Wee left the King of Sweden in our Former part , where even the ablest Generall ( especially before the beginning of any great Action ) must not despise now and then to be present : at a Councell of warre , namely ; together with his Highnesse the Elector of Saxony . Single advice , ends in double dangers : whereas even the warres themselves receive as much strengthening by an Vnion of heads , as by an vniting of hands . What the Conclusions of that Military Consultation were ; though in expresse termes wee know not ; yet by the next Actions of warre may we collect thus much amongst the rest , to haue beene then at Hall agreed upon .

●guesse at ●at was a●ed upon be●xt the King ●d the Duke Saxon. 1. That the fleeing enemy being so farre already escaped , should at that time be no further pursued .

2. That the chiefe Army of the Catholike Leaguers being now broken , the Lands of the Leaguers themselves that refused to make their peace , should in the order as they next lay , be also set upon : that so by singly disabling of the Leaguers , the League it selfe might vniversally at length be shaken .

3. To cut out the more worke at once for the Emperor ; Saxony , after he had cleared his owne Lusatia , was also to fall into the Kingdome of Bohemia .

4. Care was also had , of the ruinated estate of the Towne and Bishopricke of Magdenburg : in which Diocesse , together with that of Halberstat , the King of Sweden even now appointed Lodowicke Prince of Anhalt for his Governor ; committing the military command in those parts unto Colonell Schneidewin : a man that both knew the countrey well enough , and that had beene faithfull and forward withall unto his former Master , the unfortunate Administrator .

Things being thus agreed upon , and the Kings Army by the middle of September come together againe ; his Majesty having intelligence of Altringers and Fuggers ( two of the Emperors Generals ) late being about Erfurt : ●e King mar●es into Du●gen . shapes his first course towards that City , which was the next good towne on that side belonging unto any of the Catholike Leaguers . Directing his march therefore to the South-west , and crossing the River of Sala ; into the Country of Duringen or Thuringia he goes : leading an army of 20000 men ( more some write ) along with him . Keeping then the River of Vnstrut close upon his right hand , unto the towne of Gross Someren , ( upon the Easterne banke of the said River ) he comes : where for that night , ( September 17. ) he sets downe with his Armie . From this Towne hee immediately dispatches his letters unto the great City of Erfurt , demanding to haue it forthwith delivered unto him . This towne , Erfurt sumnned . situate upon the River Iera , is for compasse one of the greatest of Germany ; being ennobled with an Vniuersity withall : both at this time belonging unto the Arch-bishop Elector of Mentz ( the first spirituall person of the Catholicke Leaguers : ) unto whose towne of Mentz , the old Bishopricke of Erfurt , and the temporall dominion withall , had long since beene translated . Backe the next day come the Kings Messengers with this answer of the Cittizens , That they held for the Elector of Mentz , to whom they had taken the oath of fidelity . The King not taking this for satisfaction , presently with his army advances towards it : yet in the meane time were his second Summons sent unto them , either forthwith to yeeld their towne , or to stand to the hazzard of the wars . Out come the towne Deputies to treate ; desiring , but 3. daves respit to consider of it . This being denyed them , and they offring to returne into the town ; the King sends Duke William of Saxon-Wymar along with them ; Fayrely take● who with some troopes of horse entering the outter Port , together with the Deputyes ; presently makes good the place , by staying his horses and wagons betweene the two Ports . After which , having disarmed the souldiours of the next Courts of guard ; and nine other troopes of Swedish horse , having by this time possessed themselves of the other gate also : he with his first companyes rides immediately up into the market place . Causing now the chiefe Burgers to come before him , hee after much arguing to and againe , wrings the towne keyes out of their hands ; in steade of which , he in the King of Swedens name tenders them these twelue Propositions , forthwith to set their hands unto .

