The Actions and Occurrences in upper GERMANY.

CHAP. I. The Actions, Occurrences, and passages Polemicall, and Po­liticall in Picardy, Ar­toys, Henault, &c.

IT was high time for the neighbour Princes which stood in opposition to the house of Austria, to look about them, and the Christian King parti­cularly.

The Swedes fortunes concerned him: the Kings of Spain, and Hungary, when those his Confederates appeared in probability able to hold them tugge, with severall strong Armies, invaded his Kingdome, put him to much [Page 64]trouble, The Frtuch Kings prepa­rations. though his royall heart affecting the good of his subjects, and the people in a respective obedience, conforming their gestures to his commands with an u­nanimous courage, made head against them, and sent them back without any notable evidence of victory. Some places of strength, pieces of importance, were then taken by them, and some of them recovered again by the King; and now to cry quittance with those in­vadours, he prepares not only for regaining his owne, but by transmitting his Armies into the places under their Dominions, to draw the stakes from them, and engage his adversaries in a defensive warre. Severall Armies were raised at the Kings charge, and commit­ted to severall Generals, to do their service in such pla­ces, as his Majesty directed them. The Prince of Conde was appointed to draw up all the troops which were quartered in Champagne, Loraine, and Burgundie, and to lead them into the French County, he being consti­tuted the Generalissimo of those forces, and the Duke de Longeville his Lieutenant Generall. The Marshals de la Force, and Chastillon had a joynt Commission for kee­ping the River of Mosell, and the places thereabouts, but the old Marshall a true Miles Emeritus, of the age of 72 yeeres, 60 of which hee had spent in the service of his King and Country, was soon after rude donatus, had his Writ of Ease and Honour too, and in the Parlia­ment of Paris, Iuly 24, August 3, was received by the honourable title of Duke of Madurant, and Musidan his Lands of inheritance, The Marquesse de la Force made a Duke and Pe [...]re of French. and Peere of France, being presented by the Kings Attourney, Monsieur Ioubert, in the presence of the Prince of Conde, the yong Duke of Anguieus, the Duke of Montbazon, and Rochefou­cault, and other persons of State and Dignity, and Cha­stillon alone with 6000 horse, and 12000 foot marched into Luxemburgh, (as was said) though other did write [Page 65]he had never half so many men) the King having sent before by Monsieur Daniel de la Rue, a great summe of money to Leige, to raise some more men there for his service, entertained Ruelles sonne, whose memory is still deer to the Liegois in his Court at Paris, and consigned him a place of Honour, and given a good Pension to the Massacred Burghers Widow, to confirme the amity betwixt his Majesty and that State. Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymar, accompanied with Roderick the yong D. of Wertenberg, the Marquesse of Baden, his Lieutenant Generall Hallier, and many other men of quality, atten­ded with an Army of about 10000 horse and foot, 2000 horse to carry the Artillery, and furnished at first with a thirteen hundred thousand Franks to pay his Army, was assigned to invade the Empire beyond the Rhine, Cre­quy, with his forces was ordered to joyn with the D. of Savoy, for opposall of the Spanish forces in and about Lumbardy. The Earle of Harecourt was to scowre the Seas, and the Cardinall de Valetto, and the Duke of Can­dale his brother, had their Province assigned them in the Frontiers towards the Spanish Provinces in the Ne­therlands, and Hennegow, some places in Picardy being still in the Cardinall Infants hands, and those to be re­duced to the Kings obedience.

About the end of May, the French Cardinall and the Duke his brother set forward towards Amiens, and blocking up la Capelle marched on to invade Hainaut, and sate down before Landrecy, whither the grand Ma­ster of the Artillery, The Cardinal de Ʋalette marcheth to­wards the Ne­therlands. brought up his forces also to hasten their proceedings. The Card. Infant was not so soon in the field, nor had strength then to oppose them; yethe omitted nothing that was requisite for preservation of his Country. He sent divers expresses to Piccolomini to make haste, and come down with his Regiments, forti­fied his Frontiers, and brought down all the strength [Page 66]he had of horse and foot to Mons in Hainaut, and Ma­benge to oppose them; but wanting strength he thought it fitter to let them spend some time before the City, the siege giving him liberty to re-enforce himself, then by encountring them with that handfull of men, to en­danger his Army, and so expose the Provinces under him to further ruine.

Iune 9/13, the French Cardinall tooke up his head­quarter at Faveri, a Village halfe a league from the Ci­ty, Sits down be­fore Landrecay. before which though he lay, till Iuly 3/13, he lost not his time, a flying Army under the command of Colonel Gassion and Rambures Governour of Dowlens doing good service to the Christian King, and giving much offence to the Enemy and other his Confederates emu­lating their associates atchievements, in a laudable am­bition, affecting and deserving an equall wreath of Ho.

Monsieur the Marquesse of Melleray, Kinsman to the Cardinall Richilieu, and great Master of the French Artillery, marching up to the Cardinall de la Valette, as hee was upon his way, cast his eye upon the Castle and Towne of Bohain situate upon the high-way, betwixt Saint Quintin and Chastean, Cambresie. He saw it, and divers perswading arguments induced him upon the view and site therof to assault it. The King his Master lost it the yeere, and it stood with his honour not to leave it in the possession of an Enemy; The Castle of Iohain taken by the Marq: of Milleray. it blocked up the way betwixt Saint Quintin and the French Ar­mies, it was a mote in his eye, and hee would assay to remove it. In a word it was lost before miserably, through want of men to hold it, and fortifications to preserve the small number within it, and hee meant to regain it honourably, encountring with difficulties, nei­ther disheartned with sight of the new works made by the Spaniards to defend it, nor the proportionable num­ber of presidiaries which were left to maintain it. His [Page 67]conceit was actuated without further dispute. First, to observe the military method, he summoned it, & when his oratory was not so powerfully perswasive and effe­ctuall, as to make the Garrison yield, without delay he planted and levelled 16 peeces of full Canon against it, and that sight being terrible to the Spanish Garrison, they which to avoid the dishonorable title of Cowards before would not hearken to a treaty, began to crave it, and procured it, and in conclusion, surrendred the Towne and Castle, upon condition meerly to depart, with their lives, and to leave behind them whatever they had gotten by pillage from the poore neighbou­ring Villages, and so saved themselves from the fury of the Army, though they escaped not the rage of the Pea­sants, who having been spoyled by them formerly, hea­ring of their departure, and the manner of it, without convoy, or offensive weapons, assembled together to the number of 400 men, way-layed them, as they were on their march to Cambray, sel upon them with all their strength, which was then doubled by their spleen, slue most of them upon the place, some few only escaping into the Woods, which saved them from the peasants fury, it was a purchase of good value, & of use, both for the souldiers, and the country people, the first finding there good store of victuals and Amunition, and the last by this prize recovering their moveable goods, beds, linnen, pewter, brasse, and other utensils for house­keeping, which had been taken from them by the plun­dering Garrison, and were now restored unto them by the Conquerour.

The flying Army under Gassion and Rambure, de­signed to scoure the Country, and prevent the Enemy, if he should any thing privatly either against the Camp at Landrecey, or the places in the Kings obeysance in Picardy, according to order given by the Generall, [Page 68]went abroad with six foot Companies, and eight of horse, and ranged over that Territory, till within a league of Mons the chiefe City of that Province, with­out any adventure, there they heard of one worth their care, A rich convoy surprized by G [...]ssion. a Convoy of foure Companies of Infantry, and as many of Cavallary, attending some number of Wag­gons loaden with the best things of Cambray and Va­lenciens, the inhabitants there fea [...]ing that the French, after the prize of Landrecey, would besiege those Cities, transporting the best of their baggage into Flanders, for its preservation. It was needlesse to bid the Comman­ders, or common men to stirre, they were acquainted with each particular, both the way which the Convoy should passe, the houre of its comming, and the strength which attended it, and seeing what a booty was offered them, addressed themselves to receive it. Rambure, with the one moiety of the troops, with as much privacy, as he could, retires backward to a Wood called by the in­habitants Bois de la Fournilhire, three leagues from Mons South-ward, there he layes an Ambuscadoe, con­cealing the greatest part of his forces, but shewing the fag-end of his men to the Convoy, which encouraged by perceiving the smalnesse of their number, made up to them, and prepared to assault them, when sodainly Gas­sion, who lurked behind an Hill to conceal himself, till convenient time, upon the first Musquetado, spurred up to his Friends succour, and Rambure appeared on the other side with his men, then risen from the Ambush, and both together charged the Convoy so furiously, that they slue 500 upon the place, and sorely wounded di­vers others, the rest which were best mounted, saying their lives by their horses legs, and leaving 24 waggons as a prize to the French, who for all their Ambuscado, & advantage they had in the fight, came not off shot-free, but left 17 dead behinde them, and had 40 desperatly [Page 69]wounded. The waggons were driven to the Campe at Landrecey, and there the Cardinall de Valette to in­courage his Souldiers for the like adventure, if occasion should so happen and sweeten the peasants, which gave notice of the Convoy to his Campe volant, divided the spoile to the common men, whose valours their leaders had commended, and some the peasants widows whose husbands were slain, or wounded in the conflict.

A like accident and more glorious, though not so profitable, hapned to the Colonell, Iune 23. August. 3. whilest according to his Commission, he was pricking over the field with his own ful Regiment of 1400 men attending him, five Cavalliers were descryed issuing out of the corner of a Wood, and the Colonell sent speedily as many of his own up to them, to bring him a better assurance whence, and what they were. They did their errand, and returned with news, that they were Spa­niards, and that those five men were but the Vedettes Scouts Avantguard, forlorn hope, or of one such a con­ditioned fortune to some troops of Horse which fol­lowed after them. The tale was delivered in these Ge­nerals, by them which could not, nor had opportunity to be informed certainly in the particulars. ‘De minimis, nec curat lex, nec grex:’ The French Colonell though he knew it not, had a wel grounded opinion, that the Cardinall Infant could not bring an Hoast into the field, hee might advance safely because he had a free way to retreat safely, A Spanish par­ty defeated by Gassion. and on hee intended to go with a discreet resolution, either to give them battaile, if he should not finde them in all postures of number, courage, and advantage of place his Supe­rionrs, [Page 70]or if otherwise, to march back again in an order­ly recesse to the Campe, his glory consisting either in getting a victory, without the assistance of his General, or mature discovery of the Enemies designe to preserve his own party from unexpected invasion. He dischar­ged upon them, and they manfully abode the first shock of his charge, returned him equall salvoes, shot for shot, blow for blow, and the end of the combat began to be suspected, 200 of them slain, and so taken priso­ners. either party expecting, both contending for a fortunate issue; Gassion, who had kept a reserve behinde him, to give a fresh charge, while the first Assaylants wheeled about to prepare for a new assault, brought up his Arreere, which came on so impetuously, that the Spanish horsmen gan to shrink, and continuing his me­thod, broke their Ranks, rowted them, slue 200 upon the place, took fifty prisoners, amongst which was a Spanish Don, Alvaro Viveres and certain Officers; gai­ned three Cornets, of 27 wherof the Spanish Battalia consisted, forced them to tear seven others into shivers, though not without some losse, Such adventures are not passed over without some damage, 25 of his Souldiers being slain in that battaile.

This successe was not of small esteeme, yet the pro­gresse of the French Cardinals activity was crowned with a more glorious issue, the Townes and Castles of Irsin, Chastean, Cambray, newly conquered, Chastean de Buff and Bussi, which were guarded with Spanish Gar­risons, were the same time reduced to acknowledge the Christian King, for their Sovereigne, and Catelet and la Capelle, which still held for the Spaniards were so straitly blocked up, Divers Forts and Towns taken by the French Army. that the Advenues being stopt up by the Kings Armies, that they were out of all hope of succour, and this happy proceeding would have ani­mated such as served for honour, not reliefe of their [Page 71]misery, to have prosecuted their course more carnest­ly. But Affluence is the mother of Idlenesse, when for­tune begins to smile, common souls begin to be luxu­riant, it is wisdome which must governe Fortune, else­like an unmanaged jade, whilest he seems to play upon the bit, shee may cast her Rider. Some of the princi­pall Officers, presuming by this small beginning that all was theirs returned to Paris, gallantized it in the City, tooke their pleasure, considered not that their Lords lay in Tents, and betook them to their beds of ease, to the danger, not ruine of his Majesties affairs, whose wakefull eye attending his own, and his peoples welfare, saw what might ensue upon their supine negligence, and salved all againe by an Edict which like a mundifying unguent, cleansing the ulcer, re­strained their luxurie, the purport wherof is as fol­loweth.

