en la conseruation della feè Catholicho en el Reyno di Francia y a instantia y requesta del y que no pensaua dexar las armas hasta cobrallos O yo el pontifice atenta mente la pretestacson y tomò della el Duque instrumento publico Auertiò antes à sua Santitad de algunos inconuenientes che temia hauian de resultar de la absolucion que tenia determinado dar à Enrico That is The Euening before the Absolution should be giuen the Duke of Sessa Ambassadour of the Catholique King on his behalfe protested to the Pope that the absolution which his Holines intended to giue to Henry should not preiudice the Reasons of his King in that which concerned the Kingdome of Nauar and the County of Bourgundy nor in the expence which he had made for the Confernation of the Catholique faith in the Kingdome of France at his instance and request and that he determined not to depose Armes vntill he had recouered them The high Bishop attentiuely heard the Protest and the Duke tooke thereof a publique instrument hauing first aducrtised his Holinesse of some inconueniences which hee feared might result from the Absolution which was purposed to bee giuen to Henry These Protests did appeare to men of sound iudgement ill grounded prentencos the alleaged inconueniences false foundations of that great Building which those malicious aboue mentioned did figure to themselues They said it was requisite to the strict Christianity which the Catholique King professed all humane Interest deposed to aduance with all his spirits the conuersion of Henry and to exhort the high Bishop affectionately to receiue the prodigall Sonne seeing he was returned penitent to his fathers house and to take into his Armes the strayed sheepe which hee had now found to carry him to the Sacred sheepfold of Christ They did blame as a work very little Catholique but rather as a suggestion of the Deuill to attempt the hinderance of that Absolution which onely hee ought to haue procured for the quiet of France and the publique good of Christendome which if it had not succeeded might haue wholly alienated that Kingdome from the Church as the like had done in England They did consider that it was wide of the purpose to feare any preiudice in the kingdome of Nauarre and the County of Burgundy seeing the Absolution did not deriue any more right to Henry then that which any other which should be King of France might haue But aboue all the pretensions of the expence made in the warre did giue them greatest scandall They discoursed if only for the loue of Christ the Catholique King had disbursed that money why was he not content to haue Christ his Debtor But how a Debtor if hee doth enioy of the Patrimony of Christ aboue Three Millions yearely Reuenue granted him by the Vicar of Christ of Tenths Subsidies and Croysado's and other meanes with condition to employ them against the Enemies of Christendome why takes hee nor penne in hand and comes not to a distinct Account of the Receipts and Issues well balancing il dare conl'hauere and hee shall finde himselfe not Creditor of one Maranedi but certainely Debtor of many and many Millions spent not according to his obligation for Christianity but for the interest of his owne priuate Estates What then doth hee pretend Why then doth he not lay downe Armes Vpon what hath hee fixed his thoughts To what end doth he aspire If he prosecute this warre he prosecuteth an vniust warre How doth that correspond with the zeale of Religion for which onely at first he vndertooke it What change is this Certainely it proceedeth not from the right hand of the most High But bee it so let him follow the warre at his owne pleasure there is no remedy Henry shall bee absolued and shall bee King of France Doth the Catholique King perhaps hope with his owne forces and by strong hand to depriue him If he was not able with the vnion of so many other Princes to hinder him from taking possession of his Kingdome how shall he now be able to expell him hauing set sure footing in his Throne He attempts a dangerous Action Here they proceed with witty and politique Consideration that a good issue of this warre against Henry not ensuing hee should be sure to acquire a powerfull and perpetuall Enemy that might in time make Spaine to tremble within her owne bowels and the Prophesie had well neare beene verified the whole world knowes it if a violent death had not interposed to stay him But this yet which perhaps was foreseene they did iudge insufficient to free Spaine of the danger Seeing the offence of the father and with the offence the disdaine might descend to the Sonne his Successor as soone as hee came to ripe age and should fall into consideration that the Catholique King had done his vâ—most to keepe him from being King of France when hee indeauoured to take the Crowne from the head of his father and that if his father in despight of Spaine mainteined himselfe King he also in despight of Spaine might enioy his fathers Kingdome But all these considerations which certainely were very great before any other conceiued them were resolued by the most wise King Phillip who by common Iudgement was the Salomon of his time From whence for the same reasons that others did iudge it requisite to leaue the warre hee esteemed it necessary to prosecute it Seeing he knew he had so grieuously offended Henry that hee could by no other meanes secure himselfe from his disdaine but onely by opposing him to become King of France Wherefore seeing the cause of Religion did cease it was expedient to fasten vpon some other pretence to resist with his Holiness the absolution and in France the Corenation and to proue if it were possible already reason of State had insinuated that great building of the Malicious to make a King of his owne fashion as he had already caused to be propounded in Parliament Tarde se desengana el dessee de mandar Bauia p. 4. vita de Clem. 8. c. 30. y ser Rey Por este aunque con menos brie no desistian los pretensores Proponia el Duque de Feria al Serenissima Infanta de Espana Dona Isabel Affermaua denersele el Reyno porque hauiendo faltado la linea masculina de Hugo Capcto eraquien tenià meior derecho a la Corona como hija de hermana mayor de Eurico III vltimo Rey de Francia Y dezia con esto que el Rey Catholico su padre la ca sarsa con alâ—un principe Frances con que el nombramiento del tal quedasse en su elecion That is The desire to command and to bee King was slowly cleared from all doubt For this cause though with lesse boldnesse the Pretènders gaue not ouer The Duke of Feria did propound her highnesse Donna Isabella Infanta of Spaine He did affirme the Kingdom
Thirty soure years he laboured in the study of holy Lawes to be well instructed in the knowledge of Iustice He affirmeth nothing which he doth not learnedly proue All his works were directed to his owne King and the Royall Councell before whom more then once hee appeared in person to entreat of this Businessa Who can then beleeue that hee durst say that which was not apparant truth Men vse not to speake ill of Princes to their owne faces Ignorance of the fact or of the Law cannot be obiected to him so much practised and who had so long studyed these matters Argument of affection or of passion cannot be imagined in a Prelat of most exemplar life who renounced his Bishopricke onely to assist in the Court of his Prince in the defence of a People from any interest in him as farre remoued as our world is distant from theirs From whence of necessity it must be said that onely the loue of truth did moue him and the inuincible reasons wherewith he maintaines all his Assertions doe most clearly demonstrate it So that your Maiestie who is as much a louer of truth as of God considering with a setled minde all the fore-alleadged discourses will in the sinceritie of your conscience 〈◊〉 that which 〈◊〉 beginning was declared That Enterprises vndertaken onely for Religion are often reduced to proper Interest and that Titles Dignities and Authorities granted with most holy zeale by the Vicar of Christ haue beaue peruersly abused It is very true that this good Prelatate hath indeauoured to excuse the Catholique Kings by saying that the aboue mentioned euills were against their Intentions clearely expressed in many orders and holy instructions giuen to those crooked ministers who obserued no part of them But this excuse is not admitted of wise men yea rather confuted with most strong Reasons First because it hath not beene found that the Catholique Kings did euer punish any of those Ministers vnlesse perhaps some for Rebellion notwithstanding their wickednesse was manifest vnto them which the foresaid Bishop doth more then once affirme Secondly because so many iniquities by them committed were neuer retracted in particular the Diuisions of the Commenda's vpon which the said Author doth exclaime euen to the Heauens Lastly because the immediate Dominions are encorporated vniuersally and particularly with the Supreme Dominions and this is euident in fact all faculty being taken from them which had it to choose their Prince and the inheritance from them to whom the estates by succession did appertaine of whom some miraculously escaping aliue in that destruction of the Indies lamentably by this Bishop described were transported into Spaine lest by the loue of their Naturall Subiects they should aspire to recouer that of which against reason they were depriued And yet to this day the Issue of that great Motezâ—ma Emperor of Mexico doe liue in the Court of your Maiestie prohibited vpon paine of life to goe out of Castile From which most true reasons the wisedome of your Maiestie may easily comprehend how little the aforesaid excuses doe pruaile and how great 〈◊〉 the Catholique Kings haue to render to God of the vsurpation of the immediate 〈◊〉 of the Indies vnder pretence of amplifying the Christian faith The religious zeale of the King Don Phillip the second father of your Maiestie cannot inconsiderately bee ouerpast when inurted by the Pope hee tooke Armes against Henry the fourth King of France The cause of Christ was in