readiness to march not without the Spaniards apprehending that to this League might adhere other Princes made jealous or provoked by them and particularly the Italians the most disgusted although the most patient They therefore apply with greater earnest to protect their interest with the Banner of Religion imploying all art chiefly to gain the Pope under whose Skirt they did not only hope to preserve the Valteline from War and induce the Confederates to reason but setling themselves in the present advantages by this means obtain yet greater To interest then Gregory in this cause they offer to deposite the Forts of the Valteline in his hands magnifying their intentions to quiet and considering That postposing their own conveniencies and the possession so much the more just by how much it proceeded from invitation and a voluntary resignation of the people it appeared that not the desire of dominion not the ambition of the Country nor the designs to oppress Italy but the sole consideration of Religion had induced them to protect it That they resigned it to the common Father of Princes to the Guardian of Religion it self to the end that the jealousies of the Catholicks being quieted the fierceness of the Hereticks restrained he might prescribe rules to holy Worship and to Italy convenient security whilst the King would not depend but upon his Arbitrement and with wonted zeal to his judgment and the good of the Church imploy the power of all his Dominions where no other but the true Religion raigned In Rome the opinions and counsels upon an offer of such importance were wavering for some penetrating into the Mysteries of Policy did not approve that either the power of the Church or the Authority of the Pope should be so far ingaged that the professed Neutrality and Mediation should run a hazard They well knew that if the trust were accepted Peace was not to be hoped for because if betwixt the Crowns there should happen any agreement of restoring all things to their former estate no man could see with what decency the Valteline could pass through the hand of the Pope back to the Hereticks its first Masters it being not fit that he should subscribe with the Protestants to reciprocal limitations cautions and conditions On the other side if with the fast band of Religion he should be willing to continue in the possession how could he ever hope for the consent of the Confederates who pretended to right themselves by Arms. Will they said they be terrified with an empty name and Authority without force and at the sight of the Popes Standard which upon the first Invasion must implore assistance from Feria and under the shadow of the power of the Spaniards repair themselves of their losses and wrong Will Gregory then in the utmost of his life cut off Peace betwixt his Children making himself a Party and leave to his Successor a lamentable Inheritance of War and Troubles And take it for granted that the Confederates would suffer it the Protestants yet were not like to endure it but at the name alone of the Ensigns of the Church would come down in Troops to oppose them That Helvetia was near the Princes of the Empire not yet suppressed Mansfelt had his Arms in his hands all greedy and longing to over-run Italy and mischief the most sacred Seat of Religion and the Apostolate The offices of the Confederates joyned their assistance to these apprehensions and in particular the Venetians who sending Girolamo Soranzo Cavalier Ambassadour Extraordinary to Rome disswaded the Pope from lending his Name and Authority to the Interests of Spain But he environed by his Nephews and they gained by Spain with Benefices Pensions and the Marriage of the Princess of Venosa Vassal of the Monarchy believed that the Princes made such a noise only to fright him and that at the appearing of his Colours all their Arms out of veneration would fall out of their hands there remaining to him as an ornament to his Name and a Crown upon his Sepulchre the glorious Memorial of Peace preserved and Religion protected The trust then was accepted by him upon condition that a Treaty of Agreement betwixt the two Kings should be pursued and when without the Spaniards being in fault it should not be concluded that the Forts should then be restored to them again This being treated in Rome Feria perswades the Grisons under pretext of moderating the Articles heretofore concluded to send to him new Ambassadours to bind so much the faster the knots of servitude and dependance Leopold raises at Steich a very good Fort and there was published an Investiture of the Emperour which granted to the House of Trivultia according to a certain pretension they had the Valley of Musoccho The French shewed themselves much moved that before a Resolution taken upon the Deposition Gregory had not expected the sense of that Crown upon it But in the counsel opinions were divided according to affections some voting to break off all Treaty and with a sudden march of Troops hinder the Popes meddling and the execution of the Trust it self Others were of opinion that the Deposition should be approved with certain limitations and reserves and those counsels taking place which squared with the favour for Pisieux was Author of them in whose inclinations both in Rome and Spain were grounded their greatest hopes it passed so It was then by the French declared That the Deposition should remain until the end of July it was now the month of May within which time the Forts being demolished and all restraints upon the Grisons and Armies removed which did oppress them affairs should be restored to their former state which not being performed the League should supplicate the Pope to joyn himself to their Arms thereby to obtain the effect Before such opinions were represented to the Pope the Spaniards getting notice of them proceeded to hasten the Deposition with so much precipitation that notwithstanding the indisposition into which Gregory was at that time desperately fallen the Cardinal Lodovisio orders that the Duke de Fiano the Popes own Brother with fifteen hundred Foot and five hundred Horse should march towards Milan He being a person of most sottish parts with the assistance nevertheless of some of better abilities served only to make surer the engagement and to conciliate some respect to those Troops But being arrived in the Valley he found that the people fearing to fall under another Dominion than that of Spain to the number of two thousand took Arms and resolved to oppose him but all obstacles being removed by the authority of the Governor of Milan he enters into the Forts Feria himself furnishing Ammunition and Victuals and keeping besides with his own Garrisons those of Chiavena Riva and Bormio Fiano nevertheless returns presently to Rome leaving in the Valley for the command of the Troops Niccolo one of the Marquesses of Bagni and at Milan Monsieur Scappi to reside with the Governour In the mean
than the favour it self nevertheless he had the great Art how to fix the mutable and suspicious Genius of the King and the inconstant nature of the people governing as with a supreme Dictatorship the one and the other even to his death But as to the Affairs of Italy by the disgrace of Pisieux the Minister being changed there was a change also at Rome in the proceeding of the Treaty and Sillery being recalled all that was disavowed which he had negotiated and consented to Monsieur de Bethune a Minister formerly well known in Italy being come to Rome in his place assures the Pope that all that which his Predecessor had approved concerning the Passes was wholly against the Kings mâ—nd and in the name of the Confederates expressing to the holy See unalterable duty and ready consent to that which might secure Religion in the Valley as to the rest refuses any expedient which did not deliver the Grisons from the present oppression restore them to their Country and Soveraignty and did not exclude the Spaniards from the Passes They published this change of Ministers to be a shift but the Pope who had made them deliver to him Riva also and Chiavena endeavoured to gain time perceiving that to which soever of the Parties he should give the possession of the Forts it would serve but for a pretext to kindle a most dangerous War which flaming out betwixt the two Crowns by Auxiliary Forces would quickly extend it self throughout all Europe Nor did the Spaniards now fail as they had succeeded in the gaining of the Cardinal Lodovisio with Rewards and Marriages to try every way to insnare the Barberins also giving hopes to Vrbans Nephews of the Princess Stigliana who being an Inheritrix of vast Territories in the Kingdom of Naples brought also in Dowry the Soveraignty of the strong Fortress of Sabioneda Some also suggested to the Pope and to his House