to enter by one of our gates, while the people should have
been busied in quenching a fire which they meant to set to the
Castle. Tis said also, that this business was so far advanced,
that 1500 men drawn out of Elbing appeared in order to the
execution of this Enterprise, but they not perceiving the
signal given which had been agreed on, presently retired.
The Swedish General Douglas, who hath most of his forces
in Mittaw, hath caused declaration to be made to the Estates
of Curland, that if they will separate themselves from
the Lithuanians whom they calld to their succor, he would
give them fair terms; but they rejecting this offer, resolve to go
on vigorously with the siege of that Capital city, conceiving
that the taking of it by force will be the only means to obtain
the liberty of their Prince, who is still detained prisoner
at Riga.
From Dantzick, Decemb. 25.
Our last Letters from the Leagure before Thoren doe
advise us, that the Gover [unr]o; at the return of an Officer whom
he had sent to Marienburg to Prince Palatine Adolph the
King of Sweden's brother, made answer to the summons
which the Poles had sent to him some dayes before, that after
Peace should be concluded betwixt Sweden and Poland,
he would render the place, and not before. This exasperated
the Poles to resolve on giving another assault, which they put
in execution with vigor, that the Besieged finding they should
not be able long to hold our, demanded a Parley, which was
granted, and Hostilities ceased for the time on both sides.
So that the besiegers seeing a probability that the place may
shortly be yielded, have been at a contest among themselves
who shall have it is possession; the Poles alledge they
ought to have it, and the Imperial Auxiliaries pretend
it will doe better in their hands, they being more likely
to preserve it, as they did and doe the City of Cracovia.