MANSFELD, Ernest de, the illegitimate son of Peter Ernest by a lady of Malines, was educated at Brussels, in the principles of the Roman Catholic religion, by his godfather Ernest archduke of Austria. He was employed in the service of the king of Spain in the Low Countries, and in that of the emperor in Hungary, together with his brother Charles, count of Mansfeld. He was legitimated on account of his bravery by the emperor Rodolphus II.; but his father's posts and possessions in the Spanish Netherlands having been refused him, contrary to promises which he had received, he, in 1610, joined the party of the Protestant princes. Being now become one of the most dangerous enemies of the house of Austria, who called him the Attila of Christianity, he set himself, in 1618, at the head of the rebels in Bohemia, and got possession of Pilsen in 1619. Though his troops were defeated in several battles, he was able to penetrate into the palatinate. He there took several places, ravaged Alsace, made himself master of Haguenau, and defeated the Bavarians. At length he was totally defeated by Walstein, at the battle of Dassou, which happened in the month of April 1626. He gave over his remaining troops to the duke of Weimar, and intended to pass into the Venetian states; but fell sick in a village between Zaro and Spalatro, and there expired, A. D. 1626, aged 46. The procurator Nani thus describes him: "He was bold, intrepid in danger, and the most skillful negotiator of the age in which he lived. He possessed a natural eloquence, and well knew how to insinuate himself into the hearts of those whom he wished to gain. He was greedy of others' wealth, and prodigal of his own.—He was full of vast projects and great hopes, and yet possessed neither lands nor money at his death." He did not wish to die in his bed; but dressed himself in his finest robes, put on his sword, sat up, leaning upon two domestics, and in this position, highly becoming a warrior, breathed his last. But of all the
actions of this great captain and singular man, the following is without doubt the most extraordinary: Having got the most certain information that Cazel, in whom of all his officers he placed the greatest confidence, had communicated his plans to the Austrian chief, he showed neither passion nor resentment at his treachery, but gave him 300 rix-dollars, and sent him to Count Buquoy, with a letter expressed in these words: "Cazel being attached to you and not to me, I send him to you, that you may have the benefit of his services." The opinions of men were divided about this action, and it was as much censured as applauded. Be this as it may, Ernest is deservedly esteemed one of the greatest generals of his age. There never was a leader more patient, more indefatigable, more inured to toil and hardship, to watchings, to colds and to hunger. He raised armies, and ravaged the enemy's territories with an incredible celerity. The Hollanders said of him, that he was bonus in auxilio, carus in pretio; that is, that he rendered great services to those who employed him, but that he made them pay well for it.