THE LAMENTATIONS OF GERMANY. WHEREIN, ●s in a Glass, we may behold her miserable condition, and read the woeful effects of sin. Composed by Dr Vincent Theol. an eyewitness 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 seals of 14. distressed Ministers of Swyburggen in Germany. LAMENT. 1. 12. ●●it nothing to you, all ye that pass 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 john Rothwell, and are to be sold at the sign of the Sun in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1638. To the Reader. BEhold here, as in a Glass, the mournful face of a sister Nation, now drunk with misery; according to what God threatened by the Prophet jeremy. Should I endeavour by all the memorable particulars, which might be accumulated, to amplify this sad theme, the third part would be sufficient to weary thee or blind thy eyes with rears, if thy heart were not adamantine. I record but a small portion of what I have seen, what I have had from sufficient testimonies. Gall and Wormwood are tasted in a drop, and so may the great Ocean. Only the thing I desire, is to move thy Christian heart to compassionate the estate of thy poor brethren, so lamentable, and almost desperate, that thou mayest (at least) by the vials of thy prayers poured out in their behalf help to appeal this wrath of Heaven which is upon them. Remembering withal, that as we know not what hangeth over our own heads, so we are not ignorant of our own indeserts. Our Native Country did sometimes suffer in like manner, if not measure, as in the civil wars and other times. Now we are free, and live in peace, every man under his own Vine, under his own big-tree; Let us not forget to be thankful for this unto the God of peace, and withal to shun those provocations, for which he 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 follows (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. We for the present have Haltion days. Sitting as the people under Solomon, Every man under his own Vine, and Figtree; No complaining in our streets, no carrying into Captivity. For which all honour and praise be to him, whose mercy it is that we are not consumed. And yet there may be a lengthening of our tranquillity, if we would walk worthy of those mercies which we do enjoy, and learn righteousness by the judgements of God, which are made manifest. One especial means effectually tending hereunto, is to be acquainted with the passages of God's providence abroad, and to make such use of his dreadful judgements as he himself in Scripture directs us to. For our information in the state of things abroad, these ensuing schedules may help such as have no better intelligence. Wherein such passages are related, as may make both our ears 〈◊〉 to hear them. The heads insisted on are the Arrows of the Almighty; Sword, Famine, and Pestilence, together with their pale and grisly attendants. Extortion, Rapine, savage cruelty, desolations, deaths of all kind. A sad and dismal troop. The subject on which all these evils light, is Germany: a neighbouring country well known. The Throne of Europe's Empire. This is now the Stage whereon most direful 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 fowls of the air may therein eat the flesh of Kings, Captains, 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 seem incredible, and cause wondering unto astonishment, yet is there nothing but what may well be counted probable, a few things considered. As first, what God threatens in this kind for breach of his Law. Deut. 28. 53, etc. Thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and daughters—. The man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eyes shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and towards the remnant of children which he shall leave: so that he will not give to any of them the flesh of his children, whom he shall eat, etc. 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 certainty of the generals is beyond all exception, among those that will believe any thing more than they see with their eyes, and feel with their hands. The time, and space that the wars have endured adds much to the probability of all effects avoucht. The current year making up full twenty since the beginning. During all which Germany hath been Acheldama, a field of blood. Under this word (war) more evil and mischief is comprehended than can be uttered. Weigh all things duly, the several kinds of war, foreign and domestic; by invasions, by insurrections, the same persons, and places being to day Conquerors, and to morrow conquered, over and over again, and all things every day worse and worse; we may well conclude, the one half hath not been told us. I hope none among us are so profane 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 careless, that they need a Monitor to twit them by the care. I have therefore partly upon entreaty, and chiefly for affection unto the thing itself, endeavoured briefly to speak something unto that end. The Lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy, Amos 3. 8. Salvian in his time, took great pains to prove there was a provilence, when the then supposed barbarous Goths and Vandals broke in upon the Empire, as the Sea doth sometimes over flow the bank. But me thinks that alone were enough to manifest the finger of God, which bred the doubt in men Atheistical. How exceeding full is the Scripture for the proof of this? That God is Author of all Judgements, and therefore in all we ought to look up unto him. All Captains and their armies are but Sergeants under the Lord of hosts; that man of war, and God of battle. The Assyrian is the rod of God's anger, the staff in their hand is God's indignation, Isay 10. 5. There is no evil 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 less are millions of men mowed down with the sword, but according to his righteousness in judgement. It is also clear out of Scripture, that we ought to lay to heart those judgements of God, which we are acquainted with, and especially his greater judgements God sends one place to consider of another: Go ye 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 wickedness of my people Israel, 7. 12. saith God to the men of jerusalem. And who makes question, but that those Churches, Nations, Persons, and Places, which have special relation one unto another, sacred or civil, in the bonds of Religion, neighbourhood or commerce are more especially bound mutually to consider and bemoan one another's conditions. This likewise is evident, that our Church and State, and every member of the same, aught upon special consideration to be cordially affected with the miseries of Germany. They are of the same Religion with us. Christians as we are; our peace is the weaker for want of theirs; many of our own have suffered with them. but above all is the affliction of that Royal Lady our Gracious Sovereign's only sister, who hath suffered already in her Royal Person, and may suffer yet more in her posterity, but God forbid. But what is it that we must do, or learn from the state of things in Germany? The particulars are several in several regards. In relation to God, to them and to ourselves. In regard of God. We must acknowledge the infiniteness of his Wisdom and unsearchableness of his judgements, and take heed 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 root of all. But is it not more likely, that Germany drinks now of the cup of wrath, because she hath long drunk of the cup of sundry great abominations? The general cause, which is sin, we all acknowledge: It were a happiness to know the special, 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 own ways, case and state, and therefore we may leave it unto them to consider of the special causes, whom it most concerns. But who will not fear the Lord, and glorify his Name, who only is holy, and whose judgements are made manifest, Rev. 15. 