hopes that amidst the jealousies and dissensions of the Princes he might have the hap to get himself glory by uniting the Valley to the Church or obtain advantages by investing his Kindred in it But the one and the other equally displeased the Confederates because no less suspicious was the temporal greatness of the Popes who protected by the Cloak of Religion cannot make War themselves without danger nor overcome without blame then the inclination of the Nephews doubtful it being not possible for him that possesses the Valley but to depend upon the protection and assistance of the Governour of Milan Nothing then remained but the closing in a War France before ingaging out of the Kingdom strengthens it self with two great and important Treaties The first with the Provinces of Holland to whom were promised three millions and two hundred thousand Livres Tournois to be paid in three years upon condition not to make Peace or Truce with Spain without their knowledge and if it should so fall out that France it self should have need of assistance they were to retribute it either by restoring the half of the foresaid sum or by furnishing Ships in proportion The other was the Marriage of Henrietta Sister of King Lewis with Charles Prince of Wales from which was derived a report that the English would break into a War with Spain and the Palatine be restored into his Country by Arms. Charles to say truth from his Voyage into Spain had brought back discontent hatred and desire of revenge against that Crown for though he were received at Madrid with all possible honours he nevertheless penetrated the intention not to restore his Country to Frederick nor conclude the Marriage for which the King the Princess her self Olivares and all the Kingdoms had in their hearts a particular aversion Being for some months amused with several proportions and a difficulty which they feigned came to them from the Court of Rome though to remove it he was induced to write himself to the Pope and tempted at last if he would have a Wife to change his Religion he parted in great haste returning to London by Sea It is not possible to express what disdain vexed the heart of that young Prince and King James with no less vehemency published his revenge having a mind in his old age to adorn his Sepulchre with those resentments which in the course of his Reign having been blunted by idleness seemed to have blemished the glory of his life For this purpose he calls a Parliament in which Buckingham having justified with a zeal to common good and a desire of Peace the Kings intentions concerning the Marriage with Spain and rendred an account of the Princes Voyage it was resolved that the Kings Son-in-law should be restored into his Country by Arms and that the Son should marry with a Princess of the Blood Royal of France But it being usual in England that Parliaments have an equal suspicion of their Kings when they are armed as Kings have of Parliaments when they are united it was presently desolved many jealousies being spread abroad which were believed fomented at least if not raised by the Ambassadour of Spain as if the Parliament adhering to the youthful age of Charles and with applause flattering that Generosity which he shewed to revenge himself would condemn the cooler proceedings and past actions of the King in whose life time they were disposing the spoils and Funerals of his Authority and Command But withal the means were not ripened nor the contributions consented which might raise and keep on foot an Army So that as the Marriage with Henrietta was easily concluded with a dispence from the Pope and many Articles of favour to the consciences of the Catholicks so the moving of Arms quickly vanished It is notwithstanding true that Mansfelt beaten in Germany and in Holland not willingly suffered by Orange through emulation of military glory and the applause of the people was called into England by the King where being received with great honour making him his General for the recovery of the Palatinate he ordains him an Army of ten thousand Foot and three thousand Horse with six pieces of Cannon if France would concur with a Force proportionable Sending him with this Proposition to King Lewis who professed himself disgusted with the Count because he had taken the Title of the Kings General without his knowledge and therefore when he went to London had forbid him coming into France he obtains to be admitted to treat with his Ministers denying him his own presence He was supplied with some money by the French with promises of more though in effect they had little fervency in the interest of the Palatine But for Italy having secured all behind him by the friendship of the English and the flank by the War of Flanders they applied themselves with more warmth to the Affairs of the Valteline The Venetians imployed all care with the Princes of Italy to unite them in the common Interest But succeeded no further but to induce the Dukes of Savoy and
the makers of it themselves divulged the conclusion and endeavoured to suppress the Articles gave cause for due considerations Nor was the business so secretly carried betwixt the two Kings but that the Princes Confederate with France had a scent of it But the appearances of War the refuse given to the Popes mediation and the firm assurances of the principal Ministers of that Crown had made them confident of the contrary From the time the Cardinal Legate was at the Court of France it was discovered that the Marquess de Mirabel Ambassadour of Spain had insinuated that it belonged to the greatness and authority of the Crowns to convert the mediation of others to their own arbitrement and by agreeing betwixt themselves to impose the Law to others Olivares afterwards in Spain dealt with Fargis the French Ambassadour to the same purpose with such instance that to sound the bottom Monsieur de Rambogliet under pretext to congratulate the delivery of the Queen was sent from Paris to Madrid From discourse they passed quickly to the Treaty and from the Treaty to the conclusion During the Negotiation frequent Courriers ran to and fro and as it was no easie matter to discover the precise conditions the knowledge so much as of a Treaty being kept from every body but the two Favourites and very few of their Confidents so it was manifest that some great matter was in Treaty and the secrecy made it the more suspicious The Ambassadours of the Republick and of the Prince of Piedmont who were in the Court of France to sollicite the re-inforcement of their Armies concealed not their Jealousies because besides the obligation to which the League did bind not to treat or conclude a part expedience required that they should be Parties to the Treaty who had a common interest in the charge and hazard of the War But some believing though falsely the loss of reputation and faith less than that of private interest it was so far that the chief Ministers had communicated the project or the conditions which were negotiated in Spain that rather with constant asseverations and oaths they denied that there was a Treaty At last that secret being slippery which though the tongue concealed the face declared the Confederates found themselves to be deluded and complained bitterly of it Schomberg in conclusion confessed the Treaty affirming then that some Propositions were come from Olivares but so unworthy that being scorned and rejected by France they had not deserved communication to the Princes their Friends That the Ambassadour Fargis had since transgressed in signing certain Articles prejudicial and contrary to the designs of the Confederates but that the King was not only resolved to disavow them but to recal Fargis and severely to punish him All this aimed only to temper the taste of the Venetians and Savoyards imbittered to extremity to digest by little and little a business so displeasing for the truth was the Articles by direction and approbation of both the Crowns had been sealed in Barcellona where the Catholick King was though they appeared to have been under-written some days before in Monzone and therefore the Cardinal Barberins landing just at that time in Barcellona was believed in some measure to cover the dis-respect which accrued to his own reputation and the dignity of the Pope by not giving way nor place to his Mediation The Treaty which was called of Monzone contained many Articles in the beginning whereof the Worship alone of the Catholick Religion being established in the Valley and in the two Counties adjacent it seemed that other Affairs were to be restored to the state in which they were found to be in the beginning of the year 1617. with abolition of all Treaties and every other thing which had been made or had happened since that time But this came to be