AFter his Royall Majestie of Swethland with his Armie was the 30 day of the last moneth of October arreard at Naumbrugh, and the enemie being at Weiszenfolz, there was some probabi­litie that he would hold his stand: in regard there is a strong passe, and hee lay in his advantage: his Majestie presently hath a leagure and retrenchments caused to be made before Naumburgh, to discover and haue a watch full eye v­pon the further intentions of the enemie, the which vpon the 4 of November in a manner fled away from Weiszenfolz after first having pillaged Towne and Castle: and turned him­selfe towards Luelzen two myles from Leipseich: wherevpon his Majestie presently vpon the 5. of November three houres before day, arose with his Armie from Naumburg, and en­countred yet the same day the enemie about two of the clocke in the afternoone, with playing of his small pieces vpon him; hee made giue backe, killing some of his men, and got a stan­dard [Page]of the enemies dragoners, on which Fortoun and the Romane Eagle was painted, which on our side was interpre­ted as a good omen and token, and if we had had yet 2. houres more day, the enemie would haue beene the most part ruined, but night and a thicke mist befalling vs, wee beganne to bee quyet on both sides.

His Majestie continued this whole night in the field, stan­ding in Battalzie intending to pursue and continue this happie beginning and to fall on vpon the enemie 2. houres before day: but contrarie to our hopes and expectation, there was againe so thicke a fogge that nothing to the purpose could be effected, so that his Majestie was constrained to stay till it was faire day: the mist being dispersed by the Sunne. In the meane while the enemie hath caused a trench to be cast vp vpon the floate ditch, and expected vs in his advantage. And after his Majestie had caused morning prayer to bee said by Doctour Fabritius, and the Sunne by little and little chasing away the mist, and it be­ing likelye to bee a faire day; his Majestie with most mooving words exhorted all his Armies both horse and foote to fight brauely, and said to the Sweds and Finnis.

My honest Brothers behaue your selues well this day, and fight brauely for the Word of GOD, and for your King: in doing this yee shall obtaine grace and mercie with GOD, and honour before all the World: and I my selfe will reward you ho­nourablie; but if yee faile in so doing, I protest vnto you that none of your bones shall come into Sweden againe.

To the Germans his Majestie said, And you my honest Dutch brothers, I beseech you in generall to behaue your selves manfully: fight brauely with mee, giue no ground, I for my part set my life and blood at the stake for your good with you: will you stand to mee bravely, without question it is to bee hoped, GOD Almightie will giue vs the victorie: and you and your posteri­tie will enjoy the fruites thereof. But if you doe not so, then is your Religion and libertie overthrowne. After which hee said, [Page] Now wee will goe on, GOD Almightie helpe vs all. And with that cryed with a lowde voyce to the Heavens, saying; Iesu, Iesu, Iesu, helpe me this day to fight for the honour of thy Name: and advanced in this manner with the whole battell fasting, & went receiving either meate or drinke vpon the enemie: his Majestie leading the Vanguard himselfe, and betweene 9. and 10. of the clocke in the forenoone the fight beganne, and caused the enemie at the same instant time the Towne Luelzen to bee put on fire in two places, because wee might not fall v­pon him in that place.

The Swedish blew and yellow regiment were advanced, and 5. shot of great Canon discharged vpon the enemie, which had a fine double advantage of vs, (wee having but the plaine fields) but the float ditch; their parapet, their musque­tiers, their currasiers, and their Canon, out of which, hee after our 5. shottes discharged 80. vpon vs: all which notwithstan­ding our men did so bravely, that they tooke the ditch & their Trench from them, and betweene and 5. of the clocke 7. Peices of Artillerie, as also diverse Colours and Cornets, and about all this the Encounter hath beene so fierce on both sides, that a great many hath beene slaine: after we had reco­vered the the said 7. Peices, the enemie with his carabats fell vpon our baggage (which was but a few Wagons and Coa­ches, for all the rest were left behind in the Leaguer at Naum­burg) but were repulsed with notable losse to themselves, yet withall this our Dutch cavallerie lighted in some disorder: but just at the same instant a mist hapning againe was the cause the enemy tooke no notice of this disorder: which if hee had perceaved, hee might haue charged vs againe in some other place, and occasioned greater confusion; but wee were at last brought in order againe, so that in my opinion the mist did vs more good than harme: with this the enemy fell with all might and maine vpon vs againe, and tooke the said 7. Peices from vs againe, and dispersed some regiments of Cavallerie which [Page]had given ground; vpon which the charge was receaved with more earnestnesse than ever, and some fresh regiments (the first being weake and faint with so furious a combat) were by his Majesties command brought on, which behaved themselues so gallantly, that not onely the 7. Peices were recovered a­gaine betweene 2. and 3. of the clocke, but also 13. more and all the enemies munition with the losse of a great number of his people, all his Cavallerie, and especially his Curasiers re­maining dead vpon the place and the remainder, except 3. re­giments which held themselves beside a Windmillne in a sconce all began to flie: which made vs imagine the fight had beene at an end and that wee had absolutly the victorie, and wee left off shooting for halfe an houre, and all was quyet.

After this the enemie turned about againe to charge vs and as wee were afterwards informed by the prisoners, as also by the relation in wryting of our commander at Hall, was Pappin­hame just at the same time with sundry regiments of fresh folke arryved, which the day before Walsten not thinking that wee would a haue fallen on him, was gone towards Hall to attempt the same towne, but vpon this occasion in all hast commanded backe.