4. In respect of them, first let us sympathise: grieve with them that grieve. Rom. 12. 15. and weep with them that weep. We are all members of one and the same mystical 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 fears, cares and expenses: Witness the great levy of soldiers 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, until he make jerusalem the praise of the earth. Abraham interceded long for Sodom, 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, ministering to their necessities, receiving of their profugates, and entertaining them into our bosoms, when they fly from their own to us. Many of ours found among them a shelter from the storm in our Marian days, and do still, no doubt, bless God for our peace, notwithstanding their own wars. In respect of ourselves, there be many instructions which we may learn from the Lecture of their calamities. No privileges can finally secure a sinful people; for what have we to glory in that they had not? The seeds of all their evils are sown in our fields. There be likewise diverse duties that we should abound in the more: In repentance, lest we bring upon ourselves the like: In prayer, that God would bless our state and government, that by the wisdom thereof we may be led along in such ways as may propagate our peace unto posterity: In patience under those chastisements which we suffer. Though the hand of God hath long been upon many Cities and Towns, and his Arm be stretched out still upon some of them, yet is our misery, happiness, in comparison of theirs: If a gentle plague alone have affrighted us all, What would Sword and Famine with it do? But what do we? We put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near: We drink wine in bowls, and anoint ourselves with the chief ointments, but are not grieved for the afflictions of joseph, Amos 6. 3. & 6. This is no small sin, and if once the day of our visitation come, a small chastisement on God's part will not be all. Oh that we would consider, the Vials of God's wrath are pouring forth, as well on his own Churches for correction, as on their adversaries unto destructino. Who knows how fast the cup may pass round? God's arrows are all fleet. The curse of God goeth forth over the face of the whole earth, Zach. 5. 3. If the sins of Sodom be found in Samaria, and the sins of Samaria in jerusalem, they shall all pledge each other: for God is no respecter of persons. Are there no drunkards but in Germany? Or, doth God hate sin in them alone? What are we, that God should always spare us? Many cry, Peace, Peace, and I with the Prophet jeremy say Amen. The Lord do so, the Lord perform the words of them which prophesy of nothing but good, jere. 28. 6. But it's good to remember that of the Apostle, when they cry, Peace, Peace, etc. Gloss. ordin. in jerem. 7. 12. Quicquid illo populo fecit Deus, timeamus: cum nos similia faciamus. Yet no such clouds (blessed be God) arise over our heads, as those wherewith her horizon is darkened. But storms arise suddenly. God creates good and evil, brings both when there is no appearance or cause of suspicion. Not to fear is cause enough to be afraid, if we could so reflect upon ourselves: As God brings light out of darkness, so darkness out of light. How fair rose the Sun upon Sodom, that day it reigned fire and brimstone? How poor a thing was a cloud like a man's hand, to prognosticate abundance of rain by? But I must manum de tabula. Well then read on, read and spare not, read and consider, read and weep, imagine the Book to be Germany itself, their case ours, and our souls in their soul's stead. Do as Nehemiah did when he heard of the state of jerusalem, and the Temple therein He sat down and wept, mourned and fasted certain days, and prayed before the Lord God of Heaven, Neh. 1. 4. Would we but do the like for ourselves and them, God would assuredly restore their peace, and continue ours, for which I shall ever heartily pray, and so rest A wellwisher to all the Churches of God. A Copy of a Letter sent by the Ministers of Germany to the Dutch Church in LONDON. Snalles and froges eagerly eaten eating dead men's guts and Interalls A divines wife saw 6 of her Children lay starved before her eyes. Corn 3 pounds 18 shilling a bushel. SInce the Imperialists passing the Rhine, first entered into our Country, which is almost two years ago, destruction hath come upon as like a whirlwind, and sudden desolation hath depopulated this our most floutishing country; our Cities are turned into Towns, our Towns 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-faced Famine hath not devoured, are so transcendently 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 year had taken Swybruggen, & passing with a numbersome army towards Lotharinge had destroyed all round about; there followed such a fearful famine, that the most part of men, especially of them that dwelled in the country, being urged by pressing necessity, was driven to feed on Acorns, all manner of herbs, roots, briers, nettles, grass, 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 beefs, sheep, horses, the hair being first burned, was highly prised, yea Snails, Frogs with their guts and eggs, the flesh of dogs and cats, carrion that hath been dead six weeks or more, hath been 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 half a yard long. Two women did so long fight with their fists for horseflesh, that one of of them died, yea, in some Famine made such a rage, that they did not abstain from man's flesh. In a parish near unto Sweybruggen, a brother and sister surviving their parents, and the sister also dying, he (we tremble in the very writing) fed upon his sister, and devoured the thighs of his mother, in the Diocese of Blissoe Capellana the corpses of men starved, whose skin cleaved to their bones, so that whilst they were alive, we might truly 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 lain in wait to intercept passengers, and those whom they have taken, after they have killed them, they make their own bellies than graves. A boy of some three years old, the son of a soldier in Biten territory, was stolen and carried away by a beggar, as she was about to strangle him with a halter, the mother opportunely coming, rescued him, and moved with wrath and indignation slew her, these are the fearful effects of Famine, so that