destroyed rather than restrained by other conditions for taking away all substance of Soveraignty from the Grisons free Election of Judges and Magistrates was yielded to those of the Valteline the three Leagues were prohibited in a manner to oppose themselves nay were so straightly obliged to the confirmation that they remained deprived also of this apparent right if they should but prolong or deny it In recompence a certain yearly Pension was assigned which the people of the Valley were to pay the Grisons the sum to be limited by Deputies of both sides and this and every other Prerogative should be forfeited besides the resentment of both the Crowns by Arms if the three Leagues should not content themselves with thus much and should in any manner disquiet the Valley or pretend to impose Garrisons there The care over the exercise of Religion was committed to the Pope who in case of innovation advertising the two Kings of it was to sollicite the remedy from them the Forts in like manner were to be delivered into his hands to demolish those which had been built from the year 1620. forwards It was imposed upon the Grisons to lay down Arms and the Crowns were presently to suspend their Auxiliaries in the difference of Duke Carlo with the Genouese offering themselves to interpose that both Parties might perform it and that cause be made an end of They reserve to themselves at last the interpretation in case of any difficulty in the present Treaty which by other private Articles was yet made worse for the Grisons and those of the Valteline not agreeing about the Pension or the Duke of Savoy not according with the Genouese about the business of Zuccarello the Crowns assumed the decision to themselves In sum capitulating all rather like Arbitrators than as Princes of contrary Parties and different Interests Many believed that the two Kings and their chief Ministers being with so much secrecy thus agreed had their aim to divide the care or rather the Dominion of the World prescribing Laws to inferiours and promising themselves reciprocal assistances to oppress their Envyers and Enemies subdue the Protestants and Hereticks divide England and share Europe betwixt them But others considered that the interests of France and Spain being incompatible what between the emulation and the power no other effect in this Conjuncture could happen but that which is seen in bodies which possessed by two spirits are strangely tossed up and down and from thence did foretel that the present friendship would quickly break out into greater contests and a more sharp War In effect the Treaty was penned in terms very differing from those which lodged in the heart of their Authors such a Union so extemporary taking its measures at that time only from occasion and interest The two Ministers had no other aim but to deceive each other Richelieu sacrificed all considerations whatsoever to appease a furious storm which with danger to involve the Kingdom in a Civil War was rising against his Authority He had besides a great desire to subdue Rochel and humble the Huguenots and no less passion drove him to vent his revenge against
pleased to do Wherefore from that very time it was judged that neither the one would be contented to remain a private man nor the other as a Prince would be long able to suffer him He applying himself in Moravia to raise an Army easily compleated it Souldiers flocking from all parts to his reputation and pay Nor did Saxony give him the least disturbance intent only upon Conquests in Bohemia and Silesia and perhaps desirous also that some stop might be put to the boundless progresses of the King Gustavus The Emperour demanded of the Catholick Princes speedy assistance for that purpose sending into Italy the Baron de Rabata and taking it for a common cause of Religion in which it belonged to the Pope by his example to exceed all others sends to him the Cardinal Pasman Ambassador extraordinary Vrban was very unwilling to be thus pressed because such instances were not to be disjoined from reproofs and protests wherefore avoiding to admit such an Ambassador he alledged that a Cardinal honoured with the Purple and a holy Character could not be employed in the service of secular Princes Pasman a man of profound learning and most discreet in all his actions replying that the interest of Religion obliged every one and in particular the Ecclesiasticks to take care of it and procure its defence declares that if the dignity or habit hindred him from the exercise of that Ministry he renounced and laid down every thing being ready also to speak in his shirt so the imminent necessities of the Church Catholick might be provided for At last Vrban seeing that the excluding the instances would be more complained of than the not hearing of them admitted him and heard succours demanded with a powerful eloquence as of a Pope and of a Father in the dangers of Religion and the urgent necessities of his Sons His first answers were made up of excuses that his Treasury was empty and that he wanted power which chiefly arose from the German Armies having in these last years unseasonably disturbed Italy and obliged the Church it self together with offensive jealousies to excessive charges Whereupon offending mens minds rather than satisfying the demands the Austrian Ministers resolved to assemble the Cardinals subjects and the friends they had in Court to compel the Pope with shame and pressing of him yet more home For which purpose Cardinal Borgia in the Consistory with others who had a mind to shew inclination to the Austrians admonished the Pope and presented to him a protest in writing laying in a manner to his charge that he neglected in so important a necessity the duty of his Pastoral Office Vrban to justifie himself to the Catholick world publishes instead of a Croisada which had been required of him a Jubilé by which he invites Christendom with publick prayers to pacifie the divine wrath of God and laying a certain imposition upon Ecclesiastical Goods in Italy raises some money for the supply of the Emperours necessities But of those Cardinals who had been so bold to present the protest he tormented some with his long and great displeasure forced others to retire out of Rome as Borgia for one by a rigorous Bull which obliged Bishops to their residence As for Rabata he brought nothing back from the Princes but excuses and the Duke of Mantua in particular shewed him the horrid spectacle of his wounds yet bleeding He desired succours of the Venetians and offered an alliance producing certain Articles which he affirmed would be assented to by the Spaniards and the Elector of Bavaria for the defence of the Catholick Religion in the dangers of the Empire It was generally believed that not so much the hopes to obtain succours as the desire to make France jealous suggested the design it being observed that at the same time there arrived in the name of the Governour of Milan at Venice the Senator Picinardi to attest the just intention of the Catholick King for Peace the desire for that purpose to unite himself with the Princes of Italy in a strict alliance and in particular that the Republick would contribute counsel example and endeavours He concealed not the jealousies that the Governour had for the bringing in of nine hundred French with Thoiras into Casal and presaged troubles and stirs about it The Senate answered to all with officious expressions of a neutrality which it had resolved to observe declaring its earnest endeavours applied to Peace and considering the State of Italy scarce recovered out of its great evils exhorted that employing that zeal which all have to quiet the appearances and jealousies of relapsing into troubles might be removed The like endeavours were used with France which seemed equally pressing offering alliances and Treaties But the Senate holding their interest and Arms ingaged for the security of Mantua refused in effect every thing that might hasten new troubles in Italy which though quiet yet under fear apprehended stranger and greater accidents Nor amongst the least was reckoned the suspicion that the Spaniards designed the surprise of Mantua to oppose it to Pignerol and Casal where the Duke overcome by the perswasions of the French Ministers and of the jealousies which they represented to him to be of imminent danger had as hath been before said admitted their Garrison It was commonly spoken that the Spaniards were to intrude themselves into Sabioneda by marrying the Princess of Stigliana to Giovanni Carolo Brother of the Great Duke and upon the report thereof the Marquess de Fomar offered himself to attempt the surprise and to deliver the place to the Prince of Buzzolo to whom he said it did belong if France and the Republick would send their assistance The Venetians did not believe that it was fit to promote those mischiefs which they feared but too near if the Duke of Mantua dying and the young Princess coming to marry that State should be exposed to new contingencies and the rights of the Family be divided For that purpose there was sollicited in Rome a dispensation of marriage betwixt the Duke and his Daughter-in-Law but the Pope denyed it it seeming an unfit thing that on the Hearse of the Son should be made the Nuptial Bed of the Father To all this to augment suspicions was added the great preparations the Spaniards made in Italy particularly in the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily where money was provided men were raised Ships were making ready with other provisions shewing thoughts of War and designs of some undertaking But at last every thing being imbarqued six thousand Foot and one thousand Horse were seen to pass into Spain to foment the commotions of France Orleans dismissed out of Lorrain by virtue of the Agreement repairs to his Mother at Brussels giving hopes to the Spaniards to raise in the Kingdom a great party in his favour to which there was no doubt but the Foreigners would join In France there still continued against Richelieu hatred and envy the wonted shadow of great favours and