The King being advertised, The Kings Proclamation injoyning the officers to re­paire to the Armies. and himselfe having seene by the extracts of the review of his Armies, that many Captaines and officers of his troops, are absent from their charges, notwithstanding the commands which he hath often given them, to attend upon their places: and not able to endure their remisnesse in pro­moting his important affaires, of so great consequence, at this present: His Majestie doth againe expresly or­der, and command, all Camp-masters, Colonels, Cap­taines, and officers of his troops, both horse and foot, Frenchmen and strangers, to repaire to their charges, within eight dayes after the date of these presents, without delay: willing and decreeing, that all such as shall then be absent, be deprived, and casheered from their offices, as his said Majestie doth by these presents, deprive and cashiere them, if they have no letter of li­cence signed with his owne hand, and counter-signed [Page 72]by the Secretary of State, for leaving his service, not permitting those which shall be deprived, and cashierd for that offence, never to be restored to their offices, for any cause or occasion whatsoever which may be al­leadged, forbidding the Lievtenants-Generals of his Armies to admit them, or suffer them to be readmitted, after the expiration of the time limited, and his Com­missaries of warre, to let them shew themselves in the future musters, and reviewes of his forces: the extracts of all which the said Generals shall send his Majestie, with the names of all the Captaines and officers, both present and absent, to the end that the rigour of these presents, may be executed upon them. And this order his Majestie commandeth to be published, and affixed to the usuall places for his proclamations, that none may pretend any excuse, by way of ignorance: Dated at the Castle of Madrid, Iuly 15. 1635. signed Lowis, and a little lower sublet.

This Mandate concerned all his Armies generally, and was well observed of the better sort, onely the rab­ble: some such members there must not needs be in such vast bodies, unsensible of their owne duty, and respect­lesse of the Kings service, when they came to the test in Henault, disbanded, and ranne away through Picardy and Champagne, and then his Majestie againe, to re­forme that abuse, which if permitted, might have bin to his great prejudice, gave an expresse command to all the Provosts and Marshals of those Provinces, to keepe the wayes and passages thereof, for the arresting of such Souldiers and Officers as came from the Army, An Edict a­gainst the fu­gitives. with­out a Passeport from the Lievetenant Generall, or a lawfull discharge, and required all Mayors, Sheriffes, and inhabitants of the Townes and Villages, through which those fugitives should passe, to lay hands upon [Page 73]them, and commit them, that they might be proceeded against, according to the rigour of law; and this severe decree made at home, kept the souldiers in obedience which were abroad.

The chiefe Commanders at Landrecey, had not their hands weakened, nor their hearts much troubled by the running away of those cowards, they fell close to their businesse, knowing the importance of the place for fur­ther designes, the French Armies by surprizing it, ha­ving an open passage into Henault, and likelihood of ease in the recovering of Avenne, Barlemont, and Va­lencynes, and reducing them to the Kings obedience. The Liegois still tooke to heart the murther of their Burgomasters, and hated all those, Divers Lie­gois come to the Campe at Landrecey. whom they suspe­cted to have but a finger in it, by a plebiscite banished the Carmelites, as consenting thereunto, and upon Whitsunday (as if it had been the better deed, for the better day) three hundred of the Citizens well armed, assaulted the Castle of Oray, distant ten English miles from the City, belonging to Bokholt the grand Baylie of Liege, pillaged it, and burnt it to the ground, because they supposed, that he tooke part with the Elector of Collen against them, and would impeach them in their liberties, and now having a full assurance of the Chri­stian Kings affection to their state, were as forward a­gaine to helpe him on with his worke at Landrecey, came to the French campe by swarmes, and did excel­lent service in labouring about the circumvallation, tra­verses, lines of communication, raysing of batteries, and assisting those 2000 men, which were brought by the Count of Quince, Governour Guise for that purpose in building a Fort, to offend the City. Foure great bat­teries were planted against the City, before the Mar­quesse of Milleraize, Master of the ordnance, The manner of the siege of Landrecey. arrived thither, and were ready to play, at his comming a fifth [Page 74]great one was made in his Quarter, and two lesser ones, and the great Gunnes were all thundring eft­soones upon the City. The Pioners were imployed to under mine the foure bastions of the Townes, Grana­does were throwne into the City, no hand was idle or wanting meanes, or will to endamage the besieged. The Garrison, and inhabitants within, were much bu­sied for their owne defence, and doing seath to the Camp before it. They which could do any thing, with­out respect of condition, sexe, or age, had their taske set them; the Priests, Fryars, old men, women and chil­dren, were appointed to carry earth to stoppe the breaches, others to carry earth to the tops of the houses, to preserve them from the force of the Grana­does, others were armed and sent out in the sallyes, to hinder the workes of the campe, others imployed upon the walles and bulwarkes, to discharge the Artillery, upon the assaylants: a course in all probability not unef­fectuall, yet not so successefull as it was preimagined, the Artillery upon the wals did little hurt, few above 50. perished by that destroying Engine. Two persons onely of quality were flaine, Mesnill Tilly, the Kings servant in ordinary, in the Duke of Candales quarter, and Montesquiou a Captaine in Vaubecourts regiment, and two hurt, de Ouche Esquire to the Marquesse Mil­leraye, in his right shoulder, and Colonell Gassion by a Musket bullet in his necke, the campe being lodged ad­vantageously, & sheltered from the shot, by those trees, which grow like a thicke wood, betwixt the wals of the City, and the moat. Their labour to prevent the Granadoes, was utterly vaine, the next morning after the Governour had provided for his owne safety, and the safety of his family, his dwelling house being beaten downe by those fatall instruments. To what a desperate estate doe they seeme to be brought already? a potent enemy lay before them, and flye they could not, to hold [Page 75]out by their owne strength, they were farre unable, all hope of reliefe was lost, and yet they will not capitu­late: One thing there was which still encouraged them, The garrison necessitated, the strength and situation of the City, which being pla­ced in the midst of a Moorasse, could not (as was thought) be kept blockt up, if the weather should alter, though the present drought had given the French hoast way to encampe before it. The French Cardinall fore­saw all this, and providing for a rainy day, made seve­rall cawsies upon the Moorasle, with sand, gravell, and flints, three foot high, and caused above 100 carts loa­den with planks to be brought thither from Saint Quin­tins, la Fere, Guise, and other places to lodge his soul­diers on, in time of necessity. Capitulates and surrenders upon This sight somewhat daunted the defendants, but the Mines, which by the diligence of the pioners, were perfected, had their chambers filled with powder, and were ready to be sprung, affrighted them more, and Tuesday Iuly 12/22 the inhabitants called a counsell to advise what to doe in this extremity. They were not long deliberating, a par­lee was resolved of, a flagge of treaty was hung out, a cessation of Armes was begged by the Citizens, and granted by the French Generals, and upon assurance given them by the Cardinall de Valette, the best of the inhabitants, and the officers in the garrison, came to the campe, and yeelded to surrender upon these con­ditions following.

FIrst, that the Governour, his officers and souldiers, These Arti­cles. horse and foot, should depart upon Sunday follow­ing, by 10. of the clocke in the morning, with their horses, Armes, and baggage, drums beating, flying co­lours, bullets in mouth, matches in the cocke, sufficient lighted at both ends.

II That they shall be conducted in safety to Valen­cyennes, [Page 76]with an able and sufficient convoy, and for counter security, should leave hostages, which upon re­turne of the safe-guard, shall be set at liberty.

III That they shall have licence to carry with them, two pieces of Canon, and be provided of powder and bullets for sixe severall charges of them.

IV There shall be wagons allowed them to carry their equipage, if they hap to want them, which shall be returned in safety with the Convoy, and upon the same conditions of assurance.

V There shall be a Trumpet licensed and authorized with a passeport, to goe to Brussels in behalfe of the Governour, to acquaint the Cardinall Infant with the issue of the siege, and the motives of surrendry.

VI The works for battery and assaults shall present­ly cease, and for assurance thereof, the besieged shall have nine sentinels sent out of the campe into their Ba­stions, and shall send three of theirs to lye as lieger-ho­stages in the Army.

VII The Burgesses and inhabitants of the place, shall have liberty to stay in the Towne, giving an oath of fealty to the Christian King, with a proviso that they shall hold their ancient priviledges which they were never barred of, till this present. That all such as would depart, shall have free liberty to doe so, and have a moneths time to sell their goods, and put their estates in order.

VIII The former Article shall extend it selfe also to all officers both of policie and justice, who shall con­tinue in their places and offices, giving the like oath of allegeance to the Christian King.

IX The neighbouring Church-men which retired thither as to a Sanctuary upon sight of the French Ar­mies, shall have licence to returne, and power to enjoy their benefices, giving the same assurance of their loy­alty [Page 77]to the French King, and have a moneths time to dispose of their estates, if they intend not to make use of this Article.

X For assurance of performing the above written Articles, the City and Garrison shall immediatly give foure hostages, two of the principall Burgesses, and two Captains, which without more adoe, shall be returned without any pretense of cause to detain them longer, if an Army Royall should appeare to force the Campe, and constraine the French to rise betwixt that day and Sunday morning at ten of the clocke. All which was concluded of in the Campe before Landrecey, Iuly 13/23, and was signed, ‘Le Cardinall de Valette, and de Hainin.’

This last condition closed all up, and gave an assurance to the Governour, that the Spanish Card, had no cause to complain against him, or to suspect him of disloyalty who would have kept the place, had there bin any pro­bability of his reliefe, and was a good evidence to the French Cardinall, that the place was his already, there being a sufficient demonstration, that the Spaniard could not come to relieve it, his Army, as then not having met at the generall Randevouz, nor the Forces muste­red up which should oppose him.

Sunday came, but succours came not, The Fr [...] take possession of Landrecey. and Rambures the French Camp-master, with his Regiments of French men and Switzers, entred the Towne, accom­panied with Thow, and Laniere, intendants of justice over the Army, who were sent thither to see that the souldiers should commit no outrages in the Towne, and so winne the hearts of the people, and take away the common calumny layd upon their nation, that after a victory, they were over-insolent. It was a good re­monstrance of discretion, The glory of a Prince is not [Page 78]in the number of his townes, or amplitude and vastnesse of his dominions, but the love of his people. The project tooke, and after a Te Deum sung the next morning, the inhabitants came in voluntarily, gave an assurance by oath, that they would continue the Kings loyall sub­jects so long as he would protect them: many of those which had packt up their fardels, as meaning to be gone, disburthening themselves of their loads, and joy­ning in the tender of Allegiance to his Majesty of France, induced thereunto by the faire usage of the French Cardinall, who assigned them a Governour, which that same day entred the Town with his Regi­ment, the Marquesse de Vaubecour.

A grain turns the Scale, and this prize, though ac­counted of small consequence by them which lost it, who like ordinary Gamesters boast of their winnings, never speak of their losings, quite altered the course of the Infanta's designes; Hee had begun a work of great importance, and had hee finished it, had done a thing which might have more avayled him then common men can imagine, a new Haven was intended for Graveling, fortified, and capable of Vessels of great burthen, The Haven of Graveling left unperfect. which if effected would have drawn all trade from Calice, and have brought no small impeachment otherwise to the Kings Frontiere Towns in Picardie. The French by land, and Dutch under the Dominion of the Vnited States, laboured to hinder it by Sea, the Admirall Dorp brought his Fleet thither, but nether of them, joyntly or severally could do any thing, only the discovery of this Army, and their successe made the Spanish Cardinall dispose otherwise of the souldiers, who were commanded thither to secure the labourers and the workmen, when they had almost brought the Forts to defence, and were busie about the harbour, were forced to desist, being content that they scowred [Page 79]the channell, and made it fit to receive a vessell of big­ger burden.

