The lamentations of Germany Wherein, as in a glasse, we may behold her miserable condition, and reade the woefull effects of sinne. Composed by Dr Vincent Theol. an eye-witnesse thereof; and illustrated by pictures, the more to affect the reader. Hereunto are added three letters, one whereof was sent to the Dutch consistory in London, under the hand and seales of 14. distressed ministers of Swyburggen in Germany. Vincent, Philip, b. 1600. 1638 Approx. 83 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 46 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A14442 STC 24760.7 ESTC S121128 99856315 99856315 21850 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14442) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 21850) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 944:6) The lamentations of Germany Wherein, as in a glasse, we may behold her miserable condition, and reade the woefull effects of sinne. Composed by Dr Vincent Theol. an eye-witnesse thereof; and illustrated by pictures, the more to affect the reader. Hereunto are added three letters, one whereof was sent to the Dutch consistory in London, under the hand and seales of 14. distressed ministers of Swyburggen in Germany. Vincent, Philip, b. 1600. [30], 20, [2], 25-33, 32-63, [1] p. : ill. (metal cuts) Printed by E. G[riffin] for Iohn Rothwell, and are to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in St. Pauls Church-yard, London : 1638. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Germany -- History -- 1618-1648 -- Early works to 1800. 2000-00 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2001-00 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2001-00 TCP Staff (Michigan) Sampled and proofread 2001-00 TCP Staff (Michigan) Text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE LAMENTATIONS OF GERMANY . WHEREIN , ●s in a Glasse , we may behold her miserable condition , and reade the woefull effects of sinne . Composed by Dr Vincent Theol. an eye-witnesse thereof ; and illustrated by Pictures , the more to affect the Reader . ●ereunto are added three Letters , one whereof was sent to the Dutch Consistory in London , under the hand and seales of 14. distressed Ministers of Swyburggen in Germany . LAMENT . 1. 12. ●●it nothing to you , all ye that passe by ? Behold and see , if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow , which is done unto me , wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me , in the day of his fierce anger . LONDON , ●rinted by E. G. for Iohn Rothwell , and are to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in St. Pauls Church-yard . 1638. To the Reader . BEhold here , as in a Glasse , the mournefull face of a sister Nation , now drunke with misery ; according to what God threatned by the Prophet Ieremy . Should I endeavour by all the memorable particulars , which might be accumulated , to amplifie this sad theme , the third part would bee sufficient to weary thee or blinde thy eyes with reares , if thy heart were not adamantine . I record but a small portion of what I have seene , what I have had from sufficient testimonies . Gall and Wormewood are tasted in a drop , and so may the great Ocean . Onely the thing I desire , is to move thy Christian heart to compassionate the estate of thy poore brethren , so lamentable , and almost desperate , that thou mayest ( at least ) by the vials of thy prayers poured out in their behalfe helpe to appeale this wrath of Heaven which is upon them . Remembring withall , that as wee know not what hangeth over our owne heads , so we are not ignorant of our owne indeserts . Our Native Countrey did sometimes suffer in like manner , if not measure , as in the civill wars and other times . Now we are free , and live in peace , every man under his owne Vine , under his owne big-tree ; Let us not forget to bee thankfull for this unto the God of peace , and ●ithall to shunne those provocations , for which hee maketh a fertile land barren , a populous Land desolate , even the iniquity of them that dwell therein . Thine P. Vincent . Preface Exhortatory : Touching the use which is to be made of the ensuing Narration . Men and brethren : HEre followes ( according to the table ) A true representation of the miserable estate of Germany . A most grave , serious , and weighty subject , and above all other most necessary for us to peruse , and ponder . Wee for the present have Halcion dayes . Sitting as the people under Salomon , Every man under his owne Vine , and Fig-tree ; No complayning in our streets , no carrying into Captivity . For which all honour and praise be to him , whose mercy it is that wee are not consumed . And yet there may be a lengthening of our tranquility , if wee would walke worthy of those mercies which we doe inioy , and learne righteousnesse by the judgements of God , which are made manifest . One especiall meanes effectually tending hereunto , is to be acquainted with the passages of Gods providence abroad , and to make such use of his dreadfull judgements as he himselfe in Scripture directs us to . For our information in the state of things abroad , these ensuing schedules may helpe such as have no better intelligence . Wherein such passages are related , as may make both our eares 〈◊〉 to heare them . The heads insisted on are the Arrowes of the Almighty ; Sword , Famine , and Pestilence , together with their pale and grisly attendants . Extortion , Rapine , salvage cruelty , desolations , deaths of all kinde . A sad and dismall troope . The subject on which all these evils light , is Germany : a neighbouring countrey well knowne . The Throne of Europes Empire . This is now the Stage whereon most direfull Tragedies are acted . And therein as well the Protestants ( the more the pity ) as the Papists : no difference for religious sake ; nor any respect of persons , ages , sexes , or conditions . The fowles of the ayre may therein eate the flesh of Kings , Captaines , and mighty men . The flesh of horses , and them that sit on them . Yea , the flesh of all men , both free and bond , both small and great , Rev. 19. 18. The instances and particulars which are here recorded are such as may seeme incredible , and cause wondring unto astonishment , yet is there nothing but what may well be counted probable , a few things considered . As first , what God threatens in this kinde for breach of his Law. Deut. 28. 53 , &c. Thou shalt eate the fruite of thine owne body , the flesh of thy sonnes and daughters — . The man that is tender among you , and very delicate , his eyes shall be evill toward his brother , and toward the wife of his bosome , and towards the remnant of children which hee shall leave : so that he will not give to any of them the flesh of his children , whom he shall eate , &c. Then what particular instances we have of like things upon like occasions in Scripture , as in the siege of Samama , 2 King. 6. 28 , 29. The certainety of the generals is beyond all exception , among those that will believe any thing more than they see with their eyes , and feele with their hands . The time , and space that the wars have endured addes much to the probability of all effects avoucht . The current yeere making up full twenty since the beginning . During all which Germany hath beene Acheldama , a field of blood . Vnder this word ( warre ) more evill and mischiefe is comprehended than can be uttered . Weigh all things duly , the severall kinds of warre , forraigne and domesticke ; by invasions , by insurrections , the same persons , and places being to day Conquerours , and to morrow conquered , over and over againe , and all things every day worse and worse ; we may well conclude , the one halfe hath not beene told us . I hope none among us are so prophane as to say what is this to us , be it all be true ? and few so ignorant , as not to know what God requireth of us in this regard . Yet it 's too manifest , that most are so carelesse , that they neede a Monitor to twit them by the care . I have therefore partly upon intreatie , and chiefly for affection unto the thing it selfe , endevoured briefly to speake something unto that end . The Lyon hath roared , who will not feare ? The Lord hath spoken , who can but prophecie , Amos 3. 8. Salvian in his time , tooke great paines to prove there was a provilence , when the then supposed barbarous Goths and Vandalls broke in upon the Empire , as the Sea doth sometimes over flow the banke . But mee thinkes that alone were enough to manifest the finger of God , which bred the doubt in men Atheisticall . How exceeding full is the Scripture for the proofe of this ? That God is Authour of all Judgements , and therefore in all wee ought to looke up unto him . All Captaines and their armies are but Sergeants under the Lord of hosts ; that man of warre , and God of battell . The Assyrian is the rod of Gods anger , the staffe in their hand is Gods indignation , Isay 10. 5. There is no evill in a City but he doth it . Behold ( saith the Psalmist ) what desolations the Lord hath made in the earth . Psal. 46. 8. If a Sparrow fall not to the ground , but according to the will of our heavenly Father , much lesse are millions of men mowed downe with the sword , but according to his righteousnesse in Iudgement . It is also cleare out of Scripture , that wee ought to lay to heart those Iudgements of God , which wee are acquainted with , and especially his greater Iudgements God sends one place to consider of another : Goe yee now unto my place , which was in Shilo , where I set my name at the beginning , and see what I did to it for the wickednesse of my people Israel , 7. 