AFter that the King of Sweden had possessed himselfe of the Palatinate of Marienburge , and by crossing the riuer of Wyzel in Pommerellia , had incamped at Dersove , where he might with most safety and aduantage proceed in his Treaty of Neutrality with those of Dantzicke : And ( by some Forts cast vp at Hovet and Dersove ) to be more able to keepe the riuer fauourable and secure for stopping the attempts of the enemies .

At length the King of Poland in person , with the Prince his sonne , ( accompanyed with a great part of the Polonian Nobility ) marcheth with an army consisting of Polonians , those of the Duchy of Spruce , Lituanians . Germanes , and Livonians , which he doth fortifie at Grudent , he passeth the riuer , and commeth to Niewburghe , and from thence goeth on . And vpon the 7 of September 1626. he besiegeth the towne of Meve , lying vpon the riuer of Wyzel : The towne hath a Castle compassed about with an old wall after the ancient manner of the townes in Germany . The towne was distant foure miles from our Kings Campe , and was defended by a garison of 150 Swethen footmen , hauing 60 inhabitants ioyned with them . The Polonian ( being encamped on the west side ) makes himselfe master of a hill , where there was a village , and there he doth strongly entrench himselfe , especially in that place where the passage towards Meve did lye most open , and thereafter he beginnes to batter the towne with his ordnance .

Hereupon the King of Sweden ( knowing how vnable the place was to resist the inuasion of an aduised and resolute enemy ) did resolue of nothing else , but that ( he being shortned of time to enforce the raising of the siege ) the towne would shortly bee rendred : the best encouragements our King had depending either vpon an expectation of a scarcity of victuals , or other conueniences wherwith the enemies army might bee pinchod , or otherwise vpon the constancy and resolution of the souldiers besieged , who by defending themselues valiantly , might giue some hope that the siege might bee prolonged : And to the end that neither the valour of the besieged should proue their ouerthrow , nor that the enemy should attribute our Kings delay to feare , it was resoluted that the army should dislodge and encampe neerer the enemy and the towne .

Vpon the 11 of September our King did remoue his Campe three miles neerer the enemy , and encampeth at Falkenow , where hee did prepare himselfe with his army for some encounter , expecting that the enemy would offer some occasion of seruice that day : Notwithstanding the enemy did not stirre out of his quarter , but onely sends forth eight troopes of Cossackes , who did ouerrunne the fields about Falkenow : That day was spent in light skirmishes with Colonel Banneer , who was appointed for the guard of the point of an Iland where the two riuers of Wyzel and Noga●t doe diuide themselues .

The place where our King did encampe , was betwixt the riuer of Wyzel and a great bank of earth or dyke lying over against the riuer : for the riuer hath a high and large dyke artificially raised for holding out the great land-floods , whereby about the Spring time the country people doe sustaine great losses : The King did make this high banke to serue for a trench , where at the further ●nd of the quarter he did draw a ditch from the great dyke to the riuer , and thereby did fortifie his Campe.

The next day being the 12 of September , our King ( vpon some consultation had of the most expedient courses for the reliefe of the towne ) thought it necessary to make choice of some aduantageous place where he might haue the full view of all : And then he drawes forth 1000 horse , with 2000 foot , and presents himselfe in full sight of the enemy , hauing the riuer of Wyzel on his left , and the great dyke on his right hand : At length ( aduancing forward for the space of one halfe mile ) he seeth the enemy drawing themselues forth vpon the hill neere to their trenches where ( there lying a plaine field betwixt both Campes ) some few horsemen did enter in skirmish . There was not farre from thence a wood of oakes hauing groues of hazell wood on euery side , which did stretch it selfe to the hill possessed by the enemy , and to the riuer side .

Our King being desirous to see this wood , and to try whether the place would offer any good aduantage to force a passage to the hill or to the castle , did giue order that 500 musquettiers , with 100 dragonnes should be sent forward : The King did follow himselfe with 300 horse , imagining that the enemy would march towards the wood with great forces : The King sent for Colonell Mus●champe , whom he commanded with 200 musquettiers to put himselfe in the way , if the enemy should fall downe from the dyke . In the meane time the enemy had sent the musquettiers from the hill , and there after sent fiue troops of Lanciers and Cossackes : so that our foot-men skirmishing with the enemy , did force them to a retrait . It being vncertaine whethar this did proceed from the cowardice or policie of the enemy , intending to draw on our men to some ambuscadoe .

