The elder Duke of Brunswick , as it should seeme , is not dead : For by reason of the Bishop of Hauerstaffs letters , the yonger Duke of Brunswick hath played the Souldier all this Winter , and taken in 8. or 9. Townes of the Bishops of Ments and Cullen , and although since February Count Harry Vanderbergh is gone vp against him , since he tooke Gulick , and a Colonell of Bauaries , and another of Don Gonzales , being in all 12000. foot , and 2000. Horse , are likewise marched to intercept his forwardnesse : yet hath he proued very fortunate in his expeditions , and kept his ground in despight of the proudest wrastlers . But we say here , that these two last Colonells named , are retired backe againe , as taking their first iourney vpon a rumor , that there were 8000. English comming into the Countrey , and hoping of good passage by the Duke of Brunswicks meanes , whom these Bauarians meant to intercept . But this rumor ran her selfe quickly out of breath . For by the first of March , letters of credit came , that not a Drumm was beaten in England to such a purpose , whereupon they returned backe againe to their Generalls , for feare of Count Mansfeilds comming vpon them , and surprizing them vnawarres .

Whilst Count Mansfeild thus proceeded , and had his affaires carried in a sweet passage boat of successe , the Protestant Princes loath to be behind hand with him in correspondency , seeing the great ayds which came in , and the many Forces promised , engag'd themselues likewise to his assistance , namely , the Marquesse of Baben , the Duke of Wittenbergh , the Marquesse of Aensburch , and the Lanssgraue of Hess , who euery one prepared 10000. men for the Spring , and made tender of their seruice accordingly , so that if performances follow , & this faire shadow of good words haue but an equall body of substance , and auayleable actions , the Summer fields may be filled with an Armie of a 100000. men , which though it sound too harshly in the eares of Souldiers , who know , what 40000. armed men can doe , and seeme ridiculous to Polliticians , who presently demand after the money to pay them : yet is it certaine , that these Princes & Lords of Countries haue made their tongues pronounce the iudgement , as for the consent of the heart , and the many contingents , which may happen disastrously , these are wrapped vp in the closet house of Heauen , and being arcana coeli , it is not for polluted hands to reach at them , no more then for vs to know , whether Bethlem Gabor will goe on , as he hath done , to hold the Emperor play in those quarters , which if he doe , then let equall men iudge ( for all there is a report , that there are 8000. men come out of Italy to Leopaldus ) whether the Emperor can be any way so strong , as the Princes , I might better say , his Excellency Count Mansfeild . For without controuersie , he is now such a spirit raisd that I beleeue will hardly be coniured downe againe by such forces , as the Emperor can either spare , or prouide so soone . But the Summer is the time that Armies goe into the fields , and so till that time , we will suspend all predictions , and anticipations .

The fast letters from Vienna report diuers things , both of the Emperors pretended mariage , and of the Turkes making peace with Poland ; but especially , concerning the contracts with the Hungarians , which hath spent most part of the Winter in their Treaties , and is indeed suspected not to haue any good successe , because Bethelem Gabor will not conclude it without the Emperour of Turkes consent , to whom he is Tributary ; and the Turke will not consent , because he pretends that the Emperor hath broken with him , and set vpon his friends in his absence , or not kept promise in sending his Embassador to the Sacraporta , as hath bin the custome , and so to attend him in his warres . Thus insteed of reconciliation , is he rather threatned , and for any thing we heare , the Prince of Transiluania affects the restitution of the King of Bohemia , and will prosecute his recouery as farre as he can , or is able . But which way soeuer it chance , Dulce Bellum inexpertis , and the warre hath not onely made scarres in the face of this pleasant Countrey , but filled it with wrinckles , which haue taken in so much soile , and durt , and sweat , that I am affrayd the running water of peace will hardly wash it cleane againe in good time , and it will scarce recouer her pristinat glory in many yeares . But of all other things most lamentable , the Church of God hath suffered deuastation , and the backes and sides of Religion haue beene lashed with cruell stripes , and the tormentors hand hath gon ouer them and ouer them againe : For Idolatry hath made the walls of those Churches weepe , where God hath beene truely worshipped , and not the name of an Image heard in many yeares . The pulpits haue beene trampled in with those obscoene feet , whose masters haue trod vp on the graues of poore deceased Christians , and by the name of Hereticks , thought them onely worthy to be receptacles for their ordure , making their Chappels a very Stewes : the houses which haue lodged their garrisons , haue been filled with their strumpets , who haue made the hearts of the owners sad againe , with their filthy prostitution , abominable Masses , songs of ribaldry , inuectiues against Christ and his Gospel , and many other fearefull impieties of superstition and blasphemie : yea all places haue beene replenished like the groues and alrars of the heathen , with mixtures of incense and sacrifice , which I know , stinck worse then the smell of a dung-hill in the nostrils of our sanctifier , and great God , so that I make no question , he will one day take his owne cause in hand , and deliuer vs from this vsurpation and intrusion , so that for this point I end with the Motto , Dies dabit , quod dies negat .

