side the King of France being drawne into Italie by the Marquis of Leganes his proceedings and Piccolomini into Germanie by Baniers The greatest matter the French attempted was after they had raced the Fort of Rhuminghem and in vaine assaulted Bovignes to seeke to passe the river Don Andrea set forward with three hundred Musquettiers to view them The Enemy endeavoured to cut him off The skirmish began very hot growing on by degrees the Marquis was enforced to engage his whole body They fought Pike to Pike and Sword to Sword with so much valour that the enemy lost a thousand men the Spaniard lost two hundred and fiftie men counting the kill'd wounded and prisoners The Marquis of Fuentes obtained the renowne of a brave Commander having with two Terciâ—es onely opposed the French Army and hindered their great designes and also of a valiant souldier having with his owne hand taken prisoners wounded and slaine many of th' enemies What the Prince of Orange did this yeare I will speake in few words and all at once for it was almost nothing if it be not thought much to have diverted and kept idle so many forces of his Majesties and to observe their movings Hee desired to take the passe of Gaunt but the Count of Fera his vigilancie did frustrate his intentions Hee fortified himselfe about the Philippines and besieged Gelders The Cardinall Jufante who drew neare with the Army caused him to retire in the night not without confussion and losse of men He faced Rhinebergh and sought to lie before Hurst but because Van Namen was beaten back when he went to set his men a shore and Count Fontana happened to be thereabouts with the Kings Army and the Cardinall Infante drawing apace that way he resolved to give over the enterprise These were the Hollanders I know not whether I should say motions or desires when the King of France pricked them forward to undertake some notable enterprise I cannot enter into these mens policy it may be beyond mine understanding or it may erre Composers of a fable movers of engines spectators of a tragedie the end whereof if it be dolefull may be the beginning of theirs If he overcomes who was their Lord they will be as they were if he that is their companion they make themselves as they desire He that hath not thought it a shame to forsake them in time of peace to settle his Crowne upon his head will not be scrupulous being a conquerour to subject them to enlarge it To say that these two soveraignes powers are counterpoised that they waste and not end that they will both lose and neither overcome that being afflicted and wearie they will be brought to a good peace in which looking narrowly to their owne reputation the good of their confederates will be well provided for would be a good thought if the supposition were not incertaine and the consequence false if War were alwaies ended with peace not sometimes with conquest if armes were laid downe and Warres maintained with the same passions if experience had not shewen the contrary and reason demonstrated it Rage and hatred being ceased or abated the scene is altered before the eyes of the principall parties Being at peace with his enemy he considereth his companion who hath incited him to Warre helped that he might be consumed hindered that he might not overcome false lying and deceitfull and seemeth the more to have bin an enemy because he should have bin a friend and was not The turmoile by reason of which the heat of emulation could not be avoided Or the hope of great conquests The former being now quenched and the latter lost are now examined and proves a vexation And being boren withall whilst the Warre lasted is now revenged when peace is concluded the desire whereof comes not without hatred of that which caused the other He that layeth downe armes and hath gotten nothing thinketh he hath consumed his money and men in the service of his confederates and comming to make peace seeketh to repaire his losse with their dammage counterpoising it with the profit which he pretends he hath received The cause which bindeth two enemies to come to agreement who have bin so obstinate in Warre and growen old in emulation is alwayes so powerfull that it suffers them not againe to renew such an appearance more like then convenience to not give an example to posterity and especially when at other times it hath bin given and hath done hurt Either they must accommodate themselves to others wills or War with their owne powers But if through the victories of either of the two Monarchies dangers hang over their heads by peace they receive dammage by Warre profit why doe they not before this ease or that begin stay the wheele of fortune and accommodate themselves with their Lord who to overcome his competitor with a glorious victory or bind him to an honourable peace would peradventure yield to that which at any other time he would deny Who is a better neighbour he that is a borderer upon them with all his power or he that doth it but with a small part He whom they have known to governe in time of peace without tyrannizing in time of trouble fight without subjecting them in time of truce helpe by inviting them Or he who in time of peace was alwayes an enemy in Warres sometimes hath comforted sometimes forsaken them and at no time ever sufficiently assisted them looking upon nothing but his owne proper interest and conveniency that never joines with them but when it doth them hurt Surely I write as I conceive it to be I have no recourse to Metaphysicks nor use any art but thinke to write the truth plainly and sincerely and either love deceives me or hatred blinds them Under Salsas Spinola found greater resistance in the enemy then many imagined and in our men lesse constancie The country people began to retire home to avoid the falling waters and the unwholesomnesse of the aire whereunto adding the necessary retreat of many sick and wounded men the dearth of fodder and the doubtfull provision of food the Army was so decreased that he was forced to represent unto his Majestie the danger of forsaking the siege or the necessitie of being relieved with Souldiers munition labourers and provision The letters were read in the Tunta of State and War and newes being brought that the Duke of Maccheda and Don Charles d' Suarra were arrived in Catalonia with the other Fleet the landing of those forces was thought the onely remedy for to gaine Salsas Nor could the promise which was made of it to the Venetians be any obstacle seeing the Turke was not knowne to stirre any way And when a man 's owne house is on fire a wise man will not carry his water to quench anothers The Venetians would not blame it the world would find no fault with it and his owne subjects would commend it To this consultation the King
