CHAPTER IV.

MANSFELD AND CHRISTIAN IN NORTH GERMANY.

SECTION I.--_Mansfeld's March into the Netherlands (July-November 1622)._

1622 Tilly proceeds to reduce the fortified places in the Lower Palatinate 60

1623 The Electorate transferred from Frederick to Maximilian Feb. 13 61

1622 Change of feeling in North Germany 61

Aug. Mansfeld and Christian establish themselves in Lorraine, and then try to cut their way through the Spanish Netherlands to join the Duke 63

Aug. 28. Battle of Fleurus. Christian loses his arm 63

Nov. Mansfeld establishes himself in East Friesland 64

SECTION II.--_Christian of Brunswick in Lower Saxony (November 1622-August 1623)._

1622 The Lower Saxon Circle urged by Tilly to join him against Mansfeld, and by Christian of Brunswick to join him against Tilly 64

1623 Warlike preparations of the Circle 65 Feb.

Aug. 6. Christian expelled from the Circle, and defeated by Tilly at Stadtlohn 66

SECTION III.--_Danger of the Lower Saxon Circle (August-December 1623)._

1623 The North German Protestant Bishoprics in danger 66

Aug. Alarm in the Lower Saxon Circle 68

Dec. But nothing is done, and its troops are disbanded 68

SECTION IV.--_England and France (October 1623-August 1624)._

Oct. Foreign Powers ready to interfere 69

Return of the Prince of Wales from Madrid 70

1624 Divergence between the English House of Commons Feb.-May and James I. upon the mode of recovering the Palatinate 70

Position of the Huguenots in France 72

SECTION V.--_Rise of Richelieu (August 1624-September 1625)._

Aug. Lewis XIII. makes Richelieu his chief minister. He is divided between a desire to combat Spain and a desire to reduce the Huguenots to submission 72

Richelieu's position less strong than it afterwards became. He has to make great allowances for the King's humour 74

Dec. French attack upon the Spanish garrisons in the Valtelline 75

1625 Failure of Mansfeld's expedition intended by James Jan.-June to recover the Palatinate 76

Jan. Richelieu's plans for engaging more deeply in the war frustrated by the rising of the Huguenots of Rochelle 77

Sept. The Huguenot fleet is defeated, but Rochelle holds out 77