12. saith God to the men of Ierusalem . And who makes question , but that those Churches , Nations , Persons , and Places , which have speciall relation one unto another , sacred or civill , in the bonds of Religion , neighbourhood or commerce are more especially bound mutually to consider and bemoane one anothers conditions . This likewise is evident , that our Church and State , and every member of the same , ought upon speciall consideration to be cordially affected with the miseries of Germany . They are of the same Religion with us . Christians as wee are ; our peace is the weaker for want of theirs ; many of our owne have suffered with them . but above all is the affliction of that Royall Lady our Gracious Soveraignes onely sister , who hath suffered already in her Royall Person , and may suffer yet more in her posterity , but God forbid . But what is it that wee must doe , or learne from the state of things in Germany ? The particulars are severall in severall regards . In relation to God , to them and to our selves . In regard of God. Wee must acknowledge the infinitenesse of his Wisdome and unsearchablenesse of his Iudgements , and take heede of rash assigning the cause . Some lay all the blame upon the Protestants , as if their division among themselves , and unnecessary separation ( in their phrase ) from the Church of Rome , were the roote of all . But is it not more likely , that Germany drinkes now of the cup of wrath , because shee hath long drunke of the cup of sundry great abominations ? The generall cause , which is sinne , wee all acknowledge : It were a happinesse to know the speciall , according unto that , Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas . But such a spirit of discerning God gives not unto all . They themselves best know their owne waies , case and state , and therefore wee may leave it unto them to consider of the speciall causes , whom it most concernes . But who will not feare the Lord , and glorifie his Name , who onely is holy , and whose judgements are made manifest , Rev. 15. 4. In respect of them , first let us sympathize : grieve with them that grieve . Rom. 12. 15. and weepe with them that weepe . We are all members of one and the same mysticall body , whereof Christ is head . Our peace and security is in a great measure bound up in theirs : their troubles may increase ours ; as they have already occasioned many feares , cares and expences : Witnesse the great levie of souldiers at some times , and not a little chargeable Embassages from our King and State. Next of all , we are to pray for them , that God would restore peace , and make up all breaches . Giving the Lord no rest , untill hee make Ierusalem the praise of the earth . Abraham interceded long for Sodome , how much more ought we to do the like for them ? And yet further , as we have ability and opportunity , we ought to help and succour them , ministring to their necessities , receiving of their profugates , and intertaining them into our bosomes , when they fly from their owne to us . Many of ours found among them a shelter from the storme in our Marian daies , and doe still , no doubt , blesse God for our peace , notwithstanding their owne warres . In respect of our selves , there be many instructions which we may learne from the Lecture of their calamities . No privileges can finally secure a sinfull people ; for what have we to glory in that they had not ? The seedes of all their evills are sowne in our fields . There be likewise divers duties that wee should abound in the more : In repentance , lest we bring upon our selves the like : In prayer , that God would blesse our state and government , that by the wisedome thereof we may be led along in such waies as may propagate our peace unto posterity : In patience under those chastisements which we suffer . Though the hand of God hath long beene upon many Cities and Townes , and his Arme be stretched out still upon some of them , yet is our misery , happinesse , in comparison of theirs : If a gentle plague alone have affrighted us all , What would Sword and Famine with it doe ? But what doe wee ? Wee put farre away the evill day , and cause the seat of violence to come neere : Wee drinke wine in bowles , and anoint our selves with the chiefe ointments , but are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph , Amos 6. 3. & 6. This is no small sinne , and if once the day of our visitation come , a small chastisement on Gods part will not be all . Oh that wee would consider , the Vials of Gods wrath are pouring forth , as well on his owne Churches for correction , as on their adversaries unto destructino . Who knowes how fast the cup may passe round ? Gods arrowes are all fleete . The curse of God goeth forth over the face of the whole earth , Zach. 5. 3. If the sinnes of Sodome be found in Samaria , and the sinnes of Samaria in Ierusalem , they shall all pledge each other : for God is no respecter of persons . Are there no drunkards but in Germany ? Or , doth God hate sinne in them alone ? What are wee , that God should alwaies spare us ? Many cry , Peace , Peace , and I with the Prophet Ieremy say Amen . The Lord doe so , the Lord performe the words of them which prophesie of nothing but good , Iere. 28. 6. But it s good to remember that of the Apostle , when they cry , Peace , Peace , &c. Gloss. ordin . in Ierem. 7. 12. Quicquid illo populo fecit Deus , timeamus : cum nos similia faciamus . Yet no such clouds ( blessed bee God ) arise over our heads , as those wherewith her horizon is darkned . But stormes arise suddenly . God creates good and evill , brings both when there is no appearance or cause of suspicion . Not to feare is cause enough to bee affraid , if we could so reflect upon our selves : As God brings light out of darknesse , so darknesse out of light . How faire rose the Sunne upon Sodome , that day it rained fire and brimstone ? How poore a thing was a cloud like a mans hand , to prognosticate abundance of raine by ? But I must manum de tabula . Well then reade on , reade and spare not , reade and consider , reade and weepe , imagine the Booke to be Germany it selfe , their case ours , and our soules in their soules stead . Do as Nehemiah did when he heard of the state of Ierusalem , and the Temple therein He sate downe and wept , mourned and fasted certaine daies , and prayed before the Lord God of Heaven , Neh. 1. 4. Would we but doe the like for our selves and them , God would assuredly restore their peace , and continue ours , for which I shall ever heartily pray , and so rest A well-wisher to all the Churches of God. A Copie of a Letter sent by the Ministers of Germany to the Dutch Church in LONDON . Snalles and froges eagerly eaten Eatinge dead mens guts and Interalls A diuines wife saw 6 of her Children ley starued before her eyes . Corne 3 pounds 18 shilling a bushell . SInce the Imperialists passing the Rhine , first entred into our Countrey , which is almost two yeeres agoe , destruction hath come upon as like a whirlewind , and sudden desolation hath depopulated this our most floutishing country ; our Cities are turned into Townes , our Townes into Villages , our Villages into Cottages ; where before were a thousand , there now scarce a hundred , and where a hundred , there the tenth is hardly left alive : Those which the sword hath spared , the Pestilence hath consumed , those which the Pestilence hath left , Famine hath destroyed , and the small remnant which pale-fac'd Famine hath not devoured , are so transcēdently miserable , as it even exceeds the most hyperbolical expresions of the loftiest Rhetorician , yet that your thoughts may be elevated to a higher pitch , and more serious consideration , we● will give you some instances , some examples . After that the Caesarian forces the last yeere had taken Swybruggen , & passing with a numbersome army towards Lotharinge had destroyed all round about ; there followed such a fearefull famin , that the most part of men , especially of thē that dwelt in the country , being urged by pressing necessity , was driven to feed on Acorns , all manner of herbs , roots , briars , nettles , grasse , leaves of trees , so that we may truly take up the complaint of the Psalmist ( though there it 's to be taken in another sense ) that man is become like the beast that perisheth , but further , the intralls of beasts , the skins of beeves , sheepe , horses , the haire being first burned , was highly prised , yea Snailes , Frogs with their guts and egs , the flesh of dogs and cats , carrion that hath been dead six weeks or more , hath beene valued at a great rate , nay , sometimes not the price , but a sword hath decided who should have a young colt , or some such thing , though not halfe a yard long . Two women did so long fight with their fists for horse-flesh , that one of of them dyed , yea , in some Famine made such a rage , that they did not abstaine from mans flesh . In a parish neere unto Sweybruggen , a brother and sister surviving their parents , and the sister also dying , he ( wee tremble in the very writing ) fed upon his sister , and devoured the thighes of his mother , in the Diocesse of Blissoe Capellana the corpses of men starved , whose skin cleaved to their