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
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
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
this then I inuoke with all my spirits the attentiue mind of your Maiestie for when I shall haue demonstrated that all the Reasons of the Manifest are ill grounded and false and what the truth of the businesse is it shall together appeare that the Causes of said Manifest cannot bee other then those about specified The Reasons drawne to excuse the Rebellion of the Valtelines are reduced to two Heads Religion and Tyranny Vpon these are made great Amplifications but all is affirmed without proose A manifest signe that it is spoken without foundation Concerning Religion it is said that the Grisons vtterly haue taken from the Valtelines the libertie of Conscience and haue procured that all should be infected with Heresie shewing in euery occasion fauour to Heretiques and the contrary to Catholiques vpon some of whom they haue insâ—â—tod most cruell and infamous death onely in hatred of the Religion I repedre not euery particular It is sufficient to take this Mauiâ—â— to which all other matters are reduced and in the Manifest may be distinctly read Conterning Tyranny it goeth painting out a kind of gouernment of the Grisons in the Valteline like to that which hâ—â—fore Verres vsed in Sirtly and to speake more modernly like to some practised as well by the Ministers of your Maiestie as of your Predecessors in their States of Italys as by this discourse you shall fully vnderstand perhaps with some notable benefit to your poore Subiects who are waiting some ease from your Roy all hand But before wee discourse particularly in those two points it is fit to consider That the Grisons though diuided in two Religions Roman and Bâ—â—â—golique may it please the diume Maiestie that in time they may all agree in the vaine of the true Apostolique yet in all matters in respect of the publique good of the State thee haue constantly stood vnited in the politique Gouernment With which Concord they haue so many yeares maintained themselues free Princes vndependent of other and highly estemed of all For which cause wee know with how much diligence and charge many great Priaces haue sought their friendship But of late yeares in this part some Ministers of your Maiestie malignant to see them colleagued now with France now with Venice moued with an immoderate zeale of your seruice to which they supposed that such Confederations might bring some preiudice and iudging it most important to your Crowne that you onely should haue the free passage through the straighes of the Valreline into Germany and thâ—â— to all other Princes they should at your pleasure bee shot haue gone contriuing Inuentions and insiduous Artifices to diuide the Grisons as well in the politique gouernment as in Religion to the end they might easily stide into vtter ruins To this effect the late count de Fuentes Gouernour of Millan erected that Fort which to this day beares his name so preiudiciall as nothing more to the State of the Grisons Hauing first with money corrupted some of the chiefe of that Countrey to the end that if the Lords would oppose themselues they should with various Arts be disturbed as it came right to passe by the labor of lo Baptista Preuestâ— Pompeio Rodolfo Planta Nichole Rusea and others noted in the Manifest of the Grisons of the yeare 1618. Instantly after which Don Pedro de Toledo Gouernor of Millan in the yeare 1617. did attempt to make a perpetuall league with the Grisons vpon Articles molded by the Lord Alfonse Casale Ambassador of your Maiestie in that Republique after his owne fashion In which there was nothing inserted in the fauour of the Grisons but a delusory promise to demolish the fort of Fuentes where with it seemed to him that they should condiscend to all other things how contrary soeuer to their libettie The same men who did fauour the building of the Fort did not faile to aduance also this Confederacie perswading many that by al meanes it ought to be embraced but the crooked practises of these Patriots Enemies of their Countrey being to the Grisons discouered they would not accept these Capitulations but forming a Iuridicary and Capitall Processe against these Rebels they found so many Machinations treasons and other wicked Actions by them wrought that proceeding to Iustice it was requisite with Banishments and death to giue them deserued punishment Prom that time till now that they remained exiled aided with money by the Ministers of your Maiestie with which they proceeded maintayning fresh practices with their friends and adherents and corrupting many others they haue sollicited continually to sowe dissention among this people thereby to raise some insurrection as finally hath succeeded in the Valteline The truth of all this is clearly collected from the forealleaged Manifest of the Actions of the Grisons in the yeare 1618. to which Credit cannot bedenied as the Ministers of your Maiesty desire seeing the things therein related are matters of fact and iuridically approued where these affaires haue beene handled without passion or respect of persons as euery dispassionate mind by the reading thereof will iudge The intent then of your Maiesties Ministers was not to establish a Confederacy with the Grisons which had in bin so they would haue procured by lawfull wayes vpon Conditions reasonable as other Princes vsed and not by interuention of particular persons corrupted with gisâ—s and