if we scape the being devoured by others, yet hunger will even famish us: the widow of john Peter Laëri. Minister, saw before she died (O dreadful spectacle) six of her children perish with Famine. The widow of Albogastus Rumela perished herself, and four children, and when they are extinguished by Famine (if they escape being eaten of others) they lie unburied, stinking and torn in pieces by dogs, wolves, and other beasts. Some having eaten mad dogs, were taken with frenzy themselves, and ragingly died. Hence comes such a wilderness, that in 300 parishes, there's not any left alive, those few that remain, hide themselves in the woods, and in the towns, the tenth man doth not survive, and many of them too, having their strength dried up, totter to and fro, nodding and sliding like carved pictures without life, and many being no longer able to stand, fall down in the midst of the streets, grovelling on the ground, and being only able to ask for sustenance are ready to give up the ghost. This is the state of our afflicted Country, so that we may lament, as Isay. The daughter of Zion is like a city of devastation, like a Summer cottage in a garden, like a little noose in a vineyard. It the Lord of Hosts had not left us a remnant, we had been as Sodom and as Gomorrah. In the Dukedom of Sweybruggen are left Ministers. 40. Schoolmasters. 16. Wives. 52. Widows 26. Children. 140. Orphans. 18. Some 292. Persons. In the names of all the Ministers of Sweybrugen sent forth under hand and seal: johannes Wilthelmus. Rauschius Pastor Numbacensis. Exul. johannes Christianus. Neuhorelius Pastor Ohmbacensis. Exul. This we have had from such good hands, even from the Dutch Con sistory in London, where the Original is, that it must needs seem malicious ignorance in any that will but faint in the belief 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A devastation of towns & villag●● & 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, from above ferat, paucisfimis illis incolis, qui adhuc superstites sunt, & bactenus maximam 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. januarii 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, wolvif●● men. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, seu Lycaones fiunt! Fredericus Goelerus, Pastor Meissenheimensis. The same in English. What the state of our most afflicted Country is, without all doubt you have perceived by others; all things (as I may use the words of the Poet) have run together for the worse, and slid with a backward foot, for wheresoever we cast our eyes, we see nothing but misery, and a horrid devastation of towns and villages; the insolency and cruelty of the Soldiers exceeds all belief, they have not been afraid, sor the hope of prey, in Sweibruggen to violate the tombs of the illustrious Dukes many years ago deceased, to exercise cruelty on their corpse, to disturb and diminish their bones. The dearness of provision is such as never hath been heard of before in this land, a bushel of corn is scarcely got with 1● Rix Dollars, which is four 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 remain alive, and hitherto for the most part have lived on apples and pears must needs perish. The Famine of Saguntum, Samaria, jerusalem, if they are but paralleled with those most grievous ones (oh our grief!) that have befallen us in our Country, seem but trifles. About a fortnight since, an Inhabitant of the village of Ilvesbeim (a manotherwise of a good report) coming into the house of his neighbour, when he was absent, took a little bread, intending to go out, a child of some eight years of age called after him, and threatened him, that when his Cousin came home, with whom he lived, that he would make manifest his theft presently; that wicked fellow ran unto him, and with a pruning hook miserably cut his throat. In the Village of Steinhaus near Hornebach, a certain woman having alured unto her with enticing words a girl of 12. years old, and a boy of 5, a Miller's son (I tremble in the relating) killed them both, and devoured them with her neighbour; the Garrison Soldiers of Sweibrugen making an excursion by chance into this village, being drawn thither by the smell, enter the house of this infant killer; they search every corner, at last they find a vessel full of humane grease, and a head that had been scalded in hot water, and so baked in an oven; they carried her caprive unto Sweibruggen, where on the 24 of january she suffered condign punishment; At her death she confessed, that near Landovia and the Village of Anna, she killed two other children the last year. The other woman, which was partaker in the eating, is still kept in prison, and constantly denies that she was a partner in that wicked act. Such things (oh our grief!) we are compelled daily to hear, most sad examples. O ill persuading hunger, O wits truly Cyclopicke! O dreadful Metamorphosis! by which men putting off all humanity, and putting on the nature of savage beasts, do 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 storms and tempests do now beat upon the ship of Jesus Christ in our Country? What punishments and plagues do now oppress us? God is justly angry with us for our manifold sins, and seems in his indignation utterly to destroy us, and all that is round about us. The heavy curses of Moses, the bitter lamentations of jeremy, and all the horrible threatenings of the holy Prophets, we see daily here accomplished. With this new Winter-quarter, begins a renewing of our miseries; oppression and persecution, we being utterly destitute of all help and means to support us. The chiefest of our Country are forced to leave their houses and lands, and to go a wand'ring in strange Countries; yea, many of them end their lives most miserably. It is impossible to express either the greatness of our wants, or the fury of Famine amongst us. Mother's forgetting their natural affections towards their own children become butchers of them, and eat them up in stead of food. We do hear daily children crying about the streets, and lamenting that they dare not go home, for fear 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 man's head roasted by her, and the rib of a man in her mouth, holding it between her teeth, and of this horrible spectacle all sorts of men can give testimony. Such and many more signs of Gods heavy wrath we could write unto you of, but this shall suffice to give you a touch of the extremities we are in. O how seasonable are those alms, which are sent hither to keep some of us alive! That faithful God, who hath made so many promises to the liberal heart, will undoubtedly consider those, that consider our poor Countrymen in these extremities, and keep them from famishing. Andrea's Pilger, Pastor. CHAP. I. Evils of Punishment are Gods, the evil of Sin 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 four 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 Country. What shall we say? were their sins greater than ours? No, but except we repent, what may we expect? the sins of Sodom were pride, idleness, and fullness of bread; and such they acknowledge theirs to have been. I have seen their peasants served in plate, they slept with downe-beds above and under them: their stoves kept them insensible of the winter's cold; they ate no dish of meat without his sauce; their plenty of corn and wine, milk and honey, fish and flesh, did equal that of any other nation whatsoever. A little labour brought them in much; delicacy of living made them incompassionate of others sufferings; and security blinded them, that they could not see the storm a coming. Thus, while they swim in fullness and pleasure, the Judgement that slept, was suddenly awaked, & the fire of war was kindled in all their coasts; which blown 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 drunk with blood. 