bones , so that whilest they were alive , we might truely have said , that their flesh did but infunerall their buried ghosts , yet they being dead , had their in wards , their heart and lungs taken our , and devoured , and that which is more , they have laine in waite to intercept passengers , and those whom they have taken , after they have killed them , they make their own bellies then graves . A boy of some three yeeres old , the son of a souldier in Biten territory , was stollen and carried away by a begger , as she was about to strangle him with a haltar , the mother opportunely comming , rescued him , and moved with wrath and indignation slew her , these are the fearefull effects of Famine , so that if we scape the being devoured by others , yet hunger will even famish us : the widow of Iohn Peters Laëri . Minister , saw before she died ( O dreadfull spectacle ) sixe of her children perish with Famine . The widow of Albogastus Rumela perished her selfe , and foure children , and when they are extinguished by Famine ( if they escape being eaten of others ) they lie unburied , stinking and torne in pieces by dogs , wolves , and other beasts . Some having eaten mad dogges , were taken with phrensie themselves , and ragingly dyed . Hence comes such a wildernesse , that in 300 parishes , there 's not any left alive , those few that remaine , hide themselves in the woods , and in the townes , the tenth man doth not survive , and many of them too , having their strength dryed up , totter to and fro , nodding and sliding like carved pictures without life , and many being no longer able to stand , fall downe in the middest of the streetes , groveling on the ground , and being onely able to aske for sustenance are ready to give up the ghost . This is the state of our afflicted Countrey , so that we may lament , as Isay. The daughter of Sion is like a city of devastation , like a Sommer cottage in a garden , like a little nouse in a vineyard . It the Lord of Hosts had not left us a remnant , we had beene as Sodome and as Gomorrah . In the Dukedome of Sweybruggen are left Ministers . 40. Schoolemasters . 16. Wives . 52. Widowes 26. Children . 140. Orphanes . 18. Somme 292. Persons . In the names of all the Ministers of Sweybrugen sent forth under hand and seale : Iohannes Wilthelmus . Rauschius Pastor Numbacensis . Exul . Iohannes Christianus . Neuhorelius Pastor Ohmbacensis . Exul . This we have had from such good hands , even from the Dutch Cō sistory in London , where the Originall is , that it must needes seeme malicious ignorance in any that will but faint in the beliefe hereof . Sweybruggen . 14. Novemb. 1636. A Copy of a Letter written by a worthy Minister of Meissenheim , upon the edge of the Lower Palatinate , the 1. of Feb. 1637. Caeterum , quis patriae nostra afflictissimae status fit , ex aliis procul dubio percepistis , omnia ( ut Poetae verbis utar ) in pejus ruere , & retro pede lapsareferri , quocunque enim oculos vertimus , nihil nisi miseriam , & hor. rendam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cernimus : Militis insolentia & truculentia omnem fere superat fidem , Biponti ipsa Illustrissimorum Ducum ante multos annos defunctorum , spe prede , sepulcra violare , in eorum cadavera savire , ossa disturbare & comminuere non veriti sunt : Annonae Caritas tanta , quanta in his terris nunquam audita , medimnus siliginis vix octodecim comparatur Imperialibus thaleris , & cum summo vitae periculo bûc portatur , certè nisi Deus Opt. Max. veluti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manus auxiliairices ferat , paucisfimis illis incolis , qui adhuc superstites sunt , & bactenus maximā partem pomis pirisque victitarunt , quoque inedia pereundum erit ; Famis Sagunthinae , Samaritanae , Hisrosolymitanae , prae atrocissimis illis , quae in nostra ( Proh dolor ! ) patriâ evenêre , exemplis ferè ludicra sunt ; ante 2. hebdomadas in pago Ilvesheim Incola ( vir alioquin honesti nominis ) vicini sui absentis aedes intrat , aliquid panis aufert , exire volentem interpellat puer octo quasi annorum , & comminatur , quòd cognato suo , apud quem vixerat hactenus , redeunti furtum hoc propalare velit , ibi continuò sceleratus ille instinctu mali genii accurrit , & puero falce putatoria miserè jugulum abscindit : In pago Steinhausen propè Hornbacum foemina quaedam puellam 12 annorum , blandis verbis pellectam , puerumque quinque annorum molitoris filium ( horresco referens ) trucida vit , & cum vicinâ devoravit ; Milites praesidiarii Bipontini excurrentes in pagum hunc irruunt fortuitò , & aedes infanticidae bujus nesariae , nidore allecti , intrant , omnes angulos rimantur , tandem vas adipe humano resertum , Caputque prius aquâ fervente maceratum , exinde in furno tostum reperiunt , ipsam captivam Bipontum trabunt , ubi 24. Ianuarii poenas infandi hujus infanticidii dedit meritas , sequ● praeterito anno duos insuper liberos prope Landoviam & Annae villam mactasse confessa est ; altera foemina , quae particeps barum carnium suit , adbuc in vinculis tenetur , se enim hujus facinoris affinem fuisse constanter pernegat . Talia ( proh dolor ! ) indies audire cogimur , tristissima exempla : ô vere malesuadam famem ! ô ingenia verè Cyclopica ! ô horrendam metamorphosin , quâ homines omnem ubmanitatem exuentes , truculentissimarum bestiarum naturam induunt , & verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , seu Lycaones fiunt ! Fredericus Goelerus , Pastor Meissenheimensis . The same in English. VVHat the state of our most afflicted Countrey is , without all doubt you have perceived by others ; all things ( as I may use the words of the Poet ) have runne together for the worse , and slid with a backward foot , for wheresoere we cast our eyes , wee see nothing but misery , and a horrid devastation of townes and villages ; the insolencie and cruelty of the Souldiers exceeds all beliefe , they have not beene afraid , sor the hope of prey , in Sweibruggen to violate the tombes of the illustrious Dukes many yeares agoe deceased , to exercise cruelty on their corps , to disturb and diminish their bones . The dearenesse of provision is such as never hath beene heard of before in this land , a bushell of corne is scarsely got with 1● Rix Dollers , which is foure pounds one shilling English money ; which is hither brought with the extreme danger of their lives that bring it , Surely , without our good God from above should lend us his helping hand , those few Inhabitants which yet remaine alive , and hitherto for the most part have lived on apples and peares must needs perish . The Famine of Saguntum , Samaria , Ierusalem , if they are but paralleld with those most grievous ones ( oh our griefe ! ) that have befalne us in our Countrey , seeme but trifles . About a fortnight since , an Inhabitant of the village of Ilvesbeim ( a manotherwise of a good report ) comming into the house of his neighbour , when he was absent , tooke a little bread , intending to goe out , a child of some eight yeares of age called after him , and threatned him , that when his Cousen came home , with whom he lived , that he would make manifest his theft presently ; that wicked fellow ranne unto him , and with a pruning hooke miserably cut his throate . In the Village of Steinhaus neere Hornebach , a certaine woman having allured unto her with enticing words a girle of 12. yeares old , and a boy of 5 , a Millers son ( I tremble in the relating ) killed them both , and devoured them with her neighbour ; the Garrison Souldiers of Sweibrugen making an excursion by chance into this village , being drawne thither by the smell , enter the house of this infant killer ; they search every corner , at last they finde a vessell full of humane grease , and a head that had beene scalded in hot water , and so baked in an oven ; they carried her caprive unto Sweibruggen , where on the 24 of Ianuary shee suffered condigne punishment ; At her death she confest , that neere Landovia and the Village of Anna , she killd two other children the last year . The other woman , which was partaker in the eating , is still kept in prison , and constantly denies that shee was a partner in that wicked act . Such things ( oh our grief ! ) we are compeld daily to heare , most sad examples . O ill perswading hunger , O wits truly Cyclopicke ! O dreadful Metamorphosis ! by which men putting off all humanity , and putting on the nature of salvage beasts , doe truly become wolvish ! From Meissenbsim . Feb. 1. 