Our foot aduancing too farre , were disordered by the Polonian horse , and some were killed . Not many of these had escaped , vnlesse our King himselfe ( seeing one of his souldiers put hardly to it by one of the enemy ) had not aduanced himselfe for the rescue of his souldier , and laid the Polonian dead vpon the ground . By which rare example his cauallery was much encouraged to giue on furiously vpon the enemy who were all beaten backe to the hill quiting the wood to our men , whilst both the enemy and ▪ ours were thus in fight , Colonell Muschampe marched on to the foot of the hill neere the great dyke , where hee stayed the whole time of the seruice , not suffering the enemy to fall out any more in that quarter . The King did call for the rest of the army , and that the Cannon should bee brought in the wood within the great dyke , which when the Polonian did perceiue that the King did bend directly towards the wood , he sends downe the greatest part of his Infantery from the hill another way , that beating our men from thence he might be master thereof : And withall he sends 20 troops of Lanciers and Cossackes to lye betwixt the great dyke and the hill in a plaine field , which was done as well to hold our King enuironed , as thereafter to fall vpon our troopes , which they thought could not be very strong , and so by that meanes ( as they did imagine ) the warre might shortly be brought to an end .

The enemies foot did cary themselues well , striuing for the Dyke with our men : Their Cauallerie did show themselues vpon the plaine field , whereof some finding the passage nothing difficult , did leape ouer . In the meane time our King puts his armie in order , planting his Artillery in a place where the wood was thinnest : hee commands 3 troopes of horse to attend in the front neere the trench who should be ready to attend the enemy , if they should issue forth out of that quarter . After that foure troupes of Lanciers had put themselues in a grosse squadron , to giue a charge , they seeing our Cavallery placed in the front , ready to abide their choake , they giue backes towards the plaine field , forsaking the great Dike : It was much debated whether this place were necessary to be maintayned , and whether the whole Army should be brought there : But when our forces being ( howsoeuer ) the weaker in numbers , were separated , and that the souldiers were not provided of victuall , nor the horse-men of forrage and other conveniences . It was concluded that the maine dessigne should not be altered , but that the forces there imployed should march backe agayne to their old quarter , and thereafter to goe on resolutely for the reliefe of the b●siedged : The enemy was to bee remoued at what rate soeuer , who was lying strong vpon the pass●ge towards ●he Towne . The King giues order to his Marshall of the field Herman Vrangle to draw forth of the Army foure Companies of foote , with two fielde peeces ; the Marshall was to giue on vppon the trenches : A●ter that the Artillery had played once or twice , and that some of our musquettiers ( by leaping ouer the dike ) had begun the charge , both horse and foot did retire themselues to the hill , quiting the great D●ke : As the bri●t did goe , there was killed of the enemies 150 amongst whom was the Captayne Deuhoffe with some others : So that they did retire to their Campe in that same order and way they came : The enemy looking on , withou● adventuring further : There was some of ours wounded , and about 20. killed .

The day following , our King ( causing himselfe to bee transported in a little Boate ) did take a full view of the Islands of the river of Wizel , and of their approaches towards the Towne , to the end that ( before hee should attempt any further ) hee might know the best advantages , how to enforce the raysing of the siedge , or the most toylesome difficulties to impeach the same .

The King himselfe approaches to the foote of the hill , having placed 〈◊〉 musquettiers vppon ●he 〈◊〉 Duke . Hee giveth 600. musquettiers to the Count of Torne , and 500. Sweden foote to Colonell Mustchamp : The one being commanded to stay vpon the right hand , at the foote of the hill : The other at the left hand : both were ordered that they should presse ( by the steepness● and precipice of the hill ) to keepe their men in greater safety , from the violence of the enemies sh●t . The King commanded that neyther of them should st●rre without direction or signe given : There was at the side of the W●od , a great precipice or steepnesse planted with little Trees which covered those that we●e lying in ambuscade , and h●lped also those that were to giue the charge . There was a roade or path-way leading towards the hill , scarse passable for horse-men , which path-way did lye betwixt Colonell Mustchampe , and the Count of Torne . Colonell Mustchamp was commanded to enter this path on horse-backe , with some of his musquettiers , that hee might learne what countenance the enemy kept on the hill , and to es●ye the best meanes hee could of beating them from thence . As the Colonell doth advance himselfe , hee is charged with a Troupe of Germaine horse , and beaten backe to the road way : Some musquettiers strayning to desengage their Colonell being killed , and some taken prisoners , the remainder did with-draw themselues the same way they went . But the nature of the place and passage being discovered , the Count of Torne and Colonell Mustchampe doe charge resolutely , and partly breaking through the roade way , and partly by the precipice of the hill at length they gayne the top thereof : In the meane time , the enemy drawes all his forces together , the foot●-men from the qua●ter and forts , the horse-men from the field , and charge our men forcibly to beate them from the top of the hill : The King and Prince of Poland beeing spectators : it was long foughten with much courage , eagernesse and noyse : The Germain hor●e-men beeing seconded by their foote and the Hayduckes , charge Mustchampe but were repulsed with great losse .