Many other happy Archievments attended as hand­maids upon that more illustrious Fortune: Iuly the third new stile, the Regiments of Navarre and Picar­die, being gone into Boulonnois to refresh themselves, the Garrisons of the Frontiers of Artois, thinking to make use of the time, had a designe upon Desaren, a Town neer Monthulin, and marched thitherwards with 300 horse and 400 foot, hoping to surprize the Companies of foot, which were garrisond in the town, and to plunder the neighbour Villages. An attempt of the Atrebates lost at Desu [...]en. Villequier Go­vernour of Boulogne, and the adjacent Territory, was advertised by some peasants of their march, & to catch them in their own trap, commanded an expert souldier la Mothe Belle Isle, with two Companies of Carabins, one Company of light horse, and certain Musquetiers against them. The Captain had sure and particular in­formations of their posture, knew the place where they lay in Ambuscado to entrap the Garrison, and thither marched directly, fell upon them withall his might, and after a sharpe combat of an houre long, rowted and de­feated them, slue neer 300 upon the place, tooke fifty prisoners whom he brought into Bouiogne, and chased the rest into Falkembergh, and the Woods adjoyning, getting this conquest only with the losse of forty five men.

Piccolomini, was then upon his march, Piccolomini [...] march. to assist the Spanish Cardinall; his Avantguard consisted of 400 horse in ten Companies of Gonzagu's Regiment of 350 horse of his own new Regiment, of Savelli his Regiment of foot, being 1000 men in ten Companies, Becks Regiment of 550 men, one of Gallas his Regi­ments of 2000 men, Tieffenbachs Regiment of 450 men, yong Berners Regiment of 600 men, and ano­ther [Page 80]Regiment of 450 men. His Artillery consisting of eight brasse Peeces, and 100 waggons laden with baggage, marched in the middle of Gallas his Regiment. The Arreereguard consisted of Piccolomini his old Re­giment, distributed into 12 Companies, and making a­bout 430, and the Regiment of Count Rheiberg, which was the hindmost, & was composed of 300 horse in ten Companies, Chastillon, whose Province lay about the Mozell in Lorraine, and Luxenburgh, Iuly 16/76, was in­formed of his arrivall neer the River, both by his scouts and some prisoners, which had bin taken by the Garri­son of the Castle at Sancie, as they were stragling from the Army, amongst which was the Italian Counts Se­cretary, who was surprized with his baggage, his Ma­sters papers, and most secret instructions: The French Field-marshal thus made perfectly acquainted with his way, sent out Bellefons an expert Commander and va­liant Gentleman, to assault the Castle of Chauvancie with 200 foot, and 150 horse, whilest himselfe with the rest of his Army tooke order to secure the Kings Towns and Castles about the River. The Earle was told of Bellefons his designe, and brought up the Caesa­rean and Spanish Cavallarie under his command, as far as Mommedy, and de Marville to raise the siege, and sur­prize him: but his houre of victory was not yet come, Chastillon with all his Army appeared at that Rande­vouz, and in the sight of the Imperiall Generall, batte­red the Castle with seven peeces of Ordnance in three severall places, The Castle [...] taken [...]. and forced the Garrison to surrender upon conditions, that the common men should depart with white staves, and the Officers with the swords at their sides, and that only; which was granted, and they marched thence to Mommedy an halfe league di­stant.

The Caesarcan Generall, had no commission to sight [Page 81]there, he was expected in the Netherlands, and thither he advanced with such speed and privacy, that hee had brought his Auxiliaries to Mons in Haynalt, two days before the French Commanders, who were still about the River of Sambre understood it. He carried it wise­ly, they expected and lay in wait for him and Chastillon, with two whole Regiments of French, three Compa­nies of Crabats, which for pay served under his Co­lours, though against the Austrian, and three squadrons of horse hearing of his retreat from Mommedy, pursued after him, to have assaulted the Reare, but his speed pre­vented all their designes, the Cardinall de la Valette, ne­ver set eye on him, and Chastillon only overtooke 25 Cavalliers, which loytered behind the Army, Piccolominie' [...] arrivall ac Montz. and were not so well mounted as the other Piccolomini with the rest of his men that night, Iuly 19/29, reaching to Neuf­chastell in Ardennesse, and within two nights after to Mons, where hee spent some time to fortifie himselfe, and refresh his weary Army.

Landrecey being taken in, the Cardinall de Valette first took order to repair the breaches, to renew the old Fortifications, and to confirme the inhabitants of that City, and Chasteau Cambresi in their Allegiance to the Crown of France by gentle usage, demeaning himselfe so fairly, and managing the businesse so discreetly, that most of them who had fled thence into Cambray, Quesnoy, Valenciennes, and Mons for refuge, sent their Trumpeters with petitions to have liberty, to return to their habitations. Then Iuly 20/36, hee sent Rambures the Field-marshall, with 2500 horse to visit the Enemies Country about Bavez, Saint Guillin, and Monts. The party, which went abroad, was dignified with the so­ciety of the Gallantry of the French Army; the Mar­quesse of Preslin Camp-master for the light horse. Gas­sion the fortunate and daring Colonell, the Count of [Page 82] Nause, A fortunate enterprize un­dertaken by the French neer Monts. Captaine of the Gens d'ermes, Arnault, campe­master for the Carabins, S. Agnan, Captaine of the light horse, the Marquesse of Pisani, and the Vicount Monthaz, and returned not to the Campe without the spoyles of the enemy, the trophies of their honour. No­tice was given them, that 300 horse were come out of Montz, and to repulse them, if not vanquish them, they divided their Army into three parts, passed over at three armes of the River, to encounter them, charged them so impetuously, that upon the first meeting, the Spanish souldiers were forced to flye, being pursued to the Barriers of the towne, where the Vicount Mont­bas was hurt in the face, arme, and belly, but without danger, and this adventure happened out so successeful­ly to the French, that though they were intermingled with their enemies in the suburbs, not a man of them was lost, and they slew thirty Spaniards, who dischar­ged upon them their Canonad o's at randome, and vain­lye, because at randome from the wals of the City. This fortune, though it cannot be called a victory, stood them in further stead, then for the present, it cleared the country, exposed the high wayes, and open dorps to pillage, for ten leagues space, and thence they brought back to the camp, 800. horse of all sorts, 1500. oxen and kine, 3000. muttons, seven or eight hundred prisoners of all conditions, (the booty being increased by the Ca­roaches, in which most of them were taken) besides the Priests, the religious persons, women and children, which were sent backe in safety, being used all the time of their captivity, according to their severall ranks and qualitie, nor was the enterprize meerely rewarded with this gaine, but ennobled, with honour. The defeat of two companies of the Train-band of the Province, and one company of the Spanish Cavallary, both which they met upon their return towards the camp, the first [Page 83]in the open fields, and the last neere a passage over the River, which being preoccupated by the Cardinall Dukes brigade, sent thither by Preslin to keep it, were enclosed on the other side by Gassion, and the most part being put to the sword, the rest became prisoners of warre.

Another atchievement waited upon the former, the Marquesse, Grand Master of the Artillery, drew out 1500 foot out of his French and Helvetian regiments, and 200 horse, which under the conduct of the Mar­quesse de la Forte-Imbault the Field-marshall, he sent to enforce the Tower and Castle of Busigni, Aug. 1. new stile, a place of much importance, and such, as while it was in the Spaniards hands, hindred all com­merce betwixt Saint Quintins and Landrecey. The Marquesse at his first arrivall, tooke up his quarter neere the counter-scarpe, whither having brought also foure pieces of Canon, he so astonished the Governour, who was but soldat de Fortune, a voluntary, and one which served without pay, that he presently sent to capitulate. His agent was the Licentiate of the place, who was appointed to conferre with one Cyrill a Recollect, The Castle of Basigni yeelds upon strange composition. of the new order of Franciscan Fryers, a man as fit to serve in an Army, as at an Altar: and these two military Priests, having a while conferred together in the hea­ring of the Captaines of the Campe, Cyrill entred with him into the Fort, and the Governour presently, unac­quainted, and unversed in such negotiations, came out himselfe in person unto the Army, to make his compo­sition. The French Commanders could not but smile at his simplicity, which before he had made his peace, would entrust himselfe without caution, with an adver­sary: yet they neither used him ignobly, by demanding hard tearmes, nor refused those he offered, which were, that he might depart with those 50. men, which he [Page 84]commanded in the Castle, with his drum beating, their Armes and baggage. By the unad­visednesse of an unskilfull Commander. It was a place of strength, and sufficiently manned, for the bignesse; the wals were seven foot and foure inches high, so fortified with earth, that it would have spent time to take it by force, the Canon having no power against them, it was freely of­fered them, and it had bin vanity to refuse it. The con­ditions were granted, when the Governour thinking to returne, to acquaint the Souldiers with the parti­culars of his transaction, was stayed as a prisoner by command of the Marquesse de la Ferte, who comman­ded him to be kept under arrest, till the garrison was departed, and then promised to set him at liberty, Aug. 3. new stile, the presidiaries came forth, with many wo­men which had then fled thither for safety, which with the Governour, were conducted to Cambray, three leagues thence. The Marquesse upon their departure, entred the Fort, where finding a large quantity of pro­visions, brought in by the Country people, thirty fami­lies of the wealthiest Boares, having fled thither for re­fuge, and made the Fort a magazine for their store, he carried the victuals away, put in 60. men of the Vidame of Amiens his regiment to keepe it, and returned to the Army.

Aug. 3. new stile, the same day which de la Ferte, returned from Busigni, the French Cardinall, and the Marquesse Melleray, having a designe upon Picolomini in his march, advanced towards Valenciennes, in the mid way, received certaine advisoes that they came too late, the Court being already at Montz, where he lay strongly fortified, and seeing that labour lost, they mar­ched against Maubeuge, a towne reasonably fortified upon the River of Sambre, yet stronger by the favour of the Castle, then the wals; there they arrived the same day at evening, having taken the strong Fort at Escle­be, [Page 85]appertaining to the Prince of Simay, as they we remarching. Mabeuge sur­rendred upon composition. The next morning the Master of the Ord­nance, with his avant-guard viewed it round, perceived where it was best, and where weakliest fortified, sent a Trumpet to summon it, who bringing for answer a flat denyall, the Marquesse with the one halfe of the Army the next day, went over the River, which divides the City as our Thames doth London, and Southwark, sate downe within a quarter of a league before it, where he knew the wall was weakest, leaving the other side to the Cardinals care, whom he had informed particu­larly, where he might play with his Canon most advan­tagiously. The besieged after some few dayes deman­ded a parlee, sent their hostages which were received, and surrendred the place upon conditions, which being like those of Landrecey, we will not here repeate, en­joyed the towne and Castle, and proceeding further the same day, the Cardinall tooke in another Fort late ap­pertaining to the Count of Buckquoy, and the Mar­quesse the Castle of Emerick, seated upon the same River.

Chastillon the Marshall of France, who went to field, Iuly 4. new stile, after he had survaied the frontier townes of the Provinces in his charge, went on to re­duce the places, which held out for Duke Charles and the Catholike King, to the Christian King his Master. Ʋillaune, a Castle betwixt Verdun and Stenay, was the first which he attempted, not with his Army, but with 300. foot, and 200. horse, conducted by Bellefons to that service. The Commander presented him before it, with two Canons, but good ones, of 33 pound ball, and the confidence of the garrison in the strength of the Castle, Villaune sur­rendred to the French upon discretion. undervaluing those small forces which were against them, made a shew of resolution at first, to hold out till the last man, but seeing more Artillery brought [Page 86]against them, their courage was quailed, and they desi­red conditions for composition. Bellefons moved with a just indignation of the scorne which he perceived in the lookes, at his first comming, heard them, but hear­kened not to their propositions, gave them a peremp­tory refusall of other tearmes, then his owne discretion would prescribe them, and advised them to yeeld to his mercy. The garrison conceived, that the importance of the place, deserved better language, yet seeing they could get no other, they submitted upon discretion, surrendred the Castle, and the souldiers 75. in number, being upon their departure, were disarmed, and dis­mounted, and all but such as tooke service, sent packing, but the officers were arrested, and sent as pri­soners to the Marshall Chastillon, who had then his head-quarter at Grand-pre, the grosse of his Army be­ing lodged round about him.

