can shift away, as they doe: England may well pray haste, thinking taxes sufficient with
the continuance of free quarter to the charge of pounds a day to many: notwithstanding
the late Act making cleere that old rule, that Execution is the life of the Law,
which if not seen unto, will quickly bring Government and Governours in contempt:
If the Netherlands be worth imitating in any thing, it is in that the Souldiers are forct
to be content with naked pay, and if they will have more, they must earn it with their
hands, which constant pay this Nation gives: and larger then they doe, and yet ordinarily
provisions cheaper here then there; great is the mystery that this content is not given
to the subject.
The deportment of the Almain and French Souldiers; in the Moneth of May last past, who
were called out of Alsatia, and other parts of Germany, by the authority of the King
of France, for curbing the refractory People, that would not give down their
Taxes, and to assist against the Spaniard; the war of Germany
being ended. Collected by an especial friend of Cardinall
Mazarins, and a Roman Catholike.
NOW is die time that we see the deplorable estate of poor Francs, abandoned of
all the world, nothing but despair being in all the Cities, Boroughs, and Villages
of her Provinces, nothing but groans and tears for the abominable cruelties
exercised by the Souldiers, who daily invent new torments, thirsting for the bloud of
the poor inhabitants of the Towns and Villages, sorrow over-whelming, and seeing no
remedy, complaints are vain, it's to small put pose to cry when no man hears; wickedness
reigning in France, who hath many Officers that will soon execute designes destructive,
unlesse we have recourss to God by our Prayers, and beseech him to look upon
us in pitty, and send to our succours, St. Michael Protector of France, to fight against
these wretched Officers, who hinder the repose of our King and his poor people; Come
then great Warrior of Heaven, come our Protector, we attend thy help with impatience,
come speedily.
But to the story, John savoy of the Town of Tourell close by the Rhcims, being retired
into a Hightie with all his Family, for fear of the fury of four Almans, remained there
three dayes without food: the Almains walking up and down the Court heard some noise
within the Stie, which occasioned them to carry five or six bottles of straw, which they
set on fire at the door, believing this act would soon bring them out, but the poor souls
not able through their seoblenesse, were stifled in the smoak: In the same Village Francis
Daubery was bound hand and foot, into whose mouth was put a Baillon who died,
whilst her two daughters, the one of ten, the other of 13 were ravished before her face,
both dying within two houres after. In the same place an old wife was tied to the,
chimney, whole feet they burnt at the bottoms with hot irons to make her confesse
where her money was, in which torment the died: The Church of the said village
was plundered, many who retired thither were killed. All the Villages about the River
Dalligny were burnt, many Citizens and Countreymen killed: one Dayboys was
hargedin his own house, and all in his house save one daughter, whom they preserved
to fune[unr]e their lust. In the Village of Machaut they killed many, burnt the greatest
part of the houses, plundered the Church, violated the women of all ages. The Castle
O' St. Lambert, wherein was Mons: de Joyeuse, they forct, plundered, and killed all
therein. These Germans put a coyfe upon a Goat and placed it in a bed, sending for
the Curate to make him give the Sacrament to it, the Curate refused, which they seeing
put him to a cruell death, not sit to be named. Five peasant saving themselves