The Wars in Germany, With the taking of the several towns by the marquess Spynola, and the present estate of the whole Army now on foot, in right of the Emperor, sent from the Pope. Emperor. King of Spain. Archduke. The Cardinals. And German Prelates. Together with the present estate of the contrary Army, conducted by Grave Maurice of Nassau, and the Towns by him taken. Truly translated out of Dutch and French into English: and printed at Antwerp the third of September. 1614   depiction of Ambrogio or Ambrosio Spinola, or a man in armour with a musket or gun and sword standing over a house in the countryside 
Printed at London for Nathaniel Butter. 1684.   

A true relation of the taking of the town of Aix or Accon, Weasel and divers other towns in Germany by the marquess Spinola general of the King of Spain's Army; under pretence to reduce them to the obedience of the Emperor, and the religion they call Catholic. Together, with a full declaration of the whole army now on foot ready to join with the aforesaid marquess, being sent from the Pope, Emperor, Archduke, Conclave of Cardinals, and the Catholic Prelates of Germany, and entitled the most Christian league: Their numbers, ensigns, and Emblems.  
TO enter into the bosoms of Princes, or from a prophetic boldness to interpret the hidden mysteries of their designs, shows in an ignorant presuming nature, such an impudence as can neither find warranty nor excuse: therefore to trace mine Author's relation truly without any iniquity of the grounds, ends or determinations of these strange, sudden, and unlookt-for garboils, which have even with much admiration, set open all the eyes and ears in Yew- You shall understand that about the five r●pe.  
And twentieth of August last, in this present year 1614 according to the Roman computation, 
Spinola coming before Accon.  and the fifteenth of August in our account: The marquess Spinola (to whom they give the title of excellence) being general of the king of Spain's forces, came with a power of 1500. horse, and 12000. foot, before a Town in Cleveland called Aix or Accon, famous both for the antiquity thereof: as also for certain hot Baths which are therein, but especially for the privilege of keeping (as Guychardine reports) of an Iron crown wherewith the Emperors are crowned at their first elections. Before this town the marquess Spinola with his forces set down and planted against it three pieces of Cannon upon Saint Siluesters Hill, & four other great field pieces of Brass at the gate of the bridge against the great Tower or Bulwark: yet before he began to make any shot or play upon the town, he sent certain Ambassadors into the town, upon whose deliberate & persuasive entreaties, 
Accon taken by composition.  the townsmen accorded to make composition, upon these conditions following. First, that all Soldiers of what name title or quality soever, being then resident in the town (being at that instant to the number of six hundred) should departed from thence, with bag and baggage, full armed, Drums beating, and their ensigns displayed, which were of white silk charged with a black cross. Also that they should have safe conduct for forty Carts to convey and carry them & their baggage: to all which the marquess accorded. Now as Captain john Van Diick alias Seram and Mounsieur de Potlites, with Captain Peter Galon de Meres commander of the marquess of Brandenborch soldiers, were issuing out of the town with their white ensigns flying and charged as beforesaid with black crosses, divers wealthy Burghers or men of account in the town, whether fearful of evils to come, or suspicious of evils with which they had been formerly acquainted, or stirred up by their conscience then likely to taste tyranny, attempted to issue out of the town, with the soldiers, but were by strong hand hindered and turned back again, by certain bands or companies of Almains to the number of 600. who entered at the same gate at which they departed.  
Also at the same instant at another gate of the town called Collogne port or gate, entered another company of Almains equal to the former number.  
Likewise at the Bridge port or gate, there entered other six ensigns of Almains, who presently marched up into the town, especially to the place where the Protestants were accustomed to hear their preaching.  
An other part of the army marched towards a place in the Town called the Ass' head, where other Protestants did exercise their religion; The rest of the Army went to the Citadel or Town Hall near to the Hospital, without hurting or offending any that were of that which they call the Catholic Religion, whom likewise they exempted and made free from all charge, disbursements or taxations due for the relief of their Soldiers, lodging the army only upon the charge of the Protestants, whom they suggested to have (whilst they were masters of the town) stopped and barred against them all these gates or entrances; that is to say first the port Royal, secondly, the Hill port; thirdly, the Zongle port; four, the port Albertus; fifthly, the port Winaerte Bongaerts; sixtly the Roost port, and lastly, Saint james port; not leaving any open for use but these only: the Bridge port, the port of Collogne, the Bortscher port, and the Younkers port.  
The twenty seventh of August, the Army arose from before the town, and marched about some two leagues from Aix or Accon, and there encamped again.  
The eight and twentieth day of August the Army arose, 
The taking of the Town of Duren  and marched before the Town of Duren, against which they encamped themselves again, and whilst the Army there lay, there came out of the said town of Duren certain principal men of great account and reckoning mounted on horseback, and appareled all in black, who by a mutual and general consent were sent out of the town, as agents or negotiators for all the rest, humbly to crave that it would please his imperial Majesty to pardon their offences and misdemeanours how ever ignorantly or otherwise committed against him: most humbly and affectionately desiring to render and subiest themselves to the Laws and ordinances of his Imperial Majesty, bringing and offering the Keys of the Town to the marquess Spinola, which he received in the name and right of the Emperor, with all the courteous humanity that his great place could any way extend: All which accomplements being finished, the very same day the marquess sent into the town two Companies or Ensigns of Soldiers being to the number of three hundred men well appointed, being under the command of the Count Emden.  

