfe couragious and then without words with a signe some will follow him in imitating his example Here also I did observe that the Dutch are not the best Souldiers in extremitie of danger though I confesse for the discharge of all dutie otherwise very obedient till it come to extremitie and then commonly they make a Cloake of discontentment and call for money as they did this day Likewise I cannot say but Horse-men are usefull many times as they were here yet in my opinion in their service they are not to be paralleld to foot For at the in-taking of Townes and in hilly and mountainous Countries that are straight by nature they are not usefull neither can they doe but little service yet for their great charges they are much harder to be entertained Therefore my choice shall be ever as most credible to command on foote and if I were worthy to advise a King or a Generall following warres I would wish him to esteeme more of his foot Officers than of his horse then fewer should serve on horsebacke and more on foote and as his Charges should be lesse his profit should be the more his Armie the stronger his Countrey lesse spoyl'd his contribution to maintaine his Armie the better payd his treasure richer his Victories more frequent and more durable his Conquest the better maintained This I dare presume to affirme to be all true out of my little experience and which is more all the time I have served where I have heard one fault imputed to a body of foote I could instance ten defects in our Horsemens service for the worst sort of them being too much given to plowndring makes them neglect their duties which fault also is too Common amongst many of their Leaders though I have knowne some honest men amongst them free from this imputation and for a King or Prince that must defend his Countrie by sea as our noble Mr the King of Dennarke was I would advise him as unprofitable for his service and country not to encertaine strangers in this kinde so being their charges would far surmount the benefit that could redound by their service yet I cannot say but the Rhinegrave his Regiment was the only Regiment under the King at this time that did best service which was ever praise worthy Likewise I have found by experience that those who fight best in occasions have ever the best of it though they chance to suffer losse if it come to a retreat commonly they are most respected and come first off as we did at this time and it is ever better to fight well and to retire timely then for a man to suffer himselfe to be taken prisoner as many were that morning after our retreat and in occasions I rather choose to die honourably then to live and to be prisoner to a churlish fellow that perhaps would keepe me in perpetuall bondage as many brave men are kept or otherwise at my taking to be scurvely used being stript naked by a Villaine and then if I lacked monies about me to be cut and carved and at last poorely put to death being naked without Armes to defend my selfe My advise then is to him that cannot resolve to fight well that he resolve according to his station and charge to be well furnished of money not onely about him but also to have money to the best in a sure place and in sure hands to maintaine him being prisoner and to pay his ransome or otherwise let him resolve to remaine in perpetuall bondage except some noble friend or other have compassion on him Likewise I would advise all worthy Souldiers and Officers going on service if they can never to want some monies about them that if they chance to come as prisoners in undiscreete hands they may cast a bone in the doggs teeth to curry favour of the cruell curre I did also observe here that continency is a vertue very necessary for a Souldier for abstaining from many inordinate appetites that followe his profession that he may the better suffer hunger cold thirst nakednesse travell toyle heate and what else patiently never mutining for any defect for it is the greatest victory we can attaine unto to overcome our selves and our appetites Likewise I did observe that Kings and Generalls are very courteous to Cavaliers while as they stand in neede of their service in making their use of them but the occasion once past oft times they do looke on Cavaliers at a distance as if they had not imployment for them which should teach Cavaliers to take their time with reason of their Masters also and then they might care the lesse for them being strangers or forraigne Kings while as they would disdaine them having still a sure retreate to their owne King and Master Here also I found that a friend in neede was better then gold for had not the Duke of Wymar beene our friend we had bin left behinde at the passe and beene prisoners the next day with the rest of the Army It is therefore ever best to do well come after what may for vertue in despight of envy will not want a reward And a stout Marriner that hath ridden out the storme with losse as
had already possessed the whole Bulworke and shipping with their horse I asking my Colonells leave drew our whole Colours in front and our Pikes charged after them our musketiers drawne up in our reare by divisions fortifying our reare in case the Enemy should assault us in our Reare and then I advanced with our Colours alongst the peere our Pikes charged we cleered the Peere of the Horsemen suffring them to save themselves from drowning where they found the Channell most shallow and advancing thus to the end of the Peere we seazed upon one ship with some horses in it where we set our Colours and making that ship launch off a little from the shore for feare of being aground having mann'd the ship-boat with an Officer and some musketiers we sent to force other ships out of the Roade to launch in and serve us untill such time as the most part of our Regiment were shipped except some Villaines who were gone a plundering in the Towne but not knowing the danger they were in they stayed all night from us and were taken by the enemy the next morning Thus having shipped our men we were forced to quit our Horses and baggage the Officers that were most diligent as Captaine Monro and my brother Obstell were busied the whole night ferrying souldiers from the shoare especially the sicke and wounded who were not able to helpe themselves In the morning I shipped three boatefulls of wounded and sicke men till at the last I was beaten from the shoare by the enemies horsemen And my Colonells ship being under saile layd up to the winde attending my comming with the last fraught and then we followed the Route of the fleete seeing the enemies Army drawne up in battell horse foote and Cannon and our Army of Foote and horse opposite unto them where I did see six and thirty Cornets of horse being full troupes without loosing of one Pistoll give themselves prisoners in the enemies mercy whereof the most part tooke service As also I did see above five Regiments of foote being forty Colours follow their examples rendring themselves and their colours without loosing of one musket Iudge then judicious reader though we were sorrie for the losse of our Army if we were glad of our owne safeties I thinke we were and praised be God with no discredit to us or our Nation for none can be blamed that doth what he is commanded thus following our course the third morning we arrived before Flinesborrie where our Randezvouz was appointed and having sent a shoare for some victualls whereof we stood in great neede no man was blamed to provide for himselfe at such time when the whole Country was to be left to our enemies mercy His Majesty being there after hearing the certainty of his great losse resolved to secure Denmark having lost Holsten Yewtland we got orders with expedition all of us to ship and to hold forth our course unto Assens in Denmark where his Majesty promised to meete us to dispose further of us for his Majesties service and we making saile follow our course and orders At our parting the Rhinegrave with his Regiment did come thither the enemy at his heeles and he at spurres following the King till he had gotten the passe made good betwixt Holsten and Yewtland and his Majestie once safely arrived in Denmark the Rhinegrave quitting Yewtland unto the enemy follows the King unto Denmark We landed at Assens of our Regiment eight hundred Souldiers besides one hundred and fifty wounded and sicke men and being put in good quarters we rest us leaving the enemy to rest in the fat land of Holsten and Yewtland having a good broad and deepe fossey betwixt us we were by Gods mercy secured The seventh Observation HEre we see that the losse of a day is the losse of a great part of his Majesties Kingdome for the losse of his Armie was the losse of Holsten and Yewtland so that here below we have no assured estate from the King to the Clowne whereof we have frequent examples in Histories which should make none of all estates to glory too much either in their peace or prosperitie as the Holsteners did for though now thou be in peace and securitie as they were before this day thou oughtst to looke unto thy selfe and to prevent the worst better than they did Therefore to discharge a part of my dutie to my Country-men and friends I minde here somewhat to touch the misery of man through the inconstancy of humane affaires Isidore writes that it was the custome at Constantinople in the dayes of the Emperours Coronation while as he sate in his Throne a Mason came to him presenting stones that he might choose which he would to make his Tombe of thereby putting him in minde of the inconstancy of humane fragilitie We reade also of a simple Citizen in Italy that became one of the most powerfull men in Italy and coming to the dignitie of a Prince being thirtie yeares without interruption in great prosperitie tranquillitie and peace yea ever in the most dangerous time of warre and his Children raised to high honours and dignities this man thinking himselfe to be above the winde a whirle-winde of warres unlooked for came on him and his from Florence that he with his wife and children were taken prisoners and sent to Millane his goods confiscated he was shut up in close prison and died miserably the Venetians appropriating unto themselves all his money he had in Bancke We reade also of one Francis Force that through his heaping up of wealth came to be made Duke of Millane and after that intitled himselfe to be the Sonne of Fortune and the Oracle of the Princes of Italie being many yeares in prosperitie was afterwards chased from his goods as the Holsteners were then but having recovered his lands and goods againe he grew so insolent and proud of his prosperitie that at last he was taken prisoner and was kept till death in prison mockt of the whole world for his pride and greedinesse The same Author Guicchardine in his seventh Booke in the 157 doth record of the Bentioles chased out of Bullon where they long were in peace the subjects of Millane being forbidden to receive them the chiefest of them died of griefe having never before tasted the Cup of adversitie And so became of sundry in Denmark that for feare did send away their goods by shipping unto the Craggs of Norway to be kept there whereof some were lost by Sea and the owners afterward died of griefe not having the courage to undergoe patiently their Crosse. The Lord of his mercie preserve my Countrey and Friends from the like Visitation Let no man therefore flatter himselfe with prosperitie riches or honour as Agapetus adviseth us in his Politique Aphorismes All are borne alike come of dust our glory then should be of vertue and not in riches prosperitie or honours for we should esteeme of nothing so much as of Gods judgements praying his
Majestie continually to divert them from us esteeming more of our soules than of deceivable riches whereof the possession is uncertaine as was seene at this time both in Holsten and Yewtland their riches went faster away than they came and though they could have enjoyed them yet at last they were forced to leave them to others Since therefore we can carry nothing with us but our good name let us be ever carefull of that discharging so farre as we may with a good Conscience our dutie to God and man and this Heritage we cannot be robbed of though the world should turne to nothing Here we see this magnanimous King his estate falling for his love to his Niece the distressed Queene of Bohemia and her Children seeing her banished from her Kingdome by the sword of her enemies he hazards the losse of his Crowne and person to get her restored bringing the sword of his enemies within his owne Countrey fortune having crossed him abroad yet for all this this Magnanimous King was not dejected but with a couragious resolution makes use of the time retiring to one corner of his Kingdome to prevent the losse of the whole being naturally fortified with a broad graffe as the Isle of Britaine being strong of shipping having his Majestie of Britaine to friend and the Estates of the united Provinces he was carelesse of the Emperours forces by Sea or Land not being able to harme his Majestie more than they did By this example we may see what advantage our Soveraigne the Kings Majestie of great Britaine hath over all forraigne Kings in Europe through the scituation of his Dominions being mightie in power of men shipping and money is able to make warre abroad where he pleaseth and to make a safe Retreat when he pleaseth being Master at Sea as he can easily be terrifying his enemies with one Armie abroad and a strong Armie at Sea he can offend whom he will and retire when he list forcing all Europe to be in feare of him and his Majestie in feare of none but of the King of Kings The Lord therefore preserve his Majestie his Children and Subjects from the power of forraigne enemies and I wish a great part of my friends and Country-men were so farre addicted to seeke the restitution of her Majestie of Bohemia and her Royall Issue as I am the warres then should never end till they were restored and I avenged of my friends bloud and mine owne shed in the quarrell Here also I did observe his Majesties circumspection in preventing the Emperialists in coming by water unto his Kingdome having beset all Finland with strong Garrisons of Horse and Foote which kept strong guards and good watch by night and by day at such places on the Coast as was most in danger of the enemies over-setting till in the end the enemy was forced to retire his Armie leaving but a few men in Garrison in the Townes which lay on the Coast which Garrisons his Majestie with shipping did often visite to their great hurt with strong parties retiring againe having done his exployt at his pleasure in safetie This Magnanimous King to my knowledge deserved to have been worthily thought of and well spoken of for his noble enterprizing of the warre being Leader and Generall in so good a cause And though the successe was not answerable I dare be bold to affirme it was none of his Majesties fault for his Majestie not onely bestowed much in advancing of it but also did hazard himselfe and his Crowne in maintaining of it Neverthelesse there are alwayes some