1637. Fredericus Goelerus , Pastor of Meissenh . A true Copy of a Letter written by a worthy Minister , Andreas Pilger sometimes Minister of Heydelberg . From Wormbs the 10th . of Febr. 1637. ALas ! What stormes and tempests doe now beat upon the ship of Jesus Christ in our Countrey ? What punishments and plagues doe now oppresse us ? God is justly angry with us for our manifold sinnes , and seemes in his indignation utterly to destroy us , and all that is round about us . The heavie curses of Moses , the bitter lamentations of Ieremy , and all the horrible threatnings of the holy Prophets , wee see daily here accomplished . With this new Winter-quarter , beginnes a renewing of our miseries ; oppression and persecution , we being utterly destitute of all helpe and meanes to support us . The chiefest of our Countrey are forced to leave their houses and lands , and to goe a wandring in strange Countries ; yea , many of them end their lives most miserably . It is impossible to expresse either the greatnesse of our wants , or the fury of Famine amongst us . Mothers forgetting their naturall affections towards their owne children become butchers of them , and eate them up in stead of food . Wee do heare daily children crying about the streets , and lamenting that they dare not goe home , for feare of being killed . It is kept upon record by the Magistrates of this City , how that men have digged out of the graves dead bodies , and have eaten them . A woman was found dead , having a mans head rosted by her , and the rib of a man in her mouth , holding it betweene her teeth , and of this horrible spectacle all sorts of men can give testimony . Such and many more signes of Gods heavie wrath wee could write unto you of , but this shall suffice to give you a touch of the extremities wee are in . O how seasonable are those almes , which are sent hither to keepe some of us alive ! That faithfull God , who hath made so many promises to the liberall heart , will undoubtedly consider those , that consider our poore Countrey-men in these extremities , and keep them from famishing . Andreas Pilger , Pastor . CHAP. I. EVills of Punishment are Gods , the evil of Sinne is wholly ours . Whatsoever was the impulsive cause of his judgements , our wholsomest use is , to attribute them to our sins : to greater sins , greater Judgements , seeing God seemeth to observe a proportion to our deserts ; for , Ezck. 14. 21. the Prophet speaks of foure sore Judgements , that is , greater and more grievous than the rest ; famine , sword , pestilence , and the noisome beast : with these hath he lately visited some nations ; especially Germany , before a large , populous , fertile and flourishing Countrey . What shal we say ? were their sins greater than ours ? No , but except we repent , what may we expect ? the sins of Sodome were pride , idlenesse , and fulnesse of bread ; and such they acknowledge theirs to have beene . I have seene their peasants served in plate , they slept with downe-beds above and under them : their stoves kept them insensible of the winters cold ; they ate no dish of meat without his sauce ; their plenty of corne and wine , milk and honey , fish and flesh , did equall that of any other nation whatsoever . A little labour brought them in much ; delicacie of living made them incompassionate of others sufferings ; and security blinded them , that they could not see the storm a comming . Thus , while they swim in fulnesse and pleasure , the Judgement that slept , was suddenly awaked , & the fire of war was kindled in all their coasts ; which blowne with the bellows of exasperated spirits , hath depopulated their Land , and consumed their dwellings to the ground : all lieth desolate ; the Vineyards are not dressed , nor the fields tilled , the sword is every where drunke with bloud . Famine killeth more than the sword ; and the pestilence , with other Epidemicke diseases ( wars attendants ) devour their part also ; and which is worst of all , there is yet no end of these things . CHAP. II. Of Extortions and Exactions . the blazinge starre 1617 burgers and ministers . , releued in prisson a diuine tortured with a Catt . TO beginne with warre , which began the rest , who knoweth not that this mercilesse fury hath there plaied the tyrant , ever since that burning Beacon , the blazing Starre , gave them the alarme , 1617. which the best Astrologers expounded the sword of Germany . A Prophecie I have seen , long since , written in a Booke , which belonged to a Canonick of Nimegen , and now in the Library at Zutphen ; that a time should come , when one Frederike should be King , and then should the Princes of Germany , the Nobility of Bohemia , and the people of both be oppressed , and warre rage , beyond all precedent of former ages this , if ever , is now fulfilled in our daies . And if in such disorder it may be possible , I will observe this order in speaking thereof : first , extortions and exactions : secondly tortures and torments : thirdly , rape and ravishing : fourthly , robbery and pillaging : fifthly , bloud-shed and killing ; sixthly , burning and destroying . These shall be the Scenes of this first act . Famine and pestilence shall stand for the other acts of this direfull tragedy : in which , as no action or passion was simple , or single , so can I not but with intermixtion , and confusion rehearse them . For the first , as no Province or part of Germany can boast of her freedome from these miseries ( though some have beene more free than others ) so is there no Prince , nor State , which hath not suffered herein , no City , no Towne , almost no person . Every halfe yeeres , every moneths , yea , weekes relation , telleth us , of hundreds , thousands , millions of rix dollars , or galdens imposed , exacted , extorted by the Conquerours , or Spoylers , for the redemption of mens lives or liberties , goods or dwellings , 〈◊〉 Strange and impossible oft-times have the ransomes beene , with which they have ●●xed the Burgers , at the taking in of Townes . And that they might have their wills in this kinde , they have called the Magistrates , and Burgers into the State-houses , threatened , imprisoned , or otherwise abused them , till they condescended . At Griphenberg , they kept the Senators shut up in a chamber of the Common-hall , macerating and tormenting them so long with hunger and smoake , that some of them dyed . We left in Heydelberg-Castle many Burgers to this their mercy ; and divers reverend Ministers , who were imprisoned , and fed with bread and water , till the charity of the reformed Churches could relieve them . Presently after , they at Frankendale surrendring the towne , upon necessity , could not enjoy the articles granted them by the enemy ; But were together with the grave Counsellours , and other Electorall Ministers , forced to endure such conditions , as were sitter for slaves and dogs , than men . Some were cast into prison , and there so handled , that many of them dyed through griefe and sorrow . Others , though altogether exhausted , redeemed themselves with unreasonable ransomes . The goods of those that were fled , were confiscated : all the inhabitants , though they were willing to leave their houses , with all their furniture , were detained in the City , and their destruction most cruelly plotted : after like manner have others beene dealt with , contrary to all oathes and promise , yea , contrary to the Lawes of Nations and common faith . CHAP. III. Of Tortures and Torments . NOt to insist on these , looke we upon the cruelties which the licentious Souldier hath exercised upon the persons of the Inhabitants , without respect of age , sex , dignity , calling , &c. And we shall rather thinke them Banditos or Renegado's , than men of armes , rather monsters than mankinde . Nor Turks nor Infidells have so behaved themselves . Even Princes ( sacred Persons ) though they never bore armes , as the old Landgrave of Hessen , and others : yea , some of the female Sex , as the old Dutchesse Dowager of Wirtenberg , have beene without any regard or pitty , taken prisoners , reviled , abused . Aronibeus reporteth from the Letters of the D. of Saxony , that some of Tillies Souldiers caused his Subjects to be tortured , by halfe strangling them , and pressing their thumbes with wheeles . His Souldiers , and those of Walsten , exercised yet greater cruelties in Pemeren , and thereabouts . They made the people by force to eate their owne excrements : and if they would not , they thrust them downe their throates , and so choaked some of them . twisted out there eyes Raced offe there skinne with knifes hanging vp in the smoke blood sprouted at fingers end . plaining there faces pisse poured downe there . throates Whom they thought to have hidden gold or other wealth , they have assayed , by exquisite torments to make them confesse . Yea Princely personages have suffered like cruelty in this kind with meaner folke . They have wound and tied about the heads of such , strong matches or cords , and twisted the same till the blood came out of their eyes , eares , and noses , yea , till their eyes started out of their heads . They have put and tied burning matches betwixt their fingers , to their noses , tongues , jawes , cheeks , brests , legs , and secret parts . Yea those parts which nature hideth , they have either filled with powder , or hung satchels of powder on them , and so giving fire to the same , they have in horrible manner burst their bellies , and killed them . They have with bodkins pierced , yea with knives raced , and cut the skin and flesh of many , as some Artificers deale with leather , or other stuffe of like nature . They have drawn strings and cords thorow the fleshy parts of some , the muscles of their thighs , legs , armes , &c. thorow their noses , eares , lips , &c. They have hung up some in the smoak , drying them with small fires , refreshing them sometime with small drinke , or cold water . For these being such as were before overwhelmed with griefe , they tooke care lest in their torment they should die too soone . Some they have put into hot Ovens , and so smothered or burned them . Some they rosted with straw-fires . Some have they stifled , strangled or hanged . This was great favour to be ridde out of their paine . To many they have bound so hard both hands and feete , that the blood hath sprouted out at the