THE King of Portugal had sent to the King of Siam a very splendid Embassy: To answer the civility of this European Prince, the King deputed three great Mandarins in Quality of his Ambassadors, with six other younger Mandarins, and a considera­ble Retinue, to go to the Court of Portugal. We embark'd for Goa in the year 1684. where we abode eleven months, and departed thence for Europe in a Portugal Vessel, Jan. 27. 1686. but on the 27th. of April we unhappily run aground on the Cape of the Needles, and that in this man­ner: [Page 2] That very day several Mariners were or­der'd to ascend the Masts, to observe the Land that we descry'd a little towards the right hand; by their relations the Captain and Pilot judg'd that it was the Cape of Good Hope, so without ob­serving themselves whether the Mariners spoke truth or not, they continu'd their course till two or three hours, after Sun-set, when they believ'd they had already past the Land we had before discover'd, then changing the course, they bore a little more towards the North. I know not what presage of the misfortune that threatned us had so fill'd me with restless thoughts, that I could not so much as close my eyes to sleep; I then came out of my Cabbin, and amus'd my self with beholding the Ship that seem'd to fly on the top of the waters. Casting my eyes a little further, I perceiv'd on a sudden a very dark sha­dow near our right side; this sight struck me with terror, and immediately I said to the Pilot, Is it not the Land that I see? As he approach'd to look, we heard them crying out in the Fore­castle, Land, Land before us, we are lost.

The Pilot run to the Helm to change the course, but we were so near the shore, that the Ship in veering struck thrice with her Poop upon a Rock; which made her stand still without any manner of motion. They run to the Poop, but not one drop of water had yet enter'd. Imme­diately they made all efforts possible to save them­selves from Imminent ruine, by felling the Masts by the board, and unloading the Vessel, but they had not time, for the Wind drove the Ship up­on the shore. These Mountains of Water break­ing into foamy Billows upon the points of the [Page 3] Rocks that jutted out into the Sea, lifted up the Vessel to the Clouds, letting her fall on a sudden upon the Cliffs with such violence that she could not hold out long. You might have heard her already cracking on all sides, some parts of her falling off from the rest; and at last, this great Mass of Wood being for a while thus dreadfully shaken and toss'd from Wave to Rock, was dash'd to pieces with a horrible noise. The Poop bore the first shock, and accordingly was the first part that bulg'd: To no purpose they cut down the Masts, and threw over-board the Guns, and all that lay in their way; all their precautions were in vain, for the ship struck upon the Rocks so often, and so rudely, that at last she open'd under the Gunners Room. The Water then en­tring in abundance, began to gain the first Deck, and to fill the Gunners Room, it advan­ced even to the great Cabbin, and in a moment after it reach'd to their Girdles that were upon the second Deck, and still ascending insensibly, our ship at last sunk quite down into the Sea, till the Keel reach'd the bottom, the body of the Vessel remaining for some time immoveable. It would be a hard task to represent the astonish­ment, terror and consternation, that seiz'd up­on every Heart in the Ship: Nothing now was heard but cries, sighs and groans: Some prostrate upon the Deck implor'd the assistance of Heaven: Others were throwing into the Sea Barrels, empty Casks, Sail-yards, and pieces of Boards, to aid them in making their escape. After the violence of the crying was over, they that remain'd in the Vessel began to think of saving themselves. They made several Rafts of [Page 4] the Boards and Masts of the Ship, because they that first threw themselves into the Sea, not ha­ving been cautious enough were drown'd, being either swallow'd up, or dash'd to pieces by the violence of the Waves, which cast them upon the ledge of Rocks that run along the shore. I was no less astonish'd than the rest, but seeing that they assur'd me that there was probability of escaping, I plac'd my self upon some boards ty'd together, and by swimming gain'd the shore, to which already some Portugals had escap'd.

When they saw that no more were to be ex­pected than those already arriv'd, they reckon'd up what were sav'd, and were found to be near two hundred persons; so that only seven or eight were drowned, by endeavouring to save them­selves too soon. The second day after our Shipwrack, we set forth all together. The Cap­tain and Pilots told us, that we were not far from the Cape of Good Hope, where the Hollanders have a very numerous Colony, and that in a day or two at most we might be with them. This assurance made most part of our company leave behind them the Victuals which they had sav'd out of the Vessel, that so being free of all incumbrances they might perform their Journey with greater ease. We march'd all that day without stopping but twice to repose a little; about Four a Clock after Noon, we found a great Marsh which comforted us not a little, the Portugals were of opinion that we should pass no further, but rest by this Ditch the approaching Night. The next day we departed very early, the Portugals got the start of us, because we were oblig'd to stay for the first Ambassador, who be­ing [Page 5] very weak and languishing, could not hold pace with the rest: But seeing there was a ne­cessity not to lose them, we divided our selves into three companies, whereof the first kept al­ways the Portugals in sight, and the two others observing the same distance, were inform'd by Signals from the first Band, when the Portugals stopt, or alter'd their course. In all this days Journey we found but one Well, the Water whereof was so brackish, that none of us could drink of it. At the same time we took notice by the Signal, that the Portugals had stop'd, we doubted not but that they had found good Wa­ter, and this hope made us redouble our pace; nevertheless, we could not bring the Ambassador thither till after Sun-set. Our Men told us that the Portugals would not stay for us, saying, That it would avail us nothing to dye all together, with hunger, thirst and misery. The first Am­bassador hearing this, told us, He felt himself so feeble and fatigu'd, that it was impossible for him to follow the Portugals, and therefore desired us that were in health to make haste to fetch them up; only he order'd us, that seeing the Hollanders Habitation was not far off, to send from thence a Horse and Victuals, to bring him to the Cape if he were alive. This separation was very sad, but it was necessary. There was a young man of about fifteen years, a Manda­rins Son, that would not be perswaded to leave the Ambassador, of whom he was very much belov'd, and whom he also lov'd in a particular manner; his Gratitude and Love made him re­solve to live and dye with the Ambassador; and one old Servant abode also with his Master. [Page 6] The second Ambassador, another Man darin and I, bidding him adieu, set forward, and made so great haste, that in the Evening we join'd the Portugals. Continuing our March for some days, we found a little Island cover'd almost over with Muscles, and water'd with a Spring of running Water, we went thither with a purpose to stay one Night, but found our selves so well accom­modated, that we remain'd there all the next day, and the following Night; after which we set forwards in our Journey.

Before our departure we perceiv'd certain dry Trees of a considerable bigness, pierc'd through both ends after the manner of Trumpets; the thirst that had hitherto so cruelly tormented us, made us bethink our selves of an Invention that was of great use to us in the rest of our Journey. Every one provided himself of one of these long Tubes, and having clos'd up the lower end, fill'd it with Water for a days Provision. We had lost some Siamois in our March, so that there re­main'd but ten of us in all, reckoning the two Ambassadors. This loss, and the action of the Portugals who left us, put us in a great conster­nation, yet we took courage, and resolv'd to follow them. About Noon we arrived at the bank of a River about sixty foot broad, and se­ven or eight deep, we attempted to wade over, but the current was so rapid, that we were in danger of being carried away by it, and forc'd to return to the bank, therefore concluding that the Portugals had not past over this River, but continued their march along the banks there­of; following the same course we arrived at the foot of a Hill, which was hollow below as if [Page 7] Nature had design'd to provide a Lodging for Travellers. There was room enough here to contain us all, and in it we abode all Night, which was very cold. My feet and legs had been for some days so swell'd, that I could neither wear Stockings nor Shoes. We coasted all the next day the banks of the River, in hopes to overtake the Portugals, whom we judg'd were not very far before us. From time to time we saw marks of them; one of our men found a Carbine, with a Box full of Powder, left with­out doubt by some Portugal, unable to carry them further. This fell into our hands very seasonably to kindle a fire withal, and seeing my swelling render'd my Shoes useless to me, I cutted them in pieces, and being boil'd we eat them very greedily. At last, having endur'd all the mise­ries of hunger, thirst, cold and weariness, the One and Thirtieth day after our Shipwrack, we arriv'd at the Fort which the Hollanders have in the Road of the Cape of Good Hope. The Com­mander receiv'd the Ambassador and Mandarins of his Train, with great Testimonies of respect and sorrow: We conjur'd him to send with all diligence some men with Provisions to the first Ambassador, whom we had left not far from the shore on which we were Shipwrack'd, be­cause we hop'd he was yet alive. He told us, that during the season of Rains, it was impossi­ble to send any, but that as soon as it was over he would not fail to take all imaginable care to seek out the Ambassador, and furnish him with necessary accommodations for his return.

The Portugals arriv'd at the Cape before us, having undergone more difficulties than we did. [Page 8] A Portugal Father, of the Order of St. Augustin, made such a relation of their sufferings, as drew tears from our eyes, but chiefly when he in­form'd us of the sad accident that befel the Cap­tain of the Ship. He was a Person of Quality, very rich and courteous; he had been long Cap­tain of a Vessel, and had done great service to the King his Master upon several occasions, in which he had given proofs of his Valour and Fi­delity. I cannot call to mind the Name of his House, but I have often heard that few Families were more illustrious in Portugal. This Gentle­man had carried along with him to the Indies his only Son, of the Age of ten or twelve years, either because he was desirous that he should be­gin to learn his Trade betimes, and accustom himself in his Youth to the Fatigues of the Sea, or that he would not entrust to any other the Education of a Child whom he lov'd better than himself. And indeed, this Lad had all the qua­lities necessary to make himself belov'd, he was handsome, well educated, and of an excellent Judgment for his Age; but his respect, obedi­ence and tenderness to his Parent, was admira­ble, and merited a particular Elogy. His Father when he left the Ship, took care himself to con­vey him safe ashore. During the Journey, he caused his Slaves to carry him, but all his Ne­gro's being either dead by the way, or so feeble that they could hardly draw their legs after them, three days after the Portugals left us, the poor Boy became so weak and swoln, that lying down upon a Rock to rest a little, he was not able to rise again, his Legs being so stiff that he could not so much as move them. This sight stab'd [Page 9] the Father to the Heart, he assay'd several times to set him upright; they help'd him to walk a little, thereby to cure him of his numness, but his Legs were no longer able to perform their office, they could do no more but drag him along, and they whom the Father had intreated to assist him in this charitable office being scarce able to sustain themselves, told the Captain free­ly that they could not carry his Son any longer, unless they resolved to perish with him. The poor man giving himself up to despair, deter­min'd to carry his Son himself, and endeavour'd to take him upon his Shoulders, but his strength fail'd him, and he could not advance one step further; he fell down together with his Son, who was more afflicted with his Fathers grief than his own pain: He often conjur'd him to leave him to dye alone, and told him that though they should carry him further, he could not hold out that Night, and that his sorrow and the tears that he shed, were infinitely more grievous to him than all the torments that he endur'd. These words far from perswading the Captain to retire, melted his heart yet more, and made him resolve to dye with his Son: The Child surpriz'd at his Fathers resolution, and seeing he could not per­swade him to alter it, turn'd to the other Portu­gals, earnestly beseeching them with expressions that rent his Fathers Heart, to take him away, since his Fathers presence was only a cruel addi­tion to his misery and pains, and that the sight of him would but hasten his Death. A Franciscan began to represent to the Captain that he could not in conscience execute his resolution, that he was oblig'd to preserve his own life, and that if [Page 10] he died in that condition he would be eternally Damn'd. Afterwards the Portugals took him up by force, and carried him some paces out of the sight of his Son, whom they had remov'd a lit­tle out of the way. This separation was so sharp and afflicting to the Captain, that he was never able to recover his strength, and his grief was so violent that he died two days after his ar­rival at the Cape.

We abode near four months at the Cape of Good Hope, expecting the coming of some Dutch Vessel to carry us to Batavia. Most part of the Portugals embark'd themselves in Ships bound for Amsterdam, from whence they might have passage to their Native Country; the rest went with us aboard a Vessel belonging to the Dutch Company, which carried us all to Batavia, where every one took what course he pleas'd. As for us, after six months abode in Batavia, we set sail for Siam, where we arriv'd in the month of September 1687. The King our Master re­ceiv'd us with extraordinary goodness and ten­derness, he order'd new Garments and Money to be presented to every one, giving us hopes that he would not be unmindful of us, when any occasion of advancing our Fortunes should offer it self. Father Tachard's Voyage to the Kingdom of Siam.

CHristian the Second King of Denmark having Levied numerous Troops to recover the Crown of Sweden which John his Father had lost, he gain'd a Battle in which Steno King of Sweden [Page 11] was slain; he made all the advantage he possi­bly could of this Victory, and the Death of his Competitor. The Governors of the Provinces came to meet him, and to swear Allegiance to him; Steno's best Friends did not think them­selves oblig'd to preserve their Fidelity after his Death, and Stockholm, the Capital City of the Kingdom, only waited to be Invested before it surrender'd. The Conquerour to cajole the Swedes, affected a Behaviour which they ought to have suspected, because it was not natural to him. He shed no other blood but what was lost in the Fight, he granted all the favours that were beg'd of him without distinction or reserve, none were excluded out of the Indemnity that he caus'd to be publish'd, the Offices and Govern­ments were continued to those that were in pos­session of them, and the only design that the new King seemed to have, was the re-uniting of the two Factions that divided Sweden. After all, he made choice of the first of November 1520. for the solemnity of his Coronation, to which all the persons of Quality were invited. The Cere­mony was perform'd in Stockholm, and the Swe­dish Nobility, notwithstanding their natural aver­sion to the Danes, flock'd thither in so great num­bers, that there was not one Man of Note absent.

The first day was spent in the pomp of the Coronation, the second in running at the Ring, the third in Tilting, the fourth in Turnaments within Rails, the fifth in Dancing, the sixth and seventh all sorts of persons were treated at the Kings expence, and the eighth, the last day of the Feast, was destin'd by His Majesty for a [Page 12] magnificent Entertainment to the Senators and Officers of the Crown of Sweden. The Guests were no sooner assembled to the number of nine­ty four persons, but the King march'd before them to the principal Church, where Thanksgi­ving was to be made for his Coronation. Mass was solemnly Sung, and at the Communion the King swore upon the Eucharist to preserve invio­lably the Priviledges of the Swedish Nation, to forget what was past, to make no Innovations, and to Govern according to the Laws of the Country. Afterwards he call'd the Senators and Grandees of the Kingdom to make a Cove­nant with them: The King, and after him all the Assembly, laid their hands upon the Pix and Chalice, swearing to each other by all that is most Sacred in Religion, to maintain a sincere and reciprocal Friendship, and devoted them­selves to Hell torments if their Words did not proceed from the sincerity of their Heart, pro­fessing that they took the Sacrament of the Re­conciliation of Men to God, for a pledge of their particular agreement. Each of them ac­cording to his Quality receiv'd, viz. The King first, and after him the five principal Officers of State, which are the Drossart, Constable, Chan­cellor, Admiral and Treasurer; and so proceed­ing in order to the youngest Senator who receiv'd last. The Company return'd to the Palace Roy­al in the same order that they march'd to the Temple, and were seated at a Table, where all their thoughts were employ'd in contriving new Divertisements, when the King arose under pre­text of some natural Necessity, and past into a Closer. A moment after was heard a terrible [Page 13] Din of Danish Soldiers, who seising upon all the Avenues of the Palace, entred violently into the Court, and tumultuously mounting the Stairs, came running furiously with their Swords drawn into the Gallery appointed for the Feast. All the Guests were made prisoners in the Kings Name, and in the same instant the Gates of the Town were shut by his order. The Danish Souldiers began then to pillage the Houses of the Burgesses, liberty of plundring being granted to animate them to the executions of the next day.

In the Night a great Scaffold was erected be­fore the Palace-Gate, and to begin the Tragedy, the Bishops of Squargne and Stremguem were brought thither, and there lost their Heads. The rest of the Bishops, the Grandees of the King­dom, and the Senators, were put to death in the same manner, all but the Grand Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who for ha­ving serv'd his Prince with greater Fidelity than the rest, was Nail'd to a St. Andrews Cross; they ript up his Belly, pluck'd out his Heart, and struck him therewith on the face. After they had rank'd the headless Trunks in order, and put the Heads on Pikes planted round about, the signal was given to the Souldiers to cut in pieces the multitude of common people, that were flock'd together to see the Execution. The astonish'd crowd found themselves as it were caught in a Net, for the Danes were Masters of the Streets that abutted upon that place, and the Kings Guards attack'd them in the Front, while at the same time those who favour'd the Execu­tion fell upon the Rear; they made a horrible [Page 14] and prodigious Butchery. The slaughter'd Bo­dies lay three days in the same places where they fell, and had lain longer but that they fear'd the Air would be infected with Pestilential Va­pours. This consideration alone oblig'd them to burn these mangled Carkasses in heaps, and the Body of King Steno was us'd with no greater respect. The Guards posted round Stockholm, hinder'd the Neighbouring Provinces from ha­ving speedy Intelligence of what had past, and the King of Denmark took the opportunity in the mean while to get into his hands five or six Bi­shops, by whom he fear'd to be Excommunica­ted upon the News of the Death of their Col­leagues. He wheedled them in under pretence of advising with them concerning an affair of great importance, yet no sooner were they en­ter'd into the place appointed for the conference, but by the Kings order it was set on fire, and they consumed to Ashes.

What ever precaution the Danes could use to conceal this Action, it was quickly divulg'd through all Sweden; and the four Estates of the Kingdom, consisting of the Clergy, Nobility, Citizens and Peasants, rose up together in a manner that hath no parallel in History, whe­ther Ancient or Modern. The two opposite Factions that had for so many Ages laid waste their Native Country, join'd together in an Union so perfect, that to this day there hath ap­peared no mark of their former Divisions. All run to Arms, and so vigorously pursu'd the King and his Danes, that they were constrain'd to abandon Sweden, into which Christian could ne­ver return again; and some years after Gustavus the First was chosen King.

[Page 15] Christian continued his Barbarities and Crimes in the Kingdom of Denmark. A Dutch Widow named Sigebrit, was forc'd by poverty to leave her Native Country, and withdrawing into Nor­way with her Daughter Colombin▪ they found means to subsist there by selling Victuals to Sea­men that Landed in that place. Sigebrit had a Wit proper for the Intrigues of the Court, tho' she was Born, Educated, and had still liv'd among the Dregs of the people, and Colombin was a compleat Courtezan. With this last a Knight call'd Valquendof fell in Love, who by a youthful Imprudence inform'd his Master of his good Fortune, thinking that the Prince would be as soon cur'd of his passion as himself; but he was deceiv'd in his conjecture, and the en­joyment of Colombin inspir'd the King with a Love that he had never before found for any La­dy: Not but that he had Married Isabel of Austria, Sister of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, one of the fairest and most virtuous Princesses of her Age; but as he had Married her only for Interest of State, so he liv'd with her as one Ignorant of the Treasure he possess'd. Thus Colombin find­ing the place void, and her Lovers Heart not yet preingag'd, and employing to the best advan­tage the Charms of her Beauty, and the Secrets of the Art that she profess'd, made Christian love her with an extream passion. After Colombins death, which was suspected to have been hasten'd by Poyson, the King fell in love with the Mo­ther of her whom he had lost. It was the cun­ning Sigebrit, who not content to succeed in her Daughters room, extended her power much beyond what her Predecessor had assum'd: [Page 16] All State-affairs past through her hands, and her resolutions were preferred to those of the Senate. During these Amours, which caus'd murmu­rings in all the Orders of the Kingdom, the King erected a Scale of Trade at Copenhagen. This contributed not a little to his Ruine, for Lubeck, and the other Hanse Towns, finding themselves thereby prejudic'd, declar'd War against him, and Rig'd out a Fleet that brav'd him, making several descents in Denmark, and plundring Elsenore. The King at the time of this last action was at Cronenburg, where he raised near ten thousand men for the relief of this Ca­pital City, that was then threatned by his Enemies.

He form'd a kind of Camp at the Burgh of Lolberg adjacent to the Town, and often visited it to encourage his Souldiers. One day going thither accompanied only with Sigibrit and a Waiting-Maid of hers, he met on the way a Troop of Strangers, who not knowing him took him for a Burgher of Copenhagen, and Sigebrit for his Mistress. They immediately resolved to take her from him, and executed it with the less difficulty, because the King seeing himself so un­equally match'd, fled towards his Army. The Waiting-Maid did not think her self oblig'd to shew greater courage than he, and Sigebrit found her self alone expos'd to the fury of these Brutal persons, who cast her into the Lake of Schollars not far from thence. The King arriving at the Camp, tarried no longer than was requisite to cause a Troop of his Cavalry to mount their Horses: He returned to the place where he had left the object of his Love, and finding no body [Page 17] there, he doubted what had befaln the Unfortu­nate Sigebrit; he approached to the Lake, and as a Lovers eyes are more piercing than those of an indifferent person, he perceived afar off Sige­brit in the Water, making her last efforts to dis­ingage her self from the mire which would have quickly suffocated her, but for the timely as­sistance she had from the King, who considered not a moment whether he should hazard his life to save hers. But Sigebrit was only rescued from the Lake to fall into a more threatning danger, and the King by too diligent a care for the alone person, for whom he was sensible of tenderness, almost became the unwilling cause of her ruine. He seized upon the first Coach he could find to convey Sigebrit back to Copenhagen; this happened to be an open Coach, which no sooner approached to one of the Gates of the Ci­ty, but Sigebrit was known by the Guard there. Unluckily for her it fell out that this Company consisted of the Burghers of Rochild, who were particularly incens'd against her for invading the principal Priviledge of their City, which ex­empted them from all Impositions ordinary and extraordinary, because the Kings of Denmark had chosen it for their Burial place.

The sad and lamentable condition in which this Object of pity appear'd, and the report of the misfortune that preceded it, was so far from moving compassion in them, or softening their unrelenting hearts, that they redoubled their hatred against her, mix'd with Indigna­tion, Anger, Fury and Sorrow, for her escape, which transported them to such a height, that without deliberating or consulting together, as [Page 18] if they had been inspir'd with the same motion, they discharg'd all at once their Harquebusses against her. But in vain do men attempt to punish the crime for which God has reserv'd to himself to execute Vengeance in another life: Sigebrit receiv'd no hurt from so many persons that levell'd their pieces directly against her, and all the Bullets that were shot at her, did either pass through her Hair, or graze upon her Clothes.

But the time was come that the King should feel the punishment of the many crimes that he had committed, which had occasion'd the Revolt of some Provinces; and he depriv'd himself of two Crowns upon a false alarm, a vain report that had no certain Author. He was inform'd that a Rumour was spread through the Town, that his Rebellious Subjects had drawn in the Hanse Towns to their party, and that having fortify'd themselves with so powerful a Confe­deracy, they had obtain'd a promise of these jea­lous Republicks to send a Fleet before Copenha­gen, to cut off the Kings retreat▪ This was so improbable a piece of News, that the Kings Enemies had not the confidence to vouch it; ne­vertheless it produced an effect, which in vain they might have expected from their Arms and Plots. The King was so strongly perswaded of the truth of it, that he determin'd to prevent, by a shameful flight, the danger that he believ'd would otherwise inevitably overwhelm him.

One of the principal points of the Danish po­licy, consisted in keeping always in the Port of Copenhagen twenty Vessels ready to Sail on all occasions; and Reason, and the History of the [Page 19] Country, prove manifestly that this precaution is very beneficial to the State, and hath several times sav'd it from imminent Ruine. The King order'd all the valuable things that were in his Palace to be carried on Board these Ships, and caused the rest of the Furniture thereof, which was not worth the while to be Transported, but might nevertheless accommodate a Successor to be destroyed. Afterwards he went to Cronenburg, and caused the Treasury to be Ransack'd in his presence, of the Money there reserv'd for extra­ordinary Exigencies▪ With these he Loaded the Admiral Ship of his Fleet, forgetting, or at least seeming not to remember that he had Sworn up­on the Day of his Coronation, That if ever he touch'd the Publick Treasure without the advice of the Nobility, he thereby consented to his own Deposition.

But he was not only guilty of one kind of Sacriledge, for he spoil'd the Churches of Copen­hagen of their fairest Ornaments▪ Nevertheless, neglecting his Honour, Oath, Interest and Con­science, he did not neglect his Infamous Concu­bine, though he was but too well convinc'd that she was the fatal source of all his Miseries, and it ought not to be esteem'd the least of his Mis­fortunes that he preserv'd an entire favour for that Monster of Unchastity, for whom he had lost in all other things. He knew there was not one of his Servants who did not mortally hate her, and that if he entrusted them with the care of her person, they would throw her into the Sea, and pretend that she had dyed either through fear or by chance. If he carried her along with him, he could not always keep his [Page 20] eye upon her, and every moment that he lost sight of her, he run a hazard never to see her again. Should he send her on Board before him, she would be expos'd to the undiscreet fury of the first Mariner, who beholding this fatal cause of the Civil War, might be so brutal as to lose all the respect that he ow'd to the Royal Ma­jesty of her Lover. The King to avoid so ma­ny inconveniences, represented to her, in a few words, the imminent danger that threatned her, and led her into a Chamber where were several Baskets and Trunks for carriage of Provisions: He perswaded her to enter into one which he judged most capable to contain her; he shut her up in it so speedily, that those who came to carry it away perceived nothing of the Stratagem. The King himself embark'd first, and order'd that Trunk to be brought into his Chamber. In the mean time there happened a pleasant passage, for without a lye he satisfy'd the curiosity of those, who seeing him expect the coming of that Chest with so much Impatience, ask'd the rea­son of his so eager earnestness: There is something in it, said he, that I have reserv'd for my own pri­vate use.

This Unhappy Prince set Sail with his Wife and Children on the 20th. of April 1523. He had no sooner lost sight of the shore of Copenha­gen, but he was assaulted by a Tempest equally extraordinary in its fury, and unparallel'd in its duration: It never slacken'd for the space of three Weeks, and the Fleet was quite broken and dispers'd. The King was Shipwrack'd on the Coast of Norway, and of all his Ships he had only one Skiff left, in which he was constrain'd [Page 21] to put to Sea again, with the Queen, the Prince, and the two Princesses of Denmark. Hunger doth not respect Crown'd Head, and only spa­red the King of Denmark. because he was re­serv'd to longer, and incomparably more grie­vous punishments than all the industry of studied malice could have inflicted upon him. It is not known what became of his miserable Harlot, the silence of the Danish Historians cannot be ex­cused in this respect, and seeing they speak no more of her in the History of the remaining part of Christian the Seconds Life, than if she had never been in the World, we may proba­bly presume that she died in the Admirals Ship before the King sav'd himself in the Shallop: A savourable Gale of Wind, when he expected it least, set him ashore at the Port de la Vere in Zeland. We believe nothing so easily as the re­turn of Good Fortune, and the King was per­swaded of it when he saw himself in the Domi­nions of the Emperor Charles the Seventh, his Brother in-Law: But all the Troops and Vessels which that potent Monarch gave him, and all the efforts that he made to remount his Throne, were to no purpose, and never was he able to chase from thence Frederick Duke of Holstein, his Unkle, whom the Danes had receiv'd for their King; he was even reduc'd to so forlorn a con­dition, that he knew not where to find a Sanctu­ary, when Canut of Guldestein Bishop of Ollion, who had ever maintain'd a secret correspondence with him, assur'd him that he needed only to ap­pear in Person, and that his presence alone would produce the effect that he had in▪ vain hop'd for from the assistance of a Forreign Power. [Page 22] He added that His Majesty might lye concealed in his Episcopal Palace, till the Faction that he manag'd in his Favour was strong enough to pull off their Vizards. The Prelates advice was follow'd, and the King went thither Dis­guis'd like a Merchant, but was discover'd and imprison'd in the Fort of Sundeburg, whence he came not out but to change it for another in Cronenburg▪ He liv'd thirty five years in Exile and these two Prisons, and did not find till the Age of seventy seven years the Death that he had so often desired. Annals of Denmark.

USanguey General of the Chinois Army which Guarded the Frontiers of that vast Empire against the Irruptions of the Tartars, lay En­camp▪d by a City upon the Confines, to observe the Enemies motions. Licon who had De­thron'd the Emperor Zunchin in the year 1636. and Usurp'd the Kingdom, determin'd to attack this brave Captain (who would not acknowledge him for his Lord) with an Army of two hundred thousand men; but before he had recourse to force, he was willing to see the event of a Stra­ragem. Amongst the Grandees of the Empire, whom the chance of War had constrain'd to sub­mit to his Unjust Scepter, there was an Old man Named Ʋz, Ʋsangueys Father: The Usurper going to make War upon the Son, commanded the Father to follow him, and there was no other remedy for a man of that Character but Obedience. Ʋz was forc'd to comply, and fol­lowed the Army, not knowing what use his new [Page 23] Master design'd to make of him; but he was better inform'd when he came before the place whither his brave Son had retir'd to put a stop to the Tyrants progress, not being strong enough to keep the Field. The Father was the first En­gine that was made use of to batter the Sons Constancy. The Barbarous Usurper brought the Old man before the Walls of the City, and ad­vertis'd his Son that he was come thither on pur­pose to speak with him: They were no sooner in sight of one another, but the General receiv'd a Message from the Tyrant, that the only way to save his Fathers Life was to yield to the Con­queror. Never was a Generous Soul so rudely agitated with differing passions, or more furi­ously attack'd with violent▪ tentations, then was that of the astonish'd Ʋsanguer, finding himself distracted between his Father and Country, and in a sad necessity to Sacrifice the one or the other, and to shed his Fathers Blood if he would Re­venge that of his Prince. His love to Glory was powerfully resisted by Natural affection, but after a short struggling obtain'd the Victory; for taking counsel only with his Virtue, he cast himself upon his Knees, and with Eyes full of Tears, and an Air which was an undeniable proof of the Sincerity of his Heart, that it was with an unconceiveable Sorrow that he was forc'd to see him to whom he ow'd his life lose it, to save his Country, but that this was his first and chief Duty; and after all, it was better that one of them should finish his Days by an Honourable Death, than that both should live in Infamy and Reproach. If the Sons Courage appear'd great on this occasion the Fathers was [Page 24] admirable, for instead of complaining of his Son, he only lamented his own ill Fortune, and praising Ʋsangueys Fidelity; he yielded himself to the Tyrants Barbarity, suffering Death with a Resolution more worthy of a Roman Courage than of a Chinese Effeminacy. History of the two Conquerors of China.