Dinaw, a Castle upon the Marse, had the like, or a worse fate. Aiguebonne the field-marshall, by Chastil­lons order, Dinaw upon like tearmes, but with an harder fate. Iuly 9/19. surrounded it with foure companies of light horse, two companies of Carabins, and an Ar­tillery of one great Canon, and two Culverings. He ob­served the method of warre, and summoned it, but the Commander neither observing the rule of good man­ners, nor politie, though he had in it but 35. souldiers, denyed to yeeld, and added that he had courage enough to dispute for his own life, and his souldiers with the sword: and this answer being returned, Aiguebonne played upon it so furiously with his Canon, that the next day they desired to capitulate, and not obtaining it, were forced to submit to the fury or mercy of the French Marshall, it being in his breast to determine of them, who entertained as many of the common men, as would serve under his colours, disarmed and unhor­sed the rest, and then sent them to Forte, whither soon [Page 87]after he followed them, to informe their associats there of the Captains fate, who for his peremptory reply, unable to make his word good, was delivered over into the power of the Intendants for justice, and by them to the executioner, who according to their judgement, trussed him up for his desperate and irregulated actions. Divers places yeelded upon composition.

The Castles of Loupi, Chavance, and Brovenne, dealt more discreetly, desired covenants, and obtained them, as did also the Towne of Ferte, which yeelded after a few shots from the Canon, upon the like tearmes as Landrecey, onely they were signed diversly, being sub­scribed Chastillon, and counter-figned De le Haye.

From Ferte, a towne of some note in the Province of Luxenburgh, the French hoofe advanced against Ivoy, a place of the same territory, but better fortifyed and manned, the fortifications being after the modern man­ner, according to that pattern, which the late King of Sweden had perfected, Jvoy besieged, and the Marquesse Spinola inven­ted, and guarded with 2000. men souldiers and inhabi­tants under the Colonell Bronze, their Governour, an able man, to manage his charge, as (if not to speake of his other actions, the preservation onely, of the Prin­cesse of Psaltsburg, mentioned in our former histories) can testifie. And surren­dred upon The Commander here had some reasons to stand upon tearmes, and did so without conceit of in­jury done by him to the assaylants, who knew his rea­sons, and came from words to actions, the Governour by the space of eight dayes defending the towne brave­ly, though at last he accepted these 22. honourable propositions, and surrendred it.

Count Nantevil Governour of Corbie, a place known by its misery, twice taken in the space of three moneths, once by the Cardinall Infant, and again by the Christian King, moved with the prosperitie of the French Ar­mies in the Netherlands, knowing that the Spaniards hands were full, his Garrisons had more irons in the fire then they could well wield, and seeing the Forts of Ebuterne neere Arras, and Fouvillier neer Bapaume, had not only bin places of retreat for the Commanders in Atrebatum, and Bapaume the last Winter, when they had gone a plundering, The Fort of even to the gates of Amy­ens, burning downe the Kings Villages in Picardie, with a resolution to subdue them, about the beginning of August, marched from Corbie, with 200 souldiers of his Garrison, 100 peasants wel accoutred, two com­panies of Carabins, two peeces of Canon, viz. one Ba­stard carrying a bullet of 18 pound waight, and another [Page 92]lesser, and their equipage. The time of his arrivall at Ebuterne, [...]. answered his designe, it was midnight, an opacous thick darkness [...] had covered the face of the Earth in our Horizon, the Sun appearing in his Meridi­an to our Antipodes, as unwilling to be an eye-witnesse of the sad Fates which attended those Forts and Garri­sons His purpose was concealed by the silent night, [...] to [...]. and without let bee approched within fifty paces of the wals, th [...]se planted his Canōs, sodainly sounded 6 trum­pets, beat a battell with 12 Drums, cast Grenadoes into the Fort, discharged all his Musquets, and the volley of shot, though made without ayme, wrought so effectu­ally, The French Leader prose­cuteth the wo­me [...], that foure of the presidiaries were slaine outright, and amongst them a Sentinell who fell dead to the earth from the top of an high Tower, to the astonish­ment of the desendants, who sleeping securely, and so­dainly awaked by this unwelcome inusique, had their thoughts so perplexed, that their distracted imaginati­ons projected new causes of feare, and concluding ge­nerally, that the assaylants were no mean body, but the whole French Army, sent out the Curate of the place to capitulate for them, who with all his Oratory, could obtain no other termes then the lives of the souldiers to be spared, with an expresse remonstrance, that they should all without exception be made prisoners of war, and the preservation of the womens honours, they be­ing to be protected from ravishment and other vio­lence, which hard conditions, were accepted by the Garrison, and all the males, the old and diseased per­sons only excepted, the Curat in the mean time in tokē of joy, for his prosperous negotiation in the womens preservation, making a solemne procession, and cleva­ting the Pix, attended with the Matrons, married wives and Damosels of the Fort, whom the Count shut up in a place of safety by themselves, the Count prohibiting [Page 93]his people to do them any violence, either in their per­sons, or the wealth they had about them, whilst himself and men seized of the horses, kine, cattle, and other wealth which was then in the Fort, and manacled the men whom he intended to carry captives to Corbie. ‘Miserere jam victor Galle, & parce tandem;’ Is not this captivity a sufficient trophee of the Conque­rours glory? thus the Genius of the place did seeme to plead in the faces of the disconsolate women, But rasech the Citadell. which were not so much revived by their owne freedome, as dejected by their friends bonds, and restraint. But the fate of the place, was not yet come to be actuated; thir­ty Musquetiers, were laid in by the Count to keep it, till his return from Fovillier, which hee next intended to attempt, the finall sentence, and the execution therof being reserved, untill that Enterprize was brought to perfection. Thither hee came the next morning, and soon forced it, to accept the same termes, as the other had done, and then the French Commander loden with spoyls inriched with a booty of above 200 kine and horses, and other baggage, and giving the Law to above 200 prisoners, The Castle o [...] Fovillier yiel­deth to the French. discharged his petite Garrison of 30 Musquetiers, which he had left at Ebuterne, demolish­ed and razed the Forts down to the ground, that they might no longer be offensive to the Kings subjects in Picardie, and returned to Corbie with his own retinue, booty, and prisoners.

As in a glasse face answereth face, or the eccho re­plyes to the voice, so the conquests of the French in Artois and Haynault, were seconded by the victories of the Marshall Chastillon in the Dukedome of Luxen­burgh, the places of note there which before the warre, [Page 94] Anno 1542, betwixt the French and the house of Au­stria, were thought impregnable, being so shattered then, that though they have since bin refortified, yet they never attained to their former strength, and so fa­cilitated the Marshall's designes. Assoone as Ivoy was taken in, the French Generall observing some [...]te di­rections sent unto him from his Majesty by Aiguebonne the Field-marshall, for advancement of the Kings Af­faires, and unwilling to omit any advantage, which might further his attempts; August 6/16, lent his Liev­tenant Feuquiers with 2000 horse, and 3000 foot to blocke up Danvilliers, and to cleere the wayes from Metz to Verdun, by taking in some small Forts, which being Garrisoned by the Enemy, hindred the free com­merce betwixt the two Cities, and the Colonell Bovil­lon with 300 horse, and 200 foot to take in the Fort of Cheney, situated upon the River of Semoy, asmall place, but of good consequence, being new fortified by the Enemy, and guarded with 200 men. Feuquiers did his part happily, Roquepine Lievtenant Governour for the Cardinall de Valette, having brought the Forts to his hand, and Danvilliers only left to his care, and so did the Colonell Bovillon too, Divers small Forts surren­dred to Chastil­lon in Luxemburgh. though not with such speed as the other, he finding more opposition, yet with as much glory. He summoned the Citadell, and was re­fused, played upon it with his Ordnance, and was an­swered from thence in the same Dialect, till the Garri­son supposing that the Marshall was comming in per­son thitherwards, with the mayn body of his Army, and Artillery, surrendred it upon these termes, that the two Captaines and their Lievtenants which commanded there, should have liberty to depart with their swords by their sides, and the souldiers with white staves only, which done, the Colonell judging the place to be too [Page 95]strong a piece to be left to the Kings enemies, having occasion to imploy these troops which he had else­where, burnt down the houses, and demolished the Fort to make it unserviceable.

Whilest these Forts were taken in, The Spaniards make an at­tempt the grosse of the French Army lay encamped along the River of Chier, each regiment being disposed of in a severall quarter. The light horse of Angoulesme, Polie, and Buzanoye, were lodged at a village, called Olizy, where having barricadoed up the townes end, to keep the enemie from making any sudden incursions upon them, they kept a carelesse watch, neither having any corps du guard without, nor any sentinels upon the advenues. A souldier is least secure, when he is most secure. The Spanish party, by their scouts, were made acquainted with their negligence, and hasted to them, not as friends to reprove, or chastise them, but as enemies to surprize them. Foure companies of horse, 300. Arque­busiers, and 200. Musquetiers of the Spanish traine band in that Dukedome, Aug. 10/20 set out from Arlon, a place about 30, English miles from Olizy, and came that night to Mommedye, where they reposed them­selves, whilest 200. other Musquetiers were drawen out of that garrison to accompany them in this expe­dition, and then marching all night, an houre before day, they arrived within a Carabins shot of the Vil­lage, where the French Cavillary lay without any dis­covery: The manner how to carry the businesse, Vpon the French quarter at Olizy. was resolved on by the way, as they came, it now remained onely to put their counsell into action. The directions given by the Leaders to the common Souldiers in pri­vate, were as good, and more usefull, then any charge could have been, which was to be given from the long­lowd throats of the Trumpets, or sonorous bellies of the military Pythons the drums; without any alarme [Page 96]they surrounded the Village, removed the barricadoe, and then having slaine some of the French Cavalliers, they placed the Musquetiers in divers places of the Village, whose frequent charging and discharging in the street, brought no small am [...]ement to the French Cavallieres, when their thought being as full of confu­sion, as the Village was of horror, knew not how to behave themselves, to stand upon their guard, being surprized so unexpectedly. The Count of Polie was the first, which mounted on horse-backe, to rallye up his dispersed squadron, and something he did by fortune, which assisted him for his own, and some of his souldi­ers preservation, though nothing to offend the enemy. One of the Spanish troups of horse came in by a by lane into the Village, with them he intermingled his owne men, not as an enemy, for thereof he made no shew, by giving one offensive blow, and escaped undiscovered in that hurly-burly, Surprize it. with the remnant of his troupe, by the blinde lane, through which the Spaniards came in, having onely his face besmeered with the powder of their pistols, when he was in the middle of them. Brosse, Captaine of the company of Angoulesme, and Buzancy, shewed themselves braver men, but not so wise, they mounted too, and stood upon their defence, yet being over-layed with the unequall number of adversaries, Buzancy was slaine in the conflict, and Brosse dange­rously wounded, was made a prisoner to the Spaniards, who by this being absolute Lords of the Village, broke open the houses, seysed of the baggage, and equipage of the French Officers, and pillaged them.

Here if these adventurers had stayed, they had done the Catholike King good service, and gone off honou­rably: but the action was not well regulated, they stay­ed too long in seeking after the spoyle, and their delu­ded covetous eyes frustrated, what their daring heart [Page 97]had undertaken, and thus farre happily perfected. Some of the furniture which was found in the Officers lodg­ings, was rich stuffe, and while they stayed to pick out the best, and to fit the horses which they had gotten from the French, with their caparisons, themselves be­came a prey to some other French men, Are againe surprized. which as if they had bin shot out of an Engine, fell upon them unexpe­ctedly. The Count de Lignon was lodged at Villy, but halfe a league from Olizy, with his brigade of light horse, and he receiving some information of his friends estates there, mounted to horse immediately, and at­tended with 300 Cavallieres, and five French Captains, spurred up thither-wards to relieve them. He made haste, and reached thither by the dawning of the day, yet his speed was not so good, as to bring him to the whole Spanish party, the greater part was gone with some luggage and prisoners, some stayed behinde, in­tending to poast after their fellowes, when they had made up their fardels; them he found there, he put to the sword, and then dividing his troops into two squa­drons, himselfe with the one, leading on the right hand way, and Sirock, to whom he deputed the other, the left hand way, and pursued the other party so diligent­ly, that they overtooke the maine body thereof at a Ford neer Moville, and assaulted them so lively and sprightfully, that after a short conflict, wherein 120. and upwards of the Spanish forces were slaine, the rest were rowted, being pursued to the foot of the hill whereon Mommedy stands, the sword doing as great slaughter upon the Spaniards in their flight, as it had done at the battell neere Moville. It was an honoura­ble atchievement, whereby, besides that Brosse was re­covered from the clutches of his enemies, the bo [...]ty re­gained which the foe had gotten at Ozily, with a new accruit of 142. horses which were taken from the Spa­nish [Page 98]Cavallarie, the ransomes of 22. prisoners, most of them Officers and men of quality, With great losse. which were brought to the Camp, the better part of the Cavallary, which the Catholike King had in the Dukedome, being also slaine or dispersed, some men of note were found a­mongst them, which fell by the sword: by name, Lon­guevall, a Captaine of a troop of horse, another Captain of the Cavallary, who was thought to be Ramee, two Lieutenants of the troops of horse, and some other Offi­cers, whose faces were so mangled, that their names could not be taken, though their habits discover their condition.