At this arryvall the fugitives did relye themselves againe and charged againe with the rest, where the fight was conti­nued againe vntill night, with such earnestnesse of both sides that there was nothing else to bee heard or seene, but the thun­dring Canon, and the haile shot of Musquet bullets, and this last encounter was more hard and furious then the first: yet at the last throught the gracious helpe and assistance of the highest and the Heroicall valour of his excellent Duke Bernhard of Saxon Weimer, which at this time his Majestie being dange­rously and deadly wounded in the first encounter, comman­ded in chiefe, the victorie is fallen vpon our side, and the enemy tooke his flight toward Leipseich at 9. of the clocke at night with few of his people, firing his Leaguer, and leaving behind [Page]some of his baggage, and three Pieces of Artillierie, which in­deede hee tooke along with him, but was not able to bring them forward, in regard of the darke night wee were not able to pursue him, and the more, because it was thought he would stand againe the next morning and expect another charge.

This is indeed a glorious and exceeding great victorie, for the which wee are not able to render sufficient thankes to the Almighty GOD: For on the enemies side by the confession of the prisoners, and the view of the place of the Battell, where dead men lay halfe a mans height one at the top of another: doth testifie is slaine and wounded the two third parts of his Armie among them. Pappenhem himselfe, and most of the chiefe commanders, all their whole artillerie and munitions taken from them, and the small remainder put to flight.

Yet in consideration of the death of our most worthie of glorie, most Christian, and in all the world most praised, and famous, nothing to bee valved.

His Majestie of most high and blessed memorie being in the first encounter, was shot first of all in his Arme, afterwards behind in his backe, and lastly with a Pistoll into his head, and also rendred vp his soule as a sacrifice to the LORD IESVS, and spent his Royall blood, and ventred his life and body with the Protestant Electors, Princes, and States of Germany, for the maintenance of your Religion, & the recoverie of your lost liberties.

Off our sides as farre as I know, is not any great comman­der slaine but generall Major Isler: yet there are a great many hurt, amongst which the Prince Anhault, Count Neils Co­lonell: Winchler Colonell, Walstein and others, but not dead­ly: but how many bee slaine of our men, cannot as yet bee ex­actly knowne till wee come to the generall rendevouz: yet the Swedish blew and yellow regiments of foote, Duke Ben­herds the Prince of Anhault, the Count Leuuenstenis, and Co­lonell Brandestins regiment of Horse haue suffered great dam­age. [Page]After all this his grace Duke Benhard of Weimer being generall over the armie which as yet consists of 15000. men, retreated himselfe with his people to Weiszenfolz, to rest there a little while, and to expect his highnesse the Elector of Saxon and Duke George of Lunenburgh with their forces, which were not present at this encounter and so ioyntly with them to pursuethe victorie.

The most Highest grant his grace that all the protestaut E­lectors, Princes, and States of Germanie may take this busi­nesse to heart, and thankfully acknowledge the deedes and great faithfulnesse of the most glorious King, and that holie worke begunne for Religion and libertie, which his royall Ma­jestie of most highly blessed memorie hath as it were given them into their hands, and brought to good termes, maye in time to come with their wontedly hazarding together of lives, goods, and blood, and through the assistance of the power of GOD bee brought to perfection; and that they may expresse themselves thankfull towards the most desolate, most pious, and religious Queene, as also the Crowne of Swedens high and inferior officers, which are resolved to venter all with them. But if so bee (the which God gratiously avert) they should se­parate themselves, and suffer themselves to bee divided by o­ther counsells; then might that happen, which the most glori­ous King shortly before his death did prophesie: namely, that both their religion and libertie were overthrowne.

By this relation I cannot omitt these ensuing wordes which his blessed most royall Majestie manie times, and yet but three dayes before the battell did speake at Naumburgh to Doctor Fabritius. Good Master Doctor, the businesse standeth well, aad all succeedeth according to our wishes, but I feare mee: I feare mee, because that everie bodie doeth so reuerence, and magnifie me, and hold me in a maner for a god, God wil punish me one time or another for that cause: yet God knoweth that I am not pleased with it. Now let happen to mee what my most loving God will [Page]bee pleased. Sure I am, that hee will perfect and bring to an end the businesse, because it concerneth the honour of his Name. Thus much the King.

This I thought good in briefe to relate to you, asmuch as my selfe could learne and informe of, which was my selfe pre­sent from the beginning to the end of this great capitall bat­tell, (in comparison of which the former battell of Leipsich is not to bee esteemed) which lasted nine whole houres. I be­seech the most High that hee would bee pleased to assist my gratious Queene, and all the Counsell and Officers of the Crowne of Sweden with the spirit of comfort and consolation, that they in a Christian patience may after the losse of so great a Treasure as their King and Lord receive godly comfort in o­ther wayes.

Out of all, this is manifest to perceive, that not wee, but GOD Almightie is absolute master of all our willes, lives, thoughts and spirits: and indeed wee may in so much the more patience comfort our selves, because our King hath ended his course of life in the highest degree of immortall glorie, beeing and remaining before his death, in his death, and after his death still victorious. His blessed Majestie his corps is carri­ed in a Coach with the Armie in persute of the enemie, till fur­ther order come at his Queenes arrivall, and the Chancellour Oxenstein.

What further will happen I shall heereafter let you know: the royall Chancellerie is conveyed to Erdfoord, where they attend the Chancellors comming.

This is memorable that his grace Duke Bernhard of Saxon when Colonell Kniphansen brought him the post of the Kings (now blessed) decease, his grace verie heroically answered then, I desire to liue no longer, and with that charged the e­nemie with that courage and Heroicall valour that it is not to bee expressed.

At the closing and sealing vp of these, commeth newes that the enemie hath quyted Leipseich and left a garison of two hundreth men in the Castle, taketh his march towards the mountaines Zuickaw: whom Duke Bern­hard & the Elector of Saxon his Armie fol­loweth