in such sort that Trautmanstorf had opportunity notwithstanding the battery of two small Pieces to pass the River with 600 Horse and fall into the Quarter of Piuma which being ill defended by the Venetians in a great rain which beat into their faces was abandoned The Troops now being assailed also by the Fort retired and Trautmanstorf having gotten his design leaves Piuma into which the Venetians re-enter Re-inforcements now arrive in both the Armies in the Austrians 500 from the Archduke Maximilian and 900 under the Spanish Pay besides those which Ferdinand himself in good number had raised and in the Venetian 1000 Hollanders under Colonel Vassenhoven and 3000 under Nassau Better men and better chosen than these Italy had not in a long time seen nor which carried with them more reputation and greater reflections for the Spaniards extremely vexed that two so great Common-wealths well understanding one another and which had fixed the center of their liberty in common interests had found the way to unite the Adriatick with the Ocean raged with great aggravations holding forth the zeal of Religion according to that custom that the most powerful do also love to appear the most pious and therewith beat the ears of the Pope incessantly inciting him to oppose himself against the entry into Italy of that sort of people who being of a differing Religion might easily infect it But Simeon Contarini Ambassador for the Republick in his grave and graceful way of speaking remonstrated to Paul That the piety of the Senate mindful of the signal actions of their Ancestors was an evident assurance of the constancy of their Religion which having always been promoted should also at present by good orders and most vigilant endeavours be protected That this Holland Militia was for no other service but to defend the liberty betrayed by those who were to regard it and â—ot to relieve it by such as ought to assist it Many Princes denied them Levies stopped the passages made difficulty to give help to the Republick though in the disadvantages done to them they acknowledged their own proper safety was disputed Were they therefore to perish at anothers will And to abandon that defence which being commanded by God justifieth a lawful use even of things more sacred Must then those friendships only be approved which please the Spaniards In their Armies all Nations and Sects by Troops were promiscuously confounded their Interest justifies all Religions because in alliance with them That they now went about to impose upon the Republick a Law scrupulous and severe whilst lawful in the necessity and intention to uphold their friends and themselves and that expresly to preserve Religion no less than liberty undefiled Paul who discerned that the apprehensions of Religion served for the use opinions and designs of all was easily appeased This re-inforcement came very seasonably to the Venetians and would have been much more considerable if so soon as Nassau came into the Camp there had not risen an implacable dispute with Medici because he pretending to command him and he not to submit but to the Captain General of the Republick although at last it was agreed that Medici receiving orders from di Lando should communicate them to Nassau yet their minds remaining discomposed there happened in the executions thereof many delays and difficulties which greatly served to confirm the conceit that Medici had a mind rather to protract the War without loss than to end it with advantage And so he truly appeared fixed in the preservation of those Posts wherein he had once set his foot but in prosecuting he was always carried away by violence and with delays and errours corrupted the resolutions of others and his own counsels Proceeding on this and that side of the Lisonzo in concert whilst Nassau disbarked his men at Monfalcone Lando passed upon a Bridge laid at Villesso secured by two Forts and Giust ' Anthonio Belegno with six Gallies battered Duino and pillaged the Coast of Trieste Leaving the Posts about Gradisca well provided and a strong Body to keep the Campagnia they had 6000 men upon the Carso who through several passages made their way to several Posts In the march there arose among the Switzers who though not obliged but to serve in Garrisons were notwithstanding by large promises perswaded to take the field a little tumult but was presently quieted their Officers coming in and reproaching them with perfidy if they would not and Cowardise if they durst not meet the Enemy in the face and joyn battel with them At the same time on that side which lies above Gradisca Francisco Strasoldo with about 800 Horse wades through the Lisonzo followed by Nicholo Contarini who to Foscarini was substituted Proveditor in the Camp and Giovanni Basadonna Lieutenant General of Vdine at the head of the Feudatarians In the Town of St. Michaele was made the place of Arms all other open places giving themselves up Nassau besieges the Fort Diana and ruining a part thereof with the Cannon obliged 100 Souldiers which were within to render themselves Prisoners The Imperial which was a Fort a little more towards the River but of a greater circuit and guarded by â—00 Foot capitulated also inrolling themselves under the Venetian Colours Baglione being come to the utmost hanging over of the Carso fortifies himself there and seeing the confusion of the Enemy much frighted with this Invasion advertises Medici that il Bosâ—o and il Parco di Rubia were abandoned the banks of the River Vipao not defended all the Campagnia of Goritia incumbred with flight and disorder the Souldiers as well as the Peasants seeking to save themselves whereupon his advice was that since fortune and opportunity fought for a Victory he should take possession of Fiume and il Parco But the other with a superfluity of caution fearing treachery where the Enemy was running away ordered to halt there that the Troops should be intrenched and St. Michaele fortified There arose afterwards new disputes with Nassau and all things passing with delays the Enemy at first overcome with fear took courage again and bringing Colonel Stauder into Rubia with 1000 Foot guarded that place and defended the Vipao It seemed then that that little River which where the Mountain terminates discharges it self into the Lisonzo was become an Ocean and the Fort Bosco a Wall of Brass so great was the resistance so impossible the fording From two places with Batteries upon the Mountains was this Fort beaten and with another from the other side of the River towards Mainizza But Gradisca was in this interim more strongly begirt for another Bridge being laid by the Venetians at Fara it closed all passage on the upper side also Nevertheless contrary to the course of the season which was in the month of June there falling incessant rains for forty days together not only the Souldiers suffered very much in their Posts but the Vipao overflowing and the Lisonzo much more both the Bridges were broken
