A TRUMPET TO CALL SOLDIERS ON TO NOBLE ACTIONS.  
BY The rare and new Examples of two Christian Kings and a Prince, personally meeting in the open field of war.  
Viz. Gustanus the now-present King of Sweden, against Sigismond King of Poland, and the Prince his son, in removing of the Siege of Meve, a Town in Poland, which was formerly gotten by the Sweden King, from the Poland.  
With many memorable Stratagems and Military Occurrences attending on so honourable a Design.  
Sent out of Sweden, from a great man in the State, and written with his own hand.  
Translated out of the Latin Copy.  
Printed at London for N. Bourne, and Tho: Archer. 1627.   

TO THE READER.  
TO see Kings and Princes sweat in Battles in these days, is so rare and unusual, that this warlike Encounter of Gustanus the King of Sweden, with the King of Poland and his son, is for the remarkability of it, worthy to be engraven in Tables of brass.  
The Prize for which they contended was the Town of Meve in Poland. The honour of the Adventurer (the King of Sweden) the more to be exalted, in that he went out of his own Court and Country (where he lived in fullness of all content) to trample on the fields and faces of his enemies, to beat at the Gates of the Polacke Cities, hunting after glory in a foreign Kingdom, in despite of all the horrors which war ●seth to bring along with it: not regarding the petty Towns which he fought for, and did rescue, but for the victory which shall crown his fame to all eternity.  
Here you shall see a brave young Gentleman, lay by all kingly regards of his own life, and with eight thousand Swedens' constant and fight with thirty thousand Poles, and their adherents. The Polander having the advantage of a hill, upon which he lay encamped and entrenched, and the Sweve spreading his handful of an army beneath another hill.  
Here you may see this young King of Sweden, to fetch off a common Soldier, in his own person, and to kill with his own hands, that Polacke, who had set upon the other.  
By which example of the King's valour, the subjects under him, ran out like Lions to the Battle, and came off with a most glorious conquest: Glorious to their King, to their Country, to themselves, and their posterity, and a dishonour to the Enemy, being so many, to be driven out of their own fields by so few: some reporting that of the Poles and Cossackes were slain in this Battle 5000 at least.  
And albeit the truth of this great Action challengeth all Rites, Praises, and Acclamations to be given as due rewards to the Sweden (a stranger to us) yet let not this story (when it is read in aftertimes) be so spiteful as to bury the Name and Memory of the English Nation, honoured in the Dare and high deeds of Colonel Muschampe (our Countryman) who behaved himself nobly, manfully, and as a true-worthy Soldier in all this service.  
Neither must we smother the high courage of that brave Bohemian Torn, whose warlike acts in this Enterprise, are his speaking Chronicles: he being after the King of Swedens' departure home, left General in his stead.  
So Noble Soldiers, wishing you all no worse fortune in your Battles, nor no less fame, than here the Sweves have achieved, I leave you to read that which may serve as a pattern and precedent for all heroical spirits to follow.  
So Farewell.   

A BRIEF RELATION OF the manner of the encamping and besieging of the town of Meve by Sigismond King of Poland, and of the raising of the siege by Gustanus King of Sweden.  
AFter that the King of Sweden had possessed himself of the Palatinate of Marienburge, and by crossing the river of Wyzel in Pommerellia, had encamped at Dersove, where he might with most safety and advantage proceed in his Treaty of Neutrality with those of Dantzicke: And (by some Forts cast up at Hovet and Dersove) to be more able to keep the river favourable and secure for stopping the attempts of the enemies.  
At length the King of Poland in person, with the Prince his son, (accompanied with a great part of the Polonian Nobility) marcheth with an army consisting of Polonians, those of the Duchy of Spruce, Lituanians. Germans, and Livonians, which he doth fortify at Grudent, he passeth the river, and cometh to Niewburghe, and from thence goeth on. And upon the 7 of September 1626. he besiegeth the town of Meve, lying upon the river of Wyzel: The town hath a Castle compassed about with an old wall after the ancient manner of the towns in Germany. The town was distant four miles from our King's Camp, and was defended by a garrison of 150 Swethen footmen, having 60 inhabitants joined with them. The Polonian (being encamped on the west side) makes himself master of a hill, where there was a village, and there he doth strongly entrench himself, especially in that place where the passage towards Meve did lie most open, and thereafter he begins to batter the town with his ordnance.  