Feuquieres, according to the Generals order, had in the meane time blocked up Danvillieres, expecting the time when the Marshall of France would bring up the body of the Army, Darvillieres in Luxenburgh is blockt up, and besiege it. The time of his expectation was not long, Aug. 21/32. the Armies were joyned, and Chastillon, Feuquieres, and Aiguebonne, with other of the French hoast, went to view the City, and measured out the lines of the intended circumval­lation, in despight of three great Canons which play­edupon them from the Towne, though one of them by an unlucky shot had taken off the head of the Lieutenant Colonell Streife, a valiant and expert German. The Commander within, a man of a stout and resolved spi­rit, saw their preparations, and could not be ignorant of their intentions, yet undauntedly prepared for his owne defence, and preservation of the City committed to his trust, but in testimoniall that he desired fair play on both sides, and that all their proceedings might be regulated according to the lawes of warre, Besieged, he sent to demand quarter for all the prisoners which the French had taken there already, or might take hereafter, pro­mising to doe the like with the Camp, and this faire proposition being entertained by the French Generall, [Page 99]it was confirmed by reciprocall escripts, in the forme ensuing.

The writing was short, and full, resembling the Ma­jestie from whom the Marshall had received his Autho­rity, and was entertained respectfully by the Gover­nour, who replyed,

This siege began with a martiall complement, and was continued with plying the instruments of warre to their proper end; the assiegeants, and the besieged, both striving for nonour, and summoning up their for­ces to advance the Princes affaires, for whom they stood ingaged, without any remonstrance of malice either nationall or personall. In Artoys and Haynault, the French and Spanish Armies treated not so fairely: the Cardinall of Spaine was by this upon his march, to joyne with Piccolomini, who that he might be thought to have done some thing before the Infante was come, An Ambusca­doe laid for the Master of the Artillery. laid an Ambuscadoe of 1200. men to entrap the Grand Master of the Artillery, who was gone [Page 101]from Maubeuge to the Court at Paris, at his return to­wards Land [...]ecey. But that designe took not, the Grand master was then taking a view of La Capelle, the only place the Spaniard then held in Picardie, and by his stay there avoyded the danger. Happily avoy­ded with some losse. Two of his Captains fell into the snare, Beauregard and Hamell, and though there was a great disparity of numbers, betwixt them, and the Enemy, hee being six to one, yet by their care, they came off with the losse of 50 men, flying not con­fusedly, but in a well compacted close bodie, making their way to Chasteau Cambresi, where they were en­tertained, and preserved from the fury of the pur­suers.

An expert Wrastler sometimes receives a foyle, and in lieu therof gives a flat fall; the French thought them­selves blurred in honour by this little losse, and laboured to regain it. The Duke of Candale a joynt Commissio­ner with his brother the Cardinall, for managing this warre, was then in his Quarter about Maubeuge, and as well to be avenged for the slaughter of his friends, as to possesse himselfe of some places about Montz, which being Garrisoned by the Enemy, did much impeach­ment to his Cavallarie, when they went to get forage for their beasts; went from the Campe, August 11/ [...], with foure foot Regiments, 2000 ho [...]se, and six peeces of Ca­non, and the same day pitched before Beaumont, a Town belonging to the Prince of Chimay, about the bignesse of [...]aint Denis in France, or our Warwick in England, Beaumont sur­rendred to the French. well walled, fortified with an half moon, and flan [...]ered with many demy-towres, and kept by 300. Almayns. The Garrison was summoned to surrender, but denied to yield, and words not avayling to expedite the con­quest, he made his approches, planted three batteries a­gainst it, played upon the Town from nine in the mor­ning, untill three in the afternoon the next day, at which [Page 102]time a breach being made sufficient to receive 20 men abreast, the besieged desired to parlee, were heard gra­ciously, Commissioners were appointed them, Gassion the Colonell, and de Leschelle, who had the office of an Aide de Campe, sonne to the Governour of Sedan, who accorded with them upon these termes, That the men of warre should depart immediatly with their Armes, baggage, and Ensignes, and be conducted with a Con­voy to Montz, and that the inhabitants should be per­mitted to continue there, giving an oath of Allegeance to the King, or to depart, not transporting, or carrying any thing out of the City. All was performed the next day, August 13/23, betimes in the morning, when the Duke entred the Town to see it, cleered of the Spanish Garrison, and layed in for presidiaries as many of his Regiment.

But what avayles it to have a Towne in an enemies Territory? unlesse the wayes be open to succour it, fa­mine or the sword, or both must probably fall upon it. To prevent all dangers which threatned it, the same day it was surrendred, the Duke sent the Vicount of Thu­renne, with the Avant-guard of his Army to enrich Solre, a great Borough town, two leagues distant from that of Beaumont, fortified by a strong Castle, wherein besides the Garrison betwixt five and six hundred pea­sants, had taken their residence, and by discipline being long trained up in the martiall postures, were become able souldiers, and knowing the Howe, used to goe out in parties, and often scuffled with the French for agers. The Romane souldiers under the command of Caius Marius in the Cimbrian warre were affrighted at the first, The Castle of Solre surroun­ded by the French. with the loud ejaculations and black Sauntz of the Germans when they heard them, and fearing to deale with such a dreadful enemy, declined the battel, thewise Consull who both knew that the balling noyse which [Page 103]the Germans made, was more ex consuetudine, quàm feritate, out of the custome of the Nation, then the courage of the untrained Swains which were engaged in the warre, kept his trenches, accustomed his legions to heare them daily, and the frequent noyse still bearing upon the eares of his Army became not formidable un­to the Souldiers. These peasants when they first came to Solre, startled at the beating of a Drum, the crack of a Carabin was far more dreadfull to them then a thun­der-clap, and every man in Arms, friend or foe, appea­red to them like an executioner, with the fatall Axe, ar­med and authorised for their deaths. But now they be­gan to be acquainted with the practises of martiall men, their custome had dispossessed them of feare, and were growne so bold and hardy, that upon the first report: of the Viscounts march, they un­dertooke to defeat him, and forsaking the Towne which they might have held for three or foure dayes came into the field under the shelter of the thick hed­ges upon the way skirmished with the fore-runners of the Army, and slue some of them which were within the reach of their Musketshot. The Viscount percei­ving the course resolved to assault them with the small number of men which he had in the Avantguard with­out attending the forces which were to be brought up after him by the Duke of Candale, and did it so round­ly that in a short space he dislodged them, made them forsake the thickets, and flie into the Town and Castle: whither they were pursued by the French who entred pell mell with the runawayes, and slue about 30 of them, the rest taking the Castle for a place of safety, whence they began to shoot against the Assaylants. The Castle of Solre taken by the Duke of Candale. The Duke in the meane time being upon his march from Beaumont, arrived at Solre, with the rest of his Army about Noon, where he found the Avantguard at knocks [Page 104]with the inhabitants, which made a shew of much re­solution to stand out though it was but a lightning be­fore death, and scarce of halfe an houres continuance. They saw the towne pillaged before their eyes, their goods and families abandoned, and to save the remayn­der after they had slaine three Captaines which appro­ched too neer the Castle, one Ensigne, one Sergeant and certain souldiers wounded, the Marquesse of Varennes and some other Chieftaines yielded to the Duke upon discretion, who to restraine the disorders which fre­quently follow such rough encounters, and to save the town from fire, it being a handsome one, and of more then 500 families, gave strict order to his Army to re­frain from those violences, and to preserve the honour of eight or nine hundred women and damosels inhabi­tants there, he placed them in the Church and the Ca­stle whilst he took order to dispose of the old Garrison, whom he dismissed unarmed, yet hung up the Captain by one of his owne souldiers whom hee commanded to execute that base office to redeeme himselfe from the same punishment which he had deserved justly, and then leaving a Garrison in the Castle, he returned the next day to the Campe at Maubeuge.

A Counsell was called there to advise for the next de­signe, La Catelle be­sieged. and the Fortresse of la Capella, a place upon the Frontiers of Picardie and Artoys, foure leagues from Guize, surrendred to the Spaniard, Iuly 6/16, the yeere last past. The Cardinall de la Valet, and the grand Ma­ster of the Artillery, upon the conclusion arose from Maubeuge, with one part of the French troops, and ar­rived September 1 new stile, before the towne which they surrounded the same day, and the next day the Citadell, their souldiers being then raysed of a halfe moon, which they found abandoned by the besieged. Then they began to entrench themselves, the Count of [Page 105] Quinse Governour of Guize, and other Commanders in the neighbour towns, having sent thither above 2000 peasants with mattocks and spades to worke in the circumvallation. The pioners spared no pains to bring their work to perfection, and followed it with such di­ligence that by the ninth at night the Army was en­trenched, when also they laboured in their traverses so earnestly, that by the fifteenth of the same moneth, the assaylants became masters of the Counterscarpe. The siege was laid in two Camps, the one commanded by the Cardinall, and the other by the Marquesse, in which were raised two batteries, the one of six Canons which battered the curtain above that place which they deter­mined to undermine, the other of three Canons from the counterscarpe which played upon the flank of the Bastion, which the Cardinall was to assault, who had in his own Campe foure other batteries raised, the one of four peeces, and the other three, each of three all great Canon, the least whereof carried a bullet of 36 pound weight. Don Marcus de Limâ the Go­vernour capi­tulates. The batteries made some breaches upon the wals, but the Bastions stood firme, and to abbreviate the work, the Generals resolved to attempt it by myning. The pioners were again imployed, and then the Com­manders seeing how resolved they were to take it in a­bout midnight the 21 of the same moneth desired to ca­pitulate, & sent one of their Captains as an hostage into the Army. There was not much difference about the termes, neither did the besieged demand any thing of the Generals which might have been to the impeach­ment of their honour, nor did they again prescribe to the Commander any thing that was unreasonable. It was concluded on in all points but one, Agreeth. and that they agreed unto, which was that the Garrison might carry with them two Canons mar [...]ed with the [...]rmes of Spain, which were promised them, [...] not performed, [Page 106]the French pretending that the year last past, when the town was surrendred, the Cardinall Infant conditioned with the Commander to let him march away with two peeces marked with the Armes of France, yet kept not his covenant, and therfore they would retain those two Spanish Guns till their owne were restored. It was no time for the Commander to stand and argue the case with the French Generals, betwixt twelve and one the Garrison was come out of the towne, consisting of se­ven or eight hundred men, to wit, one company of Al­mayns, two of Spaniards, two of Italians, two of Wal­loons, and one of Burgundians, under the command of Don Marcus de Lima, the Governour there for the King of Spain, and now upon their march they must be content to yield it, being reputed sufficient that they carried away their Armes and baggage, marched out with Drum beating, and lighted matches with their wives and children, their sick and wounded men were furnished with wagons to transport them, and had a safe conduct to Avennes.