famous station of Liberty and Greatness I dare assure you that in all Ages the Generosity of the Bohemians shall be memorable that having flung tyrannical Government out of the windows hath caused the glory to spring out which from this Kingdom will easily diffuse it self to the Empire and though some appearance of violence hath been in it necessity and piety will excuse the fact There is no more place for repentance or pardon counsel or discourse avails no more but only concord and constancy The Lot is drawn Liberty or the Hangman if Conquerours we shall be just free and Princes if overcome perfidious perjured and Rebels A little served to stir mens minds incensed of themselves to thoughts of Novelty for if that flourishing Kingdom in its soil rise as it were into War with fertile and almost continued Hills the people are no less accustomed to float amidst perpetual provocations of Religion and Liberty It was then decreed to shake off the yoke by the consent of all and if there were any that in their minds were against it yet knowing they were not able to resist that universal violence not to make themselves suspect they made a shew to adhere to it with greater vehemence To carry on the Government a Magistracy of Thirty with title of Directors was chosen But what had happened at Prague was no sooner divulged through the Kingdom but all was in revolt drawing also the importance of Lusatia and Silesia Provinces annexed The advice being brought at the Emperours Court there was a great division of opinions and counsels Matthias by plausible means letters and perswasions together with something besides of concession desired to reduce the Bohemians to their obedience and Gleselius strengthened him in that thought out of the consideration that coming to Arms the War was to be directed by Ferdinand in which if the authority of the one might be rendred suspicious to the Emperour the practices of the other would be no less troublesom against which from the time when in his younger years he was carried to the Government of the rebel Provinces of Flanders he had retained a certain aversion in his mind Nor was the Cardinal in his judgment a jot deceived for Ferdinand that inclined more than to pleasures to the management of Arms abetted by the counsels and favours of the Archduke Maximilian and of the Ambassadour of Spain no sooner saw the Emperour levy some few Souldiers for necessity but he asked the Command of them Matthias troubled to deny him resolves to grant it but with such restriction that forming a Council of War of his Confidents of which notwithstanding the King should be chief and limiting the Authority he left him no more than the shadow All this was attributed to Gleselius to whom was imputed besides venality in affairs little propension to the concord of the family and greatness of the Austrians a connivence and superabundant facility towards the Hereticks accusations which proceeded principally from the hatred conceived against him by the Ministers of Spain because to his utmost keeping the King and Archduke from the knowledge of the foreign affairs he excluded them also from those of the Empire and in the affairs of Italy his inclination to Peace had carried him to oppose their designs Amongst the means studiously thought on to take him out of the way that appeared too sacrilegious to stain the Purple of a Cardinal with blood and in the City of Vienna to kill as it were upon the Altar Bishop thereof It was then resolved to arrest him Prisoner not regarding the affection and authority of Matthias which were his only refuge not without hope and design after the thing done either to pacifie the Emperour by flatteries or curb him with apprehensions So being one day called to a Council in the Archdukes Quarter where the King was with Ognate he was seized as he came in by D'Ampiere and Prainer and put into a close Coach with a hundred Horse for a Guard hurried apace toward Inspruch Although the Princes themselves went to communicate it to Matthias with many pretexts of Religion of connivence advantage to the house and of his own service it is not to be said how much he was moved at it because touched in the apple of the eye of his authority and affection it drove him to the extremity of passion nor could he withhold himself both when awake and in his dreams from crying out with a loud voice that Gleselius should be brought back to him again There was an opinion that he had some thoughts to cast himself into the arms of the mutined Bohemians for revenge But the Cardinal Dietrichstein a person of very great credit did in some manner pacifie him bringing into his Chamber the King and the Archduke to ask pardon for the transport with protestations not to intrude themselves into his Authority or Government The Emperour required that promise in writing but it was agreed that he should be contented with the word only and the little while he lived he passed in continual apprehensions and melancholy not without calling to mind Divine Judgments which to him from his Cousin retributed the spoil of that Authority which he but a few years before had with great violence extorted from his Brother Rudolphus And it in truth seems that the imprisonment of Gleselius had set wide open the Sepulchres of the Austrians for Anna the Empress and Maximilian dyed presently after and were soon followed by others The Prisoner was found to have neither money nor goods and that absolved him from the common report of corruption and avarice he being discovered to be poor who under the benign influence of the favour of the Prince it was believed had enjoyed Mines and Treasures He was at last put into the Popes hands who exclaimed that the Dignity and Priviledge of the Church was violated to the end that he might judge him for the faults committed being mixt of Religion and State But after a year or two being restored to his liberty he lived quietly as he had been known to be innocent During these present domestick contentions of the Austrians the Bohemians had made great advantage of that time in furnishing themselves with arms money and friends Amongst the first that ingaged in this troubled affair was Ernest Count of Mansfelt natural Son of Peter Ernest as famous for the mischiefs done with small Forces and the height of courage for the space of many years to the Austrians as the Father had been remarkable in the Government of the Low-Countries and several other imployments for his fidelity to Spain He being of an ambitious spirit desiring by notable actions to make good to the World his spurious birth after having passed through many Charges amongst the Austrians renouncing the Romish Religion made it his ambition to close with Fortune in the greatest dangers He was at that time in Piedmont in service of the Duke who placing the principal security of his own
into the contrary party Gheffier and the Spanish Minister conspiring by concert to stir up a new Revolt with money and other endeavours raised some of the Commons under the pretext to abolish the new erected Courts of Justice and to restore the Bishop About Coira there happened betwixt the Parties a bloody Encounter and according to the reciprocation of force sometimes making faulty and sometimes giving authority another Tribunal was erected in that Town which abolished the acts of that of Tosana called back the banished and punished the Judges themselves The oppressed had recourse to the Venetians but instead of assistance they received Councils for a sincere reconciliation for in effect in that confusion of affairs they knew not how to design any advantage and foresaw that the most powerful at last would reap the benefit Nevertheless in the Agnedina the tumult began of its own accord and taking Arms spread it self through all the Country with so much violence that the new Judges fled from Coira and those formerly banished absented themselves anew In Cicer twenty nine Ensigns being assembled they established a Tribunal of sixty six persons who taking a review of things past were to act in such sort that Gheffier should not stay in Rhetia All that had been decreed by the Judicatory of Tosana was authorized by this and what had been acted to the contrary made void It was enough for Feria Governour of Milan to have put the Country into confusion content at present to foment the disorder underhand and whilst all the Ministers of the Monarchy of Spain were assembled upon the occurrences of the Empire to apply himself to what in their absence at this time happened Matthias the Emperour after a long sickness of mind no less than of body expiring in the month of March left for the Election of a Successor minds divided according to the difference in Religion The Catholicks animated by the Offices of the Pope and upheld by the promises of the Spaniards inclined to Ferdinand as one who being taken notice of for piety might also be able with puissant Forces to maintain the Dignity and Religion On the other side it hath been said how much the Protestants abhorred him Whereupon the Palatine laboured all he could that the Diet might be deferred the better to concert his exclusion and the others were willing enough to observe the issue of the present Revolts taking for pretext that the stirs in Bohemia ought first to be quieted and