Hereupon the King of Sweden (knowing how unable the place was to resist the invasion of an advised and resolute enemy) did resolve of nothing else, but that (he being shortened of time to enforce the raising of the siege) the town would shortly be rendered: the best encouragements our King had depending either upon an expectation of a scarcity of victuals, or other conveniences wherewith the enemy's army might be pinchod, or otherwise upon the constancy and resolution of the soldiers besieged, who by defending themselves valiantly, might give some hope that the siege might be prolonged: And to the end that neither the valour of the besieged should prove their overthrow, nor that the enemy should attribute our King's delay to fear, it was resoluted that the army should dislodge and encamp nearer the enemy and the town.  
Upon the 11 of September our King did remove his Camp three miles nearer the enemy, and encampeth at Falkenow, where he did prepare himself with his army for some encounter, expecting that the enemy would offer some occasion of service that day: Notwithstanding the enemy did not stir out of his quarter, but only sends forth eight troops of Cossackes, who did overrun the fields about Falkenow: That day was spent in light skirmishes with Colonel Banneer, who was appointed for the guard of the point of an Island where the two rivers of Wyzel and Noga●t do divide themselves.  
The place where our King did encamp, was betwixt the river of Wyzel and a great bank of earth or dyke lying over against the river: for the river hath a high and large dyke artificially raised for holding out the great land-floods, whereby about the Spring time the country people do sustain great losses: The King did make this high bank to serve for a trench, where at the further ●nd of the quarter he did draw a ditch from the great dyke to the river, and thereby did fortify his Campe.  
The next day being the 12 of September, our King (upon some consultation had of the most expedient courses for the relief of the town) thought it necessary to make choice of some advantageous place where he might have the full view of all: And then he draws forth 1000 horse, with 2000 foot, and presents himself in full sight of the enemy, having the river of Wyzel on his left, and the great dyke on his right hand: At length (advancing forward for the space of one half mile) he seethe the enemy drawing themselves forth upon the hill near to their trenches where (there lying a plain field betwixt both Camps) some few horsemen did enter in skirmish. There was not fare from thence a wood of oaks having groves of hazel wood on every side, which did stretch itself to the hill possessed by the enemy, and to the river side.  
Our King being desirous to see this wood, and to try whether the place would offer any good advantage to force a passage to the hill or to the castle, did give order that 500 musquettiers, with 100 dragonnes should be sent forward: The King did follow himself with 300 horse, imagining that the enemy would march towards the wood with great forces: The King sent for Colonel Mus●champe, whom he commanded with 200 musquettiers to put himself in the way, if the enemy should fall down from the dyke. In the mean time the enemy had sent the musquettiers from the hill, and there after sent five troops of Lanciers and Cossackes: so that our footmen skirmishing with the enemy, did force them to a retreat. It being uncertain whethar this did proceed from the cowardice or policy of the enemy, intending to draw on our men to some ambuscadoe.  
Our foot advancing too fare, were disordered by the Polonian horse, and some were killed. Not many of these had escaped, unless our King himself (seeing one of his soldiers put hardly to it by one of the enemy) had not advanced himself for the rescue of his soldier, and laid the Polonian dead upon the ground. By which rare example his cavalry was much encouraged to give on furiously upon the enemy who were all beaten back to the hill quiting the wood to our men, whilst both the enemy and▪ ours were thus in fight, Colonel Muschampe marched on to the foot of the hill near the great dyke, where he stayed the whole time of the service, not suffering the enemy to fall out any more in that quarter. The King did call for the rest of the army, and that the Cannon should be brought in the wood within the great dyke, which when the Polonian did perceive that the King did bend directly towards the wood, he sends down the greatest part of his Infantry from the hill another way, that beating our men from thence he might be master thereof: And withal he sends 20 troops of Lanciers and Cossackes to lie betwixt the great dyke and the hill in a plain field, which was done as well to hold our King environed, as thereafter to fall upon our troops, which they thought could not be very strong, and so by that means (as they did imagine) the war might shortly be brought to an end.  