I will not dispute neither of the prerogatiue of Conquerors , nor condition of the conquered , of the riches of Emperours , nor the power of Princes , of the treasure of Kings , nor aboundant wealth of Monarchs of the necessitie of the Souldiers , who must either liue vpon their prey , salary , or spoyle , or the inconueniences of a garison in a Country ouer-watched with many disastrous accidents . But this I am sure of , that those souldiers which Spinola left behind him , are not onely wasted with many malignant circumstances , but wearied and tormented for want of pay and entertainment : Insomuch that Don Gonsales de Cordira the Spanish Generall laid a new imposition vpon that part of the Palatinate vnder his iurisdiction of a 100000 dollers , which amounteth to 20000. lib. sterling , whereabout the people were miserably handled : For although they pleaded the deuastation of their Countrey , and the many wrestings from them the blessings which God had imparted after great toile , labour , and endurances : yet nothing serued the turne but present money , and the Captaines had much adoe to pacifie the Souldiers before the taxe was gathered , and the imposition raised .

By this time , it is the midst of February , and therefore it is time to tell you , what a hard Winter wee haue had , and what strange sights wee haue seene . The Palatinate hath beene subiect to such frost and snow , that the Rhene hath beene frozen 7. or 8. weeks together , and since it began to thaw , which was the 5. of February , we haue had drie and close weather , yet faire and srosty mornings : then grew it close and misty againe 2. or 3. dayes , afterwards it waxed warm but not long : then the mornings brought vs small raine till ten of the clocke , but the 14. and 15. were very wet , by reason of which vncertainty of weather many proiects were disappointed , and diverse excursions being made , the Souldiers returned without effecting their purposes : yet did Generall Vere ouerslip no opportunitie , which either serued to annoy the enemy , or relieue his friends , hee visited the sconces and garisons , & supplied their wants as he could , he made new ramparts at Hidelburg , leauing therein Sir Garret Herbert as I take it with 2. Companies of English : but the maine gouerment was vnder a dutch Colonell , he fortified Franckendale , and the sconces on the passages , hee watched Mainhem and lay therein himselfe : he reveiwed all other places , which stood in neede of his care , and dilligence , and so much for weather , now to our sights and apparitions .

The 5. of this present February , about one of the clock , there appeared very plainly 3. full coloured Raine-bowes , one bending from south south-east toward the north : the other opposite to it from southwest northward , the third was called Iris Verticalis , whose Center was the Sunne it selfe : there were also 3. more dimmer and not so well coloured , compassing the Sunne as it were , but yet of distance some degrees : The night following were many flashings of the aire of lightning , and as it hapneth in such cases some there were , that saw armed men fighting , and some that heard the classhings of armour , and some , that sayd plainely these things were not customary , but portended tumultuary convulsions on all sides : I confesse I remembred the Starre 1618. and made a Catalogue of many accidents , which haue hapned since , and although wee were not much amazed at these things , because there was no preuenting of that which God had appointed : yet it made vs make this vse , to pray to God to diuert his iudgment from vs , and continue his mercy towards vs , as for coniecturing the worst , which was warre , blood , and trouble , who could not apprehend as much , without whispering of prophesies , or calculating natiuities , or affrighting any fearefull man , when all Europe was in Armes , and the Princes of the earth stood gasing at one anothers Fortunes .

By this time Count Mansfeild had sent to Loraine , and had likewise answer from the Duke , which some will haue to this purpose , That for his owne part he was willing to giue way for his passage , whether he meant to goe to Artoies , or France : But the King of France would by no means consent thereunto , which whether it were pleasing to his Excellency or no , I will not dispute : this I am sure , that it made his own Souldiers talke at randome , that he meant to diuert the warre from the Palatinate , and either draw it into France , or Flanders . As for the hope of rendition , he would not medle with other Princes designes , but in a maner he warranted the King of Bohemia a better recompence then the rendition of his Countrey , or peraduenture the Crowne of Bohemia it selfe , whereupon reciprocall letters haue passed betweene them , and no doubt there shall no enterprise be set on foot , but by direction of a Councell of warre from the King of Bohemia , and the Prince of Orenge , and so running to one another with sweet conueiance , Count Mansfeild shall be ( as it were ) the Cesterne to entertaine the water comming from these Springs : For although the King of Bohemia lieth now quiet at the Hage , yet no question is his spirit working in other places , and time will perfect that , which we now imagine is an vnperfect Chaos of confusion , and so much for the busines as it hangeth in suspence , and cannot yet make euen the skoales of mischiefe and misfortune , as we prophanely abuse that tearme , and Character .