The taking of Mersweicke & Rangleroy.  The same day also being the twenty eight of August the Army arose from this Town of Duren, and marched forward toward Mersweicke and Rangleroy.  

The taking of Nuys.  The nine and twentieth of the same month of August, the Army marched towards the town of Nuys.  
Upon the thirtieth day of August the chief Burgamaster of Nuys came to salute the marquess Spynola, being bravely attended, and his person drawn in a Caroche, with four horses, and after some conference and ordinary accomplishment, to which, none but themselves were privy, the marquess entered into the Town with five troops of horse, whilst all the rest of the army remained without the Town.  
Assoon as the marquess had ordered and disposed of the Town of Nuys, and placed garrisons as he liked best, without any stay at all, but even the very self same day being the thirtieth day of August, he departed thence, and marched towards Dusseldorpe, which is about a league from Nuys, yet at his departure from Nuys the Town discharged six Cannons in honour of the marquess, and as it seemed in a very triumphant and gallant fashion: after which the army marched towards the town of Reysers-wert.  
The thirtieth day of August aforesaid, 
The Duke of Neuwenborch joins with Spinola.  the Duke of Neuwenborch met and joined his army with the marquess Spynola near to the town of juliet, which army of the Dukes was composed of seven thousand foot and one thousand horse, in so much that at that time the marquess Spynola's army was increased and accounted to be twenty six thousand foot, and four thousand and three hundred horse, one thousand Wagons for munition, every wagon, having three horses, besides Victuallers & other necessary dependents to the Army, which are in number above two thousand wagons.  

A bridge made over the Rheyne.  The one and thirtieth day of August, being the day after the joining of these two great bodies into one, they began to make a bridge over the rain, a little above Rein-Berke betwixt the two forts; in the labour and workmanship of which Bridge was employed above one hundred men, besides Pioneers, and other mechanical labourers.  
The Bridge being perfitted as it were in a very moment of time, 
The taking of Orsoy.  the army passed over and marched the first day of September to the town of Orsoy, which they presently took, and at the same instant there arrived at the same Town of Orsoy, a company with Italians which came out of the town of Geldre.  

