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A10985 A treatise of the interest of the princes and states of Christendome. Written in French by the most noble and illustrious Prince, the Duke of Rohan. Translated into English by H.H.; De l'interest des princes. English Rohan, Henri, duc de, 1579-1638.; Hunt, Henry, 17th/18th cent. 1640 (1640) STC 21253; ESTC S119221 39,359 136

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vnto them for to disunite them one from another ought to be the bands of their concord and good intelligence This is the true interest of the Princes of Germanie and of the Imperiall townes which they neuer ought to relinquish For without this support they will become the prey of the first Vsurper and their great magazins and stately Arcenalls will serue for a lure to intice those that are Masters of the field There are foure Kingdomes which depend in a manner vpon Germanie and are obliged to follow the fortune of this Country Poland and Hungarie for diuers interrests remaine tyed to the house of Austria Denmarke and Swedeland embrace the partie that maintaines the libertie of Germanie fearing their owne may be in danger after this comes to be oppressed It is requisite that Germanie remaine strictly vnited with both these Realmes But the latter shee can neuer forsake without an eternall blot of ingratitude hauing receiued from thence euen that which was beyond her hopes seeing her selfe allreadie swallowed in the very gulfe of so hard a bondage when this King shewed onely to the world through so many darke clowdes made the Sunne of her deliuerāce appeare to this desolate Country OF THE INTEREST OF THE SWISSES AND OF THE VNITED PROVINCES of the Low-Countries ON the two sides of Germanie at the entrie of this large Country there are formed two Common-weathes dreadfull amōgst the other powers of Christendome both for the valour of their people and for the forme of their situation So that very rightly one may call them the two armes of Germanie The right arme is Switzerland the left is the Vnited State of the Low Countries The one is amongst the rockes and precipices the other amongst the Seas and marshes The one domineers in the Alpes and the other in the Ocean The naturall disposition of both these people is so agreeable to the nature of the Countries which they inhabite as that the Swisses seeme made for the Mountaines and the Mountaines for the Swisses The Sea for the Hollanders and the Hollanders for the Sea In Switzer-land euery Canton in the Low-Countries euery Prouince is a Commonwealth The Swisses sell the libertie of their bodies to others and doe guard the libertie of their country the Hollāders ga●d their owne libertie intire Long peace hath enriched those but these flourish by the continuation of warre The interest of the Swisses is Peace but the Hollanders should hold for an assured maxime to be alwaies in Armes These two Republikes cannot make better alliance for their subsistence then with France who to oppose Spaine does enrich the Suisses with her money and supports the Hollanders with her Counsell and Armes These two Powers should neuer be diuided betwixt themselues either through iealousie or Religion since these are the sole maladies that may extinguish them OF THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND ENgland which is as a little world apart had not any thing to doe with other Princes but onely so far as the necessitie of commerce did oblige her which was then her true interest For thereby shee gained great riches which together with her situation haue made her of very great account But since that vnder the shadow of that misterious mariage betweene PHILIP and MARIE the practises of Spaine are insensibly slipped in England which before had maximes conformable to her owne selfe is by litle and litle accommodated sometimes to the interest of France and sometimes to the interest of Spaine Queene ELIZABETH who by her prudent gouernment has equall'd the greatest Kings of Christendome shee knowing well the disposition of her State beleeued that the true interest thereof consisted First in holding a firme vnion in it selfe atcheiuing to smother the reliques of precedent factions deeming as it is most true that England is a mightie Animal which can neuer dye except it kill it selfe Shee grounded this fundamentall maxime to banish thence the exercise of the Romane Religiō as the onely meanes to breake all the plots of the Spaniards who vnder this pretext did there foment Rebelliō And allthough shee professed her selfe very much obliged to Philip towards whō shee bare euer a speciall regard neuerthelesse shee had so carefull a consideration of the interest of her State that shee beleeued it was neuer fitt to conclude a peace with him for three very euident reasons The first was for to weaken the power that shee suspected in the Indies The second for to enrich her Realme by depredations The third thereby to make her Subjects warlike and keep them in perpetuall exercise for Sea-fight which is the defence of the Kingdome Shee beleeued that the interest of her Estate was to aide France and releeue it least that by the fall thereof shee suffer those to waxe great from whom shee had cause to defend her selfe By the same maxime Shee supported the springing libertie of the