In the meane time out men lying discouered are beatten with their Canon from their forts , neyther was there any thing left vnattempted , to make all our enterprise in-effectuall . At length , after two houres fighting , our men defending themselues valiantly , and gayning ground of the enemy , some Troupes of the Polonian horse , Lanciers , Cassackes and Germaines mixed together ( partly being stricken with shame ) partly being animated with the presence of the King and Prince , promising rewards to the best deservers , did furiously and in great disorder charge the Count of Torne , who ( perceiving what they intended ) did make his Musquettiers fall low on their knees , that nothi●g could bee seene but only their heads , whereby ( the violence of the horse-men being deluded ) hee stood firme : Th●y beeing disabled to follow their poynt in regard of the precipice of the hill , scarce fauorable to a charge on horse-backe , and there hee stayes , their first heate with his musquets lying so low ; and when the Cavallery did beginne to wheele about , they were shrewdly galled with our musquettiers .

When the enemy had thus charged our men with great numbers , the last rushed forward so violently vppon the first , that neyther o● them was able to rejoyne their troupes together , where by many in that disorder were kil●ed , and the hill filled with dead men and horses .

Colonell Mustchampe who did lye vppon the one side of this path-way , did much mischiefe to the enemy , by beating them in flanque with his musquettiers : So that there was such a faintnes and dejection of spirits amongst them , that the Lanciers did throw downe to the ground , three of their Cornets at the feete of our souldiers , and basely did forsake them .

Afterward , all was in disorder in the enemies Campe , neyther ( as it was there after knowne ) could they resolue what course to take . The Infantecy did altogether quite their trenches and fo●ts , lying against the Towne without any resolution to adventure further .

Hereupon the King of Poland dispairing to be able any longer to defend the Hill , Forts , or his Campe ; and being zealous that his Cannon might be in some hazard to bee lost , if he should giue any further time to approach neerer him ; and seeing our men fortifying themse●ues vppon the great Dike , whereby hee m●ght perceiue they were resolved to go on .

Vpon the 14. of September , the Ea●le of Torne comes to the King with three Regiments of Germaine foot , which had served in Live-land .

The Army being reinforced with this new supply , togeth●r with a Regiment of Swedens , vnder the Conduct of Colonell Kodwin , a bridge being layd over the ●●z●l , not farre from our Campe ; and a strong Fort b●●●ded at the end of the bridge , where there was a competent garrison placed , to secure the passage vnto the Island for the souldiers , and the victualls of the Campe , which were left behind : The King vppon the 19. of September dislodgeth , and encampeth neere the enemy , about 300 paces from the place which the enemy ha● kept strongly fortified betwixt the Campes . Our King did resolue that hee had gayned enough that day , to haue put his new campe in defence , by making the great Dike lesse passable , framing it after the manner of a rolling Trench , whereby the great banke and new trench being enclosed , the King might aswell be lesse subject to any suddaine surprize or assault of the enemy , as more able to put his determined resolutions in execution by assailing the enemy , with the more security of his owne men .

The King sends the Earle of Torne with 400 Germaine Musquettiers , to the end he … ld possesse and make good that part of the Dike , which did streach it selfe from the Campe to the hill .

He sends Colonell Mustchampe with 300. Sweden foot for the defence of the Towne of Groenhoffe , which did lye aboue the Campe , over against the plaine field . The enemy ( seeing vs in campe so neere them ) drawes his whole forces vpon the hill , he plants his artillery , and played vpon our men , but all in vaine , the bullets eyther over-flying the Campe , as being shot from an high hill or did fall short and beat vpon the great Dike , without any hurt done .

In end , the enemy sends forth a great number of Cossackes , Lanc●ers , and Germaine troupes of horse , with his whole Infanttry from the hill , intending thereby not onely to beate the Count of Torne from the great barke , but also Colonell Mustchampe from the defence of Groenho●●e , and there after to giue a generall assault vppon our quarter : But every wher● their labour was lost by the courage of our souldiers , defending themselues valiantly and pressing vppon the enemy with much animos●ty and resolution .