SUltan Ibrahim, Emperor of the Turks, order'd two Gallies to carry Peter Foscarini as far as Negropont, in his return to Venice, from whence he came as Ambassador Extraordinary, to Con­gratulate with the Sultan upon his Accession to the Empire. The Ambassador embark'd at the Port of Constantinople on the 10th. day of May 1641. in a Galley commanded by an old Officer of the Grand Signiors Naval Army, call'd Kara Kodgia, in which I also was with his Children and some Gentlemen. In three days we made the Dardanels, and Anchor'd on the Asian side, where next day our Captains spent some time in consulting, whether in their intended course to Lemnos they should pass behind Tenedos, or be­tween that Island and the Coast of Troas. The first course is shortest, but most dangerous for Galleys, because they are oblig'd to cross a Gulf which stretcheth out in length a hundred miles, and is by them call'd the Gulf of Magaris and Cassander. This was nevertheless, the way that they resolv'd to take, believing that a little fresh Gale, which we had in our Poop, would spee­dily drive us to Lemnos, with the assistance of the brawny Arms of the Galley-Slaves. Day did [Page 25] not yet appear, when we hoised Sail with the most favourable Wind that Heaven could send or we desire; but about Nine a Clock, on a sud­den the Air was darken'd, and a cold shower fal­ling at the same time, it seem'd as if all the Winds had conspired against us.

The Pilot crying out amain, commanded them to furl the Sails, but all to no purpose, the con­fus'd noise of Voices and whistling of the Winds hinder'd the Mariners from hearing and obeying him. He call'd upon some to help him to Go­vern the Helm, and others stood to observe the motions of the Waves, and according as they saw them coming, cry'd incessantly Orsa, or Pod­gia, which are Sea Terms, signifying Steer to the right or to the left; which he did very dextrously to break the force of the rolling Surges. Mean while we who had no other imploy but fear and terror, express'd the various motions that we felt within us. The Ambassador in terms full of tenderness that would have softned the most flinty Hearts, accus'd himself as the cause of our Ruine. He bemoaned the tender Age of his Children, and the Youth of the rest of the Gen­tlemen, as if he had been guilty of their Deaths. Some made Vows, others curs'd the occasion that had engag'd them in this Voyage; and amongst the rest there was a Noble Venetian of the Family of the Cornaro's, between eighteen and twenty years of Age, who freely and seri­ously offer'd 50000 Ducats to any that would save his life. One might make a long Litany of the Saints that were invok'd; and most cer­tain it is, That he that would learn to pray must go to Sea.

[Page 26] Whilst we were thus busied the Tempest in­creas'd, and the Captain of the Galley sent to ask us whether we would come above Deck, or stay below, because he was oblig'd to close all the Port-holes, that the Water might not enter into the Ship. There were only two that re­solv'd to dye without going to see their Graves. For my part, I plac'd my self in the Stern among the rest, agitated with hope and fear according as I heard our Captain and the Mariners talk to one another, who resisted the Tempest with in­credible courage. But this continued not long, and the knowledge of their Language that some­times gave me some comfort, did quickly quash all my hopes, and throw me into a violent de­spair, when I heard the Captain say aloud, That in the space of forty years, wherein he had com­manded that Vessel, he had never seen such a Storm, and that the fury of the Winds increased so vehemently, that all we had hitherto felt were nothing but gentle breezes, in comparison of the horrible Gusts that were ready to overwhelm us. It was not enough that they had struck Sail, they were forc'd to take down the Sail-yards, and when he saw that one Wave had broke ten or twelve Oars, he commanded the Rowers to for­sake those that remain'd, and all the Crew plac'd themselves on the Coursey of the Galley.

Till then the noise of the Slaves and Mariners had hinder'd us from being fully sensible of the Tempest, but when it became the only object of our Eyes and Ears, all having left off their useless labour, and ceasing to resist the irresistible Storm, Good God! what a Spectacle did we be­hold! The very remembrance of it makes me [Page 27] quake when I think on it. The furious whistling of the Winds, the mountains of foamy Billows tumbling in heaps, and threatning every moment to Bury us in the bottom of the dreadful Abyss, the noise of the Cables and Tackling, the crack­ing of the Galley, the mournful shrieking, and confused cries of so many persons, every one in his own Tongue imploring the Aid of Heaven, when the roaring Surges advanc'd to overwhelm us, are things that cause motions which are not easily express'd. We wholly abandon'd our selves to despair, all but two or three, that still kept by the Helm, and the Captain who resist­ed the Tempest a great while.

He now caus'd the Throats of two Sheep to be cut, and cast them into the Sea, one on each side of the Vessel, to appease the Angry Heavens, and obtain their assistance by this Sacrifice. He not only made them throw Clothes and Baggage over-board, but resolv'd also to disburthen the Galley of part of the Company, and would have decimated the Slaves, if the Kodgia that was with him, had not represented unto him that it was but folly to continue longer obstinate, in resisting the Decrees of Fate, and Laws of Providence, which must necessarily be obey'd, and that to persist in this vain opposition would offend God, and incense him more against us. The Captain yielding to the perswasions of the Kodgia, commanded the Pilot and his compa­nions to leave the Helm, and abandon the Gal­ley to the fury of the Storm, and resigning him­self to a certain Shipwrack and Death, sate down upon his Ankles by the Kodgia. In that posture, joining their Hands before their Eyes, and shaking [Page 28] their Heads over their Knees, they mum­bled out certain Prayers, in which they often, with fervent aspirations, pronounc'd the Name of God. If we had been capable of feeling new sorrows, this last resolution of these men would have certainly touched us, but it made no im­pression on our Souls, for we were become alto­gether insensible, and so hardened with the con­tinuation of fear and danger, that we calmly be­held the Death-threatning Waves approaching, and without being mov'd, look'd upon our foa­my Grave, as if we had been already Buried in it. And it may be said, that the continuation of a danger which is believ'd to be inevitable, doth often cause a sort of firmness of Mind which may be call'd Courage, but is at the bottom only a pure insensibility. But whilst none of us thought either of escaping or perishing, our Galley with­out Sails or Oars, driven only by the violence of the stormy Gusts and rolling Waves, running four and twenty miles in an hour, approach'd so near to Lemnos, that three men who had not abandon'd the Helm, notwithstanding of the Captains orders, began to entertain some hopes of a possibility of an escape. Immediately they shouted out with a tone full of terror and bold­ness together, Courage, Courage; but do you think that their crying could rouze our spirits out of that Lethargick Extasie, in which they lay in a manner Entranc'd? Not at all, for we had so far lost all our Senses, and our Hearts were be­num'd with such a stupifying dullness, that one of them was forc'd to justle the Captain very rudely before he answer'd him, who seem'd by [...] [Page 29] Death to which he had resign'd himself. They had great difficulty to make him take away his Hands from before his Eyes, and much more to make him rise up and command the Mariners to their respective Duties. All the company began now to breathe a little, and when we saw our selves near Land, although there was but too much Sea between us and it to swallow us up, there was not one of us that did not stand ready to leap ashore, and think himself already past all danger. We arriv'd at Lemnos, now call'd Sta­limene, in a Bay where we were indeed safe from the Waves of the Sea, but the Mariners fearing that the violence of the Winds which still continu'd, vvould dash our Galleys against the Rocks, cast the Sacred Anchor of the Anci­ents, vvhich the Venetians call Hope. The Night past over in these apprehensions, and next morning vve steer'd to a better Harbour, vvhere vve had no sooner cast Anchor, but vve vvent ashore to compose our Spirits, that vvere as yet disturb'd and affrighted vvith the Horror of this unparallel'd Tempest. Du Loir's Travels.

COunt Vesselini commanded some Troops for the Emperor Ferdinand the Third, in Hun­gary, and was Governor of the Forts in the Neigh­bourhood of Muran. That place, the Theatre of the Counts Glory and Loves Power, belong'd to George Rakoczi Prince of Transylvania, who at that time Warr'd with the Emperor. Some good Genius still drew the Count tovvards Muran, though indeed he did not think himself strong [Page 30] enough to form any design to surprize it. One time amongst the rest, he lay all Night in an adjoyning Hamlet, and found himself awaken'd by the Voice of a tall great Old man, who lay­ing his Hand on his Breast, said unto him, Ge­neral Vesselini, think seriously upon the Conquest of Muran, know that thou mayest take it by the as­sistance of a Widow that liveth at present in the Ci­ty. As soon as this Phantom disappear'd, he started up astonish'd, and the noise that he made awak'd some Officers who lay in the Chamber; they search'd all the Room but found nothing. In the mean time the Words of that old Mor­pheus stuck continually in his mind, his Imagina­tion admitted no other Idea than that of the Old man pointing to Muran; and this was the Subject of all his Dreams. It was only then that the Attempt appear'd easie unto him, but in the day time he retracted all the Resolutions he had taken up during his Sleep, and confess'd that Muran [...]as Impregnable; yet the remembrance of the Widow returneth to torment him with new Inquietudes, he Loves her though he hath never seen her, and knows neither her Person, Quality, or Age.

This affliction continuing to disquiet him for several days, he block'd up the passages into Muran so carefully, that he made himself Master of a considerable number of Prisoners; he was inspir'd to examine one among the rest, who told him that he was Domestick Servant to Mary Secsxi, Widow of Stephen Bethlem, Brother to Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transylvania. This Name astonish'd him as soon as it was pro­nounc'd, and he assur'd himself that this was the [Page 31] Widow he lov'd; a secret Joy inspir'd him with Hope: He caress'd that Man, and made him a present of one hundred Crowns, and gain'd him so absolutely, that he promis'd to deliver his Mistress a Letter which the Count instantly wrote. The Importance of the place oblig'd the Governour to extraordinary precautions, so that it was necessary to hide this Letter very careful­ly lest it should be discover'd, the custom being to search all that enter'd the Town. For this reason the Count bethought himself of a Strata­gem, he made up the Letter into a little Ball, which he cover'd over with Wax, and because it was the Season of Fruits, he put it into a Me­lon, in the bottom of a Basket full of other Me­lons, which this Servant carried to the Castle of Muran, as if he had brought them from one of his Mistresses Country Houses. To take away all suspicion, he gave some of them to the Corps du Guard, he carried others for a present to some Ladies Relations of Mary Secski, and then all over trembling, went to present the rest to her self, and told her in a low Voice, That in one of these Melons was enclos'd a Letter from General Vesselini.

That Name which ought to have astonish'd, did not at all surprize her, although she had ne­ver seen, nor heard of him, but as the Enemy of her Prince. She knew not that he was a Widower, nor of what Age he was, yet as if Love had in a moment render'd her a Complice of his Design, she was well pleas'd with the Letter, she enjoin'd the Man silence, and enter'd into her Closet to satisfie her curiosity: Scarce had read it over, when she found her Fidelity [Page 32] to her Prince betray'd by favourable Inclina­tions to Vesselini, and a little after dispatch'd one of her Gentlemen, whose Fidelity she had prov'd, with an Answer. This Messenger was very wel­come, the Count caress'd him extreamly, and as Presents have a particular Charm in that Coun­try, he gave him two hundred Crowns, with a promise of as much more, if he would Nego­tiate an Enterview between his Mistress and him. The Affair succeeded according to his desire, Mary Secsxi appointed him to come with seven Followers, at most, to a Wood near a small Brook that washeth the foot of the Hill of Muran, where she would be, under pretence of taking the Divertisement of Fishing, with an equal number of Attendants. He was first upon the place with six Gentlemen only, and would not prefer the Counsels of Reason to those of Love, to which he had abandon'd himself; or rather, the sorce of his Destiny drew him thither, and promis'd him security in the midst of so many Dangers.

The Count left the Thicket into which he had retir'd, at the arrival of the Lady, nor did they look upon each other with the ordinary asto­nishment of those that have never before seen one another; he spread his Cloak on the Grass, and they sate down, and made a sign to their Followers to retire. He related to her how by Inspiration he was mov'd to demand this Enter­view, without having the Honour to know her; and told her, that after such happy success in his first design, he presum'd to flatter himself with hopes of her assistance in the execution of that design which he had upon Muran▪ She answer'd [Page 33] that this would be a Breach of her Duty to Ra­koczi, and that though she were willing to be­come unfaithful to him, she could only be so in her Mind, Muran being impregnable, not only by its Scituation, but also by the Diligence and Strength of the Garrison, which was compos'd of six hundred chosen men, drawn out of the best Troops of Transylvania. The Count per­sisted in imploring her assistance, and his Elo­quence did not fail him on this occasion, to per­swade her that their Marriage was Decreed in Heaven, which would be favourable to them both in this Enterprize; that he aspir'd to no other Honour than that of being hers, and that she would gain Immortal Glory, when Muran Conquer'd by her Aid should become the pledge of their Love, and the Scene of the most famous Marriage that ever Hungary beheld.

Not one of these words fell to the ground, Mary Secsxi could not deny to admit into Mu­ran that Love which had already storm'd her Heart. In fine, the Count proposing to Scale the Walls in a certain place, she promis'd to act so that he should find no Sentinels in his passage, and to furnish him with a Ladder.

The Day appointed for the Scalado was the third of August 1644. both of them swearing Fide­lity, and all possible Diligence. The day being come, Vesselini detaching five hundred men, made eighty of them swear not to abandon him. At Night he march'd at the head of these towards the Castle, and commanded the rest to follow at a distance. His Guide led him through a longer and more perilous way, than he expected, for he made him pass through a Village where they [Page 34] kept Watch, the Sentinel stopt him, and present­ed his Carbine to his Breast, crying out amain, and he as low as he could, endeavour'd to per­swade him that he was a Friend, and had a de­sign upon some of the Enemies Troops; at length he appeas'd him, deceiv'd him▪ and escap'd, but it was only to fall from Scylla into Charybdis, for after this, descending into another Village, he was suddenly assaulted by the Rabble. This Misfortune had near made him lose all Hope, and had almost contented himself with Sacking that Hamlet, instead of pursuing his intended Exploit. Nevertheless, his Courage and Anger yielded to Prudence, he retir'd, and to make the sum of his Miseries compleat, he wander'd so far in a Garden between the Mountains, that he remain'd a great while as lost, his Guide taking another way. Might he not then have judg'd that he was betray'd? And would he not have dy'd desperate in such a conjuncture? Yet he still sought a passage out of this Labyrinth. At length, thinking he had discover'd a Grot, he perceiv'd the shadow of a Man, and running thi­ther with his Pistol in his Hand, he knew him to be one of his Souldiers that was come in quest of him, and to inform him that his Troops were rallied in the first Village through which he had past. Departing from this wild place, he went to them in that Village, where the freeness of their behaviour had made them be kindly en­tertain'd by the Inhabitants, who judg'd them to be their Friends. They departed all together to seek out a place where they might ascend the Rock: They were already mounting it, when they heard the noise of the Guns of Muran. Then [Page 35] it was that the boldest of them began to quake, and he vvas conjur'd by them all to give over a discover'd Attempt; he intreated them to leave him, and suffer him rather to perish, than to con­strain him to preserve a wretched Life, and per­svvaded them, contrary to his ovvn Judgment, that they vvere not discover'd, and that, some other reason occasion'd the firing of the Guns. Yet true it vvas, for this vvas the Signal of Re­treat for the Neighbouring Villages, and it was for a Bravado that they had discharg'd more than one. In the mean while the Generous Mary Secski suffer'd strange inquietudes, in ex­pectation of the Count; she had a great while before shut-up the Sentinels, under pretext of making them Drink, and also had staid the Ser­jeant who should have mounted the Guard, un­der colour of engaging him to play with her Women. She walk'd along the Walls with a great deal of Impatience, endeavouring to disco­ver Vesselini, that she might throw down a Lad­der to him, and fearing that he had taken the Alarm, she dispatch'd him whom she had sent to him once before, to assure him of the facility that he would find in the Execution of his De­sign. This Man descrying some already ad­vanc'd, made a sign to them with his Handker­chief, which two or three of them perceiving were frighten'd. The Count advanc'd to know what made them recoil, they told him what they had seen; he run up with his Pistol in his Hand, the other knew him, and guided him to the place by which he was to ascend before he could come at the Wall. It was a very high and crag­gy Rock, The Count scrambled up one half of [Page 36] it without difficulty, but on a sudden he felt him­self fatigu'd, breathless, and unable to proceed; his Men reliev'd him, and drew him up to the top of the Hill and foot of the Wall. It was not long before the Lady arriv'd: She cast down the Ladder; twenty of the Imperial Souldiers mounted, the Count follow'd, and after him the sixty others only, the rest having Orders to March to the Gates of the Castle, and there to wait till it should be open'd. Mary Secsxi dis­pers'd the Souldiers in the Chambers of her apartment; she went to Bed on purpose to re­move all suspicion, and sent to pray the Gover­nour to come to see her, pretending that she had an Advice of Importance to communicate to him. He was no sooner enter'd but they seiz'd upon him; they led him to a remote Chamber, and set Guards about him. The other Officers▪ of the Garrison were in like manner secur'd. Vesselini sent to surprize the Corps du Guard; and in fine, made himself Master of the place. Af­ter he had given necessary Orders to secure his Conquest, and provided for all that the Service of the Emperour his Master requir'd, he came next to acquit himself of his Duty to his Mistress and to Love, and Married the Heroin Mary Secsxi. The Emperor confirm'd to the Count the possession of Muran, and erected it into a free County for him and his Heirs for ever. Le Laboureur's Voyage of Poland.

THreescore and six of the Inhabitants of St. Christophers Island, departed thence in the month of September 1647. to settle a Colo­ny in the Isle of Virgins. The Spaniards who Inhabited the Isle of St. John Portrico, near to that of the Virgins, having Advice that the French were arriv'd there, Rigg'd out five Men of War, which casting Anchor, Man'd their five Shallops with Souldiers, and drew towards the place where the French were, who having per­ceiv'd them, run to their Arms, and resolv'd to fight it out to the last extremity. Their Boats Crew, to the number of fifteen men, join'd them, and all together they valiantly made head against the Spaniards, whose number alone was able to overwhelm them. The Governour of Portrico's Nephew, who commanded the Assail­ants, receiv'd a Mortal Wound, of which he di­ed shortly after his return to that Island. The French fought like desperate men, and kill'd so great a number of the Spaniards, that they forc'd them to retire to their Shallops, where they took counsel together, and then return'd to re­new their charge, and couragiously assaulted the French with Lances, Sagays and Fire-Arms. The shock was furious, three of the French lost their Lives, and five were Wounded, to whom the Spaniards gave good Quarter. The rest see­ing their strength so inferior to that of the Ene­mies, abandon'd the Field of Battle, and retir'd to the Mountains, from whence they descended [Page 38] not till they had seen the Spaniards under Sail, who before their departure set the Tents on fire, and ri­fled all that belong'd to the French, so that they re­main'd in the Isle without Beds, Tents or Tools to Work with, and led a very miserable Life for the space of three or four months. Many died for want, and the rest saw themselves in danger of perish­ing in the like misery, when five of the most da­ring of them resolv'd to expose themselves to all sorts of perils, rather than remain in this Isle.

They made a Pyperi or Canoa, in which they determin'd to adventure to Sea, to seek out for some Island Inhabited by Christians, of what­soever Nation they might be; and one of them ha­ving happily found an Axe on the Trunk of an Acamas Tree, they made choice of the Wood of the Mahot and Trumpet Tree, which are the light­est in that Country, and labour'd with so great di­ligence, that in three days they join'd together some pieces of Wood, and instead of Mortise and Nails, they made use of great and strong cords, and so fitted out their Pyperi. It was eleven foot wide and fourteen long, and that it might cut the Water more nimbly they made it sharp pointed, and in the middle of it placed a Mast fifteen foot high. Two of the five strip'd themselves to make Sails of their Shirts, and having unript them, they tied them together with great points of Mahot Bark, and fasten'd to them two Sheets of the same Bark, to Sail near the Wind, or put out to the Main as they should see occasion. Our five Ad­venturers having bid adieu to them that remain'd in the Isle, rather with abundance of Tears than Words, thrust their Pyperi into the Water, where they seated themselves two in the Poop, two in [Page 39] the Prow, and one in the middle. The two that were in the Poop held an Oar in form of a Rudder, to conduct them whither soever Divine Providence should lead them; the three others held each of them an Oar in form of a Battle-Door, and rowing after the manner of the Sava­ges; that is to say, before them. They arriv'd extreamly fatigu'd at a little Isle call'd Virgine Gonarda, where Landing, with their Match which they carefully kept burning in their Pyperi, they made a Fire upon a Bank of Sand, to boil some Periwinkles and Cray-fishes that they found there. Out afflicted Navigators leaving this Isle by force of Rowing, gain'd that of St. Thomas, where find­ing what refreshment they wanted, as Oranges, Citrons, Lemons, Gouyans, Bananas, and Figs, they abode there five days. From the Isle of St. Thomas they continu'd their course to the Southern Coast of Portrico, where they went ashore upon a great Bank of Land. After they had march'd about two hours within the Isle, they knew by the great store of Beeves, Cows and Hogs, which were Wild, that it was the Isle of St. John Portrico.

They return'd to their Pyperi, which they trim'd a new, to fetch up another little Island to the Windward of Portrico and distant from thence about two Leagues; they Row'd three days with­out being able to get near the shore, because the Tide still bore to the Main Land, but after great toil they gain'd at last a little bank of white Sand, where Landing they happily found two Wells dig'd there by Mariners; the water of which was very good. Here they also found Ring-Doves, Hens, and other Fowls, in so great abundance, and so tame, that they kill'd them upon the Trees with great Poles towards Night▪

[Page 40] All these supplies, together with the footsteps of men that they observ'd, made them believe that this place was frequented by some Fisher-Boats, and that certainly it would not be long before some of them arriv'd, in which they might obtain passage to some Christian Land. For this Reason they erected a little Tent, in which they abode near three months, walking every day round the Island, which is in circuit but two Leagues, without seeing any person on Land, or Ship in the Sea, from whence they might hope for Succour. In fine, on Sunday morning as they were saying their usual Prayers, percei­ving a Bark, which coming from the North, Coasted the Isle, they made a Sign to it with a Linnen Cloth fastned to the top of a long stick, and the Captain mov'd by their reiterated cries, commanded to furl the Main-sail, and strike the Top-sail, and bear straight to Land. Seeing but five Naked men without Arms, he sent five Ma­riners towards them in his Boat, amongst whom was a Walloon, who knowing by their Language that they were French cast by Shipwrack, or some other accident, upon the Coast of that Isle, they charitably receiv'd them into their Boat, and brought them to the Bark. By means of this Walloon Interpreter, they rehears'd unto the Governour the dreadful miseries they had en­dur'd. So pitiful a recital touch'd him so sensi­bly, that he gave them Shirts and Drawers, fur­nish'd them with Bread, Wine, and Aqua-vitae, and promis'd that within fifteen days, his Fish­ing being ended, he would return and take them along with him to St. John de Portrico. He per­form'd his promise, and to preserve the memory [Page 41] of so strange an Adventure, he caus'd their Pyperi to be made fast to the Prow of his Bark, that he might shew it to Don Francisco Maldonado, Governour of Portrico for his Catholick Majesty. Having left the Island four or five Leagues be­hind them, the Spanish Pilot looking from the Poop towards the Isle of Virgins, descri'd a League off somewhat in the Sea, moving upon a piece of Wood, but the too great distance hin­dering him from discerning what it was, as they approach'd nearer he perceiv'd that it was Men floating upon a Pyperi, like to that which was fasten'd to the Prow of the Bark. They were six men, the remainder of those that staid in the Isle of Virgins, who had built a Pyperi to car­ry them thence. These poor French-men know­ing their Comrades, beseech'd the Captain to save their Lives as he had done theirs; he took them into the Ship, carry'd them to Portrico, and presented them all to the Governour, who receiv'd them courteously, and order'd a Gar­ment to be given to each of them, making the Town their Prison, with Liberty to earn their Bread therein. They had no difficulty to sub­sist here, every one look'd upon them as extra­ordinary persons, and at first contended who should be most liberal to them. Those that were skill'd in any Trade ply'd the same; and one of them that could play exquisitely well on the Violin, gain'd enough alone to assist the rest. When they had gather'd a Sum of Money suffi­cient to pay for their passage into Europe, they all embark'd in Spanish Vessels, save one that Mar­ried in the Isle, and return'd to their Native Country. History of the Antilles.

IN the month of September 1641. five Gallies and two Brigantines, commanded by Aly Pe­gelin, General of the Algerine Galleys, descry'd a Dutch Ship that carry'd twenty eight Guns and forty Men: The Weather was very calm, so that the Hollander could make no advantage of his Sails. Pegelin caus'd the Galleys to advance within Cannon-shot of the Ship, and seeing that it bore Dutch Colours, he sent a Zelander Rene­gado in one of the Brigantines, who deliver'd the following Message to the Captain: General Pegelin hath sent me to advertise you, that if you will yield, he will set you ashore in some Christian Land; and this he hath Sworn to perform by the Head of Mahomet. I know Pegelin, answer'd the Captain, who had been a Slave formerly: The Ship belongeth to the Owners, and the Goods to the Merchants: I cannot give away that which is none of my own, but if he doth covet it so much, let him come aboard, and he shall see whether we can satisfie him. The Renegade return'd with this Answer, which Incens'd Pegelin to such a de­gree, that he gave Orders to the Gallies to rank themselves in form of a Half-Moon, and in that order to come up with the Poop of the Ship, and to discharge their Guns all together, and to bat­ter her crosswise. Their pieces were forty eight Pounders. His Orders were Executed, but as they were ready to Fire the Guns, the Hollander who was a skilful and experienc'd Seaman, by the help of a small Gale that God sent him, without losing time turned about his Ship. By [Page 43] this means he put the Enemies into confusion, and broke all their measures: For the five Galleys coming with full Sails, and hasten'd forwards by the utmost endeavours of the Rowers, instead of surrounding the Ship in form of a Half-Moon, as they design'd, they found themselves pell-mell dashing and breaking upon one ano­ther. Nevertheless, Pegelins Galley boarded the Ship, and seventy Turks entring it with their Scimitars in their Hands, begun to cut the Ca­bles, and throw Fire-works to burn the Ship; but the Dutch Captain, who had all his Men under Deck, made them Fire both from Poop and Prow some Guns charg'd with Musket-Bullets, which kill'd abundance of the Turks.

In the mean while the Galley that had board­ed the Ship durst stay no longer in so hot a place, because the Vessel being deep Loaden, the Mouths of the Guns lay so low, that they just flank'd the Deck of the Galley; which Pegelin seeing, he commanded the Galleys to retreat. The Turks who at the beginning of the Fight en­ter'd the Ship, were much astonish'd to see the Galleys abandon them, and leave them to the Mercy of their Enemies, and losing all Courage, they that could swim threw themselves into the Sea, and the Wounded, and they that could not swim, remain'd idle Spectators of the Fight. The Dutch Captain caus'd his Men to discharge the Guns charg'd with Nails, Musket-Bullets, and pieces of Iron, and in less than a Quarter of an hour more than two hundred Turks were kill'd in the Galleys, who retir'd without seeing an Enemy. The Hollander finding himself out of the reach of their Cannon, commanded to [Page 44] kill all the Turks that were left in the Ship, who during the Fight had sav'd themselves on the Ropes, for it was too hot staying on the Deck. Then did the Captain with his Men come up above Deck, and fir'd upon the Turks as if they had been so many Popingays. This was a Re­creation for the Dutch, but a Tragedy for the Turks, who had two Captains kill'd, and the Bassa of Tripolies Lieutenant was mortally Wounded. These Galleys that came out a few days before, and were a Terror to all the Medi­terranean Sea, return'd thus rudely handled to the Port of Algiers. Hist. of the Captivity of Emanuel d'Aranda.

STanislaus Zolkierius, a Person of an eminent Extraction, dedicated himself to Arms so soon as he was well able to wield them, making his first Campaign under that Great Chancellor and Captain of Poland, John Zamoyski, who at the famous Battel of Byezin, which decided the contest between Sigismund and Maximilian con­cerning that Crown in favour of the former, had the Honour to command the Right Wing of Zamoyskies Army, to the defeating of that Ene­my which opposed him; in which Encounter he received a dangerous Wound in the Knee. His conduct in this Ingagement, soon after advanced him to be Lieutenant-General of Poland; during which command, he was imployed against the Rebellious Cossacks, whom after many doubtful Fights, he reduc'd to his own Terms: Of deli­vering up their General, a common Souldier, [Page 45] but of great Conduct, with three other princi­pal Officers, into his Hands. He defeated the Swedes at Revel, and afterward being made Ge­neral, he beat the Russians at Clusinum, entred Musko, forced Demetrius to quit his Siege, and led away the Emperour Zuiski, and his two Bro­thers, Captives into Poland.