Vnited-Prouinces whose protection against the puissance of Spaine is one of the principall points of Englands interest as well because shee thereby weakens a too powerfull Neighbour as for that Protection serues sometimes for a step to reach some higher matter Shee held most strait intelligences with the Protestants of France for reasons alltogether peculiar to England Shee did the same though for other respects with the Protestants of Germanie By all these maximes this wise Princesse has very well made knowne to her Successours that besides the Interest which the King of England has common with all Princes he has yet one particular which is that He ought throughly to acquire the aduācement of the Protestant Religion euen with as much zeale as the King of Spaine appeares Protectour of the Catholike For this effect England should haue intelligences throughout where soeuer it is fitting and take part in all the Treaties that are made with Protestant Princes Shee should likewise be allwaies armed to become thereby considerable Here is the true interest of England which being well followed will establish a third Puissance in Christendome THE SECOND PART OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES AND STATES of Christendome AFTER the stablishing of the true interest of each Prince and State it ought to be made appeare by the recitall of the principall affaires agitated in Christendome for the space of fifth yeares past how the ill successes that haue therein happened proceeded not from any other cause then the neglecting of the said interest For to teach vs that in matter of State one ought not to suffer himselfe to be led by inordinate desires which carrie vs oftentimes to vndertake things beyond our strength nor by violent passions which doe diuersly trouble vs according as wee are possessed therewith nor by superstitious opinions whereby ill-conceiued scruples are ministred vnto vs but rather by our proper interest guided by reason alōe which ought to be the rule of our actions to the end that by such examples wee seeing as in a mirrour the faultes of others may thereby benefit our selues THE FIRST
like continuance as those which they get by establishingh a good Counsell and which are founded vpon good maximes Because that these great Conquerrours who thinke onely of vanquishing and extending their dominions and not of founding Lawes for their subsistence being not ordinarily succeeded by such as equall their courage and the vanquished people hauing not yet lost the memorie of their libertie or of their auncient Lords are easily carried to any change seeing themselues deliuered from the feare of him that had subjected them Which made this wise Prince resolue to follow his owne disposition and choose a course most agreeable to his impenetrable humour that is to prosecute his designes vnder a profound dissimulation To this end he fixed the seat of his dominion in Spaine that he might from thence conueigh warmth to the members loosened from this body and might with more ease conseruing peace by his presence trouble all the rest of Europe by his subtilties But the time fayling him to accomplish so loftie a designe he left it neuerthelesse so farre aduanced that it has been easie for his successours to prosecute the same See now the Maximes obserued hitherto as Oracles which are properly the true Interest of Spaine The first is grounded vpon Religion as that which for conscience sake does make people vndertake any thing There ought to be testified by the Spaniard a great zeale to the Catholike Religion that he might serue himselfe of it in his designes And he ought to make the Pope conceiue that to fauour the greatnesse of Spaine in ruining the Protestants is the support of his owne authoritie and puissance It behooues him to perswade the other Princes of Italie that on the protection of Spaine depends the vpholding of the Church against any other power And that the entrance of Strangers into Italie be barred to conserue the Religion which could not but be soyled by such a commerce In France where there be Protestants and where the Catholikes are the Masters He should incite the King to banishe those and solicite the Pope to vrge the same yet giuing vnderhand courage and assistance to the said Protestants to stirre vp there a Ciuill warre which might so much the more weaken the Kingdome If the King pereiuing the subtiltie of this counsell will not giue eare to it He ought then to stirre vp the Catholikes themselues against him as against a fauourour of Heretiks to assist them also powerfully and therein likewise to engage the Pope if he can For in what māner soeuer he should procure that this Realme be destroyed of it selfe as that which euerie where sets it selfe against the designe of the Spanish Monarchie In England where the Protestants are Masters where they beare the sway he ought to make peace in any wise with this Realme to the end that through the power it hath at Sea it doe not incommodate the Indies where his chiefe treasures are And that vnder this apparant amitie he may the more easily render himselfe Protector of the Catholickes of England Wherefore he ought to aduantage himselfe by the Colledges founded of purpose in Flanders and in Spaine to instruct the English youth in the Catholicke Religion inciting