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 blazing star 1617. burghers and ministers., relieved in prisson a divine tortured with a Cat. TO begin with war, which began the rest, who knoweth not that this merciless fury hath there played the tyrant, ever since that burning Beacon, the blazing Star, gave them the alarm, 1617. which the best Astrologers expounded the sword of Germany. A Prophecy I have seen, long since, written in a Book, which belonged to a Canonic of Nimegen, and now in the Library at Zutphen; that a time should come, when one Fredrick should be King, and then should the Princes of Germany, the Nobility of Bohemia, and the people of both be oppressed, and war rage, beyond all precedent of former ages this, if ever, is now fulfilled in our days. 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, bloodshed 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 direful 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 freedom from these miseries (though some have been more free than others) so is there no Prince, nor State, which hath not suffered herein, no City, no Town, almost no person. Every half years, every months, yea, week's relation, telleth us, of hundreds, thousands, millions of rix dollars, or galdens imposed, exacted, extorted by the conquerors, or Spoilers, for the redemption of men's lives or liberties, goods or dwellings, 〈◊〉 Strange and impossible ofttimes have the ransoms been, with which they have ●●xed the Burghers, at the taking in of Towns. And that they might have their wills in this kind, they have called the Magistrates, and Burghers 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 smoke, that some of them died. We left in Heydelberg-Castle many Burghers to this their mercy; and diverse 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 surrendering the town, upon necessity, could not enjoy the articles granted them by the enemy; But were together with the grave Counselors, and other Electoral 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 died through grief and sorrow. Others, though altogether exhausted, redeemed themselves with unreasonable ransoms. 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 been dealt with, contrary to all oaths and promise, yea, contrary to the Laws of Nations and common faith. CHAP. III. Of Tortures and Torments. NOt to insist on these, look we upon the cruelties which the licentious Soldier hath exercised upon the persons of the Inhabitants, without respect of age, sex, dignity, calling, etc. And we shall rather think them Banditoes or Renegadoes, than men of arms, rather monsters than mankind. Nor Turks nor Infidels have so behaved themselves. Even Princes (sacred Persons) though they never bore arms, as the old Landgrave of Hessen, and others: yea, some of the female Sex, as the old Duchess Dowager of Wirtenberg, have been without any regard or pity, taken prisoners, reviled, abused. Aronibeus reporteth from the Letters of the D. of Saxony, that some of Tilly's Soldiers caused his Subjects to be tortured, by half strangling them, and pressing their thumbs with wheels. His Soldiers, and those of Walsten, exercised yet greater cruelties in Pemeren, and thereabouts. They made the people by force to eat their own excrements: and if they would not, they thrust them down their throats, and so choked some of them. twisted out there eyes Razed offe there skin with knife's hanging up in the smoke blood sprouted at finger's end. plaining there faces piss poured down there. throats Whom they thought to have hidden gold or other wealth, they have assayed, by exquisite torments to make them confess. Yea Princely personages have suffered like cruelty in this kind with meaner folk. 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, ears, 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, jaws, cheeks, breasts, 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 razed, and cut the skin and flesh of many, as some Artificers deal with leather, or other stuff of like nature. They have drawn strings and cords thorough the fleshy parts of some, the muscles of their thighs, legs, arms, etc. thorough their noses, ears, lips, etc. They have hung up some in the smoke, drying them with small fires, refreshing them sometime with small drink, or cold water. For these being such as were before overwhelmed with grief, they took care lest in their torment they should die too soon. Some they have put into hot Ovens, and so smothered or burned them. Some they roasted with straw-fires. Some have they stifled, strangled or hanged. This was great favour to be rid out of their pain. To many they have bound so hard both hands and feet, 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 mouths with clouts to hinder them from praying. Some have they hanged up, with ropes fastened to their privy parts, and hearing their roaring cries, have striven to outroar and drown their cries as in sport. And yet more detestable, where they have found poor weak Creatures troubled with ruptures or burstennesse, they have enlarged the same by villainous means, filled them with gunpowder, and blown 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 plain the faces of some, pretending that they would make it equal & smooth. Some Householders have they openly gelded, in the presence of their wives and children. The mouths of some have they opened with gags, and then poured down their throats, water, stinking puddle, filthy liquids, and piss itself, saying, This is a Swedish draught. So growing sick, and their bellies swelling like a Tun, they have died by leisure with the greater torment. Down the throats of others, they have thrust a knotted clout, and then with a string pulled it up again, to pull the bowels out of their place, or show themselves exquisite in such devilish devices. And by these torments, they have made some deaf, or dumb, others blind, others lame and miserable creples, if they killed them not. If an Husband did entreat for the Wife, or the Wife for the Husband, than took they the intercessor, and he was tortured by them, after the same manner before the others eyes. And (which is almost beyond all credit) when these poor 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 Devil, or call upon him. Infinite and unspeakable are the cruelties, which have this last year been exercised by the furious Soldiers