question against a publique Heretique and Enemy of Christ It was expedient that the facred Catholique King Protector of the Church of Christ should abandon his owne Affaires of Flanders to defend that of Christ The which Hereique Action the fruit of perfect vertue which is rarely found among Princes of the World did beget in many wonder and incredulity and in others it caused too malitious suspition Algunos saith the Spanish Bishop que juzgauan la virtud agena por la malitia propia Bauia Pentif par 3. vita di Griger 14. c. 9. no querian creer que el zelo de Rey Catholico fuesse tan grande che desamparando su bazienda propia con tan gran costa fuesse a remediar la agena That is Some who iudge the vertue of others by their owne malice would nor beleeue that the zeale of the Catholique King could be so great that leauing the care of his owne business hee should at so immence Charge relieue the necessitie of others Behold the wonder and the incredulity Otros as after followes in the history que no bien conocian la Religion y Christianidad del gran Filippo II. Bauia p. 3. vita de Innocentie 9. C. 9. fondauan en esta jornada un gran edificio diziendo que se queria hazer Rey de Francia ò ponelle de su mano assegurandosse ensus Estados comarcanos y sasando à bueltas no pequeno interes That is Others that did not well vnderstand the Religion and Christianitie of the Grand Phillip the second did from this vndertaking lay the foundation of a great building saying that he desired to make himselfe King of France or to place a King of his owne dependance hereby assuring his owne neighbouring States and drawing to himselfe no little aduantage Behold the malice and that truely very great against that most innocent Monarch who did clearely show to haue no other interest nor further desire then that the Catholique Religion should not be vtterly ruined as it was freshly threatned in the Kingdome of France But what cannot the Deuill doe Saints and Heremits are rarely secure much lesse Princes in Courts Scarcely hath Henry begunne inspired by the holy Ghost to shew himsefe willing to be reduced to the wombe of holy Church to be truely a most Christian King when the Catholique fell vpon a Councell by no meanes to consent that hee should bee King of France And yet to him the Rights of that Kingdome did appertaine nor for other cause was the opposition but for being an Heretique whence the impediment being taken away it was most vnrust any longer to withstand him But it was whispered in the cares of the Catholique King by certaine Machiauells rather then Disciples that the Coronation of Henry might bring some danger to his Maiestie for the kingdome of Nauarr and the County of Burgondy vpon which States the Crowne of France hath pregnant pretensions and that his Maiestie had cast away in vaine so much Gold and spent so much blood of his people in that warre Therefore La tarde antes so saith Rauia que hiziesse la absolution Pontif p. 4 vita de Cle. 8. Cap. 56 el Duque de Sessa Ambaxador del Rey Catholico de su parte hiza al Papa protestacion que la absolucion que su santitad pensau a dar à Enrico no perjudicasse al derecho de su Rey en lo teccante al Reyno de Nauarra y Contado di Borgona ui a los gastos que hauia echo
to belong vnto her because the Masculine Line of Hugh Capet being extinct the best title to the Crowne was deuolned to her as daughter of the eldest sister of Henry the third last King of France And withall it was said that the Catholique King her father would marry her to some Prince of France Prouided the nomination of that Prince might rest in his Election Further. No solamente estaua prepuesta la Enfanta de Espana à la Corona di Francia si no tambien el Archiduque Ernesto deÌ„ Austria Bauia vbi supra hermano de Emperader That is Not only the Infanta of Spaine was proposed to the Crown of France but the Arch-Duke Ernestus also brother of the Emperour The French Lords did rest astonished at these so handsom propositions and grew warie of the danger wherein the King of Spaine had entangled them whilst hee professed to desend the Catholique Religion in France Por estas razones yotras iuntamente con las maquinationes Bauia vbi supra y negociaciones que se descubrian determinaron en la Assemblea ò Cories que el Duque de Vmena como Lugartiniente del Reyno procurasse impedir lostratos que y ase descubrian paraque en ninguna manerase eligiesse à la Corona Princessa ò principe estrangero anulando qualesquier tratos que hasta este punto hnuiessen echo y que se guardassen las leyes fundamentales del Reyno en ls tocante a la elecion de un Rey Christianissimo y Frances That is For these and other Reasons together with the Machinations and practices which were discouered it was determined in their Assembly that the Duke du Mayne as Lieutenant of the Kingdome should procure to dissolue the Treaties that already were vnmasked because by no meanes a Princesse or Prince Stranger should be elected to the Crowne anulling whatsoeuer Treaty which to that day had beene begunne and that the fundamentall lawes of the Kingdom concerning the Election of a most Christian and French King should bee obserued Now let your Maiestie see from the contexture of the forementioned matters to what termes the most holy zeale of the King Don Phillip your father was reduced and how the faire beginnings for sincere Religion were peruerted onely into an vndue end of reason of State For which also the warre after the Absolution of Henry did continue vntill the most blessed Clement the Eight did introduce the peace I could alledge to your Maiestie many other examples vpon this Argument but I esteeme these three so notable that they are enough with aduantage There may perhaps bee some who will reprehend me that I haue onely exemplified in the Kings of Spaine where I might doubtlesse haue beene furnished from Princes of other Nations and will accuse me as a man of little Iudgment and maners that speaking with your Maiestie I haue presumed to mingle my tongue in the Actions of the neuer enough praised Don Phillip the second your father I would they should consider that domestique examples moue much more then forrain from whence as noble mindes doe with all possibilitie endeauour to immitate the Actions worthy of their famous Ancestors so by all meanes they doe endustriare themselues to auoid that which in their Predecessors was iudged worthy of blame And seeing that they though Princes of worth and eminent vertue did sometimes stumble vpon vnbeseeming ActioÌ„s they do learne not to presume too much vpon themselues and to bee very watchfull not to fall where others slipt and considering that being their Descendents they should not esteem themselues better but rather worse then they seeing in descending nature doth loose as vertue doth encrease by ascending Wherefore if by nature they are Descendents they shall grow worse and onely ascending by vertue they may make them themselues better I then speaking with a Catholique King of Spaine to admonish him of a snare now with so much faire and hidden Artifice set before him that easily he might fall therein how could I better doe then to shew him where his owne Progenitors most wise and Catholique Princes haue fallen headlong into like disorders It is necessary said the great Henry of France to shew the errors of Princes that they which succeed them Pirre Mathieâ— en la vie da Mâ—ns Vill. may not erre in the same wherein others did loose themselues I haue then purposely taken these examples of the Kings of Spaine as more helpefull to your Maiestie in this present matter then any other which might haue beene produced and haue euer confirmed them with the Authoritie of Spanish writers to auoid the blame either of falshood or Calumny And because they may bee of greater credit and more efficacie in the sincere mind of your Maiestie To whose consideration I at last come to represent That the Rising of the Gouernour of Millan against the Grisons in the Valteline vnder the like pretence did apparantly tend to the same end though shadowed in the Manifest much wide of truth of which I shall now discourse published as it was voyced by the people of that Valley but in truth by the Ministers of your Maiestie of whom if your Maiestie be not more then heedfull you shall bee certainly induced to such Actions that being added to the other three Narrations of your Ancestors will serue for an example to Posteritie of an impious and wicked Enterprise vnder a Religious and godly vaile Returning to the Discourse I say that the causes of publishing that Manifest were Three The first to insinuate to your Maiestie and the World that the People of the Valteline being tyrannised by the Grisons were of their owne free and voluntary determination and not by others induced fallen into Rebellion The second to perswade your Maiestie and the World that your Ministers had iustly vndertaken the protection of those miserably oppressed that it was consonant to the greatnesse and goodnesse of a Catholique King not to obandon those Sabell Entad 9. li. 7. who refuged to his defence So formerly Don Pedro of Aragon Non potuisse se aiebat Siculis indigna fortuâ—iâ—ou opemque suppliciter suam implorantibus non auxilio adesse yet it was hee that seduced them into defection The third to render the poore Valteliues by so shameless a writing so odious to their owne Lords that they should despaire of euer obtayning pardon whereby they might rest the more obstinate in their Rebellion and willing in any sort to subiect themselues to the Dominion of your Maiestie for feare they should returne into the power of the Grisms The first is cleady expressed in the Manifest which turnâ—â— all things to the iustification of the rebellion of the Valtelines the other two which are extracted from the intrinsique thoughts of the heart might appeare Imaginations of my owne fancy if the matter it selfe did not approue them But arguing securely from the effect to the Cause true and not imaginarie Conclusions may bee deduced To
