THe siege of Ratisbone by the Imperiall and Bavarian Armies , with some preparations made by Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weymar , for the defence thereof , concluded our last discourse of his proceedings ; wee must now alter the scene , and follow him into another Province , where he falls upon the Enemie , burning , and wasting his Country , whilest his power is imployed in this offensive forraigne war .

It is an Aphorisme among Physitians , whose study only tends to the preservation of the Naturall body , that if a fluxe of sharp humours fall upon the eye , or any such tender part , that if by fit purgative medicines they cannot carry it away , the stream must be turned , and the matter transported to the common ordinary neighbour Emunctories : And many wise Commanders , whose care extends it selfe to the preservation of the body politique in peace , have followed this Rule , That when the Armies of aliens in hostile manner shall invade their territories , the only expeditious way of securing their own , is to fall upon the Enemies land , that so hee may be called home , and diverted from his former counsels . Thus Pericles in the Peloponnesian war , twice , and both times speedily , and happily delivered the Athenians countrey from the formidable Hoste of the Lacedemonians : Thus Agathocles the King , opposing feare to feare , and force to force , conveighing his Army by sea into Africa , suddenly raised the Siege of Syracusa , when Amilcar was set down before it , the Carthagenians being constrainedly willing to purchase their safety , with the quiet of their Enemies . Thus Hannibal when the Romanes had so strongly planted themselves before Capua , that hee esteemed it a matter of extream difficultie , if not impossibility to remove them by force , brought his Army to the gates of Rome , deeming this the surest way to quit his friends from imminent danger : and this device was so successeful , that Fulvius Flaccus one of the Consuls , was instantly sent for home from Capua , for the reliefe of the Citie . And the D. attempted about May 27. Iune 6. to deliver the Citie of Regensburg from the fury of the besiegers , by an inroade into Bavaria , pillaging and spoiling the enemies countrey , blocking up one place , besieging another , and doing him what dammage they could in every place . And this course of his was the cause that about Iune 11/1 some Imperiall Regiments were sent back into Bohemia , to assure that Country against the Protestants , & some of the Bavarians Army marched downwards by Strawbingen into Bavaria to secure those coasts from invasion .

The Fort of Ro●…berg besieged by D. B●… . And yet the D. Weymar at his first going from Rhegensburg , looked not towards Bavaria , but Franconia ; and therefore marched by Newmarck a towne in the upper Palatinat towards Altorff , where wee finde him in his head quarter May 31 / Iune 10. But hence hee straight dislodged , marching towards the river of Pegnitz , and thence hee first applyed himselfe to the strong Fort of Rottenberge , where hee left the Lieutenant Colonel Laverwaldt , with 1500 Musquetiers and sufficient ammunition to besiege it , who so well discharged his office there , that by Iune 5/15 he had made his approaches to the very walls neere the Shiniger steeple , secured his Army from the danger of the Canon , and much discouraged them within the Fort , who were not onely hemm'd in by Enemies without , but pincht and ready to faint , for want of water within .