vpon Articles so vnsanory as among them are seene But then purpose was so cunningly to frame them that they should not be accepted because being promoued by the factious party of men corrupt and reiected by the sound part dis-interressed and louers of the publique good there might arâ—â—â— a discord sowed by this art to cast these people into Confusion so that from their diuision according to the Gospell the desolation of the State might follow For the Ministers of your Maiestie fomenting one part against the other did hope to oppresse both the one and the other and highly to merit of you by enlarging in what way soeuer your Empire This Artifice O Sacred Catholique Kingh to disunict Subiects from their Princes to send them into destruction is most proper and practised by the Ministers of your Crowne and who would here recount how often and in what maner they haue plotted disunion in the Kingdome of France should weaue a large Historie The French Lords doe well know it and it is a common opinion amongst them who best vnderst and the Affaires of State that if all the Hugonotts of France should bee reduced to the Catholique Religion the Spanish Ministers would therewith be grieuously displeased seeing that of them they make principall vse as of most deare friends to embroile that Kingdome whensoeuer they haue any doubt that the French may moue his forces to the dammage of Spaine And they doe glory not to seare at all the Armes of his most Christian Maiestie not because the are inualid but that they know the way to keepeth 〈◊〉 busied at their pleasure in his owne houseâ—
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
an Ambassador from the Grand Signior and conducted in that qualitie to the Court and a Counsel held in what manner to giue him audience His name was already changed to Don Gabriell di Bona Ventura his Instructions drawne by a Iunto for the purpose and thus hee was shewed abroad defrayed by the King and his Message published that hee was imployed to offer Peace and friendship from the Turkish Emperour When this Scene was acted he was sent backe with true Letters of Don Christofero di Mora and the Secretary Catagna to the great Vizier and for his better securitie a safe Conduct and Credance was giuen him signed by the King Yo el Rey. Passing by Sicily by Catholique Order Forty Turkish Slaues were deliuered him to present at the Port in earnest of the Spanish and Ottoman amitie Letters also of credit for good summes were furnished to enable him to spend procure answer from the Grand Signior and fauour of the Vizier Mufti and other of the great Officers With which Orders and Armes being arriued at Constantinople he vsed all meanes with all men to induce an acceptance of the Peace vrging and demonstrating the earnest affection and desire of the King of Spaine to conclude it But this practise being discouered by the Ambassadors resident at the Port and others not too well affected to Spaine the falshood was made appeare and Don Gabriel by the great Vizier was clapt in prison as a Counterfeit and Impostor In a few moneths this Vizier was displaced and another aduanced to his Office and as it is a common rule with them to runne a contrary course to their fallen Predecessors without examining the merits or causes this Iew was set at libertie and all his actions and Letters approued as true and authenticall And thereupon Petition made to the Grand Signior to enforme the Negotiation and by the counsell of the new Ministers it was admitted and accepted and answer granted to the King of Spaine that seeing hee had shewed so much affection to peace and to enter into a fineere Correspondence with the Port especially by the charitable liberty of so many Mahemetans freely presented that the Gates of the Ottoman Empire were alway open to whomsoeuer did seeke their friendship and that Ambassadors might securely come to treat and conclude it With these Letters to the Catholique King and others to Don Christofero di More and the Secretary Catagna from the Vizier Don Gabriel was dispeeded with two Messengers of the Port by the way of Wallachia to the confines of the Empire purposing to take his iourney through Germany But Rodolphus being then in warre with Sultan Mehemet he was stayed and examined on the Borders To free himselfe he fained that he had Letters to the Emperour whereupon all his papers were seized and sent to Prague His Imperiall Maiesty very discontent and iealous of such Treaties betweene Spaine and Turky without his communication and in such a Coniuncture gaue order that the lew should be brought to Vienna and kept in close Prison vntill he had some advice from Madrid The Catholique King finding diu non latêre scelera to saue the honor of his priuate Designes denyed the fact forsooke and protested the poore Don Gabriel who miserably there ended his life con assai mala-ventura It may be collected that the Spanish ends of this Treaty were such as durst not abide the light seeing they might not bee trusted to the nearest friend and it was iudged great modesty to be ashamed and the part of a good Christian to renounce secret practises with Turkes by the mediation of Iewes but of an ill Master to leaue and aband on his Seruant Such Vessels in the hands of Princes are formed for honor or dishonor as their interests counsell them In later times the extraordinary Ambassadors of the Emperour treating at Constantinople the frontire Affaires and accidentall Breaches another ouerture was by them made in the name of the King of