The Holy State, Book 4 · Chapter 18
GUSTAVUS Adolphus the pious and Valiant King of Sweden. He was Slaine in the Battell at Lutzen ▪ the 16 of November 1632. Aged 38 yeares. W.M. sculp:
CHAP. 18. The life of GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS King of Sweden.
GUstavus Adolphus King of Sweden, born Anno Domini 1594 had princely education both for Arts and Armes. In Italie he learnt the Mathematicks, and in other places abroad, the French, Italian, and Germane tongues, and after he was King, he travelled under the name of Mr *Gustav…s Adolph. Rex Suecorum Dr. Wats in charact. ad finem 3. part. p. 183.G. A. R. S. being the foure initiall letters of his name, and title.
He was but seventeen years old at his Fathers death, being left not onelyonly a young King, but also in a young kingdome; for his title to the Crown of Sweden was but five years old, to wit since the beginning of his Fathers reigne. All his bordering Princes (on the North nothing but the North bounded on him) were his enemies; the Duke-Emperour of Muscovy on the East, the King of Denmark on the West, and of Poland on the South: The former two laid claim to parcels, the latter, to all his kingdome. Yet was he too great for them in his minority, both defending his own, and gaining on them. Wo be to the kingdome whose King is a child, yet blessed is that kingdome whose King, though a child in age, is a man in worth.
These his first actions had much of glory, and yet somewhat of possibility and credit in them. But Chronicle and belief must strain hard to make his Germane Conquest probable with posterity; coming in with eleven thousand men, having no certain confederates, but some of his alliance, whom the Emperour had outed of all their estates: And yet in two years and foure moneths he left the Emperour in as bad a case almost, as he found those Princes in.
Gods Providence herein is chiefly to be admired, who to open him a free entrance into Germany, diverted the Imperiall and Spanish forces into Italy, there to scramble against the French for the Dukedome of Mantua. For heaven onelyonly knows how much Protestant flesh the Imperialists had devoured, if that bone had not stuck in their teeth.
If we look on second causes, we may ascribe his victories to this Kings piety, wisedome, valour, and other virtues. His piety to God was exemplary, being more addicted to prayer then to fight, as if he would rather conquer Heaven then Earth. He was himself exceeding temperate, save onelyonly too much given to anger, but afterwards he would correct himself, and be cholerick with his choler, shewing himself a man in the one, and a Saint in the other.
He was a strict observer of Martiall discipline, the life of Warre, without which an Army is but a crowd (not to say herd) of people. He would march all day in complete armour, which was by custome no more burthen to him then his armes, and to carry his helmet, no more trouble then his head; whilest his example made the same easie to all his souldiers. He was a strict punisher of misdemeanours and wanton intemperance in his camp: And yet let me relate this story from one present therein.
When first he entred Germany, he perceived how that many women followed his souldiers, some being their wives, and some wanting nothing to make them so but marriage, yet most passing for their landresses, though commonly defiling more then they wash. The King coming to a great river, after his men and the wagons were passed over, caused the bridge to be broken down, hoping so to be rid of these feminine impediments; but they one a sudden lift up a panick schrick which pierced the skies, and the souldiers hearts on the other side of the river, who instantly vowed not to stirre a foot farther, except with baggage, and that the women might be fetch'd over, which was done accordingly. For the King finding this ill humour so generally dispers'd in his men, that it was dangerous to purge it all at once, smiled out his anger for the present, and permitted what he could not amend: yet this abuse was afterwards reformed by degrees.
He was very mercifull to any that would submit. And as the iron gate miraculously opened to S. Peter of its own accord, so his mercy wrought miracles, making many city-gates open to him of themselves, before he ever knock'd at them to demand entrance, the inhabitants desiring to shroud themselves under his protection. Yea he was mercifull to those places which he took by assault, ever detesting the bloudinesse of Tilly at Magdenburg, under the ashes whereof he buried his honour, coming valiant thither, and departing cruell thence. In such cases he was mercifull to women (not like those Generalls who know the differences of Sex in their lust, but not in their anger) yea the very Jesuites themselves tasted of his courtesie, though merrily he laid to their charge, that they would neither Preach faith to, nor keep faith with others.
He had the true art (almost lost) of Encamping, where he would lie in his Trenches in despight of all enemies, keeping the clock of his own time, and would fight for no mans pleasure but his own. No seeming flight or disorder of his enemies should cousen him into a battel, nor their daring bravado's anger him into it, nor any violence force him to fight, till he thought fitting himself, counting it good manners in Warre to take all, but give no advantages.