Thence hee marched with the rest of his Army to Forchaim , a Citie which had not onely formerly supplyed the Castle of Wilsburg , when it was besieged by the Swedish Colonell Sperreuter , and Landgrave Iohn of Hessen : but now also is a nest of trouble some guests to their Neighbours , daily doing much harme about Megeldorff , Gleishammer , and the places thereabouts , by pillaging . 〈…〉 act of a Swedish S●… We cannot here passe over a memorable adventure of a Swedish Serjeant , whose name though it be not discovered to us , is worthy to be recorded for his valour and wisedome . Some ordinary men have done strange things casually , but few by praeelection and judgement ; but this man shewed as much discretion in the prosecution of his designe , as boldnesse in the first undertaking ; The story is briefly thus : About Iune 1/11. 400 foot , and 80 Horse of the Imperialists at Forchaim ▪ having laid a bridge over the river of Pegnitz above Megelldorff , went a bootehaling , in the Country thereabouts , and had drove away many of their cattell . This Serjeant accompanyed with two Horsemen , as he was comming to the D. understanding of it by chance , associates himselfe with them immediately , professing himselfe to be an Imperialist , till the whole company being divided to seek for more prey , be ( under pretence of a faire bootie ) had drawne out a Standard , and an Ensigne so far fromt he rest , that hee had sufficient opportunity to dispatch his first intended businesse . And now having thus surprised them , hee discloses himselfe , tells them plainly what hee is , a Swede and their enemie ; sets upon them when they looked for no such entertainment , and had killed them presently , bad not they craved Quartier . But this suddain unexpected change of his words and behaviour , made them petition for their lives , which he granted upon their disarming , giving up their Pistols , and submitting themselves to his command . This act of his , could not be done so secretly , but that it must needs , and was in the end discovered to the rest of the Imperiall party ; and therefore about 20 of them presently pursue after him , as wel to avenge themselves upon the Swede , who had thus deluded them , as to recover the Standard , and Ensigne . But he who had gotten a pretty advantage of way before them , posts on with his prize and prisoners toward Noremberg , whither at last , being happily preserved by the fortunate comming in of some Musketiers from the Suburb of Werth , who were marching against these boote-halers , and the Boores of the Country , who had taken up Armes , and were come together to save their cattell , which by this meanes were regained : he speedile arrived , bringing in the prisoners , the Standard , and Ensigne , which the next day were presented to the Duke , who with the Field-Marshall Horne was come thither Iune 2/12 that with their presence they might honour the funeralls of the Generall Major Corville , who was slaine by a wyer-bullet before Regensburg ( as we have related in the supplement to the sixth part of this Historie ) and was after the Military manner honourably buried in the Suburbs of Werth , Iune 5/15. The Standard had on the one side the picture of the Virgin Mary , on the other , an hand reaching out of a cloud , and the Ensigne was blue , and white , which this adventurous Serjeant thus atchieved . A strange attempt , and hardly to be paralleld in History . Neither the fact of Zopirus in bringing the Babylonians to his master Darius his subjection , nor the stratagem of Hannibal in taking in the Romane Cities by his Africans , whom he had caused to be perfectly instrusted in the Latine tongue , and dressed in the Roman garbe ; nor the device of our owne Countrymen in the yeare 1388 , in the time of Richard the second , by entring and taking the towne of Mont-ferrat in the lower Auvergne under the shew of merchants , being every way comparable to it : Zopirus by mangling his face , and false tale , had brought the Babylonians into such a fooles paradise , that they could not thinke , but that he was at tearmes of enmity with his master , and would take occasion of vengeance ; The device of Hannibal was rather an evidence of a cunning , reaching head , than valiant man ; and the designe of our Nation , was without shew of perill , there being many undertakers , and the town unfortified , & without a Garrison , disable to resist them ; But this man singly exposing himselfe to certaine death if once discovered , gave a good testimony aswell of his valour as policie . And doubtlesse he was well instructed in his Shibboleth , being not onely perfect in the Enemies language , but able to conform himself , to their behaviour , & gesture .

Forchaim blocked up . And now to returne to the D. himselfe , wee find him marching towards Forchaim , a citie ( if Mercators report be true ) belonging to the Bishop of Herbipolis , commonly called Virtzburg , and having the river of Regnitz on the west , and the Wisent on the east , which emptieth it selfe into Regnitz at the south point of the Citie ; before this place he sat downe with part of his Army , about the 7/17 of Iune , not only for the causes aforementioned , but also because the Norrimbergers received much dammage , as well by the Garrison here , as those in the Fort of Rottenberg , this being not above 15 , the other but 9 English miles distant from that citie , and having blockt it up , and cut off that streame of the Wisent which watereth the Citie , left the Field-Marshall Crats before it with some Regiments , who as they write from Norimberge Iune 7/17 hath raised 5 batteries against it , and makes no spare of powder and shot to batter it , Sultzbach taken by Scalado . and sent Colonell Rosa to Sultzbach , wherein the Ambergers had laid a guard of 150 Dragooners , who by Iune 10/20 had taken it by Scaladoe , put the Dragooners to the sword , and made good booty there . He went with the rest of his Army towards Bavaria , being joyned by the way with Gustavus Horne at Donawerth , where now for a while we shall leave him wasting and spoiling the Country .