Turke to whom in truth Spaine is only a true friend These are such a Cloud of witnesses as no modesty will oppugne them Which being now manifest to the world and that it is expected euery wise Prince and State will consider nune mea res agitur I also haue presumed to warne diuisos ab orbe Britannos who being separated from Generall Commerce by the Sea which is our wall true Information may bee kept out as well as Enemes To which purpose without any malignity or willing offence I must looke one age back For in the former Alas the Kings of Castile were good Neighbors and were content not to bee supplanted by their owne Moores mingled with their Subiects both in house and bloud England hath been the speciall and most advantagious marke at which this new Monarchy hath aymed since cupido dominandi outgrew Conscience and all lawes of Iustice England the Queene of the Sea and Lady of Traffique being conquered halfe of the whole is done England hath more hindered this vnnaturall growth then all Europe it is then out of question that the wisedome of Spaine which neuer erreth in the way of greatnesse loues and hates no kingdome so much as England When Don Iohn of Austria had wonne the famous battaile of Lepanto Raphael Pereg. and therein laid to himselfe a foundation of advancement and had gotten possession of the Citty of Tunis the Spanish Councell foreseeing the rising Starre of a new Monarchy though in their owne Princes bloud rather resolued to rase and destroy that Towne and accordingly gaue order to the Generall But hee who had higher thoughts fortified it and sollicited the Pope Pius quintus to intercede with the Catholique king that the Title of that kingdome might bee conferred vpon him to erect a fresh opposite to the Ottoman Empire The king of Spaine iealous of any Concurrent vtterly refused this honor to his owne Brother and suddenly to exercise his great mind vpon some subiect of his priuat seruice sent him Gouernour into Flanders where hee was as like to breake as rise The young Prince whose fahers bloud boiled in his veynes discontent to bee shut vp in so narrow a Compasse fell vpon a net practise to conquer England and procured so farre with the same Pope that he dealt earnestly with the Catholique King to consent to that Enterprise and to contribute Aydes for the Execution in fauour whereof his Holiness had already granted him Bulls Breues Money and the secret Inuestiture though this Proiect in the manner was not acceptable to King Phillip that the Pope should giue that away without first consulting with him which hee had embraced in his owne thoughts yet he yeelded and promised to assist Don Iohn in the Inuasion of England So much more hee thirsted to depriue a Christian Prince of an antient Inheritance then to keepe a great Kingdom opportunely seated to annoy the Turks from his friends the Ottomans I will not Physically coniecture what bloud begat this Counsell but propose it as a worthy and great Consideration The attempt of the Duke of Medina and the inuincible Armado was a fruit of the same root But that the sword might not seeme to cut through all Iustice to corrupt the minds of the ignorant and to satisfie the doubtfull and scrupulous a counterfeit booke vnder a counterfeit name was published Dolman discussing the seuerall titles of England and seeming to giue euery one their owne right it cunningly insinuates that the reasons of the Infanta Isabella were more pregnant then all the rest which could not come into question vntill Sixteene Princes successorily raigning were condemned for Vsurpers one of whom her father had married and by her taken the title of England But God fought for vs Tonante in coelis lehouah Excelso edente vocem suam grande Psal 13. prunae igneae ita emittens sagittas suas dispergit fulgura iaculans fundit illos When fained Titles were foolishnesse before God and men and the Chariot wheels of the Enemy were taken off outward force not prevailing Religion and the defence of that as the last refuge and Sanctuary of Ambition was taken vp and a holy pretence aduanced to practise Treason and Rebellion in Ireland To this end the Earles of Desmond and Tyron were thrust out and maintained in defection against their naturall Prince and as soone as their actions were worth the avowing Aids and Supplies were openly sent from Spaine and that Kingdome doubly inuaded by Conspiracie and Armes But Kinsale is a famous sepulcher of their honor that Climate perhaps hauing as naturall an Antipathy to Cholerique complexions and Intruders as to noysome and venemous beasts I purpose not to enumerate priuate and clandestine minings and machinations These three notorious examples will proue the general Assertion That Spaine doth aspire the subiection of Europe by the first ascent of England yet to shew more clearly the wiles and religious Counsells where with this Designe is prosecuted it will be no vnprofitable digression to reveale to the world the Negotiations of this Monarchy with the Ottomans when eyther it hath beene in want or feâ—re or preparing for some new Attempt Catholique waies which the Lyon hath neuer trode in the Desert nor the Vulturs eye seene in the wildernesse It is one of the Vaine-glories of Spaine that they hold no correspondence nor euer made any peace with the great Enemy of Christendome calumniating and reproaching all other Princes and States who for vtilitie of Trade maintaine a Civill Commerce with them But wise men will discerne the fallacy and difference betweene those who according to the liberty of the lawes of God and Nations doe onely traffique communicate the abundancies of their Countries with Infidels and others who will haue no exchange nor intercourse but vnder the condition of diuiding the world and oppressing by mutuall consent of all Princes And such a Peace and opportunitie the Spaniard hath offered and sought of the Emperour of Turky And if this be not sufficient to returne the ignominie cast vpon others Let it be weighed vprightly and it shall appeare that all the correspondence and trade of all the Princes in amity with the Grand Signior together doth not bring to him halfe the profit and securitie as the dissentions and Intrusions of the House of Austria wherwith they keepe all Christendome in continuall feare or warre Wherby that common Enemie liues in safety and at ease watching aduantages vpon all indifferently About the time that Phillip the second the holy League to depriue Henry the Fourth of the Crowne of France failing him in the Reigne of Mehemet Grand father of Morat now liuing a certaine rich Portugall lew Don Aluaro Mendes resident in Constantinople pretending occasion to send another of his Tribe called Iehuda Serfati vpon priuate affaires but practised by the Ministers of Spaine into that Country as soon as he arriued at the frontire by the Kings order he was created
and the heart which being cut off or wounded cause desolution so it is possible to find a way to weaken that Monster which cannot bee killed at one blow Great preparations at mighty expences giue too great warning are subiect to many accidents and hazard too much reputation And if one State know any one Designe that may much annoy the Enemy it is like the other is not ignorant of their owne weaknesses Wise Gamesters play not all at a Cast the By often helpes the Maine Therfore both rule example hath taught vs that Spaine is more easily wasted then any part of their Christian Dominion conquered while the streame of money is open and vndiuerted But if this long and sure course threaten also a reciprocall Consumption yet that warre in Europe will bee most profitable for vs which shall be made nearest our owne Kingdome both for the keeping our forces vnited and at hand and for the easinesse of supplies in all Euents and out of Europe by a Roiall Action it is not impossible at one stroke to behead the Indies To oppose them in their Counsels we must first obserue what they are Pierre Mat. Espagne practiquant tousiours sa vieille maxime de se maintenir par la querra de ses voisins Sedition separation and disunion are the dangerous weapons wherewith they prepare to themselues easie Conquests and these Arts haue their first efficacie vnder the pretence of Treaty then is the Spaniard most to be suspected because they know how hostibus prodere prima belli tempora Tacit. and if they can raise any iealousie or variance to remoue any one all are weakned rebusque turbatis malum extremum discordia accessit The contrary then which is a firme and constant League is onely powerfull and able to arrest them In the Colleagued warre of the Common-wealths of Greece against the vnited power of the Spartans some of the Confederates who lay next the danger beginning to wauer this sentence of their common safetie was giuen Pelib vnicam spem superesse video omnibus agnisui longum tempus possidendi si Epaminondae consilio vsi omnium temporum omniumque rerum societatem sinceram inâ—er se colant To hope to diuide indivisihile is lost labour the Designes of Spaine are one vnited in the head in genere generalissimo the House of Austria which cannot be distracted They haue no other maine and important adherent but the Pope and his Ecclesiasticall Dependents and these also make but one and meet in the Center concurring in common and mingled ends And they greatly erre who suppose that it is euer possible to finde a Pope vnpartiall for Spaine or to fauour any other Prince against them Let Vrban the Eighth serue for an example rais'd and fed by France yet fallen to their enemies per ragione distato One fresh and pregnant instance will discouer both this vnitie and the aduantage of Spanish Counsells When the Treaty of Madrid for the liberty of the Valteline was not performed and roundly pressed by the French some difficulties remaining to prolong the possession the Forts of that Vally were by consent deliuered to the Pope tanquam communi Patri in Depositâ— This seemed very equall but the French were ouer-reached For they hoped vpon the iustice of their Cause and that a sentence would timely be giuen for them which was impossible For the Spaniard was content