Prince with the Marquis his advice resolved to attempt it Which he did and advancing forward one night with two thousand horse and a thousand foote he hung a pettarre upon the gate set scaling ladders to the walls and though with resistance and bloud he wonne the Citie where a thing which seldome commeth to passe the prisoners were more in number then they who tooke them The dutchesse recovered the Cittadell but so closely pursued that for want of time she was forced to leave even her very jewells behind her In this action were most taken notice of the Marquis of Carcena Don Martino of Mexica and D. Francisco Tuttavilla who bravely relieving one another revived the almost extinguished hopes and perfected the designe which was almost desperate And this is the effect which the Cardinall of Savoy his phantasticallnesse brought forth who bringing his brother and his friend into a streight occasioned the taking of Turin As births come not forth of a woman with child without great paine so the understanding cannot bring forth without great labour The expulsive vertue worketh not unlesse it be provoked and best when most valour increaseth and falls according to wrath and interest and the understanding through affliction There is none naturally carefull or valiant man but may be carelesse and fearfull in respect of him who is made carefull by danger and valorous through dispaire The King of France his Fleet rather patched up then repaired covering its nakednesse with the spoiles of English German and Holland ships which lay in the harbours of Brittanie set saile againe and comming in sight of the Province of foure Cities after some tacking about came into Laredo an open place without any forts to relieve it or souldiers to defend it he tooke the towne sacked it wasted the country about and robbing ruining and burning went abord againe With the news of Laredo there arrived into France the the newes of the surprise of Turin by Prince Thomas Paris and the whole Kingdome murmured that so many millions should be laid out upon such a powerfull Fleet to no other end or profit but to sack a poore place which had been a small matter for a poore sea rover to have done Upon a mighty Army to take a Castle which brought more losse then gaine with it causing a great Army to be kept there wasting many men and much money That with these costly vanities the interest of Italie was abandoned friends and the Royall bloud exposed to dangers fraudes accidents and fortune They accused the Officers of vanitie that they made difficult the surest enterprises where something might be gotten wasting time and the bloud and substance of subjects in those things which made but a faire shew and a great deale of noise Perswaded sometimes by passion sometimes by emulation rather to kindle coales then conquer states To those who defended them by saying that the powerfullest way to destroy the Monarchie was to set upon it in Spaine for keeping the Warre there and diverting it from other places the rest of the dominions were cut off from reliefe where there was continuall need of men and money They answered that to defend Italie by invading Spaine Flanders and Burgundie was to make one plant grow by sowing of another that it was wasting of Gold in Alchimie and like thinking to make Gold of Mercurie and brasse and give over digging it out of the mines That it was not to be thought a small matter to divert the Marquis of Leganes fortune in its fierce beginning and that it was impossible to doe it with a Fleet in the Ocean that fired three or foure straw ricks or with a powerfull Armies taking a small Castle in the County of Rouciglione and that they could much lesse make Piemont secure with onely diverting the enemies forces and not defending it That diversion required an opportune time great forces and prosperous fortune That the Romans did not make use of it with Aniball in the torrent of his victories but after his first violence was past and when though his course were not staid his fury was asswaged That they opposed him strongly in one place to call him to another that they forsooke not the defence of Italie when they invaded Africk and did not only divert him with Armies but tyed him to it with victories But whosoever shall at this time attentively consider the state of France the houses full of bloud the neighbouring Islands full of exiled men the Kingdome of tributes the publick priviledges cancelled private mens goods taken away Subjects discontented Hereticks multiplyed under the name of overcome the Province destroyed under pretence of reforming every thing by nature turned upside downe and by violence kept quiet may know that the endeavours which are used to maintaine the Swede in Germanie with store of money to assault Spaine Flanders and Germanie with powerfull Armies are prudent and necessarie that the evill may not penetrate into the inward parts of a body full of very evill humours And that the glory of being an invader losses dissembled conquests multiplied and increased may so fill the ears of the Parents that they may not heare the grievous groanes of their sacrificed children resounding in their aire Order was given the Count of Santa Columba that he should not undertake any new enterprise before th' arrivall of the Marquesse of Balbases who stayed so long that before him came the Marquesse of Torracusa the rest of the Count Dukes Regiment the old tertiaes of Cantabria the horse and foot disembarqued out of the Neapolitan and Sicilian Gallies so that at his comming he found the Army numerous and valiant desirous of enterprises and able to performe great ones But because the enemy prevailed in number of Cavalrie and many recruits were by him daily expected it was considered of in the Junta of State and warre whether it were good to goe find him out and fight with him And there was but one who was of opinion that we should not give battell That we ought not to fight with the enemy when we were too weake and that if we were too strong we could not Hee would retreat into France where the pursuit of him would bee impossible through want of victuals fotherage and traine of Artillery And that we were then to fight with them in their owne Country where their reare was secured their provisions certaine and their Cavalrie advantagious When the enemy is not afraid if it be a shame to feare yet it is wisedome to doubt and this Monarchie ought not to be exposed to a doubtfull fortune which adverse may make us unhappy and prosperous can adde no felicity to us Princes take Citizen-like advise when they adventure their estates upon a point of reputation which consists not in the losse of a Castle in the mid'st of warres but in the ending of them with great Conquests or an honourable Peace Finally it would doe small good to overthrow the French Army in