Being seventy years of Age, he was created Great Chancellor of Poland: He repressed the Tartars in their Invasion at Orimen, and soon af­ter marched with his Army into Moldavia, to the Aid of Gratian the Vayvod, against the Turks, who so extreamly oppressed him, that he came in to Zolkierius with but six hundred Horse, and so satally negligent, that he could give no account of the Enemies number or force, even in his own Country; so that the General had no certainty till he saw them cover the sur­rounding Fields with their numerous Hosts. He himself had Incamped upon the Plains of Cicora, determining in that place to attend their motions.

This was in September 1620. The Tartars who had joined with the Turks upon this occasion, having taken some Christian Prisoners, gained from them an Account of their Strength, which did not exceed Ten Thousand effective Men; whereupon they drew up within view of them, with an Army double their number, led by their Commander Cantimer Mursa. A few hours after they were followed by Skinder Bassa, Ge­neral of the Turkish Army, who pitch'd their Tents near those of the Confederates, and like­wise in sight of the Christians.

The Poles contained themselves within their [Page 46] Trenches till a Squadron of Cossacks, who had the Out guard, Encountred that of the Tartars; whom after a smart dispute, they forced to a Re­treat, but being relieved by their own Men, they turned upon the Christians, pursuing them up to their very Trenches, where they also be­ing seasonably reinforced, opposed the prevail­ing Enemy with so great Success, that having killed a great number, they chased them into their main Body, but giving no Quarter, did consequently take no Prisoners, and so made no discovery of the Enemies strength, insomuch that Zolkierius making his computation by what ap­peared in view, and finding his Army chearful upon the Success of that days Action, resolved to put all upon the Fortune of a Battel. That Night there came to the Turkish Camp Sultan Galga the great Chams Brother, with a fresh Ar­my of thirty thousand choice Souldiers, whereof Zolkierius had no knowledge, and therefore, ac­cording to his former determination, he drew out his whole Army early the next Morning, and ranging them in Battel, strengthned both Wings with Forts made of his Waggons and Carriages, closed together on all sides, and fil­led with Foot and Cannon, so that the Enemy could make no advantage of their numbers to infest their Flanks. Skinder Bassa on the other side seeing the Order of the Christians, drew his Army into a Line of Battel, placing only the Turks, Revolted Walachians, and Transylvanians, in view, the Auxiliary Tartars being placed out of sight, and commanded not to stir till a Signal was given them to move, which should be when the Christians were Ingaged. The Poles had in­deed [Page 47] ordered their Reserves, but by an over confidence advanced upon the Enemy, without the Protection of their Forts, contrary to the Generals Orders, which the Turks observing, the Tartars shewed themselves on the Right Wing, and extending that way, endeavoured to get be­tween the Christians Camp and the Rear of their Army, which obliged Zolkievius to oppose against them his Reserves. The Fight was bloody and doubtful for two hours together, but the main Battel of the Poles having no seconds, (by reason of the diversion of their Reserves to defend the Rear) oppressed by the often repeated charges of the Enemies fresh Troops, though keeping them­selves on the Left Wing, within the protection of their Forts, yet were no longer able to sustain the force of those multitudes that swarmed around them; they therefore faced about, and breaking through those Squadrons of Tartars who had got between them and the Camp, made their Retreat in reasonable good order, the Bar­barians being checked in their pursuit by the Forts above-mentioned, which were still defend­ed by the Poles. That on the Right Wing was violently assaulted by the Enemy, who killed three hundred of the Defendants, and took four of their Field-pieces. Neither had their success rested there but that the Christians valiantly ad­vanced in this extremity, with their best Troops to their relief, obliging the Infidels, after a hot dispute, to a confused Retreat. The Fort or Castle on the other Wing was left unattempted, and Night coming on, the Enemy after a kind of drawn Battel, wherein there fell one thou­sand of theirs, and about six hundred Christians; retreated to their Tents.

[Page 48] That Night and the next day passed with­out any Action, the Poles in the mean time con­sulted what to do in this Exigency, but could not readily come to any determination; during which, a Report was spread about the Camp that the chief Officers designed to steal away from the Army, which caused much disturbance, till the generous assurances of their Leaders had composed their Spirits, who vowed to live and dye with them. Zolkierius proposed in Council that they should next day try the Fortune of another Battel, wherein they might easily cor­rect the Errors of the former Day; and being now informed of their own and the Enemies strength, they could better understand their ad­vantages, having hitherto failed more in Conduct than in Courage, and if the Success should an­swer the Attempt, they might then think of re­tiring towards the Confines of their own Coun­try, where they would be sure to meet with new Supplies, for the further prosecution of the War.

The very mention of another Battel surprized many of the great Persons, especially Alexander Kalinowski, Duké Corecki, and Nicholas Struse, three of the most Eminent Lords in the Army, who envying the Command of Zolkierius, were the more apt to oppose his Advice, especially in this juncture, when they must bring their Lives to an apparent hazard: They therefore abso­lutely declared against it, and that there was no safety but in a sudden flight, by vvhich means they might avoid Death, or a Turkish Bondage, vvhich vvas yet more Terrible. And being re­solved to put the Councils they had given in Exe­cution, [Page 49] that Night they took the first opportunity, after the Watch vvas set, to quit the Camp, pro­posing to themselves, that by the favour of the darkness they might get over the River Prut, which covered the Rear of the Camp, before the Enemy could take the alarm of their departure; Gratian the Vayvod, for whose preservation the War was undertaken, went away with them, and having, by the number of their Train and Dependants, made a considerable party, they concluded themselves of Strength able, by the advantage of the Night, to break through all opposition.

There was a second Report spread in the Ar­my, that the General himself was gone likewise, which carrying Terror with it, the inferior Offi­cers and Souldiers were upon preparation for the flight also; whereof Zolkierius having speedy no­tice mounted on Horseback, and caused many lighted Torches to be carried before him, shew­ed himself to his Souldiers, surrounded their Quarters, spoke to every one he met, and incou­raged all with his presence and chearfulness. He added, That he could not be guilty of so nefarious a Treason as to desert fo many brave Men his fellow Souldiers; that they had served too long under his Command, to conceive their General capable of so wicked an Act, as to sully all his Honour by so sordid a Retreat: That for his part, he had no other consi­deration for his Life, but in order to their preserva­tion, and since some (he must confess Eminent Per­sons) had preferred their own Safety above all sense of Honour, he was glad they were gone, hoping they had carried away with them that Contagion of Cow­ardice which might have infected the whole Army. [Page 50] He also would wish them a good Journey, provided they would tell the King, and such of their Friends as should inquire after them, That they had Aban­doned the Army and their General, in the Plains of Cicora, engaged against theirs and the Common Ene­my of Christendom.

Though Zolkierius had harangued his Souldi­ers in such Terms as these, and with a serene Countenance, yet he could scarce compose the Minds of those who were disturbed with Terror and Fear, and could not be obliged to return to their Duty, till a sence of the danger of their Disobedience obliged them to it: But they were wholly confirmed by the ill success of those Lords, and others, that had Deserted them, who by their Ungenerous flight had hastened, and not prevented, their own Ruine; for in passing the River, which was rather rapid than deep, many of them missing the Ford were over­whelmed in it, Kalinowski himself perished in the Stream, and such as got over were most of them knocked on the Head by the Tartars, who Guarded that Post. Gratian and his Moldavians being skilled in the passage and ways got clear off, but being pursued by his ill Fate, had the recompence of his Infamous flight rewarded up­on him by the Treachery of his own Servants, who murdered their Lord to possess themselves of what Treasure he had brought away with him. The rest of the party, after a vain attempt to pass the River, not daring to Land on the other side, wet, weary, and confounded with shame, came back to the Camp, which awhile before they had forsaken as desperate, reposing now all their safety in that of the Army.

[Page 51] The Poles by these losses, and the escape of nine hundred Cossacks, (who by a more lucky Fate than that of their Fellows, had broke through a neglected Quarter without opposition) being much weakned, and far unequal in strength to the Enemy, and not daring to attempt ano­ther Fight, without manifest danger of losing all, they resolved upon a Retreat. They had lost many of their Horses, and more died daily for want of Forrage; they were harassed with Duty, and had no hope of Relief from Poland, being Besieged by a Barbarous Enemy, ready in their apprehensions to Storm their Camp every moment. Their Provisions were short, and no possibility of Supplies from without, all the sides of their Camp being Invested so, that it was impossible for them to subsist for want of Food, in expectation of Succour from their own Country; neither had the King, by reason of the Interruption of the Passages, received but one Letter from Zolkievius when it was too late, wherein he gave him an account of his condi­tion, and how he had been unseasonably aban­doned by some of the Army.

This was the State of Affairs in the Camp, while the Enemy without lay close upon them, and computing the distresses and disorders with­in, by the Desertion of those that had left them, they were much raised in their hopes, despising all Proposals of quitting the place; so that Sept. 22. the whole Turkish Army was drawn up be­fore the Camp, threatning a general Assault unless they instantly surrendred at discretion. Next day they did the like, and on the 26th. the Galga, or Prince of Tartary, approaching near [Page 52] the Trenches was met by Duke Corecki upon Parole, who proposed an excessive Ransom for himself, and some few with him, and descending to some particulars for Rendition of the Camp, desiring only that the Souldiers might March away with their Swords, the Tartarian left them with Scorn and Anger, and clapping his Hand to his Scimiter, bid them expect no other condi­tions than what the sharpness of that would afford them.

Zolkierius having throughly computed the State of his Affairs, resolved to quit the Camp, and having ordered all things accordingly, which took up three days time, being assisted in the Method of his Design by Martin Kasanowski, an old Experienced Collonel, Sept. 29. that part of the Wall through which the Camp was to pass being opened, the Army about Sun-set be­gan its March in the following Order: On both sides a row of Waggons, as it were chained toge­ther five hundred paces in length, drawn by their Horses, closed the Wings, the Front con­sisting likewise of linked Waggons, took up three hundred paces, and the Rear being fenced with the like Barricado, together with the out­side of the Camp, was fortified with Cannon. The Wounded, Sick, Baggage, and all the best Horses of the Army, were placed in the midst, while the Officers and Souldiers marched on the outside of the Camp with Colours flying, and their Arms ready fixt to resist any Assault.

The Tartars observing this order of the Poles, at first imagined they had drawn out to Fight, but when they discerned the whole Camp to move, and that no Man stirred out of his Rank, [Page 53] they stood amazed at the Novelty, and the Night approaching, they durst only send out small parties to observe their motion, and so they marched two Moldavish miles that Night, without any disorder but what they received at the passage of a Lake, which yet did not much incommode them, since they were not eagerly pressed upon by the Enemy. Sept. 30. Skinder Bassa assaulted the Camp on all sides with his united Forces, but being repulsed with great loss, they marched yet two Moldavish miles more that Night, which is about Ten English miles. Oct. 1. The Camp being Lodged near a great Pool, continued there that whole Day and the Night following. The Infidels galled them ex­treamly from the other side of the Water with their Shot, and from the open side by their Skirmishing, but were bravely repulsed with great slaughter of their Men. About Noon that Day they prepared for a fresh Assault, but instead thereof sent a Trumpet to the Camp to demand their Turkish Interpreter, that they might speak with him; which being granted, they only de­tained him, making no attempt that Day. Oct. 2. The Turks having viewed the Camp, Stormed it with greater fury than ever, and be­ing repulsed, returned fifteen times to the As­sault. The Courage of the Defendants increa­sing by their being able to resist, it did not suf­fice them at length to make good their Station, but they followed the flying Enemy a good di­stance from it, taking in the pursuit two Co­lours and a piece of Cannon, having killed mul­titudes of their Men. Towards Sun-set they be­gan their March▪ with their Shot [...] [Page 54] which must needs hinder their pace, and yet they had advanced fifteen English miles before Morning.

The next day having gained the advantage of a Rivolet, and heights of Ground, they easily repressed the violence of the Enemy, and took a Tartars Colours; they also eluded an Ambus­cade, and continued their Journey that Night, strengthning their Camp by the Neighbourhood of a River.

Skinder Bassa considering that by these Night Marches the Prey might slip out of his Hands, and being sensible of the disgrace that would at­tend him to suffer it, resolved to make an at­tempt with the hazard of his whole Army, and consequently gave order for a general Assault: But the Tartars not seeming so forward as he ex­pected, having already been so often rudely handled, and pretending the great difficulty of the Design, by reason of the posture of the Camp, seated upon the advantage of a River, whereby they would be able to bring more hands to the defence of those parts that were Assault­able. The Inraged Bassa, impatient of Argu­ments, turned hastily to his Janisaries, And are you also affrighted with the greatness of the danger, said he? And will you suffer this handful of Men to slip out of your hands for want of a vigorous attempt upon them? But they cried out, He should not reproach but Command them, for nothing was terrible to them but the Anger of their General. The rest of the Turks swayed by his example, would be of the party, prompted by an Ambi­tion to do the Service with their own hands, without the Assistance of the Tartars. Armed [Page 55] with these Resolutions they Assaulted the Camp from all their Quarters, and incited by a mix­ture of Shame and Fury, broke in upon it in one place, carrying Terror into the Bowels of the Christians, notwithstanding all the resistance made against them; all their former Disputes and Conflicts seemed but Sport to this. The Turks hurried on by their Principle of Predesti­nation, added to a Zeal of Gratifying their Ge­neral, exposed their Lives without Discretion, to preserve the Footing they had gained in the Camp, doing more than Men in prosecuting the Advantage.

The Christians Armed with a Native Courage, and more Inflamed by their Despair, exceeded their Enemies, for despising their multitudes, and resolving to Conquer or Dye, they made a Charge upon those that had entred, with a fury suitable to the circumstance of their Affairs, and forcing the foremost back on their Fellows, made them contribute to their own Disorders; so that not being able to Rally, they were repel­led with a great Slaughter, and having cleared themselves from this Storm, they continued their March that Evening along the Banks of the River for three miles, the Enemy Coasting them on the other side with an equal pace.

The Tartars having got before them, Oct. 5. lay directly in their way, but they having taken up a Resolution to surmount every difficulty, and being grown Skilful in this kind of March, broke through all the Resistance made against them, though with some disorder in the Rear, occasioned by the Fears of the Waggon-men which rendred them less exact and faithful i [...] [Page 56] their Charge; but by the Valour and Conduct of Zemberg, who commanded in that part, the Enemy was Repulsed, and the Disorder being Regulated, they Marched two Miles that Day. They still continued to advance, and like a Wedge of Iron, divided their passage through the numerous Squadrons of the Turks, who clouded their very sight with their showers of Shot and Arrows, but since they could make no Impression upon them, they burnt up and de­stroyed all their Grass and Forrage in the way, whereby they were extreamly incommodated, and by reason whereof, and their often Skir­mishing, they were able to March but one Mol­davish Mile a Day.

The Poles still followed the Banks of the River Tire, with a design to gain Mokilow, a safe Re­treat after their tedious March. They were constrained to avoid the nearest way thither, as Mountainous and Boggy, besides great Woods in it, which would obstruct them in the manner of their motion, chusing for the sake of a more even passage, to go about by such a way as brought them within a mile of their desired Har­bour. The Camp was in perfect order, and the Enemy tired with the repetition of their fruitless Attempts and Labours, had forborn to press upon them, being content to wait their mo­tion with a few Scouts only. The Poles about the Evening of this seventh Day of their March, continued their Journey according to their former Method, and meeting in their way some Barns Stored with great quantities of Hay and Corn, many of them, but without Order, run to the Bait to supply themselves with Provisions for [Page 57] their well nigh starved Horses: In the mean time the Van of the Camp began to March with­out calling in their Forragers, or giving notice as they ought and used, to the Rear of their mo­tion. The Rear, for want of the accustomed Sign, being thus separated from the Main Body, was seized on by a sudden Horror and Pannick Fear, which having affected some, was like Wild-fire spread through all: Their apprehen­sions were various, but all upon the account of fear heightned by the darkness, and imaginary noises, concluding the Van was cut off, and that the Sword was at their Throats. The same Plague being carried over the rest of the Army, infected the whole in a moment with its Contagion; whereupon the Carters, Waggon­men, Paddees and Servants; imployed about the Carriages, unlosed the Horses to save them­selves by flight upon them, so that the whole Fabrick and Machine of the Camp being dissol­ved, they could move no further. There was yet another cause that contributed to this Evil:

Upon the departure of Gratian, and other Fugitives, from the Camp of Cicora, the Rasca­lity of the Army, with a mixture of Souldiers, Robbed and Plundered their Tents and Lodg­ings, but being got on the Banks of the River Tire, they began to speak of it, and Koninkspolski the Lieutenant-General, had that very Evening very Imprudently uttered some threatning ex­pressions about it. The number of the Guilty being many, they began to think of their proper safety, and the avoiding that punishment, which if they stood to it, would fall upon them; they [Page 58] therefore, in great numbers, fled away from their Friends as well as from their Foes. These Wretches having begun a Tumult upon this oc­casion, it was seconded by the dividing of the Camp, as is before declared: The confusion was so great, that Zolkievius, and the chief Officers about him, could not be heard, the variety of noises, with the apprehen­sion of the danger, and the darkness of the Night, rendring the Army deaf to all his Com­mands and Orders.

The Tartars being advertised by their Scouts, of these Disorders and Tumults, failed not to hasten thither, and catching hold of the advan­tage given them by the Poles, prepared to it by their own fears, fell in among them with Shouts and Terrors. Zolkievius had commanded, that for the better safety of the Quarters, and incou­raging of the Souldiers, That all Men should quit their Horses and March on Foot, wherein himself was the first Example; which was the Reason that so many of the chief Commanders fell, and were taken in that Encounter, for when the Rout was become so Universal that all Resistance was to no purpose, they perished up­on the place for want of Horses to carry them off, except such as escaped by swimming, and so got away. Zolkievius's Son, with his Nephew, and Strusius, the two former being weak of their Wounds, and forsaken by their Coach­man, were made Prisoners, and presented to the Tartarian Galga. Zolkievius had before taken an eternal farewel of his Son, and then having made a short confession of his Sins, was lost in [Page 59] the confusion, and found dead next morning upon the Skirts of the Camp. Some say he caused himself to be killed by one of his Follow­ers a Cossack chusing rather to perish with his Army than fall into the Enemies hands, or sur­vive his own Glory; but the Wounds in his Sword-hand, on his Face and Breast, and a Tartarian laid Dead along by him, seem to de­clare that he dyed Fighting. Skinder Bassa cau­sed his Head to be cut off and fixed upon a Pike, exposing it for that day to the view of the whole Army, and afterward to be sent to the Signior his Master, as a Testimony of his Victo­ry. The Lieutenant General Corecki, the young Zolkievius, with the other Prisoners of Quality, were sent to Constantinople, where after three years Imprisonment they were Ransomed, and returned to their own Country; and thus, like a Ship after a long Voyage sunk in the Har­bour.

Zolkievius having through all the accidents of his Life proceeded regularly, from the Quality of a private Souldier to the Supream command of an Army, was raised by his own Virtue to those Honours which rendred him eminent in those parts of the World; neither was there any thing wanting to compleat his Glory, besides the success of this Unfortunate Retreat, which was reduced to that point, that there wanted but one hour to render him eminent among the most Illustrious Captains of Antiquity. It is held on all hands, that the most diffi­cult part of Military Service is a Retreat, and it may be judged hard measure to deny Zolkievius the Honour of having acquitted [Page 60] himself well in that particular, since he had brought it within view of the Harbour; but as the Honour of the Success had been intirely his if he had prospered, so his memory must be patient of this Cloud drawn over the lustre of it, by the failing of some mean Officer in omit­ting to give the Signal of his March. But here did he fall, and was laid upon the Bed of Ho­nour, in the extremity of his Age, refusing to live when he could not do it gloriously.

Skinder Bassa, either grown uneasie at the ac­cession of this Victory, or that some great ones at Court were unworthily emulous of his Glory, had contracted many Enemies near the Grand Signior, who upon all occasions did him ill Offi­ces, but finding that infection to work slowly, they corrupted some of his nearest Servants, who by the infusion of Poyson in his Drinks de­stroyed him suddenly, so that he did not long survive the Unfortunate Zolkierius, being in this more Unhappy, That he expired in the quality of a Criminal, and that no certain ac­count can be given of him, but that he Died in the year 1620.

IN the year 1618. Dec. 28. I George Bonlekoe went Aboard the Ship Named the New Horn, burthen eleven hundred Tun, and two hundred and six Men, and Sailed from the Texel in Hol­land bound for the East-Indies. In three days we lost sight of the English Coasts, the fourth so great a Storm arose, that we were forced to let down our Top-Sails, and increasing in the Night, [Page 61] five great Waves rolled over our Vessel, which filling our Deck with Water, made our Men cry out, We sink, the Port-holes are open. Hearing that, I ran to the fore part of the Ship, but found them all close, and freed the Men from their fear. I sent a Man into the Hold, who found no Water there. We drained our Deck with Buck­ets, and threw over-board the Seamens Chests, which by rolling about much incommoded us; the Wind and Rain were so violent, that the Sky and Sea seemed joined together, and the Lightning made all appear like a Flame. The Storm still continued, when we perceived great Flocks of Sea-Gulls, which made us think we were near the Isle of Bresil, though we could not see it; at length the fury of the Winds broke off our Main-Mast about five yards above Deck, which put us in great fear, but with much la­bour we made our Fore-mast to serve in the place.

The Tempest continued sixteen days and then the Wind ceased. When having repaired our Tackle we pursued our Voyage, steering our course to the Canary Islands, and perceiving a Ship behind us we stopt our course expecting her, and found it was the New Zealand, who had suffered no dammage by the Storm. Next day we met with another, called the New Enchy­sen, both bound for the East-Indies, so we Sailed all three in company, making merry every day Aboard of each other, and passing by the Cana­ries, came to the Isles of May and Fonges, where the Mists and Rains were so thick, that we lost sight of each other. We sounded at Fonges but sound no bottom, and sent our Long-Boat to­ward [Page 62] the shore, but the Spaniards at Land shot at them with Muskets, and would not suffer them to come ashore; whereupon having ta­ken a few Fish, we weighed Anchor and Sail'd toward the Equinoctial Line. Next morning we again discovered our two Companions, and joyfully saluted each other, who told us, That Landing at the Isle of May to buy some Provi­sions, the Spaniards opposed and killed two of their Men, which made them return empty. At length arriving under the Line, the Weather calmed, and the Winds were so uncertain, some­times turning all the Compass at once, that we were obliged to stay there three Weeks. The Sea was calm in the Day and rough at Night, and the Waves that beat against our Vessel seemed like Flames of Fire.

We proceeded toward the Cape of Good Hope, and saw Sea-Gulls chequer'd with black Spots on their Wings, of which we took several, with an Instrument whereto a little Bell was tyed. These Fowls appear always near the Cape, and guided us thither, but the Wind blowing hard, we passed it without Landing, since all our people were in Health, this being about the end of May, five months after our departure from Holland.

We steered our course toward Madagascar, and parted company with the two other Ships, who both took a different course. At this time several of our Men were Sick, whereupon we endeavoured to Land, perceiving several persons walking along the shore; one of our Men got ashore and spoke to them, but could not understand what they said, on­ly by signs perceived that they informed us there was a better Landing place a little lower. Meet­ing [Page 63] with no fresh Provisions here, to the great grief of the Sick people (whose number daily increa­sed, and some of them dyed) they came to the Captains Cabbin, and desired him to seek Land, affirming they should recover as soon as they came ashore by the help of the Air.

The Captain hereupon resolved to Sail to the Isle of Mascarius, but when he arrived there, the Wind was so strong, that Heyn Roll our Merchant would not consent they should ven­ture to go ashore, yet at length, by the impor­tunity of the Sick men, they were put into a Shallop, having a Sail to make a Tent, with Oil, Vinegar, Kettles, and other Utensils, along with them, and so were set ashore, where they instantly threw themselves on the Grass, and in a short time found much benefit from the sweet­ness of the Air. We discovered several Pidgeons and Ring-Doves on the Trees, who suffered us to take them with our Hands; of which we kil­led and wasted two hundred in one Day. We found likewise store of Shell-fish, which we Stew­ed with Damask-Prunes brought from Holland.

But this place being inconvenient, I went in the Shallop, vvith several others, upon discove­ry, and five Leagues further vve found Springs of Water near the shore, but somevvhat brackish by communication vvith the Sea. Here vvere Ring-Doves, gray Parrots, and other Fovvl, vvith a great number of Tortoises, 25 of them together sometimes shading themselves under a Tree; vve took as many as vve pleased, for they did not fear us. There vvas likevvise a sort of Animals vvith small Wings but could not fly, being so fat that they drevv their Tails after them on the ground; and vvere scarce able to move.

[Page 64] It was pleasant to observe, that when we made a Parrot or other Bird cry and make a noise, all that heard it came to his relief, and were there­by taken. We then put our Sick men aboard the Ship, and brought them to this place, and then eight of our Seamen were sent to fetch in Provision and Fish in the Rivers, where they catch'd store of excellent Fish, some as big as Salmons. Here was a little River of fresh Wa­ter, on the brink whereof grew such thick Trees, and in so exact order, as if they had been plant­ed, yielding a very fine prospect. We found here a Plank, wherein was cut in great Letters, That Admiral Adrian Maerts, standing into this Road with thirteen Sail of Ships, and having sent some Shallops to Land, they were all dashed in pieces by a furious Storm, and all the Men drowned; but during our stay the Sea was calm enough. Our Men run over all the Island without meeting with any Humane Creature, but found good store of Birds, and another River full of Fish; and pulling off their Shirts, and spreading them on the Water, catch'd several excellent Eeles. Every morning we had the pleasure to see the Tortoises come out of the Sea to run upon the shore, digging holes in the Sand wherein to lay their Eggs, the number of which were some­times two hundred, and then covering up the holes that lay next the Sun, they left them to be hatch'd by the heat thereof, from whence we might see young Tortoises no bigger than Wall­nuts, running upon the Sand.

In this place were many Palm-trees, from whence we drew a very pleasant Liquor. We saw several Deer, but so Wild that we took only [Page 65] an old one whose Horns were Worm-eaten, and the flesh unpleasant to eat. We set up a Sun Dial to know how the time passed. Our Sick being fully recovered, and our Vessel trimmed and aired, we beat a Drum for our people to bring aboard all the Provisions; one of whom by shooting at a Fowl, lost his Eye by the break­ing of the Gun. After we had Sojourned twen­ty one days in this small Island, we Sailed for St. Marys near Madagascar, the Water on the shore being clear like Chrystal, so that we could discern the bottom; the Inhabitants perceiving us, came in their Canoa's, made out of an hollow Tree, to our Ships side, bringing with them Apples, Citurns, Rice and Fowl, but we could not understand them, only they cried out, Bonu Bee Cou, Que Cicou, signifying thereby that they had Cows, Calves, Sheep and Fowls, and that what they brought was only a small sample. We beheld them with much amazement, and gave them a great Bowl of Wine, into which putting their Heads they drunk like Beasts, and the fumes of the Wine getting into their Brains, made them shew a thousand Antick Tricks. They vvere Naked, only their Nuditives cover­ed vvith a Skin, their complexion yellovv, incli­ning to brovvn, by rubbing themselves vvith a certain Oyl to keep off the heat of the Sun. We went daily on shore to exchange with them lit­tle Bells, Spoons, Knives, and Coral for Calves, Sheep, Rice and Milk. They brought Milk in Leaves made like a close Basket, so that we were forced to pierce a hole to get it out.

After two or three days stay, we Sailed three or four Leagues further, where going on shore we [Page 66] met vvith nothing but Apples and Melons, which we little valued. The Ships Council or­dered me to go ashore at Madagascar, where we, found little Fruit. We had a Musician in the Ship, who playing before the Inhabitants, they were so taken therewith, that they stood ama­zed for some time admiring him, and then fell a Dancing round him, in several pleasant postures. They seem ignorant of any God, setting up be­fore their Houses the Heads of Oxen on Spikes, to whom they kneel, and make Adoration; we endeavoured to inform them better but to no purpose, and returning aboard, directed our course to the Streight of Sumda, and arriving to the height thereof, which was five Degrees and an half North Latitude, Novemb. 19. the Stew­ard after Dinner went down into the Hold with a Candle to fill his Runlet with Aqua Vitae, that it might be ready next morning to distri­bute a Cup to every one according to Custom. He strikes the sharp end of his Candlestick into an Hogshead above that he drew from, and ha­ving finished his business, endeavours to pluck it out again, which he did with such force, that a spark of the Light fell into the Hogshead of Aqua Vitae, which instantly took Fire, and put it all into a Flame; I being on the Deck, and hearing the Steward cry Fire, look'd down through the Hatches and saw him throwing Water into it, and running down could then perceive no Fire. Nay, I thrust my Arm into the Hogshead, and could feel none, the Water seeming to have extinguished it: I went away, but soon after the Fire increased so much, that its violence caused the bottom of the Hogshead [Page 67] to fly out, whereby the Flame dispersed it self on a heap of Sea-coal that lay underneath, and set it on Fire, which so much alarm'd us, that we all run to quench it, but found it difficult, since three rows of Hogsheads lay one upon another; and by throwing Water on the Coals, so thick and sulphurous a smoak arose as almost stifled us. I proposed to Heyn Roll our Mer­chant, to throw the Gun-powder over-board, but he absolutely refused to consent to it, al­ledging, It was still possible to quench the Fire. If, says he, we throw our Powder away, how shall we defend our selves if attack'd by an Enemy? And if taken, How shall we excuse our selves to our Owners? So the Powder remained in the Ship.