that the Deposition should remaine for euer to his vse and he knew that the Pope by accepting it was engagâ—d neuer to surrender to the Grisons because the spirituall Father could neuer deliuer his Children behold another title to the subiection and will of Heretiques and if the French should at last vse force his Holinesse was doubly intangled both in honor and conscience to vnite with Spaine to maintaine his Depositation This the French did not foresee and fel vpon a disaduantage to recouer it from the Pope a matter of dangerous consequence Who at last takes Armes in the Cause as the World knowes But when both the Pope and Spaine saw such a generall storme and Colleguation and foresaw that there was no remedie but to lose it by Armes which being victorious might quarrell with Millan or finde new obiects of their disdaine they resolued rather to surrender it and to seeme to yeeld to Iustice But who must doe it The Pope by no meanes can consent to deliuer part of his flocke to wolues so his Ambassage protested in France therefore by secret conniuence and agreement the King of Spaine doth suddenly seale the old Articles and makes the Transaction before Barbarini shall arriue to saue the Popes honor For a temporall Prince may saluâ conscientiâ restore Heretiques to their temporall rights which the Pope a higher pretender ouer soule body and goods cannot doe By this cunning they hope to separate the Princes vnited the quarrell being in outward appearance ended and by this Intelligence it is euident that the Spirituall and temporall serue one another and take turnes and shift Interests for mutuall aduantage But if examples proue not categorically let it be considered that the spirituall and temporall Monarchies affected by Rome and Spaine haue such mutuall interest and affinitie and are so woven one within the other that though natural affection or other respects of gratitude may for a time retard perhaps striue against an open declaration yet when necessitie exacteth a resolution the essence and mystery of the Papacie will preuaile It must forsake father and mother and cleaue to this double supremacie for Rome and Spaine must stand and fall together To proceed when the Romans first transported their Legions into Greece they were called in by diuision to restore that shew of liberty to a part which they absolutely tooke from all Greece Separation and disunion by them fomented opened a Port to a Dominion which vnited was like their Phalanx not to be broken And certainly this day the Spaniards haue more hope to diuide the Princes colleagued then to vanquish them To which vse they haue two dangerous Instruments Money for the Traitor and a Pope for the Conscience It is obserued that Spaine will buy Treasons dearer then other Nations doe Faith Omne scelus externum cum laetitia habetur And another noteth Tacit. that with a bit of parchment the Pope will reduce any Kingdome to him disobedient to the State of Nauarre when the true King Iohn Albret and Queene Katherine were expelled Pierre Math. l'excommunication du Pape Iules 1. aquant eu plus de forces que les armes de Castille And they are not ashamed to glory with Philip of Macedon another oppressor that the victories gotten with words are more sweet then those of the Sword For euery Souldier can fight and share the honor but Arts and deceits of Treaties are onely proper to the Prince and his Counfell I will not enter into a search of the Treaties of Spaine nor how they are maintained
I will not censure Equivocation nor rip vp our owne wounds onely I may haue leaue to note that anciently some States were branded there was prouerbially Fides Punica and Faedus Locrense and therefore I admonish all good Townes which capitulate to haue no Cittadell built within their walls to prouide that none bee built vpon them By what blood I know not the Kings of Spaine are become heires vnto Francis Sforza Duke of Milan of whom when Lewes the Eleuenth of France pressed by the Confederate warre du bien public wherein his brother the Earle of Caralois and the Duke of Bretagny were engaged desired aydes of money hee supplied the King with a good Counsell Comines to agree to any conditions with any of the League to disband or to sowe a iealousie among them preseruing onely his Armes entire with which wheÌ„ they were separated he might humble them singly at his pleasure adding that Princes lost no reputation when they attained their ends The History is vulgar and the successe of that aduice was the flight of the Duke of Berry the staine of Charles of Burgundy and the beggery of Bretagny I am perswaded the Spaniards haue concocted the Doctrine and would come to an agreement with any of the Leagues to disunite them and the Breach once made is not easily repaired Perhaps in this Coniuncture they would if honour would suffer it consent to make a generall peace vntill Armes were deposed But here is the present danger to loose an opportunity not to bee recouered in many yeares The Counsell of Spaine doth know at how great expence of time and charge of Ambassages these Leagues haue beene composing which once dissolued and lulled asleepe in security would slowly returne to the present perfection Therefore there is great Caution to be vsed in giuing eare to the Enchantments of a Spanish Treaty For some lye nearer punishment some make easier Conditions but all singly shall feele the reuenge of their particular Interests in the generall offence Polib Occasione â—nim inuitati eos vlium ineunt qui per occasionem temporum ipsis nocuer ant The truce that Amilcar gaue the Romans Idem when the Insubrian and Alpine Nations hung ouer them like a Cloud Vine patriam retinere sine periculo potuissent did more aduance their future Empire then the three Battailes of his sonne Haniball did hinder it because hee gaue them leaue to grow and to haue no Enemy but Carthage Therefore I haue resolued there is no safety in any sudden accord nor profit in accepting wasted Countries vntill some ambitious blood bee let out and the Spanish Realls consumed and that Nation and all the World brought to know that it is possible to resist their greatnesse Polib and to abate their pride and that in themselues they are truely humbled Hoc igitur si quid aliud qui Remp regunt solicitè obseruandum meminerint vt quos animos efferant qui in gratiam positis inimicitiis redeunt aut nouam amicitiam ineunt ne ignorent quando temporibus cedentes quando victis animis pacis conditiones amplectantur vt ab illis quidem seu temporum suorum Insidiatoribus semper sibi caueant But seeing the end of all iust war is a good and safe peace qua nihil pulchrius nihil vtilius the meanes thereunto treaty and the assurance thereof publique faith when it shall be necessary to negotiate a reconciliation with Spaine Let it be accepted for a Rule and foundation that the one part is neuer secure what the other would haue esse dolum quia credidiâ— hostis and when all reasons of State are narrowly enquired and outward Counsells waighed with vtilâ— and honestum yet there is a secret fit to bee reuealed That the Kings of Spaine haue a Councell of Conscience which may approue or annull all that is or shall bee transacted and dormant dispensations which haue reference to Contingences in ordine ad spiritualia to continue or dissolve all Conclusions and this Retraict is formed like waxe to take the Impression of the present aspect and necessity of affaires In the last treaty betweene France and Spaine in which Amiens was surprised when King Phillip saw the vigorous resolutioÌ„ of Henry the fourth to recouer the Townes in Picardy by the sword and that he had giuen expresse Command to the President de Silerye to consent to no Conuention so long as one foote of ground vnsurrendered remained in the possession of the Spaniards considering that the bounds of that Prouince were the entrance into Artois Pierre Math. and that victorious Armies extend their pretences with prosperity especially the Title of Soueraignty inuiting and iustifying that progresse he consulted first his Councell of State for the restitution who loath to remit any thing of their stiffnesse interposed the respects of honour and so it was necessary not to confesse inability to keepe them but the wise King knowing to contend might draw the quarrell into the bowells of Flanders resoluing both to preuent the occasion and to saue his reputation called his Councell of Conscience to deliuer their opinion who concluded that hee could not by the Lawes of Religion vsurpe nor dye with quietnesse of soule if he restored not to euery man his owne and so those places were piously surrendered which could not safely be maintained But Conscience extended no further then present question When the same Catholique King found it necessaty for Spanish reason of State that his own braue and eldest sonne should dye Nature and honour both contended against the Sentence but obligations were pretended and found aboue humanity as the Act was without humanity The Councell of Conscience and to these a Iunto of Diuines were added to resolue the render Conscience of a Father whether hee might with safety of Conscience pardon his owne Child of offences not yet fully published and therefore for euer suspected Idem These Ephori pronounced with weeping eies que le salut deson peuple luy deuoit estre plus cher que celuy duson filz and the geatest fauour the Prince could obtaine was to choose his death that which was preferred and enioyed by Caesar facinus intra gloriam fuit Before Alua appeared neere Portugall with his Army the Duke of Ossuna and Don Christofero di Mora Cones were imploied to buy a party for the Catholique King and they promised mountaines of Gold to withdraw some of the Lords from Don Antonio When the kingdome was setled these did demand their recompence and pleaded their Contracts in the name and by vertue of the Kings order Who remitted them not to the Counsell of State for they must iustifie their owne Acts but to that of Conscience Who gaue sentence that if the Crowne belonged to Don Antonio they could not rightfully conferre it vpon Phillip If Phillip were the true heire the Petitioners could not sell their Allegiance to their owne Prince for money so that both wayes they
