IT is an apparent and naked truth. That the Burgamasters, councel, and Citizens of the City Ma [...]e [...]burgh could in no wise be drawn and perswaded to disburse a reaso­nable summe of money, (upon good assurance) for the ad­vancement of the levying and raising of forces, for his Maie­sty of Sweden, tending to the reliefe and deliverance of the said distressed itty in particular, and reducement of the com­mon Germain Liberties and Priviledges, in generall. Much lesse would they any wise consent and permit, the least quarter or billetting to his Maiesty and his grace the Administrators of Magdenburgh, their conjoyned forces; till at the last, by rea­son of the enemies blocking of them up, this last siedge, they were compelled thereunto.

Which was the cause, that both the horse and foot-forces [Page 8]neyther might, nor would aggregate, in such a compleat num­ber, and so opportunely as both they could haue done, and was requisite, insomuch that the enemy gained conueniency and opportunity to blocke up, and besiedge the said Citty, by the meanes wherof his Mai. was of necessity constrained somewhat to desist, and his intention ayming at the generall and publike good, was thereby withdrawne, and exceedingly hindred.

But to the end, that all men may fully be acquainted with the causes which moved his Mai. to this resolution to assemble a convenient and reasonable army in that place afore mentio­ned. We must know; that even than, where his Princely grace the Administrator of Magdenburgh, in the end of Iuly in the yeare past 1630. came into the Citty, the whole Bishoprick of Magdenburg was very destitute of Imperiall troupes, and fur­nished with very weake garrison. So that his Princely grace wanted no thing except the aforesaid monies for the raising of souldiers; which if upon earnest request, and soliciting of the said Citty Magdenburgh he could have obtained, in a very short space he might very easily have raised and assembled together certaine thousands of men, and by that meanes haue prevented and put by the siedge, which Papenheym hath then begun with very few forces, yea he might than have diverted the whole State of that warre, have withdrawn all warlike provision and necessaries from the enemy, and assembled his forces even with­in the Citty. He might also have built an inexpugnable fort or Tower, and have constituted Sedem Belli, to second, and de­fend all the adjacent places against the unspeakable Tyranny, and perceiving impositions of his adversary. And here we o­mit to speake of all other important and many consequences of warre. Especially, this is to be regarded, that this Citty by this meanes might so long have bin preserved vntill his Mai. of Sweden had quite expelled and ruinated all the Emp. forces in Pomerania, and upon the river Oder. Howsoever, the com­mon people of this Citty are in this matter very excusable, who by reason of the potent favorites and traitors which the enemy had drawn to him in that Citty, were not able to pro­ceed with a couragious and manly resolution. Which may suf­ficiently appeare by the woefull and lamentable ruine of the [Page 9]said Citty, which the treacherous Machination of those tray­tors of their owne Countrey, brought upon the same, and is meerely to be imputed unto them, for in all this they have prevailed.

But notwithstanding all this, it may easily appeare, and by those Citties themselves be made manifest, what vigilant care and diligence his Mai. hath taken, and bestirred himselfe for the obtaining of the said monies by exchange from the Citty Hamburgh and Lubeck, and transported the same to Magden­bu [...]gh, because they, by reason of the Scituation of that place had not opportunity and could not furnish such meanes, not­withstanding it could be proved easily, that it was not so im­possible for them as their excuse would make it. So that this fault in the very first beginning is not to be ascribed to his Mai. nor his Princely grace the Administrator of Magden­burgh. But to those traytors and founders of mischiefe on the one, and to their consorts and adherents, who furnished the enemy with munition, provision &c. on the other side.

And although that his Mai. since that time hath made ouer great summes of money for the maintenance of the souldiers, and also hath transported much provision and all warlike ne­cessaries to Magdenburgh, and promised the said Citty his Kingly ayd and deliverance, at severall times. Neverthelesse those that are acquainted and skilled in Pollitick and warlike affaires, doe know that those kind of promises are regulated according to conveniencie, and according to the po [...]sibility of men, and the state of things. And are not to be taken so ab­surdly, as if the Kings maiesty of necessity must for satisfaction of his promise made, endanger and hazard the common wel­fare, the deliverance of so many hundred thousand soules and consequently his whole royall State, his Kingdome and Coun­trey, or rather ruinate and utterly undoe the whole worke be­gunne, and leave all in a desperate state and Condition. Where­as at the first this Citty might easily have bin holpen with the least supply. And yet furthermore we doe shew and declare, that his Mai. notwithstanding them aboue mentioned reasons hath used and reached forth his best and extreame endeavour, to relieue and deliver this Citty, but hath bin hindered and [Page 10]prevented, and kept back by such obstacles and hinderances, as were impossible for him to shun. Which being demonstra­ted we are fully perswaded that no man being unpartiall, and voyd of passion, and in his right sences and temper, will any longer in this point accuse and impute any cause unto his Ma­jesty.