foresees the want is nature that provides for it Where courage is wanting it is good to take away the understanding and where one cannot incourage to deceive It is needlesse to shew a valiant man to have him fight the securenesse of the businesse if he but knowes what he should doe He takes his vertue from him that conceales the danger to him He deserves the name of valiant who knowing the danger by discourse meets it with reason The French manner produceth this effect that he being deceived sets fiercely upon his enemy thinking he will runne away But if he finds him stiffe he oftentimes loses his courage and recovers his brain and whereas his first motion was of an inconsiderate violence his last comes to be an abject mind The Spaniards valiant in their onset pursue their enemies rashly for having imagined a resistance overcomming it they think to find none greater Therefore the French scarce being set upon fled and the Spaniards being Conquerours runne against the Wall thinking the very stones would yeeld to that steele which trenches and men had yeilded to Amidst these prosperous pleasing and happy successes the Army put to flight the Fortifications wonne and the enemy retired into the Hold dejected the difficulties of the siege seemed to the Marquesse to be increased by the death of so many valiant Commanders and Souldiers rather then decreased yet hee resolved to besiege it Whether it was because the victory did likewise enflame him which suffered him not to consider of every thing or whether fortune called him which must many times be followed blindfold or whether the Armies valour perswaded him to it or whether most of all likelihood bound him thereto not knowing how to justifie himselfe if hee did not besiege it to avoid the blame of great and small ignorant and wise when every Commander and Souldier gave it up for taken Counsell is hard against likelihood It requires a great understanding penetrating into the truth a strong resolution against murmuring a heart not void of interest and not caring for his owne credit things rare and necessary in a subject and either are not to be found or are not available Likelihood doth almost alwayes deceive whether it be a punishment for Princes against flattery or the reward of wise men for the welfare of liberty If their advices were believed it would prevent the seeing of effects the onely way to undeceive a man So happy and prosperous a beginning encouraged and perswaded the Officers and Souldiers it is halfe the worke if we believe wise men the whole if Astrologicall foolishnesse which judging the event by the constellation in which the action began will believe this to bee favourable and him happy if it began well Weymar was still in Burgundie who besides being a great Souldiour was also a great Politician I cannot affirme whether his great understanding made him such or whether rime occasion and fortune made him onely seeme so He began at first to assist the French he knew hee could not grow great that way then he caused the French to assist him and this hee knew could not last if hee got for himselfe hee should want helpe if for others hopes He thought to make use of the most Christian Kings forces to begin great enterprises and by beginning them grow full of reputation with reputation to gaine forces of his owne and with them and that to accomplish his intents He saw the King of France desirous to gaine Burgundie and that he knew not how to obtaine it or being diverted could not He endeavoured to take part of it himselfe thinking to exchange it for Colmar Leistar and Benfelt With which he designed to overthrow Strasburg and so maintaine himselfe with his owne forces to alter the Scene and personate another man set up a party of himselfe and gaine reputation by Warre or to conclude peaces with advantage These thoughts seeme great and are so Yet they were no way disproportionable with the fortune and valour of that renouned Commander The King of France who favoureth no man so farre as to assist him but onely to be assisted On the one side fearing the Switzers anger threatned by the injuries received from Weymar in Veiglia a Country usurped from the Canton of Berna On the other side growen jealous of his conquests in Burgundie urged by the Swedes earnestnesse and called upon by the Marquis of Leganes victories would have had Weymar give over troubling of Veiglia agree with the Switzers entruâ—t him with the conquests in Burgundie and divert the Austrians in Germanie All these things were instantly moved to him by the French Ambassadour resident in Switzerland who met with him The discourses were long Hee promised to give the Switzers satisfaction and fit himselfe to the times for the tolls of the Rhine For that which he had conquered in Burgundie and for greater conquests which he promised to atchieve he desired supply of men and money And because the Ambassadour perswaded him to goe and assist the Swede in Germanie and did peradventure encroach upon him more then Weymars spirit would beare though tractable yet sterne they say being moved he answered That the King of France did alwaies request of him sometimes Sieges sometimes diversions but he never sent him neither men nor mony That hee had many Holds to defend That hee was threatned by the Duke of Bavaria his Army affrighted by the King of Spaine and th'Archdutchesse Claudias forces which were to joyne with him if the Swede should be overcome by the Austrians all Germanie would fall upon him round begirt with enemies having no confederate Prince neere him onely France which was farre off and did not assist him That he wanted men his being almost all dead by war and diseases That the Country was able to maintaine him no longer and his mony was spent in providing for Nova-Villa Brisack Friburg Than Rinfelt Launfenburg and other places upon the Rhine That hee should fall into the hands of the first that came against him and in a day lose what he had gotten in so long time and with so much labour That hee had no hope left but in his Sword and the valour of those Officers who followed him That he knew his fortune was no better then other Princes who had assisted the French hee was to be thankfull to her because she had remained longest with him he being the last to fall The Ambassadour sought to quiet him He promised him money and did indeed share some amongst the Souldiers and whilest they were negociating the taking of Salins thereby to gaine the good will of the Switzers or that of Dala or Besancon to goe forward in their proceeddings there came news of the overthrow of Teonville and the conquests of the Spanish forces which daily increased in Italy whereupon laying aside or deferring these hopes that meeting was ended In the meane time the Switzers were met at Baden The late Conquest of Brisacke whereby the Navigation