Cynicks that doe barke at his Majesties proceedings without reason where we may see that no man no nor Kings themselves can escape the lash of censure and none can eschew to be traduced by the ignominious aspersions of the malevolent tongue Therefore it is good to doe well and then we need not care what is said except the sayer put his name to his assertion and then he may be made to foote his Boule in maintaining of it or unworthily to refuse it Here also I did observe that no Armour nor passe could remove the Generalls feare for having once imagined the enemies over-coming he was never fully setled till he was safe a ship-board And therefore I did see at this time that verified that when man distrusteth God it is then just with God to leave man to himselfe for after our Retreat being on the Roade the Generall being thronged in his owne Ship could not command a Ship to transport his servants till I forced a Ship for his Excellencies service which should teach all men in Authoritie while they have command to command with discretion lest the wheele should turne and then they should be beholding to those whom before they commanded Here also I did see mutinous Souldiers well rewarded and it may be sooner than they thought for the day before those that call'd for money when they were commanded to goe on service the next day I being a Ship-board did see them turne slaves unto their enemies being taken prisoners robbed both of Cloaths and money and kept long in bondage being forced to serve against their Conscience such was their folly in calling for money when it was no time to tell it Having at this time left our horses and baggage to our enemies I observed somewhat on the love of men to those beasts and the love of beasts to their Masters as worth the noting to confirme the kindnesse that should be entertained amongst Christians and men of one profession my brother Obstell of worthy memory had a Horse of our owne Country-breed that was so familiarly acquainted with his Souldiers and with the noise and touch of Drumme that the whole day on our march when his Master went a foote he unled followed the Drumme a little aside from the Company halting when they halted and moving when they moved fast or slow Another Horse I left that being in Wismer Leager having rode out one day to a wood halfe a mile from the Leager to cause to cut timber leaving my Horse standing alone and my Cloake on my Saddle a Rutter coming by unknowne to me and my fellowes steales my Horse away who finding himselfe in strangers hands skips loose and runs to our Leager being chas't and hunted at by more than a hundred Horsemen out-runs them all unto the trenches and running through the Leager stands before my Tent my Camerades wondering what became of mee thinking I had been killed by the Horsemen come and make search for me and finding me tell me of my Horse These beasts I have remembred for their love for which I will set downe some particulars concerning the addresse fidelitie and bountie of some Horses whereof I have formerly read Plinie protests their prayses cannot be expressed We reade of the Numidians that were so much redoubted of the Romanes that in their warres they would at spurres runne their Horses in middest of their enemies without a bridle to governe
them In the Battaile of Cannes Hanniball returning the next day on the place of Battaile to looke more narrowly to the place a Romane Knight halfe dead hearing the noise of people lifted up his head of purpose to have spokeÌ„ but his voice failing died with the last gaspe by Hanniball there roade a Numidian on that dead Knights Horse who knowing his Master begun to move his eares to bray and to leape and rebound with such fury till he casts the Numidian to ground runnes through the dead bodies and stands before his dead Master and leaning downe his necke and shoulders sheweth the desire he had that his Master should leape on him to the great astonishment of Hanniball and his followers We reade also in the warres of Germanie in the yeare 1176 the Dukes of Saxon forced by Armes to submit themselves to the Emperour Henry the fourth giving the Emperour for pledges of their fidelitie two yong Princes Sonnes to a Marquesse which were carefully kept in a Castle that was very strong the Captaine whereof moved by Compassion and wonne by some presents suffered them sometimes to goe abroad to take the ayre and to ride their Horses thereabout The Captaine going a hunting takes these young youths with him the prey found and hunted shee is followed by all not thinking of any other thing The youths spurring hard out of sight follow their course till they come to the River of the Maine where they request a Fisherman to transport them in his little Cane or Boate to Mentz offering him their little scarlet Cloakes for pay The Fisherman helpes them from their Horses and takes them in his Boate and rowes downe the River their Horses swimming after them to Mentz where they and their Horses were graciously welcomed Plinie writes that Horses wept at their Masters deaths and it is recorded that the Horse of Caesar wept foretelling his Masters death and I perswade my selfe the gentle Reader could adde somewhat to this purpose if he listed but thus â—arre to animate Christians to love respect and cherish their Camerades and not to kill and backbite them as too many are too ready to detract from others to adde to themselves a wrong way for honour is compared well to a chaste Maide that will never love them who would ravish her but being courted shee may be moved Here I must not forget that dutie I owe to the remembrance of that worthy young Gentleman Arthur Forbesse Sonne to a worthy Cavalier of famous memory Lievetenant Colonell Arthur Forbesse being a worthy valourous sonne descended of a valiant Father This young Gentleman being deadly wounded on service and with hazard brought unto our Ship within two dayes dyed Likewise a Gentleman borne in the Isles of Scotland called Alexander Mac-Worche being wounded in the head and shot in the arme the enemies Horsemen shooting at him with Pistols he leapes from the shoare with his cloathes on notwithstanding those wounds and swimmes to my Cosen Captaine Monro his Boate and being brought in died the next day and was much lamented for of his Camerades as a Gentleman of great hope I did also observe here the inconvenience that happens to many brave Officers and Souldiers given to plundering gathering together a little bootie for spending which brings them commonly into their enemies hands their punishment being farre more grievous than their purchase was delightfull and yet I thinke the Guilt is worse than the punishment To which purpose I will onely here inferre one Story A Pythagorian bought a paire of shooes upon trust the shooe-maker dyes the Philosopher is glad and thinks them gaine but a while after his Conscience touches him and becomes a perpetuall chider he repaires to the house of the dead casts in his money with these words There take thy due thou livest to me though dead to all besides Certainly in my opinion ill gotten gaines are farre worse than losses with preserved honestie These grieve but once the others are continually grating upon our quiet and he diminishes his owne contentment that would adde unto it by unlawfulnesse for looking onely to the beginning he thinkes not of the end But in my opinion if plundering or making of bootie at any time be excusable for a Souldier it is onely in respect of the circumstances Our friends being forced to quit their Countrey and their goods to their enemies before it should inrich the enemy it were not amisse to take it or destroy it either with fire or water before it were profitable to our enemies and in this point onely I doe allow of this bootie making providing it doe not hinder men from the discharge of their duties in time and place otherwise our best goods being impediments to the discharge of our honest dutie in our calling are to be throwne away And for mine owne part a few bookes left by my friends which mine enemy might have burnt was all the bootie that ever I made neither doe I repent me of my neglect in this point having seene many make bootie who had never the happinesse to enjoy it long His Majesties care in fore-seeing the safetie of Denmarke merits praise for by the preservation of Denmarke his Majestie like a skilfull Gamester recovered againe all that he lost Therefore we ought never to grieve for any thing past but for sinne and for that alwayes And he spake well that said He that hath himselfe hath lost nothing The eight Dutie discharged of our Quartring and Mustring in Fune and of the Colonels going for a Recreute unto Scotland HAving happily arrived in Denmarke at Assens in Funland our Colonell goes a shoare to understand of his Majesties will and command and being graciously welcomed is made to dine at his Majesties Table after dinner his Majestie discharging then the dutie of a Generall Quarter-Master who wrote with his own hand the names of the dorpes ordained for our Quarters as also did appoint a faire Hoffe to receive all our wounded and sicke men where they were to be entertained together till they were cured and to that effect his Majestie graciously ordained skilfull Chirurgians diligently to attend them being an hundred and fiftie besides Officers then we got orders to land the Regiment and to draw up in a convenient part till our sicke and wounded were first directed to quarters and then to appoint our Watch viz. two Companies to watch at Assens then having gotten Waggons for transporting of our Colonels baggage and spare Armes the severall Companies Quarters dealt out the Furriers sent before to divide the Quarters every Company led by their owne guids we marched off severally by Companies as our severall wayes did lie unto our Quarters where we had rest for our former toyle and good entertainment for our spare dyet so that in a short time we were all sufficiently refreshed without feare of an enemy Neverthelesse our Watches were duely and orderly kept and relieved â—y course every second night then Orders were given by the Commissaries
have in the person of Charles called the wise who having seene France ruin'd by the former warres under his predecessors Philip and Iohn Normandie and Piccardie possessed by the English and having Edward the third to deale with the best and happiest King ever England had who defeated the French in two Battells This Prince resolved to keepe the rest finding it to be as good to governe by counsell as by force of Armes he did nothing rashly nor unfore-seene but his designs were all well premeditated and digested making choice of men wise valiant and knowing how to command in warres Edward seeing his sword thus blunted and the course of his victories by the wisdome of Charles interrupted said who did ever see one out of his chamber to give a man so much adoe without Armes Thus Charles was so wise that his enemies did make no difficulty to praise him for he not onely freed his people from misery but also gathered afterward a great treasure for his sonne being called rich as he was wise and being respected of his subjects and of his enemies as this Magnanimous King of Denmark is for his prudence after his warres is as much to be commended as his valour was in preserving his subjects Throne from his enemies being redacted to a corner and his counsell served also well for the good of his subjects the estate of his Throne and for the recovery of his losses And therefore Cicero said that counsell availed for the good of the State as well as Captaines for it is oft seene in effect that by the good advice of the one the others have happily drawne and governed their swords And in another place he saith that Agamemnon Generall of Greece did never wish for ten such great Captaines as Ajax was but rather ten wise counsâ—llours as Nestor was which made Cicero so often to proclaime the honour due to eloquence above valour saying Cedant arma togae concedat laurea linguae but joyned together as in this Magnanimous King of Denmark they worke one to anothers hands for the establishment of his Throne which I wish so long to continue as the world Here also we may learne to eschevv vice by the punishment inflicted upon this souldier for his exorbitancy in having ravish'd a virgin of her honour he was bereft himselfe of life by Gods justice punishing man for sinne examplary to others Against this sinne of ravishing Emperours ordained punâ—shment to wiâ— to lose their heads and their goods also to be confiscate but the law of the Caâ—onists treates more meekely with ravishers suffering them to marry those whom they ravished But the Lord judgeing more severely steeping his rods in viâ—iger ordaines stricter punishmeâ—t for such malefactors To eschew therefore the committing of such villanies I will here set downe some remedies to hinder man from such vices that we may eschew the like punishment The first remedy then is to abstaine from the excesse of wine and meates not to be druâ—ke with wine wherein there is dissolution The second remedy is to eschew idlenesse and too much sleeping which is enemy to travell and diligence The third to eschew the company of unclâ—ane persons whose delight is in filthy communications for he that will ouâ—h pitch must be defiled with it Evill speeches corrupt good manners and with Wolves we learne to howle and cry Dina the daughter of Iacob desiring to see what was not convenient neither for her shamefacâ—tnesse nor for the respect she ought to have carried to her fathers house was ravished viâ—lated and was the cause of greater evill The fourth remedy is to keepe both women and maides in a convenient modesty of a chast behaviour without which there is a doore opened to all villany and filthinesse which is able of vertue to make vice The other remedies are to live soberly and vertuously in our callings eschewing evill company and filthy communications loving rather to take paines in our callings remembring our duty we owe to God in not delighting in any uncleannesse that we may eschew the malâ—diction hanging over the heads of those which continue in their filthinesse without repentance abusing the long suffering and patience of the Lord our God and Father To conclude this observation there are lawes and justice observed as well among souldiers as in other governments and the strictest justice that is with least partiality our lawes are the Kings Articles we are sworne to obey our President or Iudge he amongst us present having the command to whom his Majesty joynes as assessor to the Iudge an Auditor for doing of justice our Assisers or Iury we have not to seeke viz. a competent number of thirteene of our owne Regiment Officers Captaines Lievetenants Antients Sergeants and Corporalls till our number be full our Proforce or Gavilliger brings in the complaints and desires justice in his Majesties name to the party offended and to his Master the Kings Majesty or Generall that fuers or leades the warre and every Regiment is bound to have an executioner of their owne which if the Regiment wants the Colonell is obliged to hire another to doe the execution for paiment and sometimes as the crime and the person is respected that is to suffer he is honoured to be shot by his camerades or beheaded not suffering an executioner to come neare him Other slight punishments we enjoyne for slight faults put in execution by their Camerades as the Loupegarthe when a Souldier is stripped naked above the waste and is made to runne a furlong betwixt two hundred Souldiers ranged alike opposite to others leaving a space in the midst for the Souldier to runne through where his Camerades whip him with small rods ordained and cut for the purpose by the Gavilliger and all to keepe good order and discipline for other lesser faults there is ordained slighter punishments as Irons standing at a poast his hands bound up above his head likewise sitting on a Treen or woodden Mare in some publicke place to make him ashamed of his fault As also sometimes to stand six or seaven houres longer than ordinary at the centriâ— posture as I was once made to stand in my younger yeares at the Louver gate in Paris being then in the Kings Regiment of the Guards passing my prentiship for sleeping in the morning when I ought to have beene at my excercise for punishment I was made stand from eleven before noone to eight of the Clocke in the night Centry Armed with Corslet Head-piece Bracelets being Iron to the teeth in a hot Summers day till I was weary of my life which ever after made me the more strict in punishing those under my Command The eleventh Dutie discharged of our expedition by water unto the Isle of Feamer and of the in-taking of it THE twenty-second day of March 1627. his Majestie having come in person to Lowland with two thousand five hundred foote having appointed Randezvouz at Rubie I had orders to repaire with all diligence to the