The continuation of the siege of Regensburg . And now we return to Regensburg , a citie not so famous either for her first Founder , which was Claudius Tiberius Nero the third Romane Emperour , or the royall name hee gave it , which was Tiberina , or Augusta Tiberii , or the proper name of Ratisbona , given it in after times , for the good ships which were thence set out , or the many names given it by strangers , as Reginoburgum , Rhaetobonna Rhaetopolis , Hyaspolis , Imbripolis , Regnipolis , Taetratopolis , Quadrata , & Germansheim , or that it was once the Metropolis of Bavaria , and principall seat of residence of the Kings and Dukes of that Region , as it is now likely to be by this present siege , wherein the besiegers have hitherto shewed no better arguments of their purpose to take it , then the besieged have done of resolution to keepe it . Their disputations on both sides are with shot and sword , and the oppositions of the one are not more fierce and fiery , then the answers of the other are round and speedy .

In what estate the D. Bernhard left the Citie , wee have formerly declared ; we wil not now look behind us to what was then , but before us to what is done since .

Divers assaults had the Imperialists made upon the citie , before the 17.27 . of lune , wherein they gained so little , that as yet they could not be masters of so much as one outwork , though with the losse , and lives of many thousands of men , whereof some part was slaine before the towne , another taken prisoners , and the third ranne away , and starved ; it see me that they came on desperately , and were repulsed valiantly . Thus we are informed in generall , but to give the Reader the more satisfaction , wee shall put downe some memorable particulars .

Whilest the Imperiall and Bavarian Armies were jointly set downe before this citie , with about 150 peeces of Ordnance , they first battered that place of the wall , where D. Bernhard first made the breach , when he took it ; but finding the event not to answer their expectation , their Army being thus quartered , in Regiments , in all making 6000 , whereof 2000 were Musquettiers , placed on the North side of the Donaw ; neere the Ship-bridge ; 7 Regiments of Foot consisting of 5000 men , under the command of the Generall Altringer on the Bavarian , or Southside , 6 companies under the command of Gallas ; 7 companies of Dragooners under Piccolomini : 9 companies of Pollacks ; and 2 of Prench at Kalmuncz ; 15 companies of Cuirassiers , at Swandorff , 3 Regiments consisting of 16 companies , 6 companies under the command of Colonell Hummerton , and 8 under the command of Colonell Butler at Smidhalen . Upon Whitsunday May 25. June 4. when they continued playing with the canon upon the City , and the horneworke , till 4 in the afternoone , they made 3 severall assaults upon the horneworke , which though it was not built to the full perfection , was couragiously defended by Count Thurn and his soldiers , whose valour that day was not so commended by his friends , as admired by his enemies . The losse the Garrison had in these assaults , was not great , compared to that of the Imperialists : they lost not above 12 men , amongst which were none of note : the other many , the number is uncertaine ; amonst which was the Baron of Teubrize , who had formerly been Commander in that Citie while it was under the Duke of Bavaria , who with the Generall Major Dietrichstein , Colonell Iulidado , and other principall Officers , was slain , Colonel Breuner , who was first wounded in three severall places , and afterward with Mariams Lieutenant Colonell , the Major of Colloredoes Regiment , and other Officers of note in the Army were taken Prisoners .