The Fire still prevailing, and none being able to stay in the Hold for the smoak, we made, divers holes in the Deck, through which we threw down a great quantity of Water, but all in vain: The Shallop had been near three Weeks in the Water drawn after the Ship. Some of the Men got into the Cock-boat to have more room to Work, and our fear increa­sing, seeing nothing but the Heavens and Wa­ter without hope of Succour, others slid along down the Ships side into the Sea, and Swam to the Shallop to secure themselves. Heyn Roll be­ing on the Fore-Deck, wondred to see so many people in the two Boats; they spying him, called out they were ready to depart, and if he would go along with them he must hasten down. He accordingly consented, and being come down, desired them to give the Captain notice and take him in, but they would not consent to it, in­stantly [Page 68] cutting the Ropes and going off. I knew nothing of this, being very earnest in quenching the Flames, when a Sailor surprized me, saying, Good Captain what shall we do, since the Shallop and Long-Boat have left the Ship, and are under Sail? If they are gone, said I, They never design to return again; and running up the Ropes I perceived them, and thereupon caused all the Sails to be hoisted up, and Sailed after them, but coming within three Ships length, they rowed up against the Wind and escaped: Whereupon I incouraged the rest of my Men afresh, saying, Sirs, next to God, all our Help is in our own Hands, let us every one fall to Work, and try again what we can do; go first and throw away the Powder. Which was done, but the Fire being got to the lowest part of the Hold, we could not come near it because of the Iron and other Goods, there­fore I resolved to let in the Water five Foot deep to quench it, and the Carpenter made se­veral Holes to that purpose.

Nothing but Sighs and Weeping were now observed amongst us, yet continuing vigorously to pour down Water, the Fire seemed to abate; but to check our hopes, it soon after took hold of the Oyls which we had in great quantity aboard. After which, the more Water we threw the more the flame increased: Then it was that our Ruin appeared to be without remedy, and our Wailings and Lamentations grew greater, all Succour failing, and the devouring Ocean being ready to swallow us up, and though we had thrown sixty Barrels of Powder over-board, yet there remained at least three hundred still in [Page 69] the Ship which we could not get at, so that at length the Fire reached them, and immediately the Ship, with one hundred and nineteen per­sons, were blown up into the Air: I, with sixty five more, were on the Deck, expecting this fatal blow, clinging to the Main-mast, in hope to fall with it into the Water and save our selves, but are all blown into the Air with the rest, and I who was their Captain, seeing no­thing but Death before my Eyes, cryed out, O my God, have pity upon me, verily believing this was the last moment of my Life, but al­though the blow did much astonish me, yet I was not wholly senceless, but retained some remains of Hope and Courage. Thus I fell into the Water, near the Wreck of the Ship which was shivered into a thousand pieces, and taking breath a little, looking about I perceived the Main-mast on one side of me, and the Fore-mast on the other, whereupon I got astride on the Main-mast, and observing the dismal Ruins of the Ship, I cryed out, Good God! what a fine Vessel is perished and destroyed in a moment like Sodom and Gomorah! In making these Reflexions, I perceived a Young man Swim­ming, who got hold of the Keel of our Ship, saying, I have caught it: Good God! said I, is there any one yet alive? I observed a little Mast driven by the Waves toward him, I de­sired him to thrust, it toward me, that whereon I was ballancing too much, and I being una­ble, without great pain, to stir my self, having two large Wounds in my Head and Back, and my Arms and Thighs sorely bruised, O God▪ said I, yet but a little while and I am a lost [Page 70] Man. We got both on this Mast, he before and I behind, with each of us a Board in our Hands, when the Young-man hoisting up him­self discovered the Shallop, but at so great a distance, that he could not perceive whither the Poop or Prow were towards us.

The Sun was now setting, which much af­flicted us, who had no hope but in Heaven, to which we continually address'd our Prayers: At length we were comfortably surprized with the sight both of the Shallop and Cock-Boat, which came very near us; I called out to them, Save your Captain: They answered me, Is our Captain still alive? I told them, I am the Person. The Young-man, my Companion, set himself couragiously to Swimming, but I being disabled by my Wounds and Bruises, cried out, If they would have me they must come and fetch me. Then they made up toward me, and our Trum­peter threw out a Rope, which I fastened about my middle; and thus they drew me to them. I had formerly made a little Lodge in my Shal­lop for two persons, wherein I was laid, it being thought I would soon expire. Heyn Roll, and others, visited me, whom I advised to keep all Night near the Wreck, to see if they could find any Provisions, or a Compass to find Land, for they left the Ship in such haste, that they took not any Meat nor Drink with them: They told me likewise, that the Pilot had taken away the Compass out of his Lodge, as foresee­ing we must abandon the Ship.

That Night Heyn Roll made the Sea-men Row hard to try if they could perceive Land, but at Day-break, to their great trouble, they [Page 71] could see none. They came and asked my ad­vice, I told them they had done ill in not con­tinuing near the Wreck last Night, where they might have found store of Provisions, since I had seen pieces of Flesh and Cheese swim in great quantities about our Legs, so that we could scarce make way for them when we were on the Mast. They desired me to rise a little, which I did with much difficulty; I demanded what Provisions they had, they brought me two little Barrels with about eight pound of Bisket, which was their whole Stock. Comerades, said I, this will not do, lay by your Oars, for you do but weary your selves with Rowing, take your Shirts and make Sails of them; which they did. I offered mine but they would not accept it, desiring to preserve my life. We were about forty six persons in the Shallop, and twenty six in the small Boat; in all seventy two. There was a good Morning Gown and Cushion in the small Boat which were given me. Our Surgeon having no Remedies left, stop'd the two holes in my Head with chewed Bread, which with Gods assistance cured them.

Our Sails being ready, we steered by the course of the Stars, though we could scarce dis­cern their Rising and Sitting; the Night was extream cold, and the day very hot, the Sun shining just over our Heads. We invented an Instrument, by the Coopers help, to take the Suns height, and afterwards with Chalk made a little Sun-Dial. I cut on a Plank, behind the Shallop, a Chart, in the best manner I could, and there describing the Isles of Sumatra, Java, and the Streight of Sunda, lying between these [Page 72] tvvo Islands. That day the Ship vvas lost, I had taken the height, and found we were in five Degrees and half South Latitude, and now found we were near ninety Leagues from Land. I made likewise a Compass, and directed our course seventy Leagues side-ways to get Land, that we might the better know where to go.

I now distributed our small store of Bisket, giving every man his allowance, which was not much bigger than ones Finger; this was soon gone, and we had no Drink, so that our thirst was insupportable, but soon after it happened to Rain, and we stretch'd out our Sails to receive it, and wringing the Water into our little Bar­rels, filled them therewith. I made one of my Shooes serve for a Cup, and caused every Man to take his turn in coming to the Barrel, and having drank, to give place to his companion. They intreated me to Drink my fill, which I would not, contenting my self with the same portion as the rest. And thus we kept together, but the Shallop out-sailing the Cock-boat, and there being none in it that understood Naviga­tion, they beg'd of me to be received into the Shallop, but the Seamen opposed it, saying, That though the Shallop was large, yet it could not hold so great a number, and thereupon they cut the Ropes and left them. Great was our calamity being without Provisions, and out of sight of Land, yet I still incouraged them, by saying they were not far from it; but they mur­mured often, crying out, Our Captain tells us more than he knows, since we every day seem to be at a greater distance from it. But when it [Page 73] seemed impossible for us to subsist any longer, it pleased God to send a great number of Sea-Gulls, who flew about us as if they desired to to be taken; we caught some of them, but had not patience to pluck off the Feathers, yet eat them with as good an Appetite as if they had been drest.

But still descrying no Land, we began to de­spair; those in the other Boat coming up, again beg'd us to take them in, which at length we did, esteeming it better to dye all together, since there was no sign of Relief, being then in all se­venty two Souls without either Meat or Drink, or expectation of getting any. Looking thus woefully upon each other, by the goodness of Heaven a great quantity of flying Fish rose from the Water, flying till their Wings were dry, and then fell down into our Boat; we im­mediately seized and divided them, and eat them raw, which comforted us and kept us from star­ving, so that none dyed, which was wonderful, since many already drank Sea-Water, notwith­standing all my Remonstrances; others held Musket-bullets in their Mouths; other again drunk their own Urine so long as it was good, but at length it would not serve.

Our calamity still increasing, we began to look upon one another with a cruel eye, plainly discovering our design to feed upon each other: At last, it came almost to an open resolution, that the Boys should be killed and eaten first, and then they would cast Lots amongst them­selves. It is impossible to express the Horror which I had at this proposal, perceiving their readiness to execute it; I therefore earnestly [Page 74] begged of God to change their Minds, and pre­serve them from this Cruelty, and going to them, said, Friends, I do assure you we are not far from Land, for I know it by my Instru­ments; hope in God and he will relieve us. They replied, I were used to entertain them with such discourses, telling me plainly, That if they diseerned no Land in such a time, they would certainly begin to eat the Boys. Consi­dering their barbarous Resolution, I reiterated my most earnest Prayers to the Almighty, not to suffer us to be tempted beyond our power, but to guide and direct us to some place of safe­ty. We were grown so lean and faint that we could scarce stand, and our Merchant Heyn Roll was not able to rise from the ground, so that my whole business was to go from Poop to Prow to comfort them, though I wanted as much conso­lation my self.

We Sailed thus at all Adventures till Dec. 2. 1619. being the thirteenth day since we lost our Ship: We had then some Rain, which we greedily received, and filled our two small Ves­sels, and every Man at Night stood back to back against each other like Sheep against the cold. Next morning the Weather cleared up and the Quarter-master being at the Helm, hol­lowed out, Land, Land, Land: All our people extreamly rejoyced at the News, and taking fresh strength and courage; we hoisted up our Sails, and got ashore that very Day, where we praised God, that had not suffered us to commit the crime we were about to perpetrate, for this was the last Day prefixt for this cruel and barba­rous Resolution of eating the Boys. We forra­ged [Page 75] the Island, and found abundance of Coco-Nuts but no fresh Water; we drew a very plea­sant Liquor from them, and eat the Meat. We could find no Man on the place, though it seem­ed to have been Inhabited, but saw a Serpent as big as our largest Barrels. This Island is distant four or five Leagues from Sumatra; we coasted Eastward as long as our Nuts lasted, which be­ing spent, we kept near the Isle to find a conve­niency to Land, because the roughness of the Sea made it dangerous, and likewise a Bank of Sand; but at length, we got ashore without any other dammage than being wet with the dashing of the Waves.

Here we found fresh Water, and Beans amongst the Herbs, and a little further Tobacco and a Fire, which was very pleasing to us Since we knew the Island was Inhabited, we kindled a Fire in six or seven places, reposing our selves about it, and at Night placed Sentinels to pre­vent surprizals from the Inhabitants. In the Night we were as sick and griped with the Beans as we had been before with the Coco's; and at the same time the Natives, favoured by the darkness, came upon us; of which our Sentinels gave us notice, and though we were Sick, and had no other Weapons but two Hatchets and an old rusty Sword, yet we resolved to sell our Lives as dear as possible, and ranging our men in Battle, vvith each a Fire brand stretch'd out at full length in his Hand, and the sparkles fly­ing in the Air, vve approached the Barbarians, vvho vvere much astonish'd, not discerning vvhat Arms vve had, and thereupon fled vvith▪ all speed, and vve returned to our Fires, and [Page 76] stood upon our Guard. In the morning vve saw three Men coming toward us, and some of our Company spoke to them in the Malay Lan­guage, and they asking who we were, he told them Hollanders, that had lost their Ship by Fire, and desired Provisions, which they soon after brought, both of Rice and Fowl, for which we paid eight Crowns, and divided it betwixt us, and met with a Liquor as strong as Wine, in a small Village, of which we drunk each his share. The Natives set down by us, but spake not a Word, seeming amazed to see us.

After this I bought a Buffle of them for five Crowns, but he was so Wild I could not take him, so our Men staid ashore to catch him, and I went in a Canoa, with two Negro's, to the Shallop, who I suppose designed to do me a mischief if there had been opportunity, but I used such rough Language toward them, that they saw I did not fear them. Next morning we saw two men bringing a Buffle, which I per­ceiving not to be the same, asked them why our Men did not return; they said, They had not yet caught the Buffle. Well, said I, we will make sure of this, and ordered the Serjeant to cut off his Legs, at which the Buffle fell, and the Negro's set up an horrid cry, upon which two or three hundred more came out of a Wood upon us, designing to surprize us by get­ting betwixt us and the Shallop, but our three Sentinels gave notice of it, and came to our as­sistance, they approaching us with Swords and Javelins; whereupon we made to our Shallop, and they pursued us furiously to the side of it. The Baker of our Ship wrought Wonders with [Page 77] our rusty Sword, and two others did the same with the two Hatchets, but finding our selves over-powered, we cut our Cable and Sailed away; some of the Negro's lay Dead, and others Wounded, on the Water. The valiant Baker received a Wound in his Belly by an In­venomed Arrow, of which he died. We lost twelve Men in the Fight, and four that were left ashore, which we were very loth to depart without, but having only eight Hens, and a lit­tle Rice for fifty persons, we Sailed along the Coasts, near the Rocks, and found store of small Oysters.

We left the Bay, and Sailed upon the Main Sea, to find out the Island of Java, and went ashore again in another Island, where we found some Bamboos and Palm-trees, the tops where­of being very tender we eat. Here from the top of an high Mountain I discovered the Streight of Sunda, and the Isles of Java and Sumatra, which was joyful news to us all, being impatient to see some of our own Country-men once more, who had a Factory there. Sailing on we met with some Holland Ships, and among others, one of those who lost company of us near the Canary-Islands, who at first did not know us, but when we discovered our selves, the Captain embraced us with Tears of Joy, and we went aboard his Ship, relating to him at large our woeful Misfortunes, which he could not hear without much emotion. He gave us a Yatch to go to Battavia, where John Peter Koen kept his Court, where being arrived, we told the Guards we desired to speak with the Lord-General, who having notice thereof, com­manded [Page 78] us to be brought into his presence: Af­ter we had paid our respects to him, we gave an account of our selves, and of the fatal acci­dent that had occasioned the burning of our Ship, and all the sad Disasters attending us after­wards. He replied, It was indeed a miserable Accident, but God, said he, has miraculously pre­served you in all your Dangers. He command­ed his Attendants to bring some Canary: My Lord Drank to me in a great Cup of Gold, and said I was welcome, and that we ought to con­sider our selves as Men that had once lost our Lives, and now by Gods great Mercy had found them again; adding, I must be gone this Night to Bantam upon urgent occasions, do you remain here and eat at my Table till my return.

Eight days after we were ordered to attend him at Bantam, where he sent for me, saying; Captain Bontekoe, go on Board the Shepherd Vessel till further Order. I accepted this Com­mission with hearty thanks, and Heyn Roll had likewise a Commission to exercise Merchan­dize: Soon after my Ship, with two others, were sent toward the Coasts of China, and co­ming to a Town called Laritoeken, whose Inha­bitants named Specks and Mestis much obstructed Trade, thereupon our Council resolved that we should Attack, and endeavour to Destroy them; in pursuance whereof, we put some Men ashore, who set some Houses on Fire, on purpose to di­vert the Inhabitants by quenching them, to give [...]s the better opportunity to Land our Forces, which having done, those in the Fort perceiving [...], made two Sallies upon us, and killed twenty [...] on the place, wounding, several [...] [...] and forcing us to retreat.

[Page 79] Having taken in fresh Water, we Sailed to­ward Amboina, and parting with Heyn Roll, not without much regret, remembring the miseries we both jointly suffered, we at length arrived at the famous City of Batavia, where the Go­vernour received me favourably, and made me Captain of a better Ship, newly arrived from Holland, called the Groningen, in which I Sailed to the Road of Jambay. Our Pilot went in a Boat up the River to visit Captain Martes, who entertained him very kindly; departing from thence he found himself drowsie, and reposed on an Hill near the Sea, but in the Night fell in­to the Water and was Drowned.

Having passed two years in Voyaging, I was sent in company with eight Ships more, by or­der from General Koen, to go to Piscadoris, to oblige the Chinois to Trade either by fair means or foul; and April 22. we cast Anchor before Macou, being now fifteen Sail, and next day we began to batter the City, and in the mean time our Commander in chief took the opportunity of the great Fire we made, to Land six hundred Men, the Enemy endeavoured to hinder them, but our men, with their Swords in their Hands, drove them out of the Trenches which they had made, and we became Masters of the lower ground, and pursued them vigorously, when by accident the fire took our Powder, which the Enemy understanding, came upon us with such fury, that we were wholly disordered, and forced to fly towards our Shallops, in great con­fusion, with the loss of one hundred and thirty of our Men, and near as many Wounded, the Commander [...] being slightly hurt in his Belly.

[Page 80] We Sailed from hence toward the Coast of China, and met a Jonque richly Laden, bound for the Manilles; we took her, and made two hundred and fifty Chinois Prisoners, and fasten­ing the Jonque behind our Ship, we set fifteen of our Men to Guard thirty of them, yet scarce thought our selves safe, and therefore put them all down in the Hold, and shut the Hatches up­on them, setting six men with their Swords drawn, and Lamps burning all Night, to Watch them, making them come up one by one to Eat. This caution caused them to have such awe of us, that when I walk'd on the Deck, they ranged themselves on both sides to make way, falling on their Knees before me. One of them told us, That a Chinois Prophet predicted their Country should be invaded by Men with red Beards, and because mine was so, they were perswaded I was the chief Person meant by that Prophesie. They came every morning above Deck to Comb themselves: There was some among them, whose Hair was so long that it come down to their Heels when they stood up­right, which they tyed in knots, and fastened with a Bodkin behind. We carried them to Pis­cadoris, which was the General Rendevouz of all the Prisoners, who were set to work on the Fortifications of the Fort.

Having been so long absent from my Native Country, I was now desirous to return home again, and hearing that the Ship called the Good Hope, was bound for Batavia, I desired leave of the General to return to Holland, which at length, with some difficulty, I obtained, and set Sail with the first opportunity in company of two [Page 81] Ships more, and coming toward the Cape of Good Hope, a great Tempest arose, so that I was forced to let down all my Sails, and give way to the Wind, which drove our Ship Southward, the two other Vessels following our Example, toward Midnight the Wind increased so violently, that we could not see what course to hold, for the Wind turned about the Compass. Our Main-mast was broke off and thrown into the Sea. This violent Storm or Hurricane continued about four hours the Sea being not much moved by it, but the Wind a little abating, it grew so rough and boisterous that we narrowly escaped being cast away: Our Decks took in so much Water, that we found it seven foot deep in the Hold. We had sixty pieces of Brass and Iron Cannon aboard, vvhich lay under the Pepper and Ginger, and rowling about ground several Bags of Pepper to Powder, which stop'd the passages of our Pump, and much indangered us; at length we cleared it, and falling stoutly to Pumping, were much incouraged when we found the Water abate. Our Main-mast, which was in the Water, beat strongly against our Ship, so that we feared it would much damnifie it, and obliged us to cut the Ropes that held it. Next Morning we discovered the Midleburg, one of our Company, which had lost all her Masts by the Tempest, but the other Ship we suppo­sed was cast away, for we were carried into a place where the Sea was of a brovvn colour, and vve drevv from thence a quantity of Pepper, vvhich confirmed us in our belief of her loss, to our great grief. The Captain of the Midleburg came in his Long boat, desiring us to furnish him [Page 82] vvith some Masts, which we concluded to do, much pitying his miserable condition, but the Seamen mutiny'd, and said, They had need of them themselves; but at length, with threats and fair Words, I prevailed with them, and so vve furnished them with what necessaries we had, and then left them, Sailing toward Madagascar. In Coasting which, we savv a certain place on the Land that burned; and soon after, finding a convenient Road, vve cast Anchor, and car­ried our Merchandizes ashore to dry them, and to repair the Ship. And seeing some of the In­habitants, vve made them by signs understand vve vvanted a Mast, and they very obligingly directed us where to cut one down, which we did. Whilst we were thus imployed, the people hearing of our being there, came from all parts, bringing with them Cattle, Honey, Wax, and several Fruits, setting up Tents the more con­veniently to Trade with us, telling us, They vvere at War, and desired us to assist them, for vvhich we should have what we would desire, telling us, Their King spake Spanish, and kept his Court six miles from thence. We sent four persons to Treat with the King about some Rice, vvho received them kindly, but told them it was very scarce that year, the Locusts having spoiled it: Which might very well be, for I being one day far advanced into the Country, they rose from the ground like a Cloud, and fell upon me in such numbers, that I had much difficulty to breathe. They have Wings to fly; but when on the ground they leap like Grashoppers. The King said he was forced sometimes to send [...] three hundred men into the Fields to [...] [Page 83] the Rice, but often to little purpose. Some of the Inhabitants pluck'd off their Wings, and boil'd and eat them, making signs to us to do the like, but we had no Stomach to them. The King having Treated our Men, came along with them to our Ship, and presented us with four Oxen, which we kindly received, and gave him two Muskets, who accepted them, and took his leave of us. Our Men were so plea­sed, they were loth to come away, but that I threatned them, if they staid, to return to Ba­tavia; so they hastened to repair the Ship, which was ready to Sail in April. Most of the Inha­bitants are black, some of them had their Hair dangling about their Shoulders, others wore it in little curles like Wool, the Women tye up theirs behind their Head; they rub themselves with Tar, and then stand in the Sun to make it shine on their Bodies. They go Naked, on­ly some have a little cloth about their Secrets; others none.

We now resolved to depart, but two of our Seamen having deserted us, we sent to find them but could not; we supposed some Women had inveigled them away, who are great Lovers of Dutch-men, and we saw several Children half white: And surely had the Country abounded as well with Wine and Beer as it did with Women, we should not have got our Men so soon off from this Island. Therefore leaving them in this barbarous Country, we set Sail for the Cape of Good Hope, and so Sailing along the Coast of Africa, we at length arrived at Kinsale in Ireland, and November 15. 1625. after so many perils, misfortunes and deliverances, by [Page 84] Gods Assistance we came safe to Zealand, seven years after our departure from thence.

SOme years since, two Ships were set forth by the Town of Amsterdam, to Sail into the North Seas, to discover the Kingdoms of Cathay and China, in which William Barents went as chief Pilot. The tenth of May we Sailed from Amsterdam: On the fourth of June we saw three Suns and four Rainbows; and John Cornelison, Master of the other Ship, with his Officers, came aboard our Ship, to perswade us to alter our course, which we refus'd to do, and so parted company. The Ninth of Septem­ber our Ship was wholly enclos'd with Ice, on the Coast of Nova Zembla, so that we lay three or four Foot deep in the Ice, and seeing that we could not free our Ship, and that Winter was coming on, we resolv'd to Winter there, and cast our selves upon the Providence of God; and taking counsel together, we determin'd to build a House. Immediately eight of us went ashore, to find out the convenientest place to erect our House upon, and God in our extream­est need sent us unexpected comfort, for we found certain Trees, which had been driven up­on the shore from some Neighbouring Region, for we saw none growing in this Desart Land. And this Drift-wood serv'd not only to erect our House, but also to burn all the Winter long; which we laid in heaps, that it might not be cover'd over with Snow. The Wind being [Page 85] North-East it was exceeding cold, freezing two Fingers thick in the Salt Water. We made a Sled to draw the Wood to the place where we had concluded to build our House.

September 25. our Carpenter died, and we Buried him next day under the Sedges, not be­ing able to dig up the frozen Earth. We began to Work hard on our House, being sixteen Men in all, whereof there was still one or other Sick; we then carry'd the greatest part of our Bread from the Ship to our House, and the day following brought ashore our Wine, and other Victuals. October 19. there being but two Men and a Boy in the Ship, a Bear indeavour'd by force to get into it, and though they shot at her with pieces of Wood, yet she advanc'd boldly, whereupon the two Men leapt into the Ballast, and the Boy climb'd to the Fore-mast top, to save their Lives; but in the mean time, some of our Men fir'd a Musket at her, and then she run away. The Twentieth being calm Sun­shine Weather, we went to fetch the rest of our Beer out of the Ship, where we found some of the Barrels, and even their Iron Hoops, frozen in pieces. The next day it was so great a Snow, that we could not stir out of Doors; the day after being calm, we went on Board to bring the rest of our Men home to our House; but we found one of them sick, and perceiving that the Wind began to blow hard, we were forced to lye still that day. The Twenty fourth, the rest of our Men came to the House, drawing their sick Companion on a Sled, and then with great difficulty we drew our Boat home, and turn'd the bottom thereof upwards, that if God [Page 86] in his Mercy should preserve us, we might make use of it, when time serv'd us.

The Sun in its highest Altitude began now to be very low, and we used all the diligence we could to fetch all necessaries out of the Ship, but when we had Laded the last Sled, our Master looking about him perceiv'd three Bears, coming towards us from behind the Ship, whereupon he cried out aloud to fright them away, and we put our selves in a posture of Defence, and, as good Fortune was, there lay two Halberds on the Sled, whereof the Master took one and I the other, and resisted them as well as we could, but the rest of our Men running to save them­selves in the Ship, one of them fell in a Clift of Ice, which put us in great fear, lest the furious Animals should run to devour him, but they con­tinued to pursue the Men that fled towards the Ship. In the mean time, we and the Man that fell in the Ice, taking our advantage, got into the Ship on the other side, which the Beasts per­ceiving, came fiercely towards us, and we doubt­ing that the two Halberts would not be sufficient to defend us, still kept them in play by throw­ing Billets at them, and they, every time we threw, ran after them, as a Dog useth to do af­ter a Stone that is cast at him: Mean vvhile vve sent one dovvn under Hatches to strike fire, and another to fetch Pikes, but he could get no fire, and so vve could not shoot. At last, as they rush'd furiously upon us, vve struck one of them vvith a Halbert on the Snout, where­vvith feeling her self hurt she gave back, which the other two being less perceiving ran away, and left us at liberty to draw our Sled quietly to our House.

[Page 87] Oct. 27. it Snowed so fast that we could not Work without Doors: That day we kill'd a white Fox, which we Roasted and eat, it tasted like Conies flesh. We also set up a Lamp, in vvhich we burnt the Bears Fat. We then fetch'd Sedges from the Sea side, which we laid upon the Sail that was spread upon our House, for we could not drive the Deals close together for Ice; vve had great store of Snow, so that we durst not look out of doors all that day, nor the day following. November 2. one of our men kill'd a Fox with a Hatchet; before the Sun declin'd vve saw no Foxes, and then the Bears began to go from us. The fourth day was calm, and the Sun disappear'd. Then, our Chyrurgeon made a Bath for us in a Wine-pipe, into vvhich vve enter'd one after the other, receiving great be­nefit thereby. The same day vve catch'd a Fox. When the Sun had forsaken us, vve savv the Moon continue both Day and Night.

The seventh day vvas so dark, we could hard­ly discern the Day from the Night, because our Clock stood still. The eighth, still Weather, we fetch'd another Sled of Fire-wood, and took a Fox. Now we shar'd our Bread, allowing to each Man four Pound and ten Ounces in eight days; our Flesh and Fish we shared not, because vve had greater store thereof, but our Drink failing, we were oblig'd to divide that also: Yet our best Beer had almost lost all its strength and became insipid, and besides there was a great deal of it spilt. The tenth day was calm, and our Men went into the Ship and found the Ballast cover'd with Water, which they could not Pump out because it was frozen. We made [Page 88] a round thing like a Net of Cable-yarn to catch Foxes withal, and the same day caught one. We shar'd our Wine, of which each Man had for his allowance two Glasses a day, but our usu­al Drink was melted Snow.

The twentieth was fair still Weather; we Wash'd our Sheets, but the cold was so violent, that no sooner had we wrung them, but they froze so stiff, that we might have sooner torn them in pieces than open'd them; so that we were forc'd to put them into the Boiling Water again to thaw. We had now but seventeen Cheeses left, whereof one we eat amongst us, and the rest were distributed to every Man one. The same day we took Foxes in our new Springes: The twenty sixth, we were so clos'd up with Snow that we could not get out, but the twenty ninth being clear Weather, we open'd one of our Doors, Shoveling away the Snow, and making clean our Springes, and took a Fox, of whose skins we made Caps to defend our Heads against the extremity of the cold. The thirtieth being fair Weather, six of us went to the Ship well Arm'd to see how it lay, and took a Fox alive under the Fore-Deck. Then for three days to­gether the Snow fell in such abundance, that we could not stir out of the House, and were so tormented with smoke that we durst hardly make a Fire; and so we were forc'd to lye still in our Cabbins, heating Stones to warm our Feet.

In the mean time the Frost was so vehement, that the Walls and Roof of our House were co­vered with Ice tvvo Inches thick, and because vve could not get out, vve set up a Glass of tvvelve hours, still vvatching to turn it up vvhen [Page 89] run out, lest we should miss our time. The fourth of December it clear'd up, and then we began by turns to dig open our Doors, and made clean our Fox-Traps. The sixth was foul again, and the cold so insupportable, that what Fire soever we made it would not warm us; yea, our Sack was frozen so hard, that we were forc'd to melt it in the Fire, of which each man had about half a Pint allow'd him every second day, at other times drinking Water. The se­venth continued foul and stormy, so that con­sulting together what were best for us to do, one of the company advis'd us to burn Sea-coals, which would cast a great and durable heat; at Evening we made a great Fire thereof, which casting a good and agreeable warmth, comfort­ed us much: And therefore being desirous to continue the heat, we concluded to stop up all the Doors and Chimney, and lying down in our Cabbins a while talking together, at last we were taken with a vertiginous dizziness in our Heads, and almost all stifl'd with a choaking Vapour. We first perceiv'd our danger by means of a Sick man, who was less able no bear it, and immediately some of the company that were strongest, starting out of their Cabbins, first open'd the Chimney and the Doors, but he that open'd the Door fell down in a Swoon up­on the Snow, which I hearing, for my Cabbin was next the Door, I run to him, and throwing Vinegar upon his Face, brought him to his Sen­ses again. No sooner were the Doors open, but we all recover'd our former Healths, and so the cold, which till now we had esteem'd as our bitterest and most dreadful Enemy, prov'd our [Page 90] best Friend, and the only Preserver of our Lives.