occasion serves and never before Monarchie and Aristocracie often lose themselves by seeking to get what is â—nothers and Democracie sometiâ—â—â— by suffering it to be taken away The Switzers to the perswasions of neutrality had added a protestation That if the most Christian King followed the warres in Burgundie they should be driven to recall their forces which served him And because they were but small of no profit and great charge to the King of France it was a threatning hurtfull to them onely that made it which cansed every one to judge it vaine and of no moment Yet I will adventure to say that the hurtfuller the Protestation was to the Switzers the more it was to be feared by the French King Hee that doth hurt in shewing himselfe to be distasted seemes to be by that already satisfied Hee that receives hurt shewes a token that he will have satisfaction I cannot believe that so warlike and honourable a Nation will so shamefully forsake the Burgundians in such an urgent case without any occasion or infamously by taking a reward to doe it Weymar left Pontaglier and Joux contrary to his conveniencie it being a most important passe And burned them contrary to his promise for which hee had received money sufficient Hee went to wards Alsatia and without attempting any great matter either there or in Burgundie he died This Nobleman was a man of his own interest He was no friend to the King of France whom he being a German abhorred as a stranger Hee was an enemy to the house of Austria which hee descending from Duke Maurice of Saxonie hated he was of a turbulent minde various in fortune he lost oftner then he got yet got more then he had lost His spirits were generous his bloud royall expert and very valiant in warres better known through our mens defaults then his owne victories Seeing the greatest that he obtained were the overthrowing of John Vert when he was carelesse and the taking of Brisack when it was unprovided The hopes which through his reputation he had framed for the raising of his Famiâ—ie ended with his life There happened this yeare no losse of any value in Burgundâ—e The faithfulnesse prudence trust attention and vigilancie of Don Antonio Sarmiento who by the Kings command was there Marquis de Leganes his victories which drew from thence the Duke of Longueville his forces The battell Piccolomini wonne which broke Weymars designes and his death which gave no time for the reundertaking of them defended it The Kings Fleets which were in the Harbour of Cadiz set saile one very powerfull towards Italy commanded by the Duke of Naccara and Maccheda to be employed for the Common-weaâ—th of Venice if need required the other commanded by Don Antonio di Oâ—hendo directed its course towards the Ocean to fight with the French shipps and having spent much time in putting out into the Maine to come up with a scarce wind to the Capes St. Vincent and Finisterre fell just upon the Groine It came not into the Harbour but stayd onely till the shipps under the command of Don Lope de Ozes came out of it which though hee performed with all possible celeritie yet they could not come so soone but that the French ships were retired into their own harbours Almost at the same time came his Majesties Army out of Perpignane and the Fleet from the Groine the rumour of the one made the Duke of Luin returne into France and the report of the other caused the Archbishop of Burdeaux to forsake his place The coast of Spaine being freed from the enemie they undertooke their voyage to carry the reliefe into Flanders Being come into the Chanel they discovered seventeen Holland shipps Don Antonio appointed his to goe on and hee followed with the Admirall but they staying and he thrusting forwards found himselfe alone in the front of the enemies who had placed themselves in form of a halfe moone for to deceive them Hee desired to board their Admirall which to attaine unto he was for almost an houre forced to be the aime of all their shot without answering with his intending to make use of it at the boarding So soone as he came neere hee began to shoot and when he thought to board the enemy hoysed up his Sailes and went further off The next day being made stronger by sixteen ships he shewed himselfe againe There began the horriblest fight that ever was seene at Sea The noise of so many pieces of Ordnance hindered their hearing and the smoake their sight that little as could be seen or heard was the battering of ships tearing of sailes shivering of masts the voyces of Commanders and the groanes of dying men One of the Kings Ships and a Hulke inconsideratly or ignorantly straying from the rest fell into the hands of the Hollanders reare-ward Don Antonio went to rescue them he rescued the ship but not the Hulke finding it already taken by the enemie The time being farre spent the Fleets tacked about to get the wind and were parted that of Generall Ochendo having sailed within sight of the coast of France found it selfe neere the English shore where the securenesse of the Habours the friendship and peace between the two Kings and finding his Admirals ship evill intreated having alone fought with sixteene ships of the enemies made him resolve to Anchor at the Downes from whence hee sent over almost all the reliefe to Mardick in small vessells though the Hollander were in the same Harbour increased in shipping to the number of one hundred and fourteen The Spanish Fleet seemed to lie there secure and was to be so by the capitulation between the King of England and the Catholick King But the Hollander was not long before he undeceived the world if there were any one in it so simple as to be deceived by setting upon his Majesties Fleet though the two Generalls of Spaine and Holland had both passed their words to the Vice-Admirall of the King of England that they would not offend one another the Vice-Admirall being there and threatning to fall upon them who should break their Covenants A great boldnesse and presumption in those Ports and harbours which are their Asylums and places of refuge and a dishonour done by them to that King whose Ancestors first set up their reputation But what dare not those people doe They are pernicious to all men and lesse to those to whom they most seeme to bee so more powerfull in stratagems then valorous in strength without God without Law without Faith friends or enemies they measure all in one manner They hate all that is not common-wealth and lay snares for any thing that is a Principalitie In one part they fight against a Monarch and in another against Monarchie They seeke to augment the one and diminish the other In some places they assault states in some the formes of them And having bin assisted while they were rebells they likewise assist rebellion They are every where