ends of their fingers and toes . Of some they have tied both hands and feet back ward together , and stopped their mouthes with clouts to hinder them from praying . Some have they hanged up , with ropes fastned to their privie parts , and hearing their roaring cries , have striven to out-roare and drowne their cries as in sport . And yet more detestable , where they have found poore weake Creatures troubled with ruptures or burstennesse , they have enlarged the same by villanous meanes , filled them with gunpowder , and blowne them up as a Mine , by giving fire thereunto . Many have they trussed up on high , hanging on their feet stones and weights to stretch out their bodies . With Jizels or like Instruments they have gone about to plaine the faces of some , pretending that they would make it equall & smooth . Some Housholders have they openly gelded , in the presence of their wives and children . The mouthes of some have they opened with gags , and then poured downe their throats , water , stinking puddle , filthy liquids , and pisse it selfe , saying , This is a Swedish draught . So growing sicke , and their bellies swelling like a Tun , they have dyed by leysure with the greater torment . Downe the throates of others , they have thrust a knotted clout , and then with a string pulled it up againe , to pull the bowells out of their place , or shew themselves exquisite in such divellish devices . And by these torments , they have made some deafe , or dumbe , others blind , others lame and miserable creples , if they killed them not . If an Husband did intreat for the Wife , or the Wife for the Husband , then tooke they the intercessour , and he was tortured by them , after the same manner before the others eyes . And ( which is almost beyond all credit ) when these poore prisoners or patients , were suffering or dying under their hands , and crying to God in their anguish , these hellish executioners would command or force them to pray unto the Divell , or call upon him . Infinite and unspeakeable are the cruelties , which have this last yeere beene exercised by the furious Souldiers on all sides . And some devills among them did proceed so farre , that they consulted and devised new and exquisite tortures , which they exercised upon innocent persons . They tooke a Divine , ( some write a Canon in those parts , and a reverend old man ) stripped him , bound him along upon his backe on a Table , and a strong bigge Cat upon his naked belly . They beat and pricked the Cat to make her fixe her teeth & claws in the poore mans belly . So the Cat & the man , partly through famin , partly through pain and anguish , both breathed their last . Some of their despicable and infamous ruytery called Croats or Crabats , have laboured much to teach their horses not only to kil men , but to eate humane and Christians flesh , and have consulted how to find out torments more rare , cruell , and exquisite than ever . What shall we say to these devils ? Phalaris , Nero , Dionysius , all other tyrants and tyrannies , are incomparable to these new stratagematists and engineers . Cancasus bred them , tygers fed them , hel taught them , and thither I remit them . CHAP. IIII. Of Rape and Ravishing . ●●●●nesse in Chur●●● A maide Rauisched and after quarterd Maides leapinge into Riuers . I Have said much of the former Particular , and yet but little . I will now speake little of this ensuing abomination , and ( I feare ) too much . Rapes and Ravishing scarce to be spoken or heard of , have they committed , beyond all humane modesty . Mayds and Matrons , Widdowes and Wives , without distinction have they violated and forced , and that in the presence of their Parents , Husbands , Neighbours , &c. Women with child in child-bed , &c. no pen can write it , no faith believe it . No Chappell Church or place consecrated hath beene free from the filthiest of pollutions , or most sacrilegious barbarismes . The very Hospitalls and Bedlame-houses have not beene spared : their divellish madnesse hath there found subjects for their purpose . In Hessen-land , a poore leane Bedlam woman , that had beene kept in chaines abóve twenty yeeres , was by these hell-hounds let loose . About her they brought divers others , like her selfe , some madde , some dumbe , all wretched . They tyed their coates about their eares , and so used them as I shame to expresse . In Pomeren they tooke the fairest daughters of the Country-dwellers , and ravished them in the sight of their parents , making them and their friends to sing Psalmes before them all the while . In Italy , I have heard some with teares recite the villanies perpetrated by the Germane troopes of Gallas and Altringer , when they besieged Mantua . Among the rest , a beautiful maid was by her Parents hid in the dung-hill . But they found her out , had their pleasures of her , then cut her in pieces , hung her quarters up in the Church , and bid her friends pray to the Saints for her succour . The Sperenrentrish herse-men ( as we came through Brunswick-land ) tooke by force a young maide ten yeeres old , and carryed her into a wood to ravish her . The mother with upreard hands came running after our Coach , crying out to my Colonell , who was here a stranger without command , and could not relieve her : then saw wee the two horse-men come out of the wood , where they had left the poore child dead or alive I know not . Vertuous and chaste women have they offered to kill , or throwne their children into the fire , to make them yeeld . They have not spared the very Nunnes in the Cloysters , but after they have entred by force , broken open their Trunkes and Coffers , and taken their goods , they have likewise ravished them , and killed some of them . I know the Generall , a troope of whose horse having done the like , hee commanded them all to be hanged , but because they were not all alike guilty , they cast lots for their lives , and every tenth man dyed . Some have leaped into rivers , into wells , or killed themselves because they would not be subject to the filthy lusts of these hell-borne furies . Not onely sicke and weake maids , and women have beene violated till they dyed , but these wretches have committed like filthinesse with the dead bodies . CHAP. V. Of Robbing and Pillaging . NO man can now passe any where in Dutch-land ; but hee is robbed , stripped , perhaps killed . The Merchants of Frankford , Nurenberg Lipzig , Hamburg , &c. have had too wofull experience hereof : witnesse of Infinite this one instance . The Merchants of Basil , returning from the Mart at Strasburg , and other Faires , to goe to Shoffehausen , were set upon by the Imperialists in their lodging , and though they offered to prove themselves Merchants , and craved their lives upon their knees , yet they killed ten of them , saying , they must dye , because they were heretickes . The rest leaving their goods and garments behind , escaped by flight starke naked in the night . Marchants Robed and slaine persons priuelegdd Rifled Divines cutt in peaces Two Countesles of great nobility , with their faire daughters and followers in distresse , were entertained by us in the castle of Heydelberg , the one immediately before , the other in the time of the siege . When our hope of subsisting began to faile , they went away with the enemies pasport . Notwithstanding which they were by them robbed and rifled in their coaches of all they had , not sparing the very garments that covered them . The priviledged persons of royall Embassadours , their goods and followers , cannot be secured from them , witnes this yeare the shamefull plundering of the Danish Embassadour . What quarter they give to the traveller , the like or worse they afford the inhabitants , if they escape with their lives , this is all , and well too : when the time hath beene that one might have travelled safe from the one end of Germany to the other with a white rod in his hand and an hundred pound in his purse . Indeed they robbe one another every where out of their quarter : nor are they fellow souldiers any longer , when they have opportunity to play the theeves . Nor God nor devil do they acknowledge , but when they sweare , nor is any thing so vile but they will doe it . CHAP. VI. Of Bloodshed and killing . AS for killing , this is the least of all the rest . Death puts an end to all miseries ; onely they that survive are oft-times the worse for want of them that are dead . To report the blood-shed of this warre , would be incredible : Alsted saith , that before the King of Swedens comming , it had consumed no lesse than 100000. If this be true , what hath it done since ? How many millions have miserably perished ? They have sometimes killed one another ; and among other precedents this is not least remarkable , that Gourdon and Lesley Scotch Colonells , with Colonell Butler the Irish man , who killed Walstein , the Count of Tirskie , and other Imperiall officers then ready to revolt to the Swedish party , are now , this yeere after the same manner , hurt , or killed themselves ( as is written ) by Gallas his followers , upon a dispute about that former businesse ; a Document for all strangers , to take heede , how they collogue with those monsters , in such dangerous actions , who love the Treason , but hate the Traytor . Priests slaine at the Altars Croats eate Children Noses & eares Cut of to make hatbandes At Landshood in Bavier , the souldiers entring