After this, the Master gave to every one of us a little Wine to comfort our Hearts, and the Weather being clear, and the Sky full of Stars, we set our Door wide open, and made ready our Springes, and took two Foxes. The ele­venth the Air was clear, but so cold that our Shooes froze as hard as Horns on our feet, so that we could not wear them, and therefore made things resembling great Pattins, the upper part being of Sheeps skins, which we put on over three or four pair of Socks. Our Clothes were all white with Frost, yet we durst not burn more Coals, for our late misfortune had taught us, That to shun one danger we should run into another. We had now burnt all our Fire-Wood, but there lay some round about the House, which with great pain we dig'd up and brought in, Working by turns, being hardly able to endure the extremity of the Cold, though we wore Fox-skins about our Heads, and dou­ble Apparel on our Backs. The eighteenth be­ing clear Weather, seven of us going to the Ship, found a Fox in the Cabbin, and observ'd that in eighteen days absence the Water was risen about a Finger high, but it was all Ice. Next day there arose such a Storm, that the House was enclosed with Snow, yet we heard the Foxes running over our House, and one of our company saying it was an ill sign we ask'd the reason; he reply'd, Because we could not put them into the Pot, or Roast them. The foul Weather and the cold were now so invin­cible, that all the means we us'd to defend our [Page 91] selves against it were to no purpose, and in the morning our Cabbins were all frozen, so that as the days began to lengthen, the cold began to strengthen, for December 27. it continued stor­my and cold, so that as we sat by a great Fire and were ready to burn on the fore-side, our Backs were frozen white. The day after it clear'd up, and we open'd the Door, digging a hole through the Snow, and went out of the House upon seven or eight steps, each of the height of a Foot, and going to make clean our Springes, we found in one of them a dead Fox, frozen as hard as a Stone, which we brought into the House, and some of the compa­ny thaw'd and eat it. The thirtieth, next day, was stormy again, so that all our labour was in vain, and we were still Prisoners, and so cold, that we burnt our Hose before we could feel the heat, and if we had not sooner smelt than felt them, we should have burnt them before we had known it.

The first day of the New-year, the Weather continued as cold, foul, and Snowy, as before, and we shar'd our Wine again, dividing it into smaller portions. We had almost burnt all our Wood, yet durst not go out to fetch more, but we found some pieces that lay over the Door, and also clove the Blocks whereon we us'd to beat our Stock-fish, but not daring yet to stir abroad to know from what point the Wind blew, we thrust a Half-pike out at the Chimney, with a little cloth or feather on the top, but to no purpose, for it was instantly frozen as hard as Wood. January the sixth was calm, so we dig'd our Door open, and carrying out the filth, [Page 92] made every thing handsom, and fetch'd in Wood. We also dug a great hole in the Snow without the House, in which we might cast our filth; and after all our labour, remembring that it was Twelfth-day, we pray'd the Master to let us be merry that Night, and were content to spend some of the Wine that we had spared before, so that Night we drank to the three Kings, and having two pound of Meal, we made Pan­cakes with Oil, and a white Bisket for every Man, which we sop'd in Wine. We also made Tickets, and our Gunner was King of Nova Zembla. The eighth being fair Weather, we began to observe Day-light, which comforted us not a little. The tenth, seven of us well Arm'd went to the Ship, which we found in the same state we left it in, but observ'd many foot­steps of Bears, and perceiv'd that the Water was risen a foot higher in it. The eleventh be­ing still fair, we adventured to go to a Hill, a quarter of a Mile off, from whence we brought some Stones to keep our feet warm in our Cab­bins. The fifteenth, six of us went aboard the Ship, and found a Springe that we had plac'd in a hole of the Fore-Deck to catch Foxes, lye in the middle of the Ship, all torn in pieces by Bears, as we perceiv'd by their foot­steps. The sixteenth was fair, and we went out now and then to exercise our Limbs, and stretch our Joints, with going and running, lest we should become Lame. About Noon we perceiv'd a certain redness in the Sky, a welcome Messenger of the approaching Sun, Aurora blush­ing to lye so long a Bed. The seventeenth, we had yet more comfortable tokens of the Suns [Page 93] Neighbourhood, for the Air was somewhat warmer, and the Ice melted in our Cabbins, but the Night prov'd cold again, and our Wood consuming, we adventur'd to burn some Coals, keeping open the Chimney, and receiv'd no hurt thereby.

Now the Foxes began to fail us, which made us fear the return of the Bears, but it being fair, we went out again to cast the Bullet. Next day four of us went to the Ship, praising God for that the hardest part of the Winter was past over, and comforting our selves in the hopes of seeing our Native Country once again; when we were come thither, we found that the Water still rose higher. Two more went to the South-shore of Nova Zembla, and contrary to expectation, I first perceiv'd the edge of the Sun. Immediately we return'd to make the rest of our company partakers of these joyful Ty­dings, but Mr. Barents would not believe us, af­firming that it was yet fourteen days too soon for the Sun to appear in that Climate, being in the Latitude of seventy six degrees; and many offer'd to lay VVagers about it. The two days following, the Air was over-spread with foggy Mists, so that we could see nothing, which made them that contradicted us insult over us, but upon the twenty seventh, the full Orb of the Sun appear'd above the Horizon, which mani­festly justify'd our Assertion. This is a wonder­ful and surprizing effect of Horizontal Re­fraction.

The twenty fifth was again cloudy, and our VVagerers began to doubt of what they had seen the day before. VVe now perceiv'd a [Page 94] Bear, having seen none all the time of the Suns absence; we cry'd out to fright her, and she ran away. But a dusky Cloud cover'd the Ho­rizon, whereupon our incredulous Companions continued to mock us. In the Evening, one of our Company that had lain long Sick, felt him­self extreamly ill, and apprehended the near ap­proach of Death; we comforted him as well as we could, but he died that Night. Next morn­ing we dig'd a hole, by turns, in the Snow, hard by the House, seven foot deep, in which we Buried our Companion; which done we went to Breakfast, and while we were at Meat, dis­cours'd concerning the huge quantity of Snow that fell in this Icy Region. At last we resolv'd, if it fell out that we were again enclos'd, we would endeavour to get out through the Chim­ney; immediately our Master went to try vvhe­ther he could climb up that vvay, and vvhile he vvas scrambling up, one of our Men vvent forth to see if he vvere out or not, vvho descry­ing the Sun, call'd us all out to behold that Glo­rious Light in his full roundness, a little above the Horizon; this put an end to our Controver­sie, and evidently confirm'd our first Assertion, hereupon vve all rejoyc'd, and return'd humble and hearty thanks to our Almighty Protector. January 28. vve spent in various kinds of exer­cise, refreshing our dull and num'd Joints, but tvvo days after vve vvere again clos'd up vvith a prodigious Storm of Snovv. The last day of the Month vve made the Door clean, and going out vvere comforted vvith a sight of the Sun in its full Lustre; mean vvhile vve savv a Bear coming tovvards us, but vvhen vve shot at her [Page 95] she ran avvay. The first of February, a boiste­rous Storm made us again Prisoners; this dis­courag'd us again much, for hoping that the Sun vvould have rid us of the foul VVeather, vve had made no great Provision of VVood. The third vve dig'd our Door open, but a thick and dark Mist cover'd the Sun; this day vve brought in some VVood vvith great pain. But the very next day vve vvere again shut up by the Snovv, and so vvere forc'd to climb out at the Chimney to ease our selves. VVe vvere much perplex'd that vve could not enjoy the comfortable heat of the Sun that we had lately felt, and yet were forc'd to have patience till the eighth, before the fury of the Storm was over, and on the tenth we were sensible of that agreeable warmth we had so much long'd for.

The eleventh we saw a Bear, but she came not vvithin the reach of our Muskets, but the day following we shot one into the breast, as she came right before our Door, the bullet pass'd quite through her Heart, and came out at her Tail as flat as a shilling; the Beast feeling her self wounded leapt backwards, and run some five or six paces from the House before she fell: VVe coming up found her still alive, and when she saw us, she rear'd up her Head in a threatning manner, and we shot her twice in the body again before we adventur'd to touch her. Having drawn her home to the House we flay'd her, and took at least one hundred pound of fat out of her belly, which we melted to burn in our Lamp, and every Man had enough to burn a Lamp in his Cabbin, for Reading and other ex­ercises, which before we could not do. This [Page 96] was a great comfort to us in our dismal Habita­tion. Next day five of us went to the Ship, and found that the VVater did not increase much. The fifteenth we were again clos'd up, and on the morrow, being Shrove-Tuesday, we made merry in the middle of our sorrow and anguish, and every one of us drank a draught of VVine. The twenty second being clear VVeather, ele­ven of us well Arm'd for fear of the Bears, went to the place where we usually had our VVood, but not being able to dig it up, by rea­son that it lay so deep in the Snow, we were forc'd to go a little further, where we toil'd hard to get some, but returning home with the Sled, our strength fail'd us, for the long and sore mi­sery that we had suffer'd, had so enfeebled us, and so much impair'd our bodies, that we were quite dishearten'd, and almost resolv'd to aban­don our selves to the untimely Death that threat­ned us; but unavoidable necessity at length compell'd us to make another effort to proceed, and our hopes of better VVeather redoubled our fainting strength, and when we drew near to the House, we saw much open VVater in the Sea, which increas'd our hopes, and so at last, vvith great difficulty, we finish'd our irksom labour.

Next day we vvere again clos'd up, yet vvere constrain'd to get out for more VVood, which we brought home with no less difficulty than be­fore, for one of our Companions had one of his Toes frozen off. VVe resolv'd to spare our Wood, exercising our selves, when it was day, vvith running, leaping, and walking. To them that lay in their Cabbins we gave hot stones to [Page 97] warm them, and towards Night made a good Fire. The fourth of March, five of us going to the Ship, found that the Bears had open'd our Cooks Cup-board, that was cover'd over with Snow, and had drawn it out of the Ship, Three days after we were again shut up, but we were now us'd to climb up through the Chimney. The Storm continued two or three days, and we perceiv'd still more open Water in the Sea. Twelve of us went to fetch Wood, our pain and labour still increasing, because our strength decreas'd. When we came home, we intreated our Master to give each of us a Glass of Wine, which he did, and this not only com­forted and reviv'd our drooping Spirits, but made us more willing and cheerful in perform­ing our Laborious Tasks: Yet would we often say to one another, That if Wood might be had for Money, we would gladly part with all our Wages for it, for the cold was as piercing as in the depth of Winter, and daily increased rather than diminish'd, and therefore we made Shooes of Felt, for the Leather was frozen as hard as a Horn. The twenty first we brought home another Sled full of Wood, yet the cold was insupportable, and it froze very hard on the Roofs and Walls of our House, and the day after a storm enclos'd us, and then our Coals were very useful to us, but we dig'd our selves out two days after, and fetch'd home more Wood, the pinching extremity of cold having forc'd us to burn up all that we had. The twenty eighth, six of us went aboard the Ship, and found there many marks of the Ravenous Bears, one of them coming to our House; we [Page 98] attempted to shoot at her, but the Weather be­ing moist, and the cock foisty, the Piece would not give Fire, mean while the Beast advanc'd boldly forwards, and coming down the Stairs close to the Door, endeavour'd to break into the House. Our Master run to shut the Door, but being in great haste and fear, could not make fast the Bolt, but it pleas'd God that the furious Creature seeing the Door shut retir'd, yet with­in two hours after returning, she got upon the top of the House, and made such a hideous roar­ing and hellish noise, as fill'd us all with a pannick Terror, so that we verily believ'd she would have broken it down; she tore the Sail that cover'd it in pieces, but the darkness of the Night hindering us from seeing her, we made no resistance, and so at last she left us.

April 15. being calm, seven of us went aboard the Ship, and found it to be still in the same case, and as we return'd homewards, a great Bear came towards us; we put our selves in a posture to meet her, whereupon she gave back, and we observing the place from whence she came went to see her Den, where we found a great hole made in the Ice about two foot deep, the entry thereof was narrow, but it widen'd inward, we thrust in our Pikes to feel if there was any thing in it, but percei­ving it was empty, one of our Men crept in, yet durst not proceed too far, for it was fearful and terrible. Then going along by the Sea-side, we saw the Mountains of Ice piled upon one another, in so wonderful a manner, that they appear'd like Icy Towns and Castles fortify'd with Towers and Bulwarks. The seventeenth, [Page 99] seven of us went again to the Ship, and from thence clamber'd over the Icy Hills to the open Water, and when we were got thither, saw a little Bird swimming, which as soon as it espy'd us div'd under Water. The thirtieth, in the Night, we saw the Sun North, just above the Horizon, and from that time had sight of it both Night and Day.

The first of May we drest our last Flesh, which we had long spared, and it was still very good, and the last Morsel tasted as well as the first; we then began to think that we had kept House long enough here, and to talk of our departure, and the Master considering that our best Meat began to fail us, when the Labour we were to undergo required the greatest strength, he shared the rest of the Bacon amongst us, which was only a small Barrel of Salt Bacon and Pickle, whereof every one had two Ounces a Day, and so in three Weeks it was all eaten up. The seventh Day we were yet once again clos'd up in our House: The fourteenth we fetch'd our last Sled of Fire-wood, still wearing our Rug-shooes. The twenty ninth in the Morning, ten of us were to bring our Scute to the House to clean it, and were fain, with ex­tream pain, to dig it out from under the Snow wherewith it lay cover'd, but beginning to draw it, we soon found our selves unable to proceed, by reason of our extraordinary fee­bleness. This quite disheartned us, but our Master encourag'd us, representing unto us that our Lives lay at the Stake, and that if we did not draw away, and fit out the Scute, we must resolve to continue Burghers of Nova Zembla, [Page 100] and make our Graves there; but we were not­withstanding, constrain'd to give over at this time, and return home comfortless, yet in the Afternoon taking heart again, we determin'd to turn the Boat that lay by the House, and to amend it, that it might be fitter to carry us through the infinite number of dangers that threaten'd us, in the performance of so long and troublesome a Voyage. While we were busie at Work, a huge Bear assaulted us with greater fury and boldness than ever any had done before, but we got into the House, where we expected her coming in our three Doors with Harquebusses, and one stood with a Mus­ket in the Chimney; at lest the over-grown Beast advanc'd as far as the lowest step that en­tred into one of our Doors, and which is dread­ful to relate, the Man that Watch'd there was at that instant looking towards another Door, and saw not his furious Enemy, till a sudden shout of these that perceiv'd her from within made him turn about: yet though the horrible sight of imminent Death struck him with terror and astonishment, he fir'd his Piece to so good purpose that he shot her quite through the Body, whereupon she run away. Thus did Divine Providence preserve us from this terrible dan­ger, for if his Piece had fail'd him, it had cost us perhaps more Lives than one. The wound­ed Beast had not run far when she fell down, then we went and kill'd her out-right, and rip­ping open her belly found a piece of a Buck therein, skin, hair and all, which she had not long before devoured. It seems they smelt that we would soon be gone, and resolved to taste [Page 101] a piece of some of us, for two days after ano­ther attack'd us, and that so fiercely, that we were forc'd to leave our Work and run into the House, whither also she pursu'd us, but we dis­charg'd three Pieces at her, which all hit her, but her Death did us more hurt than her Life, for we dress'd and eat her Liver, which pleas'd our taste very well, but made us all sick, espe­cially three, who were in great danger of their Lives, yet they recover'd their Healths beyond all expectation, but lost their Skins from Head to Foot.

At last we got our Boat ready, after we had wrought six days upon it; and June 4. eleven of us drew the Scute to the Ship, and now our Labour seem'd lighter to us than formerly; per­haps because our hopes were stronger, and cou­rage higher, and we had reckon'd to meet with no greater difficulties than we found, because the Snow now lay harder on the ground, but especially, the earnest desire and great pleasure we had to Work at that time, augmented our decay'd Spirits. We were forc'd before we could draw our Boats to the Sea, to make the way plain with Hatchets, Shovels, and other Instruments, for it was full of Hillocks and Mountains of Ice, and while we were thus bu­sied, a great lean Bear assaulted us, who we judg'd came from Tartary, for we had seen of them twenty or thirty miles upon the Sea, and since we had only one Musket which our Sur­geon carry'd, I run in great haste towards the Ship to fetch some; the cruel Beast pursued me close, and I expected to have been torn in pieces by her ravenous Teeth, when our compa­ny [Page 102] seeing my danger follow'd her, which made her turn towards them and leave me, but in the mean time the Surgeon happily discharg'd his Piece and shot her into the Body, whereupon she run away, but the Ice being very uneven and full of knobs, we quickly overtook her, and killing her outright struck her Teeth out of her Head.

As we were ready to depart, William Barents our Pilot left a Letter in a Musket hanging in the Chimney, wherein he gave an account of our disastrous Voyage, and how we had lain ten months in that desolate, dark and dismal Country, and at last were forc'd to commit our selves to the cruel Mercy of that Icy Sea, in two small Boats, under the protection of our Al­mighty Creator. So having finish'd all things as we determin'd, we drew the Boat and Scute, and eleven Sleds of Goods and Victuals, to the Water-side; we then divided our selves equally into the Boats, and recommending our safety to the abundant Mercies of our Heavenly Guide, with a West North-west Wind, and indifferent open Water, we put to Sea on the thirteenth day of June. The twentieth of the same month our Pilot Mr. Barents died, the loss of whom dishearten'd us not a little, as being the only Guide, on whose Conduct, next under the Pro­vidence of God, we relied. At last, after innu­merable dangers, and as many miraculous deli­verances, having Sail'd almost four hundred Dutch miles along the Coast, we enter'd the River of Coola in Lapland, on the first of Sep­tember, and when the Flood was past, we cast our Stones that serv'd us for Anchors aground, [Page 103] till the Tyde came in again, and then set Sail till Midnight, and after that Anchor'd till morn­ing: There rowing up the River, as we past along we saw some Trees, which comforted us as much as if we had enter'd into a new World, for all the time that we had been out we had seen none. At length we got to a Dutch Ship, which we had news of some days before, little dreaming it was our Consort, that the year be­fore set out with us, and left us about the Bear Island. There we began to make merry with our old Companions, and bid each other wel­come; then we rowed forward, and Landed at Coola. Here with the Governors leave, we brought our Scute and Boat to the Merchants House, and set them up for a Monument, of our tedious (and never before Sailed) Voyage. The seventeenth of September we set Sail from thence, and on the twenty ninth of October arri­ved in the Maese, and on the first of November got to Amsterdam, in our Nova Zembla Clothes, and Caps furr'd with white Foxes Skins, and were received by our Friends as if we had come from the Dead, they having given us over for lost a long while before. Metallick History of the Netherlands. De Veer's Relation.

A Venetian Ship, in which were above seven hundred Buts of Wine, Spices and other Merchandizes of great value, with sixty eight Men, set Sail from Candia, the Master Piero Quirini; on the sixth of November, we came by [Page 104] chance into the Mouth of the Channels of Flan­ders, and were driven by a storm from the South towards the North-west. The fury of the Winds was so great, that it broke five of the Hinges off our Rudder, and the storm hourly increasing, beat upon our feeble Rudder with such violence, that it hung on the one side; wherefore, for the last Remedy, we fasten'd a great Cable to it, with which we drew it after us three days, in which time, in our judgment, we had run above two hundred Miles against our wills. Afterwards, with many pieces of Timber, we made a shadow of another, and fitted it to the Ship; but this also was carried away by the breaking Surges, on the twenty sixth of this month, so that then we lost all hopes of directing our Ship. On the fourth of December, the Winds grew so outragious that they carried away our third Sail, and so we wander'd at adventure, not knowing by what means to provide for our safety. Afterwards the rage and violence of the Winds increasing, the Sea began to swell so high, that the Waves seem'd Mountains, and our Terror was aug­mented by the darkness of the extream long Nights, so that we seem'd to be swallow'd up in the bottomless Depths of the Abyss: It's hard to imagine how great the anguish and trembling of our hearts was, living in a continual expecta­tion of Death. In the middle of this horrible darkness, we sometimes saw the Heavens as it were open'd, with sudden flashes of dazling Lightning: Sometimes we seem'd to touch the Stars, and at other times saw our selves buried in Hell, insomuch that we lost both Strength

[Page 105] Whilst we remain'd useless Spectators of this woeful Tragedy, pitifully beholding one▪ ano­ther, a rolling Billow came over the Ship with so great fury, that it was fill'd almost half full of Water, so that she turn'd up her Keel, and lay as if she had been ready to sink: But Hea­ven forsaketh not them that Religiously call up­on him, and strengthen'd our sorrowful hearts. We cut down the Main-mast, and threw it over­board, together with the Main-yard and Tack­ling, which eased the Ship very much, so that we began to cast out the Water, which at last we over-came, though not without great diffi­culty and pain. The day appearing, we agreed to make ready the Boat and Skiff, and parted equally our small remainder of Provisions; forty two persons were willing to enter into the Skiff, and therefore we were forc'd to cast Lots who should go therein, it being capable only of one and twenty. The Master and forty seven more enter'd the Boat, unto whom ratably fell their proportion of Victuals. We were, in our judgment, distant from the nearest Land or Island, above five hundred miles, and then came to Sail in a quiet Sea for some time; but a dark Mist arising in the Night we lost sight of the Skiff, and never saw it more. The Morning appearing, we were much troubled that we could see no tokens of the Skiff, which made us fear the worst, and suspect what had befaln them, for the Storm was so furious, that an impetuous Billow rushed into the Pinnace behind the Poop, where I was, with so great violence, that two Stays were batter'd and bent by the vehemency of the Shock, which filled our hearts with con­sternation [Page 106] and terror, for now was the Pinnace more charged with the weight of the Water than with her own burthen; but Necessity set us all a working, and fear of so imminent a danger made the feeblest of us bestir themselves, and fall to lading it out with their hands, and being in a dreadful hurry, we threw over-board all that lay in our way. As soon as we had drain'd the Pinnace, the Storm continuing, we agreed to cast out some Casks of Wine to lighten her, which we did with so great haste and precipitan­cy, that we had soon reduc'd our selves to such extremity, that if we desir'd to taste of that chearing Liquor, to restore our drooping Spirits, we were forc'd to content our selves with one Goblet apiece every day, which was all that could be allowed to each of us; and if any could not satisfie his parch'd Throat with this, he was constrain'd to have recourse to the brackish Liquor, that threaten'd to swallow us up every moment.

But all this was Luxury in respect of what our cruel Destinies reserv'd for us, this Measure of Wine held out only a Week with us; at the end of which, our tormenting fears quite ex­hausting our small store, constrain'd us to di­minish our proportion to half a Goblet a day each Man. Thirst was not the only, nor great­est Misery that attended our deplorable and forlorn Company, perpetual Terror, and di­stracting Doubts, did so disturb our afflicted Minds, that we could never compose our selves securely to sleep, and notwithstanding our tot­tering Limbs were hardly able to sustain our sinking Bodies, we were forc'd to tug hard [Page 107] Night and Day, both at Helm and Pump, be­ing at the same time almost frozen to Death with intolerable cold, which was incomparably more grievous than that which, to the admirati­on of all Men, not many years ago cover'd all the Channels at Venice with thick and impene­trable Ice. And now the compassionate Reader may consider how lamentable our case was, we wanted Clothes to fence us from the pinching cold, our Meat and Drink fail'd us, and we re­main'd amidst the Horrors of an unknown and stormy Ocean, destitute not only of all com­forts, but even of necessaries to sustain our fainting Bodies; and lest any thing should be wanting to compleat our Misery, the Nights were twenty one hours long, and very dark. The growing cold now began to produce terrible effects of its cruelty among us, we were all of a sudden seized with a certain numness, which began at our Feet, and then gradually ascending over-run our whole Bodies, causing in us a dis­order'd and raging appetite, which was no small addition to our Sorrow, for every Man endea­voured to filch what he could from his Neigh­bour, and Ransacking every corner greedily, devour'd all he could find. Then did Death Tyrannize among us, and you might see here one, and there another, breathe out a broken sigh, shake his giddy Head, and fall down dead on a sudden. In which extremity, of forty seven Men which made up our desolate Compa­ny, twenty six gave up the Ghost, and this was so far from being a Wonder, considering our helpless condition, that it was certainly a Mira­cle of Divine Bounty, that any of us were pre­serv'd [Page 108] alive to Celebrate the never-failing good­ness of our Almighty Deliverer, and exalt the Glory of his power. These twenty six died between the twenty third of December to the fifth of January, and found their Graves in the bottom of the merciless Ocean.

And now the last day of this disastrous year presented us with a dismal prospect of unavoid­able Ruine, for our little stock of Wine was wholly exhausted, and the sad experience of our dead and dying Companions taught us, that the Sea-water with which we were wont to de­lude the intolerable fury of our Thirst, did on­ly hasten our approaching Death; so that, not knowing what to do, we forc'd our own Water down our Throats. How deplorable and heart-breaking an object was it to see some gasping Wretches, whose parcht Entrails refus'd to fur­nish any moisture, with dying groans and rueful looks, imploring the favour of a small draught of the Urine of their Companions, who, either unwilling to part with what they fear'd would quickly be spent, or rather unable to spare any from themselves, refus'd to save the Lives of their dearest Friends, at the expences of a small quantity of that unsavory Liquor, which was the only means left to preserve their own. 'Tis true, some of us had the prudence to temper it with a little Sirrup of Green Ginger and Le­mons, which by Providence was not yet con­sum'd. At last, when there was no hopes left, when Despair and Paleness were painted on our hollow Cheeks, and the Grim-King of Terrors in the most frightful shape star'd us in the Face, then did our pitiful Redeemer stretch forth his [Page 109] helping Hand, and on the third of January 1431. we descry'd Land afar off, being a ledge of ragged Rocks, cover'd to the top with huge Mountains of Snow, and lying to the weather of us: But it seems Fortune still ow'd us a spite, for the Winds being contrary we durst not spread our Sails, and our feeble Arms were al­together unable to manage the Oars, so that a strong current driving us along, we lost sight of Land and all our Hopes together. But magni­fied be the wonderful Goodness of our God, we escaped safe out of a Deluge of Dangers, in which we were almost over-whelmed, for ha­ving been long toss'd and batter'd by the Cru­elty of outragious Gusts, among the Death-threatning points of lurking Rocks, which by reason of the horrible darkness of the tedious Night we could not avoid; at last, fear of Death, and desire of Life, inspiring us with unwonted Vigour, we enter'd into a Bay be­tween two steep Rocks. No sooner did our Pin­nace touch upon the Sand, but five of our men made desperate by tormenting Thirst, leap'd in­to the Sea, without knowing the depth thereof, which was considerable, and making haste to­wards the Snow, thrust such great quantities down their insatiable Throats, that they seem'd to delight in glutting themselves therewith; at length they return'd Laden with huge quantities thereof, which we also gulp'd down very greedily.

Now from the time that we left the Ship, until January 6. being eighteen days, we made account, according to our best Judgments, that we had run two thousand five hundred miles [Page 110] at least, without seeing Land, for Sailing all that time between the East and North-east points of the Compass, we never hand less Wind than af­ter the rate of six miles in an hour. On the forementioned day, being the Feast of Epiphany, Nineteen of us went ashore on this desolate and barren Island, called the Isle of Saints, which lies on the Coast of Norway, and belongs to the King of Denmark, leaving only two men to look to the Boat: Being Landed, we retired to a place that was cover'd from the fury of the piercing Winds, and kindled a Fire by means of a Tinder-Box and an Oar, the sight of which was very comfortable to us. But perceiving that this Island was Uninhabited, we resolved to go to another, which we descry'd about five miles distant. But alas! our Pinnace was so Leaky, that despair­ing to be ever able to fit her out for the Sea again, we drew her not without great pain to Land, and determin'd to make a little Hovel of her, to shelter us from the violence of the Wea­ther. To accomplish which, we divided her in­to two parts, of the first and greater of which we made a Shed for Thirteen of us, and of the lesser another for the rest, covering them with part of our Sails, and reserving the remainder, with the Cordage, for Fuel, to comfort our fro­zen Limbs. And now being utterly destitute of all Sustenance to preserve our wretched Lives, we wander'd along the shore to gather some small quantity of Periwinkles and Barnackles▪ which by chance we found there, and remo­ving the Snow in some places we found cer­tain Herbs, which we boiled with Snow in our Caldron, and then eat them through extream Necessity.