Thus became Erfurt accorded with the King , September 18. 1631. without bloodshed . The next day came his Majesties selfe into the Towne , with some 10000. of his men after him : whom he billetted in the Dom Petersberg and the Iesuits Cloyster . With the Priests and Iesuites did the King vouchsafe some conference , as t is said : to whom he both promised and proclaimed , that if they would acknowledge him for their Liege Lord , they should no wayes be molested , either in goods or Conscience . To the Magistrates he promised , that for their quiet and solemne receiving of him , he would continue them their former priviledges , and his owne Royall protection . The Governor which he appointed to leave with them , was he that so handsomely tooke in the Towne , and their neere neighbour , Duke William of Saxon-Wymar aforesaid : with whom he left for garrison partly , and to begin an army ; two Regiments of Foote , and one of Horse . In this Towne the King staid a whole weekes space , taking a view in that time of such places , where it was most necessary to have the City fortified : which worke was thought likely to amount unto two Millions of Dollars .

And now is his Majesty determined for an expedition into Franconia . The King moves into Franconia . The two chiefe spirituall members of the Catholicke League in that Countrey , are the Bishops of Wurtsburg and of Bamberg , unto whom either in the while that he staid at Erfurt , or a little after : the King sends his Letters of Invitation , or of Summons , to draw them off from the League , if they pleased ; and to free thereby their Countreys from invasion . And this might serve them as a Herald at Armes , either to desire their amity ; or if that were refused , to forewarne them of his comming . And that he did thus fayrely deale with them , I find it mentioned in his Majesties owne Declaration published afterwards at Wurtsburg Taking leave of Erfurt therefore , September 26. old stile : and bending his course due South from thence , and along the westerne shoare of the said River of Iera ; towards Arnstat in the little County of Schwartzenburg he marches : lodging the same night in a fayre Castle there , belonging unto Gunther Earle of Schwartzenburg . The next day September 27. unto Ilmenau he comes ; a Towne upon the River Ilm , in the very edge of the Forest of Duringen , or the Duringer Waldt : where he rests his army againe till the next day towards euening . Hence was the valiant Field-Marshall Gustavus Horn , together with Baudissen Leiftenant-Generall of the Horse , dispatched away . Eight or 10000. men they were said to leade along with them : one part of their designe being reported to be , to seeke out Altringer and Fugger , with whom one of the Earles of Mansvelt had now also conioyned his forces . These 3. ●avus Horn abroad . being heard of to be together beyond Isenach upon the frontiers of Hessen , ( betwixt the rivers of Nesa and Werra ) in search of them doe the 2. Swedish Generals goe as farre as Waltershausen first , and so onwards unto Isenach , both Westward of the city of Erfurt . But Altringer was not to be spoken withall ; his men were afraid of the very name or shadow of a Swede : whom they had not so much mind to meete withall , as to conioyne themselues with Tilly : for which purpose they were already marched from Isenach unto Munden , whither shortly after , Tilly had appointed them to come . But Horn and Baudissen , as they made no long stay , so lost they not all their labour ; seeing in their returne they tooke in the city of Gota first , ●es in Gota and ●e County of ●neberg . ( some 4. leagues to the West of Erfurt : ) and that part of the little County of Henneberg , ( on the South-west side of the Duringer Waldt ) afterwards ; which the King had left untouched : conioyning their forces last of all unto the Kings army at Konigshoven ; which way we left the King now going .

September 28. towards euening he sets forward from Ilmenau againe , euen into the thickest of the Duringer Forest . And for the souldiers better seeing of their way in the night time , were there wisps , and cresset lights made in pans , &c. hung vpon the trees , ● King passes Duringer●dt , into ●nkenland , Franconia . with other such like prouisions . This Forest being in a right line passed thorow , the army arriues at Schleusing in Franconia ; whence they directly marched towards Konigshoven : before which ( being 4. leagues and an halfe distant ) they the next day presented 4. Regiments , whenas they were there least looked for . This strong towne of Konigshoven , is the chiefe Fortresse and Store-house of that plentifull countrey ; the Seate and Court , ( for the most part ) of the great Bishop of Wurtsburg ; and one of the chiefe keyes , on that side , vnto the Bishopricks of Wurtsburg and of Bamberg . The Swedens giuing summons to the towne in their Kings name , were vouchsafed no other answer , then what was by the report of the Canon returned them : The Summons being refused , the Seige is laid . Where he b●seiges Konigshoven , The King hauing runne his lynes , and raised his batteries before the towne ; beates hardest vpon a certaine strong and high tower , from whence the towne Ordnance did mostly annoy him . This being sore shaken , and ready for assault , the King next of all by a trumpet sent into the City , gives them faire advice to send away all their women and children : seeing if he must needes be put to take the place by assault , he would giue their houses for pillage vnto his souldiers , put all the people to the sword , beate downe the towne about their cares , and afterwards turne it all into Cinders . The garrison perceiving no succours ready to relieve them from their Bishop ( whom it most concerned ) fall to capitulate for their lives ; presently yeelding up that strong place unto his Maiesty . And takes it . Here were found great store of Ordnance , and a wonderfull plenty of victuals , provisions and Ammunition of all kinds .