on all sides. And some devils among them did proceed so far, that they consulted and devised new and exquisite tortures, which they exercised upon innocent persons. They took a Divine, (some write a Canon in those parts, and a reverend old man) stripped him, bound him along upon his back on a Table, and a strong big Cat upon his naked belly. They beat and pricked the Cat to make her fix her teeth & claws in the poor man's belly. So the Cat & the man, partly through famine, 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 kill men, but to eat humane and Christian's flesh, and have consulted how to find out torments more rare, cruel, 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, tigers fed them, hell taught them, and thither I remit them. CHAP. FOUR Of Rape and Ravishing. ●●●●nesse in Chur●●● A maid Ravisched and after quartered Maids leaping into Rivers. I Have said much of the former Particular, and yet but little. I will now speak little of this ensuing abomination, and (I fear) too much. Rapes and Ravishing scarce to be spoken or heard of, have they committed, beyond all humane modesty. Maids and Matrons, Widows and Wives, without distinction have they violated and forced, and that in the presence of their Parents, Husbands, Neighbours, etc. Women with child in childbed, etc. no pen can write it, no faith believe it. No Chapel Church or place consecrated hath been free from the filthiest of pollutions, or most sacrilegious barbarismes. The very Hospitals and Bedlame-houses have not been spared: their devilish madness hath there found subjects for their purpose. In Hessenland, a poor lean Bedlam woman, that had been kept in chains abóve twenty years, was by these hellhounds let loose. About her they brought diverse others, like herself, some mad, some dumb, all wretched. They tied their coats about their ears, and so used them as I shame to express. In Pomeren they took the fairest daughters of the Country-dwellers, and ravished them in the sight of their parents, making them and their friends to sing Psalms before them all the while. In Italy, I have heard some with tears recite the villainies perpetrated by the German troops of Gallas and Altringer, when they besieged Mantua. Among the rest, a beautiful maid was by her Parents hid in the dunghill. 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 hersemen (as we came through Brunswickland) took by force a young maid ten years old, and carried her into a wood to ravish her. The mother with upreard hands came running after our Coach, crying out to my Colonel, who was here a stranger without command, and could not relieve her: then saw we the two horsemen come out of the wood, where they had left the poor child dead or alive I know not. Virtuous and chaste women have they offered to kill, or thrown their children into the fire, to make them yield. They have not spared the very Nuns in the Cloisters, but after they have entered by force, broken open their Trunks and Coffers, and taken their goods, they have likewise ravished them, and killed some of them. I know the General, a troop of whose horse having done the like, he commanded them all to be hanged, but because they were not all alike guilty, they cast lots for their lives, and every tenth man died. Some have leapt into rivers, into wells, or killed themselves because they would not be subject to the filthy lusts of these hellborn furies. Not only sick and weak maids, and women have been violated till they died, but these wretches have committed like filthiness with the dead bodies. CHAP. V. Of Robbing and Pillaging. NO man can now pass any where in Dutch-land; but he is robbed, stripped, perhaps killed. The Merchants of Frankford, Nurenberg Lipzig, Hamburg, etc. have had too woeful experience hereof: witness of Infinite this one instance. The Merchants of Basil, returning from the Mart at Strasburg, and other Fairs, to go 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 heretics. The rest leaving their goods and garments behind, escaped by flight stark naked in the night. Merchant's Robed and slain persons privelegdd Rifled Divines cut in peaces Two Countesles of great nobility, with their fair daughters and followers in distress, 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 fail, they went away with the enemy's passport. 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 privileged persons of royal Ambassadors, their goods and followers, cannot be secured from them, witness this year the shameful plundering of the Danish Ambassador. 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 been that one might have traveled 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 rob one another every where out of their quarter: nor are they fellow soldiers any longer, when they have opportunity to play the thiefs. Nor God nor devil do they acknowledge, but when they swear, nor is any thing so vile but they will do 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; only they that survive are ofttimes the worse for want of them that are dead. To report the bloodshed of this war, would be incredible: Alsted saith, that before the King of Swedens' coming, it had consumed no less 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 Colonels, with Colonel Butler the Irish man, who killed Walstein, the Count of Tirskie, and other Imperial officers then ready to revolt to the Swedish party, are now, this year after the same manner, hurt, or killed themselves (as is written) by Gallas his followers, upon a dispute about that former business; a Document for all strangers, to take heed, how they colloque with those monsters, in such dangerous actions, who love the Treason, but hate the Traitor. Priests slain at the Altars Croats eat Children Noses & ears Cut of to make hatbandes At Landshood in Bavier, the soldiers entering by force, killed not only all they found in arms, but the innocent inhabitants, yea, the very Priests kneeling at the Altars; and diverse other instances of like nature I could produce. Now what may the poor peasant and countrey-dwellers expect? to kill them if they resist or refuse them any thing, is but ordinary in this war: among the imperialists is a base sort of rascally horsemen which serve them, and are called Croats. The tenth part of them are not of that Country: for they are a miscellany of all strange nations, without God, without religion, and have only the outsides of men, and scarce that too. They make no conscience of murdering men or women, old or young, yea, the very innocent babes; and like the beasts among whom they are bred, do sometimes eat them, when other food might be found: the poor people have by these been every where knocked down in the fields and ways, slaughtered, stabbed, tortured barbarously. Their fellow soldiers are not much behind them having some where left such footsteps of their cruelty, that there scarce remain living, to relate the sufferings of the dead. I have seen them beat out the brains of poor old decrepit women, as in sport, and commit other outrages of like nature, which my brevity will not permit me to relate. It is now grown so usual with the poor people to see one slain before another's 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 inhuman. 