It was said of his Armies, that they used to rise when the swallows went to bed, when winter began, his forces most consisting of Northern Nations, and a Swede fights best when he can see his own breath. He alwayes kept a long vacation in the dog-dayes, being onelyonly a saver in the summer, and a gainer all the yeare besides. His best harvest was in the snow; and his souldiers had most life in the dead of winter.
He made but a short cut in taking of cities, many of whose fortifications were a wonder to behold; but what were they then to assault and conquer? at scaling of walls he was excellent for contriving, as his souldiers in executing: it seeming a wonder that their bodies should be made of aire, so light to climbe, whose armes were of iron, so heavy to strike. Such cities as would not presently open unto him, he shut them up, and having businesse of more importance then to imprison himself about one strength, he would consigne the besieging thereof to some other Captain. And indeed he wanted not his Joabs, who when they had reduced cities to terms of yielding knew (with as much wisdome as loyalty) to entitle their David to the whole honour of the action.
He was highly beloved of his souldiers, of whose deserts he kept a faithfull Chronicle in his heart, and advanced them accordingly. All valiant men were Swedes to him; and he differenced men in his esteem by their merits not their countrey.
To come to his death, wherein his reputation suffers in the judgements of some, for too much hazarding of his own person in the battel. But surely some conceived necessity thereof urged him thereunto. For this his third grand set battel in Germany, was the third and last asking of his banes to the Imperiall Crown; and had they not been forbidden by his death, his marriage in all probability had instantly followed. Besides, *Duke of Rohan, in his complete Captain cap. 22.Never Prince hath founded great Empire, but by making warre in person, nor hath lost any, but when he made warre by his lieutenants: which made this King the more adventurous.
His death is still left in uncertainty, whether the valour of open enemies, or treachery of false friends caused it. His side won the day, and yet lost the sunne that made it; and as one saith,
Upon this place the great Gustavus dy'd,
Whilest victory lay bleeding by his side.
Thus the readiest way to lose a jewell is to overprise it: for indeed many men so doted on this worthy Prince, and his victories (without any default of his, who gave God the glory) that his death in some sort seemed necessary to vindicate Gods honour, who usually maketh that prop of flesh to break whereon men lay too great weight of their expectation.
After his death, how did men struggle to keep him alive in their reports? partly out of good will, which made them kindle new hopes of his life at every spark of probability, partly out of infidelity that his death could be true. First they thought so valiant a Prince could not live on earth; and when they saw his life, then they thought so valiant a Prince could never die, but that his death was rather a concealment for a time, dayly expecting when the politickly dead should have a Resurrection in some noble exploit.
I find a most *Dr. Hakewill in his Apologie for divine Providence, lib. 4. cap. 11. p. 546.learned pen applying these Latine verses to this noble Prince, and it is honour enough for us to translate them:
In Templo plus quam Sacerdos.
In Republica plus quam Rex.
In sententia dicenda plus quam Senator.
In Iudicio plus quam Iurisconsultus.
In Exercitu plus quam Imperator.
In Acie plus quam Miles.
In adversis perferendis injuriisque condonandis plus quam vir.
In publica libertate tuenda plus quam Civis.
In Amicitia colenda plus quam Amicus.
In convictu plus quam familiaris.
In venatione ferisque domandis plus quam Leo.
In tota reliqua vita plus quam Philosophus.
More then a Priest he in the Church might passe.
More then a Prince in Commonwealth he was.
More then a Counseller in points of State.
More then a Lawyer matters to debate.
More then a Generall to command outright.
More then a Souldier to perform a fight.
More then a man to bear affliction strong.
More then a man good to forgive a wrong.
More then a Patriot countrey to defend.
True friendship to maintain, more then a Friend.
More then familiar sweetly to converse.
And though in sports more then a Lion fierce,
To hunt and kill the game; yet he exprest
More then Philosopher in all the rest.
The Jesuites made him to be the *Descript. Bell. Suecici, per Aut. Anony. mum, pag. 186.Antichrist, and allowed him three years and an half of reigne and conquest: But had he lived that full term out, the true Antichrist might have heard further from him, and Romes Tragedy might have had an end, whose fift and last Act is still behind. Yet one *Silvester Petra Sancta in his book against Du Moulin.Jesuite, more ingenuous then the rest, gives him this testimony, that, save the badnesse of his cause and religion, he had nothing defective in him which belonged to an excellent King, and a good Captain.
Thus let this our poore description of this King serve like a flat grave-stone or plain pavement for the present; till the richer pen of some Grotius or Heinsius shall provide to erect some statelyer Monument unto his Memory.