The enemy's foot did carry themselves well, striving for the Dyke with our men: Their Cavallerie did show themselves upon the plain field, whereof some finding the passage nothing difficult, did leap over. In the mean time our King puts his army in order, planting his Artillery in a place where the wood was thinnest: he commands 3 troops of horse to attend in the front near the trench who should be ready to attend the enemy, if they should issue forth out of that quarter. After that four troops of Lanciers had put themselves in a gross squadron, to give a charge, they seeing our Cavalry placed in the front, ready to abide their choke, they give backs towards the plain field, forsaking the great Dike: It was much debated whether this place were necessary to be maintained, and whether the whole Army should be brought there: But when our forces being (howsoever) the weaker in numbers, were separated, and that the soldiers were not provided of victual, nor the horsemen of forage and other conveniences. It was concluded that the main design should not be altered, but that the forces there employed should march back again to their old quarter, and thereafter to go on resolutely for the relief of the besieged: The enemy was to be removed at what rate soever, who was lying strong upon the passage towards ●he Town. The King gives order to his Marshal of the field Herman Vrangle to draw forth of the Army four Companies of foot, with two field pieces; the Marshal was to give on upon the trenches: A●ter that the Artillery had played once or twice, and that some of our musquettiers (by leaping over the dike) had begun the charge, both horse and foot did retire themselves to the hill, quiting the great D●ke: As the bri●t did go, there was killed of the enemies 150 amongst whom was the Captain Deuhoffe with some others: So that they did retire to their Camp in that same order and way they came: The enemy looking on, without adventuring further: There was some of ours wounded, and about 20. killed.  
The day following, our King (causing himself to be transported in a little Boat) did take a full view of the Islands of the river of Wizel, and of their approaches towards the Town, to the end that (before he should attempt any further) he might know the best advantages, how to enforce the raising of the siege, or the most toilsome difficulties to impeach the same.  
The King himself approaches to the foot of the hill, having placed 〈◊〉 musquettiers upon ●he 〈◊〉 Duke. He giveth 600. musquettiers to the Count of Torn, and 500 Sweden foot to Colonel Mustchamp: The one being commanded to stay upon the right hand, at the foot of the hill: The other at the left hand: both were ordered that they should press (by the steepness● and precipice of the hill) to keep their men in greater safety, from the violence of the enemy's sh●t. The King commanded that neither of them should st●rre without direction or sign given: There was at the side of the W●od, a great precipice or steepness planted with little Trees which covered those that we●e lying in ambuscade, and helped also those that were to give the charge. There was a road or pathway leading towards the hill, scarce passable for horsemen, which pathway did lie betwixt Colonel Mustchampe, and the Count of Torn. Colonel Mustchamp was commanded to enter this path on horseback, with some of his musquettiers, that he might learn what countenance the enemy kept on the hill, and to es●ye the best means he could of beating them from thence. As the Colonel doth advance himself, he is charged with a Troop of German horse, and beaten back to the road way: Some musquettiers straining to desengage their Colonel being killed, and some taken prisoners, the remainder did withdraw themselves the same way they went. But the nature of the place and passage being discovered, the Count of Torn and Colonel Mustchampe do charge resolutely, and partly breaking through the road way, and partly by the precipice of the hill at length they gain the top thereof: In the mean time, the enemy draws all his forces together, the foot●-men from the qua●ter and forts, the horsemen from the field, and charge our men forcibly to beat them from the top of the hill: The King and Prince of Poland being spectators: it was long fought with much courage, eagerness and noise: The  horsemen being seconded by their foot and the Hayduckes, charge Mustchampe but were repulsed with great loss.  
In the mean time out men lying discovered are beat with their Canon from their forts, neither was there any thing left unattempted, to make all our enterprise ineffectual. At length, after two hours fight, our men defending themselves valiantly, and gaining ground of the enemy, some Troops of the Polonian horse, Lanciers, Cassackes and Germans mixed together (partly being stricken with shame) partly being animated with the presence of the King and Prince, promising rewards to the best deservers, did furiously and in great disorder charge the Count of Torn, who (perceiving what they intended) did make his Musquettiers fall low on their knees, that nothing could be seen but only their heads, whereby (the violence of the horsemen being deluded) he stood firm: Th●y being disabled to follow their point in regard of the precipice of the hill, scarce favourable to a charge on horseback, and there he stays, their first heat with his muskets lying so low; and when the Cavalry did begin to wheel about, they were shrewdly galled with our musquettiers.  