Treaties of peace A truce would appease and coole mens hearts and being so calmed many times such things were concluded as they would not so much as heare spoken of when they were heated That we might when the Truce was ended if the Treaties proved vaine and we found it not good to confirme it againe begin warre with more advantage Some who held the contrary said that all the reasons the Spaniards urged to make a Truce were grounded onely upon likelihoods and conveniencie But the French proposing it with losse of reputation seemed to yield That their nature was knowne to bee such that they never would desire such ends but when they were so streightened that they could doe no otherwise wherefore they might be thought to doe it through necessitie And therefore there would bee as much inequality in it as there is between conveniencie and necessitie The profit and advantage of the one side in warre was not to bee measured simply in it selfe but with relation to the other side whence groweth the littlenesse or the greatnesse of it A man is victorious that kills his enemy in single duell though he receives many wounds The enemy who proposeth a thing bee it what enemy it will alwayes gives occasion of suspecting it to be evill if hee be a French man it is assuredly so That the reasons alleaged for our side were in the realitie not in the understanding onely so cleere and manifest that either they were false or if true known to the enemy And that those of the contrary part if they might bee known to us were so weake and shallow that they would not counterpoise ours if true And therefore wee must imagine the one to be made greater by a vaine feare and the other strengthened by some secret designe which ought alwaies to be reputed great it being knowne that there is one but not what it is That Princes and Common-wealths may know what is good or evill for them by measuring it with their interests and the states which they possesse A Governour of Milan his interest lieth a great way off from the State and he ought to be governed by that which hee doth not governe To undertake great affaires be it to move discord or warre or to conclude Peace or Truce he ought to have the consent of Spaine And hee that should doe otherwise might bee thought worthy of punishment by reason of the great danger in which he might at any time put the Monarchie by not certifying concerning it That the enemy may plot to assault Burgundie set upon Flanders not be diverted out of Spaine and secure Alsatia Burgundy known to be unprovided Flanders with small power to defend it selfe Spaine with the losse of one place easily rescued Alsatia by the death of Weymar recoverable To make a Truce at this time might be called letting loose the enemy who was called thither and there chained conquered dejected to th' end he may runne where fortune is more favourable to him and the warre easier to encrease his victories If the truce be because we want strength how shall we keepe him back if he be going into Burgundie it will be harder to follow him out of Italie then to conquer him in Piemont The Cittadell of Turin if we should make a truce for seventy dayes could not be besieged till the spring that it was sufficiently beset for what could be done to it for the present and we had time enough to provide against the future If we abounded not in provisions the enemy was likewise very scarce of them if our Army grew weake the French grew to nothing being subject to the same diseases and wanting that patience to endure apter to runne away and having more opportunitie to doe it It is not to be denied but that Truces are good for them who are in possession if they be made for a long time and those who are in possession pretend to keepe that which they have conquered and wanting for that purpose sufficient strength and just titles seeke to have their strength encreased and make their title just by prolonging of time The Marçuis of Leganes not content with the opinions or those Commanders who were present and almost all inclining to a truce did likewise by letters give his Majesties chiefe Counsellors notice of it in whom finding no contradiction he also finding it necessary concluded it for seaventy dayes They framed articles which are inserted at the end of the booke because wee would not interrupt the course of the history and they who signed them on the one part were Prince Thomas and the Marquis of Leganes On the other part the Cardinall of Vulette and the Duke of Longueville in the name of the Dutchesse also promising that within the limited time she should ratifie them The French kept not the truce and the Dutchesse did not accept of it The one because they tooke many places which before they had not and she because she did not ratifie it according to their promise The Marquis of Leganes found himselfe obliged to hinder th' exchange of six hundred souldiers in Casal The Cardinall of Richiliew heard of it and writ him a letter which in few lines with great art contained many but weake reasons He praised the Marquis to gaine his good will Made shew as if he believed not that the exchange was hindered by order from him He vindicated the Dutchesse in that particular of not presently ratifying saying it was sufficient that it was done and that it was no breach of truce being sent so soon as it was certified that it was not receaved Concerning the exchange of the garrisons of Susa and Avigliana he interpreted the articles as though they did not any way hinder it He confirmed his reason by an argument taken a simili from the like case viz. by what was done by the Spaniard in Nizza and confirmed it with another argument taken a majori viz. That the decree made at Turin against the Dutchesse was of a nature quite different making by it one order against the other Finally when he had interlaced the letter with many faire wayes of perswasion at the last he inserted odious wayes of threatnings mitigated with a pleasing kind of insinuating them shewing rather then threatning what dammages might befall them who did not observe the covenants On the other side the Marquis had many reasons to lay down wherfore though he were as courteous in the manner of doing it he could not be so briefe in his expressions He thanked his Eminencie for the commendations he gave him and more for the good opinion he had of his Majesties Officers That if his gentlenesse deceived him in the one in the other he shewed his understanding That he was glad to have to doe with so eminent an Offiter and of so great worth in the discussing of this case who would easily be capable of understanding the truth That the Dutchesse ratification was promised within a limited time