I vnderstand by many messengers , that your Corantos in England are so translated , and obsequious to the Dutch Coppies , that they neuer mention any exployt of the English , nor vouchsafe to attribute the glory of any enterprise vnto them , as forgetting Captaine Boroghs , at the siege of Franckendale , and diuers valiant Gentilmen in other places , nay , they scarce mention Generall Vere himselfe , who is worthy of all memory , for his constant resolution , and noble courage in these wants & endurances : For although some Polliticians haue giuen it out , that Spinola might as well haue run all ouer the Countrey , as doe that he did , yea , taken Heidelberg it selfe , if he had kept his Armie together , and therefore that which was left vndon , must be imputed to his commiseration , or peraduenture , directions from higher powers : yet will not I giue way to such opinion , but answere plainly and honestly , that by that time the English had fortified the places , and hunted the enemy with set Batalions , it was not so easie to climbe trenches and ramparts , and come ouer the heads of Pikes , or stop the mouthes of Cannons : Witnesse the interception of Bauaria himselfe , who ambitiously swallowing the whole Palatinate , as a gift of the Emperor , came forward a pace with proud steps to straddle ouer it like a Colossus , and thought at once to inuest himselfe with her robe and Coronet : but GOD be thanked , it is yet vndone , and if euer a Prouerbe was verified , we may well say by him ; Multa cadunt inter Calicem , supremaque labra .

But to my first purpose , seeing the Dutch will tell you no Stories of the English , I will tell you one of the Dutch.

Vpon the last of Ianuary , when the Frost began to breake , a certaine Dutch Captaine , full of presumptuous words , and ostentous braggs , resolued to performe some exployt vpon Steine a Castle , which stood in the midst of woods and waters , and for which Don Gonzalis first brake the Truce , the 20. of August last : whereupon as well acquainted with the passages , and all the secrets of the place , he vndertooke this enterprise with a 100. men , and came accordingly thither by foure a clocke in the morning , nor did he this temerariously to the outward show , but had good searches and scout-masters before to vnderstand the strength of the place ( besides his owne knowledge of the scituation ) the number of the Guard , and the order of the Sentinells , with all other things appertaining to a surprise . But see the misfortune ! as soone as euer the Sentinell had discharged his Musket , he quickly fell from his resolution , as a man distracted , and very basely cryed out , We are discouered , A retreat , a retreat ; and when the Souldiers answered againe , there was yet no danger , nor could be any in the prosecution , he rode in amongst them , and beat them backe most cowardly , as if 10000. enemies had come toward them : yet for all this , when he and his company had thus runne away , at the same time a Dutch Lieutenant , with lesse then fiftie men , surprised , and cut off the whole Court of Guard in the Sconse before the Castle , tooke many prisoners , and made the rest secure themselues with in the wals , from whence they played apace , but did not hurt aboue one man : but by reason they wanted their Patars , and that the Captaine and his company were gone so far off , they could not enter the gates , nor sap the wals , but made a braue Retreat indeed , and came safely to their Rendezuous . But the Captaine in stead of rendring an account to my Lord Generall of his actions , ran away for shame , and was no more seene in publique among the Souldiers ; yet had the Lieutenant thankes , and a gratuitie , according to the worthines of his deseruing .

This I thought good to set downe as a tast of such bitter pils , we are many times constrained to swallow , as either the Dutch proue vnruly , or out of suspition of ouer-mastring , cast vp an vntoward account of their owne weaknes : Thus lost we this opportunitie of the lasting frost , considering the place was of importance , and now must be contented : For in open weather the Castle is in a manner impregnable , as standing ( as I sayd ) in such a fastnesse of wood , and water .

Whiles the affaires of the Palatinate cheered our hearts with the expectation of good deliuerance from all our troubles , newes came for certaine , that the Emperor was married , and the Pope had sent the Empresse an hallowed rose of gold , with other reliques , which shee receiued very graciously at the hands of Seigneur Perospi his Nuntio .

Although the frost and snow was very great , yet it is sayd , that the Neopolitans , and other Italian souldiers taking advantage of certaine contracts , and articles betweene the Grizons , and the Spanish garrisons , haue aduentured through the passages , and with the losse of 800. men by the asperity of wether , presented a body of 800. to Leopaldus , who thereupon attempted both to recouer Elsas Saueren , and his Countrey , which were spoyled a new for breach of their faith to Count Mansfeild , and to send a defiance to his Excellencie , who for all the report of the Catholicke greatnesse , smiled at the bravado , as resoluing vpon other maner of busines , then fighting of a battle in a country where nothing was to be gotten .

