to that purpose, yet he did not hasten them, knowing that while he kept the main army at bay about Nuremberg, they would, without opposition, reduce those several countries they were acting in to his power.  This occasioned his lying longer in the camp at Nuremberg than he would have done, and this occasioned his giving the Imperialists so many alarms by his strong parties of horse, of which he was well provided, that they might not be able to make any considerable detachments for the relief of their friends.  And here he showed his mastership in the war, for by this means his conquests went on as effectually as if he had been abroad himself.

In the meantime it was not to be expected two such armies should lie long so near without some action.  The Imperial army, being masters of the field, laid the country for twenty miles round Nuremberg in a manner desolate.  What the inhabitants could carry away had been before secured in such strong towns as had garrisons to protect them, and what was left the hungry Crabats devoured or set on fire; but sometimes they were met with by our men, who often paid them home for it.  There had passed several small rencounters between our parties and theirs; and as it falls out in such cases, sometimes one side, sometimes the other, got the better.  But I have observed there never was any party sent out by the king’s special appointment but always came home with victory.

The first considerable attempt, as I remember, was made on a convoy of ammunition.  The party sent out was commanded by a Saxon colonel, and consisted of 1000 horse and 500 dragoons, who burnt above 600 waggons loaded with ammunition and stores for the army, besides taking about 2000 muskets, which they brought back to the army.

The latter end of July the king received advice that the Imperialists had formed a magazine for provision at a town called Freynstat, twenty miles from Nuremberg.  Hither all the booty and contributions raised in the Upper Palatinate, and parts adjacent, was brought and laid up as in a place of security, a garrison of 600 men being placed to defend it; and when a quantity of provisions was got together, convoys were appointed to fetch it off.

The king was resolved, if possible, to take or destroy this magazine; and sending for Colonel Dubalt, a Swede, and a man of extraordinary conduct, he tells him his design, and withal that he must be the man to put it in execution, and ordered him to take what forces he thought convenient.  The colonel, who knew the town very well, and the country about it, told his Majesty he would attempt it with all his heart; but he was afraid ’twould require some foot to make the attack.  “But we can’t stay for that,” says the king; “you must then take some dragoons with you;” and immediately the king called for me.  I was just coming up the stairs as the king’s page was come out to inquire for me, so I went immediately in to the king.  “Here is a piece of hot work for you,” says the king, “Dubalt will tell it you; go together and contrive it.”