of ammunition and victuall were left behind for a prey It seemes that these new forced and base men are good for nothing but to encrease the number and with the number difficulty to maintaine an army an engagement to fight with shame if they be overcome a hinderance to conquest and confusion in retreating They prevent danger with their flight and never stay for it whereby others are affrighted and follow them or endeavour to stay them and are disordered If they did but stay for th' incounter and a little oppose the enemy they would be good for something And it is hard if the one part be not routed through the others disorder For they will follow them that flye and they that flye being disordered they who follow must needs imitate them so that by the flight of the baser sort one may rout the most valorous and being wearied and disordered slay them But experience having so often shewed the hurt they doe when the businesse hath come to a triall it seemeth strange to me that at the instant when one goeth to fight they will fill up Armies with such kind of folke I know not whether mans vanity ought to be blamed for this error which habituated more in shew then substance and accustomed to gaine thereby cannot though it do him hurt recede from that habitude or ignorance which erring in the manner of framing an argument concludes that cowards mixed amongst valiant men will gaine valour whereas it should rather be inferred that valiant men mixed amongst cowards will lose their valour Peradventure also it is neither vanitie nor ignorance but a secret providence of human nature The great number if they doe not come to triall availeth much and especially to avoid the triall a thing which nature above all things desireth when it makes the least shew of desiring it It loves not to come to triall of the arme and to that end it useth all kind of meanes sometimes multitudes which shall be either fantasticall or fruitlesse Sometimes the quality of their out-sides long haire guilded armes humorous apparell scarfes and feathers Sometimes the noise of horrid outcries threatning death or a deepe silence representing it Sometimes a motion which being violent may make one runne away or forget to offend There came newes into the Leaguer that the enemy had an intent to attempt the relieving of the place by water and by land both at one time and to that end had armed at Leucata certain Brigandines and great store of Boates with men and munition defended by a great Trench guarded with Musquettiers It was judged fitting to fire them The first attempt tooke no effect for it being to bee done by night our men lost their way The second time taking expert Pilots the charge thereof was given to Lieutenant Don Diego Sanchez he to worke more like a souldier then an incendiarie though hee might with ease have fired them would by force bring them away Being come to the place he landed some Musquetiers who holding them in the great Trench in play did so farre divert them that he having seized their Boats embarqued his men and returned victorious to the camp The praise for th' execution of this notable act must be attribured to the Lieutenant the advice to the Count Duke who many times voted in the Iunta that some Boates should be fitted and armed in the poole and though they did it not pretending it to be needlesse or impossible onely because they made it so hee still insisted upon it till at last Don Francesco d'Iuarra comming thither finding the truth of it did put it in execution and after the enemy had beene divers times damnified thereby at last it hindered them from this notable reliefe Onely by overcomming great difficulties are obtained great Conquests Hee whom they are against useth all his endeavours to overcome them he that hath them on his side trusting in them groweth carelesse and whereas hee should oppose his enemies wit with his whole understanding hee opposeth it with rocks woods hills and seas as though mans understanding had not known how to goe over rocks and hills and passe through Seas Hee is deceived that trusts the resistance to a pregnant understanding to any thing but to a more pregnant The Prince of Conde blamed the raine in the last attempt and thinking with valour to relieve the place having rallied his Armie he came again within sight of it and fortified himselfe upon the same hill And having chosen the best spirits amongst his whole body hee sent them downe into the plaine backed by all the Cavallerie with the Duke of Luin to set upon the Fortifications in two places The onset was terrible and dreadfull made by men who were of noble blood undaunted hearts valiant worthy to live for the defence of Religion or die in defending it Five hundred Gentlemen died in the field and most part in the Trenches finding death and buriall in the fame place and leaving their memories written in the bloud of honourable wounds May they rest in peace and let a forraigne Pen applaud them to make their actions live who died gloriously valiant Amongst our men were most noted the two Field-Marshals Molinguen a Knight and Don Giusto di Torres whose quarters were â—et upon The Field-Marshall Iohn di Arze who went with part of the Count Dukes Regiment to relieve them This man raifed his fortunes in Flanders by his valour and passing through all the degrees of honour attained to that of Field-Marshall Hee is brother to Don Peter de Arze Secretary of State The one employes his Pen the other his Sword the one fights the other writes and gives advice They strive who shall doe the best service Which of them deserves best I know not seeing there is no difference in their abilitie or will but onely in their profession It will then appeare when the competition between the Pen and the Sword is decided But above all shined the valour of the Marquis of Torrecusa who sometimes Leading the head onâ— sometimes heartening the men omitted not any thing pertaining to a Commander or Souldier but hee did command and performed it Hee encouraged with words and when need required with deeds The enemy being gotten upon a Trench taking a pike in his hand hee hindered disordered and overthrew him Let Poets have leave to describe their Orlandoes and Rinaldoes if under those fabulous narrations they intended to set downe this truth That one mans valour is sufficient to gaine a victorie An Army when it hath no Commander is a meere dead carkasse when it hath one it is sometimes valiant sometimes cowardly according to the soule which assists it Even as the Members runne to the danger where the head is so the souldier where it goeth That hand that arme that fearfully avoides and shunnes the blow which intends to wound it rashly runs on to meet it in defence of the head When one brutish and unadvised man goeth all the rest