Our Artillery in lik● manner , which was planted ●eere the trench , did so beate vpon the enemy , that the plaine field lying over agai●st the Dike , was spread over with dead men and horses : At length towards night , the Poloni●● did with-draw himselfe to his trenches on the hill : The day following was quiet and nothing attempted on eythe● side .

●ur King ( having buil●ed fiue forts ) made himselfe master of the great Dike and playne fielde , and did prepare his passage to the h●ll , where the enemies was entrenched , to the end hee might stoppe the enemies sallies from the hill , whereby they might giue any annoyance to his Camp● . The enemies in like manner ( that he might more freely domineer with his Canon along the plaine field , and be more firmely fortified against all our enterprises ; and also that bee might be longer able to hold out the hill ) did erect two forts , one vppon the right hand of the way , the other on the left hand : In the one hee planted 3 peeces of great Ordnance : in the other , some lesser peeces , whereby he might stop our comming vp the Hill .

The 21. September , our King consulteth with his Councell of Warre , how the enemy might be beaten from the hill ▪ and how a passage might bee opened towards the Towne : And seeing his Campe ( aswell by scituation as industry ) defensible , and safe against all hostill invasion ; and ( the sallies of the enemies being cut off ) 〈…〉 to the foote of the h●ll was not very dangerous : Hee leaveth his Marshall of the field , with the greatest part of the Army in the Campe ; and goeth in person , entring the Wood with one Regiment and a halfe of foote , some troupes of horse , and 1500 choyce musquettiers .

Hee layeth the foote and horse troupe , in ambuscade amongst the trees , that they might bee as safe from the voll●es of the enemies shot , holding the top and length of the hill , where diuers fortes were erected with fielde peeces in them , as that they might bee ready to receiue and repell the enemy , if our men employed in service should be beaten backe from thence .

Hee thought it not safe to stay any longer , but did cause to draw out his Ordnance , with a great deale of difficulty and confused hast . He did giue order to burne the Village where hee had beene intrenched and fortified vppon the hill . Our souldiers did enter the trenches and forts . The King and Prince of Poland looking vppon them . Our King was vppon the hill , and would haue willingly ( in the confused d●straction of the enemy ) haue attempted vppon the Artillery ; but finding that the passage were too straight , that hee could not ( to the terrour of the enemy ) charge them with his front inlarged ; and finding the enemy vnpe●●●ed with bagage , betwixt the trenches and the campe : the hill being forsaken , the forts in his owne power : three of the enemies Comets left as pledges of their confusion ; and aboue all the Towne and Castle of Mewe relieued , which was the cause of this expedition . The King did resolue hee had gayned honor enough for that day ; and that the way was prepared to inforce the enemy to abandon his Campe , if hee should stay longer : Therefore he thought it not fit ( the passages not beeing fully knowne , betwixt the trenches and the Campe ) to expose a certayne Victory in the valour of his souldiers to an vncertayne event .

The enemy being perplexed what to do , keepes himselfe close within his Campe. To forsake it , it was to flye away , which was shamefull . To remaine longer , he could expect nothing but further mischiefe : Because our Army ( commaunded the hill ) could beate them out of their Campe onely with our Ordnance . The enemy passed over that night with great astonishment , standing in order of battle ▪ expecting that our Army should haue fallen vppon their Campe , as it was after-wards knowne by some Prisoners : At length about the first Watch of the night , they sent away their bagage .

The King himselfe by the dawning of the day , marches away with gr●at silence , without signe of Trumpet , Drum , or phipher .

The Troupes were seene by our Sentinells at the Monastery of Weul●● , lying a mile and a halfe from our Campe.

Th● King of Poland had left some Cossackes to obserue if our men should attempt any thing vppon their confused retreate : And afterwards ( when they should vnderstand that the King was any thing advanced in his journey ) they had order to burne their quarter .

This was the issue of the besiedged and relieued towne of Mewe .

Our King knowing that the enemy was gone , entred the Towne and Castle , extolling the constancy , fidelity , and merit of the Souldiers , and the inhabitants with much prayse , thankes-giving and reward , and presently did giue order , that a day of publicke thankes-giving to God , should bee solemnely kept for this Victory .

Thereafter hee changed the Garrison with fresh souldiers , and furnished the Castle and Towne with munition and Victualls , and stayed in his Campe some few dayes , vntill hee might discover whether the enemy would bend his course , or what hee would attempt further .