and monies of that Neighbour Potentate who per ragion dâ—stato makes any thing lawfull how contrary soeuer to the honour of God and maintenance of his holy Catholique faith returned to reassemble in the City of Tauos where in their new Diett they haue not onely reconfirmed all the cuills of that of Tosana but added others making Heads of the Persecution Executioners of their Arrests against Catholiques the same hereticall Ministers and by this occasion their tyrannicall gouernment is so visibly established particularly by the Assistance and purse of that Potentate the principall Cause of so many cuills to the Christian Common Wealth that the Subiects can expect no other but a declination to a worse Condition and suddainely to arriue at the height and extremity of all cuills now already approaching Admitting what hath bin already coÌ„pendiously deliuered yet in such maner that the Reader can neuer apprehend the degree whereto their tyrannicall gouernment was truely ascended that seeing as was in the beginning said all diuine and humane law did permit the Valtelines to withdrawe themselues by all possible meanes from so great a Tyranny it will appeare so cleare to euery one that it will bee too much vanity to heape vp reasons proofes and authorities in a matter in it selfe vndoubted euen when it were discussed betweene true Subiects and Vassalls and their naturall and absolute Lord. But now by so much more shall it appeare lawfull when two things shall bee considered the one that the ancient Capitulations of the Valley with the Grisons following the end hereof doe show rather a confederation between them then a true subiection and doe speake in such sort that the Empire exercised by them in the Valley is discouered to bee a meere vsurpation particularly the Valtelines doe binde themselues to the Grisons with limitation to things lawful honest besides the obligation is made â—oyntly to the Bishop of Coira and the Three-leagues where now these Tyrants hauing de facto excluded with Sacrilegious exulation their Bishop haue alone vâ—urped that which neither to them nor him was granted The other thing is that whatsoeuer the Valtelines yet haue done hath beene prosecuted onely with Intelligence and helpe of the founder part of the Grisons themselues and nor to rebell against their Lords for such certainly the Three-Leagus neuer were but simply to reduce themselues to the true State declared in their Capitulations so far forth as the mutations alterations and other Accidents would permit them The Agreements between the Bishop of Coira and the Community of the Three Leagues of the one part and of the Valtoline of the other in the yeare 1513. Which appeare by the indented Instrument at Iant of the Grison League kept in the Rolls of Coira PRimò quod homines vallis Tollinae Communitatis Tily velint debeant Renerendissime Domino Episcopo Curiensi tribus Lighis perpetuis temporâ—bus in omnibus singulis licitis honestis parere obedire Secundò quod praelibati homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tiliâ— sint esse debeant nostri Vlz Reuerendissims Domini Episcopi Curiensis omnium trium Ligarum cari fideles Confaederati tales permanere pro tempore quo necesse fuerit ad Dietas nostras vocari in Concilsjs pariformiter seders emsulere omne id quod eis Communitatibus magis expediens vidditur quando ad Dietas sic pront supra vocabuntur tâ—â— debeant de quolibet Tertierio Communitate Tillij vnum mittere Consiliarium Tertiò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij gaudeant vtantur coruÌ„ priniligijs antiquis consuetudinibu sisaltem fuerint de iure laudabiles Deoconsonae Quartò quod praelibatus Reuerendiss D. Episcopus Curieusis omnes Lighaesint esse debeant dictis hominibus vallis Tellina Communitatis Tilij adiutorie consilio erga Caesaream Maitstatem Ducatum Mediolans aut alibi vbicunque oportuerit liberi fiant à taleis similibus vti homines trium Ligarum Quintò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij teneantur singulis annis dare soluere Reuerendissimo Episcope Curiensi omnsbus tribus foederibus Tainenses mille in promptis denarijs persoluendos per quemlibet seu quoslsbet habentes bona in dicta Valle ad ratam bonorum suorum exemptum non exemptum TO THE MOST MIGHTY CATHOLIQVE King of Spaine D. PHILIP THE THIRD Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie THE Manifest printed in the name of the Valteline wherein the Reasons of the Resolutions lately by them taken against the tyraâ—ny of the Grisons and Heretiques are alledged hath giuen great stanâ—â—ll to all wâ—â—emen who easily doe comprehend from whence and why it was put to the Pirsse the Valtelines hauing no notice at all much lesse any part therein Whereupon hauing proposed seriously to discourse and to bring to light that truth which others doe endeanor to wâ—ap vp in darknesse I haue thought it an act of Iustice and of no little sâ—â—uice to your Maitstae whose minde truly religious it may be feared lest it become deceiued with a false apparance of Pietie and Religion with which the Deuill a perpetuall enemy of Princes well enclined vseth oftentimes to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and to offer his help as a guide in the right path of Iustice and honestie to no other end but to draw them without discouery into the crooked way of iniquitie and tyranny But the better to ground my Discourse I will beginne somewhat high and imitate that good Architect who purposing to build a strong Tower by how much he designeth to raise the top so much lower he layeth the foundation That of Religion ô Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie is certainly a very powerfull obiect the which though sayned and disguised euer raiseth a great commotion in the mondes of them who there of make profession For this cause many Princes of the world eyther by the counsell of ill ministers or through the greedinesse of their owne desires wherwith they embrace Prouinces Kingdomes and Empires and yet not satiated when they want all other iust title to make warre and to seize by violence that which they cannot pretend by Iustice suddenly they take the pretence of Religion vnder which Cloake they doe not onely seeke to couer their vniust Actions and to make them appeare lawfull and holy but therewith they inuite all men to fauour their attempts Many times also with an affection of holy zeale with true and vnfained Religion with most iust and honest Titles they vndertake some Enterprises truly holy But the Deuill who still practiseth to draw poyson from the fairest flowers and serueth himselfe with good for an instrument of euill in the end reduceth that very Religion to proper interest that zeale of Pietie hee conuerteth to zeale of Ambition and the most iust Titles hee vseth to the seruice of Tyrannicall Monarchy Therefore where
ordinarily the question of the Acquisition of States is handled a iust Prince ought very well to consider if hee haue lawfull cause and honest right to possesse them and where hee knowes no other Title then that of Religion much more hee ought to be aduised that it bee not a faire and honest Couer of a foule and wicked Couetousnesse Don Pedro the tenth King of Aragon and third of that name hauing raised the greatest forces in his power passed therewith into Affrica to make warre vpon the Moores the ancient enemies of our Christian Religion For which holy purpose he receiued great Aides of money from S. Lewis the most Christian King of France What more worthy action could be haue vndertaken Who would haue found occasion to blame him yet vnder the herbe lav hid the Serpent Iosephus Boufilis Hist Sicil. par 1. li. 8. Genzale de Igliescas Hist Pontif. par 1. lib 5. cap. 45. M. Anton. Sabel p. 2. Encad 9. li. 7. This King had sometime before sent into Sicily Iohn Precita who offended by Charles of Anioy his Lord desired to be reuenged disguised in the habit of a Fryar to stirre the mindes of that Nation to rebell who for some ill vsage did shew themselues distasted with the French Gouernment Iohn Precita effected his businesse The Rebellion of the Sicilians and the destruction of the French followed King Charles armed for the recouery of his lost Kingdome and the Rebells to resist him In the meane while Poter of Aragon that scarcely hauing touched the Coast of Affrica was retyred to Sardinia to be nearer Sieily obseruing the time and occasion of his designe fitting suddenly went to Palerme where hee was receiued with great ioy and gladnesse and published and proclaimed King of the Siciltans who flocked to him from all parts of the Island See now your Maiestie with what insidious and cursed Art vnder the colour of Religion the King Don Pedro faining to haue taken Armes against the Enemies of Christianity tooke that Kingdome from a Christian King and foedary of Holy Church and which is more with the help of that Gold which he had receiued from the most Christian King right Brother of King Charles Whereupon the blessed Pope Martin the fourth a man of renowned sanctitie of whom as the Spanish Pontificall Igliescas â—bi supra and other Histories doe report were seene many miracles after his death did excommunicate and depriue him of his Kingdomes and absolue his Subiects of their Oath of Allegiance giuing power to any Prince to persecute him as a common Enemy Perhaps the holy Bishop thought that with this rigour the King Don Pedro would be brought to acknowledge his error and to restore what he had ill gotten But it proued without any fruit for hee which made it lawfull vhiustly to vsurpe the rights of others did little feare Ecclesiasticall censures for their restitution And what more Catholique and more pious Enterprise could bee imagined then that of India for the enlargement or the sacred Gospell What iuster title then that which the highest Bishop Alexander the Sixt did grant to the Catholique Kings Ferdinand and Isabell in