Entrance being thus happily gained into Franconia in the end of September , the fame of the Kings taking so principall and strong a Fort , strake such a terror into the Country thereabouts ; that the Catholike Commissioners now assembled at the Diet of Frankford on the Maine , with all speede forsake the place ; without staying to dispatch any of the Emperors or Catholike Leaguers businesse , which they came thither for . This Konigshoven being very strong before , does the King ( as his custome is to doe , with all conquered places of importance ) cause to be more fortified after his own manner : leaving a garrison in it , and the Duke Ernestus of Saxon-Wyma● for their Governor .

From this place our Conqueror moves toward Schweinf●rt , a pretty Imperiall City , some 6. leagues to the South of Konigshoven ; and seated upon the North-West banke of the river of Mayn before mentioned . ●weinfurt ta● . Here ( to begin the Moneth of October withall ) was he admitted without resistance : the garrison going out thence into Wurtsburg , some two dayes march ( or 6. leagues ) distant from this Schweinfurt . October the second , the King with som● 18. troopes of Hor e comes into the towne , where he hath the Oath of fidelity made him by the Citizens . Observing in his view of the City ( where he staied not above an houre in all ) how commodiously it was seated for the passage of the Mayn ; he giues order to haue it new fortified : leaving 3. Companies of Foote , and two troopes of Dragooners in it for garrison . Sending his forces now severall wayes about at one instant , he hath divers places at once , upon easie termes delivered up unto him in the Bishoprick of Bamberg ; ●e Bishoprick ●amberg ta● in . as Hasfurt , Gemund , Lohr , Volcach , Kitzing , Oxenfurt , Remling and Karlstadt , all situated upon the Mayn : which river his Maiesty was now very desirous to make himselfe Master of . Very well did this wise King perceive , That the methode of Warre was the same ( in this point ) with the methode of Nature ; and how a countrey is by the same meanes and degrees to be conquered , by which it was at first peopled : and that was , by the great and navigable rivers . For besides that the richest and the strongest Cities be ever situated vpon their banks ; and that at those Cities , be still the Bridges and Passes over into other countries : by their streames also , up and downe , are the riches and forces of the Kingdome conveighed ; which wil quickly beate the Land-conqueror out of the field , ●e King ●kes towards ●e river of ●ayn . that is not Master of those waters . These , with other considerations of the excellent advantage of having a good river to friend ; as the neerenesse of fresh water , both for horse and man ; the commodiousnesse of carriages ; the naturall fortification to the army on that side , whereby all sudden Camisado'es and fallings on of the enemy are prevented : are some of the maine reasons that no wise warriour ought to thinke himselfe a Conqueror , untill such time as he hath the commaund of the water , as well as of the land . And therefore hath the King of Sweden ( if you marke the orderlinesse of his proceedings ) still coasted it along upon the Rivers . Thus whereas He at his first comming into Germanie , sought to land in the mouth of the Oder ; he so long pursued the course of that streame , untill it brought him into the river Havel ; and that , into the Elb : the banks whereof when he had lately left unto the Duke of Saxonie ; then seekes he to the Mayn ; as he afterwards did unto the Rhine and Danubie .