The sacking of Mulham.  The same day they marched thence with the whole army, and coming to the new built City of Mulhem near unto Colloigne, began that day to sack, destroy, and make an utter devastation of the same, finding it as it seemed, either utterly unpeopled, or so weakly provided of resistance, that nothing stood to oppose their furies.  
The same day also the army was drawn to Meures, 
Meurs compounded 〈◊〉.  being a town lying against Rijnsburge, where the Governor or Commander thereof came forth, and with all humility and reverence saluted the marquess Spynola, and so obtained all such conditions as were thought meet for the places over which he had commandment.  
The second day of September the army came and encamped before the town of Weasel, 
The taking of Weasel.  and having lain there the space of two days, in the end took it by a most kind and friendly composition, and albeit be wholly inhabited by Protestants, and that Spynola hath put thereinto a Garrisson of five hundred Spaniards, 
Clemency showed to the Protestants.  yet in no degree whatsoever doth the Soldier offer violence against any of the Townsmen; which clemency is supposed by the best judgements, not to proceed so much from love as from fear of after troubles, which might follow any cross or tyrannical proceeding in these hostile and furious businesses.  
After the departure of this great army from Weasel, 
Spynola before Reinsberch.  the marquess marched to Reinsberche, where he urged many entreaties and offered divers capitulations, but all to no effect, for the town being esteemed impregnable, and as it were invincible, there was little hope left of the winning of the same.  

Grave Maurice riseth and marcheth to Emricke.  During the time that this great army called the most Christian league or war, ran thus like an unresistible flame through all the bowels of Germany, threatening an utter loss to all the poor afflicted Protestants, as it is given out by most credible and assured information, from the one and the other side: The most excellent and for ever renowned Prince the Grave Maurice of Nassau, with a very great and strong army of all the best and most experienced soldiers of the Netherlands, marched up into the higher parts of those Countries, and about the second day of September in this present year 1614 (being the same time that the marquess Spynola took Weasel) the aforesaid most excellent prince Grave Maurice besieged and took a town of the Catholics called Emricke, 
Emrick taken.  upon the self same conditions as the marquess had taken the town of Weasel before, using the same clemency and mercy (in a somewhat more larger measure) to the Catholics, which he understood had been practised before by the marquess to the Protestants, as it seemeth, to give the world notice, how far he preferreth a noble precedent before any just wrath, severity or revenge: a nature so rich and commendable in the bosom of so worthy a Prince, that it can never be sufficiently admired of any that take delight to hold their rank amongst the best of the virtuous.  
The third day of this present month of September, 
Grave Maurice and Grave Henrick march to Reys  the excellent Prince Grave Maurice accompanied with the most noble count Henrick, raised their army from before Emricke, and marched to another town near adjoining thereunto called Reys in the Dukedom of Cleve, against which they laid a strong siege and begird the Town round about, and there were remaining at such time as these and many other occurrents received their dispatches; so that what success will issue from the same, may be expected and wished, but no certain truth can be related, only the great all-seeing eye of the divine justice no doubt will order their counsels and actions, so as it may be best for his own glory and his Church's comfort, against which, questionless was never prepared so numberless, strong, and powerful an army, as you may understand by the sequel of the Discourse which now followeth.   

A most true and full Relation of the several parts and members of that most great and general body of the most invincible Catholic Army, knit and united together into one main substance, by the Pope, the Emperor, the King of Spain, the Archduke of Austria, and all the Catholic Cardinals, archbishops, Bishops, and other inferior Priests of Germany; with their several Generals, and Commanders of each particular Armies: their Names, Places, and Dispositions: together, with their several Emblems and Devises, placed as Trophies upon each of their Standards, or Ensigns Royal: in such sort as they have been most carefully taken by especial eye-witnesses and most truly published for the satisfaction of all Christian people. A matter most famously remarkable, and worthy of admiration of all that shall happen to read, and with a charitable judgement truly understand the same.  
SOme few days (as it is given out by most credible report) after the Duke of Niewenborch had joined his forces with the marquess Spinola, there came also and joined with them these Armies following.  