the new world ordeyning them as supreme Emperors ouer those Kings and Infidell Kingdomes But after what thing was more vniust then the Conquest of the immediat Dominion of those Countries I call it a Conquest to enter with warre to subdue the people before they were allured with the peacefull voice of preaching and to take away the life of lawfull Lords and Naturall Princes to vsurpe their States notwithstanding they did not hinder the promulgation of the Gospell but rather were ready to receiue the holy Faith And it is a certaine truth that when also they were not conuerted whilst yet they did not oppose the progresse of Christian Religiou they could not be by the way of warre subiected that being contrary to the will of Christ who said Speciosi pedes Euangelizantium pacem And much lesse could they bee spolled of their Dominion seeing the same Christ when he came into the world did declare that the empire also of the Gentiles is iust lawfull commanding euen his own Apostles to pay tribute to Casar Neither is it to bee beleeued that the Pope when hee granted to the Catholique Kings the Soueraign Empire of the Indies had any thought to preiudice the immediate Dominion of Gentile Princes because he could not doe it The which the great Atabalâ—â—a King of Peru did know by the onely light of nature to whom Friar Vincenze di val verde made the most sottish and abominable oration to reduce him to the holy faith that could be imagined amongst other Curious things which he spake this was one El Papa que ey biue did a nuestro potentissime Rey de Espana Emperader delos Romanos y Monarca del mundo Jgliescas p. 2. lib. 6. c. 26. Sect. 14. la conquista destas tierras El Emperador embia agora Francesco Picaro à rogares seays su amigo y trsbutario y que obedezeays al Papa yrecibays la feè de Christo y creays en ella porque uereys como es sanctissima y que la que vos agora teneys es mas que falsa Si esto todo no hazeys sabed que os hemos de dar guerra yos que braremos los Idolos y os for çaremos a que dexeys la Religion diuâ—estros falsos Dioses That is The Pope this day liuing hath granted our most mighty King of Spaine Emperor of the Romans and Monarch of the World the Conquest of these lands now our Emperor doth send Francesco Pisaro to desire you to be his friend and Tributary to obey the Pope to receiue the faith of Christ and to beleeue therein because you shall see that it is most holy and yours most false If you doe not all this know that wee must make warre vpon you wee will breake your Idols and enforce you to leaue the religion of your false Gods Who euer heard a holier and wiser Sermon Como siel hijo de Dios que murio per cadauno dellos Vesceuo di Chiappa nel lib della destructione di India ouiera en su lcy mandado quando dixo Euntes docete omnes gentes que se hiziessen requerimientos à los inficles pacisices y quietos y que tienen fus tierras propias y si no la ricibiessen Iuego sin etra predication y dotrina y si no diessen a si melmes al senorie del Rey que nuvca oyeron ni vieron espetialmente cuya gente y mensaieros son tan crueles tan desapiadados y tan horribles Tirannos perdiessen per el mesmo caso la hazienda y las tierras la libertad las mugeres y hijos con todas sus vidas que es cosa absurda y estulta y digna de todo vituperio escarnio y infierno That is As if the Sonne of God who dyed for euery one of
to vsurpe the State of others doth moue them also to vsurp the Pontisisall Iurisdiction O God if yet they did vse it well Holy Church doth continually pray for the extirpation of heresie not so of Heretiques But those Ministers with too much excesse of holy zeale will first vsurp the Estates of Heretiques and destroy their persons throughly to roote out their heresies Quidsaeuiunt vt stultitiam suam dum minuere volunt Lact. ipst Diu li. 5 C. 20. augeant longè diuersa sunt carnificina pietas nec potest aut veritas cum vi aut Iustitia cum credulitate coniungi Here a Consideration comes into my head which makes me astonished The Euangeliques among the Grisons so your Ministers affirme and I beleeue it are the superiour party These as wee say are impions wicked and our Capitall Enemies they desire our harme and our vtter ruine They might perhaps haue beene able with little difficultie with their owne force and with the ayde of those of Zurich and Berne obliged to them by loue by law and particular Confederation vtterly to ruine destroy and annihilate the Roman faction in their Countrey and to become Lords alone of the whole Dominion And yet these wicked these impious these Enemies of the true saith haue had so much humanitie that they haue abstayned and haue beene contented that the Roman Catholiques liue freely and quietly among them and to haue them friends and Companions in the politique Gouernment And those of Zurich and Berne no whit better then the Euangelique Grisons haue neuer promoued nor counselled them to Alterations On the contrary the true Sonnes of the holy Roman Church instructed in the meeknesse patience and benignity of Christ Men charitable pious and holy doe make it lawfull to rise against those who molest them not to rebell from those who admit them into fellowship of Gouernment to procure the losse of State to those who being able haue neuer attempted to expell them out of the State And the Ministers of your Maiestie who professe to bee the most true Catholiques this day liuing in the World are they who instigate foment and ayd yea who principally doe opperate in these so honest Rebellions and with warre fire and ruines doe pronounce that it is requisite to defend the holy Religion O quam honesta voluntate miseri errant Lactant. vbi supra sentiunt enim nihil esse in rebus humanis Religione praestantius eamque summa vi oportere defendi sed in defensionis genere falluntur Defendenda enim Religio est non occidendo sed moriendo non saeuitia sed patientia nonscelare sed fide Illa enim malorum sunt haec bonorum necesse est bonum in Religione versari non malum N am si sanguine si torment is si malo Religionem defendere velis iam non defendetar illa sed polluetur atque violabitur Nihil est enins tam voluntarium quam Religio in qua si animus Sacrificantis auersus est iam sublata iam nulla est The Polititians say Salust de con Catil li. 1. that Imperium his artibus retinetur quibus initio partum est So is it consequent to say of our Religion the which was planted not by killing but dying not with crueltie but patience not in wickednesse but faith With these Arts Christ laid the foundation with these the Apostles and those holy fathers of the Primitiue Church did build vpon it and since their Successors from these wayes haue declined it is diminished restrayned and in many places vtterly extinct Religion is more free then the will of man because the forced will remaines still a will but enforced Religion is no more Religion for in the will the Act is regarded and in Religion the minde And therefore If the mind of the sacrificer be auerse the efficacie is taken away and annihilated Then the Ministers of your Maiestie doe erre in these their cruell proceedings against Heretiques They too farre wander from the path in which Christ hath guided them Let your Maiestie bee aduised not to suffer your selfe to bee drawn into the same error by giuing them faculty power to prosecute so bloody Enterprises Command them by your Roiall authority to leaue so preposterously to fauour Christian Religion For now the world doth know their ends and Christ himselfe doth hate detest and abhorre them And when they shall endeauour to perswade you otherwise bee not easie to giue them credit seeing as I haue already shewed vnder holy pretences they doe counsell Deuillish actions Let your Maiestie giue full credence to their Aduices when they shall perswade you to imploy your forces against the Mahometans Capitall and continuall Enemies of Christianitie when they shall say that therein you ought to spend those many Millions which you draw from the Church for that holy end when they shall excite you to dresse your Fleets and Armies to recouer so many Prouinces vsurped by Infidells vpon miserable Christians But why doe I say recouer them I tremble O Sacred Maiestie to speake it but it may not be passed in silence I feare that they rather will counsell you to take from the Christians Arzila in Affrica enforceth me to speake wrested from the possession of the Portugalls by the King Don Phillip the second and giuen to Muley Achmett King of Marocco I well know what they will answer that he gaue it because he could not defend it But if a King of Portugall did keepe it how can it be that a Monarch of Spaine of the new World and of so many other Kingdomes and Prouinces should be vnable No no wee are not deceined how matters did then passe with the Pertugalls doth too clearely shew the truth Phillip did feare that Muley might succour Don Antonio who did claime the Kingdome of Portugall wherfore to extinguish that Christian King the Ministers did perswade King Phillip with the price of that Citie to buy the friendship of that Infidell Consider now your Maiestie this perfidious Counsell the which drew King Phillip into so euill considerations though otherwise an excellent Prince that hee became publikely reproached Giou. Hist li. 34. and it was said that he had learned this liberalitie to Barbarians of the most famous Emperour his father Charles the sift Iglies vita de Paolo 3 lib. 6. C. 27 sect 1. Giou. li. 37. Iglies nel Capit. preditto sect 9. who after the Conquest of the Citie of Tunis in Barbarie did presently tender it to the King Muleasses which he would not haue done if it had bin taken from any Christian Prince As he refused to restore Castelnouo to the Republique of Venice recouered from the Turkes at the instance of that Common-wealth and with the ayde of their owne Armado although by particular conuention thereunto obliged Then againe I say let your Maiestie take heed of the false Counsels of your Spanish Ministers who where reason of State is in question would