The same first of O●tober that Schweinfurt was yeelded unto the King ; his Maiesty ( it seemes ) sent abroad his letters of generall Summons unto the Countrey . The King summons th● country : & wi● good successe The Empire devided into 10. Circles : of which this Ci●cle of Francon● is the first . The Date of them is from Madenhausen , a village neere unto Schweinfurt , where his Maiesties head-quarter , perchance , at that time lay . The Direction is , To all the Cities of and about the Circle of Franconia . The Purpose , That whereas the Protestants were every where oppressed by the Papists ; and that his comming had principally been for their deliverance : therefore those Protestant townes and others that had any Imperiall or Leaguish garrisons in them , should driue them out and open their gates unto the Swedish forces . Those that so did , he would protect ; those that refused , or delayed , he would pursue the Law of Armes upon : protesting himselfe to be innocent , of whatsoever evill should betide upon their refusall . Their answer he would expect by the next morning . And now became the King as victorious with his pen , as formerly he had beene with his pike : for upon promise of protection , freedome of conscience , and from garrisons : many townes and Cities at that time committed themselves unto his mercy . The Bishop of Bamberg makes his peace with the King : The great Bishop of Bamberg himselfe , with his Chapter of Dom-herren or Prebendaries of the Church , sent with as much speed as might be , their Ambassadors unto the King , from the strong towne of Forcheim whither they were retyred . The price of their peace , must be their assent unto these 4. Articles .

These conditions , though the Bishop was for his peace sake contented to submit unto at the first ; yet for all that , so soone as ever himselfe and people had gotten in more forces together , ●nd breakes his ●rticles . and made up their fortifications : they brake these Articles againe , causing their Bishop afterwards to goe to invite Tilly into their Country . This became a great hinderance unto the King afterwards ; enforcing him to send Gustavus Horn with an army into Bamberg : for whom he might otherwhere have had better employment .

The Kings next designe was upon Wurtsburg , which Francis Hatzfeldt the new elected Bishop of the place , and Duke of Franconia ( for so his stile is ) hearing of ; he being a better Orator then a Soldiour : with all speede packes up his best Iewels and Treasure ; shifting himselfe unto Franckford on the Maine first , and so into the Rhine at Mentz : and from that place downe the streame towards Bon unto the Elector of Cullen ; whence in the name of all the Catholicke-Spirituall-Leaguers , he was in Ianuary following , sent Ambassador towards the French King.

The taking of this Wurtsburg , would be well worth the labour of a King of Sweden ; The King besieges Wurtsburg . to this therefore does hee now convert his Armes : his strength being said to be seventeene Regiments of Foote , and 8000 Horse , of which , I beleeve , he had but two third parts His power he first presented before the City , upon Tuesday , October 4. 1631. by nine a clocke in the morning . The Towne it selfe lyes upon the River of Mayn ; the forme of it being a just Semicircle ; the River making the Diameter unto it . Within the City is there an Vniversity , and two Colledges . Beyond this River , towards the West , and upon a very steepe hill , stands there a goodly Castle : some buildings and walls being at the foote of it along the Rivers side , facing the Towne as the Bankes-side doth London . The East side of the Towne , is for three parts of it compassed about with a handsome Suburb : and that also walled and indifferently fortified . The middle gate of this Suburb the King finding to be shut against him , makes it flye open with a powder , The Suburb ( as they say ) by clapping a Petard , in stead of a Key , unto it . The Towne within the walls perceiving the King to have thus boldly knockt and come in , without bidding ; send out to desire respit of his Majesty , untill 8 a clocke the next morning . This was but a tricke of the Burgers to gaine time and darkenesse withall ; which they that whole day and night made use of , for the conveighing of their best men and chiefest treasure up into the Castle . Wednesday morning being come , and town take the Ports are opened : and the Boores ( which the City had for their defence taken in ) are put out at the backe doore , as the Swedens are let in at the fore-doore . The King being thus peaceably admitted , not a souldier of his was complained of to have done wrong unto any of the Burgers ; nor so much as to have askt or begd any thing ; all expecting the courtesie of the townesmens charity . Heere the King tendering an oath of fidelity unto the Cittizens , is not denyed it : his owne lodging being taken up in the Duke-Bishops Palace behind the Cathedrall .