[Page 111] Thus did we live for thirteen days toge­ther, if I may call that Life which was spent in perpetual agonies and terrors, and deser­veth rather the Name of a lingring Death. In the middle of these extremities, four of our Companions of the greater Shed, unable to hold out longer, under the insupportable weight of misery that overwhelm'd us, gave up the Ghost, notwithstanding all the pains that our poor afflicted Master took to provide some small remedies and comforts, both for their Souls and Bodies. Our feebleness was so extream, that we were not able to remove their worn and rot­ten Carkasses two yards, the sight whereof was as grievous and lamentable as the stench was contagious and noisome. Now was Nature so much decay'd in us, that we could not retain the little Food we had provided, and no sooner poured a little melted Snow, down our Throats, but we presently cast it up again, and yet were not able to abstain from it, which so weaken'd us that our Legs could hardly sustain us; and withal, the cold was so pinching, that to preserve our selves from being frozen, we were forc'd to stand so close crowded together, that we seem'd to be sew'd to one another. We had co­ver'd our Cottages with our Sails round about down to the ground, without leaving any vent-hole for the Smoke, which arose in such abun­dance, and so thick, from the pitched Wood of our Pinnace, being all the Fuel we had, that our Eyes were so swoln therewith, we could not see one another, and yet were willing to endure any thing rather than to expose our selves to the more intolerable cold. In the mean [Page 112] time we were almost eaten up by Vermine, for we never shifted our Clothes, and the Lice swarm'd upon us in such numbers, that we cast them by whole handfuls into the Fire; yet they not only gnaw'd off our Flesh, but pierc'd even to the Bones, and at last eat their way to the ve­ry Bowels of a Young-man of our company, a Notary by Calling, who expir'd in unexpressi­ble Torments. All this could not humble our Pride, nor mortifie the contentious haughtiness of our Minds; our common Calamity could not unite us together, nor make us bear with one anothers Infirmities. So that Charity wax­ing cold, and discord arising among us, part of our Company wandring about the Savage and Uninhabited Island, came to the knowledge of a lonely retiring place, made by some Shep­herds to shelter themselves during their abode there; it was seated in the highest part of the Western Coast of the Island, distant from our Hutts about a mile and a half. To this six of the eight that remain'd in the greater Cottage determin'd to withdraw, leaving their two Com­panions alone in their desolate and abandon'd Habitation, they being neither able to Travel, nor the others to conduct them to this New-found Dwelling.

But now to confirm the Truth of that pro­mise, That every thing shall turn to the good of those that put their Trust in God, he sent us an exceeding great Fish, to which I know not what Name to give, whether Whale or Sea-Porposs. When we saw it cast upon the shore, dead, yet fresh, great and good, and at a time when we despair'd of all relief, we could not but acknow­ledge [Page 113] it to be an amazing effect of the Divine Bounty towards us, and praise the never-failing Mercy of God, in sending us such seasonable and comfortable Nourishment for our enfeebled and diseased Bodies. On this Fish we feasted for nine days together, and to heighten our grateful sense of this wonderful Providence, and make us relish the sweetness thereof more fully, it happened that these nine days were so Tem­pestuous, with Wind, Rain and Snow, that the cruel Storm would not have permitted us to stir one foot out of our Cottage. The miraculous Fish being spent, the fury of the Tempest was somewhat mitigated, wherefore not having wherewithal to sustain Life, and oppressed with extream hunger, we Ransack'd every Clift of the desert Rocks to seek for some Relief, and at last found a few Sea Perriwinkles and Barna­cles, with which necessity constrain'd us to be contented; and with this slender nourishment we maintain'd our selves until the last of January. While we were thus wandring about, lean, pale, afflicted and half Dead, we found some Oxes Dung dried and baked by the Cold and Winds, whereof we gathered every day suffi­cient to make a small Fire. By this we came to know that the place was frequented by Oxen, which gave us some hopes of finding an end of our misery, and in the strength of this comfor­table assurance, we were better enabled to en­dure our insupportable Sorrow and Anguish; at length the long look'd for hour came, wherein our compassionate Lord vouchsafed to conduct his little afflicted Flock into the Haven of their desired safety, whose Hand was evidently seen [Page 114] Two young Heifers had stray'd the year be­fore from a certain Fisher-man, living in Rusten, an Island five miles distant from the Savage Isle of Saints wherein we were, and he had long ago given over all hopes of ever finding them again: Now it happen'd that on the first of February, at Night, one of the Fisher­mans Sons, a Youth of sixteen years of Age, Dreamed that certainly the two Heifers were still alive, and were got over to the Western point of the Island of Saints, whereupon he earnestly besought his Father and elder Bro­ther, that they would accompany him to that place, who yielding to his importunate in­treaties, they all three enter'd into a Fisher-Boat, and Rowed towards the said point, where they were no sooner Landed but they descry'd a Smoke arising from the Habitation which they had formerly used, which surpriz'd them with great astonishment, whence and by what means so strange an accident could come to pass, so that they stood a great while much amazed; and at last, endeavouring to guess at the cause thereof, they began to talk to one ano­ther. But though we heard the sound of their Voices, yet we could not imagine whence it should proceed, and thought on nothing less than the truth, but judged it to be the crying of Crows, and not the Voice of Humane Creatures; and we were the rather induced to entertain this conceit, because not many days before we had beheld an infinite number of these ravenous Birds, preying upon the misera­ble Carkasses of eight of our Companions that lay expos'd to Wind and Weather, and often [Page 115] heard them rend the Air with their harsh Notes. At last we were sensible of our Error, and plain­ly distinguished the Voices of Men, and immedi­ately Christophoro Fiorovanti, one of our Compa­ny, went forth, and seeing two young strip­lings, return'd shouting for Joy with the welcom News, saying, Be of good cheer, behold two Men come towards us. These words put new Life in us, so that we began to try whether we had yet forgot to run, though indeed our hearts sus­tain'd us rather than our Legs; as we drew near to the Young-men, we perceiv'd that they were dismay'd with the unexpected strangeness of the sight, and that a sudden paleness began to over-spread their Faces, but on the contrary we took Courage, and being comforted with a certain hope, gave them to understand, by the humblest Gestures which we could make, that we came not with a design to offend them. Then did we begin to deliberate what might be the best course for us to take, divers uncertain and fleeting resolutions were suggested to our Minds, and we were perplexed with a thousand doubts. Sometimes we determin'd to detain one or both of them, but soon forsook that rash resolution, not knowing with whom, nor how many we had to do. Then we advised together, whether one or more of us should ven­ture to go along with them, and this determi­nation also was not without its difficulties, for we were afraid to hazard our selves among strangers, whose Language we were ignorant of, and they of ours. At last, casting off all fear, and committing our selves to the gracious protection of God, we went down to their Boat. [Page 116] in the most amicable manner possible, and in friendly and humble wise saluted the Old man, who stood there expecting his Sons, and was no less astonish'd to see us than they had been. In the mean time our hunger was so pressing, that we could not forbear to search in the Boat, whether happily we might find any thing to relieve our necessity, but to no purpose, for we could meet with nothing.

The pitiful strangers perceiving by our acti­ons, and the signs we made, that we were almost starv'd for want of sustenance, were moved to compassion, and chearfully agreed to carry along with them two of our Company, Ghirardo di Lione a Sewer, and Cola di Otrunto a Mari­ner, who spoke French and High-Dutch, leaving us in great hopes of speedy assistance. As they drew near to Rusten, the amazed people came running to the Sea-side, gazing upon the strange Countenances and unusual Garb of our Com­panions, and questioning one another, how and from whence they were come thither. To sa­tisfie their curiosity, they attempted to discourse with them in sundry Languages, but at last a German Priest, of the Order of the Praedicators, spoke to one of them in High-Dutch, by whom they were certified who we were, from whence we came, and how we were cast upon the De­sart Island; and all this the Priest published to the people next morning, earnestly exhorting them to have compassion on our necessitous con­dition, and relieve us according to their Abi­lities. Which had so good effect, and found the Spirits of the people so much dispos'd to pity, that the day following, being the third of Fe­bruary, [Page 117] the kind Rusteners came to us that were left in Courteous manner, bringing along with them plenty of Provisions to refresh our feeble bodies, and very affectionately invited us to their Habitations. We embraced their offer'd kindness with a thankful willingness, and with glad Hearts accompanied them to their Hospita­ble Island, where we were receiv'd with unaf­fected Sincerity, and entertained with great plenty of Restorative Food, the exceeding abun­dance whereof had like to have prov'd fatal to us, for we could not restrain our selves from obeying our craving Appetites, neither could we ever satiate our selves with seeding; but neither were our weak Stomachs able to concoct, nor decay'd Nature to bear so unusual a Load of Meat, so that what we eat to sustain Life, had almost brought us to an untimely Death.

There were yet remaining two of our Com­pany in the Isle of Saints, whom we had left in the greater of our Cottages, and who were ignorant of our miraculous Succour; wherefore we inform'd our kind Friends of their helpless condition, and likewise of our eight deceased Companions, who lay rotting above ground. Whereupon they assembled themselves together, and went with the Priest, Singing Psalms and Hymns, as well to Bury the Dead as to rescue the Living; when they were arriv'd at the de­solate Island, they Interr'd the Bodies of the eight deceased persons, to which number one of the two remaining was now added, whom they likewise buried: And you may easily ima­gine in how sad a plight they found the other poor Wretch, who had been thus utterly de­priv'd [Page 118] both of Humane Society and Sustenance yet he was brought to Rusten, with some little remainders of Life, where at the end of two days, he found an end of his miseries in Death. Eleven of all our numerous Company were saved, and came alive into this Island, among vvhom vvas our Master Piero Quirini, a person of consummate prudence, and discreet humility, of vvhich he gave a notable instance vvhen he enter'd into the House of our affectionate and charitable Host; for seeing his Wife, in testi­mony that he acknovvledg'd her to be Mistriss of that Life vvhich her Husband had preserv'd, he cast himself dovvn at her Feet, but she refu­sing so great submission, Courteously lifted him up from the ground, and kindly embracing him vvith her ovvn Hand, gave him somevvhat to Eat. With these loving and Hospitable people vve abode three months and eleven days, expecting to have passage into Sweden vvith our Host, vvhither he intended to go vvith his usual Fraight of Stock-fish, for every year in the month of May, the people of this Island Travel to Sweden, vvith mighty plenty of that Commodity, vvith vvhich they furnish a great part of that Kings Dominions.

At last, on the fourteenth of May 1432. came the happy Hour, in vvhich, after so tedious and lamentable an Exile, vve set our Faces home­vvards, and began our Journey tovvards our beloved Native Country. So vve took our leave of our Charitable Hostess, and all our other affectionate Friends, leaving vvith her for a Token of our Love, not vvhat her kindness deserv'd, or vvhat Justice and Gratitude oblig'd [Page 119] us to have given, but vvhat the merciless Sea had left us, which was only a few Trifles, as Cups, Girdles, and some small Rings, and ex­press'd the grateful sense we had of so many, and so signal Favours, with the best and most hearty Eloquence we were Masters of, to the Priest, our Interpreter, by Words, and to the people by Signs. Having thus perform'd all due Salutations, we Embarked in a small Vessel of the burthen of twenty Tuns, Laden with Fish, in which our Host went also Master and Pilot, and the Ships Crew consisted of his Sons, and other Kindred. We set Sail then on the fore-mentioned Day, directing our course to­wards Bergen, which was the first convenient Haven for Unlading and Vending our Fish, and distant from Rusten about a thousand miles. These Fisher-men conducted the Bark safely, and with great ease, through various Channels, with which, and all the Currents in them, they were perfectly acquainted, so that our Voyage prov'd very commodious to us. When we were about two hundred miles off Rusten, we found certain Relicks of the Wreck of our Skiff, which certify'd us of the sad Fate of our Companions that were aboard her; and we concluded, they perished the first Night we lost sight of them. The twenty ninth of May 1432. we arriv'd at Tronden, a Town upon the Coast of Norway, and the Royal Seat of the King of Denmark when he resides in those parts, and the Burial place of the famous Saint and King Olaus. Here we abode ten days, waiting for some conveniency to continue our Voyage, but finding none, were unwilling to lose more time, [Page 120] and therefore determin'd to proceed on our Journey by Land; but first we took our final leave of our bountiful and charitable Patron and Host, and his Company, instead of rewards offering him only our sincere thanks, and hear­ty prayers to God for him.

The ninth of June we departed from Tronden, Traveiling on foot towards Vastena, a Town within the limits of Sweden, but under the Do­minion of the King of Denmark, where we understood, by two of our Country-men, whom to our great joy and comfort we found there, that the Inhabitants (for the reverend respect they bore to the memory of their Glorious Monarch St. Olaus, unto whom (as they well knew) the Republick of Venice shewed extraor­dinary Favour and Courtesie, when he past through that City in his Voyage to, and Return from Palestine) were affectionately dispos'd to assist us both with Counsel and Money. And indeed, we were not frustrated of our Hopes, receiving very loving Entertainment among them, and were inform'd that if we continued our Journey directly forwards, we should ex­pose our selves to infinite dangers, and the con­tinual assaults of Wild Beasts, and therefore they advised us to go to Stichimborgi, although it would be no less than thirty days Journey out of our way, where we should find a Valiant and Noble Venetian Cavalier M. Giovanni Franco, who would not fail to receive us graciously, and assist us plentifully with all Necessaries for our Journey. Following this Advice, we set for­wards, and on the eighteenth day arriv'd at the Court of that Honourable and Valorous Baron, [Page 121] who being inform'd of us, came to receive us with a chearful Countenance, and shewed us so great favour, that we soon perceived his Noble Heart was full of Love to his Country. We had no sooner in an humble manner acquainted him with all our Calamities, and present Ne­cessitous condition, but he bid us be of good Comfort, for he was abundantly able to relieve us; and indeed, he could not satisfie himself with heaping honours and benefits upon us, and entertaining us splendidly. He also fill'd our Purses with Money, and furnish'd us with good Horses; yea, in his own proper person, together with M. Mapheo his only Son, and one hundred and twenty Horsemen of his Domestick Ser­vants, he brought us on our way for several days Journeys, through his Territories, Travel­ling always with all this great Company at his own Charge. Being come to the Confines of his Land, we took our leave to depart, yielding him our most humble and hearty thanks for his unparallel'd bounty to us. At his departure he left his Son to be our Guide, with an Attendance of twenty Horsemen, who kept us company all the way to Vastena, from whence we came about forty days before, and where we arrived on the thirtieth of July. We abode here till the second of August, maintain'd at free-cost by M. Mapheo, and then humbly taking our leaves of him, and presenting him with our ordinary Retribution for received benefits, Thanks, we set forwards on our Journey, directing our Course to Ladese, where we arrived on the eleventh.

Here we found opportunity of passage in two [Page 122] Vessels, one bound for England, and the other for the Low-Countries, and agreed for the great­er conveniency, to divide our selves into two Companies; in the latter Ship went Christophoro Floravante one of the Council of our Unfortu­nate Vessel, Girardo da Lione the Sewer, Nicolo de Michiel a Venetian Notary, (and Writer of one of the two Relations out of which this Ac­count is compiled) who Landing at Rostoch, af­ter many troublesome and dangerous Adven­tures, Travelling sometimes on Foot, and some­times on Horseback, by the merciful Providence of Almighty God, arrived at Venice in good Health, leaving Girardo da Lione at Vasenech, from thence to continue his Journey to his own Native Country. Among these who embark'd in the Ship bound for England, being in all eight persons, were the Sieur Quirini, Son of Mr. Ja­como a Venetian Gentleman, Master of the un­happy Ship, who said, that when he set foot on the English shore, it seem'd unto him that he re­ceiv'd new Life, and that he was come out of Hell; he visited Cambridge, where a charitable person gave him sixteen Crowns, and abode two months in London. In the same Ship went M▪ Piero Gradenico, Son of M. Andrea, a young Mer­chant of the Age of eighteen years, and Ber­nardo de Caghire our Pilot, whose Wife being young, hearing no News of her Husband in so long time, believ'd certainly that he was Dead, and without mature deliberation Married ano­ther Husband at Treviso; but hearing of our arrival, and being inform'd that her former Husband was still alive, she immediately dis­solv'd the Bond of her second Marriage, and [Page 123] retir'd into a Nunnery, to testifie the honesty of her Intentions, where she expected the return of her true Husband, who about three months after arriv'd at Venice, and receiv'd her again for his Wife.

THE News of the War that was declared between France and England in the year 1666. coming to the West-Indies, the English being Masters of the Isle of Antego, issued out Orders, forbidding, under pain of Death, some French that lived among them, to go out of the Limits of their Habitations; notwithstanding which prohibition, Vrban de Frecide, Lord of Grand Maison, resolved to hazard his Life to re­gain his Liberty. The Attempt was very bold, and he expos'd himself to a thousand dangers, for there was an absolute Necessity to find out some resolute Companions to carry off a Boat, and make Provision of Victuals, and all this in a place where the French were look'd upon as Enemies, and as such diligently observ'd; but the desire of Liberty made this daring person over-look all those difficulties, which in them­selves appear'd unsurmountable. He pitch'd upon two of his own Nation to be his Compa­nions, of whom one was a Carpenter, and with joint-consent they determin'd to carry off a small Shallop, which was Chain'd to a Stake with­in sight of an English Corps du Guard. And be­cause they us'd to Lock up the Oars every Night, the Carpenter undertook to make new ones, and Grand-Maison took upon himself the [Page 124] care of making necessary Provisions. The Night appointed for the Execution of the Enter­prize being come, out three Fugitives, and two Negro's, whom they had gain'd, carried their Provisions to the Sea side, to the place whither they had resolv'd to bring the Shallop. About Mid-night the bold Chirurgion, accompanied with the Carpenter and a Negro, who carried the Oars, came to the place where the Boat lay, and the Carpenter having saw'd asunder the Post to which it was fasten'd, they carry'd it off with so little noise, that they were not heard by the Centry, and without any molestation brought it to the place of Rendevouz. Most part of the Night was employed in this Work, and in carrying on Board the slender Provision of Victuals, that Grand-Maison was able to furnish, so that having Embark'd themselves, and endea­vouring by force of Rowing to get clear of the hated shore, they were surpriz'd, when by the glimmering light of the Morning they discover'd that Land, which they endeavour'd to shun, but half a League distant. This oblig'd them to retire into the Island of Birds, a Desart place, and of difficult access. At Sun-set our dismay'd Company put to Sea again, endeavouring to double the East point of the Isle of Antego, that they might afterwards gain that of Guadeloup; but they were astonish'd to find next morning, that all their Efforts had been in vain against the strength of the Current, and that they were not advanc'd above a League. Their weariness and fear of being discover'd by those that were upon the Watch on the rising Grounds of Antego, which was in possession of the English oblig' [Page 125] them to Land in a place that was over-grown with Trees, amongst which having hid their Boat, they search'd all around for fresh Water and Herbs, though with little success, for the Sea swelling mightily in the Night, had dash'd against their Boat, and so wet their Cassave Bread, that it was altogether unfit to be eaten; so that they had nothing left to feed upon but a little Salt Pork, and only one Pot of Water to Drink, with a little Aqua-vitae, made of Sugar Canes.

At Night they put to Sea again, steering the same course that they held the foregoing Night, but had not got above a League from the shore, when they found themselves in the middle of se­veral Rocks lurking under Water, upon which they struck so dangerously, that it was a Mi­racle they were not buried in the Waves. Want of Water and Victuals, and the breaking of their Rudder, constrained them to go ashore on an Uninhabited Isolet, where they found some Fruits of the Country, and enough fresh Water to fill one of their Barrels. They found also the Wrecks of a Boat that had been cast away there, of which they made a new Rud­der, or else they could not have possibly gain'd any of the French Isles. In the beginning of the Night they left this Green Rock, and steer­ed towards Guadeloup, hoping to touch there in the Morning, but the day surpriz'd them again on the Coast of Antego; but the Tide was so strong, that the Boat had like to have been dri­ven forcibly upon the North-we [...]t side of the Island, where were the principal Fortresses of their Enemies, and therefore they labour'd with [Page 126] all their might to save themselves from falling into their dreaded hands. When they saw them­selves at a reasonable distance from the shore, they began to consult about their Affairs; Wa­ter and Victuals fail'd them, their Strength was also much lessen'd, and their Spirits almost Ex­hausted by the Fatigues which they had under­gone.

Therefore Grand-Maison was of opinion, that it would be their best course to endeavour to gain the Island of St. Christopher, which lay to the Lee-ward, whither they might easily go with full Sails. This Advice was unanimously followed, but having no Sails, they were at a stand what to do, when Necessity, the Mother of Invention, taught them to make use of a Hammock, or Cotton-Bed, which they had in the Shallop, and the Carpenter made a little Mast, to which they fasten'd it. In this condition they coasted the Isle of Antego, two Leagues from the shore, and towards Night they began to lose sight of it, directing their course towards St. Christophers. By break of day they found themselves so near the shore of the Isle of Nevis, which also be­longeth to the English, that they were constrain­ed to labour hard to pass to the Wind-wards of that Island, thereby to gain the Salt-pits of St. Christophers. Their Efforts were not altoge­ther vain, for they doubled Nevis; but withal, were forc'd to run so near the shore, that they look'd every moment for the appearing of some Barks from thence, to seise their Vessel and Persons.

In the mean time they pass'd the Streight be­tween Nevis and St. Christophers, and finding [Page 127] themselves over against the Salt-pits of this last Island, they endeavour'd in vain to get to Land, for when they were come within half a League of the shore, they were suddenly engaged among hidden Rocks and breaking Waves, where they were toss'd with such violence, that the Boat dashing against one of the Rocks, they had much ado to bring her off, being much weakned by hard Labour and want of Sustenance; nevertheless, they were so happy as to get clear of all these dangers, and held out one Night more with Hunger, Thirst and Toil. Finding themselves at the dawning of the day, over against the Head land of St. Christo­phers Island, and knowing that they might easily aad safely Land there, they took Courage, Fear and Sadness being banish'd out of their Hearts, and Joy succeeding in their Room; so that forthwith one of them tore his Shirt, of which he made two Flags, and another tied his Cravat to the top of the Mast, to serve for a Streamer. In this manner they drew near to shore, which was cover'd with French, who came running from all parts of the Island to behold the won­derful Boat. The Sieur Sannois, Captain of that Quarter, being there also, gave them notice by a Signal of the right Landing place; at length they came ashore with glad Hearts, and were received by their Country-men with a great deal of Humanity.

FRancis, Lord of Noue, Sir-named Iron-Hand, had a Sister called Margaret, Marry'd to the Lord de Vezins, of an illustrious House in Anjou. Of this Marriage were Born a Son and two Daughters. Vezins being a Widower, Married his Ladies Waiting-maid; she desiring that her Children might be the only Heirs of that rich Man, caused the three Infants of the last Mar­riage to be secretly carried to Pardic in low Bretagne, a House seated upon the Sea-shore, and pertaining to the Lord de Vezins. There they were put into the Hands of an English Pi­lot, who had agreed to throw them into the Sea, but touched with compassion, he contented him­self to leave them with a Peasant on the Coast of England, to be by him Educated as Children of mean Birth, and without giving them the least knowledge of their Extraction, for they were as yet so young, that he did not think they could remember it. Then were they car­ried to the Isle of Guernsey, and with a little Mo­ney committed to certain Persons in that Isle, to be there brought up. In the mean time Reports were spread abroad from time to time, that the Children died one after the other in their Fathers House, and counterfeit Funerals were Solemniz'd. The Daughters did not intirely lose the memory of their Birth, and being somewhat grown up, they heard of the Lord de la Noue, and remem­ber'd that he was their Unkle, and that they had heard him so call'd in their Fathers House; they wrote unto him, and he did all that he could to [Page 129] hasten their Return into France, and to discover the Truth. The Father, who was suspected to have been privy to the Mother in-Laws Plot, at first resisted his endeavours, but at length he consented, and profess'd he would have been glad that his Children had been Educated near the Lady de la Noue, who was a Virtuous Wo­man; but there fell out several things that ob­structed their proceedings, and the Girls re­main'd in Guernsey till they died. As for the Son, he was carried from thence to London, and be­cause he was younger than his Sisters, and had no correspondence with them, he almost intirely lost the memory of his Extraction, and was bound Prentice to a Shoomaker; nevertheless, when he was grown up, having still some con­fus'd Idea's that he was descended of an Honou­rable Family in France, and hearing of the inte­rest that La Noue seem'd to have in these young Girls, he suspected that he might be their Bro­ther, and being inform'd that La Noue was in Flanders, he went thither to present himself to him. He did so, but he produc'd so few marks of his Birth, and La Noue saw so little light in this Affair, that he contented himself with Wri­ting to Vezins, that a Young-man had presented himself to him, who call'd himself his Son. La Noue being made a Prisoner in the Wars of Flan­ders, six or seven years past over before he heard any more of this business, and in the mean time the Young-man plying his Shoomakers Trade, went at last to Geneva, to Work there; he had not been there long when La Noue arriv'd, one of them not Dreaming of the other. La Noue, by chance▪ sent to his Masters Shop for something [Page 130] belonging to that Trade which he wanted. That Young-man carried it to him, and knew La Noue by his Iron-Hand, but durst not discover him­self, because he had not a very favourable re­ception the former time, and was afraid to of­fend him.

La Noue did not mind him, and six or seven years producing a great alteration in the face and stature of Young-men of that Age, he thought upon nothing less than his Nephew; nevertheless, having observ'd some Gestures and Words that did not savour of a Shoomaker, he ey'd him more attentively, and fancy'd that he beheld in him the Air not only of him whom he had seen in the Low-Countries, but also of his Brother de Vezins, which oblig'd him to ask him, who and whence he was: The Young-man modestly answer'd, that he was unable to give him a clear answer, but that he was the Man that had the Honour to see him in Flanders, and who there told him that he believ'd himself to be his Nephew, the Son of the Lord de Vezins. La Noue began to think that the Boy was tru­ly what he call'd himself: Afterwards asking him several questions concerning the manner of his being expos'd, and of his Education.

The Young-man who had acquired more Judgment and Knowledge than when he saw him in Flanders, and perhaps was better able to explain himself distinctly, gave him so great satisfaction, that he remained convinced that this was the true Heir of the House of Vezins. He might have abandoned him, and thereby taken the advantage of his Sisters Succession, which was considerable, but he had too Noble [Page 131] a Soul to prefer profit to his Duty; he took the Young-man along with him, and Educated him in a manner suitable to his Birth, and his Father, to whom he writ an account of the af­fair, refusing to acknowledge him, La Noue seized him at Law, but the difficulty of the Times not permitting him to compass his design during his Life, he left the Suit to Oder de la Nove his Son, who carried it on, and finished it with the same Generosity wherewith it was be­gun. So the Father and the Son equally Gene­rous, established the Fortune of this near Rela­tion, whose Posterity yet enjoy the Estate of the Family of De Vezins. The Life of the Lord de la Noue, by L'Amirault.

THE Duke of Biron was a great Favou­rite to Henry the Fourth, Grandfather to the present French King, but his Pride and Am­bition prompting him to imagine that his Servi­ces to his Master were not rewarded according to his Merit, he, with several others of his Par­tizans, entred into dangerous correspondences with the Duke of Savoy, and the King of Spain, to the prejudice of the Kings Affairs, and like­wise conspired to seize and destroy his Person. King Henry had Intelligence of the whole In­trigue, yet had such an entire love and favour for him, that he sent for him and acquainted him with what discoveries he had made; but added, That if he would be so ingenuous to give him a full account of all the Transactions, he should certainly find Mercy and Pardon from him. [Page 132] The Duke being ignorant that one La Fin, to whom he had declared his Resentments, and made privy to the Designs he was managing, had acquainted the King with the whole mat­ter, obstinately refus'd to confess any thing, and denied he was any way concerned in any Con­spiracy against him or his Government, making many Pretestations of his Innocency, beseeching the King to do him Justice against those who designed his Ruin by Slanders and false Reports, which were insupportable to so clear a Soul as he had, desiring leave to take his Revenge by the Sword. The King led him to the Tennis-Court, where the Duke proposed the Match, saying, That the Duke of Espernon and he would play against His Majesty and the Count of Soissons. The Duke of Espernon suddenly replied, My Lord, you play well, but you make your Matches ill. At Supper he seemed discontented, eating no­thing, nor any Man speaking to him, esteeming him a Man abandoned to Misfortune; yet he thought he had so much Courage, that no Man durst lay hands on him.

The King in the mean time walked in his Chamber, much disturbed how to come to a Resolution, and speaking of him and the Count of Auvergne, with the other Conspirators, being full of Mercy and Clemency, he said, If they will yet return to their Duties, and give me the opportunity to prevent the ill Designs of my Enemies, I will still pardon them: If they weep I will weep with them; if they will remember the Duty that they owe me, I will not forget to be kind and gra­cious to them; they shall find me as full of Clemency as they are of Disloyalty and Ingratitude. I would [Page 133] not make the Duke of Biron the first Example of the Severity of my Justice, or that he should cause my Reign, which hath hitherto been like a calm and serene Sky, to be over-cast with Clouds, Thunder, and Lightning; but yet I am resolv'd he shall either bend or break.

Next morning the King commanded the Count of Soissons to go to him, and endeavour to mollify his Mind, and draw the Truth out of him: He goes to him, he perswades, con­jures, beseeches him to submit himself to the King, and to fear the Indignation of a Prince as he would do the paw of a Lion. The Duke of Biron answered roughly, That the King had no reason to complain of him, unless it were for his good Services, and that he himself had the great­est cause to complain that his Loyalty should be sus­pected, who had given so many and so great proofs thereof.

The Count of Soissons finding all his endea­vours were fruitless against his obstinate temper, left him, and the next morning early the King sent for him into the little Garden, and discours'd with him a long time, he making still great pro­testations of his Innocency, beating his Breast, and casting up his Eyes to Heaven in confirma­tion thereof. At their parting there appeared Anger in the Kings Countenance, and by the Dukes carriage there seemed Fire in his Words. From thence the Duke went to Dinner, and had a Letter delivered him with Advice to retire himself; but he laugh'd at all warnings, and de­spised any Advertisement of his fall. The King had an account of his Bravado's, but took little notice of them; at length, upon consultation [Page 134] with some of the Lords of the Council, it was resolved that he should be apprehended, and likewise the Count of Auvergne; the King would not have them taken in the Court but in their own Lodgings, which the Duke of Biron was somewhat apprehensive of, and therefore thought he need fear nothing in the Presence-Chamber, but that his danger would be most in going forth, to prevent which he had pro­vided a short Sword, wherewith to make his way by the Death of any Opposer. The King was informed, that if he were not seized in the Presence-Chamber it would occasion Blood-shed, to prevent which it was convenient to pass by some unnecessary respects; the King sent for Vitry and Pralin, Captains of his Guards, and ordered them in what manner to execute his commands.