shot over doing us no great hurt in the end our Cannon leaving shooting his Majestie sent orders to set a partie of two hundred Musketiers a-shoare we that were Officers met together in the Admirall shippe and agreed to command out the partie and having cast Lots it fell on the Dutch they suspecting the danger delayed deâ—iring the rest to command out alike which we refused seeing the Lot had falne upon them except his Majestie would give a second command for it thus contesting we goe together towards his Majestie to know his Majesties further resolution and we shew his Majestie of the Dutches delay on whom the Lot had falne his Majestie considering better resolved the partie should be commanded proportionally of all Nations alike and to cast Lots who should send a Captaine to command them the lot falling upon the English they command a Lievetenant that supplied the place of his Captaine in his absence the partie made ready were sent from his Majesties Ship ashoare being twelve Musketiers in every Boate with their Muskets in readinesse the enemy perceiving them coming gives a Salve of a thousand shot amongst them twice before their landing so that the halfe of them were killed yet the Lievetenant valourously led on the rest and begins the fight ashoare and continues the skirmish hot on both sides for one halfe houre till the most part of our partie were killed their powder spent and perceiving no reliefe was to come his Majestie having considered the danger the reliefe though in readinesse was stayd The Lievetenant being the last man retired with credit being thrice shot did come off and died the next night A Sergeant of Captaine Mac-Kenyee his Compaâ—y called Mac-Clawde an old expert Souldier and a diligent sonne to Neale Mac-Clawde was killed and twenty-two Souldiers of the thirtie that I commanded out of our Regiment the rest being wounded for fault of Boates came swimming in their cloathes to his Majesties Ship and were taken in The partie thus lost the enemy begunne to thunder amongst our Fleete with two halfe Cartowes and six Sling-pieces where leaving our Anchors he was thought the best Master that had his Ship first under saile His Majesties Ship being the last was twice shot through and two Constables were shot in two in the waste Thus forced to retire with great losse we hold on our course towards the Isle of Feamer againe The thirteenth Observation IN time of this hot service no man could perceive any alteration in the majestie of this King his Royall face but rather seemed notwithstanding of his losse as it were triumphing over his enemies and comforting others most graciously said We ought not to be astonished when things happeâ— unto us beyond our expectation and that which was more esteemed as a God amongst the Pagans was extraordinarily changeable sometimes taking part with one and sometimes with another In a word this Magnanimous King did abate nothing of his former courage or of his gravitie So that his very enemies if they had seene him at so neere a distance as I did they could not but have humbly reverenced his Majestie for his magnificke stature higher than any ordinary man by the head yet ashamed he was to stoope for a Cannon Bullet when they flew thickest And for the accomplishment of his vertues Nature hath given him an extraordinary rich Presence to wit a face as manly as possible may be seene worthy of a great King wâ—ll mixt in complexion his eyes flaming and shining full of courage his beard browne his nose Aquiline or Emperiall his voice manly winning the hearts of those that see or heare him in effect A Royall King full of assurance without any feare at all in respect of man yet full of Majestie amiable to his friends and terrible to his enemies Here then we may see that it is the LORD that Guards and keepes Kings and Princes from imminent dangers that environ them whereof Histories both ancient and moderne are full of examples of the miraculous deliverance of great personages from dangers One notable Story I will bring to confirme this divine protection in saving Titus sonne to Vespasian appointed for the ruining of Ierusalem to subdue and punish the Iewes Flavius Ioseph in his sixt booke and second Chapter of the Warres of the Iewes records of him that before the siege was layd to the Towne of minde to recognize he fell unawares amongst an Ambushcade of his enemies where then it was knowne as much as ever that it is the LORD who disposeth of the moments of warre and of the life of Kings for though Titus had no head-piece nor Corslet on his backe having not gone to fight but to recognize of an infinite number of shot shot at him none touched him though many were shot behind him those darts shot aside at him he rebated them with his sword and those shot low he made his horse skip to eschew them The Iewes perceiving his resolution made great noise exhorting one another to runne at him and to follow him where ever he went A rare example of a rare deliverance where we see that he is well guarded whom the Lord keepes Here also we may see what difference there is betwixt Commanders he in Feamer shewed himselfe no Souldier neither yet the Captaine in Aickleford but this brave fellow that commanded in Keele preserved himselfe and others and that with credit where we see that where wisedome and valour doe meet oft-times the successe is answerable and a mans discretion is seene when he abides a fit occasion as this brave fellow did where I finde alwayes that those are the best Commanders that are resolute and remisse not hunting before he sees his prey and then with advantage if he would catch Here also experience deare bought did teach us that it is better in commanding men on exployts to command them proportionally out of divers Regiments than to command them all out of one which were to undoe a Regiment and we see often that the examples of the noble carriage of Officers doe much animate and encourage their followers to well-doing and it is a comely thing for the servant of the publique to teach by example which makes his fame live after death as this worthy English Cavalier did especially being in the publique view of the King his Master hiâ— Camerades and his enemies carrying their Characters from service as the marks of his valour without fainting though wounded to death Here also our Scottish High-land-men are prayse-worthy who for lacke of Boats made use of their vertue and courage in swimming the Seas notwithstanding of their wounds with their cloathes shewing their Masters they were not the first came off but with the last following the example of their Leader they would not stay to be Prisoners as many doe at such times and never returne I did also observe after this dayes service an alteration in the common Souldiers behaviour while as before we were to send out a partie
which this day makes our Soveraigne to say Nobis haec invicta miserunt centum septem proavi being left unconquered in his succession of one hundred and seven Kings for what have we to doe with gold or great riches so long as we can command our owne appetites and desires And if we thirst after gold let us valiantly bring it from a farre with credit to inrich our Countrey with and to supply the necessities of our poore at home and then having served long credibly abroad his Majestie our Soveraigne may grant unto us after our dismission from other service the liberties and priviledges which were granted by Charlemaine unto his Souldiers after he had subdued the Saxons and Lumbards which I will wish his Majestie to grant unto us saying Goe your wayes my Souldiers you shall be called valiant companions of Kings and Iudges of the wicked live henceforth free of Travell give good advice to Princes for the Common-weale be protectors of widdowes helps to the fatherlesse waite on great men with your wisdome and desire of them life cloathes and entertainement and he that refuseth you let him be detested and infamous and those that wrong you let them be accused as of treason But take heede yee spoyle not through drunkennesse pleasure or other vices the great honour and priviledge you have attained unto through your just travell in warres for feare that that which we grant unto you for honour may not redound to your dishonour and punishment which we reserve to our selves and to our Successors Romane Kings if by chance you commit any excesse It is a good thing and worth commendations to have defeated Kings assaulted Townes and Provinces Strengths and Castles But it is a thing much more worth commendations to overcome your own passions a marvaile surpassing all marvailes that he who did overcome so many at last overcomes himselfe The first and best of all Victories which cannot be attained unto without contemning of riches To conclude then this observation happie are those Cavaliers that ended their lives in the defence of their Countries credit a brave interchange where worthy Cavaliers in undergoing a temporall death for eternall fame and glory gaine life after death Miserable is the brevite and more miserable the uncertaintie of life Since then we are sure we cannot live long and uncertaine if we live at all being like leaves on trees we are the sport of every puffe that bloweth and with the least guste may be shaken from our life and nutriment we travell we study we fight that labour may pay us the losse of our ill expended time while death whiskes about us with a Pegasean speede flies unawares upon us and with the kicke of his heele or the dash of his foot we are driven downe to dust and lie there Many a stout fellow this night at Trailesound and five weekes before did expire in their oppugnations leaving their breath in the places where they laid their Siege Certainly if we could thinke of lifes casualties we would neither be carelesse nor covetous What availes then a man to exhaust his very vitals for the hoording up of fatall gold not thinking how a haire or a flie may snatch him in a moment from it Why should we then straine our selves for more than is convenient We should never care too much for that we are not sure to keepe yet we should respect somewhat more than for our owne time that we may be beneficiall to posteritie but for mine owne part I will cast this 〈◊〉 life on Gods providence and live here as a Pilgrime of one night not being sure to see the morrow The eighteenth Duty discharged of the second nights storme at Trailesound and of the successe thereof THe Lievetenant Colonell having visited me the next day at my lodging being not able to stirre out of my bed he declared unto me the losse sustained by the Regiment both of Officers and Souldiers and he suspecting the enemy would storme againe at night being battering the walles furiously the whole day having shot at Frankendore neere eight hundred shot he desired to heare my opinion how I would have the Poaste beset at night with the Regiment my advise was to cause beate a bancke by the Drummer Major and the whole Drummers of the Regiment athwart the City commanding upon paine of death that all Officers and Souldiers able to carry Armes under the Regiment should repaire at parad time to the market place there to receive further orders and that at their coming to appoint all the Officers that were not hurt to command the whole Souldiers to be all put under the Colonells company till such time as the Recreuts should come from Scotland and then every man should be suffered to serve againe under their owne companies as before and this order being followed they would be well commanded having sufficient Officers to leade them giving them orders how to behave themselves in case the enemy should storme their workes seeing they were not able to defend them long being weake of forces and the workes almost ruin'd the night before This determined the watch being drawne up they march to the former Poast getting orders from the Lievetenant Colonell if the enemy should presse them hard they should retire themselves orderly to the Ravelin and quit the outer workes seeing that from the Towne wall and Ravelin they were able with Cannon and musket to cleanse out the enemy againe So entring on their watch and the night being come on the enemy furiously did invade them and they defended the workes a long time till in the end being prest hard they retired according to their orders to the Ravelin whereupon the enemy followed them with a shout and a cry as if the Towne had beene wonne which did put the Burgars and the rest of the Souldiers that were on other Poasts in great feare thinking all was past recovery Notwithstanding of this sudden feare our Souldiers valiantly and bravely defended the Ravelin with Pikes and fire-workes the enemy having advanced bravely to the cutting of the Pallessades pressing also to undermine the Ravelin by working under it which our folkes did hinder by countermineing The enemy also had another fortell or advantage by reason of a new worke which was uncomplete betwixt the Ravelin and the outward workes where he did lodge himselfe having the new workes as a Breast-worke to defend him from our shot The night thus past furiously on both sides not without great losse being well fought both of the pursuer and defender in the morning our Souldiers some of them being Armed with Corslets head-peeces with halfe pikes Morgan sternes and swords being led with resolute Officers they fall out Pell mell amongst the enemies and chase them quite out of the workes againe and retiring with credit maintained still the Triangle or Ravelin The enemy considering his losse and how little he had gained the Towne also being not void of feare thinking the third