These three were the most furious assaults , which the Imperialists have hitherto made against the City : the unhappy events whereof , made them afterwards to goe on more warily , and to endevour by mynes and more secure means to compasse their desires . And herein the defendants apply themselves to defeat them in their manner of working , unwinding the clue as fast as the other make it up , countermining against them , to undoe what the other have done . Two sallyes made by the Garrison upon the Cam●pe . And yet these attempts of the Campe , were not altogether unrequited in their owne kind by the Garrison , who both upon Whit-munday at night , sallied forth of the citie , beat the Enemy out of some of his trenches , tooke 15 prisoners , got above 100 Muskets , slew many ordinary soldiers , and some Officers , whose swords they carried away with them into the citie ; and upon Iune 10.20 . appeared againe without the Hornworke , as if they meant againe to have done the like : whence presently as afraid of their Enemie , they retired purposely toward the towne , to draw the Imperialists to pursue them , to the outworks , where they had placed some field-pieces , charged wich small shot , for the slaughter of the assaylants , if they should chance to follow them . And this device tooke such effect , that the Camp being incouraged , by this ( as they conceived ) timorous flight pursued them to the very outworke , where these Murderers being discharged upon them , made such a Massacre , that many of them there lost their lives , to the great discouragement of the Army , and incouragement of the Regensburgers . It is good to looke before we leap ; policie is often superiour to power , and wisdome prevaileth against unregulated might .

Hitherto we have discoursed but of the beginning of this siege , the proceedings whereof ( with the want of present provisions for that numerous Army before it ) have been terrible , and many Well-willers to the Evangelicall party , have been perswaded , that before this time , the King of Hungarie would have risen from before the Citie : But he who is resolved either to take it or spend himself before it , still maketh great preparations against it , and hath sent for 9 whole Canons , and 2000 barrells of powder , from Brauna , in Bavaria , and 4000 weights of all sorts of Ammunition to be brought unto him out of Bohemia and Austria .

Kelheim taken by the Imp. While things are thus carried at Regensburg , Colonell Rosa who was then at Kelheim , a town scituated upon the Bavarian side of the Donaw , at the very point where the Altimull comes in , to pay his tribute of waters to that more famous streame , and distant from Regensburg about 10 English miles to the Northward , was besieged there by some Imperiall Regiments of the Army , and as if hee had lost the courage there , which he shewed in the surprisall of Sultzbach , surrendred it upon composition Iune 6.16 . being forced to march out without Ensigns , or weapons , to the great offence of the Duke , both because he had not first burnt the Ship-bridge , as also for that he held not out one day longer ; which if he had done , he had certainly been relieved . The surprisall of Sultzbach was quickly avenged by the Imperialls at Amberg in the upper Palatinat , who presently thereupon set upon 4 companies of the Weymarish Horse , defeated them , and tooke from them 3 Standards , and the most part of their Baggage : And this action againe was requited by the Swedish Garrison in Weygen , which defeated an Imperiall convoy , which was going with 40 Wagons loaden with victuals , to the Imperiall Army at Regensburg , and carried away the provision : The Dye falls not alwayes alike , Gamesters must expect to lose , as well as to win , and the fortune of war , doth not alwayes carry the same face : A lowring evening hath sometimes seen him a Captive , whom a glorious flattering morning hath laughed on , as a Conqueror .

A piece of politicall discipline shall conclude this Chapter , wherein war appears more illustrious then peace ; A Swedish Lieutenant hanged . for that , which in a quiet and setled estate may somtimes without danger be neglected , in a tumultuarie hurry cannot safely be omitted . A Swedish Lieutenant having taken upon the Boden-sea ( a known lake betwixt Helvetia and Schwaben ) 2 ships laden with come and wine , left the ship , and went on shoare with his soldiers to drinke ; The Mariners , who were better inclined to the Imperiall , then the Princes party , instantly made use of the time , hoysed up sayles , and carried the prize to the Enemy . It was then in vaine to looke after the Saylors , who were gone out of reach ; the Councell of war therefore made inquiry after him , who was in their power , arraigned , and hanged him . An excellent piece of justice ; The very name of treason is abominable , and though it discover a malitious mind , and inclination to doe evill , yet it is not alwayes seconded with the occasion , and power of execution ; wilfull negligence in matters of importance , is almost , if not altogether , as bad ; for hereby the adversary hath fit opportunity of doing what mischiefe hee can desire . A good soldier must have a vigilant eye , and an industrious hand , as well as a loyall heart ; for otherwise , hee exposeth himselfe , and confederates , to much necessity .