The Duke of Biron sup'd at Montignys Lodg­ings, where he discours'd more proudly and vainly than ever of his own Merits, and his many Friends in Switzerland, and proceeded highly to commend the Piety, Justice and Libe­rality, of the late King of Spain. Montigny sudenly interrupted him, saying, The greatest commendation due to that Princes memory, was, That he put his own Son to Death, for attempt­ing to promote troubles and disturbances in the State. This put an end to the Dukes Haran­gue, who by his Eyes seemed to hear this sharp reply with much amazement and surprize.

After Supper, the Duke of Biron and the Count of Auvergne waited on the King in the Garden, with a greater Train of Guards than they expected. The King invited the Duke to [Page 135] play in the Queens Lodgings; they plaid at Chess, and the King being perplex'd, went often to and again to his Closet. As they entred the Door of the Chamber, the Count of Auvergne whispered the Duke in the Ear, We are undone: The King was much unresolved, but at length he pray'd God to assist him with his Holy Spirit, and to infuse such Resolutions into him as might be for his Glory, and the good of his people, over whom he Ruled only by his Grace. His Pray­er ended his doubts were satisfied, and he conclu­ded absolutely to deliver the Duke into the hands of Justice. The Count of Auvergne was retir'd, the King sent for him, and walked about the Room while the Duke minded nothing but his Game; Varennes, Lieutenant of his Company, pretending to take up his Cloak, told him in his Ear, He was undone. This last word astonished him so that he neglected his Game, which the Queen observing, told him, That he had misreckon'd himself to his own loss. The King answered, That they had plaid enough, commanding every man to retire. He took the Duke of Biron into his Ca­binet, and charged him, once for all, freely to declare what Transactions he had managed with the Duke of Savoy, and the Count of Fuentes, Governour for the King of Spain, assuring him that his Clemency should surmount his Crimes. The Duke, though he was conscious to himself that he deserved Death, yet had not the humility to desire his Life, nor a Tongue to beg par­don, but answered the King more resolutely than ever: That they had contrived the over­throw of an honest Man, and that he had no other design than what he had already discovered▪ [Page 136] I wish to God it were so, said the King, but I find you will not acquaint me with it. Adieu, Good Night.

As the Duke was going out of the Cabinet, and had passed the Chamber-Door, he met Vitry, who laid his Hand upon Birons Sword, and de­mands the delivery of it by the Kings Order: From me! said the Duke, What to take away my Sword, who have so faithfully served the King? My Sword! Who have ended the War, and have settled Peace in France? That my Sword which my Ene­mies could never wrest from me, should be now ta­ken away by my Friends. He intreated the Duke of Montbazon to beseech the King to give him leave to deliver it into his own hands; the King ordered Vitry to do as he had commanded him. The Duke was forced to suffer it to be taken from him, and in delivering in cast his Eyes about to seize upon another, but they prevented him. When he saw all the Guard placed in the Gallery, he thought they would have killed him, and desired to have something in his Hand that he might have the Honour to dye in de­fending himself, and some little time to pray to God. They answered, That no Man should hurt him, they having Order from the King on­ly to conduct him to his Lodgings. You see (said he in passing by) how good Catholicks are Treated. He was carried to the Closet of Arms, but nei­ther slept nor lay down. Praliu was sent to the Count Auvergne to demand his Sword in the Kings Name: I take it (said the Count) it hath never killed any but Wild Boars, if thou hadst in­formed me of this I had been a Bed and asleep two hours ago. These two Noble-men were like [Page 137] Torches in a Field of Corn, able to inflame the Kingdom. The Duke of Biron grew ex­treamly impatient, scarce speaking a Word but it was either against God or the King, and dis­covered all the rage and fury of a Mad-man; but suddenly recollecting himself, Well, said he, I find this is but Folly, for all my passion and raving will do me no Service.

The King returned from Fountainbleau, where the Conspiracy was discovered, to Paris, and was received with the Shouts and Acclamations of the people for his safe return, and their De­liverance from Slavery. The Prisoners were led to the Bastile, the Duke of Biron was melan­cholly and dejected, the Count of Auvergne mer­ry and pleasant; the first entred the Bastile as in­to his Grave, the second as into a Palace, ima­gining that no place could be a Prison to him. They had the liberty of the House, but fearing the Dukes desperation might make him destroy himself, they suffered none that came near him to wear Arms; and seeing himself served with a Knife without a point, he said, That this was to the Greve, which is a place in Paris where great persons are Executed, and speaking of Death with disdain, said, That it could never come un­look'd for to a Man well resolved, nor strange to him that doth foresee it, nor shameful to a Generous Mind. He continued some time, after his Im­prisonment, without eating or sleeping, and the violent motions of his Heart cast him into a Fever, yet would take no Physick but what his Physicians tasted first, for fear he should be Poysoned; yet the fire of his Courage was not smothered with his Distemper, what did he say, [Page 138] or what did he not say, Fury and Choler made him utter senceless Speeches. If they will put me to Death, says he, Why do they not dispatch me, that they may not boast they have made me afraid of Death? And then let them drink them­selves Drunk with the Blood which remains of five and thirty Wounds that I have received in the Ser­vice of France. To pacifie his furious discon­tent, the Archbishop of Bourges was sent to him to rectifie his conscience, and to remove some Atheistical Opinions that he had imbraced, and to assure him that if he did heartily repent and confess his Crimes, he might yet expect for­giveness both from God and the King. As soon as he was a Prisoner, every one said he was a Dead man, and seeing himself so strictly Guard­ed, he said, They did not put Birds of his kind in­to a Cage to suffer them to escape; for when once a Man of Courage and Faction comes to be Imprisoned, it is more dangerous to absolve than to condemn him.

The King sent to the Parliament of Paris to proceed against him, and Commissioners were appointed, who took Informations in the Bastile. The Prisoner at first was a little ceremonious in his answers, but being entred into discourse, he gave the Commissioners matter enough to work upon, confessing in a manner all he was accused of, so that from his own Mouth they might have justly condemned him, to lose as many Lives as he had Years. He had so ill go­verned his Judgment in Prosperity, that it was prejudicial to him in his Adversity, yielding sometimes to Grief, then to Rage, and always to Indiscretion, speaking as much to Ruine as [Page 139] Discharge himself; he was confronted with the Witnesses face to face, but when he saw La Fin he fell into an extream trembling. The Presi­dent asked him if he would except against La Fin; he replied, That he judged him a Gen­tleman of Honour, and his Friend and Kinsman. But when he had heard his Deposition, he cried out against him as the most execrable Villain in the World, appealing to all the Powers of Heaven and Earth to justifie his Innocency. La Fin being disturbed to hear himself thus accu­sed, told him, That he was sorry they were in a place where one was allowed to speak all, and the other to hear all; he justified all he had said against the Duke, and made a more full disco­very of the conspiracy than before. The Pri­soner said, That if Renaze were there he would aver the contrary. This was another of the Conspirators, who was instantly brought before him, at which he was extreamly surprized, be­lieving that he had been dead in Savoy long be­fore. He then alledged, that the Duke of Sa­voy had set him at Liberty to Ruine him, and seemed confounded to find all things conspire to his destruction, for Renaze was made a Prisoner in Piedmont, to prevent him from discovering this Treason, but making his escape, he came just now, by an admirable Providence, to for­tify the Testimony of his Master La Fin, who else had been but a single Witness.

He had many friends, but the King repre­sented his crime to be so detestable and odious to the Princes and Nobility, that none of them had the courage to intercede for him; his Pro­cess being finished, he is called to make his de­fence. [Page 140] He is Charged to have Treated with the Duke of Savoy, about the Betraying of Bourg and other places, and advising him to attempt against the Kings Army and his own Person, discovering to him many things of Importance, and offering him his Service and Assistance against all Men, in hope of Marrying his Daughter: That he would have per­swaded the King to appear before St. Katherines Fort, on purpose that he might be Slain, and had writ to the Governor how he should distinguish His Majesty from others. These and several Articles more were alledged against him, but the Duke denied all, and renounced the Confession he had made at his first Examination, alledging, That La Fin had bewitched him, that he bit him by the Ear, and made him drink Inchanted Wa­ters, calling him his King, his Prince, his Lord; that he shewed him an Image of Wax which spake these Words, Thou shalt dye Witched King, and if he had such power over a senseless Image, what might he not do upon him whom he had wholly bewitched to do what he pleased? He made a bold and resolute Defence, and conclu­ded it in these words: My fault is great, but it was only in thought and conception, and not Execu­ted, in desire, but not in effect; great Offences must have great Pardons. I am he alone in France who feel the Rigor of Justice, and cannot hope for the Merit of Mercy; whatever happens, I rely more upon you, Gentlemen, then on the King, who having formerly regarded me with an Eye of Love, looks no more on me now but with Indignation, and holds it a Virtue to be cruel to me, and a Vice to shew any act of Clemency towards me, it had been better for me if he had not pardoned me at first, then [Page 141] to give me Life and now to make me lose it with Shame and Dishonour. His discourse was so long, that the Judges had not time to give their Opi­nions, so he was remanded to the Bastile full of hopes of being discharged, boasting to the Captains of the Guard, that he had defended himself so bravely and discreetly, as doubtless he had fully satisfied them all; adding, That if he were Dead, no Man was able to supply his place; and saying, Is it possible that the King should be so vain as to think to frighten me with the apprehension of Death, or that he is able to terrify me with it?

Three days after the Judges met, and upon Consultation concluded him to be Guilty of High Treason, and the Chancellor with the first President of Parliament, with some others, went into the Bastile to acquaint him with the Sen­tence of the Court: The Duke looking out of a Window at that time, he heard a Womans cries and lamentations, which he instantly appre­hended were made upon his account, and some­what disturbed him, but espying the Chancellor coming towards him cross the Court, he cried out that he was Dead. You come, said he, to pro­nounce my Sentence, I am unjustly Condemned, tell my Relations that I dye innocent; and coming near, he said, O my Lord Chancellor, is there no Pardon? Is there no Mercy? The Chancellor Sa­luted him, and put on his Hat; the Duke con­tinued bare, and having abandoned all the Powers of his Soul to Grief and Passion, he spoke all that a Mind over-whelmed with Sor­row could utter, reproaching the Chancellor that he was more desirous to condemn than save [Page 142] him, and raved against the King in the most horrid expressions imaginable; then shaking the Chancellor by the Arm, You have Judged me, said he, but God will Absolve me, he will lay open the Iniquities of those who have shut their Eyes, be­cause they would not see mine Innocency. You, my Lord, shall answer for this Injustice before him, whither I do Summon you within a year and a day; I go before by the Judgment of Men, but those that are the cause of my Death, shall come after by the Judgment of God. All which was spoke with the utmost fury and rage, with other terrible Words, both against the King and Parliament; but his appeal was not answered, for the Chan­cellor lived many years after, And then pro­ceeding in his discourse, I see very well that I am not the most Wicked, but the most Ʋnfortunate, those that have done worse than I ever thought are favoured, the Kings Clemency is dead towards me, he doth not imitate the example of Caesar nor Au­gustus, or of other great Princes, who not only par­doned those that intended ill, but that acted it too; they were over-sparing of Blood, yea, of the meanest. Wherein can the King shew himself greater than in Pardoning? Mercy is a Princely Virtue, every one can give Death, but it belongs only to Soveraigns to give Life; and Cruel that he is, Does he not remem­ber that he hath already pardoned me, I had a bad Design and he graciously forgave me, I demand it again, and so you may inform him. The Queen of England told me, that if the Earl of Essex would have humbled himself and asked her Pardon, she would have forgiven him, but he grew obdurate and would never implore her Mercy, and thereby depri­ved her of all means to show the effects of her Good­ness; [Page 143] she like a Generous Princess, desired to pardon him as she hoped that God would pardon her. He was Guilty, I am Innocent, he Sued for no Pardon for his Offence, I desire it for mine Innocence. Is it possible he should forget the Services I have done him? Does he not remember the Conspiracy at Mantes, and his great danger if I had not pre­vented it? There is no vein in my Body that hath not bled for his Service; he shews that he never lo­ved me any longer than he thought himself to have need of me. Has he forgotten the Siege of Amiens, where I was often seen covered with Fire and Bullets, ready to give or receive Death? My Father exposed himself to a thousand Dangers, and lost his Life to set the Crown upon his Head; I have received thirty five Wounds in my Body to secure the Crown to him, and for my Reward he takes my Head from my Shoul­ders. Let him beware, lest the Justice of God fall upon him, he will find what profit my Death will bring him, it will but impair the Reputation of his Justice. He will lose this day a good Servant, and the King of Spain a great Enemy; I am not put to Death because I Treated with him; my Courage rai­sed me up, and my Courage ruins me.

The Chancellor desired him not to torment himself any more about his Sentence, since they had done him that Justice which a Father is bound to pronounce against his Son in such a case as his. At which word his rage increased; What Justice, (says he) I was never heard but once, I could not deliver the fiftieth part of my Justification? What Justice upon the Evidence of La Fin, the most wretched and execrable Villain in the World? The Chancellor to divert his dis­course, told him that he had brought two Di­vines, [Page 144] to comfort and prepare him for Death; he replied, That he was already prepared, and had his Soul in that Tranquillity, as the Night before he had spoken with God, and that his Guards had heard him laugh in his Sleep. He desired the Chancellor that he might have the last consola­tion of dying men, that is, Liberty to make his Will, which was granted, and he gave away several things to his Servants, and the Guards attending him. They then desired him to kneel and hear the Sentence read; Read it, says he, and I will be as supple as a Glove, but when men­tion was made that he had attempted against the Kings person, he fell again into a Rage, so that it was concluded he should be bound and delivered instantly into the hands of the Exe­cutioner. He swore he would be drawn to pieces with four Horses, before he would be car­ried to dye at the Greve, but was told, That the King had done him the favour to be Executed in the Bastile. By the perswasion of the Di­vines, he began to examine his Conscience, con­tinuing therein about an hour, which ought to have been done with an humble, penitent, and contrite Mind, but he seemed more careful of the affairs of his Family than of his Soul, pray­ing to God not as a devout Christian but like a Souldier. His Confession being ended he walk­ed about, often crying out of his Innocency, and cursing La Fin, and asking if it were not law­ful for his Brethren to cause him to be Burnt. He desired to see some of his Relations and Friends whom he Named, but was told, That there were none of them in the City, where­upon he mournfully said, All the World hath for­saken [Page 145] me, in these Crimes Friendship is dangerous, Friends fail, and the Disease is counted Infectious to Acquaintance; he is Wisest that knows no Man, nor any Man him.

Going out of the Chappel the Executioner presented himself to him; he asked Voison who he was, It is, said he, the Executioner of the Sen­tence. Be gone, said the Duke, touch me not till it be time; and doubting he should be bound, he added, I will go freely to Death, I have no hands to defend my self against it, but it shall never be said that I dye bound like a Thief or a Slave, and turning towards the Hang-man, he swore if he came near him he would pull out his Throat. He at length came to the Scaffold, and kneeling upon the first step, made a short Prayer, with his eyes lift up to Heaven; when he came up, he cast a furious look upon the Executioner, Voison perswaded him it was not he, Nay, says he, You think to deceive me, but I know him well enough. The Executioner offered him a Cloth to put before his Eyes, but he refused it, saying, That if he touch'd him, except only to give him the stroke of Death, he would strangle him. He open'd his Breast to the Guards, and said he should be much obliged to them if they would shoot him with a Musket. What pity is it, said he, to dye so miserably, and of so infamous a stroke. He asked then, Is there no pardon? Well, I have made my Soul ready to present it before Al­mighty God, but I pity the Kings Soul, who hath put me to Death unjustly, for I dye absolutely inno­cent, and my Death is the Recompence he gives me for all my Services. These Words drew tears as well from the Souldiers as the rest of the [Page 146] Spectators; the Judges told him his Sentence must be read once more, which he heard with great impatience. After which, the Preachers perswaded him to call upon God, and abandon the thoughts of all earthly things; he asks what he must do, then takes his Handkerchief and covers his Eyes, asking the Executioner where he should Seat himself, There, my Lord, quoth the Hang-man: And where's that, thou seest I am blindfold, and yet speakest as if I saw? And then fu­riously pulls his Handkerchief from his Eyes, then blinds himself again, commanding the Exe­cutioner to dispatch him quickly. He desired to dye standing, but the Hang-man told him he must kneel, for he durst not do any thing but according to Order; at length he kneeled down, and bid the Executioner make an end, but starting up suddenly again, What is there no Mer­cy then? says he, looking severely upon the Spectators and the Hang-man, and it was sup­posed, he designed either to have taken his Sword from him, and hewed his way through the people, or that he did believe the King would only affright him with the Terrors of Death, and then send his Pardon. The Exe­cutioner desired leave to cut his Hair; at this he grew into a rage, and swore if he touch'd him he would Strangle him. Voison reproved him; says he, He shall not meddle with me while I am living, and if you put me into a passion, I will Strangle half the company that is here, and force the rest to kill me. I will leap off the Scaffold if you throw me into despair. The Preachers came again upon the Stage, and endeavoured to allay his fury; at length he grew calm, cry­ing [Page 147] out. My God, my God, take pity upon me. The Preachers assure him that his Soul is ready to see God, I, said he, Heaven is open for my Soul; he then bowed his Head, saying to the Execu­tioner, Strike, strike, O strike. The Hang-man seeing he had rose thrice before, and fearing he would seize his Sword, resolved to surprize him, telling him he must say his last Prayer to re­commend his Soul to God, which by the Preach­ers intreaty he did, when the Hang-man gave a sign to his Man to reach his Sword, where­with he cut off his Head while he was speaking. The blow was so sudden that few perceived it, and the Head leaped from the Scaffold to the ground, and even then his Countenance seemed furious. This was the end of the passionate Duke of Biron, whose Courage was Invincible in War, and was never tired with Labour, be­ing often fifteen days together on Horseback, but his Pride and Ambition clouded all his Vir­tues, which with his boiling Rage, and intempe­rate Fury, were the great occasion of his Ruin. He was advanced from the meanest to the high­est degree of Honour, of a private Souldier he became a Captain, then Collonel, afterwards Admiral, great Marshal of France, and Lieute­nant of the Kings Armies, and in his Heart as­pired to be Duke of Burgundy, Son-in-Law to the Duke of Savoy, and Nephew to the King of Spain. He was bred a Protestant, then turned Papist, but was a Scoffer at all Religion. It is reported, that being formerly in trouble for the Murder of a Gentleman in a Duel, and for which he afterward had a Pardon from the King, he went disguised like a Carrier to one La Brosse, [Page 148] a great Mathematician, to whom he shewed his Nativity as one skilled therein, which he had got to be taken by another, pretending it was a Gentlemans whom he served, that desired to know what end he should have; La Brosse ha­ving consider'd it, told him, That the Person was of a good House, and no older than himself, and he supposed it his own: 'Tis no matter for that, said he, but pray tell me what his Life, Estate, and end shall be. The Old man replied, My Son, I find that he whose Nativity this is, shall ar­rive to great Honour by his Industry and great Va­lour, and may be a King, but that there is a Caput Argol will hinder it. And what is that, said Bi­ron? Do not ask me, quoth the Old man: Nay, but I will know, says Biron. At length he told him, That the Person would act those things which should cause him to lose his Head; whereupon Biron beat him severely, and leaving him half Dead in the little Garret where they were, he Lock'd it, and carried the Key with him, where­of he boasted afterward to his Companions. It is likewise said, that he had some discourse with a Magician in Paris, who told him, That only one back blow of a Burgundian would hinder him from being King. Which Prediction he re­membred in Prison, and sent one to inquire what Country-man the Hang-man was, and hearing he was a Burgundian, he said, Then am I a Dead Man. It is also said, that his Father observing his Ambitious temper, said thus to him: Biron, I would advise thee when a Peace shall be made, to go and live privately at thy own House, or else thou must leave thy Head upon a Scaffold; which happened accordingly, as we [Page 149] have already Related. De Serres▪ History of France.

FLoris, the first of that Name, the Nineteenth Earl of Holland, Zealand and Friezeland, was a Valiant Prince, but gave himself up to Incontinency, which was the occasion of his la­mentable fall. His Father, William the Second, was Elected King of the Romans, and after the Death of Conrade, Emperor of Germany, was declared to be his Successor; and Pope Innocent, by Letters, gave him advice thereof, desiring him to come to Rome and receive the Crown, and all the other Ensigns of the Imperial Dig­nity. King William having no great confidence in some of the Princes of Germany and Italy, Travelled to Rome in the Habit of a Pilgrim, accompanied with twelve of his Loyal Nobility, and arriving in Italy, met with the Pope at Ge­noa, by whom he was Honourably received, and having conferr'd with him, he went from thence, in the same Habit, through Lombardy and Germany, being owned and acknowledged for their lawful Soveraign in all places where he would discover himself, and consulted with the Nobility about the Affairs of the Empire.

Whilst he was thus imployed, he had Intel­ligence that the West Frizons were Revolted, and as they formerly had done; Invaded the Fron­tiers of Holland, from whence they daily carried away great Booties, without opposition or re­straint, he being so far distant from them. The King was just ready to go from Germany into [Page 150] Italy with a Royal Train and Army, to be Crowned at Rome, but yet thought it better to defer his Journey for some time, and to preserve his own Inheritance, and settle peace and quiet­ness in his own Country, and among his own Subjects, than to go so far off to purchase a Ti­tle of Honour without Profit; he therefore de­clined his Voyage to Italy, and led his Army to Ʋtrecht, where being at a Feast with the Noble­men and Prelates, some treacherous Villain wounded him very dangerously on the Head with a Stone, while he sate at Table, and yet none could perceive from whence it came. This accident did extreamly disturb the Prelates and Lords who had invited him to the Feast: The King taking up the Stone, said, Do but observe what malice and despight the people of Utrecht shew toward me, to knock me on the Head with Stones, though I never deserved any evil at their Hands, but have always assisted them, and subdued their Enemies at my own Charge; but by the living God, this af­front shall not go unpunished, if I live but one year longer. Having said thus, he instantly took Horse, and rid away in great Indignation, threatning the whole City with utter Ruin and Devastation. The Magistrates and Burgesses of Ʋtrecht were extreamly concerned at this wicked and unfortunate accident, and having obtained a Pasport, they send their Burgomasters to his Court at the Hague, to endeavour to pacifie his Wrath and Indignation against them. The King answered them in few words, That what he had Sworn he would certainly perform, and was re­solved utterly to destroy their Town, unless they deli­vered into his Hands him that had thrown the Stone. [Page 151] With this answer they returned, and having as­sembled their Council, they made diligent search for the Delinquent but could not find him.

In the mean time the King hastened into Friezland, whereby those of Ʋtrecht escaped the terrible Vengeance he had designed to take up­on them, for marching with his Army to West Friezland, he vanquish'd those that opposed his passage, and erected a Castle near Alkmer, which he called Tornenburg, or, The Castle of his Wrath. He then proceeded with all speed in hope to surprize the Rebels, for it being Winter, the Lord of Brederode, who led one of the Batta­lions, had incountred and vanquished the Drechters, and the King mounted upon a very great Horse, leading the other Battalion, endea­voured to find the shortest way to Hoockwind, which he designed to burn, and marched alone a great way before his Troops over the Ice, as if it had been firm ground, but the Ice happen­ing to break his Horse fell in, and he was al­most drowned, he having none near to assist him. The Frizons, who lay in Ambush in the Reeds and Osiers, seeing a Horseman thus mired, they ran thither and knock'd him on the Head with Clubs and Staves, not knowing him to be the King, but observing his Target they thought him to be some Nobleman. Some Hollanders in those parts who were banished thither for their crimes, coming hastily thither, discovered by his Arms who he was, and told the Frizons that they had done very ill to Murder the King their Na­tural Lord and Prince, which when they under­stood, both Man, Woman and Child, were ex­treamly grieved and concerned, and consulting [Page 152] together, resolved to Bury him secretly in the Village of Hoockwind. His Army hearing their King was dead, were so astonished that they Disbanded and returned home; and this was the miserable end of this great Prince, after he had Governed his Inheritance twenty years, and the Empire of Germany seven.

Floris the Fifth, his Son, succeeded him at se­venteen years of Age, and Levied a powerful Army to Revenge his Fathers Death, and re­duce the West Frizons to his Obedience, and to bring away his Fathers Bones and Bury them in Zealand. The Frizons hearing of his approach, met and incountred him at Verone near Alkmar, in which skirmish five hundred Hollanders, and some of Quality, were slain, who thereupon retired and Incamped in the open Field, and ha­ving received a Reinforcement went to attack the Frizons, who being proud of their former Success came on boldly, but the Hollanders routed them, and killed eight hundred upon the place. Soon after Floris again defeated them in another Battel, and at length wholly subdued them, building several Castles to secure them in their Obedience for the future, and thereby settled all his Dominions in Peace.

There was in the Court of Floris a Valiant Nobleman, called Gerard Van Velson, whom the Prince had kept Prisoner a whole year, after ha­ving Beheaded his Brother unjustly for several crimes charged upon him by those that hated him; Floris, after his Death, being informed of the Truth, set his Brother Gerard at Liberty, and endeavoured by all means to repair the wrong he had done, by honouring and advancing his [Page 153] Brother, and to make him the more affectionate to his Service, the Earl thinking very much to oblige him, offered Gerard his Mistriss, or Con­cubine, in Marriage; Gerard scorned and decli­ned the motion, but being still importuned by Floris, told him plainly, Sir, I am not of so mean and base a Spirit as to put my Feet in your old Shooes; which is a Dutch Proverb, intimating, That he would not Marry his leavings, or his cast Wench. The Earl displeased, replied, Yes, I am resolved thou shalt have my leavings.

Gerard goes from the Court in discontent, not regarding the Counts words, and a while after Marries the Daughter of Herman Lord of Woer­den, and Niece to Gisbert of Amstel. Count Floris having notice that Gerard was Married, and that he came no more to Court, by the perswasion of his Mistriss he sent for him, be­ing come he gave him Commission to dispatch some Affairs a great way in the Country, that were of much importance, which Gerard thought to be a great favour from his Prince; during his absence, the Earl, with a few Attendants, went to the Castle of Cronenburg, where Gerard usually resided, pretending to refresh himself there; Gerards Lady received him with great Respect and Honour, as being her Lord and So­veraign. The Count pretended he had some matters to tell her which required secrecy, and desired her to shew him some private Room, the innocent Lady suspecting nothing, carried him into her own Bed-Chamber, the Earl ha­ving fastned the Door, began to Court her very earnestly to yield to his unlawful desires, which she refusing with abhorrence, he took his oppor­tunity [Page 154] in that secret place, where her cries could not be heard, to offer violence to her, and a length, being stronger than she, he Ravished her▪ and then in all haste departed. The abused La­dy gave her self up to Sorrow and Dsepair, for the wrong that had been offered her by her▪ Na­tural Prince, who above all things ought to hav [...] protected and defended the Chastity and Ho­nour of Ladies, especially persons of her Qua­lity, and throwing off her rich Attire and Jew­els, she put her self in deep Mourning till her Lords return, who coming back from perform­ing his Commission, gave an account thereof to the Earl, and then going to his own House, was much surprized to find his Lady in that discon­solate posture, and understanding the occasion of it, he comforted her in the best manner he could, and appeared to the World as one wholly ignorant of the matter, sending his Wife to the House of the Lord of Woerden her Father, with a command to give him an account of the whole Fact, which she did accordingly, adding, That she hoped her Father would not be angry with her for the dishonour that had happened to his Family, since it was acted forcibly and violently, under the pretence of Kindness and Hospitality.

Gerard consulted with his Father-in-Law what should be done, and how he were best to govern himself in this affair, swearing and protesting upon his Honour, that he would never suffer so horrid an abuse to pass unrevenged; after which he never came to Court, but studied continually how to execute his intended Vengeance. The Lord of Woerden was likewise very sensibly touched for the dishonour of his Daughter and [Page 155] Family, and from that time became a Mortal Enemy to Count Floris: These two drew Gisbert of Amstel, their Kinsman, into a Conspi­racy against the Earl, and by the Advice of these two Lords, Gerard secretly sent for the Bishop of Duras, for the King of England, the Earl of Cuyck, in the Name of the Duke of Brabant, and two Councellors for the Earl of Flanders, who being met at Cambray, Gerard declared the de­testable Treachery of Floris with all the rage and aggravations that could be invented, which so incensed them, that, after mature deliberation, they concluded to attempt all means to seize up­on the Earls Person, and to send him to the King of England, there to end his days in Prison; and in the mean time, to send for John of Hol­land, Son-in-Law to Floris, out of England, where he then resided, to come and take pos­session of the Earldoms of Holland and Zealand, as Heir, by Marrying his Daughter Elizabeth▪ and now descended to him by the Civil Death of his Father, which he had justly deserved for ex­piation of so foul and Villainous a Fact.