them to come thither by the liberalitie there vsed and to follow their studies there without paying any thing Where the Diuinitie they learne is to acquire Martyrdome and merit heauen in seruing the greatnesse of Spaine at the cost of their King and Country In Germanie where though the Emperour be a Catholicke the Protestants share so well the authoritie that he needs to maintaine the Empire in the house of Austria being the same with Spaine as the sole bullwarke against the Protestants and he should augment it from their spoyles vnder pretence of Religion and a desire thereby to defend Christendome against the Turke In Switzerland where the power is shared between two Religions he ought to animate one side against the other giuing hope to the Catholickes of the spoyle of the Protestants and holding them in breath to make them breake as occasion shall serue In the Low-countries where the Catholickes haue not any power and where so long and bloodie warres haue not been able to reduce this people vnder the yoake of Spaine the endeauour should be to make them lay downe their armes through a long truce and in this repose to foment a Schisme there which may diuide them betwixt themselues To manage well these affaires one must come to the second point that consists in the manner to maintaine such intelligences as shall be necessarie in all other States which he must doe by the meanes of Embassadours as persons towards whom respect is borne Likewise by Monkes and Preachers that haue great power in their pulpits and also in particular families by Money whereby men acquire Confidents such on whose trust one may relie and herein he must not be sparing Aboue all he must essay to gaine the principall Ministers of Princes to diuert the dangerous designes which they might haue against Spaine Or else to render them odious who are found too faithfull and ruine them in any wise howsoeuer The third point toucheth negociations and treaties wherein he must employ persōs secret and patient He must all way shewe a desire of peace thereby to cast others asleepe and in the meane time prepare himselfe to warre for to surprise them vnprouided If there happen any difference between two pettie Princes he ought to interpose himselfe for their agreement either as Iudge of Arbitratour and to haue in deposito in trust if he can that which is in debate betwixt them incensing them if he can in stead of appeasing them consentig with the one to diuide the spoiles of the other and vpon the diuision dispossesse both two He ought not to loose any occasion of intermedling in the affaires of his neighbours but yet exclude others from medling with his Especially the French from the affaires of Italie hindering them from hauing any entrance there because they are the onely men that may frustrate the designes of Spaine in that Country The fourth point consists in being allwaies powerfully armed which is an assured meanes to keepe his Subjects in obedience and his Neighbours in respect to preuent the designes of his enemies to surprise them if they sleep and to take his owne aduantage from vnexpected occasions The fifth point is reputation and although that it dependeth on the foure first neuer the lesse being simply considered it establisheth a fifth maxime whereby Spaine gaineth as much as by any of the rest Considering that the opinion conceiued of her great zeale for the maintenance of the Catholicke Religion couers with the cloake of pietie all her other designes and holds the people in a wonderfull awe The feare of her profound intelligences throughout causeth other Princes to haue a care that they engage not themselues lightly against her This assurance confirmed in mens vnderstandings by so much experience of her prudent
which they endeauour'd to doe by the meanes of the Turk as on the contrary it became aduantageous to the Republike For though the Marquesse de Saint-Croy hauing ransacked Duras beleeued that the Turks to take reuenge would turne against the Republike as being neerest or at least enter within the Gulfe Yet it happened that the Turk perceiuing the Spanish wiles commaunded the Admirall of his Fleet to aide the Venetians against the Pope and the Spainards But the Republike judging it not fit to make vse of such a helpe for feare the remedie should be worse then the dissease it selfe shee put it off so handsomely that the Grand Signior receiued not any distast thereby Neuerthelesse making the Pope vnderstand that in case of necessitie shee well knew whither to haue recourse The Spaniards out of season offer'd a whole entire Armie to the Pope Some beleeued that it was for to reclaime the Venetians by this way but it was nothing lesse For all whatsoeuer the Spaniards did then for the Pope proceeded onely because the Duke of Lerma was tickled with vaine-glorie for that the Pope in his Briefs had giuen him the title of Excellence Lastly they perceiued in Spaine that this businesse would be ended by treatie and that France was to haue all the honour thereof This made them about to send extraordinaire Embassadours from one side to the other but it was too late the negociation being so farre aduanced by the French that t was impossible to get it out of their hands Insomuch as whatsoeuer the Spaniards could doe to crosse the Treatie the honour thereof