When the enemy had thus charged our men with great numbers, the last rushed forward so violently upon the first, that neither o● them was able to rejoin their troops together, where by many in that disorder were kil●ed, and the hill filled with dead men and horses.  
Colonel Mustchampe who did lie upon the one side of this pathway, did much mischief to the enemy, by beating them in flanque with his musquettiers: So that there was such a faintness and dejection of spirits amongst them, that the Lanciers did throw down to the ground, three of their Cornets at the feet of our soldiers, and basely did forsake them.  
Afterward, all was in disorder in the enemy's Camp, neither (as it was there after known) could they resolve what course to take. The Infantecy did altogether quite their trenches and fo●ts, lying against the Town without any resolution to adventure further.  
Hereupon the King of Poland despairing to be able any longer to defend the Hill, Forts, or his Camp; and being zealous that his Cannon might be in some hazard to be lost, if he should give any further time to approach nearer him; and seeing our men fortifying themselves upon the great Dike, whereby he m●ght perceive they were resolved to go on.  
Upon the 14. of September, the Ea●le of Torn comes to the King with three Regiments of German foot, which had served in Liveland.  
The Army being reinforced with this new supply, together with a Regiment of Swedens', under the Conduct of Colonel Kodwin, a bridge being laid over the ●●z●l, not fare from our Camp; and a strong Fort b●●●ded at the end of the bridge, where there was a competent garrison placed, to secure the passage unto the Island for the soldiers, and the victuals of the Camp, which were left behind: The King upon the 19 of September dislodgeth, and encampeth near the enemy, about 300 paces from the place which the enemy ha● kept strongly fortified betwixt the Camps. Our King did resolve that he had gained enough that day, to have put his new camp in defence, by making the great Dike less passable, framing it after the manner of a rolling Trench, whereby the great bank and new trench being enclosed, the King might aswell be less subject to any sudden surprise or assault of the enemy, as more able to put his determined resolutions in execution by assailing the enemy, with the more security of his own men.  
The King sends the Earl of Torn with 400 German Musquettiers, to the end he … l possess and make good that part of the Dike, which did stretch itself from the Camp to the hill.  
He sends Colonel Mustchampe with 300. Sweden foot for the defence of the Town of Groenhoffe, which did lie above the Camp, over against the plain field. The enemy (seeing us in camp so near them) draws his whole forces upon the hill, he plants his artillery, and played upon our men, but all in vain, the bullets either over-flying the Camp, as being shot from an high hill or did fall short and beat upon the great Dike, without any hurt done.  
In end, the enemy sends forth a great number of Cossackes, Lanc●ers, and German troops of horse, with his whole Infanttry from the hill, intending thereby not only to beat the Count of Torn from the great bark, but also Colonel Mustchampe from the defence of Groenho●●e, and there after to give a general assault upon our quarter: But every wher● their labour was lost by the courage of our soldiers, defending themselves valiantly and pressing upon the enemy with much animosity and resolution.  
Our Artillery in like manner, which was planted ●eere the trench, did so beat upon the enemy, that the plain field lying over against the Dike, was spread over with dead men and horses: At length towards night, the Poloni●● did withdraw himself to his trenches on the hill: The day following was quiet and nothing attempted on either side.  
●ur King (having built five forts) made himself master of the great Dike and plain field, and did prepare his passage to the h●ll, where the enemies was entrenched, to the end he might stop the enemy's sallies from the hill, whereby they might give any annoyance to his Camp●. The enemies in like manner (that he might more freely domineer with his Canon along the plain field, and be more firmly fortified against all our enterprises; and also that bee might be longer able to hold out the hill) did erect two forts, one upon the right hand of the way, the other on the left hand: In the one he planted 3 pieces of great Ordnance: in the other, some lesser pieces, whereby he might stop our coming up the Hill.  