Count Floris wholly ignorant of this Conspi­racy and Resolution, went to Ʋtrecht to compose a difference between the Lord of Zulyn and some of his Councellors, two of whom were the Lords Amstel and Woerden; the Earl going to Church with his Guards and Houshold Servants, a Wo­man delivered him a small Paper, containing these Verses of the Psalm:

[Page 156] My Lord, said she, consider well, and remember this complaint of King David. The Earl con­temned this advertisement, and went to Dine with the Noblemen and Prelates of Ʋtrecht, where he was very merry; after Dinner he laid himself down to sleep awhile, designing the re­mainder of the day for Sport and Pleasure, when the Lord of Amstel waking him, invited him to ride abroad with his Hawks, saying, They had found a brave flight of Herns, and other Wild Fowl. The Count, who much delighted in Hawking, instantly mounted his Horse, with a Hawk on his Fist, and a very small Attendance: When he had rid about half a mile from Ʋtrecht, he was led into the midst of the Ambush of the Conspirators, who issuing out upon him, incom­passed him on all sides; Gerard Van Volsen, who thought himself most wronged, was the first that offered to lay hold on him, but the Couragious Prince, casting his Hawk from his Fist, drew his Sword to defend himself, choosing rather to dye than to be taken, but being over-powred by number, and unable to make any further re­sistance, they seized him, and designed to have conveyed him privately that Night to the Castle of Muyden, and from thence to send him into England, down the River of Flye. The princi­pal Conspirators was the Lords of Woerden, Am­stel, Velson, Beuschop, Cragenhorst, Thelingen, Van Zanthen, and divers others.

The News of the surprizal of the Prince, soon alarm'd the whole Country, so that the Kenne­mers, Waterlanders, and West Frizons, instantly Armed themselves, going aboard their Boats and Shallops to deliver their Lord; the Conspirators [Page 157] having notice of their coming fled away, car­rying the Earl through Marshes and By-paths, to prevent his being discovered, but the people of Naerden, who first went in search of them, happened to meet them just in their passage, who being much perplexed knew not which way to make their escape. The Counts Horse, to which he was bound, being little and weak, and unable to accompany them, fell into a Ditch with him, they laboured to get him out, but not daring to stay, because they found themselves closely pursued, Gerard Van Velson, full of Rage and Revenge, fearing to lose the Prize, seeing there was a necessity to abandon him, the rest of his Companions being already fled, he resol­ved not to part with him without satisfaction for his wrongs, and therefore desperately fell upon his Natural Soveraign, giving him one and twenty Wounds with his Sword, most of which were Mortal, and then mounting upon a swift Horse, he made his escape to his Castle of Cro­nenburg. The Kennemers arrive soon after, and find the Earl almost Dead and Speechless in the Ditch, being scarce able to draw his breath; some of the Servants of the Murderers were ta­ken, and cut in pieces before the Earls face, and having drawn him out of the Ditch they carried him to Mount Muyden, where he in a short time expired, after having Governed Hol­land, Zealand, and Friezland, forty two years. He was a Generous Prince, of a comely Stature and Presence, Courteous and Elegant in dis­course, a good Musician, and very Charitable; in short, he had all that could be wish'd for in a Prince, had not his Virtues been sullied with [Page 158] the Vice of Incontinency, and this last Treache­rous Adultery. Count Floris had two Grey-hounds, which always followed him when he went abroad, these were found lying in the Ditch by him where he was Wounded, and when his Body was put into a Boat to be con­veyed to Alkmer they leaped into it, and would neither eat nor drink though it was offered them, and would certainly have starved themselves, if they had not by force been drawn away from the Earls dead Body.

Thus have we seen Revenge acted to the height on one side, let us now observe how it pursued the Actors of this Bloody Tragedy; se­veral of the Assistants to this Murder fled out of the Country, the Lord of Woerden wandred about like a Vagabond, and at length died mise­rably in a Forreign Land. The Lord of Amstel, who was a good Man, but drawn in by the rest, had all his Estate seized, and fled into Germany. The common people were so inraged at this hor­rid Fact, that they vowed Revenge against the chief Actors, and went to besiege the Castle of Cronenburg, those within it continued quiet, pre­tending that neither Gerard nor his Accomplices were there, though indeed they were. An ac­count of this Murder was sent to all the Friends of Count Floris, particularly to the Earl of Heynault, and to Count John his Son, who came before the Castle and planted their Engines of Battery against it: The Earl of Cuick (who was present at the consultation at Cambray, in the Name of the Duke of Brabant) hearing that Gerard was besieged in his Castle, writ to the Earl of Cleves, who was at the Siege, intreating [Page 159] him to endeavour that the Besieged might have leave to depart with their Lives saved, which the Earl consented to, and got his Guards about him to secure them in their going away.

The Hollanders hearing of this agreement were much discontented, and gave notice thereof to the Lord of Loef, Brother to the Earl of Cleves, who coming thither, assured the Earl that not­withstanding his agreement to save their Lives, yet the Hollanders and Zealanders would certainly fall upon them and dispatch them, which would bring much Scandal and Reproach upon him and his Family, that he endeavoured to save such Bloody Murderers, and therefore it were better to let them alone to reduce the Castle, and retire with his Forces. The Earl doubting it might re­flect upon his Honour, resolved to join with the Hollanders in reducing it, and by Scaling Lad­ders, and other Instruments of War, they at length took it by Assault, and kept the Prisoners in safe custody.

The Kennemers having notice that the Earl of Cleves would save the Lives of Gerard Van Velsen, and the rest, they presently run to Arms, and cried out, That if there were any who should endea­vour to save the Lives of the Murderers of their Prince, they should first dye themselves by their hands; whereupon the Earl was forced to deliver them the Prisoners. The people of Dort had Hugh of Baverland, the Kennemers had the Lord Thelingen, those of Haerlem Van Zanthem, those of Dort the Lord Beuschop, the Earl of Cleves had Gerard of Craenhorst, and four others, who were all broken upon the Wheel with cruel Tortures, and after­ward Beheaded, and those of Leyden had Gerard [Page 160] Van Velson, the Author of this conspiracy, and the immediate Murderer of Count Floris, whom they resolved to punish with the most exquisite Torments; so they put him stark Naked into a Barrel full of sharp Nails, and then rolled him up and down through all the Streets of Leyden. After which cruel usage they took him out, broke him upon a Wheel, and then Beheaded him; and all his Kindred, even to the ninth de­gree, that could be taken, were broken upon Wheels. Many upon suspicion only of being willing to serve their Masters upon this occasion, were banished for ever out of Holland; some de­signing to fly into Denmark mistaking their course, were driven beyond the Streight of Weygate, not knowing whither they went, and coasted along Tartary till they entred the River of Oby, from whence they Sailed into Persia, and by leave from that King, Inhabited a Marshy part of that Country, and cultivated it after the manner of Holland, where they have continued their ancient Language, Labour, and course of Life, to this time. The Hollanders rased the Castle of Cro­nenburg to the ground; after which, the Nobility, Towns, and Commons of Holland, agreed joint­ly together, to root out and destroy the Houses and Families of Amstel, Woerden, Velson, and all their Kindred and Allies, which they confirmed by solemn Oaths and Writings, drawn between them upon Record, whereby many Innocents were made Beggars and Vagabonds, so that not one person of any of these Families durst appear publickly in Holland, but concealed themselves, or led Country Lives; neither did any Man presume ever since to bear the Coats of Arms of [Page 161] any of these three Houses. And thus was one Revenge followed by another, to the Ruine and destruction of so many people. History of the Netherlands.

THE Wars which had continued some time be­tween the French King and the Duke of Sa­voy, being composed by a Treaty of Peace in 1602. wherein though the Genevoises were not named, yet the King declared they were intended and in­cluded, and ought to enjoy the benefit of the Peace. They rested so securely upon the faith thereof, that though they had many intimations and warn­ings given them that the Duke had a secret design to be Master of the City▪ and though his Invasion of several Villages and Impropriations belonging to that State, were sufficient indications of his de­signs, yet the Magistrates were lull'd asleep with the protestations of the Lord Albigny, Lt. General to the D. of Savoy on this side the Mountains, who declared that it was both his own and his Masters desire that they should live quietly, and offered his assistance to promote a lasting agreement between them; these assurances made them distrust no­thing, so that they neglected the Guarding of the City, though the Dukes Subjects themselves were so kind to discover the Intrigue to them, for the day before the execution of this subtle enterprize there came a Savoyard from Chesne, who draw­ing near the Gate, told them positively, That the Enemy was approaching, and that they should stand upon their Guard, yet this advertisement was slighted like the rest.

[Page 162] The Duke had caused several Troops to ad­vance undiscovered into the Duke of N [...]mours Country, and among others a Regiment consist­ing of eight hundred French Fugitives, who would undertake any thing for Money; Bruneleiu the Lord Albigny's Lieutenant, had already, with some others, taken an exact view of the City, with the height of the Walls, and the depth of the Ditches, in the Night, and had assured his Master of the facility of the Enterprize, and having likewise in­telligence with the Syndick, or Commander of the City Guard, who was to remove the Sentinel from the place they intended to Scale it, made them so confident of success, that on Saturday, De­cember 11. the day appointed for the execution of their design, several persons came into the City to buy Horses, and spoke suspiciously, That the next day they would come and conclude the Bargain. It was confidently affirmed that Bruneleiu, before he undertook this affair, had, by a special Dispensa­tion, received the Extream Unction from a Priest, Swearing he would live no longer if he did not effect his design, and that the rest had Con­fessed themselves, and taken the Sacrament upon it. The Jesuites and Capuchins failed not to ex­hort both great and small to observe the Oath, lately made at the Jubilee in Thonon, for the Ex­tirpation of Hereticks.

In the mean time Albigny, about Six a Clock at Night, began to draw up his Men, it being the shortest day in the year, they consisted in his Company of Guards, the French Regiment, and some Gentlemen of Savoy; some Spaniards and Neapolitans were Quartered at Anecy, and ordered to March up when Commanded. Out of the [Page 163] first Troops were drawn three hundred choice Men, Armed at all points, with Breast-plates▪ Hel­mets on their Heads, Pistols at their Girdles, and broad Swords in their Hands, and another party with Half-pikes and Muskets; as they marched along, they seized the Peasants in their way to pre­vent them from alarming the City, yet some made their escape and came to the Gates of Geneva, gi­ving notice to the Sentinels to stand on their Guard for the Enemy was at hand, but their Words were disregarded as if they had jested. The Watch who ought to have lain out of the City, to discover any that should approach, had dispersed themselves, and perceived not the Troops who advanced undiscovered along the Arve.

The Duke, who doubted not of the Success, came Post Incognito from beyond the Mountains, and Personated an Ambassador; he arrived that Night at Tremblieres, a Village a League distant from Geneva, to animate the Fearful with his pre­sence: For first, a Hare starting up amongst them, at the place of Rendevouz, struck them with Terror; then they spied several Stakes, about six hundred paces from the Town-Ditch, used to dry Serges on, which they judged to be an Ambus­cade from the City, ranged there to surprize them; yet they took Courage, and leaving the Main Body of their Army at Plein Palais, the most resolute of them, who had undertaken to Scale the Walls, alighted from their Horses, and went to­ward the Counterscarp in the Ditch of Coraterie, and were no sooner there when a flight of Wild Ducks arose and made them start, fearing they should wake the Sentinels, and discover the En­terprize. At length, recovering themselves, they [Page 164] passed softly over the Ditch upon Hurdles, to prevent sinking in the mud, and raised up three Ladders against the Walls near the Watch Tow­er, toward Monnoye, and as they after confessed, threw several Stones against the Wall to try if any one heard them; the Ladders were black, not to be seen in the dark, jointed together to be shortned and lengthned at pleasure, and to be carried on Horseback, the Feet had sharp Iron Spikes to fasten them in the Ground, the top of these Ladders, which were to touch the Wall, had a Pulley, and were covered with thick Cloth to slide the easier, and with less noise. They had also Steel Hammers to cut the Chains of the Draw-bridge, with the Locks and Bolts, and Pinchers to pluck out Nails and Hinges from Gates, and several Petards to burst them open; and being thus furnished they began to climb.

Sonos, one of the forwardest, who resolved to Revenge the Death of his Father, who was kil­led by the Genevoises, began, by an ill Omen, to bleed at Nose, before he ascended the Ladder, and being got half way up, received such a blow by the fall of a Stone from the Wall, as almost took away his sences, and was forced to come down. Albigny, who was most concerned in the Success of the business, stood at the Foot of the Ladder, incouraging the Souldiers with the Ho­nour and Booty they might expect if they pre­vailed. Father Alexander, a Scotch Jesuit, be­sides the Exhortation he made them in Plein Pa­lais, Confessed them at the foot of the Ladder, assuring them, That if they should dye in this Ser­vice, the rounds of the Ladder would be as so many [...] to carry them directly up into Heaven; but the [Page 165] poor Priest did not foresee that they would leave the World from off another kind of Ladder than this. He likewise gave them little Bills, with some passages of Scripture writ in them, and other Papers, like Charms or Conjuration, which he said would preserve those that carried them from sudden Death. December 12. about One in the Morning they began to mount, all things were quiet and still, so that Sonos, Attignae, and six others, entred the City through a Gate that is within, and is always left open, and walk'd about the Streets in couples, to observe whether the people were fast asleep, or that this great Silence were not a Trick to intrap them; but all were quiet, and the rest climbed up in great numbers.

The Duke hearing that his most resolute men were entred without resistance, sent for the Spa­niards and Neapolitans, to march thither with all speed; he likewise dispatch'd Curriers to all parts with Tydings of this happy beginning, and ca [...] ­sed it to be confidently reported in Piedmont, Sa­voy, and Dauphine, that Geneva was taken, and in­deed he had cause to think so, since two hundred of the stoutest men in his Army were already got in. Some lay flat on the ground under the Trees of the Parapet, others stood up against the Houses in Corraterie, till they should be stronger, for Bru­nalciu, and the other chief Managers, did not in­tend to appear till four a Clock in the Morning, that their men might have the more time to climb up, and that the Rere-Guard might approach nearer, and likewise that they might have more light to carry on this weighty affair; but about Three in the morning, a Souldier who stood Ser­tinel [Page 166] in the Tower of Monnoye, hearing a noise in the Ditch, called his Corporal to know what it might be, the Corporal sends a Souldier, with a Lanthorn, who takes his Musket with him, and gets upon the Parapet, where he perceives some Armed Men coming toward him, to whom he cry'd, Who comes there? and having no answer, fired his Musket at them; they instantly fell up­on him, and he crying out Arm, Arm, they knock'd him down, which the Sentinel perceiving, dischar­ged his Piece to give notice to the Main Guard, who were only six Men.

Bruneleiu, and the most resolute among them, perceiving they were discovered, and that it was impossible to conceal themselves any longer, and supposing they were strong enough to surprize the City, resolved to stand to it, and disposed their Men to the best advantage to attack their Ene­mies in four several places, till they could bring the Petards to force the New Gate, and let in their Troops that lay at Plein Pallais, reserving a con­siderable party to assist those who were still climbing up.

They then fiercely assaulted the New Gate, the Guard being only thirteen men, some of them be­longing to the neighbouring Sentries. Most of the Guard when they fired run away, and alarm­ed those that watch'd at the Town-House, and other places; they were pursued as far as the Tre­ille Gate, which was speedily clapt to; the Enemy finding it shut, they made themselves Masters of the New Gate. In the mean time, of the three that remained of the Guard, two hid themselves, and the third got to the top of the Gate, and very prudently let down the Port-cullice, so that they [Page 167] were amazed to see themselves prevented when they came to apply the Petard to the Gate. A Citizen, who was one of the first awakened at the noise, came out of his House with his Halbert half undress'd, and discovering four or five Soul­diers, asked aloud where the Enemy was, who co­ming up to him, cried out. Peace, Slave, come hi­ther and be on our side: God bless the Duke of Savoy. Upon which, perceiving they were Enemies, he flies back and alarm'd the neighbouring Streets; but the Enemy won the Gate of Tartass, and keeping their ground, endeavoured to make good the passage. The Citizens run thither to Barrica­do the way to the Gate, some being perceived by their Torches were killed by the Enemy, others wounded; Canal, an Ancient Captain of great Courage, going beyond the Chain, and not think­ing the Enemy so near, was slain, but perceiving the Citizens to increase, they retired to their Fel­lows at the New Gate.

In the mean time the City being throughly alarm'd, some went to their usual Rendevouz, others ran directly upon the Enemy, who belie­ving they had effected the business, shouted out along the Streets, God bless the King of Spain, God bless the Duke of Savoy, the City is our own, kill, kill, kill'um; down with 'um, down with 'um. The Watch­word whereby they knew each other, was, when they met, to croak like a Frog. When the Citi­zens demanded Who goes there, they answered Friends; others to divide them cried out, Arm, Arm, the Enemy is at the Gate of Rive. The Ene­my broke twice through the Guards at Monnoye▪ and forcing open the Doors, behind which the Souldiers had Barricado'd themselves, were rush­ing [Page 168] into the City, but the Grand Rounds opposed them with so much courage, that they left many Dead upon the place. The Citizens likewise co­ming in, briskly charged them, and kill'd one on the Bridge of Rhosne, and another between the Gate and the Port-cullice which was let down. Being repulsed from thence, they endeavoured to break through the Houses into the chief Street of the City, killing one Man, and applying the Pe­tard to a Stable Door.

Whilst this was doing, a Gunner having fired a Cannon from the Bulwark of Oye, which lay level with the Walls, he had the good hap to shat­ter the Ladders, and threw them all down; the report of which being heard by the French Regi­ment without the Gate, they joyfully cry'd out, March up, march up, the City is our own, thinking the Petard had broken open the Gate with so great a noise, and the Drums without further no­tice began to beat, which set them all on running to the New Gate to divide the Spoil, but were much amazed to find it still shut, so that going into the Ditch near the Scaling Ladders, the Gun­ner having fired his Cannon a second time char­ged with Small Shot, made a dreadful slaughter among them. At the same time a party of coura­gious Citizens, resolving to Sacrifice their Lives in defence of their Country, and recover the New Gate, fell bravely upon the Enemies Guards, kil­ling two of them, with Picot the Engineer, as he was managing the Petard, and being assisted by others, they drove them from the Gate, and made them retreat to their Fellows.

The Savoyards astonished to find themselves in­closed between the Walls and the Houses, and not [Page 169] knowing how to escape, began to lose their cou­rage; they offered to let Bruneleiu down from the Wall with a Rope, but he chose rather to dye than to live with shame: The Shot flew about their Ears like Hail from the Windows and tops of the Houses. One of the City Captains, half dress'd, Signalized himself eminently. A Taylor with a two handed Sword did Wonders. A Woman throwing out on purpose an Iron Pot on the head of the forwardest, broke his Skull. The courage of the Citizens increasing, and the Savoyards seeing fifty of their Men lying on the ground, they fled to the place where the Ladders stood, but finding none, threw themselves down the Wall, and one of them falling upon Father Alexander, almost killed this false Prophet. The Chevalier Dandelot sliding down broke his Nose. Fifty four were killed, most Officers and men of Quality, and thirteen taken prisoners. The Cannon was brought on the plat­form of Treille, and levelled against Plein Palais, which instantly put the Horse and Foot that lay there to the Rout.

Albigny amazed at the unsuccesfulness of the undertaking, so well contrived and so ill perform­ed, and finding the Shopkeepers, (as he called them in Scorn) had courage to defend themselves, he sounded a Retreat, which was very welcome to his dispersed Troops, who were benummed with fear and cold. They marched away in haste, and brought the Duke of Savoy the News of the un­fortunate success which the Lord of Albigny's rashness had produced. The Duke said little, on­ly used his common expression to him, You have made a very fair flourish.

The same day the thirteen prisoners were con­demned [Page 170] to be hanged, the Magistrates alledging for their severity, That they did not consider them as Generous Enemies, but as Thieves that broke in in the Night, and who had violated contrary to all Right, a Peace so solemnly Sworn to. It is said that Sonas of­fered to redeem his Life with his weight in Sil­ver, but yet was hanged, together with Chaffar­don, Attignac, and other persons of Quality, being accompanied by the Ministers to the place of Ex­ecution. The Council of Sixty ordered that their Heads, with those that were killed between the Walls, should be cut off and ranged on the Wall of the Bulwark, near the place where they Sca­led, and their Bodies to be thrown into the River. They were found to be sixty seven in all, and so many years had the City thrown off the Romish Yoak; but with those in the Ditch, and that died by the way, they were two hundred in the whole.

On the Genevoises side, only thirty were wound­ed and seventeen killed, who were Buried in the chief Church, with an honourable Epitaph. It is said that the famous Theodore Beza, who was then alive in the City, and heard not the least noise of all this uproar and disturbance, and was amazed when he was led forth to see the slain who lay in the Streets, though he had left off preaching, be­ing very Ancient, yet he got up into the Pulpit, and caused the 124 Psalm to be Sung, Now may Israel say, If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us, &c. Which Psalm hath been ever since Sung on that day, which is kept as a publick Thanksgiving every year, and a Latine Inscription of the whole matter erected in the Town-House, for a perpetual remembrance of this great Deliverance from Popery and Sla­very, [Page 171] for the Duke of Savoy declaring, That the principal Motive to this attempt was the Establish­ing the Catholick Religion among them, and for the promoting so good a Work, he neither valued his Soul­diers, his Treasure, nor his Person. To which the Genevoises replied, That he did not demonstrate him­self Zealous for Religion, when it appeared so plainly how little he valued his Oath, and that doubtless God would not suffer him to escape unpunished, who had taken his Name in Vain. Hist. of Geneva.

OF all the Warlike Inventions that have ever been contrived, Antiquity can produce none more dreadful than what were used by the people of the Netherlands against the King of Spain, and particularly at the Siege of Antwerp, which having been Besieged some time without Success, by Alexander Farnese Prince of Parma, he at length resolved to lay a Bridge over the River Scheld, that runs by the side of this City; it was 2400 foot broad, and above 60 foot deep when the Tyde is out: Yet the Prince, by indefatigable labour, and driving Piles into the bottom▪ at length performed this wonderful Enterprize, only in the midst where the stream was rapid and very deep, he was forced to make a floating Bridge of Boats which joined the whole together. He likewise built Forts or Castles at each end, and Planked the Bridge on each side 5 foot high, to secure it from the Enemies Cannon, and from thence much annoyed the Town.

The Antwerpians finding how prejudicial this would be to them, and that it might indanger the loss of the City, they consulted many ways how to destroy it, but none took effect. At length they met with one Frede­rick Jambel an excellent Engineer, who coming out of Italy into Spain, desired to have access to the King, to off [...]r him his service in the Low-Countries, but being slighted and neglected, he left the Court in a Rage, [Page 172] threatning, That in a short time the K. of Spain should hear of the Name of this despised person not without tears; and coming to Antwerp, he had now a fit opportunity of ex­pressing the malice and fury of his mind. He was en­tertained by the Besieged, and assured them that he would ruin this dangerous Bridge; to which purpose he built four Ships, with flat bottoms and high sides, much thicker and stronger than ordinary.

And thus he contrived to make Mines in the Waters: First, In the Keel of the Ship he made a strong Brick Wall like a Floor, or Ground-work, a foot high and 5 broad, through the whole length of the Ship, then he built Walls on each side about the Founda­tion, 3 foot high and as many broad, and having filled the vacancy with Gun-powder tempered with exquisite Art, unknown to any but himself, he covered it over with Grave-stones, Mill-stones, and other huge Stones: Upon this covering he made another Story, Vault-wise, of Mill-stones, and other vast Stones, which leaning on each other, made a ridge like that of an House, that so the slaughter might not be only strait forward, but on either side. In this upper Vault he put Iron and Marble Balls, Chains, Blocks, Nails, Knives, and whatever else his mischievous Wit could suggest to him to de­stroy Mankind. Lastly, All the space that lay open between the sides of the Ship, and the Wall and Roof of the Mine, he filled up with Stones close joined together, and bound down with Beams fastned with Iron: He covered and secured all these things with strong Planks and a brick Floor, in the middle whereof he set fire to a pile of Wood, that the Ships might seem to be set out in that order to burn the Bridge, putting under the Wood Pitch and Brim­stone, that could not be extinguished before the Mine should be fired with the prepared Timber: He framed two ways to fire the Mine, in some of the Ships he placed Matches besmeared with Gun-pow­der, which being laid through the Keel reached to the Mine, of that length as he had experimented, they would continue light till the Ships should come to the Bridge. In other Ships he used Clocks to con­tinue with a gentle motion, till they arrived at the Bridge▪ and then with a violent meeting of the Wheels against a Flint, should strike some Sparks into the bruised Gun-powder there scattered, and in­flame the Train, and thence convey the fire into the mouth of the Mine. Jambel having finished these four dreadful Engines, added 13 Jess, which had nothing hurtful but the Hatches covered with huge Fires. These preparations were observed by the Spaniards, though ignorant of the Stratagem, imagining they were providing a Fleet ready in the City to attack the Bridge on one side, while the Zealand and Holland Squadrons did the like on the other; therefore the Prince kept strict Guard to prevent mischief, which [Page 173] was nearer to him than he imagined, when behold from the City there appeared three Ships first, and after them several others, brightly shining with Fire in the darkness of the Night, at which the Camp was alarm'd, and cryed, Arm, Arm, and the Bridge was filled with Souldiers. The Ships came down the River in good order, two and three together, as if intended only for shew, having the Mariners aboard them, and the flames were so clear, that they seemed not to carry Fire but to be burning themselves, and that fire could Sail and be preserved in the Waters; the whole made a glorious shew, if the Hearts of the Spectators had not been filled with terror, for the banks of the River, and the Castles placed there­on, shone with continual Fires, which with the Armed Troops along the shore, and on the Bridge, in bright Armor, with their Swords drawn, and Colours displayed, with the Gallautry of their Commanders, made a very agreeable sight, and was heightned by those Fiery Ships in the midst of the Scheld, which hitherto with­out hurt spit their flames as if in Sport.

When these Ships were within two miles of the Bridge, the Sea­men turned those four that had the Mines with their Helms di­rectly down the midst of the Channel against the Bridge, not valu­ing the small Vessels, and setting fire to the Match, presently leapt into the Boats to observe the success at a distance, but wanting their Pilots they did not keep one course, most of the small ones dashed themselves against the Machines fenced with sharp Pikes, or run aground on the Banks, and of the four that carried Destruction in their Bowels, one Leaking was swallowed up in the midst of the River, vomiting out only Smoak and Thunder; two others by the force of the Wind were driven ashore on Flanders side, and the last had almost run the same fate, being violently driven near the shore, which, with the sight of the loss of the rest, made the Spa­niard's Triumph and Scoff at the folly of their Enemies, but this last Ship being stronger than the others, broke through all opposi­tion, destroying all the Engines and Contrivances made to hinder its progress and came on furiously against the Bridge At this sight the Souldiers shouted with terror and fear. The Prince of Parma when he heard those shouts came thither, and endeavoured to pre­vent the danger from this Fireship by commanding some Mariners aboard it, to disperse the Wood and quench the Fire, and others to keep it off with large Poles and Pikes. He himself stood in the wooden Castle on the Bridge, and with him several of the chief Commanders, and the Guard of the place, and amongst them a Spanish Ensign, who either had some knowledge of such Engines or knew that Jambel was excellent in this Art, who came to the Prince and earnestly desired him, That since he had now done all that was neces­sary, he would please to withdraw himself, and not venture his Life, whereon every Souldiers Life, yea, the War it self depended, in so dan­gerous a place, but being rejected he still insisted, and throwing him­self [Page 174] on his Knees before the Prince, said, I most humbly beseech and intreat you, most illustrious Prince, as you value your Life, which I now see exposed to the utmost hazard, that you would please but this once to take Advice from your Servant; and saying this, he modestly plucked him by the Garment, and with a kind of commanding Au­thority, intreated him to follow him, who Interpreting this unusual freedom of the Man to proceed from an higher Power, at last con­sented, and with some others went away.

The Prince had hardly entred St. Maries Fort, when the limited Hour for the Match to fire the Mine was come, and all on a sudden this fatal Ship burst asunder, with such a horrid noise as if the very Skies, had rent asunder, and Heaven and Earth had come together, or the whole Body of the World had trembled, for the Storm of Stones, Chains, and Bullets, being thrown out with Thunder and Lightning, there followed such a slaughter as cannot be imagined. The Castle on which this Infernal Ship fell, the Bridge next to it, with the Souldiers, Mariners, Commanders, and a great number of Cannon, Armor and Arms, all these this furious Whirlwind swept away together, tossed in the Air, and dispersed as the Wind doth Leaves of Trees; the River Scheld prodigiously gaping was then first seen to discover its bottom, and then swelling above the Banks, over-flowed the adjacent Shores, the motion of the Earth was felt nine miles off, and great Grave-stones were thrown a mile from the River sunk two foot into the ground: But the destruction of men was very deplorable, some the Hellish violence of the fires consumed, or carried into the Air, whence they fell bruised on the Earth, or into the River, others were stifled with the poysonous Smoak▪ others boiled to death with the Scalding Waters, many slain with the shower of Stones, and some the Grave stones both killed and In­tombed. The Viscount of Brussels was darted out of his own Ship and fell overthwart another Ship at a great distance without hurt. A Captain, by this Infernal Whirlwind, was carried heavy Armed out of St. Maries Fort like Chaff in the Air, and thrown into the midst of the River, from whence by Swimming, with the loss of his Armor, he escaped. A young man of the Princes Guard was car­ried over a great part of the River into Brabant, a very great way, only hurting his Shoulder a little when he fell on the ground, and said he seemed like a Bullet shot out of a Cannon, he felt such a violence forcing him forward. To conclude, there were [...]oo slain, and the Prince of Parma in great danger, though a good distance off, by a great Stake which struck him down, where he lay for some time in a Trance: And indeed, the desolation occasioned by this Execrable Engine, made people say, That the Author of it fetcht this terrible fire which made the River boil with heat and those pestiferous mortal vapours, from the Infernal Pit, and that the Thunder and Lightning was procured by Magick Art. Wars of the Low Countries.