OPportunity , whether in peace or war , if not neglected , is the best engine , & most advantageous ; in peace , the thriving Merchant , by taking the benefit of wind and tide , makes a quick return , and gainfull ; and in war , the spoiling bands of the souldiery by seasonable use of their present occasions , load themselves with the prey of their Enemies . The severall ingagements of the Duke Bern : of Saxon Weymar , and the Field-marshall Horne , and the dis-union of their Armies , which so continued , till Iuly 1.11 . when they were united into one body betwixt Donawerth and Augspurg , Iohn de Werth pillageth Ortinguen . &c. gave opportunity to the Bavarian Commander Iohn de Werth , to range about Franconia , plundering and spoiling those places , which had any relation to the Evangelicall party . Iune 2.12 . he shewed himselfe with 50 Cornets of Horse , all Crabats and Hungarians before Hippolstein , Windelstein , Heideck , and some other townes in Franckenland , presuming sometimes to advance even to the Gates of Norimberge . But all this was but a bravadoe , his designe lay elsewhere ; nor stayed hee long to shew his bravery , but quickly returning towards Bavaria by Pappenheim , upon the Altimull , and Donawerth upon the river of Danubie , he straight wheeled about againe , towards Ortinguen , and Dreutinguen , which hee sacked in the absence of these Generalls , and the particular Commanders of those places , carrying away a great prize , 2000 heads of Cattell , 300 sacks of meat , and 300 prisoners to Ingolstade . In like manner , the Governour of Aicha , knowing that Horne having other ingagements , could not give attendance only upon that place , as soone as he understood , that hee was gone from thence with his Army contrary to the agreement , and his promise , returned againe , and re-possest himselfe of the place , from which hee had so lately beene ejected . The town of Aicha re-taken by Horn and the Governour hanged . I know not in this action , whether he was more to be condemned of folly , or falshood , both these appeare plainely in his undertaking , folly , in that he could imagine himselfe able to hold the place , which was now unfortifyed , ( for the gates were demolished , and the fortifications cast downe by Gustanus Horus ) which hee could not keepe fortifyed ▪ falshood in breaking his word and oath , then which nothing ought to be observed more religiously . Peradventure hee had learned the doctrine of Jesuiticall Equivocation , and only meant to keep his promise of not returning , as long as the Field marshall stayed there ; it had beene better for him to have dealt plainly , and kept his word punctually , for by the forfeiture of his credit , hee lost his life ignominiously , and betrayed the Citie to desolation utterly : the treachery was soone discovered to the Marshall , who returned instantly , and stayed not to summon the towne , but tooke it by assault , put the most of the to wnsmen and soldiers to the sword , hanged the perfidious Commander before one of the gates , and burned the towne to the ground . This was good justice and required by the law of Armes , for he that doth not punish such faithlesnesses , openeth a gap to all perfidiousnesse .

Iohn de Werth taken prisoner . The Army of the Ba●arian Werth , who dealt more fairly ( for he did nothing but what was lawfull for an Enemy ) hath since his practice of hostile pillaging , been once defe●●…d by G●shav●… H●rne neare Auspurg , whence hee had the pursuit of his confused Army , almost to ●achaw , the space of , & German miles , and in the end ●…orly ●uined by D. B●…burd I●… 7.17 . betwixt Landshut and Psaltenhoven , where 〈◊〉 of his Soldier were shine , and himselfe ●…tly ●s●…ped .