The King thus in possession of the Towne , could not yet thinke himselfe Master of it , so long as the Castle of Marienburg ( for so is it called ) could at pleasure beate it about his eares . This peece is mounted upon so high a hill , as was to be commanded from no other ground : it having the Towne below at its owne feete . The Castle described . And as strongly was it fortified by Art , as advantageously situated by nature . The hill is a maine rocke ; whereof one side is craggy and barren , and the other covered with vines : the whole top of the little mountaine being crowned with the Castle , and with the ditches and out-works of it . Nor wanted here any inward fortifications ; 800 or 1000. fighting men , being there in garrison : and as for victuals , money , and Ammunition , Troy it selfe was not better provided for its ten yeeres siege , then this Fort was . The Castellan or Governour , was one Keller ; esteemed till now a good brave fellow : and knowne generally by this brand , That he mortally hated all Protestants and their Religion . All together , finally , made the place appeare so impregnable , that the Kings preparations to attempt upon it were rather scorned then feared , by the garrison : who verily beleeved , that unlesse the Swedes had wings , as well as Armes , they could never get up thither . Those difficulties that serve for bridles to the sluggish , become spurres unto the industrious : the more insuperable therefore that the place seemed to be , the more desirous was the King to overcome it . Full well he knew besides , that the consequence would as much availe him , as the conquest : for what should hereafter become unpossible , unto him , that had by fine force taken in the ( supposed ) impregnable Castle of Wurtsburg ?