The Pope's Army.  First, from the Pope's Holiness (drawn as he urgeth from a holy commiseration of the Catholic cause) was sent an Army of two thousand Horsemen, and fifteen thousand footmen, with all necessary provisions needful in such a business, but by the distressed Protestants it is conjectured; nay, almost now gathered to a full belief, that this his huge liberality and expense of Men and Treasure would not have come so freely, had not his design some aim at the utter extirpation of them, and their undoubted true Religion, which, should it appear or proceed in any greater manifestation, no doubt but all Christian ears would be filled with his cruelty, and what he would gild with a noble charitableness, would of the wisest and most modest tongues be called a tyrannical bloodiness, a foul and ignoble-title for a man of his holy Order, or a Prince of his great Place and Authority.  

The General.  This great Army of the Pope's hath over is for General or chief Commander, one named Don Pascor, or Pastor, of Constantinople; a man of great birth, place, experience, and valour, amongst the Italians: He beareth in his Standard (which is all entirely red without any other Emblem or Empresa, the colour as it were, 
His Empresa.  speaking the anger and revenge his aims level at) and in the midst thereof this Motto or words written, Mors & Vita, Death and Life; some translate it Death or Life; others dead or living, but I take it to be Death and Life; Death to his withstanders; Life to such as will be yoked to him. It hath been reported by some, that he beareth in his red Standard or Ensign, a living man, standing over a dead man, and a Latin sentence written underneath, signifying, Thou hast thy merry: but this I rather take to belong to some other great Commander, being as it were with him a second in authority.  
Next to this Army of the Popes, marcheth the Emperor Mathyas, 
The emperors Army.  his own Army being two thousand Horsemen, and twenty thousand Footmen, compounded of several Nations, and Provinces; but all held well approved in War, and of a great expertation and experience.  

The General.  The General, or chief Commander of this great Army of the Emperors, is the great Lord of Rhodes; a man very highly esteemed for valour, wisdom, experience, and what else adorneth a perfect Soldier.  

〈◊〉 Emblem.  He beareth in his Standard or Ensigne-Royall, which is all white, prefiguring a more hurtless and innocent temper, mixed with much more clemency & justice then the former, a Lady or Virgin aparayled in white also, and a Lion standing by her, with a word or Motto, signifying, Both these belong to Accon: now there be some reporters which affirm that his Ensign is all white, without any charge but only certain words, which signify in English, I have much to look for, and never to run away; others translate it, I expect much, but howsoever I will not fly: but this as I said of the former, may belong to some other high Commander; howsoever neither but show the strength of a great and undaunted resolution.  
Touching the King of Spain's Forces, which is called the Army of the most Catholic King, 
The King of Spain's Army.  they are numbered for certain to be fifteen hundred Horsemen, and twelve thousand Footmen, being for the most part all natural Spaniards, well experienced and approved Soldiers, as drawn from his most worthiest Garrisons, and other places, of his most Warlike employments.  
The General of this great and famous Army, is the marquess Spinola, 
The General.  held amongst all the Spaniards a man of rare valour, wisdom, and all greatness of mind, and one on whose reputation doth lodge the badge of much good fortune in all his former affairs, whether they have been by Land or Sea, which have knit so unto him the King his Master's love, that his rise have been accounted more swift than any other of his rank: a good note of worthiness, if his virtues and lovaltie endeavour to keep and preserve them without tyranny or ambition.  

His Emblem.  His Standard or Ensign royal is all white like the Emperors, wherein is portrayed a man standing with a chain about his neck, yet as it seemeth either unmanacled and at liberty, or at most but in a willing and most pleasing servitude, for underneath him is writ a sentence, which signifieth in English, My Chain shall bind others.  
Now there be some Reporters that affirm, that in his Ensign besides the chained man, there is a Tiger and a Bear, and the word as aforesaid, and I will not stand much to argue the contrary; for although it make the body of the Emblem, like a surcharged coat, somewhat too much burdened, against the strict rules of our curious devise-makers, yet are they all so significant, and so well expressing the resolution of a strong Conqueror, that they may well become the invention of him to whom they are attributed.  
Next this Army is ranked the Army of Albertus, Archduke of Austria, 
The Archdukes Army.  and brother to the Emperor Mathyas, and are fully accounted to be one thousand five hundred Horsemen, and ten thousand Footmen, all good and approved Soldiers, by him bred, and disciplined, with great perfection in the Neatherlands, and other places, to which his occurrents have drawn him.  
The General of this Army is the Archbishop of Albyod, 
The General.  a very Noble descended Gentleman, full of great spirit and wisdom, and one of high estimation with the Archduke, as may appear by this great employment, and many other graces and favours done him in other services, all which he seeketh to acknowledge in his readiness and preparation, for any employment shall be fixed upon him.  
His Standard or Ensign royal, is all black, 
His Empress.  and in the midst thereof a withered Tree, and a sentence underneath it, signifying in English, Wax green again, or I will wax green again. Some report that he hath in his Standard a Hearse or Tomba, which in Herraldry is an Emblem of despair; but I refer that to some better intelligence, for I take the other to be much more proper, and better suiting with the goodness of a Noble nature, which indeed is often darkened with these horrid and dreadful presaging menaces.  