our Officers and Souldiers to transport them for their country which accordingly was obeyed As also his Majesty did give orders to ordaine us both Officers and Souldiers free quarters in Alzenheur till the shipps were ready to saile So that we being free from our honourable Master his service we were ready to imbrace new conditions from a new Master The twenty-second and last Observation on our Danes service HEre concluding our Danes service we see that the end of warres is peace and that the end of this peace was the beginning of greater warre under a new Master Happy therefore is that man or that Regiment that can say while as they are thanked off we have served truely and with credit our last Master and then they may be assured of a second Master having wonne a good name as this Regiment did under his Majesty of Denmarke in whom the least omission could never be found much lesse to have committed any grosse errour worthy imputation And therefore we were Graciously dismissed and honestly rewarded according to the time Captaine Andrew Stewart brother to the noble and worthy Earle of Traquaire being soliciting businesse at Copmanhagen contracted a feaver and died there being in his Camerades absence honourably buried by the Stathoulders direction whose death as untimely was much regrated by all his Camerades he being a valorous and expert Commander Likewise Iohn Hampeseede an old true servant to my cozen the Barron of Fowles he dying of a feaver at Angle leager was honourably buried there This Danes warre thus ended was the beginning of a greater warre as is said for the Emperour in Summer 1629. The Danes peace being made in August 1629 did send assistance of men unto the Pole against his Majesty of Sweden under the command of the Felt-marshall Arnhem which the next summer did bring the sword of the Sweden against himselfe So that we see there is nothing here on earth to be expected by us more then a continuall warfare Lord therefore make us dayly to warre in that spirituall warfare serving truely the King of Kings and Lord of hosts fighting that good fight against our spirituall enemies where he that overcomes receives for a reward instead of worldly glory an immortall Crowne of Glory in the Heavens The Colonells Observation of the Kingdome of Denmarke HAving had the honour to have dined with his Majesty at his Table then in the gorgeous pleasant Palace of Freddesborree taking leave of his Majesty having kissed his hand I retired to Alzenheur where I began to thinke that this King could have said of his whole Kingdome as Scipio said you see not a man amongst all those but if I command him he will from a Turret throw himselfe into the Sea even so this Magnanimous King to my knowledge was of absolute authority in his Kingdome as all Christian Kings ought to be in theirs ever obeyed in the Lord without asking the head a reason Why doe you command us thus For we reade that the favour of the Lord was in Iuda in giving them one heart in doing and obeying the commandements of the King and of their Magistrates and Principalls as I did cleerely observe in this Kingdome of Denmarke the goodnesse of government for the florishing of the Kingdome wher 's Totus orbis componebatur ad exemplum Regis He commanding they obeyed both lived in prosperity the Ruler or King Heroick wise noble magnanimous and worthy The Gentry Citizens and Communalty obedient which made their joy and felicity to continue in despite of their mighty foes and that by reason of his Majesties Government in military discipline who doth entertaine a great number of Officers yeerely having good allowance for commanding of Souldiers trained up in peace against warre such as Colonells Lievetenant-Colonells Majors Captaines and other inferiour Officers which are still entertained at the countries charge in exercising of Souldiers for his Majesties emploiment being alike ever ready in all Provinces for peace or warre Would to God we were so well provided in our owne country at home and then we needed not to feare any forraine enemy that are enemies to God to our King and to our Religion And for the better maintaining of warre no Kingdome or King I know is better provided of a Magazin then this magnanimous King for Armes brasse ordnance whereof every yeere his Majesty doth cast above a hundred peeces being sufficiently provided of Amunition and of all sorts of fiery Engines to be used by Sea or Land together with Armour sufficient for to arme a great Armie of Horse His Majestie is also sufficiently well provided of shipping and yearely doth adde to the number which ships are built by two worthy Scottish-men called Mr. Balsoure and Mr. Sinclaire being both well accounted off by his Majestie who in like manner hath a Reprobane at Copmanhagen for making of Cords and Cables for his shipping and Kingdome where I was informed that in twenty foure houres time they were able to furnish the greatest ship the King had of Cables and of all other tackling and cordage necessary to set out the Ship Likewise by his Majesties Artizens within the Kingdome all sort of stuffes and silkes are woven sufficient to serve the Kingdome and his neighbours that please to buy Moreover this Kingdome is worthy commendation for the order of Iustice and Lawes having their Law-books deciding all controversies amongst them and if it come to any great difference the Kings Majestie as being above the Law sits in judgement as the Interpreter and Director of Iustice and according to his Princely dignity mitigates as pleaseth his Majestie the law and decides the controversie This Kingdome also is praise-worthy for the purity of their Gentry being as ancient and noble as any other Kingdome and can bragge of a purer and cleerer bloud of Gentility then many Nations can for they never ally or enter into marriage with any inferiour to themselves be they never so rich if they be Burgars or Plebeians they never marry with them and if one of their daughters will through love miscarry in her affection to marry a Citizen they will not thereafter doe so much as to honour her with their company but on the contrary shee loseth both her portion and honour not suffering her to carry the armes of her familie Moreover this Nation is praise-worthy for their entertaining of learning and of the liberall Sciences professed in their owne Vniversities where their children are well taught and trained up after a noble and heroick manner within their owne Kingdome not onely in their Studies of the liberall Sciences but also in their exercise of body as fencing dancing singing playing of Instruments and riding of horses and what else are noble Recreations as learning of forraine languages Spanish Italian French Dutch and such like and afterwards their youth being well travell'd returning from their Travells they attend on the Chancellarie as under-Secretaries to States-men to enable them to be profitable
I should fall on and relieve him and his as I did continuing the service till we made the enemy retire over a bridge that was hard by the Towne so that I was forced for our owne safeties having lost divers Souldiers that were killed with the Cannon to divide my Souldiers making the halfe of them to cast â—p a running Trench while as the rest were hot skirmishing with the enemy being in danger of boâ—h Cannon and Musket but my Souldiers once getting in the ground we fortified our selves against their Cannon and resolved in case of their out falling to maintaine the ground we had formerly wonne with the losse of our bloud having loâ—t in one halfe houre above thirtie Souldiers whereof six were killed with the Cannon The enemy finding the Skonce was lost and us so farre advanced on the strongest side Feltmarshall Horne with his Forces marching on the other side that was weakest they presently did send a Drummer on our side to parlé for quarters whom I received and being hood-wink't he was sent with a Convoy to his Majestie who condescended to the Treatie and pledges being delivered the Treatie went on the Accord subscribed his Majestie came and thanked Dowbatle and us for our good service where large promises were made unto us of reward and to Colonell Hepburne also for takiâ—g in of the Skonce The enemy being strong in the Towne and above twice our strength his Majestie resolved to send to Francford for more Forces both of horse and foote to come to him before the enemy was suffered to march out of the Towne to whom conditions were granted to transport foure pieces of Ordnance and the Souldiers to march out with full Armes bagge and baggage with Drummes beating and flying Colours and a Convoy of Horsemen towards Glogoe His Majestie having beset the Garrison as soone as they marched out having seene their strength we were ashamed of their carriage being the eldest Troopes and the choice by report of the whole Imperia'l Armie who cowardly did give over such a strong Towne being without necessitie and in hope of reliefe One of my Captaines called Dumaine having contracted a feaver here before Lansberg being râ—moved to Francford died there and being buried my Lievetenant David Monro was preferred to be Captaine of his Company and Ensigne Burton was made Lievetenant and Bullion his brother having taken his passe my Sergeant Andrew Rosse was made Ensigne to Captaine David and William Bruntfield was preferred to be my Lievetenant and Mongo Gray Ensigne This Towne being taken both Pomeren and the Markes of Brandenburg were cleered of the Emperialists being sent up unto Silesia The next Sabbath his Majestie that was ever ready to reward good servants for vertue he caused to make our guide the Black-smith being a stout fellow and a craftie Burgo-master of the Towne who did get from his Majestie two hundred Duckets besides His Majestie on the Sabbath day in the afternoone suffered the principall Officers of his Armie such as Generall Banier and Lievetenant Generall Bawtis and divers others to make merry though his Majestie did drinke none himselfe for his custome was never to drinke much but very seldome and upon very rare considerations where sure he had some other plot to effectuate that concerned his advancement and the weale of his State The ninth Observation THis Towne of Lansberg being a Frontier Garrison lying neare the borders of Pole on the Wert the having of it made Pomeren sure and the Marke giving unto his Majestie the freer passage unto Silesia and therefore it was that his Majestie did use the greater diligence and celeritie in obtaining of it with as great honour and reputation as could be imagined in respect of the inequalitie of strength betwixt us and our enemies As also in consideration of the situation of the place being on the one side fortified by nature yet beyond nature and probabilitie of reason This strong Garrison was forced to yeeld to Gustavus who was Mars his Minion and Fortunes Favourite or rather their Master as we see by his frequent Victories obtained against his enemies who though strongest are made to submit to the weakest partie where we may see that as industry is fruitfull so there is a kinde of a good Angell as it were waiting ever upon diligence carrying a Lawrell in his hand to crowne her And therefore it was that they said of old that Fortune should not be prayd unto but with hands in motion which made this valiant King love ever to be busied in vertues exercise befitting a Generall that carried a minde as this Invincible King did while he lived still rising to blessednesse and contentation It is commonly seene that those who feare least are commonly overcome as became of Francford on the Oder and this Towne also and though victory we see be from God yet to overcome an enemy the courage and skill of Commanders is very requisit and necessary And where good military discipline is observed as was done here there confidence doth arise perswading us we can doe what we please Of this opiâ—ion was our Leader and our Armie never doubted of their owne valour nor of their Leaders good Conduct which made our Victories the easier to be gotten Here also we see the goodnesse of intelligence for had his Majestie not gotten the Black-smith or some other like unto him to have beene intelligencer and guide to winne through the shallow Trinkets he led us to the Damme upon the head of their Watch who were surprized hardly could we have overcome this Towne on such a sudden for without this good of intelligence which is so necessary and of so great a moment in warres nothing or very little can be effectuated in unknowne places For good Intelligencers are so requisit in an Armie that no meanes ought to be spared on them providing they be trustie for one designe or secret of our enemies well knowne may bring all the rest we desire to a wished end or at least preserve us and ours from danger This Black-smith that was our guide in leading us towards our enemy at our first on-going on service the enemy playing hard with Muskets neverthelesse he went on without feare under-taking alike danger with our selves but finding in time of hot service some falling besides him our powder being a little wet and not giving so good report as the enemies did he then said he would returne to his Majestie and send us better powder yet I thinke though here there did appeare some lacke of constant resolution in him that time exercise and frequency of danger would make him a brave fellow being of a strong and a good able body but in my opinion the stoutest of men till they be a little acquainted with the furious noise of the Cannon will naturally feare and stoope at the first Likewise his Majestie was to be commended for his diligence by night and by day in setting forwards his workes for he was ever out of