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 defeat of the Duke of Brunswick at Heuxt on the Main, drew out of that town threescore poor soldiers, & caused them all to be 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 forbear. CHAP. VII. Of Burning and Destroying. 2000 villages burnt in Bavaria No tillage nor Breeding cattle But dringe all in to Cities 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 be sure to leave some dwellings in the ashes, some in the smoke. To that pass it is now come, that every one that is a man, betaketh himself to arms. There is now no other abode, but some camp, no other plough to follow, no other employment but the war, for he that is not an actor with the rest, must needs be a sufferer among the miserable patients. No tilling of the land, no breeding of cattle; for if they should, the next year the soldiers devour it. Better to sit still, than to labour, and let others reap the profits, Hence an universal desolation. Part of the people swarm as banished in strange countries, as I have observed in Suisse, at Lausan, Berne, Basil, etc. in France, in Italy, especially the Venetian territories. From Basil to Strasburg, from Strasburg to Heydelberg, from thence to Marpurg, I scarce saw a man in the fields, or Villages. Little better shall a man find it tha● traveleth from the Kingdom of France to the middle of Bohemia, from the Alps above Auspurg to the Baltique sea, a square of land little less than thrice all Great Britain. Only here and there, as the land hath rest, the dwellers return. But alas, the far greater part are extinguished by war, misery, or length of time. CHAP. VIII. Of Famine. Eateing dead horses Fowls eat the dead FAmine cometh next in place, a thing so grievous, that David preferred the pestilence in his choicy. To see men slain by the sword, or die of contagious diseases, is not yet so grievous, as to see them dye of famine, or kill to eat one another. In Samaria besieged by Benhadad King of Syria, the famine was so great, that an Ass' 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 eat their children successively: and when they had boiled and eaten the one, the other woman hid hers. In the siege of jerusalem, Mice, Rats, and Hides were good meat, and women did dress and eat their own children, the smell whereof drew others that were hunger-starved to come to share with them. But that Cities not besieged, and a Country naturally fertile, should be so ruined, as not to be able, for so long a time to afford bread to a poor remnant of people, but that they must be fain to eat carrion, yea, dead men, yea, one another living: this is pitiful, this is unheard of. Had I not been provided of Viaticum, at my coming out of Suisse famine had arrested me in Germany, for there was not any where meat for money. The Italians and Spaniards, which had be eat the skirmish at Nortlingen, and without arms, wandered among the Duke of Lorrane's troops at Nyburg and Brisac, were so black and feeble through hunger, that had I not given them part of m● provision, I think they had rend me in pieces, and eaten me. Travelling from Neiustadt towards Frankendale in a snowy day, I met, unexpected, the army of Duke Bernard, whose stra ling forerunners, came riding up to me by couples, and when I looked for a worse errand, asked only 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 we were besieged last time in Heydleberg Castle, some of my patients, almost recovered of they diseases, sent me 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 town night and day, almost uncessantly. Our soldiers at the first, killed more horses on a day, than they could eat, lest they should famish for want of hay and those they threw out of the Castle, down the rock, which the enemy in the night drew into the town, (though some in so doing were slain by our shot) and so they eat our horseflesh, also our Sergeant Major sallied with 50. men upon the enemy being 300. entrenched on the hill on the East side of the castle, and beat them out of their works. Many were slain, some broke their necks down the rocks: but which equalised the victory, the valiant Major was shot dead. Our soldiers being Masters of the trench, fell to ransack the enemy's knapsacks, which they had left behind them. But there was nothing in them, save our horseflesh, which every day grew scarser with us: so that now we killed the horses which stood fasting and sleeping on the dunghill, not out of compassion, but necessity. Another Sergeant Major had two very fair horses shut up our soldiers took the one and ate him, he thinking to make sure the other, stapled him to the wall with a strong chain and a padlock, but they espying their opportunity, cut off the horse's neck, left the head in the chain, and carried away the body and ate it. At length, dogs and carrion came into request, we could smell our meat afar 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 yielded to necessity. CHAP. X. of Famine. THe armies now everywhere overranne the Cowtrey, devoured both Corn & cattle: so they that had goods left, offered to give all for a little bellytimber. But not so obtaining it they were fain to lie upon the streets and high ways, (a thing not usual with them) and to crave for God's sake where with to refresh their dying souls. But no sooner had they swallowed what was given them, but they fell down and died. Memorable is that story which Reinmannuste recordeth of the Famine in Alsatia the last year, which is at this present yet worse. Valentine of Engelin a citizen of Rufacke, with the dead-burier, delivered unto the Magistrate upon their oaths, that Anne the daughter of john Ebstein confessed unto them, that she came from Colmar, where she had waited many days before the hangman's door in hope to get a piece of horseflesh to satisfy her hunger. But not prevailing, she 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 eat to preserve her life. Carrion Sold in the Market as Dogs & Rats 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 men's flesh, which being published, the Cloister of the Churchyard of S. Nicholas, where the dead bodies were kept, was locked up. Lastly, that four young maids had cut in pieces the dead body of another young maid of eleven years of age, and eaten every one their part. At this day it is yet worse. Many that survived the loss of all they had, have for a long time sustained themselves with roots, acorns, green fruits, grass, thistles, and weeds, that beasts would not have eaten, whereof they grew enraged anddyed. The famished have been so faint, that they have not had strength to bury one another, in so much, that the dead have been eaten up of Dogs, Foxes and Wolves, and some have run mad for hunger. In some Cities, the inhabitans by this famine, have been constrained to kill all unedible cattle, without any difference, and to sell them publicly: as Dogs, Cats, Rats, Mice etc. A woman at Hanaw, that had sold Dogs-flesh ordinarily to the soldiers, was in the streets assaulted by Dogs, all her garments torn off her back, that she was fain to sit down on the ground to hide her shame. And had she not been rescued, she had been rend 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 eat it. They have snatched one from another the very stinking carrion, which had lain six or seven weeks dead and full of maggots: yea and have fought and beaten one another to get a morsel thereof, as lately happened at Dubach by Bachrack. It hath moved the great ones and governor's of these quarters unto compassion to see their people in such extreme want. In so much that the noble Earl of Falkenstein seeing his Subjects crave sustenance of him, commanded his man to give them his hounds to satisfy their hunger, which they presently killed and ate. CHAP. X. Of Famine. 