raised fire upon it, though we were half starved and ravaged
by plague, we held out for three months, repulsing every assault,
till at last the Imperialists were obliged to draw off; having lost
12,200 men.

"This, however, was the solitary success on our side, and a few months
since, Christian signed a peace, binding himself to interfere no
more in the affairs of Germany. When Ferdinand considered himself
free to carry out his plans, he issued an edict by which the
Protestants throughout Germany were required to restore to the
Catholics all the monasteries and land which had formerly belonged
to the Catholic Church. The Catholic service was alone to
be performed, and the Catholic princes of the empire were ordered
to constrain their subjects, by force if necessary, to conform to
the Catholic faith; and it was intimated to the Protestant princes
that they would be equally forced to carry the edict into effect.
But this was too much. Even France disapproved, not from any
feeling of pity on the part of Richelieu for the Protestants, but
because it did not suit the interests of France that Ferdinand
should become the absolute monarch of all Germany.

"In these circumstances Gustavus of Sweden at once resolved to
assist the Protestants in arms, and ere long will take the field.
That is what has brought us here. Already in the Swedish army there
are 10,000 Scotchmen, and in Denmark they also form the backbone
of the force; and both in the Swedish and Danish armies the greater
part of the native troops are officered and commanded by Scotchmen.

"Hitherto I myself have been in the Danish service, but my regiment
is about to take service with the Swedes. It has been quietly intimated