The 21. September, our King consulteth with his Council of War, how the enemy might be beaten from the hill▪ and how a passage might be opened towards the Town: And seeing his Camp (aswell by situation as industry) defensible, and safe against all hostile invasion; and (the sallies of the enemies being cut off) 〈…〉 to the foot of the h●ll was not very dangerous: He leaveth his Marshal of the field, with the greatest part of the Army in the Camp; and goeth in person, entering the Wood with one Regiment and a half of foot, some troops of horse, and 1500 choice musquettiers.  
He layeth the foot and horse troop, in ambuscade amongst the trees, that they might be as safe from the voll●es of the enemies shot, holding the top and length of the hill, where diverse forts were erected with field pieces in them, as that they might be ready to receive and repel the enemy, if our men employed in service should be beaten back from thence.  
He thought it not safe to stay any longer, but did cause to draw out his Ordnance, with a great deal of difficulty and confused haste. He did give order to burn the Village where he had been entrenched and fortified upon the hill. Our soldiers did enter the trenches and forts. The King and Prince of Poland looking upon them. Our King was upon the hill, and would have willingly (in the confused distraction of the enemy) have attempted upon the Artillery; but finding that the passage were too strait, that he could not (to the terror of the enemy) charge them with his front enlarged; and finding the enemy vnpe●●●ed with baggage, betwixt the trenches and the camp: the hill being forsaken, the forts in his own power: three of the enemy's Comets left as pledges of their confusion; and above all the Town and Castle of Mewe relieved, which was the cause of this expedition. The King did resolve he had gained honour enough for that day; and that the way was prepared to enforce the enemy to abandon his Camp, if he should stay longer: Therefore he thought it not fit (the passages not being fully known, betwixt the trenches and the Camp) to expose a certain Victory in the valour of his soldiers to an uncertain event.  
The enemy being perplexed what to do, keeps himself close within his Campe. To forsake it, it was to fly away, which was shameful. To remain longer, he could expect nothing but further mischief: Because our Army (commanded the hill) could beat them out of their Camp only with our Ordnance. The enemy passed over that night with great astonishment, standing in order of battle▪ expecting that our Army should have fallen upon their Camp, as it was afterwards known by some Prisoners: At length about the first Watch of the night, they sent away their baggage.  
The King himself by the dawning of the day, marches away with gr●at silence, without sign of Trumpet, Drum, or phipher.  
The Troops were seen by our Sentinels at the Monastery of Weul●●, lying a mile and a half from our Campe.  
Th● King of Poland had left some Cossackes to observe if our men should attempt any thing upon their confused retreat: And afterwards (when they should understand that the King was any thing advanced in his journey) they had order to burn their quarter.  
This was the issue of the besieged and relieved town of Mewe.  
Our King knowing that the enemy was gone, entered the Town and Castle, extolling the constancy, fidelity, and merit of the Soldiers, and the inhabitants with much praise, thanksgiving and reward, and presently did give order, that a day of public thanksgiving to God, should be solemnly kept for this Victory.  
Thereafter he changed the Garrison with fresh soldiers, and furnished the Castle and Town with munition and Victuals, and stayed in his Camp some few days, until he might discover whether the enemy would bend his course, or what he would attempt further.  
In these three days ●●rvice, there was killed of ours about 30. The loss of the enemy cannot be certainly related, by common fame and discourse, with some prisoners, there is above 500 killed and many wounded, who are sent to the further parts of Spruce.  
It is credible that the loss hath been greater, since it is not very probable that the King would have abandoned the siege of a little Town scanse well fortified, with so much diminution of his own honour, and that of the Polonian Nobility, unless the loss had been greater.  
Hear it must also be remembered, that the enemy had cast a bridge over the River of Wizel a half mile above Mew, whereby the inroads upon the Territories of Stum and M●rnenbourg might be less difficult. And that the Polonian Soldiers, who ranged up and down through the Bishopric of Vlormditt might have free passage to the Campe.  
The enemy had committed the charge of this bridge (which was made o● Ships that carried Corn up and down the River) to 300. Cossackes. But after th●●…arting of the Army (whether by neglect or fear) the b●i●ge was abandoned: The K●ng did send a Captain with some Musquettiers, who ●aue brought away the Ships with all their furniture and provision, whereof the Army hath made very good use.  
FINIS.