3 wp, 'em killing and after eateing each other women Eat there own Children AS the sickness spreadeth by the contagion of infected bodies, so hath this famine increased by the neglect of Providence in the disabled and famished. When no more food was to be got, they were enraged like beasts one against another, and gathering together by troops, have watched for one another upon the high ways, and so murdered, dressed, and eaten one another. Thenceforth no man could pass safe on the way, or in the streets, except wellarmed, or travelling with a convoy. And some of them have been taken and severely punished by Justice, nevertheless they have secretly lurked here and there, and set upon the passengers, as by many instances, I could show. It is not good to be alone; for where there is company, the one will help the other in distress. The hardness of these times being observed, or rather felt, three maidens at Odenheim in Dirmbstein by Worms agreed to dwell together, and to partake of sweet and sour all alike. But the proverb is true, that necessity hath no law, and hunger is a sharp Thorn. So pressed they were with extreme famine, that they sought one another's life to save their own. 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 dress and eat her up. All which they did accordingly. Then the second resolved to strangle her companion, and cut off her head, which when she 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 himself a way for a time in the town of Leyningen. The woman entertained her kindly, rejoicing that she 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 dwelled and drew it into her house. The sharpness 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 only, and washed and dressed them. The husband coming home miss his wife, and enquired for her at the neighbours, who told him that such a maid was seen with his wife. He went to her house, knocked at the door and asked her, if she had not seen his Wife. She answered him no. But such deeds of cruelty are hard to be concealed. Murder will out, they say, or the very Bruits will discover it. He goes into her house, casteth his eyes round about, pryeth into every corner: at length he espieth an hand to stick out of the pot, which hung upon the fire. Hereupon, as overcome with grief, he rageth and raileth against the murtheress, threateneth her with sharp words, so that she presently confessed and revealed it. Then went he to the Justice, and complained. So she 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 Imperial 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 rational Creature, but as a brute, because the appetite of food is common to us with beasts. But wickedness, though necessitated, may not ever go free. Some must be made an example for the terror of others. She was led to the common place of justice, her head cut off, and her body bound upon a wheel, there to remain as a spectacle. I cannot but write with tears what followeth. — Quis talia fando Mysmidonum, Dolopumve ant duri miles Vlyssis Temperet à lachrymis?— What Myrmidon, what Dolop, who that bears Arms under harsh Ulysses, but his tears Must flow at this relation? No man ever hated his own flesh. But such are the children of our bodies. It is even against nature to destroy such fruit. Yet the sharpness of hunger brought this to pass. Oh! what is that necessity which makes us break stone walls, forget the nearest and dearest relations, vanquish our natural and most powerful passions, and destroy that which we so dear loved, so carefully cherished! At Oterburg in the Palatinate, a widow women dwelling by the churchyard (her name well known) had a daughter of nine or ten years old. This child with hunger was grown so faint, that upon a time, with sorrowful eyes, she steadfastly looked upon her mother and said, sweet mother, I would willingly die, so I were rid of my pain. Oh! would you make an end of me, than should I go from whence I came, or if I did kill you, you would be rid of your pain. The mother looking upon her again, sighing said, and what wouldst thou do with me? The child answered, very sadly, I then would eat you, for they say that man's flesh is very sweet. The mother fell a weeping, and broken with her own thoughts, as a ship tossed and beaten between two rocks, desperate necessity & her motherly affection, catcheth at her head, untyeth her hairlace, twisteth it about the neck of this innocent lamb, and so strangleth her; when it was dead, she 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 she sold to her neighbours for four stivers the pound. Her child being long miss, 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 soldiers, 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 half 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 herself with such food, her pricking pain being thereby abated. This so moved the Lords to pity, that they freed her from prison, and let her go as innocent. I cannot but record another story of like nature, of the woman of Hornebach, where was sometime the Princely school of Zwybruck, having lately lain in childbed and wanting milk to nourish her babe, she kissed and embraced it with moist tears, and after a long discourse killed it with a knife. Afterwards she dressed and ate it. When it began to be known, she was examined before the Justices. The Lords asked her, wherefore she killed her child. She made answer that mighty and intolerable hunger had made her so to do, and that it was her own fruit, of which she might better make use, than of any other. Nevertheless 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 burial, digged them out of their graves, dressed and eaten them. So that in diverse places (at Worms especially) they have been fain to set watch at the Churchyards; and over the graves to keep the dead from being stolen and eaten. In Saxony at this present the case is so miserable in this kind, that no pen can express it. The Saxon-Austrian Army (were they not beaten) must retreat 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 been. To that extremity it is come, that some constrained by hunger, have taken poison to advance death. Dead Corpses digged out of there Graves to Eat Some take poison to hasten death In a word, the very wild beasts in the woods do starve for want of prey. My Lord the Earl of Arundel travelling homewards, towards Frankefort on the Main, a Boor or peasant of the country, being their guide, and having his legs bare, a Fox pursued him, among my Lords followers, and would not forbear snatching and biting at his bare heels, (such was his hunger) till they gave him a blow in the neck, and so took him alive. His eyes were sunk, his bones stuck out, and he was so extreme lean, that his sides almost mote together. They carried him alive with them in the coach, and after a few days he died. An English gentleman arrived here the other day, who travelling from ulme's to Nurenburg, & so through Germany for England, with such companions as guided him byways for escaping of the soldiers, 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 spoil of strangers, or one another; Thievery being become a trade. CHAP. XII. Of sickness and diseases. in Basile 1633 died. 20000 in Trent. 