prisoners to Sweden and the Duke should follow Incontinent the treaty begun the Duke getting short time to resolve was forced to end with his Majesty and to joyne in confederacie with him offensive and defensive against the Emperour and that without the Saxons consent and in the treaty it was concluded the Duke should give a great supply of men monies and Artillery to his Majesty for the advanceing of the warres besides the ordinary inquartering of his Majesties Army and the paiments of the monethly contribution out of the Dukes lands was also agreed upon and Commissioners were appointed for the ingathering of the first tearmes contribution during which collection his Majesties Army was laid in quarters to refresh them till his Majesty should retire from Statin being gone thither to give presence to the Russian Ambassadour and his Majesty being returned from Statin the twenty ninth of Iune he quartered in my quarters in Barnow where we had orders given us to be in readinesse to march to old Brandenburg on the first of Iuly The tenth Observation HIS Majesty could never be assured of the Princes friendship till first he had forced their enemies to give ground being made to leave behind them Pomeren Maclenburg and the three markes of Brandenburg without any Emperiall Garrison except one was left in Gripswald but so soone as the Duke of Brandenburg did see the enemy retiring and his Majesty prevailing he then begun to enter in treaty and to give his Majesty assurance of his loyall friendship by subscribing of certaine Articles condescended upon betwixt them at Barleene in Iune 1631. On this march though short we had many variable resolutions and changes which were caused by the changable accidents happening in the course of this warre which made his Majesties resolutions to vary as the time changed sometimes through feare of his strong enemy sometimes by suspecting the Princes who were also affrighted and feared being astonished in their mindes they were not able to discerne what was most profitable for them so that their doubting and feare suffered them not to hazard any notable thing in assisting his Majesty against their common enemy but still lingred to joyne with his Majesty expecting the enemy would prevaile and then they would joyne with the Master of the fields as ordinarily is done over all Dutchland in all degrees from the highest to the lowest they wagge as the bush doth resolving ever to quit their best friends in adversity Here we see the inconstancy of the Dukes friendship that will not be friends as well in adversity as in prosperity for when fortune favours us all the world would seme to laugh on us but when we are but once kik't in the heele with any malignant chance of misfortune then our supposed friends fly from us at a farre distance while they see us like to be tossed by the Tempest of adversity But as soone as they see the Tempest over-past and fortune beginning to smile on us againe then begin they as the Princes did to returne and to desire to be made partakers of our good fortunes though they had no minde to taste of the bitter cup of his Majesties adversity but once seeing the sweete commodity of the peace which they their country and subjects did reape by his Majesties valour with the hazard of his person and the lives of many Cavaliers who followed him then their enemies being farre removed from them they desire his Majesty for their Admirall to attend when he makes saile having seene he did valiantly ride out the storme promising againe when his sailes were full to bide by him and to follow him till death should sunder them But if they had bin generously minded they had imbraced the danger and taken part with his Majesty when honour was to be got in the middest of greatest danger since common danger doth conjoyne the coldest friends to goe together against their common enemies Likewise here we may see and observe a Royall King most loyall in keeping his Princely Parole and promise to the Duke his brother in rendring backe Spandaw though to his disadvantage keeping his covenant albeit he should lose thereby teaching by his owne example all Cavaliers to keepe their word though given to their enemies For his Majesty knew well that nothing was to be thought more unworthy in a Prince or common-weale then to breake word or promise for of all vertues in a Prince truth is the chiefest which once being lost returnes not againe His Majesty taking to heart that the Duke had so peremptorily sought the restitution of this strength his Majesty being free of his word and his Garrison march't forth he incontinent marched to Berlin and got both the Duke and the City into his power in interchange of the Castle of Spandaw which then his Majesty knew how to get againe as he did shortly after Where we may see there is no Oratory of such force to gaine both men and women as a strong well conducted Army as this was Here also we may see what evill oftimes doth happen by cunctation or delayes as doth witnesse the overthrow and ruine of Madeburg the Citizens whereof in their prosperity would â—ot suffer a Souldier to enter into their houses but made them build Huts and Tents along the wall which wall for their pride was alike brought low with the ground where before their death for their pride they were punished with fire and sword so that they having disdained Souldiers they were by the enemies Souldiers justly rewarded being denied of mercy in their greatest extremity and the houses they so much esteemed of cannot this day be seene what for houses they were and his Majesty his wisdome is commendable who seing Madeburg lost the enemy strong the Dukes wavering contrary to his minde and custome his Majesty retired with his Army backe to Spandaw and from thence to Berlin making himselfe sure of the one though not of the other leaping the Dike where he found it weakest and missing to catch a goose he thought it sure to catch the goselings though he was his good brother he did looke to his owne standing fearing Generall Tillie and the Saxon might joyne together not being farre different in conditions to make his retreat sure his Majesty did beset Spandaw againe with a Swedens Garrison At this time a great number of Hamburgh marchants amongst which were some English going by the Army with great packes were seized upon and their goods taken from them whereof his Majesty being made foreseene orders were given that the whole packs under paine of death should be brought to his Majesty as they were our Army being very hungry and almost brought to discontent for lacke of monies his Majesty in a faire way was content to restore the Hamburgers goods providing the marchants amongst them would advance upon Band and surety to his Majesty two hundred thousand Dolers to give some contentment to his hungry Army which the Marchants condescended unto
adventures to Rancounter his enemy with a partie and having tryed them to their losse he retired againe with credit preparing his Leaguer being strongly beset with men Amunition and victualls he was not afraid to be taken unawares as the French were within Philipsburg not being provided to oppose their enemies for their sloath they were cruelly murthered Teaching others by their examples not to trust too much in securitie be the place never so strong if they be left unto themselves and grow carelesse they must needs suffer under the Tyranny of their enemies Likewise his Majestie not trusting to hiâ— owne wisedome he did call his chiefe Officers to Counsell asking them what was to be done as wise Commanders ought to doe and finding them all by silence to relie on his Majesties will giving Orders for all things that were to be done before their coming he resolved to stand to it being truely couragious as he did not adventure rashly without asking his Officers advice knowing once their resolution agreeable to his owne he was not inconsiderately afraid of his enemies strength though mightie and strong neither was he unprovided against their coming His Majesties dexteritie of Command is seene here by the order of his discipline in giving good orders for watching First he divided the Postes and appointed what footmen or Briggad should watch on the severall Posts as they were severally fortified by themselves to the end no man might blame their owne worke for insufficiency to hold out the enemy As also he appointed severall Briggads of horse to second the Postes severally every one knowing where to repaire in time of service As also he did instruct them of the manner they were to fight in resisting the enemies entry As also in case of their entry he did instruct both foote and horse how and in what manner they should be repulsed againe promising according to his wonted Custome to be a Companion both of their travells and dangers and that he should never leave them till first they should quit him and that he would promise as he was a Royall King A worthy saying of a worthy King and Generall whose prudence and wisedome in Command was ever answerable to the dignitie of his majesticke person that ought and should be endued with infinite vertues since infinite were those things he had to foresee and which are needfull for a man of his place Infinite chances and altogether divers every moment were set before him in so much that Argos Eyes were too few for him not onely in respect of the weight of his Command but also in respect of the wit and prudence which was requisit for him All other commands belonging to a Souldier are so inferiour to this of a Generall that almost they are nothing in respect of this who amongst others his great gifts he must know severly to command and softly to beare with others As also he must learne patiently to give place to others contumacy and he must not onely be powerfull to strengthen for his owne affaires but also he must weaken his enemies and chiefely he must make warre by policy without giving battell or travell as this wise Generall did deale twice with old Tillie who was forced after a long march having but visited him and seene his orders to retire againe with the losse of many men without any detriment or hurt at all to his Majesties owne litle Army which he kept ever to the best by preserving them from their enemies and by supplying of them as they became weake so that their weaknesse could never be truly discerned Who would not then admire the wisdome and foresight of this Generall in preserving this little Army at this time for a second fitter occasion Who ever then was so worthy of the honourable title of a Generall as he For though he had bin no King he was a brave warriour and which is more a good man magnificent wise just meeke indued with learning and the gift of tongues and as he had strength of body and a manlike stature he had also the ornaments of the minde fitting a brave Commander he knew how to dally and weary an Army led by such an old Generall as Tillie was for though he did vaunt he had beaten two Kings before in an open field the third King made him for all his experience and old yeares to be thought but a child againe having made him traverse with his Army before in the winter from Rapin to new Brandenburg and backe againe to Madeburg finding the King did lie in suerty at Swede till he was gone and then tooke in both Francford and Lanseberg and againe he made him retire from During to Verben for a visit and then forced him to returne againe to Saxonie with the losse of six thousand men without effecting any thing for his coming not the least advantage undoing himselfe and his Army by the seasons sometimes with the extremity of cold in the middâ—st of winter and at this time he made him march in the middest of the dogge dayes for lacke of victualls and his Majesty having discouraged this old Generall and his Army he thought then it was fit time to follow and to search him out till he was made to fight This resolute King did not sleepe long in suffering Tillies bravade made before Verben to be unrepayed having the next morning hunted and chased his coâ—rrasiers with a few number of Haggapells to the middest of their Army having with honour retired againe he thought Tillie was ingaged to storme his Leaguer in reveng but all could not winde or draw him to it But was forced through hunger to retire all provisions being taken out of his way for his Majesty knew well when they should be oppressed with hunger at their coming they could thinke on no generous exploit for oftimes an Army is lost sooner by hunger then by fighting and hunger it selfe is crueller a great deale then the sword For to hunger and to fight valiantly doth not agree with nature and in an Army hunger is more intolerable then the thundering of Cannon and Musket Armes doe resist Armes but to resist hunger no Fort no Strength no Moate or Foffie is able to doe it To conclude then this my observation when God is with us all things succeede well unto us as did with this fortunate King Gustavus who I knew did feare God and I perswade my selfe by his example and after him by the example of another Gustavus Felt-marshall Horâ—e who truly feared God in his calling without pride or ostentation many others under them following their examples though Souldiers did the like Therefore no wonder that they and those who followed them were happy in their enterprises having had such Leaders for that is most sure and infallible where most feare of God is and true piety there is most happinesse and this piety is enough to save Princes And on the contrary without her Armies can doe nothing Horse or strength of
Colonell Musten Major Monypenney Major Sinclaire and Lievetenant Colonell Iohn Monro with divers others Cavaliers of valour experience and of conduct who thereafter were suddainely advanced unto higher charges The victory being ours we incamped over night on the place of Battaile the living merry and rejoycing though without drinke at the night-wake of their dead Camerades and friends lying then on the ground in the bed of honour being glad the Lord had prolonged their dayes for to discharge the last honourable duty in burying of their Camerades Our bone-fiers were made of the enemies Amunition waggons and Pikes left for want of good fellowes to use them and all this night our brave Camerades the Saxons were making use of their heeles in flying thinking all was lost they made booty of our waggons and goods too good a recompence for Cullions that had left their Duke betrayed their country and the good cause when as strangers were hazarding their lives for their freedomes Our losse this day with the Saxons did not exceede three thousand men which for the most part were killed by the enemies Cannon of principall Officers we lost a number and chiefely our horsemen as Colonell Collenbagh Colonell Hall and Addergest and of the foote Colonells the Barron Tivell being all of them brave and valorous gentlemen we lost also foure Lievetenant Colonells together with a number of Rutmasters Captaines Lievetenants and Ensignes Of the Saxons were lost five Colonells three Lievetenant Colonells with divers Rut-masters and Captaines and of inferiours Officers many To the enemy were lost on the field neere eight thousand besides Officers of note such as the Felt-marshall Fustenberg the Duke of Holsten the Count of Shomeberg old Generall Tillie hurt and almost taken a number of other Officers of the Field were killed and taken prisoners They lost also thirty two peeces of Cannon with three score waggons of Amunition and their Generall and Papingham were chased towards Hall and from thence were forced with a small convoy to take their flight for refuge to Hamell on the Waser The sixteenth Observation FIrst then we see here the goodnesse that followes on that laudable and Christian custome used by those that doe first begin the workes of their calling with their true humiliation to God by prayers in acknowledging their sinnes and unworthinesse and in renouncing trust or confidence in any thing but in God alone knowing their owne wisdome strength and valour to be of no moment without the speciall aide and assistance of the Almighty and powerfull God who alone can teach our fingers to fight giving victory with few as with many