remained full and wholly to Henry who ended the businesse by the dexteritie and prudence of the Cardinall de Ioyeuse and of Frenes-Canaye ordinarie Embassadour at Venice The Prisonners were deliuered into the hands of the Embassadour The Lawes of the Republike continued without alteration and the Pope was forced to take off the Interdict without any token of submission from the said Republike This has beene a warre of Negociation wherein the Venetians full and wholly carried the victorie Likewise one must acknowledge they were ingaged to deale in that part wherein they were most able They followed therein all the maximes of their true interest The Pope did quite contrary Spaine was amusing after Chymeraes and France had the scope which shee ought to haue wherefore shee likewise had the glorie THE FOVRTH DISCOVRSE CONCERNING the Truce of the Low Countries vvith the King of Spaine THE Truce of the Low-Countries with the King of Spaine is an infallible proofe of the excellence of the Spaniards in matter of Negociation The King of Spaine seeing that in fortie yeares Space the warre had augmented and enriched this State in stead of ouerthrowing it and that it would greatly diminish his reputation to treate of Peace with those whom euen till then he had treated as Rebells he therefore resolued to doe his vtmost to enter into their Country and to make them feele euen within their intrailes the discommoditie of Warre For which purpose he employed the two last Summers vnder the commaund of Marquesse Spinola one of the renownedst Captaines of the time Who with powerfull Armies endeauoured to enter the first yeare into Frisland and the second into Holland Neuerthelesse Maurice Prince of Orange a Captaine to whom wee owe the restauration of the auncient militarie discipline all though he was much inferiour to the forces of Spinola yet he made so good vse of the situation of his Country that he frustrated all his endeauours This hauing depriued the King of Spaine of all hope to conquer by force he resolued at last to make triall of a Treatie at the cost euen of his reputation But his end herein was 1. to secure the trafficke of the Indies where he was endammaged by them 2. to diuide them in the time of peace and lastly to beare armes more aduantageously against people lesse trained in warre and more easie to subdue being confident that any good successe in some affaire would make him recouer that reputation which he then hazarded and whereof he has beene euer jealous A Monke did first lay open the matter to a Holland Marchant The hope giuen to the States that in this Accord the King of Spaine would acknowledge them for free States made them giue eare whereupon followed a suspension of Armes for to treate more at large This intermission awaked the interessed and neighbour Princes Henry's mind was troubled with the true intererest of his Estate which he best of all knew and also by his particular affections The States by reason of their interest had succoured him in his necessitie He for the same reason powerfully assisted them in his prosperitie He willingly would haue them continue The warre prouided that he augmēted not his assistance They offered to continue the same on cōdition that he would double the money which he gaue them yearely The desire of doing thriftily made him seeme to incline and not alltogether abādon his true interest thinking it should be a great aduantage for him to remoue from his frontiers such good Armes which a Peace or long Truce might dissipate and that it should be a great honour for him to cause the Low Countries to be declared a free State Insomuch as He bent his thoughts to become Arbitratour of this negociation and to make it succeed aduantageously for the Low-Countries IAMES the first King of England whose strong inclination to peace did not also permit him to follow the true interest of his Realme which was to nourish Warre in the Low-Countries for to consume the forces of Spaine and hinder their entreprise vpon him he contents himselfe to haue part in the Treatie by his Embassadours Diuers Protestant Princes of Germanie imagining well that the Armes of Spaine being no more imployed there might fall vpon them doe likewise send their Embassadours of purpose to diuert this Accord os else to procure the protection of those that intermedled in the businesse Maurice whose particular interest was joyned with the true interest of the States wholly withstood the Accord Bernaueld who had most abilitie in the State-affaires of the Country seeing that his owe credit grew in Peace rather then in Warre he would haue the interests of the State to serue his owne ends Here is the true pourtrait of those that dealed in this affaire But for the better vnderstanding of the true interest of the States we must remount higher and come to the originall William of Nassau Prince of Orange who alone in this Age had the honour to found a State although neither his disgraces receiued nor the endeauours of Philip the most puissant and able Prince of his Time could haue hindred him was constrained to assemble the peeces for to compose a bodie thereof with such conditions as each Towne and Prouince required For hauing met with people that haue euer affected their libertie more then their very liues he could not alter the conditions