Spaine and the best argument vsed was that the world knew but two great and Imperiall Families Austria and Ottoman who if they were reconciled might make another Diuision of East and West The rest it is more humanitie to conceale then Christianitie to negotiate This last yeare a Bolognese was sent from the Vice-King of Naples in pursuit of the same Designe and counterfeit Letters printed in Spaine with a Catalogue of impossible presents pretended from the Grand Signior to beg peace and spread abroad to add reputation to his Armies as if the world would tremble at a smoake And though this Engine returned fruitlesse yet Spaine is not hopelesse They know the ease and aduantage they should draw by securitie on this side to haue all their Gallies at libertie to shut vp the Straights to hinder traffique and to succour Genoua and their Garrisons of Calabria and Sicily free to be imployed in their other necessities And here it cannot be ouer-passed that while Spaine did negotiate this Peace doubting not to effect it the same instruments were imployed with monies and Letters to excite the Cossacques though in preiudice of the Peace of the King of Poland allyed to the House of Austria by a double mariage to inuade the Bospherus that the Armado of the Grand Signior might necessarily be kept in the blacke-Sea for defence whereby the Spaniard by a fine Art doth enioy halfe the fruits of the Peace without obtaining it These are a modell of the wayes and counsels of the Spanish Monarchy If the King of Spaine enuied his Brother the Conquest of a Mahometan kingdome and treat vnderhand with the Turks without respect or knowledge of the Emperour If he sollicit the seeds of a warre between Poland and the Grand Signior vnder the colour of a peace without care of the vtilitie of that Crowne so neerly to him allyed It may be concluded that ambition of vniuersall Monarchy is onely able to extinguish all obligations both of Religion and blood Because Si violandum jus est imperij gratia violandum est Eurip. alijs rebus pietatem colas If the first step to this sole Empire be the Conquest of England as the Designes of the Enemy from whō some lessons are best taught and their Counsells to their owne ends doe clearly demonstrate and the resolution of diuers Iunto's haue laid for a foundation It is happy for England to fore-see the blow and to prouide timely to preuent it and not be bound to the disaduantage of making a desperate Bett when the aduersary shall call and the game irrecouerable These Demonstrations admitted for true the next Consideration will be by what meanes most effectually and virtually to worke a iust defence Wherein if the Ends Counsells and Wayes whereby Spaine hath in few yeares aduanced bee obserued they will reflect a true light vpon the contrary how they may be humbled The end of Spaine is Vniuersall Monarchy conformable to the Romans in all but the noble contempt of Treasons Herein and
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
them had commanded in his holy Law when he said Goe and teach all Nations that onely intimation should be made to peaceful and quiet Infidels which had their proper Lands and if they did not presently receiue the Faith without other preaching or instruction and should not submit themselues to the dominion of that King whom they neuer saw nor heard whose messengers are so cruell so impious and so horrible Tyrants that they should lose for this onely Cause their goods lands liberty wiues children and life which is a thing vnreasonable absurd worthy of all reproach infamy it Hell selfe Thus wisely speaking of the same matter though vpon another occasion discourseth the Reuerend Bishop of Chiappa a principall Citie of New Spaine in the Indies called Fiyat Bartholmy dalle Case by Nation a Spanyard by birth a Siuilian but zealous of Iustice and a friend of truth in his books of the destruction of the Indies But returning to our Subiect The King Atabaliba was iustly scandalized and grieuously moued at this so learned preaching that answering to euery point amongst other things he said these words Obedecer al Papa no me esta bien Jgllescas vbi supra porque dene de ser loco paesdà lo que no es suyo y me manda dexar el Reyno que yè heredè de mi padre y quiere que yo le dè à qui en no conesco That is To obey the Pope is not good for mee because hee must needs be a foole seeing he giueth that to another which is none of his and commands me to leaue that Kingdome which I haue inherited from my father and would I should giue it to one that I know not what he is He could not certainly answer more wisely according to the Proposition which was also false Seeing the Pope was not so void of Iudgement to haue granted any such conquest to the Catholique King or any other especially by the way of warre as the holy Preacher with threats did affirme being in it selfe vniust and wicked And therefore the aforementioned Bishop of Chiappa carnestly defending the truth did send vpon this matter thirty propositions to the Royall Councell of India printed in Cinill in the yeare 1552. In the 23 whereof he thus speaketh Soiurgallos primero por guerra Vescoue di Chiappanelle 30. prepositions es ferma y uia centraria de la ley y yugo suaue y cargalegera y mansedumbre de Iesu Christo Esla propia que lleuè Mahoma y lleuaron los Romanos con que inquietaron y robaron el mondo Es la que tienen oy los Turcos y Meres y que comenca à tener el Xarife Y per tanto es iniquissima tirannica infamatiua del mellifluo nombre de Christo causatiua de