About the 15. of February , a great fire hapned at Landenburgh , as you goe to Heidelburgh , which not onely burnt down the two great gates , but consumed many roomes and chambers , yea diuers souldiers , that had the watch of the Tower , and guard of the place : yet was the mischeife imputed to the watch , and the Country much affrighted came in to complaine to the Gouernour of the offenders .

Report is still busie amongst vs , and to comfort vs in our wants and distresse in the Palatinate , assureth that all the Countries round about , namely Spires , Elsos , Strasburgh , and all the bishopricks in generall , are ready to starue , and haue not sufficient viands for their owne inhabitants , whereupon Count Mansfield hath written to the Duke of Wittenbergh , for passage through his country , so that it is supposed , he either intendeth for Bavaria or Vienna , vnles he play the lap wing , who commonly flieth furthest from her nest , & so may he giue notice of one thing , and yet pretend another .

Much about this time his Excellency Count Mansfield vnderstanding that the Bavarian Regiment was vnder the command of Montaigne , and lay quartred vpon the neckar in the ampt mosbegg , sent to the town of Hagenaw for a new composition , & so had 30000. Florens by way of a taxe or new leauie : thus doth he both increase and inrich himselfe , yet is not his determination knowne , what he will do with his great armie , more then that ( as they say ) he writ letters of comfort to Heidelburg , and Generall Vere at Mainhem , whose horse went out the same day vpon an expedition , and tooke many wagons loaden with prouision , and diuers prisoners , who were ransomed after the maners of soldiers : they went out to releiue Landenburgg and other townes in the enemies possession , for they were subiect to hunger and cold , and there perished of the inhabitants very neere 600.

After Graue Hendrick Van being with the garrisons of Gulick , had passed the Rhene , as was supposed , to ioyne with the Bavarians and Spaniards that were comming into Hassia : the Duke Christian of Brunswick , stored Pater borne and many townes with souldiers , and resolued to encounter them , which way so euer they came or went , but as they had done once before , some occasion deuided them all , for they neuer met ; but for any thing I heare , they were glad of good shelter in this cold and vnseasonable weather .

There are other things , of which I could write , but I am sure you dare not publish : For such is the nature of rumor , that a little truth begetteth many absurdities , like a Ball of snow , which by often rowling groweth bigger and bigger ; and therefore I desist at this time , till better occasion present better matter vnto me , which , I am sure , is now in the wombe , and longeth for a birth and faire deliuerance . The summe of all is , that God ( as he hath done ) will maintaine the cause of his Church ; and Religion ( as she hath done ) will shew her owne splendor , in despight of clouds and opposition , like the Sunne , that may be a while obscured , but at last openeth the vapours , and commeth like a Bride out of her chamber . As for man , though there is no quarrell so iustifiable as the defence of the Gospel , and propagation of the same , if yet there be mixtures of priuate reuenge , enuie , ambition , desire of renowne , couetousnesse , and that which we call heroike vallour in the ampliation of territories ; it will taint the good cause , like dead flies in boxes of ointments , and God will haue no such mixtures , as collaterall corruption to be shadowed vnder the defence of his Truth : therefore I make no question of a recouery in the Palatinate , because I see apparantly so many good soules and dispositions both grieued at the cessation of the publique Ministry in many places , and vexed againe at the impietie of Papisticall Priests , who dare bring the pattern of the Altar of Damascus into the temple of God . And as for their obiection , that maintaine , that the Souldiers of Count Mansfeilds Armies , and the rest of the Princes , which pretend the defence of the King of BOHEMIA's cause , are either most of them Papists , or of no Religion : and yet forrage , and spoyle the Countries of Catholick Bishops , and such Lords , as know no other but the obedience of the Popes Supremacy . I answer plainly and honestly : What of that ? God will bring his purpose this way about : Though Nabuchadnezzar be an hypocrite , yet for the time shall his Idoll be trampled to dust , and be no more worshipped : Though Cyrus be a Heathen , yet God calleth him his seruant , and he shall send the people to re-edifie Ierusalem , and the vessels of Gold backe againe to adorne the Temple : And though Papists maintaine their absurd opinions , yet shall they be made instruments of Gods glory , and euen destroy one another , till either they be conuerted , or effectuate that worke , which he setteth them about : In which expectation we remaine at this houre , and exhilerate our selues , that the businesse in hand is in so good a forwardnesse .