by force , killed not only all they found in arms , but the innocent inhabitants , yea , the very Priests kneeling at the Altars ; and divers other instances of like nature I could produce . Now what may the poore peasant and countrey-dwellers expect ? to kill them if they resist or refuse them any thing , is but ordinary in this warre : among the Imperiallists is a base sort of rascally horse-men which serve them , and are called Croats . The tenth part of them are not of that Countrey : for they are a miscellany of all strange nations , without God , without religion , and have only the outsides of men , and scarse that too . They make no conscience of murthering men or women , old or young , yea , the very innocent babes ; and like the beasts among whom they are bred , doe sometimes eat them , when other food might be found : the poore people have by these beene every where knocked downe in the fields and wayes , slaughtered , stabbed , tortured barbarously . Their fellow souldiers are not much behind them having some where left such foot-steps of their cruelty , that there scarce remaine living , to relate the sufferings of the dead . I have seen them beat out the braines of poore old decrepid women , as in sport , and commit other outrages of like nature , which my brevity wil not permit me to relate . It is now growne so usuall with the poore people to see one slaine before anothers face , that ( as though there were no relation , no affection of neighbourhood , kindred or friendship among them ) none compassionateth almost , none cryeth out , oh my father , or oh my brother ! As for quarter ( that is mercy , and the saving of the lives of the vanquished , when they beg it on their knees ) the vanquishers have been oft times inhumane . The Croats , till of late , never gave any quarter , but killed whatsoever enemy they had at their mercy . The like did the Curlins ( the regiment of hell ) receive pay of them of Gaunt and Bruges , to bring the nose and ears of their enemies away to their Masters . Tilly , after the defeate of the Duke of Brunswicke at Heuxt on the Maine , drew out of that town threescore poor souldiers , & caused them all to bee killed in the cold blood , before the gate , saying , that he sacrificed them to Count Mansfield their master . I could weary my reader with these examples . But I forbeare . CHAP. VII . Of Burning and Destroying . 2000. villages burnt in Bauaria No tillage nor Breding Cattell But dringe all in to Citties FOr burning , pulling down and ruining of Churches , Cities , Villages , the like hath not been heard . The Swedish army burned above 2000 Villages in Bavaria , in revenge of the Palatine cause : But their enemies spare meither foes nor friends . What goodly houses of the Nobility and Gentry shall you , there , see fallen down , or so defaced , as is scarce reparable without building new ? From what quarter soever the army riseth , they will bee sure to leave some dwellings in the ashes , some in the smoake . To that passe it is now come , that every one that is a man , betaketh himselfe to arms . There is now no other aboad , but some campe , no other plow to follow , no other imployment but the warre , for he that is not an actor with the rest , must needes bee a sufferer among the miserable patients . No tilling of the land , no breeding of cattell ; for if they should , the next yeare the souldiers devoure it . Better to sit still , than to labour , and let others reape the profits , Hence an universall desolation . Part of the people swarme as banished in strange countries , as I have observed in Suisse , at Lausan , Berne , Basil , &c. in France , in Italy , especially the Venetian territories . From Basil to Strasburg , from Strasburg to Heydelberg , from thence to Marpurg , I scarse saw a man in the fields , or Villages . Little better shall a man finde it tha● travelleth from the Kingdome of France to the middle of Bohemia , from the Alps above Auspurg to the Baltique sea , a square of land little lesle than thrice all Great Britaine . Onely here and there , as the land hath rest , the dwellers return . But alas , the farre greater part are extinguished by war , misery , or length of time . CHAP. VIII . Of Famine . Eateing dead horses Fowles eate the dead FAmine commeth next in place , a thing so grievous , that David preferred the pestilence in his choicy . To see men slaine by the sword , or die of contagious diseases , is not yet so grievous , as to see them dye of famine , or kill to eate one another . In Samaria besieged by Benhadad King of Syria , the famine was so great , that an Asses head was sold for 80. pieces of silver , & the fourth part of a cab of Doves dung for 50. pieces of silver . Two women covenanted to eate their children successively : and when they had boyled and eaten the one , the other woman hid hers . In the siege of Ierusalem , Mice , Rats , and Hides were good meat , and women did dresse and eate their owne children , the smell whereof drew others that were hunger-starv'd to come to share with them . But that Cities not besiged , and a Country naturally fertile , should be so ruined , as not to be able , for so long a time to afford bread to a poore remnant of people , but that they must be faine to eate carrion , yea , dead men , yea , one another living : this is pittifull , this is unheard of . Had I not beene provided of Viaticum , at my comming out of Suisse famine had arrested me in Germany , for there was not any where meate for money . The Italians and Spaniards , which had bee eat the skirmish at Nortlingen , and without armes , wandred among the Duke of Lorrane's troopes at Nyburg and Brisac , were so blacke and feeble through hunger , that had I not given them part of m● provision , I thinke they had rent me in pieces , and eaten mee . Travelling from Neiustadt towards Frankendale in a snowie day , I met , unexpected , the army of Duke Bernard , whose stra ling fore-runners , came riding up to me by couples , and when I looked for a worse errand , asked onely for bread , which my guide gave them , so long as we had any . From thence to Manheime and Heydleberg , many dead men lay strewed on the way , especially on the fire places , which perished through cold and want . Before wee were besieged last time in Heydleberg Castle , some of my patients , almost recovered of thei diseases , sent mee word , they were dying of famine , as indeed they did , except our canon helped to shorten their miseries . For being immediately shut up , we shot into the towne night and day , almost uncessantly . Our souldiers at the first , killed more horses on a day , than they could eate , lest they should famish for want of hay and those they threw out of the Castle , downe the rocke , which the enemy in the night drew into the towne , ( though some in so doing were slaine by our shot ) and so they eat our horse-flesh , also our Serjeant Major sallied with 50. men upon the enemy being 300. entrenched on the hil on the East side of the castle , and beate them out of their workes . Many were slaine , some broke their necks downe the rocks : but which equalized the victory , the valiant Major was shot dead . Our souldiers being Masters of the trench , fell to ransacke the enemies knapsackes , which they had left behinde them . But there was nothing in them , save our horse-flesh , which every day grew scarser with us : so that now we killed the horses which stood fasting and sleeping on the dung-hill , not out of compassion , but necessity . Another Serjeant Major had two very faire horses shut up our souldiers tooke the one and ate him , he thinking to make sure the other , stapled him to the wall with a strong chaine and a padlocke , but they espying their opportunity , cut off the horses necke , left the head in the chaine , and carried away the body and ate it . At length , dogs and carrion came into request , we could smell our meate afarre off , and on the Table it was yet more loathsome , the taste did answer the smell , yet , we ate it savourly , but our bread at last failing , we yeelded to necessity . CHAP. X. of Famine . THe armies now everywhere over-ranne the Couutrey , devoured both Corne & catel : so they that had goods left , offered to give all for a little bellytimber . But not so obtaining it they were faine to lie upon the streets and high waies , ( a thing not usuall with them ) and to crave for Gods sake where with to refresh their dying soules . But no sooner had they swallowed what was given them , but they fell downe and died . Memorable is that story which Reinmannuste recordeth of the Famine in Alsatia the last yeere , which is at this present yet worse . Valentine of Engelin a citizen of Rufacke , with the dead-burier , delivered unto the Magistrate upon their oathes , that Anne the daughter of Iohn Ebstein confessed unto them , that she came from Colmar , where shee had waited many daies before the hangmans doore in hope to get a piece of horse-flesh to satifie her hunger . But not prevailing , shee was now come to Rufack entreating them , that if there was the body of any young man or woman unburied , that they would give it her to eate to preserve her life . Carion Sould in the Market as Dogges & Rattes Fyteinge for Carion And that two women and a boy did after the same manner speak unto them , telling them that they had for a long time lived of dead mens flesh , which being published , the