A LETTER SENT FROM SARIENT MAYOR FORBES FROM THE KING of Swethens army to his reverend father Mr. john Forbes, minister to the worshipful Company of Merchant Adventurers residing in Delft, touching the great Battle fought by Lypsick between the King of Swethen, the Duke of Saxons Army, and the Emperor's Army, and that commanded by General Tilly, of the Catholic League the 7. of September, 1631.  
Honoured, and Loving father upon the fourth of this month of September, it pleased God that the King's Army, & the Duke of Saxons joined together, near unto a Town called Dieben and marched forward towards Lypsick, which General Tilly, had taken in, and lay with his Army about half a mile from it, where he met us, with his army, and took up the best advantage of ground for his men, and planted his ordinance upon the places, which he thought fittest. The King's Army marched on the right hand of the Battle, and the Dukes on the left, and so advanced in Battleray against out Enemy, who began to play d●spitfully with his Ordinance upon us, which we cared not much for, but advanced forward with our ordinace likewise playing before us. They seeing us marching towards them, they advanced likewise towards us, and came so close one to an other, that joining battalions together, we came to push of the pike, and disputed the business so long, till it pleased God, that we routed them, and gave us the victory, by putting the Enemy to a retreat with the Kings own Army, but the Duke's Army was vilely beaten back, and began to make a shameful flight, so that we were forced to send our horse men after these that were beaten, and to relieve the Duke's men with our foot, which doing, we put all the Enemy at last to flight, and followed the execution very hotly till it was dark night, & till we could not see to pursue them any further, for which victory immortal thanks be given to God. The Enemy was at least 40000. allfighting men, and our Army, and the Duke's cold make not above 36000 men horse and foot. The next day there was found dead on both sides slain upon the place of battle 10000 bodies, whereof the most of them were the Enemies, besides these that were slain upon their flight & execution which were connted to be as great a number. There were taken in all about 8000. prisonners, the most of them having taken entertainment of the King, and marches with our Army. There were divers Colonel's of note slain, on both sides. General Tilly was shot and hurt three times, the Lord Martial Schoonburck slain, and five other Colonel's. The Duke of Holsteyne taken prisoner, who afterward died of his wounds, besides diverse other Lieutenants, Colonels, Captains, and Officers, which would be too long to relate, of our side there were slain Colonel Devil, Collonele Hall, Colonele Cullenburck, and Lieutenant Colonele Adercus. Colonele Turnill hurt, and my Colonele hurt, besides divers Captains, Lieutenants, & Ensigns: We have taken two and twenty pieces of Canon, whereof there are seven which were the King of Bohemia's, lost at the Battle of Prage. Besides great store of powder, Bullets, match, and munition of war, 52 Colours of foot, and 37. Cornets of horse this is the truth of the great victory which God hath given us which you may report for a certain, for I write no more unto you but that which I saw with my own eyes. I would have written to divers others, but I pray you let this letter suffice for all, and when any other occasion shall offer it self, you shall hear further from me. No more at this time, but my duty remembered to your self my mother, and my love to my brethren and sisters, and all other my friends. I commit you to the protection of him that hath given us this glorious victory and rest.  
Your Loving Son. I. F. From the King's Army at Hall the tenth of September 1631.  
The rest of the Kings proceeding in the Countries and Towns which he hath taken in since that battle as they follow in time.   
I take it this generation do live in that age this prophecy shall be fulfilled Revelation, 18: 20. 
O heavens rejoice of her, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets, for God hath given your judgement on her for your sakes.  
Here the Holyghost doth describe the joy and rejoicing of all the faithful for the destruction of the Romish superstition, and hunane inventions.  
By heaven here is meant, the faithful Professors of the truth, because they belong to heaven, and have their meditations in heaven. By apostles and Prophets are not meant those famous preachers which lived in former ages, but are to be taken for those faithful teachers which witness God's truth on earth in his militant Church.  
As for our matters on earth they belong not to those blessed souls which are and have been resting so long blessedly in heaven, for dead men (saith the Scripture) know nothing any more here Eccles. 9: 5. and therefore saith the Prophet, that Abraham is ignorant of us, and that Israel knows us not Isay. 63: 16. Therefore this is the rejoicing of all God's people at the abolishing of all humane inventions in God's Worship, and they rejoice at the advancing of all the institutions of Christ, that he may reign as King in his church by his own laws and ordinances as the Apostle testifieth 1. Timo. 3: 14. 15. and this he is commanded to observe till the appearing of jesus Christ to judgement the 6: 14. therefore not in the liberty of earthly potentates to alter, for Christ shall reign, Amen