[1631] When the bishoprics, abbeys, and other ecclesiastical properties had been returned to the Catholics, the clergy began to quarrel among themselves. Although the Catholics had not yet achieved a full victory, and the Protestants were not wholly defeated, they nevertheless began to quarrel, even those [whose lands] were never at issue. At this time, the king [of Sweden] was already in Pomerania, which he had brought into his power, and the Imperialists were being crushed and thrown back. And because the Imperialists behaved so badly, robbing and plundering everything, and the Swede was a little less demanding, he made a good name for himself and was liked better than the emperor was.
As the emperor was so demanding in point of religion, many, who had formerly been on his side, went over to the Swede and supported him. The Imperialists, however, attacked several cities and took them, thinking the better to keep the Swede from setting foot in them. One of them was the powerful, famous, and strong city of Magdeburg. The emperor had it besieged, taken, ruined, and wiped out. Within a few hours it was laid in ashes, and many thousands of persons died of fire and sword.
General Tilly thought to have made a great name for himself from this victory, but it was his greatest misfortune, for afterward he had little luck and quickly went to his ruin. The Swede defeated him near Donauwörth, and he, Tilly, was killed by a shot (3). [ . . . ]
The Storming of Castle Albeck (1635)
It was a good fortress, the garrison of which consisted of a number of soldiers and their captain. They allowed everyone into the castle, so that the poor country folk would not be killed. The Imperial troops, however, quickly invested and blockaded the castle, so that no one else could either come out or go in.
The enemy dug out the wells, so that inside they had no more water. Indeed, the poor farmers in the castle had very little, no bread, flour, salt, or fat. The soldiers also had little, though they would have shared with the others, if they could have done so. [ . . . ]
And so, things moved toward a battle. Everyone had brought in their cattle and horses, and although in the beginning there were very many animals, later they had very few. This could have been tolerated, if they had had water. Water was so scarce, that they drank the water in which tripes had been washed, also the water used for cleaning, and almost everyone drank his own or his children's urine and thought it good enough. They were only beaten in the end because their thirst grew so great, for of hunger they no longer took any notice, even though they had only horseflesh to eat.
As misery spread in the castle, growing ever worse, the farmers began to look for a remedy, and they came out of the castle in order to take refuge in the city of Ulm, if they could.
(3) Refers to the Battle of Rain in 1632 and Count Tilly's death on April 30, 1532 – trans.
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