A. D. 1641. PART I. confer with each other; that in cafe the negociation fhould be interrupted before a treaty could be concluded, Munfter and Ofnabrug fhould return to the fame fituation in which they were before the congrefs, but that the neutrality fhould be obferved fix weeks after the conferences were broken off; that all the fafeconducts on each fide fhould be exchanged at Hamburg, through the mediation of the Danish ambassador, in the space of two months after the date of the agreement; that the emperor and king of Spain, fhould grant fafe conducts to the minifters of France, Sweden, and their allies in Germany and elsewhere, and receive the fame fecurity from his Moft Chriftian majefty; and that Sweden fhould grant fafe-conducts to the emperor's plenepotentiaries, as well as to those of the electors of Mentz and Brandenburgh 13. It was farther agreed, That France fhould treat at Munster, and Sweden at Ofnabrug; and that each crown should have a fecretary where the other's plenipotentiary was, in order to communicate their mutual refolutions. THE emperor refufed to ratify this convention, which he faid was prejudical to his honour, as well as to the interefts of the Germanic body; and certain. unexpected events, fatal to the hopes of the confederates, confirmed him in his refolution of continuing the war. After the ineffectual attempt upon Ratisbon, the French feparated themfelves from the Swedes, and marched toward Bamberg, under Guebriant, while Bannier took the rout of Chamb, with a view of penetrating into Mifnia through Bohemia. Meanwhile the emperor, flaming with rage, iffued orders for affembling a body of troops, with all poffible dispatch, in order to revenge the infult he had fuffered. 18. Dumont, Corps Diplomat. tom. vi. A POWER LXXV. A POWERFUL army was fpeedily formed by the ac- LETTER tivity of Picolomini and the archduke Leopold. One part of it, under marefchal Gleen, went in pursuit of A.D. 1641. Bannier, while the other, commanded by Picolomini, befieged Newmarck, which was defended by an officer of the name of Slang; who, after having sustained five affaults, was obliged to furrender prifoner of war. On the reduction of that place, Picolomini rejoined Gleen, in order to purfue Bannier, who retreated across the foreft of Bohemia. Having reached the other fide of it, he found his progrefs impeded by the fwelling of the river Pleis, but collected a number of boats, in which he embarked his troops with fuch expedition, that he had carried over his whole army before Picolomini appeared upon the oppofite bank. Neither this disappointment, however, the interpofing ftream, nor the prefence of the enemy, retarded the progress of the Imperialifts. The Auftrian cavalry swam across the river; and the Swedes being now hemmed in between the Pleis and the Moldaw, Bannier's ruin feemed inevitable, when he extricated himself by one of thofe efforts of military genius, which redound more to the honour of a general than the acquifition of the greatest victory, as fortune has no fhare in the fuccefs. FINDING himself thus circumftanced, the Swedish general pofted fome troops at a mill below Prefnitz; where they made fuch an obftinate and vigorous refiftance, when attacked by Picolomini, that the main body of the army had time to retire to Zickaw, whither their baggage and artillery also were conveyed in the night. Here Bannier was joined by Guebriant, who had put himself in motion, as foon as he received intelligence of the reduction of Newmarck ; fo that the confederates were now in a condition to make head against the Imperialifts. But before any step could be VOL. III. M taken PART I. A. D. 1641. taken for that purpose, Bannier fell fick at Zickaw, in confequence of the fatigue he had undergone in his march, and expired at Halberstadt, in the forty-firft year of his age, to the infinite lofs, and inexpreffible regret of his country, as well as of her allies. Befide his knowledge in the art of war, which he had acquired under the great Gustavns, to whom he was fcarcely inferior as a commander, he was diftinguished by his moderation and humanity toward those whom he had vanquifhed. He always avoided the effufion of blood, as far as circumftances would admit; and, being robust, patient, indefatigable, and active, he was adored by the foldiery, whose toils and dangers he chearfully fhared '9. THE death of Bannier raised the fpirits of the Imperialifts, in proportion as it depreffed thofe of the confederates, and the most dangerous confequences were apprehended from it; for his army was compofed almost entirely of Germans, who were retained in the fervice of Sweden folely by the reputation and authority of their general. But the troops, though at first inclined to mutiny, were preserved in obedience by the vigilance of the other Swedish commanders; Wrangel, Koningsmark, Wittemberg, and Pfuhl, notwithstanding the folicitations of the emperor, and their own neceffitous condition, until the arrival of Torftenfon; another general formed under Guftavus, and not unworthy of fo great a master. In order to give him more influence over the army, he was furnished with a large fum of money by the the treasury of Sweden, and accompanied with a strong reinforcement. BEFORE this reinforcement arrived, the Swedes and French, under the command of Guebriant, had de 19. Puffend. Gonment. Reb. Suec. lib. xii. feated LXXV. feated the Imperial army, led by the archduke and LETTER Picolomini, near Wolfenbuttle. Four thousand Imperialists were flain upon the spot, and a great number A.D.1641. taken prifoners. No other event of confequence diftinguished the latter part of the campaign, which was chiefly spent in waiting for Torftenfon, at an encampment near Stadt ; and soon after he affumed the command, the French and Swedish armies feparated by order of cardinal Richelieu. Gubriant entered Weftphalia, and Torftenfon led his troops into Bohemia ; where he proposed to winter, and attempt, as foon as the feafon fhould permit, to prove himself worthy of the confidence of his country. MEANWHILE a new treaty was concluded between France and Sweden, and the most vigorous resolutions were taken for profecuting the war. Marefcal Guebriant accordingly croffed the Rhine early in the fpring, upon a bridge of boats, built at Wefel; marched to Ordinguen, which furrendered at difcretion; and underftanding, that Hasfeld was on his march to join Lamboy, another Imperial general, whofe quarters were near Kempen, he refolved to prevent their junction, by attacking the latter in his entrenchments. With this view he left his baggage at Ordinguen; advanced toward the enemy; drew up his army in order of battle, and proceeded to the affault. After an obftinate ftruggle, the Auftrian infantry was broken, and the camp forced; and Lamboy, who rallied his troops, and returned to the charge, was furrounded and made pri- A. D. 1642. foner, together with general Merci. Of the whole Imperial army not above fix hundred escaped. PART I. A. D 642. THIS Victory was followed by the reduction of Lintz, Bevert, Berchem, Cafter, and Guewembruck; fo that Guebriant faw himself mafter, in a short time, of almoft the whole electorate of Cologne. His next ftep was to befiege Kempen, which was defended with great gallantry and skill; but a large breach being at length made in the fortifications, the governor, convinced that it would be impoffible to fuftain an affault, capitulated upon honourable terms ". THE defeat of Lamboy, and the rapid fuccefs of the French general, did not, however, divert the archduke and Picolomini, who commanded the Imperialifts in Moravia, from marching againft Torftenfon. They intended to furprife him in his camp; but finding all their attempts and expectations defeated, by the vigilance of the Swedish general, in the true spirit of Italian policy, Picolomini had recourfe to treachery, by which he hoped to earn the reward of valour and military skill. With this view he corrupted one Sekendorf, a Swedish colonel, who promised to admit the Imperialists into the camp by night. Fortunately the defign was discovered, and the traitor punished: nor did his employers efcape chaftifement. The duke of SaxeLawenburg, who had marched towards Schwents, in order to check the progrefs of Torftenfon, in Silefia, was defeated and mortally wounded; and in that condition was taken prifoner with the greater part of his officers, three thoufand of his men being left dead on the field. Soon after this victory, Torftenfon paffed the Flbe, with an intention to befiege Leipfic; and having feized two pofts, the poffeffion of which might facilitate that |