infinitas nuebas blasfemias contra el verdadero Dios jeentra la religien Christiana Come tenemes longissima experientie que se hà eche y oy se haze en las Indias porque estimande Diet ser el mas cruel y mas iniusta y sin piedad que ay en los Dioses y per consiguiente es impeditiua de la Conuersion de qualesquiera Infielcs y que ha engendrade impossibilidad de que jamas sean Christianos en à quel orbe gentes infinitas That is To subdue them by warre is a forme and way contrary to the law to the sweet yoke to the easie burthen and to the meeknesse of Iesus Christ It is the same which Mahomet and the Romans did hold wherewith they did disturbe and violate the world it is the same which at this day the Turkes and Moores maintaine and the Verif doth beginne to practice and therfore it is most wicked tyrannicall infamous to the glorious name of Christ the cause of infinite and new Blasphemies against the true God and Christian Religion as we haue by long experience knowne to haue beene and yet vsed amongst the Indians For they haue an opinion of God that he is the most cruell the most vniust and merciless of all other gods And by Consequence it is the hinderance of the Conuersion of all sorts of Infidels and hath caused an impossibiltie that multitudes of People should euer become Christians In the last proposition whereof he concludes De todo lo susodiche en fuerça de consequentia necessaria se sigue que sin persuycio deltitulo y senerso soberano que à los Reys de Castilla pertenece sobrea quel orbe de las Indias todo lo que en ellas le hà echo ansi en lo de las insustas y tirannicas conqusstas como en lo de los repartimientos y en comiendas hà sido nulla y de ningun valor nefuerça de dereche That is From all the fore alleaged matters it is necessarily inferred that without preiudice of the title and Soueraigne Dominion which appertaines to the Kings of Castile in that world of India all that hath beene done as well concerning the vniust and Tyrannicall Conquest as the Diuisions and Commenda's is void of no value and vnlawfull And in the seuenth Rule of his Confessaries the same good Prelate vitereth these words Todas las cosas Vescouo di Chiappancl Consesstienario que se han echo en todas estas Indias assi cula entrada de los Espanoles en cada provincia dellas como en la suetion y seruidumbre en que pusieron estas gentes con todos los nudios y fines y todo lo demas que con ellas y cerca dellas se ha cohs ha sido contrà todo derecho natural y derecho de las gentes y tambien contra derecho diuino y por tanto es todo ininsto imque tirannico y digno di todo fuego insernal y por conseguiente mille enualido y sin algun valor ni momento de derecho That is All things which haue beene done in these Indies as well in the Entrance of the Spaniards to euery Prouince thereof as in the subiction and seruitude to which they haue reduced this People with all the meanes and ends and all that besides which therein or concerning them hath been done is against all Law of Nature and Nations and contrary to the Law of God and therefore it is wholly vniust wicked tyrannicall and worthy of Hell-fire and by consequence annihilated inualid of no force nor iuridicall power Certainly Sacred Maiestie The Assertions of this Prelate are such that they strike horror onely in hearing and almost resemble open Maledictions of a minde subdued to Passion But who shall diligently reade all his workes and shall consider distinctly euery circumstance shall clearly know that these are apprehensions of truth exprest with an holy zeale free from all passion or interest onely in the defence of right Friar Bartholomy dalle Case spent the most part of his life in India Forty nine continued yeares as himselfe affirmes hee saw that which therein was done and
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
Which therefore being well considered might produce â—conorary effectâ—â— For if the most Christian King shall once resoluo himselfâ—â— to carry the warne abrond he shall rest most scoure and quâ—et within his owne Kingdome The gneâ—â— and warlike mindes of the French Nobilitio borne to Armes and Eliâ—tâ—â—pâ—isâ—â—â— cannot lie wasting in I dienesse While they haue not elsewhere to bee exercised it is no wonder that at hoâ—â— they may be easily excited to tumults But if they shall bee imployed in foraâ—â—â— Actions they will ronne greddyâ—â— victorins and glory of which they are most ambitiour And will desire like wise men that their owne Country should rost in peace to bee the more able with their Sword to subdue others not will they suffer themselues to bee disturbed by the treacherous maâ—hinations of them who affect thâ—â— ruine But this is spoken by the way by occasion of the like stratagom at present used among the Grisoms the which â—eeing it hath begunne to take effect in the Valteline the Gouernour of Millan is leapt into the field not with intent to sauour but to opprosse the party risen yet to giue another relish Proposing still this axioâ—â—e of Machianell that feined Roligion doth much aduantage the Actions of Princer he would make the world beleaue that he was moued with pittio to take the protection of the miserable Valtelines oppressed as saith the Manifest in Religion and politike life Of which two things it is now requisite distinctly to entreate The Grisons doe pretend that if God when hee ereued man loft him in the state of free will the Conscience ought to be free no man being able to take away that which is the gift of the Diuine Maiestie They esteeme