The Prelate's Army.  Last of all, is an Army levied by all those which they entitle Catholic Prelates, in Germany, as Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and other inferior Priests, all which have with a mutual consent drawn their minds and substances together, and from thence raised up a power of one and twenty hundred Horse men, and fifteen thousand Footmen, not so well experienced or approved in the Wars (by supposition) as the others be: but no doubt men daring enough, and apt to go on without either care or question of the enterprise to which they are drawn, as is commonly seen and allowed in men of their mercenary quality: and doubtless this Army is composed of all Nations whatsoever, their Purses for the most part being the entire commanders of their strengths, being by no other bond engaged to the obedience of their Lords and Masters; so that who so ever is out of employment in this Army, may find business to preoccupate his whole spirits withal.  
The General of this Army thus gathered from the very flux and multiplicity of Masters, 
The General.  is the Archbishop of Riffin, or as some call it St. Raffin, a man of great trust and estimation, with all the Clergy in those Countries, and much renowned for his valour, wisdom, policy, and many other soldierly qualities, wherewith he hath been plentifully endued, only so violent in the blindness of his Religion, or as they call it Catholic profession, that many of his actions may without offence undergo the censure or badge of much blood and cruelty.  
His Ensign or Guidon (for indeed it can have no other title of greatness added unto it) 
His Empress.  is all of a grey colour, portraying the gravity, soberness, and discretion which should be employed in those mighty Desseynes, and most especially from men of such sanctity and pureness of life, as in right the Masters of this Army should be, and in the midst of this grey Ensign there is growing in his full glory a full blown and fair flourishing Lily, with his natural leaves, branches, and beauties about it, and underneath a sentence signifying in English these words, Nature's Innocence is the best clothing: a Motto which no doubt promiseth virtuously, if the issues be answerable to the ostentation: but if they be raised for any contrary purpose to goodness, as to expel from that long enriched Empire, the true preaching of the Gospel, and profession of the most true, ancient, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith, there is no doubt but the ruins of their own Babel will fall upon them, and confound them; if otherwise it be for the benefit of the Christian Faith, and the abolishing of Mahomet and his blasphemies, no doubt but their Armies will stand like the Israelites, and find GOD himself continually fighting their battles: how ever, to that power be all their powers and actions referred who is the GOD and Master of the hearts of Emperors, Kings, and Princes.  
The universal power and whole gross body of this entire Army, consisteth of nine thousand one hundred Horsemen, and scutcheon two thousand Footmen: the two bodies joined together make full fourscore and one thousand and one hundred able fight men.  
This Relation was Printed in Antwerp, both in Dutch and French, as may appear by the original.  
FINIS.   

An Advertisement to the READER.  
GEntle READER, I have given thee here the first and fullest tastes of these high and strange preparations in Germany, with that true plainness and want of flattery, as I did receive them imprinted by especial Authority in Antwerp; and as more shall come to my hands so I will present them unto thee with all integrity and soundness of truth: holding it an unpardonable sin to add to the Names or Actions of such Mighty and Sacred Persons, the least falsehood or scandal that may any way be imagined.  
Farewell.