The Garrison thus departed, the Generals took order the next day for repairing of the breaches, which their Canons had made, filling up the trenches, and stopping up the mynes wherin they had imployed the labourers, one under the Bastion, which should have bin assaulted by the Cardinall, the other under the curtaine, which was reserved for the grand Master of the Artillery, and then took order for the entertainment of Chavigny Se­cretary of State, and Chancellor to the Duke of Orleans, who being sent to the Campe from the King was invi­ted by the Marquesse to dinner, feasted, and in the midst of their jollity, An allarme in the Fr. Camp. their mirth was spoyled by the report of a Currier, that came to them with news of the Cardi­nall Infants joyning with Piccolomini, and how that with 18000 men, they lay upon advantage, to fight [Page 107]with the Duke of Candale, who still lay about Mau­beuge, which place they had battered by the space of two dayes with 30 peeces of Ordnance, and that both the place, and the French Generall there wanted their aide, which caused a sodain alarme, and the Generals rose suddenly from dinner, intending (as they did) to make up what was wanting with a new archievement of honour. The story is thus delivered from Rissell. Sept. 11/21, the Cardinall Infant having the little town of Amiens, marched thence to Maubeuge, Causeth them to march in battle array to Mu [...]beage. made their ap­proches, planted their batteries, and in fine though the Garrison within defended it selfe stoutly, beat the pre­sidiaries from the one part of the town to the other be­yond the River, where the French planted some pieces of Ordnance expecting the sudden comming of the Spa­niard thither, who being entred and seeing the Western part cleer, marched to the Eastern, but there found what he expected not, the Ordnance playing upon his Army; And whilst he stands amazed at this unexpected blow, another object of feare presented it selfe unto him: the French Army of 10000 foot, and almost as many horse came marching up in battle array from la Capella, with a full resolution to fight. The Cardinall Jnfant found himselfe too weak, and had not time to make an order­ly retreat, a speedy one, though with some confusion he deemed better then to stay and wait upon a certain de­struction, The Cardinall Infant rowted and his losse. and so he did retire leaving behinde him 400 wagons loaden with baggage, 16 peeces of Ordnance, betwixt 2000 and 1500 dead souldiers, and many pri­soners, the number of the dead being graced with one of the chief Commanders, the Lievetenant to Piccolo­mini.

Victory still hovered over the French Campe, and be­sides the fortunes which attended the Generals in the [Page 108]mayn bodies of their Armies, their parties which went abroad to scowre the Country seldome returned with­out good purchase. The Castle of Leon furren­dred to the French. Lenoncourt a Captain under the Marquesse of Milleray, being sent out to that purpose, Sept 14/24, encountred betwixt Quesnoy and Aimaries, with 300 Spanish horsmen well armed, and imployed as a Convoy to 260 wagons loaden with corn, beere, and cheese for the use of the Infante's Army, charged upon them, and assaulted them so furiously that they slue up­on the place 42 of the best souldiers, the Captain and his Lievtenant, wounded above 60 dangerously, took ma­ny prisoners, and routing the rest got possession of that prize. It was too great for them to carry away, they seized on the best, corrupted the rest, and broke their wagons in pieces, carrying away a great and rich boo­ty of 300 horsloads, besides the gold and silver which they found there, with which they supplyed their Con­federates, whom they met ranging abroad to the same purpose, as they had done, and brought into the Campe above 200 Pistolets.

Another party, the day following, hearing that the Cardinall Infant had sent another company to the Ca­stle of Aymaries, went to field with three companies of souldiers amounting to about 120 men at Armes, Two Compa­nies of the Gatrison at C [...]mbray de­feated. with an intention to surprize it, but that being brought into the Castle, before they could overtake it, that they might not return without some testimony of their acti­vity, they marched up towards Cambray, and there to tempt the Garrison to come abroad, they sent some few vant Curriers towards the City, hiding themselves in an ambuscado for their better advantage. The bait took, the Commander seeing the French colours in the field, so neer his wals, and the small number of men that g [...]a [...]ded them with an intention to chastise their inso­lency, [Page 109]drew out a few of his souldiers, and sent them in two Companies under Maugray his Lievtenant Colo­nel against them: the number of the Spanish adventurers was not above 150, besides some officers of foot, which thrust themselves into the action: their imagination had already presented these French Cavaliers unto them as a prey, and toward them they posted speedily, the French knew how to tread their measure, and paced ac­cording to the Musique that played: they had their cue, and observing a proportionable distance from the ene­my, they fled before him, adding more wings to their speed, when they came neer the Ambuscado, whither & where the Spaniards pursuing them, were so violently assaulted by the French, that rose from their lurking places, that 100 of them were slaine upon the place, a­mong which was found one Lievtenant of the Infan­tery, and all the rest wounded, except certain few men, which were taken prisoners. It was a fortunate exploit, and both advantageous, and honorable for the underta­kers, who besides their captives, returned to their gar­risons of Ham, and Saint Quintin, with a booty of above 50 horse gotten in this enterprize.

Ferte-Imbault the Field-marshall, the same day that La Capelle was surrounded by the French Army, was commanded by the Great Master of the Artillery with 500 horsmen in 10 Companies, Gleon a Castle taken by the Fr. Freldmar. Ferte-Imbault. without blows. drawn out of the Re­giments of the Vidame of Amiens, and de la Marine, & 3 Canons to lay siege against two Castles distant from La Capelle about six English miles. The one of them called Glaon, appertained to the Countesse of Isanguin, and without blowes upon the bare sight of the French Army, yielded; but the other named Trelon, situated in a Borough of 400 Families, being guarded by 300 men, and 14 peeces of Ordnance well mounted, though not [Page 110]well levelled for offence, would not surrender, though it was summoned to the ruine of the village, their care for keeping the Castle, bringing the Dorp to a quicke destruction, without any advantage to the more har­dy, then discreet defendants. The towne was not for­tified at all, but lay open to the mercy of the Master of the field, who enraged with the affront done him by the Governour, in denying to yeeld, first burnt the Village to the ground, and then planted his three great Gunnes point blanke against the Castle. His shot was returned from the Citadell, with the advantage of 10. for one. He spent but thirty volees against the Fort, the garrison let flye with the 14 pieces, above 200 severall times upon the Army, but neither was the camp much endammaged thereby, nor the Castle. The Field-mar­shall intended not to make much more use of his Ca­non, seeing he had spent so many bullets, to so small pur­pose, and applyed himselfe to his Bombards, and great Granadoes, which wrought so effectually, their shivers flying, and bounding in the lodging chambers, that the Mar quesse de Trelon, who commanded in person within the Castle, which properly appertained unto him, sent out his Almner with a semblance of desiring to treate, but in truth, onely to descry the French for­ces, and he at his comming, intreated tearmes of com­position, Trelon, a Castle surrendred to Ferle Imbaul, upon composi­tion. but his eye being noted by the Field-marshall, to have been more busie in viewing the French po­stures, and preparations, then his tongue in propoun­ding the conditions required by the besieged, or his eares in attending to the French Commanders offers, and in the end, desirous to returne, without conclu­ding any thing, concluded the project was discovered, though he personated a Commissioner, he was appre­hended as a spye, and Ferte Imbault sent a trumpeter to the besieged, with this expresse, that if they made [Page 111]one shot more against the Camp, he would cause him to be trussed up before their eyes. The Almner was a man beloved by the Marquesse, and he to preserve his faithfull and endeared servant, from such an ignomini­ous death, like himselfe, an honourable minded man, wisely preferring the life of a discreet and faithfull Counsellour (so he reputed him) who had formerly done him good service, both by directions and actions, before that pile of earth and stone, the Castle, which in all probability he could not hold above eight or tenne dayes longer, capitulated, and upon conditions of life saved, and departing with his baggage, surrendred the Fort to the Field-marshall, who found in it, besides the 14 pieces, the least whereof carried a bullet of eight pounds, 40 Harquebusses with fire-locks, 1200 pounds of powder, sixe Muids of bread corne (each Muid con­taines 5 quarters and 5 bushels of London measure) thirty Muids of Oates, with other commodities: and because it was a place of some importance, distant but two leagues from Vervin, sited in the middle of a wood, he put in the Vidames regiment, to garrison it.

For these two Forts he had expresse commission, an­other there was which offered it selfe to his eye, Argon comes in by president. the Castle of Argon, within halfe a league of Trelon, and that he resolved to take in too, though it might seeme a worke of supererogation, he was not long about it, the presidiaries there were few in number, and not well provided for defence, they surrendred upon the sum­mons, with the conditions granted, to the Castle at Trelon. He put in 60. of his owne men to keep it, and then returned to the Campe before la Capelle.

Never did Merchant with a faire trade-wind, make his voyage with more expedition then attended the French forces under the Cardinall de Valette, and his confederates in Picardie, in their conquests of Cities [Page 112]and Citadels, and bringing the townes in subjection to the Christian King. S. Previll his designe upon Rumingnan in Artoys. The designe of Saint Previll, Go­vernour of Ardres, upon the Castle of Rumingnan in Artoys, had some time of hammering, but was soone polished and perfected, when it came to the file d'espee, it was of long projection, but speedy execution. The Castle is situated upon the River which comes from Bourbourg to S. Omer; it was a place of some conse­quence, being a meanes to restraine and bridle up all the principall Forts of the frontiers of Flanders, with­out the assistance whereof, S. Omers could not subsist, and the French being possessed thereof, might truely say, that they had gotten one of the principall keyes and in-lets to Flanders. The French Commander therfore for many a day past, had used all meanes possible, both by private intelligence, and otherwise, to be surety at all times of the state thereof, that he might either get it by assault, onslat, or some other way, or if he fayled in the attempt, The carriage of his project. to come fairely off, and without dammage of dishonour. The expected houre was come, newes, and certaine too, at last was brought him, that one part of the wall was so weake, that he might easily surprize it thereby: there needed no more, he resolved to assay it, and providing himselfe of workmen, Masons, and barres of iron, intended if he could, to digge through the wall, it being but of bricke, knowing that if he could carry that one piece of the Mure, he might easily command the Citadell. The businesse was managed, as discreetly, as valiantly, the project before the conquest, being carried with all secrecy, his copa [...]tners and fel­low adventurers in the designe, not knowing what he intended, and all things necessary for the work being carried with him, even to two vessels, intended to transport his men over the River, if it was not wadea­ble, which he layd upon two wagons, and covered [Page 113]with their sayles, that they might not be discovered by the enemy, and his care for keeping the place after the conquest appearing so manifestly, that his wisdome therein, was to be seen as plainly as his valour in the archievement, He beat up the drum in Ardres, Sept. 10/20. called the garrison together, told them, that his intent was to goe abroad, and see what straggling parties of the enemy were abroad; wisht them which were wil­ling to accompany [...]im, to arme, and attend him, but never mentioned the intended enterprize. His speech done, the gallantry of the garrison, de Riviere, Licute­nant Colonell of the regiment, de Estrees, Revoule, Ma­for of the same regiment, Cassale, chiefe Captaine of the regiment, de Miossens, Largenterie, Larre, de Towre, and Saint Laurent, all Captaines, and divers other of­ficers, offered him their service. He accepts them, and then taking out his owne company of light horse, and 100. Musketiers, with the Masons, whom he had depu­ted to this service, sending before him the fore-runners of this little army, himselfe and his) associates marched away immediately after, and forrunately arrived with­in a Musquet shot of the Castle, at 11, the same night, neither being re-encountred upon the way, nor disco­vered by any enemy. There was no need of the boats, the River was then wadeable, and through the water he dispatched foure Masons to digge through the bricke wall, if it was f [...]asible. It was no work of difficulty, the workmen undertook it, and in short space made so large an hole in the wall, that first ten men under the conduct of Largenterie, entred thereby, A breach made in the wall. then twenty others under Lorre, and last, forty Musketiers, under La Toure, and Saint Laurent. In they were, and on they would, but the way they knew not, some guesse they had of it, by the generall notions of their intelli­gence, but no certaine remonstrance, Fortune helps a [Page 114]daring spirit, and conducted them right to the corps du guard, which they fell upon courageously, their Mus­ketiers doing them no meane service in this adventure. S. Previll who had an open eare, and listened after the reports of his Musquets, was still with the rest of his Army, which he ordeted to surround the Castle, that neither the souldiers, nor the peasants which lodged there, being more in number then the souldiers, might escape, and upon the first cracke of the Muskets, flew into the Castle, came up to his men, enlivened them to the worke, both by word and exemplary actions, put to the sword as many as made resistance, which were about 30 in number, The Fort ta­ken. the place being guarded with 60 souldiers, and more peasants, to the great ter­ror of the rest, who hearing his name, cast down their Armes, and begged quarter: quarter he gave them, but it was for life, not liberty, for he took them as priso­ners of warre, and the next morning sent them away to Ardres, with an Alferes which commanded them in the absence of the Captaine, whom they found secure­ly sleeping in his bed.