afterwards in the general calm of the Empire choice made of a Head to the satisfaction of all But the Archbishop of Mentz to whom as Chancellor of Germany the Charge belongs proclaims a Diet at Francfort and at last the Electors appeared there either in person or by their Deputies although to hinder it there were some that infested the High-ways and kept them in a manner besieged The Bohemians rejecting the Letters by which Ferdinand offered clemency pardon confirmation of Priviledges with Liberty of Conscience and all that which they could pretend stir up those that were far and near Upper Austria unites with the Rebels a few Catholicks in vain contradicting and declare to govern themselves by themselves till it should be decided who ought lawfully to succeed pretending it did belong to Albert Brother of the Emperour deceased notwithstanding his renouncing to it in favour of Ferdinand And the Lower would not have acted otherwise and in particular Vienna which was pestered with Heresie if Ferdinand being then there had not with his authority and presence withheld it In Moravia the States being assembled in Bruna and having sounded one anothers minds and estimated their Forces follow the same resolution in favour of the Bohemians notwithstanding that a little before that Province had sent to Ferdinand a succour of 3000 Foot and 2000 Horse who having understood in their march the resolution of their Province facing about in a general tumult returned The General only who was that Albert of Wallestain who by that act of fidelity gave beginning to that great Fortune which in a few years carried him to an Ascendant and afterwards to a Precipice went on to Ferdinand delivering a certain sum of money he had in his possession for the payment of his Souldiers but the Moravians had a mind to fetch it again by force detaining till it was restored in arrest the Cardinal Dietrichstein a faithful Servant to the King who believing himself more in want of faithful Counsellors than money although he was in great necessity for his liberty readily restores it Ferdinand by all this was at the very brink of passing to the succession and the Empire in a calamitous condition and exposed even to the extremity of dangers for la Tour sollicited by some Barons of Austria came near to the Danube and being furnished with Boats by those of his Party passed it to the terrour of the Country and of the City of Vienna having as it were no Garrison but the presence and constancy of Ferdinand whilst the Souldiers within it exceeded not 1500 Foot and 200 Horse who were to guard it from the Inhabitants no less than from Enemies because they held Correspondence with la Tour and had treated to deliver him a Port. But he having lain still two days at Fischen lost the Victory because believing to conquer a City by the same manner he had made whole Provinces revolt with Letters and invitations he wrote to Vienna and while he expected an answer the University armed five hundred Scholars Victuals were brought in and some Souldiers arrived Most opportunely of all came the succours of certain Companies of Cuirassiers sent by the great Duke of Tuscany to his Kinsman which by the address of one Santilier a French Gentleman falsifying their Colours entred passing through the midst of the Bohemish Squadrons into Vienna in that very instant that the King was hard put to it by some who insolently plucking him by the Doublet required the Concession of Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience But hearing the trampling of the Horses and unexpectedly seeing the Souldiers run up and down the streets with their Swords in their hands the fright was so great amongst them that they dispersed and together with them the Conventicles were dissolved which they held in private houses wherein also store of Arms were gathered together La Tour to give courage to his drew near to the City and lodging in the Suburbs besieges it but for a few days only for D'Ampierre with 4000 men raised in Hungary designing to joyn with Buquoy who was strong 1000 Cuirassiers Mansfelt attempted to hinder him in his way but Buquoy fell upon him so opportunely out of an Ambuscade that he defeated him with a great number of slain and more of Prisoners Upon this advice la Tour draws off from Vienna fearing lest upon this disgrace the Bohemians might be wavering But Fortune carried Ferdinand from a Siege to the Empire for fetching a long compass and arriving
five watered by the River Adda situate in the midst of the Mountains in the extremity of Italy and seems cut out by Nature to divide States and separate Confines It hath Tirol towards the East and the Milanese towards the West on the North Rhetia commands it and on the South it borders with Brescia and Bergamo Territories of the Venetians The River discharges it self into the Lake of Como and on the one side and on the other a Plain is extended peopled therefore with many Towns and where the Mountains are any thing low abounds with Corn Wine and Cattel which feed it and by imparting thereof to Strangers inriches it also At its beginning and ending it hath as Appendixes the Counties of Bormio and Chiavena the first joyns to Tirol and pierces with vast high Mountains deep into Rhetia the other on this side of the Spluga declining into a little Plain faces to a Lake which though it be a narrow part of that of Como yet under a divers name is called the Lake of Chiavena All this Country subject to the Grisons sought with all impatience conjunctures and pretexts to withdraw themselves from their Dominion and matter of Conscience suggested to the people motives very effectual because the Leagues sending them Judges and Magistrates for the most part infected with Heresie it seemed by their founding of Colledges and building of Churches as if their aim were not only to spread it through the Valley but also to introduce it into Italy where the true Religion residing as under Wardship errours cannot be admitted or tolerated Upon this stock of universal piety the banished grounded their desire of being restored to their Country and Princes their interest the Austrians in particular who considered the Valtelline as in effect it is as a Gallery which uniting the Countries of Germany with those of Spain separates the Venetians and Italy from the assistance of Strangers The Count of Fuentes who more than any former Governour of Milan had inlarged his authority in that Province was wont to counsel his King that to put Fetters upon Italy Monaco Final and the Valtelline were to be possessed by him Of the two first the design proving easie the last as the most difficult was reserved for a better conjuncture the Grisons making themselves considerable by their adherencies as well as their strength and it appearing that the Venetians not only for their own but were easily moved for anothers interest The Count notwithstanding layes the first stone planting the Fort which commands the entrance into the Valley Ferdinand by fast bonds being now indissolvably united to Spain nothing was wanting for the convenience and strengthening of the common Monarchy but to conjoyn their States and if by possessing the Lower Palatinate a great passage was opened for Germany to communicate with Flanders by making themselves Masters of the Valtelline the one and the other were linked unto Italy The principal persons of that Valley and in particular the Piantaes and the Cavalier Robustelli offered to seize it with so much facility that Feria had no other thought but to enjoy the prize They represented the desires and invitations of the people groaning under the yoke of a base Government which having avarice for a Law sold Authority to Magistrates that they might expose Justice to sale to the people They considered the Order of Nature it self in that unhappy Country perverted where the worst possessing more authority than the better there remained nothing that was not venal Goods Life Honour nay Conscience it self nor could more wickedness be practised by the Judges nor more misery be endured by the people What better opportunity was to be looked for than this in which Rhetia torn to pieces with Factions is neither capable to command nor to obey no not to it self France was incumbred with its own discords and the Venetians while the Conjuncture favoured them did rather divert blows than resent them if given on a sudden they came to succeed happily Though Peace in Italy was at that time most necessary for Spain Feria nevertheless quickly assents to the Proposition for if it succeeded not it cost only the banishment or lives of some few and if it took effect he thought the advantage such as might deserve at least some little hazard and pains Besides the desire to signalize his Government he did believe he should