"Since your letter," he said, "you have seen the course of Spinola with
the army of the King and the Archdukes. You have seen the Prince-
Palatine of Neuburg with his forces maintained by the Pope and other
members of the Papistical League. On the 29th of August they forced
Aachen, where the magistrates and those of the Reformed religion have
been extremely maltreated. Twelve hundred soldiers are lodged in the
houses there of those who profess our religion. Mulheim is taken and
dismantled, and the very houses about to be torn down. Duren, Castre,
Grevenborg, Orsoy, Duisburg, Ruhrort, and many other towns, obliged to
receive Spanish garrisons. On the 4th of September they invested Wesel.
On the 6th it was held certain that the cities of Cleve, Emmerich, Rees,
and others in that quarter, had consented to be occupied. The States
have put one hundred and thirty-five companies of foot (about 14,000 men)
and 4000 horse and a good train of artillery in the field, and sent out
some ships of war. Prince Maurice left the Hague on the 4th of September
to assist Wesel, succour the Prince of Brandenburg, and oppose the
hostile proceedings of Spinola and the Palatine of Neuburg . . . .
Consider, I pray you, this state of things, and think how much heed they
have paid to the demands of the Kings of Great Britain and France to
abstain from hostilities. Be sure that without our strong garrison in
Julich they would have snapped up every city in Julich, Cleve, and Berg.
But they will now try to make use of their slippery tricks, their
progress having been arrested by our army. The Prince of Neuburg is
sending his chancellor here 'cum mediis componendae pacis,' in appearance
good and reasonable, in reality deceptive . . . . If their Majesties,
My Lords the States, and the princes of the Union, do not take an
energetic resolution for making head against their designs, behold their
League in full vigour and ours without soul. Neither the strength nor
the wealth of the States are sufficient of themselves to withstand their