Cloyster of the Church-yard of S. Nicholas , where the dead bodies were kept , was locked up . Lastly , that foure young maydes had cut in pieces the dead bodie of another young maid of eleven yeares of age , and eaten every one their part . At this day it is yet worse . Many that survived the losse of all they had , have for a long time sustained themselves with roots , acornes , greene fruits , grasse , thistles , and weeds , that beasts would not have eaten , whereof they grew enraged anddyed . The famished have beene so faint , that they have not had strength to bury one another , in so much , that the dead have beene eaten up of Dogs , Foxes and Wolves , and some have run mad for hunger . In some Cities , the inhabitans by this famine , have beene constrained to kill all unedible cattell , without any difference , and to sell them publikely : as Dogs , Cats , Rats , Mice &c. A woman at Hanaw , that had sold Dogs-flesh ordinarily to the souldiers , was in the streetes assaulted by Dogs , all her garments torne off her backe , that shee was faine to sit downe on the ground to hide her shame . And had she not beene rescued , shee had beene rent in pieces by the Dogs . Where any man had a beast left that he carefully kept for his necessity , some or other of his acquaintance , if he could come by it , would kill and eate it . They have snatched one from another the very stinking carrion , which had lien sixe or seven weekes dead and full of maggots : yea and have fought and beaten one another to get a morsell thereof , as lately happened at Dubach by Bachrack . It hath moved the great ones and governours of these quarters unto compassion to see their people in such extreame want . In so much that the noble Earle of Falkenstein seeing his Subjects crave sustenance of him , commanded his man to give them his hounds to satisfie their hunger , which they presently killed and ate . CHAP. X. Of Famine . 3 wp , em killinge and after eateing each other wemen Eate there owne Children AS the sicknesse spreadeth by the contagion of infected bodies , so hath this famine encreased by the neglect of Providence in the disabled and famished . When no more food was to be got , they were inraged like beasts one against another , and gathering together by troopes , have watched for one another upon the high waies , and so murthered , dressed , and eaten one another . Thenceforth no man could passe safe on the way , or in the streets , except wellarmed , or travelling with a convoy . And some of them have beene taken and severely punished by Justice , neverthelesse they haue secretly lurked here and there , and set upon the passengers , as by many instances , I could shew . It is not good to be alone ; for where there is company , the one will helpe the other in distresse . The hardnesse of these times being observed , or rather felt , three maidens at Odenheim in Dirmbstein by Wormes agreed to dwell together , and to partake of sweet and sower all alike . But the proverbe is true , that necessity hath no law , and hunger is a sharpe Thorne . So pressed they were with extreame famine , that they sought one anothers lives to save their owne . Two of them conspired together to take away the life of the third , by strangling her in bed or otherwise treacherously to kill her , and after to dresse and eate her up . All which they did accordingly . Then the second resolved to strangle her companion , and cut off her head , which when shee had done , her heart being hardened , she went to a village called Ridisheim to a woman of her acquaintance , called Margaret , whose husband was a Farmer , and kept himselfe a way for a time in the towne of Leyningen . The woman entertained her kindly , rejoycing that shee came yet once to see her . But in the night , lying by the said woman , she cut off her head , bound the dead body upon a board and brought it to Piedessen , where she dwelt and drew it into her house . The sharpenesse of hunger pricking her , she had not the patience to cut the body in pieces , but did cut off the head and both the hands onely , and washed and dressed them . The husband comming home missed his wife , and enquired for her at the neighbours , who told him that such a maide was seene with his wife . He went to her house , knocked at the doore and asked her , if she had not seene his Wife . She answered him no. But such deeds of cruelty are hard to be concealed . Murther will out , they say , or the very Bruits will discover it . Hee goes into her house , casteth his eyes round about , pryeth into every corner : at length hee espieth an hand to sticke out of the pot , which hung upon the fire . Hereupon , as overcome with griefe , hee rageth and raileth against the murtheresse , threateneth her with sharpe words , so that she presently confessed and revealed it . Then went he to the Justice , and complained . So shee was brought to Slitzey with three Musketires . They made her hold the sodden hand in her hand , while she was examined : and so she had her sentence from the Imperiall officers , Burgrave Philip of Waldecke , and all the Lords of Justice , before the judgement-seat . They deliberated long about her punishment , whether she shoule die or no , because some were of opinion , that she did it not as a rationall Creature , but as a brute , because the appetite of food is common to us with beasts . But wickednesse , though necessitated , may not ever goe free . Some must be made an example for the terrour of others . She was led to the common place of justice , her head cut off , and her body bound upon a wheele , there to remaine as a spectacle . I cannot but write with teares what followeth . — Quis talia fando Mysmidonum , Dolopumve ant duri miles Vlyssis Temperet à lachrymis ? — What Myrmidon , what Dolop , who that beares Armes under harsh Vlysses , but his teares Must flow at this relation ? No man ever hated his owne flesh . But such are the children of our bodies . It is even against nature to destroy such fruite . Yet the sharpnesse of hunger brought this to passe . Oh! what is that necessity which makes us breake stone walls , forget the neerest and dearest relations , vanquish our naturall and most powerfull passions , and destroy that which we so dearely loved , so carefully cherished ! At Oterburg in the Palatinate , a widow women dwelling by the churchyard ( her name well knowne ) had a daughter of nine or ten yeares old . This child with hunger was growne so faint , that upon a time , with sorrowfull eyes , she stedfastly looked upon her mother and said , sweete mother , I would willingly die , so I were rid of my paine . Oh! would you make an end of mee , then should I goe from whence I came , or if I did kill you , you would be rid of your paine . The mother looking upon her againe , sighing said , and what wouldest thou do with me ? The child answered , very sadly , I then would eat you , for they say that mans flesh is very sweet . The mother fell a weeping , and broken with her owne thoughts , as a ship tossed and beaten between two rocks , desperate necessity & her motherly affection , catcheth at her head , untyeth her haire-lace , twisteth it about the necke of this innocent lambe , and so strangleth her ; when it was dead , shee having nor knife nor hatchet to cut it in pieces , took a spade , and therewith hewed it into boggets , & so dressing the head , and part of the body devoured it . Some part thereof shee sold to her neighbours for foure stivers the pound . Her childe being long missed , her acquaintance asked her where it was , and how she came by that flesh . She answered it was hogs-flesh , which she had got of the souldiers , who passed that way . But perceiving the truth would come out , she at last confessed it . Whereupon she was complained of to the justice at Keysars Lauteren , and put in prison by Jonker van Effren , and adjudged to an halfe pound of bread , and a kanne of water a day , so to expect her sentence . But being sent for out of prison , and examined by the Lords , she told them she was happy that she was in prison , and would be glad to lie there all her life , to slake her hunger and refresh her selfe with such food , her pricking paine being thereby abated . This so moved the Lords to pitty , that they freed her from prison , and let her goe as innocent . I cannot but record another story of like nature , of the woman of Horne-bach , where was sometime the Princely schoole of Zwybruck , having lately lyen in childbed and wanting milke to nourish her babe , she kissed and embraced it with moyst teares , and after a long discourse killed it with a knife . Afterwards she dressed and ate it . When it began to be knowne , she was examined before the Justices . The Lords asked her , wherefore she killed her childe . She made answere that mighty and intollerable hunger had made her so to doe , and that it was her owne fruite , of which shee might better make use , than of any other . Neverthelesse she was condemned to die , and accordingly executed . CHAP. XI . Of Famine . I Am now weary of these lamentable relations . Yet more miserable ( if more miserable can be ) have ensued . They have traced the dead bodies to the place of their buriall , digged them out of their graves , dressed and eaten them . So that in divers places ( at Wormes especially ) they have beene faine to set watch at the Church-yards ; and over the graves to keepe the dead from being