potentiary was, in order to communicate their mutual resolutions.

The emperor refused to ratify this convention, which he said was prejudicial to his honour, as well as to the interests of the Germanic body; and certain unexpected events, fatal to the hopes of the confederates, confirmed him in his resolution of continuing the war. After the ineffectual attempt upon Ratisbon, the French separated themselves from the Swedes, and marched toward Bamberg, under Guebriant, while Bannier took the route of Chamb, with a view of penetrating into Misnia through Bohemia. Meanwhile the emperor, flaming with rage, issued orders for assembling a body of troops, with all possible dispatch, in order to revenge the insult he had suffered.

A powerful army was speedily formed by the activity of Piccolomini and the archduke Leopold. One part of it, under mareschal Gleen, went in pursuit of Bannier, while the other, commanded by Piccolomini, besieged Newmarck, which was defended by an officer of the name of Slang; who, after having sustained five assaults, was obliged to surrender prisoner of war. On the reduction of that place, Piccolomini rejoined Gleen, in order to pursue Bannier, who retreated across the forest of Bohemia. Having reached the other side of it, he found his progress impeded by the swelling of the river Pleis, but collected a number of boats, in which he embarked his troops with such expedition, that he had carried over his whole army before Piccolomini appeared upon the opposite bank. Neither this disappointment, however, the interposing stream, nor the presence of the enemy retarded the progress of the Imperialists. The Austrian cavalry swam across the river; and the Swedes. being now hemmed in between the Pleis and the Moldaw, Bannier's ruin seemed inevitable, when he extricated himself by one of those efforts of military genius, which redound more to the honour of a general than the acquisition of the greatest victory, as fortune has no share in the success.

Finding himself thus circumstanced, the Swedish general posted some troops at a mill below Presnitz; where they made such an obstinate and vigorous resistance, when attacked by Piccolomini, 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 soon as he received intelligence of the reduction of Newmarck; so that the confederates were now in a condition to make head against the Imperialist. But before any step could be taken for that purpose, Bannier fell sick at Zickaw, in consequence of the fatigue he had undergone in his march, and expired at Halberstadt, in the forty-first year of his age, to the infinite loss, and inexpressible regret of his country, as well as of her allies. Beside his knowledge in the art of war, which he had acquired under the great Gustavus, to whom he was scarcely inferior as a commander, he was distinguished by his moderation and humanity toward those whom he had vanquished. He always avoided the effusion of blood, as far as circumstances would admit; and, being robust, patient indefatigable, and active, he was adored by the soldiery, whose toils and dangers he cheerfully shared1.

The death of Bannier raised the spirits of the Imperialists, in proportion as it depressed those of the confederates, and the most dangerous consequences were apprehended from it: for his army was composed almost entirely of Germans, who were retained in the service of Sweden solely 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 solicitations of the emperor, and their own necessitous condition, until the arrival of Torstenson; another general formed under Gustavus, and not unwor

19. Puffend. Comment, Reb. Sues, lib. xii.

thy

thy of so great a master. In order to give him more infiuence over the army, he was furnished with a large sum of money by the treasury of Sweden, and accompanied with a strong reinforcement.

Before this reinforcement arrived, the Swedes and French, under the command of Guebriant, had defeated the Imperial army, led by the archduke and Piccolomini, near Wolfenbuttle. Four thousand Imperialists were slain upon the spot, and a great number taken prisoners 20. No other event of consequence distinguished the latter part of the campaign, which was chiefly spent in waiting for Torstenson, at an encampment near Stadt; and soon after he assumed the command, the French and Swedish armies separated by order of cardinal Richelieu. Guebriant entered Westphalia, and Torstenson led his troops into Bohemia ; where he proposed to winter, and attempt, as soon as the season should 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 prosecuting the war. Mareschal Guebriant accordingly crossed the Rhine early in the spring, upon a bridge of boats, built at Wesel; marched to Ordinguen, which surrendered at discretion; and understanding that Hasfield was on his march to join Lamboy, another Imperial general, whose quarters were near Kempen, he resolved 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 assault. After an obstinate struggle, the Austrian infantry was broken, and the camp forced; and Lamboy, who rallied his troops, and returned to the charge, was surrounded and made prisoner, together with general Merci. Of the whole Imperisl army not above six hundred escaped.

20. Barre, tom. ix. Puffend. lib. xiii.

A. D. 1642.

This victory was followed by the reduction of Lintz, Bevert, Berthem, Caster, and Guewembruck; so that Guebriant saw himself master, in a short time, of almost the whole electorate of Cologne. His next step was to besiege 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 impossible. to sustain an assault, capitulated upon honourable terms11.

The defeat of Lamboy, and the rapid success of the French general, did not, however, divert the archduke and Piccolomini, who commanded the Imperialists in Moravia, from marching against Torstenson. They intended to surprize him in his camp; but finding all their attempts and expectations defeated, by the vigilence of the Swedish general, in the true spirit of Italian policy, Piccolomini had recourse 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 design was discovered, and the traitor punished: nor did his employers escape chastisement. The duke of SaxeLawenburg, who had marched towards Schwents, in order to check the progress of Torstenson, in Silesia, was defeated and mortally wounded; and in that condition was taken prisoner, with the greater part of his officers, three thousand of his men being left dead on the field.

Soon after this victory, Torstenson passed the Elbe, with an intention to besiege Leipsic; and having seized two posts, the possession of which might facilitate that enterprize, he ordered general Koningsmark to invest the place. "But the approach of the Imperialists, under the archduke and Piccolomini, obliged him to convert the siege into a blockade, and make preparations for receiving the enemy. Meanwhile they advanced in such a form as the Swedes were between the

Imperial army and the town; and Torstenson finding himself exposed to two fires, filed off his troops into the plain of Breitenfeld, about three miles distant from Leipsic. The Imperial generals, imagining his design was to avoid an action, endeavoured to harrass his rear; but the Swedish com. mander, who wished for nothing more than such an opportunity, faced about immediately. A mutual cannonading ensued, and soon after a close engagement. Wittemberg, who commanded the right wing of the Swedes, charged the left of the Imperialists with such impetuosity, that it was instantly broken. Their right wing, however, behaved with more firmness; and the Swedish cavalry commanded by Koningsmark, was in danger, for a time, of being routed by the emperor's cuirassiers. But the latter were obliged at length to give way.

While the cavalry of both armies thus disputed the victory, the infantry in the centre fought with inexpressible rage and resolution. At length the Swedish foot, animated by the example of the horse, and supported by a body of reserve, which advanced in the heat of action, obliged the Imperialists to quit the field, and retreat into a wood, with the loss of their cannon. Torstenson pursued the left wing as far as Leipsic; Koningsmark gave no quarter to the right; and the Austrian infantry being driven from the wood, into which they had retired, were surrounded by the enemy, and cut in pieces22.

In this battle, which was fought near the same spot that had beheld the glory of the Swedes, under Gustavus, a few years before, the Imperialists lost eight thousand good soldiers; and three hundred officers were found among the slain. The conquerors, who had engaged with very inferior numbers, did not lose above a thousand men. Besides the slaughter of the enemy, they took three thousand pri

22. Puffend. lib. xiv, Barre, tom. ix.

soners,