the Prudence of Monsieur the Cardinal, which is never deficient in the finding out expedients fit for the greatness his Master, and did give life and heat to that designe which the Princes of Germany, had heretofore resolved on, of putting themselves into the field, in defence of their liberty, and for the restablishing of those, who had been forced out of their States.
The King, who hath a most admirable apprehension to Judg of those counsels which are given, quickly conceived the goodness of this, and in order therunto he sent about the end of the year, last part, the Sieur de la Picardiere, to the King of Denmark, the Princes of the Lower Saxany and the Auseatique Citties; His in∣structions were to represent to the King of Denmark, and those other Princes, that the King his Master did hear with much joy their resolution to take up Arms, for the establishing of the Prince Elector and his Brothers, and to repel those menaces wherewith they were threatned, and the ancient friendship, which had al∣wayes kept their States in good Union, obliging his Majesty to be sollicitous, of their Interests, had induced him to send a proffer unto them, of what ever was within his power. They had beseeched his Majesty, not to engage himself in any league with Germany, without giving them notice of it, which he had not only order to assure them of, but also to promise them, the summe of a Million of livures in two years time, and French Troops besides. He had moreover express order to excite them to a quick dispatch, because experience hath made it evident on a thousand occasions, that the successe of most enterprises doth usually depend upon the rea∣dy and dexterous excecuting of them, and that when as much time is taken in deli∣beration, the most favourable oportunities are lost by it. But these reasons were needless, for by that time that he came to them, he found them with their Arms in their hands, and the King of Denmark had already sent some Forces by Sea, to joyne with those of the other Princes, who began to threaten the Empeour, and forced him to send Count Tilly to advance towards them for the opposing of their designs: Yet he did not a little heighten their resolution, setting them on, by pro∣posing to them what a glory it would be to them, to restablish their Allyes, and also by telling them with oportunities of advantage, they had against the Emperours Forces who were but weake, and much dispersed, by reason of the warres in Italy and the Valtoline, whereas their Army was fresh, and numerous, and all their Forces met in a Body together. He had particular order not to demand any thing in pre∣judice of the Catholiques, His Majesty having no other end in his intentions, but the setling the Liberties of Germany and the restating of those Princes. Who had been clapt out of their States; And whereas of lower Saxony is composed of several Auseatique Citties, as well as Princes, which Towns and Citties were no lesse against the war, then the Princes were for it, by reason their Traffick was into Spain, and they much suspected, least if they should declare against the house of A••stria, the Spaniard would then stop their Ships and break their Trade; He was commanded to visit them in his progresse, and to perswade them, to associate themselves with the Princes in the league, as also to contribute toward the mainte∣nance of the Army, and to represent to them that in case they should refuse to joyne in the designe, they would then run a very great hazard, least the King of Denmark fall upon them, who had an old grudg to them, and only wanted such a pretence to be upon them, especially now that he had his Arms in his hand: and that if he should be to weak to force them, he might however easily enough ruin their Trade particularly that of Danzik and Lub••c, and of other places too by stop∣ping up the straight of the Zound by which their Ships must necessarily passe, and also that of Hambourg and Breme, by building some Forts on the Rivers Elve and Vezel, which do belong unto him; That in case such a misfortune should befal them, all their Allyes, would undoubtedly abandon them; That the King of Spain could not assist them, he being to far off, that he had not one Ship upon that Sea, and that as for himself and the King of great B••itt••ige, they could not in conside∣ration of the King of ••en••ark, take care or notice, to hinder the Hollanders from seizing on their vessels between Calis and Dover, which should make any voyadge