And therefore it was that this Magnanimous and religious warriour with his whole Army publiquely did call on the Lord praying for his assistance against his enemies and for a happy event of the day before he begun to set his Army to worke against their enemies the enemies of God and the true Catholique and Apostolique faith which they had endeavoured to subvert with the professors of the truth to hold up and maintaine the man of sinne and his erronious doctrine by the power of the house of Austria and of the Catholique League We see then this duty being religiously and piously discharged by his Majesty and his Army the fruite was answerable to their desire having obtained victory over our enemies by the good command of his Majesty and the ready obedience dexterity and valour of his Majesties supreme Officers of the field who in all charges did direct those under them to the ready discharge of their duties every one of the whole united body of the Army following the example of their head and Leader the magnifick and Magnanimous King for to abate and lay downe the pride of the house of Austria and for to teare and strip naked that old proud and Ambitious Generall Tillie of his former glory and honour for having bragged and vainely gloried he had conquered two Kings before here now the Captaine of Kings and King of Captaines doth victoriously Triumph having robbed him of glory and clipped the wings of the Empire with his little Royall Army Likewise next unto God a second helpe unto this glorious victory was the great execution made by his Majesties Cannon and though ever before Tillie did pride himselfe all his life time in the course of the warres in his dexterity of his great Cannon here from a Master he was turned againe unto a prentice being cunningly over shot with Cannon so that his Cannon and three score waggons belonging thereto were taken from him by Gustavus the first and most valiant Captaine of the world with the helpe of the nation which was never conquered by any forraine enemy the invincible Scots whose prayers to God were more effectuall through Christ then theirs through the intercession of Saints The third cause of this glorious victory was his Majesties good discipline houlden over the Army horse and foote not suffering them without great and extraordinary punishment to oppresse the poore which made them cry for a blessing to his Majesty and his Army The enemy on the contrary provoked the wrath of God against themselves and their Army for their cruelty used in torturing the poore and forceing their monies from them did further their punishment and his Majesties glorious victory The fourth helpe to this victory was the plottons of Musketiers his Majesty had very wisely ordained to attend the horsemen being a great safety for them and a great prejudice to the enemy the Musket ball carrying and piercing farther then the Pistolet As also the great celerity used in charging and discharging of our small cannon brought the enemies battaiâ—e in disorder to the furtherance of this victory As also the extraordinaâ—â— care and diligence that was used by his Majesty and his Officers in seeing and foreseeing of the defects and disorders amongst our selves which being suddenly remedied was also a helpe to this victory And last of all the invincible courage and resolution both of Officers and souldiers in standing firme Notwithstanding of the fury of their enemies and which was more they were no wayes dismayed or discouraged at the flight of the Saxons but thought it their greatest glory to be victorious without them standing resolutly till they saw the backe of their enemies the undoubted tokens of their glorious victory His Majesties Army on this service as at all times might be called truely valorous for those are called valorous Captaines and holden for such that when their Camerades are flying they notably with hands voice and wounds if wounded sustaine the fight doing at once the duty of Souldiers and of Captaines by those meanes bringing backe and restoring the suspected losse unto victory for their credits For as ignorance doth easily precipitate men into danger even so to a generous heart nothing can seeme difficult or fearefull being once resolved to fall on though towards the mouth of the cannon but before resolution flesh and blood have their owne disturbances
even in the most valorous and valorous men as they feare nothing after resolution so they disdaine nothing entering upon danger Here also the resolution of our horsemen on this service was praise worthy seeing they never loosed a pistoll at the enemy till first they had discharged theirs for the enemy being fierce and furious while as ours were stout and slow the enemy was made weary when ours were fresh which made the enemy being weary and charged with a fresh succour being once set on going they followed hard their victory not giving them time to breath or recollect their forces againe till they were utterly defeated that the night and darkenesse was their best safety For I did observe here that the duty of valiant Commanders is to know not onely the nature of their enemies but also their spirit and wherein they pride them most we ought to make our best use for to deceive and out-shoote them in those same things wherein they delight and trust most unto Likewise this day I did observe that as the inticement to great travell and paines is glory and honour even so courage and constant valour may be attained unto by exercise in warre and frequenting of dangers wherein Souldiers Companies or Briggads are used with and made once familiar with that cruell and vehement horrible and terrible fellow death having seene many dead bodies before and being inured to bloud such Souldiers will stand to it and desire to fight when ignorant Novices as the Saxons were are afraid of death who seeking their safety in flying they were miserably cut downe by their enemies I did likewise observe this day that it is not the multitude doth the turne but under God it is good command good conduct art and skill in handling the weapons of our warfare and in taking the occasions in time that beget victory Therefore he that would labour an Army as Gustavus did he will finde fruite yea even the best that groweth under the Empire good Rhenish and Necker wine not onely for himselfe but for the meanest Souldier and that unto excesse which hath made me sometimes complaine more of the plenty our Souldiers had after this victory through the abuse of it then ever I did before for any penury He is therefore in my opinion farre deceived that thinkes that it is the time or number of yeares that makes a good Souldier no no it is rather the continuall meditation of exercise and practise for Souldiers should be in running not in running away as horsemen ordinarily doe But on the contrary that with the greater force they may be able to invade their enemies as our Briggad did here who seeing the enemy in confusion with their Pikes charged ranne fiercely upon them till they were beaten And surely I doe thinke no man so ignorant but knowes that more come to be good Souldiers by exercise and frequency of danger and use then by nature and he is not a man that will not sweat nor couragious that eschewes danger when hee should fight as our Camerades did the painted Souldiers the Saxons with their plumed Officers which feathers served them I thinke in their flight for tokens rather to cut them downe by than for their safeties Courage should growe by frequencie of danger the onely way in my opinion to feare nothing and then he may be called stout before the maker of a quâ—rrell at home who once drawing a sworde when he knowes of twentie Partâ—rs or Redders is there called stout but when he comes abroade to the warres at first the thundering of the Cannon and Musket roaring in his eares makes him sicke before he come neere danger as I have known some but where vertue and honour doth growe there labour exercise and danger is needfull Nam ardua difficilis virtutis est via tamen nil tam difficile est quod non solertia vincat And death it selfe is never bitter when it leaves an immortall and glorious name behind it Vivit enim post funera virtus animus moderatis laboribus adjuvatur immoderatis autem abluitur To conclude then this observation we see that as courage in warres is much worth for obtaining of victory so is the wisedome of a Generall or Leader in warres as Gustavus was of so much worth even in the obtaining of this victory that the spirit of him alone and skill in direction was better than thousands of armed men The enemy being in this Battaile neere twelve thousand men at least stronger than we yet Gustavus alone on our side was better and of more worth to us then that multitude to our enemies Wee see then here that no greater joy or pleasure can come to mortall man than to overcome his enemy by Armes and we see also that â—he event of Battaile doth not consist in number of Fighters but under God in the order and courage used in Battaile Here also we see that a good cause and a good quarrell is ever to be had if thou wouldest have victory over thine enemies and who would wish a better quarrell then we fought for this day being for the reliefe of our distressed friends and for the libertie and promotion of Christs Gospell or who would not hazard in such a quarrell especially against such enemies that had banished the daughter of our dread Soveraigne and her royall Issue from her Kingdome and Dignities O would to GOD I had once such a Leader againe to fight such an other day in this old quarrell And though I died standing I should be perswaded I died well and I wish that as wee have received the light of truth happily that fought in that quarrell even so we may happen to restore that light againe pleasantly that as wee did overcome that day our carnall enemies even so we may overcome in our last fight our spirituall enemies that after death we may be crowned with immortall Glorie The seventeenth Dutie discharged of our March from the place of Battaile towards Leipsigh HAving merrily past the night on the place of Battaile with varietie of pleasant discourses of our severall observations of the day having hunted a Foxe that was both old and craftie though hee had escaped with his life he had a torne skinne and a brused bodie and being long chased in end he got a hole to hide him in for sure he did thinke there was no long safetie for him if oft hee did but meete with such cunning hunters that had laid all passes for him to keepe him in for though at this time hee had stripped away his taile yet his traine for the most part were either taken or killed Other Discourses wee had of plentie and of want being some of us extreamely hungrie others pined with extraordinary thirst having no water neere unto us nor vessels to bring it from a farre our servants being left farre behind us who were plundred by those cowards that had fled from us who also furnished a great part of our nights
more and rare to be seene his Majesty of Bohemia in person came unto him to offer him assistance Royall in leavying of an Army for himselfe and was refused 〈◊〉 am willing other Armies should be in Dutchland to be participant of his glory but his owne Where we see Fortunes Favourit laught on by the world but how soone againe Fortune begun to frowne on his successour who having got but one Buffet all men would kill him his friends nomine tenus aswell as his enemies Where we see cleerely that there is no friend in adversity except it be a friend in Christ who will never forsake or leave us This then is the friendship we should make to league and confederate with our brethren in Christ with whom we have unity in Faith if that we would have our friendship durable and constant others will change as the winde blowes plenty or penury upon us being but temporary friends as many of the Dutch are but our brethren in Christ will never totally leave us no not in our greatest wants and extremity of Fortune Which should make us choose such and to live and dye with such fighting for them and their liberties who will never leave us though death sever us but after death they will prove constant friends to our successours as the Germans did not to the Chancellor of Sweden if they succeede unto us in the true and undoubted Faith And to verifie this I can beare witnesse that though the enemy did keepe our brethren in Christ that were in the Pultz under ten yeares bondage Neverthelesse that bondage nor the tyranny used unto them by their enemies made them never forget their fidelity and love to their King and Prince neither yet could their tyranny make them forsake or renounce their faith in Christ but as they continued true â—o God so were they faithfull in their love to their King and Master not only to his Majesty but also shewed their love and kindnesse unto us being his Majesties friends whom they knew to be one in faith with themselves And therefore they were ever ready and willing to undergoe alike danger with us against our common enemies as doth witnesse their assistance given to the Scots of Sir Iames Ramseys Regiment having Conjunct is viribus beaten their enemies on divers occasions The Kings Majesty of Sweden though before this time none of the greatest Kings yet in this warre having begun with a little Army of ten thousand strong in three yeares time he grew so great that he was carelesse of the threatning of the great King of France having entertained then in readinesse foure Armies at once his owne which he led himselfe under which I was still The Felt-marshall Gustavus Hornes Armie Generall Totts Army on the Wazer and the Marquesse of Hamiltons Army with whom Banier was joyned on the Elve These foure Armies his Majesty commanded alike and at one time having the Emperour the King of Spâ—ne the Catholique League and the Duke of Bavier his enemies And though the Duke of Saxon had an Army apart yet his Majestie would not suffer the King of Bohemia the Duke of Lunenburg the Land grave of Hessen nor the Dukes of Wâ—mar to lead Armies in Dutchland but as Subalternes to his Command And I thinke he had reason for if his Majestie of Bohemia had had an Armie in the fields it behooved the Swedens to have beene subalterne to the Dutch and Scots who were then strong in the fields in commanding strangers as they did their owne Country-men Notwithstanding of all these forces led and commanded by his Majestie of Sweden we see that the Empire is like a depth without a bottome that cannot be sounded For though they lost severall Battailes their power was so great that incontinent they made up Armies againe one after another for the space of twentie yeares together so that with difficultie they made the body of the Empire to stand though the wings were very neere clipped by his Majestie of Sweden who in three yeares time subdued the most part of the Empire and with his owne little Armie in one Winter freed the Paltz of the Spanish Forces except Heidelberg alone on which occasions those of our Nation that followed his Majestie shewed both their valour and their love especially those of my Lord Spence