A RELATION OF THE PASSAGES OF OUR ENGLISH COMPANIES from time to time, since their first departure from ENGLAND, to the parts of GERMANY, and the united PROVINCES.  
Sent from Frankendale in Germany, by a Soldier of those Colonels, to his Worshipful friends here in ENGLAND.  
AT LONDON: Printed for Henry Gosson.  
1621.   

A RELATION OF THE PASSAGES OF OUR ENGLISH COMPANIES FROM time to time since their departure from England, to the parts of Germany, and the united Provinces.  
MY love and duty (Right Worshipful) urging me oftentimes (since my departure from England) to make an explanation of the same to yourself, with the rest of my good friends, and now coming to a fullness of affection, I am here to give you a certification, of all the occurrences and passages in service from those troublesome parts of Germany, where I am now resident: and although I am a little prevented, in laying open the full discourse of our journals or March, by the departure of many of our Regiment that are returned back to England, who hath reported more than I am able to write, yet nevertheless, will I give you a touch of our travail and march, as my remembrance will give me leave.  
First, we had a quick passage to Rotterdam, from thence to Delfe, where we were mustered for the King of Bohemia, and was billeted there for three weeks, where we had our Apparel, our Hats, and Colours, with our Arms given to us: from thence we Marched up the River of Rhine to Raise, where we stayed until we heard from his Excellence; from thence we Marched up the Rhine, until we came right against weasel, where his Excellence lay with twenty thousand Horse and Foot, and mounted his Ordinance against weasel, where we lay in leaguer the most part of july, until the Bridge was made over the Rhine: and the first of August we Marched over the Rhine; his Excellencies Musketieres' gave us three volleys of shot at our departing: from thence we Marched accompanied with Grave Henrick, and his troops of Horse, and when we came to our lodging, we were entertained by the Boors of the Country, with fresh Straw, Bread, and Beer, and what else we could get, and so Marched forwards, sometimes twenty miles a day, sometimes more, and sometimes less: but Spindola made account to cut us off every man of us; & because we Marched extraordinary, he reported the Devil did lead us; but I am sure that God was our guide and defender, and so we Marched until we came to a Town called Bensum, where we were billeted three days, where we had good Wine in abundance, and good cheer with it. The Wine was commonly set on the Table in a Pail or some such like vessel, wherein we filled our glass, and drank every man his belly full. From this Town we Marched towards Anne, where dwelleth Grave Henrickes' sister, who is Princess of that place, and she Royally came to us in the Field, with other Gallants in their Caroches, guarded with Horse and Foot, whom courteously greeted our Lords and Captains, we standing in Battalia manner, which when she returned, we Marched to a little Dorp near adjoining, where we had two Alarms that night, which caused most of us to leave our victuals behind us: some their meat a boiling, and some roasting, which was a great grief unto us being hungry the next day. Also it was the first time that we had any Alarm, and so we Marched from that Dorp towards Worms, where we Marched over the River, and so through Worms to a Dorp six miles distant from that place, and so we Marched up and down until we did meet with the Princes of the Union, who joined with our forces to meet Spindola, who lay then in a Town called Vpnam, which was yielded to him, and there he Entrenched his Forces, that by no means possible they could remove him out; wherefore the General gave command to draw our Forces into Field to give him battle, and so we Marched until we had sight of his Forces, and we Marched about to get the wind of them, the which we obtained, and then our General gave command to draw out part out of every Company, to be of the Forlorn Hope, to give the onset, whereof myself was one of the number, and Doctor Burges our Minister did encourage us to fight valiantly, and did assure us we should find our reward in heaven: whereupon we feasted ourselves with such victuals as we had, and threw away our Snap-sackes, with all our Provision, both linen and woollen, because it would be troublesome to us, and courageously providing us for the battle, and upon the sudden we heard the Enemy's Drums beat a March, where we descried them to March back again to our Lodgings the next morning, for we remained in the Field all that night, the next day our General had notice given him, that the Enemy did march towards the City of Worms, wherefore he gave command the next night to march without sound of Drum, or displaying our Colours, thinking to meet with him before he came to Worms: but the Enemy had intelligence of our coming, wherefore they returned back into their Trenches that night, being extreme cold, that it killed many of our Soldiers, as namely Captain Trussell, my Lieutenant, and diverse others, whom died when they came to Garrison into Frankendale, which was a little before Christmas, for the Rain and Snow began to fall, that we were not able to lie any longer in the Fields: wherefore we marched into Frankendale, where we have duty enough put upon us, for every third night we watch at the Ports and Bulwarks, standing Sentinel on the walls with our Arms in our hands: we do make them to stand, be he friend or foe, and cry que vella? beside Alarms, which often times falls out, some times two or three in a week: we had Alarm on the Saturday night before Shrove-sunday, where we were drawn all on the walls, and on the next night following we were drawn out of the Town, expecting to meet with some of the Enemy's Forces, but we did not; and marching near unto Worms without sound of Drum or displaying our Colours, they thought us to be Enemies, wherefore they shot at us, and hurt two of our Company, wherefore we descried ourselves, and Marched back again: and now we are certified that Lepoltus the Emperor's brother is coming down with twelve thousand to aid Marques Spindola against us, and they have reported to besiege this Town and Worms both in one day, but before they win them, it will cost them hot liquor, for our General gave command to burn some Towns near unto us, because the Enemy shall not Entrench his Forces near us, and the Boors that dwelled in them have brought their Goods into our Town, and they themselves do work upon our Walls without the Town, and are making half Moons, Sconces, Bulwarks, Counterscarps, and Trenches. We have had lately 12. Pieces of Ordinance from Worms to plant upon our Walls, besides the Pieces that were planted before, which will encounter with them before they come at our Town; and afterwards, our nimble Muskatieres' will speak three words at once to them: We have in our Town many Streets, and in every Street one Well with two Buckets of very good water, also a good River running through the Town: and nevertheless, we have Wine in the Town as plentiful as water, which is sold under three pence the quart: also Bread and Beer as good and cheaper than in England, and so of Flesh and other commodities. There was in our march good Hogs sold for twelve pence a piece and under, also Pullet's, Pigeons, and other flesh very reasonable. I think we shall not have the like penny-worthes when we come to England: but we hope well, and purpose to make a trial of it, and now unwilling to be too tedious, I will abruptly conclude. So remembering my love and commendations to all my good friends, I rest: committing you to the protection of the Almighty, this 9 of March. 1621.  
A. M. From Frankendale in Germany.