It is well knowne, not onely to the whole Empire but throughout the whole Christian world, that an huge Emperi­all army being enquartered in the two Dukedomes of Pomera­nia and Mechlenburgh, had than already cut off the passage from the East-sea to Magdenburgh, which great army in Champagne (especially in horse forces) did farre exceed the army of his Maiesty of Sweden, which was the cause that it proved impossible for his Maiesty with his weake Army to strike thorough so puissant an Army, beeing enquartered in so strong a passage, and passe quite thorough his Enemies the length of forty Dutch miles, unlesse first hee had confirmed himselfe in some place, and had some footing in that strange Countrey.

It is also sufficiently knowne, that notwithstanding his Maiesty used all possible meanes, laboured as soone as possible might bee to advance his chiefest Troupes, and induct them into those parts. Neverthelesse, it was in the moneth No­vember, 1630. before these forces arrived.

Which, when hee had received and reduced into his army under him the whole cold Winter, ayming especially to attaine to the deliverance of the sayd City Magdenburgh. It is to bee doubted, whether or no, any man in so rigid and sharpe a Winter, and in the middest of so many inconveniences, and passing thorough so many obstacles, hath ever effected so much and in so short a space. For by meanes of this his Maiesties incomparable labour in this hard time, it plea­sed Almighty God, (from whom proce [...]ds all [...]i [...]tory) to de­liver up into the hands of his Maiesty with admirable victo­ry, those two mighty passages of Gartz and Griffenhagen. Which if his Maiesty had not obtained, it had bin impos­sible for him, and very unadvisedly done, to have proceed [...]d any farther, unlesse his Maiesty contrary to all rules a [...]d [Page 11]Instructions of warre, and contrary to reason and poli­ticke prudencie, would haue hazarded and endangered the common welfare and his owne state, and ruinated them both

Now by reason of this admirable victory which it plea­sed Almighty God to afford his Maiesty, he obtained so much advantage of his Enemy, that he might easily have fallen uppon the very head of him, and utterly rui­nated all his forces, and consequently (by Gods assistance,) without great hinderance, or losse have delivered the said Citty Magdenburgh. If his Maiesty, could but have obtained the passage and thoroughfare, through the strong and mighty fortresse Custrin, which he sought and required of the commander Krachten, who then commanded there, with earnest intreaty and supplication, upon good assurance.

Hereupon did follow very great inconveniences. His Maiesty through want of victualls and furniture, was con­strained to let his enemy escape and retire to Lantsbergh.

His Royall Army also by reason hereof happened into se­verall dangers and extreamities. The Catholick blood-thir­sty Enemy by this meanes was not ruinated, who otherwise was brought into a remedilesse confusion. Neither could his Maiesty wholly purge the River Elue, and all the Countrey betweene the Elue and the Eest-sea, from these bloody and cruell Enemies. Much lesse could his Maiesty relieue and se­cond the rest of the Evangelicall Princes with a victorious hand. Who now are extreamely in danger to loose all spi­rituall and temporall liberties and priviledges.

All these inconveniences did hence proceed, because his Maiesty could not obtain the aforesaid passage of Custrin from the Commander Krachten.

If any one object heere, that his Majesty ought to have conducted and brought his Army into his Enemies face the Generall T [...]lly, and rouzed him up with his Army. Wee have already shewed, that his Maiesties army, was exceedingly wea [...]ied, and that whole winter grievously weakened. And by reason of the refusall of the passage of Custrin, not onely [Page 12]debilitated but decreased, and therefore not capable and suffici­ent to oppose so great a power as Tilly than had. Neither did his Maj. hold it expedient and commendable, to proceed des­perately and to hazard the whole matter in a dangerous fight. Which if it had not well succeeded, as apparently it might not, the good City Magdenburgh had fared never the better.

When Tilly was retired out of Pomerania and Mechlenburgh, than was the City Magdenburgh assaulted with the greatest and extreamest power, so that it is in no wise to be imputed to his Maiesty that the sayd City was not delivered. Concerning the time whilest this siedge did continue, it is not unknowne that the Emperors army being strong before both of horse and foot, and having taken those aforesaid passages by the Oder, did refortifie themselves and adde unto their forces 12000. and came into a perfit state and posture, in the Nieumarck, O [...]ker­marek, especially at Francfort, Lantsb [...]r [...]h, and the Countrey of Steynbergh, and the Province of Crosses. Moreover the Generall Tilly with many thousands both foot and horse being enquar­tered on this side of the Elve and Mockeren, was very vigilant, and did duely attend all occasions. Insomuch that it was not plausible for his Maj. to leave such an Army as was before men­tioned behind his back, and meeting the Generall Tilly by that meanes, to thrust himselfe between the doore and the hindge, Inter Malleum & incunem.