his Regiment seconded well by those of my Lord Rhees Regiment and Sir Iames Ramseys worthy Regiment were well seconded by Colonell Lodowicke Lesâ—yes Regiment which formerly were Sir Iohn Hamiltons These foure Regiments of foote having followed his Majesties owne person in all occasions were worthy their deeds should be Registred to all posteritie Other six Regiments of Scots under Generall Tott and two of English being yonger in the service than the former foure were also shorter of continuance whose actions I cannot relate but by Information Therefore I will be sparing lest I should derogate from their worth or oversee my selfe At this time also there were a great many worthy Cavaliers of our Nation under his Majestie who for their long experience and valour had attained to the honour not onely to be trusted before others with Governments but also were honoured in commanding of strangers both Dutch and Swedens whereof some were employed in Dutchland some in Sweden some in Liffeland and some in Spruce all alike serving their Master to his minde where he liked best to make use of them for the weale and advancement of his service Sir Patricke Ruthven Generall Major and Governour of Vlme Colonell over Dutch to foote and to horse Sir Alexander Lesly Generall Major and Governour over the whole Cities alongst â—he Balticke Coast Sir David Drummond Generall Major and Governour of Statin over a Regiment of Swedens Sir Iohn Hepburne Colonell over the Scots Briggad Generall Major King Colonell to horse and foote of Dutch Colonell Carrâ— Colonell to foote of Scots Sir Iohn Ruthâ—â—â— Generall Major Colonell of Dutch Colonell Robert Monro of Fowles Colonell to foote and to horse over Dutch The Earle of Crawford Colonell to foote oâ—er Dutch Colonell Baily Colonell to foote over Dutch Colonell Ramsey Governour of Creâ—â—snough and Commander of Dutch Colonell Alexander Hamilton Colonell of Scots Sir Iames Ramsey Colonell of foote over Scots Sir William Ballentine Colonell over English Colonell Dowglas Colonell of Dutch horsemen Colonell Hâ—me Colonell of Dutch horsemen Colonell Alexander Lâ—sly the younger Colonell to foote over Dutch Colonell Iohn Lesly Colonell to foote over Scots Colonell William Gunne Colonell to foote over Dutch Colonell Kiâ—â—iâ—mond Colonell of Swedens Colonell Hugh Hamilton Colonell to foote over Dutch Colonell 〈◊〉 Forbesse and his brother both Colonells to foote over strangers Colonell Iohn Forbesse Colonell to foote over Dutch Colonell Alexander Forbesse called the bald Colonell to foote over Dutch which all with the former twelve Regiments were employed severally upon the Dutch bottome during his Majesties time and since to the great credit of their Nation as likewise other Cavaliers of them were
were sent with a Convoy unto Ausburg to be kept there till the monies were paied His Majesty then fearing that Walestine lately made Generalissimus to the Emperours whole Army was coming with a strong Army out of Bohemia and his Majesty thinking he was to fall with those Forces into the Duke of Saxons country and seeing the Duke of Bavier had his Army ready at Rhinsberg and the passe open he might joyne with Walestine when he pleased and therefore his Majesty resolved suddenly to breake up with his Army from Munchen giving orders all should be in readinesse against the twenty sixth of May to march towards Donavert and from thence in haste to Nurenberg The thirty-one Observation WISE Generalls must resolve in time to rule their affaires according to the occurrences happening in the course of warres for the Duke of Bavier finding himselfe after Tillies death and his losse sustained at Rhine on the Leacke not bastant to rancounter his Majesties Army in the fields he very wisely resolved to make a defensive warre betaking himselfe with his Army within his Strengths and Passes collecting his Forces together at those two places of Engolstat and Rhinsberg which his Majesty perceiving thought againe it was not time for him to enter in beleaguering of such strengths being so strongly beset and so well provided especially seeing his enemies were drawing strong to the fields from all parts The Spaniard forcing his troopes on the Rhine within the Palatinat Generall Major Ossa coming behinde him with an Army in Schwabland the Duke of Bavier lying strong with his Army betwixt him and Nurenburg on the passes of Engolstat and Rhinsberg Walestine also drawing neere to the Duke of Saxon with a strong Army to fall into his country betwixt his Majesty and home and Papenhaim then dominiering in the nether Saxon Creitches in consideration whereof his Majesty very wisely resolved to hang the little Townes Cloisters and Abbacies belonging to the Papists in Bavaria by the Purse taking of them on the sudden all the monies they were able to give him and pledges for the rest promising unto them unlesse they would duely pay their promised contribution unto his Commissaries the next time he would burne their Dorpes and houses and put all to the sword whereas then he had used clemency in hope they would give the like obedience unto him as unto the Duke their Master For his Majesty did see the enemy forced him by a diversion And therefore he used his time while he was in Bavaria that they might not forget he had bin there but rather tooke tokens with him as men mony Armes rare monuments of antiquity and rich Iewells and which was worse wherein his Majesty had neither hand nor direction many of their houses Dorpes and Castles were burnt to the ground by evill and wicked instruments that repaied burning with burning using the Papists at home as they used Protestants abroade being neere the Baltique coast they never dreamed that the Protestants would come so farre up as to repay them under the foote of the Alpes And had Gustavus lived we had gone neere to warme them within Rome for their by-past cruelties where we see that God the righteous judge punisheth sinne with sinne and man by his owne iniquity His Majesty leaving no Garrison in Bavaria to keepe the country the better in awe and obedience he tooke Hostages and pledges of speciall men from them along with him to make them the readier to pay the summes they had promised As also their contribution and to make them the loather to rise againe in Armes against his Majesties Garrisons which lay adjacenâ— unto them The Duke of Baviers forces being retired within their strengths passes finding themselves not Bastant to offend his Majesties Army they fall out on the other side of the Danube towards the upper Paltz making their incursions there and take in Wisenburg where they used both Burgers and Souldiers more unhumanly then became Christians to doe In like manner we see here the diligence and celerity used by his Majesty according to the occasions that happened in going so suddenly towards Ossa and in returning againe at the Poast with a convoy of Dragoniers towards Munchen to breake up with his Army having left Duke Barnard of Wymar with Generall Major Ruthven to attend on Ossa his Army on the borders of Tyroll towards Landaw and the Boden sea till businesse were pacified Here then we see that his Majesties diligence and experience in warlike actions was so great that his enemies never plotted that enterprize but how soone it came once to his knowledge he presently with celerity and quicknesse of judgment could finde out the contrary remedy ever to make himselfe appeare in effect the most fortunate Commander that ever we read of For his great experience in warlike actions did confirme his judgment and his courage for he was not affraid to doe what he did learne and practise before and like a wise Generall he did ever watch against all unlooked for stroakes for nothing could come wrong unto him because he was alike for all having had the whole compend of wit in his braines he could well and wisely governe the Common-wealth to fight battailes was his delight in the mâ—king of Leaguers he excelled all other Generalls as Tilly did know Engines to devise to passe over Rivers or Fossies or walles was his master-peece as Tillies death can witnesse at the Leacke to plante batteries or to change therein he was profound witnesse also his crossing the Leacke if lines or approaches were to be altered his judgment then behooved to be used in a word he was the Master of Military discipline being risen from a prentise to the great professor of Arts in this eminent and high calling of a Souldier where it is requisit that as a man is valorous and judicious so he ought to be constant in keeping his word and truth inviolable as this King did to all his confederats and to his enemies also And therefore as a most pretious Iewell his remarkable example of vertue is to be followed by those who would prove Heroicke and Magnificent as he was And therefore I was serious to prie so deepe into his actions as that those whom I wish to succeede him in his vertues may follow his practises used in the conquest of a great part of Germany for his spirit alone and skill in warres was better then thousands of Armed men The like gifts I heartily wish to my Noble Patron his Highnesse the Prince Elector Palatine whom I wish to succeede him not only in his vertues but in his conquest also Seing then the greatest part of humane happinesse doth consist in vertue who ever then would be wise let him fix his eyes and his minde to judge other mens actions thereby to correct his owne looking unto all that was and is to th' end that through their example he may learne to better himselfe for so long he shall florish as
to the sword plundered all out and burnt all the Towne to three houses By this time the Garrison of Heidelberg coming towards Wisloch wherein did lie a Company of Dragoniers and a Troope of Horse of the Markgrave Fon Tourlochs folke beleaguers it and by casting fire in the Towne sets three houses on fire whereof the Felt-marshall Gustavus Horne being made fore-seene he with all his Forces did breake up and marched the Heidelbergish Garrison being acquainted with this advancement of the Felt-marshalls they incontinent retired in great haste on Heidelberg and having before their up-breaking from Heidelberg desired succours from Ossa and Mountecucule their Corporall and six Horsemen at their backe coming being taken prisoners by the Swedens the Feltmarshall did finde by their Letters that on the sixt of August their whole Horsemen had appointed Randezvouz at Metternigh to goe for Wisloch whereupon his Excellence did draw neere to their Randezvouz place and attended their coming being unlooked for by them in the meane time the Emperialists were advertised that those of Heidelberg had got in Wisloch and were againe blocked up by some Swedens Forces whereupon Ossa Mountecucule the Colonell Mountelabam and Witzone with the fore-Troopes of Horse being a thousand Horse march on for the Reliefe and unlooked for were pursued by the Swedens whereof two hundred among whom was the Colonell Mountelaban and other Officers were killed many taken and the rest all scattered Whereupon Ossa and Mountecucule with the rest of the folke that were lying at Oberhawsen and Rhinehawsen in all haste did set over the Rhine at Philipsburg The Feltmarshall followed hard and finding he could get no more of them he returned over the Rhine againe and getting the Strasburg passe Rhinebroucke he held on his march further unto Elsas with the Horsemen during which time his foote Forces with the Wirtenbergers beleaguered the passe Stolhossen and getting it in by Accord they marched five thousand strong over at Strasburg unto upper Elsas whereat the Emperialists were mightily afraid and without night or dayes rest they marched towards Colmarschletstad Brisach in the upper Elsas in all haste by taking them to those parts for their Retreate but the Swedens following them hot-foote they tooke in divers places and made good bootie on their march and at last after in-taking of Ofâ—enburg by Accord they marched then towards Bentfield the Bishop his chiefe Strength and beleaguered it By this time also Feltmarshall Arnheim leading the Saxons Armie did fall in strong into Silesia taking in Groseglogaw and other parts thereabouts and all the Emperialists marched towards him with a strong and mightie Armie There were incontinent certaine Swedish and Brandeburgh forces joyned with Arnheim who did set on the Emperialists by Steinove beate them in the fields and followed them unto Brisloe and then after the Emperialists intrenched themselves betwixt Bresloe and the Oder Neverthelesse they were hunted up againe by the Swedens and Saxons who followed them from place to place and did get the Thumbe at Bresloe where they did get great bootie from the Emperialists and not contented with this the Swedens and Saxons followed them over the River at Ollawe and did set on the Emperialists againe not farre from Wiâ—â—sloe obtaining a great victory over them againe where many brave fellowes were taken prisoners many also were killed and the rest scattered so that the Swedens and Saxons were Masters of the greatest part of Silesia and they made the Towne of Bresloe to accommodate themselves in confederacy on certaine Conditions with the Swedens and Saxons while as we at Nurenberg for six weekes together used no great hostilitie but lay secure within our Leaguers as within walled Townes but at such times as we were commanded forth as Convoyes for our Horsemen that went for forrage and then sometimes we lighted on one another striving alwayes for elbowroome whereof at length the Emperialists made us very crimpe or scarce having but one quarter of our Leaguer free to bring in our forrage being onely from the Southwest The thirty-fourth Observation WEE reade in Dion that after Caesar had wonne the Battaile of Pharsalia amongst the honours the Senate had ordained to be given unto him they commanded to dresse for him a Triumphing Chariot which was set opposite to Iupiter within the Capitoll and that he should stand on a Globe representing the world with the inscription Semi-Deus est Even so the Lords of Nurenberg in consideration of the great respect they carried unto his Majesty of Sweden at the first entering their City after the Battaile of Leipsigh they presented two Globes unto his Majesty a Terrestiall and a Coelestiall in signe of their love and obedience unto his Majesty and his Majesty againe by his Royall word promised under God to defend and protect them against all mortalls and being thus engaged unto them their enemies menacing their ruine with a mighty and a strong Army being minded to overcome them with the sword or to make them starve by hunger having closed up as they thought all passes where through succours could come unto them by planting of a wonderfull strong Leaguer about them of intention to blocke them and his Majesties Army both within them being then but weake within their Trenches and walles His Majesty againe like a wise Generall pondering and considering how weighty his enemies enterprizes were in seeking to overcome Nurenberg and knowing if that once they did get Nurenberg on their side the rest of the great Cities would follow in regard whereof his Majesty resolved the safest course for him and the Towne both was to set downe his Leaguer strongly betwixt the Towne and the enemy aswell to hinder their correspondence in case of their unconstancy as for their defence in case of their loyalty For his Majesty knew well there was as great vertue in keeping of a conquest as in getting of it And therefore at this time as formerly at Statin Werben and at Wertzburg against Tilly he resolved to take him to a defensive warre with the spade and the shovell putting his Army within workes having the supply of such a back-friend as Nurenberg was to assist him with men meate and Amunition untill such time as he might weary his enemy as formerly he had done or that succours might come to him that he were bastant for them in the fields and having thus happily resolved both the Armies strongly intrenched before others they did bring the eyes of all the Potentates in Europe upon their actions and designes to see how the end would prove and who should be thought wisest of both But you shall see that he that was at this time the terrour of the world the subduer of Sweden the daunter of Pole and Denmark and the hope of Britaine Holland and Germany was able even unto his death to suppresse the pride and Tyranny of the house of Austria and of his Ministers and Servants being all but Novices in warres in comparison to the