wanting never wanteth mony I am confirmed in this opinion by seeing that this Fleet hath already layen a moneth sailing to and fro before the Groine without attempting any thing It workes towards its end without doing any thing I believe it would willingly set upon the Fleet burne our shipping and gladly hinder the reliefe of Flanders and much rather discomfit it and that if it found a Port of importance neglected it would set upon it as things casually and occasionally laid before them which fall in their way and sometimes come to be easilier effected then those which were at first conceived Like unto the difference there is between a child at first conceived and one that is bringing forth the one comming forth into the light alive and the other sometimes vanishing away wasting in its beginning or when it is reduced to an embrio I promise not my selfe that I have penetrated into th' intent of the French neither doe I care When the enemy will performe an enterprise and set upon that can performe no other it conduceth much to a defence if one can penetrate into it but when he thinketh to doe one thing and may doe many the best defence is ignorance Notice causeth man to secure that part which is threatned and suffer the rest to be neglected And that being safeguarded causeth the enemie to alter his mind and the other neglected helps him to attaine to that upon which his altered mind is fixed Hee that hath not power to defend himselfe in all parts doth necessarily lose himselfe for want of strength He thath hath sufficient loseth himself sometimes through carelessenesse and sometimes through too much providence The knowiedge of the assailing enemies intention is an ease when it is good to know it and a difficultie when the notice of it is hurtfull For where he can doe but onely one thing it is likely secured and where hee may doe diverse the understanding knoweth not how to resolve upon one and it would make the other easie if it were resolved upon The Count Duke hath with admirable wisdome secured the difficulties of provisionall things The chief Ports are sufficiently surnished Cantabria is set in posture of defence to hinder the enemy if hee should affaile it Catalonia ready to thrust him out when he is come in Don Anthonio Ochendo ready in the streights to secure the Fleet. The Marquis of Villa Franca with the Gallies to oppose the shipps of Marseilles Every thing provided for and armed But our discourses and the enemies designes were carried away with the wind which rising tempestuous lasting three dayes a thing unusuall at that time of the yeare brought the Fleet in danger of over setting or sinking The lesser Ships perished in the Ocean in the furie of the tempest The biggest of them in a calme Sea when they were going into harbour As if it did presege danger of shipwracke to great ones in tranquillitie of peace entring into harbour or in the harbour it selfe by some revolution of State after the little ones were perished in the turbulencies of Warre The enemy being become Master of the field by taking of Salsas tooke all places which lay open and ordinarily follow the fortune of the most powerfull He never skirmished nor fought with our cavallery but we carried away the best of it shewing that the Spanish horse are no way inferiour to the French if we had them The long peace this Province hath enjoyed the warres at Sea where there is no use of horses forraigne warres sometimes in the Indies where we could not convey them sometimes in Flanders where foot did the greatest execution sometimes in Italie or Germany where we found Auxiliarie ones made us first to neglect the use of them then grow carelesse in bringing them up But it is either the convenience or fate of the greatest Monarchies to have their chief strength and prop to consist in the foot the Romanes in their Legions the Macedonians in their Phalanges making up their Cavallerie alwayes with strangers friends or Auxiliaries Many yield to opinion when they have neglected art and after they have yielded for a time going to try whether the conceipt be true or no they are overcome and yield againe confessing themselves inferiour in valour when they are onely inferiour in practise Through this deceit the Spaniards would have tried and yielded a thousand times if warres had not happened in Spaine it self where necessitie hath forced and time undeceived them His Majesties Army had not as yet any convenient number it did enough doing nothing seeing it hindered the enemy from much doing But the Souldier partly valorous and partly inexperienced some for shame some through interest deâ—â—red to come in sight of the French and fight with them and he desired it most who had never seene the enemy nor knew not what fighting was The Commanders for a while did stay their heat rather then allay it Being perswaded that as in a sick man so in a Souldier one ought to hope where he hopeth and feare where he feareth a rule which is false in that hope which often deceiving causeth good to be looked for where there is evill and onely true in the feare which though deceived may bring forth evill even where it doth not finde it they went with a small Army partly of new and partly of not disciplined men to see the enemy and saw his advantage so great that they retreated without doing any thing The King and his Councell had presently a lively feeling of this disorder what incouragement the enemies might gaine and our men lose And because the Army confisted of people of that country commanded by the Count of Santa Colomba and of hired men haste was made to send them a valorous and expert Chieftaine who with generall applause was Don Philip Spinola Marquis of Balbases This man was sonne to Marquis Ambrose Spinola the renownedst Generall of our age and one of the greatest that histories mention He followeth his Fathers stepps in martiall affaires to revive the glories of them and he filleth them up so what with valour what with wisedome that it shall serve to say for the praise of them both of the one that he was borne of such a father and of the other that he begot such a sonne The Count Duke gave him his first imbossement in the best way as such a Subject could doe who being one of the greatest Generalls is defective in no quality Which this one thing would make envy it self confesse Namely that his engagement of being present in all Armies by direction hindered not his genius from being personally present in one His not fighting in any may hinder him from being stiled a great Souldier but his commanding there will admit to the title of a great Generall He that knoweth as the Count Duke doth both his Kings and the enemies forces The art of fighting the place where they fight and hath like him had experience