haue Princes vtterly depriued of Conscience Antonio de Leua discoursing Gie. Boteras detti memorabili l. 1. by occasion with Charles the sift Emperour concerning the Affaires of Italy did perswade him to put to death this and that Prince and to take possession of their States and to make himselfe Lord of all The Soule answered the Emperour What replied Leua hath your Maiestie a soule then renounce your Empiro This was truly too shamelesse an Impietie of Leua such I am sure as none of your Ministers would dare to propound to your Maiestie for knowing the great goodnesse of your most Catholique minde they should be sure to incurre your Roâ—all Indignation But it doth not therefore follow that they preserue not in their heads the same rules and that they doe not thereby gouerne all their Actions and thereunto conformable addresse all their Counsells the which are so much more dangerous in as much as they couer them vnder holy pretences as at present in the warre against the Grisons Wherefore your Maiestie hath so much more cause to feare and to take heed and so much more reason to accept in good part this Aduertisement But to returne to our Matter Let your Maiestie consider that to punish Heretiques as already I haue said is not the office of a secular Prince And therefore your Ministers doe ill to put their Sickle into anothers haruest and so much the worse be cause they know it And to deceiue the world they make it lawfull without the Pontificall authority to aduance he standard of the high Priest to iustifie a warre which they know to be vniust Wherefore his Holinesse whose Iurisdiction is directly offended ought not and cannot beare it And if hee haue and doe suffer many other things in the end a long abused patience is conuerted into a iust anger Besides let your Maiestie be aduised that all Heretiques are not to be treated as Rebells with extreame rigour but onely those who borne within the wornbe of the Church by their owne malice haue reuolted these which are borne nourished and brought vp in the Sect of their Parents it is true they erre but vnder an excuse of well doing they erre it is true but they knowe not their errour they are more worthie of Compassion then of penalty they deserue helpe and not punishment Multum enim interest inter illos qui in ignorantia sunt Chrisost 1. Math. Homil. 49 C. in ignorantia perierunt inter cos qui in veritate quidem nati sunt propter aliquod autem mundiale scientes ad mendacia tranfierunt perierunt in eis pereunt Illi enim forsitan aliquo modo habebunt remissionem isti antem nullam remissionem habebunt neque in hoc saeculo neque in futuro quoniam ipsi sunt qui blasphemauerunt in Spiritum Sanctum Illi enim iudicandi sunt quia veritatem non quaesierunt isti autem condemnandi quia spreuerunt Leuior enim culpa est veritatem non apprehendere quam contemnere apprehensam Let Preachers then be sent to instruct them let gentle meanes be vsed that they may hearken vnto them Let praiers be continually made for them and after leaue the case to God to illuminate them in the holy faith seeing that faith is the onely guift of God which he freely giues not giuen by Mars nor by the meanes of warre God did command that the Foxes which destroyed the Vines should be taken Cant. c. 2. not slâ—ine Capite nobis Vulpes paruulas quae demoliuntur Vineas Et siiuxta allegoriam S. Bernard tom 1. In Cant. ser 46. Ecclesias Vineas Vulpes Hereses seu potius Haereticos ipsos intelligamus simplex est sensus vt Hâ—retici capiantur potius quam effugentur capiantur dico non armis sed argumentis quibus reffellantur eorum errores Ipsi vero si fieri potest Ecclesiae Catholicaereconcilientur reuocentur ad veram fidem haec est enim voluntas eius qui vult omnes homines salnos 〈◊〉 ad agnitionem veritatis peruenire And a little after Quod si reuerti noluerit nec conuictus post primamiam secundam admonitionem vtpote qui omninò subuersus est erit seeundum Apostolum deuitandus This is the way ô Sacred Maiestie to proceed against Heretiques which this holy man doth teach and not that by the rigor of Armes which your Ministers practice Esteeme it a truth that to vse crueltie against Heretiques doth euer make them more peruerse And if this in no place should be done much lesse there where Heretiques and Catholiques are together mingled with libertie of Religion because our persecutioÌ„ of them for Religion doth teach them to do the like as well for preseruation of their own which they esteeme as good as we doe ours as for the securitie of their States liues From which so many losses haue hapned to the Church of God that it is a consideratition worthy of many teares Poore Germany into what state is it reduced by this occasion which perhaps but why do I say perhaps certainly certainly had bin in much better estate if therewith other proceedings had been vsed I call not England to witnesse the storie is too notorious What hath rained Flanders but a will to introduce with too much rigor the Spanish Inquisition And the Citie of Naples for the same cause hath it not fallen into generall tumult which if it had further proceeded to day by Gods grace it remaines Catholique that perhaps we had found with all that noble Kingdome full of heresie May it please the Diuine Maiestie that the present warre against the Grisons proue not a fire of faith and Religion in all Italy The Deuall hath prepared the wood the Ministers of your Maiestie haue kindled the flame If presently there be not some ready to extinguish it this paper God make me a liar which some will esteem foolishnes others call malignitie will perhaps be found a Prophesie from heauen But of this enough hath beene said let vs proceed to the rest The second head of Tyranny doth follow Great matters are related in the Manifest printed in the name of the Valtelines But seeing there is not one particular case obiected nor any thing proued it might be said the whole is false but wee will not vse that aduantage because wee know many things are most true Lucio da Monte with the money of forraine Princes supplied him by Pompeio Planta to the summe of two thousand florens distributed among particulars did procure the office of supreme Prouinciall Iudge of the Grison League binding himselfe to administer that charge not according to right and Iustice and the libertie of his Country but conformable to the will of the said Planta Whence it is confirmed for truth that the Gouernment was conferred vpon him who did offer the greatest price that from thence a thousand Tyrannies did proceed against the goods and liues of the Subiects there is
may and ought to depriue the Prince his Vassall because the inuestiture of the fee is not granted for the peoples ruine but that they should bee gouerned with lustice wherefore if the feudatory vse iniustice and ill entreatment he falls from his Iurisdiction and the Soueraigne Prince may thereof depriue him and not doing it beeing able hee shall bee a wicked Prince and no lesse guiltie of the euill before God which he suffered his feudatory to doe then hee the feudatory himselfe is who acts it Now let your Maiestie apply this doctrine which is wholy conformable to reason and law to the Actions of your Ministers to the condition of your Subiects and to the right of other Princes ouer your Estates in Italy and you shall clearely see how your Ministers are damnable your Subiects miserable and how much other Princes are obliged to releeue them My words perhaps will seeme bitter but I beseech your Maiestie to consider if they be true and finding them so to take them in good part as bitter medicines fiery Canteries sharp lances vse to be gratefully receiued from the hands of Physitians Chirurgions to procure health be assured you shall find them most profitable because your Maiestie fully informed of the truth will correct your Ministers comfort your Subiects and ease other Princes of the necessitie to vse their supreame Iurisdiction The Cause of Subiects and of Ministers are together vnited because those are gouerned and these Gouernours whence as Correlatiues they goe paripasse I will then briefly represent to you Maiestie the Gouernment of your States in Italy so farre as is expedient to the present matter The State of Milun in the time of the Emperour Charles the sift began to bee ill intreated from whence that sad lamentable and despairefull Ambassage which they sent by Baptista Archinto to Nazan is recorded who onely because he did lament in the name of his afflicted Countrey was receiued with an ill eye sent back without remedy and by the Imperiall Ministers at his returne sharply reprehended which might haue occasioned the Rebellion of that people if they had found any better Prince who would haue receided them Hac vbi sub ipsum Caesaris à Nicea discessum ex legatione veâ—â—â—â— per vrbas Cisalpinae Galliae svulgate sunt Iouius Hist lib. 37. vsque adtò tamum ex vei indignitate odium Caesaricrâ—uit vt omnes ex rarum desperations fucise defect 〈◊〉 upoareret si mitior clemenotr qui dâ—dentes reeiperet Dominus offereretur immoderatis siâ—â—dem puoe bâ—llbque rributis upprossi nonn etiam tum mmstruae exactionis onerâ—â— periutâ—rant quae nunquam desitâ—aboni morâ—ales 〈◊〉 donoe vincret Câ—sar atque Italiae Imperis poteretur A feet also a second time when Strozzâ— Pallaâ—icino Visenti who made warre for the King of France approached to Millan all the Imperiall Ministers held that Citie as bad as loft onely because it did feele the yoake of Spanish Dominion too violent and heavy Assiduis at que intollerandis trubutis alienata Jouius lib. 45. parata credi poterat ad nouandas res vt inuictum pergraue Hispanici Regm ingum excuteret If from that time to this their grieuances are diminished or augmented your Maiestie best knowes To what termes that State is at this day reduced who doth not know let him consider this that already many and many year as it hath suffered great numbers of Spanish Souldiers lodged in the houses of poore particular men at discretion Discretion of Souldiers and Tyranny are one and the same thing who hath not proued it let him pray to God fust to die and hee shall die happier then