This was his project, S. Previll pro­vided to keepe it. and thus it was performed. But his discretion was more conspicuous in the Forts con­servation, then the acquisition. One hundred of Mus­ketiers he placed therein, under the command of an ex­pert souldier, de la Tour, a Captaine of the regiment de Estrees, to keep it, a guard sufficient for the Fort, had not the spaniards an eye over it, to regaine it, orif they had, it was but sufficiently fortified. He concluded, that as sure as the Sunne would returne againe from the West, where it set at night, to the East in the morning, so certainly, the enemy would re-visit it: and to secure the garrison from any injury by the adversary, resolved to appeare in the field the next day with such a propor­tionable number of men, as might be able to deale with [Page 115]the neighbour garrisons, (there was no Army therea­bouts) if they should offer to enforce it. His conjecture fa [...]led not, the Spaniards from Graveling, and the neigh­bour garrisons, hearing of this losse, assembled the next day, and marched towards the Castle, thinking to re­cover it, but S. Previll, whose working braine would not permit him to sleep, or slip his advantage, by his care prevented their designe, the victory atchieved, he went to the Count of Charrost, Governour of Callice, acquainted him with each particular, in the name of the Christian King, commanded his assistance, and they joyntly endeavouring themselves in the businesse, brought into the Fort the same day, an hoast more a­ble then the adverse party, upon that short warning, could raise conveniently.

Mars and Mercury, An Ambusca­doe layed for the French. appeared together in the Spanish Camp, not as in opposition, but conjunction, they nei­ther wanted offensive Armes, nor art to manage them, they would not adventure for a victory in open Cham­pania, but assayed to get it by a stratagem. An hundred horse were sent out to brave the French Cavalliers, some peasants were enquartered upon a bridge, neere a Church, and both these were but layed as a bait for the French, who if they had come to battell, had found (as we say) Iohn Drums entertainment, though invited to a feast, they had him beaten with the spit, the sword, and Muskets of the enemy, who had hid his maine bo­dy behind the hedges, strongly entrenched himselfe, and expected onely, that the French, according to their custome, fiery in the first conflict, should have made an assault upon these Batteurs d' Estrade, this forlorn hope, so they esteemed it, and have bin caught in the trap which was layd for them.

But this slight was of no more value, then their might: the French Leaders, old and expert souldiers, [Page 116]were enformed by their scouts of each particular, and to delude one finen [...]sse with another, [...], seemed to decline all combats, though desiring to grapple with the ene­my in open field, inarched towards the Fort, thinking the Spaniards would follow them, but perceiving that with a wary slynesse, they avoyded them, in an orde­red retreat going backe towards Graveling, and their garrisons, they went on directy toward Rumingnan, where the maine businesse lay, repaired the breaches, renewed the old fortifications, and added to them, re­moved the garrison, which was laid in before, put in a lesser number, And the Ca­stle fortified and manned. but of more expert men, sixty for an hun­dred, it being a proportionable number to defend that small Citadell, (more might have bin a burden) under the command of S. Lawrent, Captaine de Bellefons, of whose valour and faithfulnesse, they had already a good and sufficient testimony, returned to their charges, one to Callice, and the other to Ardres, without interrup­tion, or opposition.

Fortune waits upon pro [...]idence, industry gets the pur­chase, but prudence makes the assurance. Ivoy was taken in b [...] the Marshall Chastillon, [...] by Cautelmo. Aug. [...]/13. but retaken by the Spanish men of Armes, within a moneth after, not by siege (though Cautelmo the prime Spanish Com­mander in that Dukedome, had mustered up all his for­ces, it had bin vain for him to have sate down before it, and raised a banke against it) but by scaladoe and on­slat, the Governours negligence in keeping a strict watch, animating the Spanish Commander to take that course, who made the Governour againe to pay for his improvidence, by the slaughter of many of his men, and the captivity of himselfe, and all his principall officers, and rest of his souldiers. The Spaniard being again posses­sed of the town, took care how to keep it, sent out his purveyors to provide all things necessary to victuall it.

[Page 117] Chastillon, was then in the height of his businesse be­fore Damvillieres, The siege of Damvil [...]ers. which though it began with a kind of complement, the Commanders on both sides striving to out-vie each other in courtesie, was continued with all manner of harshnesse and extremity, the souldiers within often sallying out upon the Camp, and the army again furiously battering the City with the Ordnance, and beating down the houses with Grenadoes. A fort­night was spent before the French Generall had perfect­ed his works, Hee began too early, September the first, new stile, but had not raised his ba [...]teries till the four­teenth, the rain which fell then in abundance hindering his pioners from doing it with more expedition▪ The approches of the Campe went on but slowly, the Garri­son often sallying out upon the Pioners, and undoing what they had done, yet was neither the Generall, nor the Camp disheartned, they continued their course, and often cu [...] off the adventurers which againe often retur­ned into the City almost tyred with the slaughter of their En [...]es. N [...] kinde of hostile effence was omit­ted of either side, the very occasionall triumphs of joy, which hapned two dayes together one Sept. 26, new stile in the City, for the honour of Saint Mau [...]ice, the tutelary Saint th [...]reof, The French triumphs upon the Kings birth-day. the other in the Campe the day following for the congratulation of the Christian Kings Nativity, were spent to the mutuall offences of their adversaries. On the first night the bon-fires being made round about their Fortifications, the Defendants made 30 Canonado's, and above 2000 Musquetadors against the Campe, and the next day, the time when the great battery of fourteen Canons began to play, many vol­lies being made out of the trenches the great Ordnance was discharged eight or nine hundre [...] [...]imes out of all quarters against the City, and that so effectually, that [Page 118]thereby the Parapets which stood against them were ruined, the defences of the two Bastions which looke towards Verdum, upon which the great battery played, were beaten down, the Ordnance of the town was for the most part dismoūted, & the only sleeple of the town was utterly demolished, 120 Canon-shot being spent against it, because it served as a mount of battery against the Campe, and the Army was much annoyed thereby in their trenches.

The night works were as prejudiciall to the besieged as those of the day; The night­works and their issue. at evening order was given for bon­fires and fire-works through all the Campe, the Canons placed upon the advenues, were levelled against the town, and when they had done, the Bombards and Morterers were imployed till break of day, which though they did not much endamage the Fortificati­ons, brought no small prejudice to the besieged; the Garrison and inhabitants stood all this while like ama­zed men, conjecturing of the issue of these actions, and what might be the mayn designe of the French General, and whilst they were in this maze, the labourers were set to work, who so plyed their hands all night, that they much advanced the approaches of the army. Don Andrea Cantelmo had sent 120 men to attempt a way into the town for the relief of the Garrison, promising to follow with an army, and raise the siege if it were pos­sible, the men conducted by Captains, being come with­in two Musquers reach of the French quarters, affrigh­ted with the lowd cracks of the Ordnance and strange fire-works, disbanded and fled in such a confusion, that the Leaders which conducted them, could not upon any termes reassemble them; in a word, that night the Generall so strongly fortified himselfe in his trenches, that Cantelmo thought it vaine to attempt to raise him, [Page 119]and himself began to be so confident of his successe, that he concluded himselfe able to winne the towne, within a fortnight in despight of all resistance, the Garrison within, or their Confederates without could make, and therfore that his own forces alone without any coadju­tors, might have the glory of the prize, sent back some troops which the Cardinall de Valette had sent him to be assistant to him, in that enterprize which was desired, might be done with expedition.

It is no small thing that can dishearten a resolved man, Stassin the Commander within, for all this lost not his courage, nor abated any title of his first resolve af­terwards, though hee plainly saw that the French got ground daily, so much that by the last of September old stile, the Marshall had raised two new batteries upon the very brinke of the moat, besides the other great one of 14 peeces of Ordnance. An halfe moone there was be­twixt the two Bastions, An half moon taken by the French. upon which the batteries play­ed, from whence three nights together, the Garrison sallied out upon the Campe, and did it much impeach­ment, both by slaughter of men, and spoyling the tra­versers. To remedy the inconveniences which accrewed to his Army thereby, the Generall called a Counsell of Warre, and it was concluded to assault it, and to carry the place by force, what ever it might cost, notwithstan­ding all objections to the contrary, though it was de­fended with a large ditch of 20 foot broad, and eight foot deep, at the least where it was shallowest, and was guarded with 120 men, the choicest and best souldiers of the Garrison, and the conclusion was brought into action. The order of the assault was thus, one Lievte­nant and an Ensigne, two Sergeants and 30 common men, seconded with a Captaine, and Ensigne, and fifty other old Souldiers, were commanded to assault it on [Page 120]the left hand, and as many others, both in number and quality, each party having 12 scaling Ladders, to goe down into the Moat, and climbe up to the par [...]pet of the halfe moon, and each Sergeant leaden with balls of wild-fire, with order to cast them into the mi [...]st of the Enemies, as s [...]on as they did appeare, that their eyes be­ing daz [...]led with the flame and smo [...]k they might have the easier accesse to the Parapet. The directions were observed so punctually, and executed so spirightfully, that in a short space the Spanish souldiers were driven out of that Fortification, but not a yet beaten, they returned again with more fury then was shewed in the first en­counter, And a mi [...]e sprung [...]ff [...]ctu­ally. renewed their fig [...]t, and continued it [...]ountful­ly by the space of foure [...]oures, at which time the victo­ry falling to the French, they became masters of the half moon, till then in controversie. The battle ended not without bloud, some of the defendants were slaine upon the place, and the rest thinking to escape by flight, fell into the hands of Balagny a Captain of the Regi­ment of Turenne, who placed there by order from the Generall to that purpose, The Garrison capitulates. and he encountring them sl [...]e some, took others prisoners, and forced the remaynder into the Moat, where they were drowned, it being there 12 foot deep of water, the French using the dead corps as bavins to goe over the Moate there to their Asso­ciates.

The losse of this Fortification much abated the edge of the Garrison in the towne, who begged a short time of truce to bury their dead, and taking the grant for a favour, shewed some remissenesse of their courage al­ready, but a inyne under the Counterscarpe of a cham­ber ten foot square sprung so effectually, Octob. 14/24. that it made a breach in the wall where 40 men might march a breast, discouraged them more, though they did som­thing [Page 121]still in their defence, two great trenches which they had made within giving them a little spirit, yet in the end seeing how unable they were to make good the breach against the assaylants, they capitulated and accorded upon these conditions.

This was the Capitulation, which the Garrison in the end faithfully observed, Don Andrea Cantelmo seeks to hinder the Accord. though it was much opposed by Cantelmo, who knowing of what consequence the place was, though the accord was concluded betwixt the Assaylants and defendants, endevoured all he could to break it, and Munday the 16/26, sent Canton a Captaine of Brony'es Regiment from Luxemburg, with expresse order to releeve the Citie upon what tearms or price soever. This bond of Auxiliaries presented themselves before the City next morning by the dawning of the day; They were seen both by the Campe and Garrison at once, but with different eyes and aspects, the Garrison hopefully thinking that Cantelmo had followed him, with the long expected succours, and began to retire in­to the town hoping of relief, the other with distracted and divided looks betwixt anger and scorne, angry to think themselves deluded of their covenants, and scor­ning the small number of forces which appeared against them, Canton a Cap­tain sent with a strange com­m [...]ssion, and therfore encircling them put some few to the sword, and took all the rest prisoners, to the grief of the Garrison which surrendred the place therupon accor­ding to the Articles. The Captain being one of the cap­tives was searcht and a Commission was found about him, the worst clause wherof he put into execution, Is taken pri­soner. and no other. It ran thus (as the French write)