their Condition to be most wretched and miserable who are violently forced to professe to beleeue that which their Conscience truely doth not beleeue and therefore they require libertie of Religion They are diuided into Roman and Euangelique euery one follower that part to which his Conscience â—â—olineth him Euery one doth beleeue hee beleeues well and sinnes mortally when he doth transgresse from that ancient Institution wherein he was borne and bred Violence is done to no man In the publike Gouernment aswell the one as the other doe participate without any Distinction Now the Ministers of your Maiestie say as may be need in the Manifect that the Professers of the Ramish Religion haue no more libertie to follow their true faith because the contrary faction doth tyrâ—â—nously oppresse them And hâ—â—â— they alleage many violent Actionâ— which if in case some are true certainly they are not happened but for grieuous Iniuries and offences first done by the Romanists to the Euangeliques but the truth is that the most part of them are false the effect to this day hath shewed it to be most false that euer the Euangeliques did attempt to oppresse the Romanists Vpon which for better illustration wee will with reason discourse a little in the fauour of truth These two Factions Roman and Euangelique either are equall or the one is superiour to the other If they are equall euery one doe persist in their own opinion it being certaine that in their Dâ—â—â—â— called by them Drituâ—â— the Ministers of the one and the other equally are assistant of necessitiâ— it must bee said that when any thing is handled which doth preiudine the one or the other there can noues be any agreement But seeing they doe accord as it appeares by the Diett of Tosana in the yeare 1618. in which so many Rebells as well Romans as Euangeliques without all respect were punished Then it must be concluded not to bee true that they practise one to preindice the other Then it is salse that the Euangeliques doe oppresse the Romanists But who shall say that the one is too strong and doth persecure the other How is it that in so many and so many yeares that part hath not vsurped the absolute dominion If the Roman preuaile how doe they consent that their Clergia men should bee chastised and as your Maiesties Ministem affirme in despight of Religion If the Euangelique be superiour how can it stand that putting to death the Arch Priest of Sondrie and exiling the Bishop of Coura for being of the Roman Religion afterward they admitted another Bishop and another Arch-Priest of the same Religion And why did they condemne only those two and not many other good and truely religious men of which in that State there are multitudes Let it bee then said not to be a truth that the Euangeliques doe persecute the Romanists And if the aforesaid Clergie-men haue suffered the trespasses by them committed in communem patriam did cause that with Common consent aswell of the Catholique Romans as of the Euangeliques they haue beene punished as it is notorious by the aforementioned writing of the yeare 1618. And that it was not done in the hatred of Religion may more clearely from this be discerned that amongst the accused and condemned there were many more Euangeliques then Romans Whence it is euident that with all integritie and without any respect those of the Euangelique faction haue onely aymed not sparing themselues at the administration of Iustice And Rodolfo Planta that then was banished as it knowne to all men was not onely an Heretique but a principall Head of the Heretiques With two things about this Subiect the World is greatly amazed and scandalized The one that the Ministers of your Maiestie in the Manifest printed by them for the Valtelines haue dared to giue the title of a true Martyr of Christ to the Arch priest of Sondrio a man blood-thirsty and a Traitor to his Prince whence it appeares that onely for being their fauourer he obtained the merit to be Canonised for a Saint The other is that they haue alwayes held so strict Intelligence with Rodelfo Planta and other principall Heretiques and haue fauoured and stipendiated them both before and after their Banishment and haue made vse and yet doe vse them continually in matters very indecent Neither doe they make at all scruple of Conscience thereof though they publikely proclaime themselues Protectors of the Religion and perperuall Enemies of all Heretiques If the wonder and Seâ—mdâ—ll bee iust I remit it to the Righteous Iudgement and prudent mind of your Maiestie I expect that connicted with the force of these reasons some should step forth and say That when notwithstanding the Euangeliques doe not leeke to oppresse the Romanists and doe suffer euery one to liue to himselfe yet by all meane it is requisite to extirpate the ill race of Heretiques Enemies to holy Church I vnwillingly enter into this particular but of force the matter requires that somewhat therein bee spoken I doe beleeue and I thinke am not deceiued that to punish Heretiques the Ecclesiasticall authoritie is necessary How then will the Ministers of your Maiestie intermeddle in that which to them appertaines not And who will not say that greedinesse
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
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-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-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-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-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