The King being thus resolved , gives order first to have the Castle summoned : which is the onely Complement or Courtship , that the warres of course admit of . That being refused , he next prepares for the assault . The garrison that retyred out of the towne into the Castle , had themselues broken downe one or two arches of the bridge over the Mayn , betweene the towne and the Castle , ●he manner of ●saulting the ●astle . leaving a planke onely over the broken place , for their owne leisurely passage . All their boates , had they likewise drawne over to the other shoare of the river : so that this was the first difficulty , how to get over the water , and how to come at the Castle . The King having there a Scottish Gentleman that spake excellent good Dutch , ( one Master Robert Ramsye a Leiftenant vnder Sir Iames Ramsyes Regiment ) him the King puts upon the businesse : to passe over ( as a Dutchman and one of theirs ) upon that planke , and to truck with some Boore or souldier , to conveigh over one of those boates unto the King. The Leiftenant performes his charge to the purpose ; but being afterwards discovered by his long coate , was apprehended for a spye , and made a prisoner : whence at the taking of the Castle he was redeemed . The King having thus procured one boate ; sends men in that to bring over more : by which at last he set over as many soldiers as he pleased . Keller the Governour was ready at the foot of the hill , to entertaine them : for faine would he haue staved them off there , and have kept the Scottish led by Sir Iames Ramsye and Sir Iohn Hamilton , from comming neerer . Here beganne the first skirmish , which indeed proved but a skirmish : the defendants being after a while beaten up the hill unto a great Halfe-Moone they had before the Castle ; where the Scottish for that night gaue it over . Keeping that footing , therefore , which they had the first day gotten upon the climbe of the hill ; they under favour of that , brought forward their owne trenches neerer still and neerer to the Bulwark . All that night and the two next dayes , did the Ordnance thunder from the Castle ; & for as long a time were the garrison kept in continuall action and Alarmes : a besieged enemy being like an unmade hawke , to be reclaymd with watching . The Trenches or Lines being finished , The valour ● the Scottish ●tion , in these warres . the King commaunds Sir Iohn Hamilton and Sir Iames Ramsye to fall on with their Regiments : for if a Foit be to be stormed , or any desperate peice of service to be set upon ; the Scottish have hitherto had the honour and the danger , to be the first men that are put upon such a businesse . This Halfe-moone therefore upon the vineyards side , right before the bridge ( which was over the moate of the Castle ) doe the Scottish now full resolutely fall upon : the defendants likewise for two houres together ( as 't is said ) as stoutly fighting for their worke . Here was Sir Iames Ramsye shot in the arme : and very many of his , and of Sir Iohn Hamiltons men , slaine and spoyled in the assault : but they by fine force at length prevailing , drave the defendants to the retreat . The King had thought at the same time to have possessed himselfe of the Castle-bridge of stone aforesaid ; and of the Port consequently , that it led unto : commanding other of his men for that purpose into the very Graff or moate it selfe : but from that designe were they for that time put off , by the defendants . By five a clocke the next morning , ( Saturday , October 8. ) was there a generall assault attempted : at which time a certaine Lieftenant of Leifland , ( borne of Scottish parents ) comming in the darke ( with onely 7. men at that instant behind him ) unto the draw-bridge that entered into the Forehoff or outter-court of the Castle , and being over-heard by those that had the guards on the inside ( who were neere upon 200. men ) was by one of them demaunded in the forme usuall among souldiers , Was vor volcks ? What are you for men ? Swedes , cryes the Leiftenant . The enemies hearing this , presently lay hold upon the chaynes to hale up the draw-bridge : which the Leiftenant perceiving them about , with a strange courage and resolution leapes lightly upon the bridge and his 7. ●perate at●t of a ●enant . men after him ; keeping it downe by that meanes . Those within now verily imagining all the Swedish to be already at the bridge , most basely runne away into the Castle : of which the Swedish by this time having notice , presently enter into the Forehoff , even close unto the Castle . And here ( as t is written ) does the mercifull King once againe offer faire conditions , unto as many as would lay down armes : but this being refused , and the Cannon all this while thundering against his men ; the King causes the Ordnance which he even now found upon the conquered Bulwarks , to be turned upon the inner gate , which leades into the very Castle it selfe : which hee presently therewithall breakes open . Sir Iohn Hamilton having done so much good service before , is now againe as ready to fall into the Castle : but from this the King cald him off : pretending the preservation of his men , which had beene so shattered in the former service . But the valiant Colonell made another interpretation of the Kings meaning . ●e Castle ●ne . The Swedish now thronging in amaine thorow the broken gate , utterly there overlay the defendants . And now began the execution ; and now the conquered begin to cry for Quarter : but the enraged Swedens yet in the heate of blood , bid them looke for no other Quarter , then what the Protestants found at Magdenburg . All that resisted , suffered . Among the dead , were there some skore of lusty sturdy Fryers found armed : who had their crownes ( poore men ) new shaven with a sword , in stead of a razor : and receiving here their ultimam tonsuram , had no other complement of Anointing to it , but that of their owne bloods . The sword devoureth one , as well as another , said that famous Generall of old : nor had these men dyed amisse , had it bin in defence onely of their Prince and Country ; and not upon an erroneous Conscience of their Religion : and an over-bold conceit of Merit and of Martyrdome . Divers of the garrison leaping over the rampiers into the vineyards , mended themselues no better by it then other runne-awayes usually doe ; to be kild further off from their fellowes . The Ladyes , Nunnes , and women , were safely sent into the towne . The Governour ( as 't is said ) saved his owne life , by begging it at the Kings feete : the obtaining of which favour , might perchance make him to love a Protestant the better , ever after . A Rit-master ( or Captaine of a troope of Horse ) there was , that redeemed his owne life , with a Kings ransome : by shewing , namely , an inestimable masse of treasure , which lay hid in a Cave or cleft of the Rocke . The chiefe of the slaine and prisoners , were rifled and stripped by the conquerors : and the Castle for one houre , permitted to the pillage : where an unvaluable booty was obtained by the souldiers . Here was found about 34. The booty . peices of brasse Ordnance ; some of which had the Palsgrave Frederickes Armes upon them . Many a hundred wayne-load of wine there was : with Ammunition , and some kind of victuals for the Bishops Court , enough ( if it would have kept ) for 20. yeeres provision for such a garrison . Some 200. of the Swedish lost their lives upon the service : all the defendants being either slaine or taken prisoners .