It is a certaine evidence of true magnanimity, nei­ther to complaine of fate, nor grieve for misfortune, but to comply with the first, and labour to amend the o­ther by endeavour. The Cardinall Infant did both, he saw the French Lillies planted, and sprouting in those gardens of the Netherlands, which were committed to his keeping, and though he endevoured to weed them out, but could not, now he meant to use all his art to eradicate them. His late defeat at Maubeuge, made him not heartlesse, The Cardi­nall Infante encamped at S. Iulians. nor heedlesse: to Bolen, and Saint Iulians, he then conducted the remainder of his dispersed forces, where he rallyed them, fortified him­selfe, and lay encamped, till a new supply of old soldi­ers was brought unto him from the garrisons of Flan­ders, and the other adjoyning Provinces, with which as soone as he was re-enforced, he marched again to­wards the River of Schambre. The French Armies [Page 127]were then againe divided, the Duke of Candales forces lay about Maubeuge, under the command of the Mar­quesse de Turenne, and the Cardinall his brothers at Long-Faurill, where the Duke himselfe was also, by reason of the indisposition of his body, a fit of sicknesse, which surprized him there about the end of September, when he went thither to advise with the Cardinall a­bout the joyning of their two Armies. It was conclu­ded that their forces should be no longer divided, the Cardinall of Spaine beginning to appeare so strong, that it was conjectred, neither of their forces singly could stand before him, though they needed not to feare him, being reunited. The Infante had a suspiti­on at first of what they intended, but was afterward assured thereof by some prisoners taken in an Ambus­cadoe, addressed for Gassion, who was often imploy­ed as an internuncius betwixt the Duke and the Mar­quesse of Turenne: to prevent it, Octob. 7. new stile, And re-enfor­ced, resolveth to keepe the French Armies from joyning. Piccolomini and Don Iohn de Viveros, Lieutenant Ge­nerall of the Spanish horse, were sent with 4000 horse, and as many foot, the most tryed and choyeest men of the Spanish Army, to encampe at Pont-Sur-Sambre, and Pont de Vaux, two Villages upon the River, di­stant each from other almost an English mile, in the mid way betwixt the two Er [...]uch Armies, purpo­sing to famish the French [...]orces at Maubeuge, by cut­ting off the convoyes of victuals, which should be trans­ported to them from Landracy. Their comming was not unknowne to the inhabitants of the neighbour-Villages, which more affecting the Spanish, the French Cardinall (there is no trust in new friends) though they had taken an [...] to be faithfull to the Christian King, concealed it till they were so strongly entrenched, that it was an hard adventure to remove them, and then they sent to Long-f [...], to enforme [Page 128]the Generall thereof. The newes startled the French Cardinall, and the Duke his brother, who though scarce recovered, Sendeth Picco­lomini to Pont de Sambre. betooke himselfe to Armes, as well as the Cardinall, and that they might not give the Spanish troops a longer time to fortifie themselves, Octob. 8. new stile, at midnight marched from the Quarter at Long-faurill, against the enemy at Pont-Sur-Sambre, having sent the Count de Guiche, the Field-Marshall, two houres before, with the avantguard, consisting of 500 horse and 2000 Musketiers, to assayle the Spanish Quarter, at Pont de Vaux. The next day about 4. in the evening, the combat began, which was well fought, and lasted doubtfull at Pont-Sur-Sambre, by the space of five houres, the Spaniards having set up their rest to hinder the conjoyning of the two French Armies, and the French being resolved to [...]eleeve their associates at Maubeuge, which must needs be fami­shed otherwise. But at Pont de Vaux, the assaylants found most resistance, the other combat was ended be­fore night. The Spaniards there gave ground, and retrea­ted to these their confederates: the darknesse onely par­ted this last fight, which was to be renewed the next morning, had the Spanish Commanders stood to it, and not left their station. Both parties were weary, but could not sleep, danger stood before them, and kept their eyes waking. Where he is intrenched. The Cardinall Valette had his head working the most par of the night, how to manage the next dayes fight most advantageously, sent a Cur­rier to Maubenge, to advise the Marquesse of his pur­pose, & to require him upō the signall given him, by two Canons, to bring his forces into the field, and assault the Spanish trenches on that side next him, comman­ded Gassion to view their works, and to enforme him where they were weakest. S. Cirque who was em­ployed to Manbeuge, did his office, yet the Marquesse [Page 129]came not in, nor could he have come to fight with the adversary, the imployment of his forces in breaking downe the Bridges, Milles, and gates of the towne, and the neighbouring Abbey d' Aumont, hindering him a while, and the enemy already weakened by the losse of 400 men, fearing the fall of the ingruent storme, re­treating to avoyd it. The occasion was thus.

Gassion had performed his charge carefully by the breake of the day, he had surrounded the adversaries Campe, found a place where it might be fitly assaulted, acquainted the Generall with it, and he to lose no time, instantly with all his forces ranged in battalia, save one­ly so many as he thought sufficient to guard the places which were already gained, marched towards it: which the Spanish Commanders observing, and fearing to be assailed both before and behinde at once, rose, And raised a­gaine by the Cardinall de Valette. and retreated thence towards Barleimont, and Aimeries. They retreated, but not without some blowes: the Marquesse of Thurenne was then upon his march, and flanking them with his ordnance, whilest the Cardi­nall pursued them at the heeles, slew about 400 of them upon the place, and made others runne headlong into the River, where they were drowned, to the ap­parent losse (as the French report it, of betwixt eight and nine hundred men, though the Spanish letters from Bavay doe much abate of that number) the French not scaping scot-free, their losse amounting to more then 80 men, amongst which were some persons of quality.

Yet this victory did neither puffe up the French, and make him secure, nor deject the Spanish Cardinall, who is yet providing (if he can) to recover Landrecey, and hath already sent much amunition to Bavay for that purpose, whilest the French, who have forsaken Mau­beuge, (the towne being casually burnt at their depar­ture, [Page 130]by a fire which hapning in a Court of guard, Maubeuge bur­ [...]ed casually. in­creased by the negligence of the inhabitants, who made no baste to remove the straw, and seyzed of the greatest part of the towne) and marched the next day with their joyned Armies to Chasteau Cambrisis, are as carefull to maintaine it, and what else they have gotten this summer in his territories. The late Abbot of S. Mars, by the translation of the late Bishop there to Meaux, was made about a moneth before, Bishop of Auxerre, and thus advanced, first revictualled the Ca­stle Cambresis, with a sufficient store of provision, and Octob. 7/17. with the assistance of the Count of Quinze, sent a convoy of 180. wagons loaden with corne, into Landrecey, which being added to their former store, is deemed sufficient to maintaine a longer siege, then (as the French beleeve) it is like to endure. To fortifie it throughly, his Majesty the Christian King, drew a platforme, and sent it to the Count of Quinze, with or­der, Lan [...]recey re­victualled and fortified anew. that he should take up workmen out of his go­vernment, which by that pattern should work before the City. As he was bringing them to their labour, there appeared foure squadrons of the enemies horse ready to surprize both him and them, and he had no way to avoyd them but by this stratagem.

He drew his Peasants into a ranged battell, The Labou­rors delivered from foure squadrons of Spanish horse by a stratagem. placed them at the corner of a wood, made them stand in the posture of Musketiers, with their shovels and spades, whilest 200. reall shot, and one company of light horse, (which he had sent for) were brought from the City, which discharging upon the Spanish squadrons, made them flye, not daring to adventure further for feare of an Ambuscadoe, and then imployed his labourers for the perfecting of his fortifications. The Infante encamped at Q [...]esnoy.

The Infanta's Army, though sensible of the late losse which was somewhat aggravated at the generall mu­ster, [Page 131]by the losse of foure Spanish, and two Italian Cap­taines, they removed presently to Quesnoy, within nine English miles of the French campe, where they re-en­trenched: and the French imagining that they meant to give them battell, appeared often in a full battalia, in the plain between Casteau Cambresis & Apremont: yet they stirred not from their trenches, nor as yet was there a­ny hostile actions commenced betwixt these two po­tent enemies, equally ambitious of victory, save onely, The Castle of Crevecaeur sur­prized by the French. that a French Commander, assaulted and tooke the Ca­stle of Creveceur, halfe a league from Cambray, the gar­rison left there, not being able to maintaine it, though they did the best they could, being themselves enforced to lay downe their weapons, crave quarter, and with­all, the inhabitants become prisoners of warre. Some complements were passed betwixt Piccolomini and the Duke of Candale, upon which, because hostility and courtesie are incompatible, the people and the wi­ser sort descanted diversly. Presents were sent inter­changeably, the Italian Count presented the Duke with two Pistols garnished with Ebony, and the Duke reci­procally sent him a Sword and Belt, Interdiangea­ble presents betwixt Picce­lomini and the Duke of Candale. embroidered with gold, silver, and pearle, some from those mutuall fatall gifts of Hector and Ajax, prognosticating that some sad issue would attend this palliated amity, and o­thers divining that these exchanged tokens, were cer­taine and prognosticke signes, that their summers acti­ons were already come to the height and perfection, and prognostickes of future reconciliation.

But a most probable argument of the future tranquil­lity of the Provinces under the Christian King, may be concluded from the unexpected returne of the Spanish forces, which lay fortified in Guyenne, into their own land. The last yeere they invaded that Province with all their might, got into their possession Bordegain, Ci­boure, [Page 132]Saint John de Luz, and some other small places, fortified them with retrenchments, horn-works, half­moons, Cullion-heads, and other like works of that na­ture; all which were manifest evidences, that they in­tended to hold what they had gotten by the sword, and fortune of warre; yet this yeere, September 15/25, no man assaulting them, no Army appearing in field against them, (as the French do relate) upon a bare report, that the Duke de Valette, following the Kings direction, was comming against them with all his troops, the Duke of Nocera their Generall, caused them to leave their places of strength, and to return with him homeward. The causes of this their sudden departure are related divers­ly, some ascribe it to the frequent incursions of the Bay­onnois, into Spain, and the Frontiers of Navarre, from whence they never returned empty of pillage, horses, beefs, and such other booty, the inhabitants there being unable to make any head against them. Others to the necessity of the Catholike Kings Dominions, which by the rage of plague and pestilence, had their Garrisons so abated, that the remaynder of the presidiaries therin, was not able to mayntain them: especially in Navarre and Pampelona, which were so depopulated by these maledies (especially by the purple) that these Conque­rours could not expect any succours thence, were they never so distressed: other to a Panick feare, caused by a three dayes continued fight of two Eagles in the Aire, which being not determined without the death of one of them, made the superstitious people entertain hor­rid conceits of direfull and terrible consequents. But this of all the rest is most improbable, and so farre from having any semblances with truth, that it cannot be thought a concurrent, much lesse the adequate cause of the Spanish Dukes sudden departure. An heroick heart is not affrighted with prodigies, and yet the fight of the [Page 133]Eagles, birds of prey cannot be accounted such, Doves supposed by antiquity to be made up without gall, upon the choice of a mate have done the like, and then it is not to be wondred if these royall inhabitants of the aire, shall entertain so sharp a conflict. The most likely causes were these two, first feare of impendent want of victuals, which though they yet felt not, leaving two houses filled with bisket at Ciboure, yet they had cause to imagine, must necessary soone over take them, their friends were not able to relieve them; nor could they get them in the King in France his Dominion, the Duke of Valette, having by order from his Majesty raised three strong Forts upon the adventues of their inrodes, the one at Espelette, the second at Saint Pe. and the third at Biariz upon the Sea side betwixt them and Bayonne, which secured that Province from their incursions. Se­condly an Epidemicall disease, called by them in their own languages Tavardillos, i. a pestilent spotted Fever, so raging amongst them, that it had swept away already 8000 men of the Dukes Army, by both which they were made sensible of that losse, which made them re­linquish their holds in Guienne, wherof they had foure within one league, viz. & Bordegain, & la Carriere (where they had raysed a Fort-royall) Socova and Ci­boure, and their Fortifications about Orogne and Han­daye, where not without great expense, they had made a circumvallation, able to contain two thousand men: much regret and unwillingnesse, as may be more then collected, by those three Escripts, left (as the French say) behinde them, and found after their departure.

The first was found upon the Altar at Orogne, and contained these words.

‘ Adios Sen̄ores Franceses, Dios os bendize, mil maldi­ciones os echamos, y nos bolvemos en nuestra tierra.’ In English thus: ‘ [Page 136] Adiew you French Monsieurs, God blesse you, wee give you 1000 curses, and are now returning into our own Country.’

The second was found in the Fort of Bordegain, in these words.

‘Nuestra miseria haze en Guyenna, lo que vuestro valor ha hecho en Languedora.’ which is,

The third was exprest in these termes.

That is, ‘If we were as wise as the World esteems us, and you as foolish, as you have bin at other times, our successe had bin yours, and yours had bin ours.’

Indeed the businesse of Languedock struck deep, it was a great blow which the Spaniards received there, and should be now related, but I must adjourne the Reader for 14 dayes, till the second Part of this History, contayning besides Languedock the Actions in Italy, Piemont, Lorraine, the Dukedome of Bur­gundy, the French County, Holland, the West Indies, and the Marine Occurrences, with some passages in Turkey be published, wich shall be within the prefixed time.