become wise first by thinking what is past and in whose time of their Predecessours things were best governed Secondly he must diligently observe the good to come what can be profitable for him and what not that he may eschew the evill to come and embrace the good Thirdly he should observe the good customes and lawes past being provident mindfull understanding reasonable diligent tractable expert and cunning and he must consider foure good things What is his aime The way and manner he aimes at The person aiming And those he governes XII A Souldier without letters is like a ship without a Rudder or like a bird without feathers but having letters he findes wherewith he can be made wiser finding out by letters courage and many other great helpes to governe and direct those aright whom he commands neither is that fortune in the world to be had where out of letters his knowledge may not be bettered if he be but painfull for being lettered he can strictly keepe under the cruell and defend lawes without terrour temperating them to his minde the meeke also he can civilly admonish and the deceitfull he can wisely goe about and the simple he can handle with lenity shewing his prudency in all his actions foreseeing all dangers which may happen Therefore we see that science to a man of warre is a brave Mistresse teaching him to doe all things as they did in old times XIII It is a hard matter when the diligent and industrious Souldier is disappointed of his hire and that he is rewarded with injury who did merit better This of all evills is most insufferable that he who deserveth a reward should be frustrate of his hopes for reward is due unto valiant Captaines and Souldiers that were instruments in chiefe of victory glory and honour as Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton were in forcing the passage to the Castle of Vertzberg who neverthelesse were frustrate of reward and therefore I cannot but allow of the resolution of Sir Iohn Hamilton being no Souldier of Fortune that tooke his Passe of the Sweden for being frustrate of the reward of his vertue seeing those disdained that did merit best Where we see that a gentle heart being crossed contrary to reason doth presently resent his wrongs pointing out to the world that he is not the man that can suffer or swallow a seene injury done to him and his Nation XIIII It is better to feare evill preparing our selves for danger then through too much security and contempt of the enemy to suffer our selves to be overcome for it is dangerous to have to doe with a desperate body seeing necessity maketh those that are fearefull to become stout and those who feare no dangers are easily lost as witnesseth the death of the Invincible King of Sweden and those dangers ought to be eschewed from whence ariseth greatest evill and experience hath taught us that nothing is more dangerous in warres then to fight great battailes on unequall termes as witnesseth the dolefull battaile fought at Nerling in August 1634. After which losse those that should have fought for their country their wives and children did prove feeble cowards viz. the German Princes Saxon Brandeburg Lunenburg with the rest of the Gentrie giving occasion to others that came to helpe them for to leave them It is no wonder then they be plagued themselves wishing helpe another time when justly they cannot have it having rewarded their helpers so ill as they have done and through their covetousnesse and niggardly sparing bin the cause and instruments of their owne overthrowes and of the losse of the cause being I feare the fore-runners of their Successours punishment which I wish may not happen XV. Before the fall of Kingdomes arise dissensions that overthrow the confederates more than their enemies as it happened here in our late warres of Germanie after the death of his Majestie of Sweden the Dutch Princes especially Saxon slighting his Excellencie the Rex-chancellour of Sweden and his Directorium as Supreame calling him disdainfully a Pedant or a Penman So that wee see that dissension or discord amongst the Superiours was the first cause of the suddaine losse of Nerling Next wee see that the Countrie was destroyed not onely for their sinnes but also for not punishing of sinne For after his Majesties death what punishment was to be seene in our Armie none at all when our owne horsemen plundered their friends not being punished they began to intercept Letters and to robbe the common Poste and to hinder the Countries correspondencie and common traffique which being overseene and winked at by our Generalls they begun then to plunder the Chancelours owne waggons abusing his servants and taking his baggage thereafter the strongest amongst themselves set the weakest party to foote taking away their horses till at last the whole Armie refused to obey the Director and his Concilium formatum lying idle for three moneths in Donavert Leaguer suffering the enemie to over-runne the Countrie and all because that the Officers alleadg'd after his Majesties death that the Scriveners who followed the Chancelour were in better esteeme than the Cavaliers that had done notable good service unto his Majestie so that through this jealousie the Armie came in disorder being the first change and the rest piece and piece did follow till at last the whole Armie was lost through the number of wrongs that went before in the end custome and use of wrongs infected the nature it selfe and the lacke or want of punishment and the libertie and freedome which was given to offend at last the ruine of families that were famous did follow for not punishing of sinne We see then when a potent King and Heroique as Gustavus was in the time hee did live all things florished in a good order but he once gone the CoÌ„mon-wealth was punished for their former sinnes committed in time of their plentie and peace when they had their heaven upon earth as other Nations â—ave now who ought to looke unto themselves in time lest that the Lord raise not up an other Heroique to make them to be punished as other Nations have bin to the eversion of great Cities as Magdeburg and divers others for when the publique burthens doe grow then Governements doe change as wâ—s seene here for lawes being cast away and discipline put in fetters then suddenly did follow change and great ruine after the Kings death of worthy memorie XVI Nothing loses more as we see the common cause than the want of authoritie in one person as was formerly said of the Saxons jealousie over the Rex-chancelors Governement Also the same fault was seene in the Armie under Commanders as at Nerling betwixt Supreme Officers as also betwixt their inferiours who for want of one Supreme Commander as Gustavus was they could not agree among themselves Likewise the dissension and jealousie betwixt Duke Barnard and the Rhinegrave helpes nothing to the furtherance of the good cause being both brave Commanders though
Guards admonishing them to be carefull against out-falls on the Trenches Batteries or Guards giving orders to the Captaine of the Watches to receive the enemie falling out with a strong bâ—die of Pikes and Muskets closse together to beate them backe being received with Pikes charged bravely flancked and lined with shot which being done to advance their workes againe night and day till the enemy be forced to Accord In the night also a sufficient Sergeant being seconded by another stout fellow should creepe to the Graffe with two halfe-Pikes for to wade through to know the shallowest parts being helpt thereto by some knowne Boore who might give certaintie of the enemies strength within and of their defects they have of victualls Amunition fire or water As also to know their private sorting-Ports to watch their out-commings he ought also to learne what draw-bridges are within and what Portcullis and what store of victualls or Amunition is to be had within in case the Strength be pregnable that he may the better make his Accord Also he ought to learne what Artillery or Armes are within and what Caducks or what number of Horses pertaining to the enemie and what other riches they have and where kept or if otherwise the Towne be not taken by Accord or strength of hand we must strive to force it to yeeld by hunger or by lacke of fire or water or otherwise by throwing Artificiall fire amongst them with Cannon or with other fiery Engins fiering their houses or spoyling their Watches on their Posts or Guards as also we must deale by fraud to convey private Letters unto them for deboysing the Inhabitants to resist the Garrison in making either Port or Post good while as the pursuer intends to fall on on storme oâ— breach Likewise the pursuer had neede to dispose well of his owne watches without that he be not surprized his hooffe-watch particular watches reserves or by-watches are to be still in readinesse to attend the enemies out-falling lest he may cut off his Guards or spoyle his Cannon by nayling of them or by burning their Carriages or Amunition being disgracefull in the highest manner as oft-times hath hapned to unprovident and sluggish Commanders who have unwisely despised their enemies An enemy being in the Field either with a strong partie or Armie a sufficient Commander must be carefull in recognoscing the Field about him for taking his advantage of the ground in advancing to an enemie as also in spying his advantage in case he be put to a Retreat that he may the better retire in order not being put to rout as our Armie was at Nerling which never hapned unto them before during the time I served the Sweden As also being in the Field he ought to observe where most conveniently he can plant his Ordnance as Generall Tillie did at Leipsigh and as the Emperialists did on the Hill at Nurenberg as also at Nerling For Ordnance being planted with advantage is oft-times the winning of the Field and the losse of Artillery is ever reputed and holden for a defeate although both foote and horse be preserved There is also advantage of ground very requisit to be taken by foote against foote as the advantage of hights passages woods hedges ditches as also the advantage of Sunne and Winde with you and against your enemie which his Majestie of worthy memory did strive to get at Leipsigh against the Emperialists Likewise it is a great advantage of ground when one of both the Armies is brought to that inconvenience that they cannot come to fight but the one Armie may be forced to come up but by Divisions while as the other by advantage of the ground may receive them with full Battailes of horse and foote the one to second the other and this advantage Gustavus Horne did get of the Emperialists while as he retired before them unto Vertenberg-land in March 1633. the enemy not being able to pursue our Armie but with great disadvantage which freed us of them for that time he being stronger than we and afterward the Rhinegraves Forces come from Alsas being joyned with us we made the Emperialists againe retire over the Danube unto Schwaland at the passe of Munderken where we came within Cannon-shot yet they getting the passe retired in safetie as they did another time from us out of Schwabland unto Bierland having got the passe before us at Kempten and afterward over the Eler in Schwabland having I say got the passe before us they were safe and we frustrate So that the advantage of ground is of great importance in warres as I have often knowne by experience especially before the Hill at Nurenberg Likewise a wise Commander being defender must observe all Circumstances as he did in pursuing for his owne safetie he must also being defender beset well all passes and frontier Garrisons whereupon the enemie must passe to come unto him having timely recognosced the same that it may either be beset by him or otherwise being found more advantagious for the enemie it would then be timely demolished As also your enemies Armie or strong partie being drawne up in the field you are to recognosce both his strength and order by the sight of your eye before you intend to pursue him where you are to consider how he can advance to you or you to him without disorder but doe you never pursue except with advantage though you shall be deemed by others to be remisse but rather suffer him to be gone than to take the disadvantage of pursute since time will alter any thing and he that preserves an Armie will doubtlesse finde a convenient time to fight And it had beene good for the Evangelists in Dutchland that this point had beene more wisely lookt unto at Nerling than it was for they might have saved their Armie and Countrey both had they not presumed with disadvantage in their owne strength and courage where GOD the disposer of hearts made their pride suffer a great fall A short Observation to be observed in Garrison ENtering the place before all things you are to visit the Posts and being duely recognosced the round or circuit should be measured and then the Posts to be dealt proportionably according to the severall strengths that no man have just cause to complaine The posts then orderly and well beset there should be orders given for by-watch or reserve where to stand in readinesse whether on the Market-place or some other convenient part having sufficient Officers ever to command them who must be kept to strictnesse of dutie left they should be to seeke when honour were to be maintained while as on Alarum they were to repaire to poste street or wall to resist the enemie and to succourse the weaknesse of any accident might befall by pursute or fire or to resist enemies within or without being as well on continuall Guard against the Inhabitants in case of uproares or treacherie as against their outward enemies since no enemy is so