or so many warres framed so many Armies withstood so many disasters given advice in so many enterprises and with his counsell disposed and obtained so many Victories may wed governe Armies and stay at home command them and be absent The swiftnesse of Posts makes that which is farre off to be neere the strength of the understanding soreseeth what is to come and though he cannot affirme what an enemy will do before he doth it it is sufficient if hee knoweth what he should doe The good is onely one but the evill manifold The first is to be knowne by great wisedome and the other is no great matter whether it be knowne or no. To instruct a Generall of an Army it is enough to teach him wayes to defend himselfe from the enemy and how to offend when hee doth well for if otherwise his own errour will instruct him by erring The Cardinall of Valletta was already strong in Italie and did hourely look for the Duke of Longeville to come with those Troopes which were destined to the harmes of But gundie The Dutch effe openly professed she would receive them in Monmiglian Susa and Carmagnuola The Marquis of Leganes lay under Santia which being taken Casal was quite blocked up and though it was a very strong Castle it had victuals but for eight dayes Prince Thomas was of opinion to goe into Piemont with the Army to win those places before the comming in of the French Urging that the Countries were willing to receive them and invited them thither That they once lost their oportunity of besieging Trino through the desire of streightning Casal That the Frenches stay before they came into Piemont and the Spaniards quicknesse in winning of that place had caused the opportunity to be rather deferred then lost That if now they would retard upon the same pretence and stay till Santia was taken the occasion would be lost That remedies should not be sought for the feet where the disease proceeded from the head That Santia might be held in play with small forces That being in sight of the enemy in Piemont he could not relieve Monferras the Duke of Longevill might be hindered from joyning with the other forces those Holds would be taken and so they would remaine masters of the field and of the passes of Savoy to Burgundy and Flanders that the French would be confined in Pinarole without victuall to maintaine themselves or Country to resist whereby they would bee forced to come into these parts with great strength to defend themselves and so forsake the hopes of flanders and Burgundie give over molesting of Spaine and laying downe their vast imaginations be brought to a good peace That giving them time to get into those Holds was the dividing of Piemont and bringing perpetuall warre into it more dangerous for him that is neerest with his state and furthest off with his forces That the enemie might there with small forces defend himselfe and put Flanders in danger or come with much strength and indanger the state of Milan If the Dutchesse did not admit them into Turin it would bee impossible for them to relieve Casal and if shee did admit them it would be difficult they would be opposed by evill passes deep rivers and dangerous places of abode That for a small reliefe it would bee sufficient if any neighbour Garrison were encreased with fifteen hundred Foot and as for a great one it could no way bee compassed fighting would become necessary and then one might consider whether it were better to give battell in the entrance of Piemont with so many retiring places at their backs to goe into upon occasion of losse and so many before them to conquer in case they overcome or to give it upon the very Frontier of the State of Millan farre from any place to conquer and neere to lose all That his Majesties Commanders had stumbled at Casal as at a fatall stone with much danger to the Monarchy Once thinking to surprize it by intelligence and another to take it by force and this would be the third in going about to block it up from reliefe The Marquesse of Leganes being scanted of men by diseases which had killed many by overthrowes which he had given still with some bloud any by places which he had taken and was bound to put garrisons into thought he could not without danger goe farre from what hee had gotten and expose himselfe with small tired forces to fight with a multitude of fresh souldiers which either occasion or necessity might easily have enforced him to That the Kings chiefe interest consisted in defending the State of Millan that Santia being taken Casal remained quite cut ofâ— from all reâ—iefe That staying in those parts he could make all hee had gotten sure unlesse it were Civasco the endangering of which could not counterpoise so many conveniences That no hopes invited them into Piemont but onely intelligences which he had so often found vaine that to confide in them would be a folly and much more to put themselves into irrecoverable hazzard if they should faile That it was no great matter whether the French did get into those holds or no they could do no more in them then out of them They would ingage a number of men in them would vexe the Inhabitants and make them their enemies who before were their friends The taking of Santia was made difficult to the Marquis The hold of it selfe being strong the ground without unfit for batteries wanting wood to make sconces and being without water He resolved to besiege it at large But the enemies forces recruited came marching towards Asti to relieve them The Marquis encamped himselfe in such sort that he could hinder their designes and yet not goe from the place insomuch that the enemy lying on the other side of Dora within seaven miles of the place victuals failing the besieged they yielded themselves The Cardinall of Valetta and Marquis Villa despairing of doing any good in those parts went to besiege Civasco Prince Thomas and the Marquis drew neere it with their Army but finding the enemy already fortified and without comparison surpassing in number they did not endeavour to relieve it and so the place was lost In the meane time Conio a strong hold and of great consequence for the gaining of Nizza and Villa Franca declared it self to hold with the Princes The French set upon it and were forced with great losse to retreate The Cardinall of Valletta came thither with all his Army to besiedge it The Cardinall of Savoy respecting it as his owne creature with more resolution then care threw himselfe into it to defend it Prince Thomas nor the Marquis of Leganes had not consented to his engagement But seeing the danger they sought for a remedie They marched towards Turin with their Army not with any certainty but onely with a kind of hope to divert the enemy from his former enterprize and call him thither And to make it sure the