1634 died 30000 General Holcke offered 600 Rixdollers for a diviń to comfort him. Before Mastreicht, after the Town was taken, our quarters had contracted infectious sicknesses: whereof I myself had my share, being left sick in the Town of a purple Fever. But the year following both the Town and Country were grievously afflicted, with Fevers, Fluxes, and the Plague above all. The same year 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 kind. 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 year after were afraid of their own dwellings. About the same time, General Holck being sent by Wolstein, with 6000. to invade Saxony, sacked the City of Leipzick, and committed as great outrages as Tilly's Army had done before. But such a pestilence overtook both him and his, that most of his soldiers died like sheep of the rot. And being infected himself, he offered 600 Rixdollers for a Minister of the Gospel to instruct and comfort him. But both himself and his Soldiers had so behaved themselves, that no Minister was to be found. In the mean all his friends & servants forsook him, except his Concubine, who stayed with him to the last. He had been both of the Religion and the Protestants party, but revolted from both. So guilty of his own perfidiousness, and the execrable murders and rapines that he had caused, he died despairing utterly of all future bliss. 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 rejoiced 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 distress. The winter following, 1634. the pestilence so raged among the Tridentines, that we were forbidden to come that way, for the sick and sound were mixed together, and that City (not great) buried above 30000. Besieged in the Castle of Heidelberg, I visited every day diverse sick of the plague, and like diseases. But in neither of these two great plagues in London, nor in any other, that I have been in, did I ever find the cause so virulent, the symptoms so incorrigible, the disease so incurable. Some died raging, others were killed with their carbuncles, when the venom seemed to be expelled from the inward parts, others were swollen and discoloured, as though they had taken poison, and some that died were so spotted, as I never saw the like. If any soldier were but slightly wounded, presently it became a malign ulcer, though all good inward and outward means, were used. If the infection got into a kindred, it killed parents, children, and almost all the blood, that were present. Whence I persuade myself, that Hypocrates his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is, the divine hand and finger of God was more conspicuous in this, than in any other visitation I had seen, though I doubt not but our food with the air might also help to impoison our bodies extraordinarily. Toward the end of the siege, we had made an hospital in the roof of the house. But packing out of the Castle, we left there our sick, some dying, some crying out at the windows, not to be left to their sickness, famine, and death, and which was worse than the enemy, of whom how they were used we may imagine. In the Town 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 sickness to diminish their numbers, they had yielded the town through want of victuals. In the same siege, Soldiers that went to the guard seeing and well, came off strucken stark blind thirty at a time. Afterwards the disease falling into their legs, the most of them recovered. CHAP. XIII. Of Sickness and Diseases. In Bavier men not left to bury the dead, but Rats, and mice, devoured there carcases. Have pittey upon me, have pittey upon me, o ye my friends for the hand of the Lord hath touched me. THe year 1635, almost whole Germany felt this punishment, in most grievous wise. In Swaben the Country of tyrol, all along the Rhine, and the Main, it was so furiously hot, that all places were alike safe. The King of Hungary was fain to dissolve his Court, and send them away into diverse Cities, for their safer abode. In Swaben the inhabitants of Memingen, Campden, and Isnen were utterly consumed, and none left. In the Country thereabout, in which were more than thirty thousand men heretofore, were not four hundred souls to be found. In the confines of Bavier the living were nothing near able to bury the dead. But Rats and Mice devoured their carcases, most horrible to behold. The low Countries smarted sore also. The University of Leyden buried thirty thousand. The Country Villages and the Hague, (where I was shut up myself) were miserably afflicted. The Infant Cardinal was forced to remove from Brussels and Antwerp, the sickness did so increase in those places. Nimegen, Emericke, Rees, Gelder's, with other places near, were not only visited therewith (whereof the marquis of Aytoma, the Spanish General, & other Commanders died) but new contagious diseases, among which were strange Fluxes, and a kind of pox unheard of. The Emperor's 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 Towns upon the Rhine, such an infection happened through the stinch of the dead unburied bodies, that in the Bishopric of Mentzes alone there died of this and hunger twenty four thousand people. In Saxony, Brandenburg, Pomeren, Mecklenburg, etc. this year the pestilence with like diseases have been so universal, that these and the sword, seem to strive which shall be the greatest destroyer. The retreat of the Swedes, in which they did not only evade, but cut in pieces many of the enemy's Troops, is not so famous as these calamities. The very plague consumed in Saxony the other day in the space of two months, no less than sixteen 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 guess at his stature, so by these few particulars of the miseries of some places there, we may guess 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 scars. Thus is the Virgin daughter of that people destroyed with a great destruction, and with a sore and grievous plague. Go into the fieid, behold the slain with the sword. Enter into the City, behold them that are sick for hunger also. So are they smitten, but are not healed. They look 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.