such success already, that whereas in some Parts, as about
Wickloe and Wexford, there were above 50, such Tories wel
mounted and armed, they are glad to imbrace any Terms to
come in, so they may be pardoned for what is past; and neither
there or elswhere dare scarce any one of them twitch or
stir. To that happy pass of tranquility and safety are things
brought, in relation to this matter.
An Extract of Col. Wartz his Letter Governor of Cracovia,
December 13. 1657.
We have bin this great while shut up by the Forces of the
Polnish Marshall Lubermiskie, who hath caused his cannons
and Mortar pieces divers times to be planted before the Suburb
called Casimir, intending to batter it, and put himself into
a posture as if he were resolved to give an assault with his
many thousands of Peasants, thinking that at his eagerness
we should leave that place, to the end that he might have
footing there. But we being quite otherwise minded, and resolved
to defend our selves, he did shrink from his seeming Resolution;
and it happened also, that when the said Polnish
Marshal had put himself into a better posture before Casimir,
upon a day which was very dry, but extreme windie, some of
his Peasants or Boors did set on fire the Leaguer by the vehemencie
of the wind, which was half a mile distant, so that the
Quarters of the Gentlemen and Quartians were suddenly
burnt, and all their goods, except what they and their people
had on horsback before Casimir consumed.
Whereupon the said Marshall, a few days after, dismissed
the Boors and gave them leave to go home, enjoining them to
return before Christmass, and assoon as the River of Weyssel
should be frozen over; being resolved that then he would
assault Casimirs Town; but whether it will be done, I doubt
much, but I leave it to the time, and am ready to undergoe
his worst.
We have had hitherto since my last, divers successfull Encounters
with the Poles, wherein they always had the worst,
with the loss of a great number of slain and prisoners. The