euer to haue proued it And let him be content to beleeue for faith that vnder such discretion goods and honour are dispatched and hardly is life secure I passe ouer the burthen of new Tributes I leaue the Rapine of Ministers who like blood-suckers haue exhausted the veines of that plentifull bodie because in comparison of lodging Souldiers at discretion I esteeme all to bee nothing and he who is able to endure to see them eate the sustenance of his poore family and that which exceeds all other Tyranny to grow familiar with his wife daughters and Sisters it may be said that he is growne insensible of any iniury I remember to haue read in the warres which were so sharpe betweene the Venetians and Genoueses that these did take a Citie of their Enemies and held it the space of tenne yeares subiected to discretion whence it is credible that besides other matters they did dispose of their wiues according to their pleasures for which cause to this day though now two hundred and fifty yeares are ouerpast there cannot bee done a greater Inuiry to those people then to call them Genoueses Bastards and notwithstanding that staine with length of time and the continued peace of that Citie which neuer since felt the offence of Enemie hath beene oftentimes worne out and washed away yet vpon euery occasion they resent the onely memory of that ancient Iniury done to the honour of their women which seemes indelible and eternall If I then say that the greatest of all the Tyrannies which the State of Millan doth now suffer is to haue their wiues at the Souldiers discretion I shall not speak much wide of the purpose because it is a matter very likely that in times to come the Millaneses may bee called Spanish Bastards If this be tolerable let your Maiestie consider Wee proceed to Sicily Let it not be grieuous to your Maiestie that I speake this truth that if this day there were any other Prince as ready to solicit the destruction of Spanyards as there was once a Spanish King to procure that of the French sodainly and easily wee should see another Scicilian Vesper the causes are the same and are not newly begunne Let the Insurrection of Messina bee remembred then when the Vice King Don Iuan de Cardona Ioseph Bonfigl Hist Sicil. p. 1. lib. 10. would oppresse that Kingdome with intolerable Tributes And let it bee considered with what pride and with how great disdaine he vsed the Messinesi because they defended the libertie of their Kingdome For which cause iustly prouoked they did generously to his face vpbraid him that he acted another Phallaris another Dionisius Don Vgo de Moncada who would not start Bonfigl p. 2. lib. 1. onely to heare this name this was that impious man that sacked Rome was also Vice-Roy how can it bee thought that hee handled them Let vs obserue the words of the History Hee was by Nation a Catalonian by birth a Barcellonese a man most ambitious greedy of Riches and immoderately enclined to dishonest Luxury Hee gouerned Sicily with Crueltie Auarice and Impudent Iust Hee neglected so farre to punish the falsifiers of money vntill depriuing it of Commerce hee impouerished that Kingdome and that which more imported he made publike Mechandise of Graine insomuch that hee
exhausted Sicily and of a most fruitfull Countrey reduced it to the want of bread Couetousnesse was accompanied with other notorious vices so that hee became to the nobilitie and people hatefull which being knowne vnto him when the death of the Catholique King was published hee durst not appeare abroad for feare of receiuing some notable afront Here the Author proceedeth to the Insurrection of that Kingdome against so strange a Monster who disguised in the habit of a Seruant saued himselfe by flight and after got away to his King in Flanders In whose place was sent Hector Pinatello Earle of Monteleone who by publique Decree would ratifie all the Acts of Don Vgo how tyrannicall soeuer Whereupon the People who insteed of remedy saw the mischiefe confirmed made a new Commotion in the Citie of Palermo and the new Vice-King was inforced to escape to Messina vntill the Commons by the Nobility appeased and many Spanish Souldiers supplied him from the King he became strong and was able to vent his rage as he did with extreame rigor vpon the mutined And Don Vgo de Moncada who had so ill entreated the poore Sicilians in stead of punishment was rewarded with great riches and honored with the standard of Captaine Generall of the Sea They who at present liue by tradition of their old men and for as much as themselues haue proued doe testifie before God that that kingdome hath continually suffered grieuances cruel extortions but that the people had almost veterly forgotten them when they felt the heauy yoake of the Duke of Ossuna because in respect of extreame euills moderate may be called goodnesse They exclaime to the Heauens that he hath left the wretched Sicily desolate and rooted vp They complaine with miserable outcryes to haue more then once sent into Spaine to lament to your Maiestie and alwaies without fruit And since they remaine wholly confused and astonished with the consideration how he like another Don Vgo in stead of receiuing punishment should be honored and recompenced with the charge of the Vice-King of Naples And now it is time to discourse of Naples it selfe I should vndertake a great worke to recount that which I haue seene and tryed and perhaps I might seeme as passionate I will then mention onely that which I haue found in Histories that which the kingdome with full voice doth proclaime It was practiced lately in Naples to introduce the Inquisition al vso de Spania Igles p. 2 l. 6. c. 27 Sect. vlt. Bonfigl p. 2 l. 4. The people cryed out there was no need of so great rigour because by Gods grace that Kingdome was not full of Moores and Spaudo Christians The vice-Vice-King insisting on his purpose began to vse force the people instructed by nature armed to oppose against such violence The Pope informed of the business cōmanded the Vice Roy in vertue of holy obedience to be quiet and he well may doe it both as Prince of the Church in respect of Eaelesiasticall Iurisdiction and as temporall Prince that Kingdome being the proper faude of the Sea Apostolique yet for this the vice-Vice-King would not desist but with small and great Artillary attempted to bring his purpose to effect All the Citie rose in vptore Many houses were loueiled with the ground and men not a few slaine But sooner hee might destroy all then those generous mindes be subiected to his will so that he did great harme and obtained nothing Who shall well consider these Actions cannot be perswaded that Christian zeale transported the Vice-King to intermeddle in Ecclesiastique Iurisdiction and to desire to burden that people with a yoake little needfull and lesse reasonable against the will of the Vicar of Christ Soueraigne Prince as well in Temporals as Spiritualls in the Kingdome of Naples From whence it must be concluded that vnder that pretence the Vice-Roy had some other end which certainly could not be but little for the good of the Subiect I know not how to excuse of Tyranny that Action in the yeare 1585 Bau. Pontis p. 3. vita Siste 5 c. 5. when the officers drew out of that kingdome so great a quantitie of Corne to send into Spaine that although the yeare were most abundant the poore Citie of Naples did perish of famine A Crueltie indeed horrible to take from the Neapolitans their owne broad to feed their Spaniards Therefore not without cause that people conducted by necessitie to desparation rose all in tumult from whence the Vice-King this also was a Duke of Ossuna tooke after occasion to vent his sury putting to death forty sending to the Gallies a hundred and exiling infinite numbers The present State thereof imitates that of Sicily as the Duke of Ossuna succeeded in that Gouernment after Sicily To performe my promise I will say no more let that Inscription no lesse true then compassionate by the Kingdome it selfe published to the World speake which shall remaine of that Duke a perpetuall and famous Elogte Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri Petrus Gironus Dux Osscinensium Natione Hispanus Genere Perduellis Religione Turcicus Italici Dalmatici Germanici Fax Cruenta Bellorum Non. Vnius Sicilia Verres Neapoli Pollutis Templis Conspurata Nobilitate Depredato Aerario Monito Mauro Accersito Trace Veneta Vrbe Per. Insidias Ad. Excidium Tenta Regis Simplicitate Per. Corruptos Aulicos Diu. Multumque Delusa Hospitum Manubiis Per. Triennium Ditato Milite Compulsisque Populis Ad. Eorum Stationes Redimendas Foedata Infandis Exemplis Ah. Nimis Ad. Infandū Prona Ciuitate Nobilibus Aliquot Adse Vario Quà Munere Quà Vaframenta Pellectis Largitionibus Et. Vanis Spebus Plebe Delusa Atque Eorum Seditiosissimo Bis. Extra Sortem Renunciato Tribuno Denique Frustra Vetatis Armis Tentatis Arcibus Et. In. Armatos Ciues Per. Triduum Circumducta Acie Scelestorū Opportune Successoris Aduentu Cedere Solo. Et. Salo. Compulsus Aurum Nostrum Quod. Hic Corrasit Nequiter Alibi Lasciue Sparsurus Prouinciae Neapolitani Heu Quondam Regni Inermes Enerues Populorum Deglubiti Greges Palantes Balantes Teterrimas Suas Clades Ignotas Regi Longirquo Et. Torpenti Fascino Sandonallico Pagella Et. Calamo Quae. Sola Sunt Reliqua Representant Vrbi Et. Orbi Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri In so wofull manner sacred Maiestie Naples doth lament No lesse doth Sicily grieue and Millan equally complaine But of all their vexations the vnhappy people are afraid to speake All their iniuries with open voice it is not lawfull to expreise Scarcely they dare publikely bewaile their extreame miseries whence their hearts are more corroded Tacitus moeror lust lib. 8. luctus verentibus ne ipsae lachrymae pro contumacia hubeantur Crescit dissimulatione ipsa dolor hoc altius dimissus quo minùs profiteri licet Of these three principall Prouinces of Italy vnder the gouernment of the Emperour Charles the fift I find recorded in Historie that Insubres ex opulentissimis ad egestatem redacti