Notwithstanding all this, his Majest. of Sweden to shew and manifest his Christian resolution, and good intention for the restoring and recovering of the Germaine liberties and privi­ledges of the Protestant Churches, & for the discharging of his Majesties Conscience, and for his reputation, with a Heroicke courage did assault the very heart of the whole Imperiall Army within the City Francfort, than being at least 700 [...]. strong. Where, with extraordinary victory (which it pleased God in respect of his Christian intention to afford him) hee defeated, overcame, and utterly ruinated them, so that now hee had no such cause more to feare his enemy behind him. Howsoever this is to be considered, that in a very short space 6000. men were againe recollected together, under the Cōmander Schou­wenburgh at great Glogau in Silesia, which 6000. men by all [Page 13]likelihood, by reason of the confluxe of many forces from Sile­fia, Mehren, Bohemia, and Hungaria, might have beene excee­dingly augmented.

Notwithstanding, but disregarding all this, as also that Ge­nerall Tilly could easily adjoyne his forces to the rest, transpor­ting them over the Elve by meanes of the Bridge layd neere unto Magdenburgh, his Maj. did so much respect, and tender the good City Magdenburgh, that not fearing the great danger after good deliberation, himselfe in person, with his whole Army marched to Berlyn, there to obtaine the strong fort Span­dau, to the end that his Maj. in time of necessity might have a sure retreat. Which having obtained, his Maj. proceeded for­ward on the way to Potzdam, hoping that whereas the saving of the City Magdenburgh did so deeply concerne the Prince [...]lector of Saxony, that his Princely Excellence would assist him with some troupes and certaine pieces of Ordnance, mu­nition, powder, shot &c. for the furthering of this great and heauy enterprize of relieving the City Magdenburgh, or at leastwise, affoording him a free passage and thorough-fare over the Dassaw-bridge, by which meanes his Majesty might have received all manner of necessaries from Meyssen, and more con­veniently have passed along the River neere unto the City in­tended. Therefore his Maj. did to this end send severall mes­sengers, with divers moving and extreame patheticall letters. The chiefest whereof were basely kept backe aboue 14. dayes.

Lastly, when now the time of delivery was approaching and necessity required no longer delay; and therefore his Majesty had brought up his Army to undertake the maine businesse, and now or never to effect some notable thing for the common good. The Elector of Saxony frustrated his expectation, and flatly denyed him all his former requests, appealing to his du­ty and devotion which they vowed, and the obligation where­with they were obliged to his Imperiall Majesty.

As concerning the Marquis of Brandenburgh, his Excellence (notwithstanding his Maiesty might have depended upon his assistance) did not deliver or at leastwise could not deliver, un­to his Maiesty, those necessaries of victuals and shipping in such time and measure as was expected and requisite. But ra­ther [Page 14]had a respect and did appeale to the example and resoluti­on of the Prince Elector of S [...]xony.

In summe, the Duke of Saxony, and the Marquis of Branden­burgh, have both of them so managed the businesse [...]nd caried themselves, that his Maiesty could not perceive wh [...]ther they were friends or enemies

Wherefore the p [...]emisses being granted, all his Maiesties chiefe Commanders have beene [...]ound to confesse, and all ex­perienced in matters of Warre cannot deny it. That if his Maiesty had ma [...]ched forward without being assured of provi­sion from Saxony; That such a tyred and unwilling Army, (though Tilly had beene alone in his Posture) through want of su [...]tenance, and heate of weather and faintnesse, of necessity most part of the same had p [...]o [...]ved fugitive, part of the same famished, and the Arm, it selfe intirely destroyed.

Hereupon his Maiesty not many da [...]es after, being informed concerning the Lamentable destrustion of the [...]ayd City, was constrained to retre [...]t not without great g [...]iefe and sorrow of heart, and by reason of su [...]h an important alteration, casu [...]e his proceeding by other meanes, and [...]enter volen [...]e, of ne­cessity proceed by such meanes, which would seeme very dif­ficult unto the ignorant and unskilfull. But the nature of Warre, and the common necessity doth require farre more dif­ficulty.

All which beeing ballanced, and unpartially perpended, by all those that are skilled in Warlike and Politike affayres, the same will serve for a sufficient discharge of his Maiesty both before God and all the world. Especially, since hee [...]e it doth appeare, that his Maiesty hath used his uttermost power and endeavour.