not want excuses and accidents to colour his attempt nor devices or a Treaty to divert coming to Arms. These were the causes of the new War in Italy in the banished desire of liberty in the people zeal to Religion and in the Princes Interest of State and mutual Jealousies In the month of July began the Revolt of the Valteline into which there coming down by concert three hundred men out of Tirol the whole Country rising in a tumult of a sudden it seemed like a flash of Lightning which over-ran it in a moment The Governours of the Protestants in particular the Heads of the Families which were to the number of three hundred were killed and under the Cloak of Religion were committed execrable villanies much innocent blood shed Estates violently taken away and private revenges exercised The Catholicks immediately chose new Magistrates to sway this new Government and fortified certain places of importance with money from Spain From the Milanese also Souldiers came filing on and from the Fort Fuentes Cannon descended otherwise without this strengthening the fire would have been quenched while it was kindling The Count Giovanni Serbellione raised men for Feria but the name of the Pope was pretended the better to cover the design The Venetians more than any other seemed strucken with this accident because besides the increase of power to the Austrians by whom they saw themselves encompassed with a line of little less than five hundred miles they saw also the way stopped for any succours but from Levies in their own Countries And for that cause both to the Pope and to the Austrians they made serious remonstrances for Peace prognosticating the evils to come and shewed the distractions which would arise upon it Bur all offices being vain they apply to strengthen themselves stir up their friends and give vigour to the oppressed Judging that their advantage consisted in not giving time to the Spaniards and the formerly banished to settle themselves in the possession they exhorted the Grisons to a sudden attempt to recover what they had lost by alluring the people with a general pardon and security to the Catholick Religion in the Valley They perswaded also the Switzers upon the ground of their Alliance with the Grisons to take Arms and promised on their side to be assistant disbursing money to the Grisons and sixteen thousand Ducats to the two Cities of Bern and Zurich to arm two Regiments Indignation and common interest not prevailing so much with that people as gold and private profit moves them in Rhetia with that impulse of money they raised twenty
it self no farther than by Treaty and name proposing that the Republick should charge upon it self the burden and the War for which purpose Desdiguieres in quality of a private Captain offered under their pay to raise in an instant ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse and to pass them through Helvetia into the Grisons but the Venetians excusing themselves upon the season so far advanced which made the passage difficult did not embrace the proposal insisting that they would not be alone but that in the Cause which was common the Crown also should concur and the Switzers assembled then at Badan upon these occurrences Nothing therefore was concluded in Piedmont but in France Priuli being arrived at Court and found the King rid of the disagreements with his Mother and the Voyage of Bearn Declares the intensions of the Republick to be that Religion should be secured and the Country restored to preserve to God and the Princes that which divine and humane right had imparted to them He offers the consideration that Italy despoiled in a manner of the ornaments of its liberty of its strength and of its beauty did apprehend destruction being invironed with a formidable power watching on occasions ready to take advantages greedy of conquests and tenacious in keeping them That in the support of that Crown alone was placed the hopes of the Grisons a people it may be said protected from their very beginning and by the constancy in their friendship ready to fall under the Yoak True it was that the Republick was concerned in the neerness but nevertheless glory ought to stir up the King who was bound to render an account to publick fame of the distress of his most faithful friends That Europe had hopes now in his youth of fruits equal to justice and power the one being due to the oppressed and the other required by his own and common interest That in his Kingdom he had by both triumphed over two of the fiercest Monsters Heresie and discord That now Heaven reserved for him the honour of conquering the ambition of Strangers and overthrowing the slavery of Italy That nothing was so much expected in that afflicted Country as the happiness of his conduct and authority to add new examples to the old that in its straits it was delivered by the Arms of France An. Dom. 1621 That Rhetia at present did implore him and the Republick readily offered it self to second his royal intentions with their endeavours and they not being sufficient with Arms mindful of the ancient friendship and so long correspondence by which Italy hath always received honour and relief That the Valteline and Rhetia did expect it alone from this Vnion equalising by a just Treaty the present advantages of the power of France with the benefits of the vicinity of the Venetians France truly acknowledged the great mischiefs received in the fears of the minority and the civil discords for having neglected foreign occurences and Monsieur de Villeroy being dead an old man and trusty Minister but most averse to the affairs of the Grisons and of Italy a great obstacle was removed Monsieur de Pisieux then Secretary of State in the name of the King answers to Priuli with full encomiums of the vigilance and prudence of the Republick that by sudden and seasonable assistance to the Swizzers and Grisons had endeavoured to remedy the present evils and prevent the future That the King would not suffer the wrongs of Rhetia nor the oppressions of his other Friends That he was sending to the Court of his Brother-in-Law the Marshal of Bassompiere Ambassador extraordinary that he might endeavour the quieting of the present divisions by removing violence and restoring all things to their first estate In case that should not avail that he declared himself fully resolved to take Arms in conjunction with the Republick and Carlo both keepers of the liberty and security of Italy All this was communicated to the Pope who being far advanced in years and desirous to repose his ashes and adorn his Sepulchre with the memorials of Peace was greatly disturbed hearing it in danger and tossed up and down among the greater Powers Of such resolutions which howsoever came to nothing in regard Treaty separated from Force served not but to confirm the Spaniards in the possession of the Valley and of their minds the Austrians believed the Venetians to be Authors A War therefore of hatred rather than Arms breaking forth the Spaniards recal upon the score of their private interests their Ambassador from Venice and attempted in other Courts to introduce disparity betwixt their Ministers and those of the Republick contrary to the practice and use of the other Crowns which treated them as belonging to a Prince that for Soveraignty Power and Titles was numbred amongst the Kings so that all correspondence by Treaty and Offices was wholly interrupted whilst in such formalities the present Age believes that if not the Essence the Covering and Vail of Principality consists ANNO M.DC.XXI The Spaniards judging it their great advantage that the business of the Valteline should pass for a matter of Religion to the end that amidst applauses excuses and pretexts some Princes might be restrained and others proceed with greater caution applied all care well to impress the Pope with that opinion to their offices of duty joining other means and in particular to gain his Kindred having for that purpose created the Prince of Sulmona his Nephew Grande of Spain Paul nevertheless having had the teaching of a long experience preferred Peace before all flattery nor did believe it fit that confounding together the interests of Religion and State the Popes ought to expose themselves to the enmity of great Princes or put themselves to have need of the assistance of the more powerful He applied therefore to a neutrality as a course more prudent than what the Princes shewed themselves pleased with But in the beginning of the year having in a certain ecclesiastical function superfluously wearied and inflamed himself he passes to Heaven to render an account of the World over which for the direction of Souls he had been for sixteen years placed in the Popedom Ever since to the Ecclesiastical Dignity a worldly Power hath been superadded and that the corruption of the Age hath with the veneration of holy things confounded also humane respects Princes have very often in the election of Popes caused to be profaned with their interests that which the Church possesses of most pure and most to be regarded But God that hath espoused it with the Ring of his true Faith protects it from violence confounds the counsels punisheth the attempts and preserving it by his holy Spirit makes it clearly evident that though the Conclaves are not exempt from factions and affections nevertheless the counsels of man seldom succeeding the lot falls where Divine Providence directs it For the present by how much the suspence of the Affairs of the Valteline was more embroiled with