stolne and eaten . In Saxony at this present the case is so miserable in this kinde , that no pen can expresse it . The Saxon-Austrian Army ( were they not beaten ) must retreite through hunger , having famished both the inhabitants and themselves . After the same manner it is upon the Rhine , and many other parts , where the Armies are or have lately beene . To that extremity it is come , that some constrained by hunger , have taken poyson to advance death . Dead Corpes digd out of there Graues to Eate Some take poyson to hastē death In a word , the very wild beasts in the woods doe starve for want of prey . My Lord the Earle of Arundel travelling homewards , towards Frankefort on the Maine , a Boore or peasant of the countrey , being their guide , and having his legs bare , a Fox pursued him , among my Lords followers , and would not forbeare snatching and biting at his bare heeles , ( such was his hunger ) till they gave him a blow in the necke , and so tooke him alive . His eyes were sunke , his bones stucke out , and hee was so extreme leane , that his sides almost mot together . They carried him alive with them in the coach , and after a few daies he died . An English gentleman arrived here the other day , who travelling from Vlmes to Nurenburg , & so through Germany for England , with such companions as guided him by-waies for escaping of the souldiers , reporteth that Wolves , Foxes and other wild beasts lie dead for want of food , and that in some places men live only upon robbery and spoile of strangers , or one another ; Theevery being become a trade . CHAP. XII . Of sicknesse and diseases . in Basile 1633 died . 20000 in Trent . 1634 died 30000 Generall Holcke offred 600 Rixdollers for a diuiń to comforte him . Before Mastreicht , after the Towne was taken , our quarters had contracted infectious sicknesses : whereof I my selfe had my share , being left sicke in the Towne of a purple Feaver . But the yeere following both the Towne and Countrey were grievously afflicted , with Feavers , Fluxes , and the Plague above all . The same yeere Elsas or Alsatia and the lower Palatinate , where the Armies of the Duke of Lorraine and the Rhinegrave had lodged , did suffer miserably in this kinde . The Army of the Prince of Orange having taken Rhineberg , and marching towards Mastriche and Liege , left such infection in great Brabant , about Firkens-ward , that the inhabitants the yeere after were afraid of their owne dwellings . About the same time , Generall Holck being sent by Wolstein , with 6000. to invade Saxony , sacked the City of Leipzick , and committed as great outrages as Tillies Army had done before . But such a pestilence overtooke both him and his , that most of his souldiers dyed like sheepe of the rot . And being infected himselfe , hee offered 600 Rixdollers for a Minister of the Gospell to instruct and comfort him . But both himselfe and his Souldiers had so behaved themselves , that no Minister was to be found . In the meane all his friends & servants forsook him , except his Concubine , who stayed with him to the last . He had beene both of the Religion and the Protestants party , but revolted from both . So guilty of his owne perfidiousnes , and the execrable murders and rapines that he had caused , hee dyed despairing utterly of all future blisse . At length came a Minister , but Holcke was dead before . The City of Basile that winter lost above 20000. of the plague . They of the City of Trent , their neighbours rejoyced at their sufferings , as being their enemies in religion . But it sell out with them , as with Edom in Obadiah , v. 15. that mocked Jacob in his distresse . The winter following , 1634. the pestilence so raged among the Tridentines , that wee were forbidden to come that way , for the sicke and sound were mixed together , and that City ( not great ) buried above 30000. Besieged in the Castle of Heidleberg , I visited every day divers sicke of the plague , and like diseases . But in neither of these two great plagues in London , nor in any other , that I have beene in , did I ever finde the cause so virulent , the symptomes so incorrigible , the disease so incurable . Some dyed raging , others were killed with their carbuncles , when the venome seemed to be expelled from the inward parts , others were swollen and discoloured , as though they had taken poyson , and some that dyed were so spotted , as I never saw the like . If any souldier were but sleightly wounded , presently it became a maligne ulcer , though all good inward and outward meanes , were used . If the infection got into a kindred , it killed parents , children , and almost all the blood , that were present . Whence I perswade my selfe , that Hippocrates his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , the divine hand and finger of God was more conspicuous in this , than in any other visitation I had seene , though I doubt not but our foode with the aire might also helpe to impoyson our bodies extraordinarily . Toward the end of the siege , wee had made an hospitall in the roofe of the house . But packing out of the Castle , wee left there our sicke , some dying , some crying out at the windowes , not to be left to their sicknesse , famine , and death , and which was worse than the enemy , of whom how they were used wee may imagine . In the Towne they were much visited before we were shut up : which could not but be augmented by the multitudes of the enemy . In the siege of Hanaw were buried , ( most of the plague ) above 22000 people , and had not God sent that sicknesse to diminish their numbers , they had yeelded the towne through want of victuals . In the same siege , Souldiers that went to the guard seeing and well , came off strucken starke blinde thirty at a time . Afterwards the disease falling into their legges , the most of them recovered . CHAP. XIII . Of Sickenesse and Diseases . In Bauier men not left to bury the dead , but Rattes , and mice , devoured there carcasses . Haue pittey vpon me , haue pittey vpon me , o yee my frends for the hand of the Lord hath touched me . THe yeere 1635 , almost whole Germany felt this punishment , in most grievous wise . In Swaben the Countrey of Tyroll , all along the Reine , and the Maine , it was so furiously hot , that all places were alike safe . The King of Hungary was faine to dissolve his Court , and send them away into divers Cities , for their safer abode . In Swaben the inhabitants of Memingen , Campden , and Isnen were utterly consumed , and none left . In the Countrey thereabout , in which were more than thirty thousand men heretofore , were not foure hundred soules to be found . In the confines of Bavier the living were nothing neere able to bury the dead . But Rats and Mice devoured their carcasses , most horrible to behold . The low Countries smarted sore also . The Universitie of Leyden buried thirty thousand . The Countrey Villages and the Hague , ( where I was shut up my selfe ) were miserably afflicted . The Infant Cardinall was forced to remove from Bruxels and Antwerp , the sicknesse did so increase in those places . Nimegen , Emericke , Rees , Guelders , with other places neere , were not onely visited therewith ( wherof the Marquesse of Aytoma , the Spanish Generall , & other Commanders died ) but new contagious diseases , among which were strange Fluxes , and a kind of pox unheard of . The Emperours Army dispersing all over for want of resistance , did also scatter the contagion from their quarters at Haylbrun , through the Land of Wirtenberg , that many places hereby became utterly depopulated . But since Gallas his taking in the Townes upon the Rhine , such an infection happened through the stinch of the dead unburied bodies , that in the Bishopricke of Ments alone there died of this and hunger twenty foure thousand people . In Saxony , Brandenburg , Pomeren , Mecklenburg , &c. this yeare the pestilence with like diseases have beene so universall , that these and the sword , seeme to strive which shall be the greatest destroyer . The retraite of the Swedes , in which they did not onely evade , but cut in pieces many of the enemies Troopes , is not so famous as these calamities . The very plague consumed in Saxony the other day in the space of two moneths , no lesse than sixteene thousand that the King of Hungary hath given command that none shall come from thence to Prague , or the Cities of Bohemia . As by the print of Hercules his foot you might guesse at his stature , so by these few particulars of the miseries of some places there , we may guesse at the lamentable estate of the whole . The war having every where caught and raged , hath left such wounds as will not in haste be recured , and perhaps posterity for some generations will see the scarres . Thus is the Virgine daughter of that people destroyed with a great destruction , and with a sore and greivous plague . Goe into the fieid , behold the slaine with the sword . Enter into the City , behold them that are sicke for hunger also . So are they smitten , but are not healed . They loke for peace , but there is no good ; for the time of health , but behold trouble . FINIS . Imprimatur November . 12. 1637. Sam. Baker . G. Rodolphus Weckherlin . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A14442-e1730 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A devas●●tion of townes & villag●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , wolvif●● men .