extraordinary Embassy to the King Simeon Contarini Cavalier Procurator and Girolamo Soranzo Cavalier But Bassompiere An. Dom. 1620 the time being passed which the change of Princes necessarily carries with it sollicites the affair of the Valteline in such sort that it was the 25. of April concluded That the Armies should be withdrawn out of the Valley and the Countries adjacent and Religion with every other thing as it was before the year 1617 restored France the Catholick Switzers and the Valesians obliging themselves caution for it To execute that much which was to be done there was to be a Meeting in Lucerna of the Ministers of the Pope of France and the Archduke Albert in the Name of King Philip. The ancient Treaties of Rhetia with the House of Austria and with Tirol were to remain untouched Some other Articles in favour of passage for the Spaniards were secretly added which at that time were not known That notwithstanding which was published was more than sufficient to make it understood that both the Crowns conspired in one and the same thing which was to seek to delay the business for France the agitation of civil discords not yet well setled cared not so suddenly to involve it self in those of Strangers and Spain in the instant of the new Reign thought it wise counsel to defer the War and dissemble a Peace The Treaty to say truth contained but a huddle of things little having been decided and all remitted to new Conferences And therefore although in Madrid were published positive Orders to Feria that he should withdraw his Arms and restore the effect nevertheless did not appear some ascribing it to accidents suggested from more secret counsels and the more simple reproaching the Governour of Milan as if he so tenderly loved the fruit of his own contrivance as not to be willing to part with it But in Treaties faith will fail as long as interest lives and interest will be found as long as Princes reign Feria notwithstanding the advices of Peace arms still more powerfully and in Germany the Archduke Leopold interdicting Commerce to the Grisons and Venetians raised Souldiers threatning the latter with Jealousies and the other with War Thus the Mine sprung with great ease for the Archduke having possessed himself of the Valley of Munster while the Grisons demanded the restitution alledging the Peace of Madrid so newly concluded denies to be bound to observe it he having had no Minister there nor given his consent and desired that Deputies might be sent to Felkirch to the end that by an amicable accord those causes and suspicions might be removed which had moved him to possess it The President Dole in the Name of the Archduke Albert being arrived at the meeting in Lucerna pretends to be treated as representing Philip stirring up the dispute of Precedence with the French which expresly the Articles of Madrid by designing a Minister of the Archdukes had aimed to divert During the delays to overcome this difficulty by writing came new Orders Albert dyes and with him the Presidents full power failing the Conference dissolves Neither were other hinderances wanting Feria declaring himself that he would not execute the Treaty without the caution of the Catholick Cantons capitulated not so much for their power as for their neighbourhood and the dominion they have of passages But they would not interpose betwixt two so powerful Monarchs and the common opinion then being that Feria himself did strengthen them in that resistance He also puts those of the Valteline upon sending Deputies to Madrid to make a clamour that Religion was not sufficiently provided for and he accompanies them with Letters from the Senate of Milan in which with motives of piety and Religion were mingled consequences of convenience and advantage He offers afterwards to make a shew only that the Forts should be kept by the Catholick Switzers but that the Protestants should not abide in the Valley till the Treaty should be mended and at the same time suggests underhand to the Grisons vain hopes of having again the Valteline if point blanck it should not be otherwise conditioned by some accord in which the passages should be left free for Spain But it was not in the power of the Grisons to alter what was agreed in Madrid betwixt the two Crowns All this while there arrived not a Courrier out of Spain in Italy but orders to the Duke were published for restoring and disarming with an express command besides to hasten Souldiers for the Fleet whilst the Turks unsuccessfully involved in the War of Poland and in the Black Sea employed in repelling the Cossacks left the White open to whatsoever attempts of the Christians But Feria and the other Ministers having their minds more fixed on advantages in Italy than progress against the Turks such discourses had no other end but to raise a jealousie in the Venetians as if within the bosom of the Adriatick some surprises and acquisitions were to be attempted in Albania but the Fleet lying idle in Messina more numerous in Ships than provided with men the apprehension the Republick received from that side was but little and short But towards Lombardy jealousies did increase because betwixt distrustful Neighbours either accidents frequently cause discord or the more powerful seeks pretexts And so a contest and almost a breach arose for a very narrow way which is called the Steccato which to the Territory of Bergamo joins that of Crema imbayed and environed on all sides with the Milanese By most ancient contracts with the City of Milan it is the absolute and undoubted Dominion of the Venetians but for convenience and shortning of way a passage remains open not only for passengers but was wont to be permitted to Souldiers when passage was demanded from the Governours of Crema Now it hapned that a Company of Horse sent by Feria to Soncino attempted to pass without leave with the flying Colours advanced and Arms uncovered but was hindred by the Guards Feria in great wrath and taking it for an affront to the Kings Colours sends store of Troops to the Confines publishing that he would pass with a good Body of men without leave But the Venetians making equal provisions ordered Nicolo Contarini Proveditor beyond the Mincio that he should hinder him with all his force They at the same time offered the pass when according to custom it should be demanded An. Dom. 1621 and propounded that the Contracts might be examined by Commissioners on both sides They wrote also to the Court of Spain inveighing against Feria that by raising discontents and preferring idle tales before the merit of business he aimed only to disturb the quiet The Pope and the Grand Duke seriously considering that from a small cause worse accidents might arise employed their exhortations with the Governour of Milan to give place for a composure since the Venetians did not appear averse to consent that that Company should now pass but without doing prejudice to the
time at Rome the Ambassadour Sillery preventing those Orders which the Ministers of Venice and Savoy expected performs himself alone the Commissions of the Court to the Pope changing them instructed as was believed by Pisieux by approving the Deposition without limitation of time and without the requiring of those things which the Collegiates were to demand but by adding only an intreaty for the speedy demolishing the Forts and restitution with those conditions for Religion which Gregory should prescribe Before the Pope could answer hereupon God upon the 8. of July calls for him for the deposition of his life after having held rather than exercised a little more than two years the name and authority of the Apostolate A Pope that in matters of Religion left a fame of much zeal imployed with great applause in Wars of Germany and spread abroad by the Congregation by him founded for propagating Faith amongst the Barbarians On the other side as to business he was taxed to have been of a mean spirit and totally subject to the will of his Nephews amongst which the Cardinal directed affairs with such an absolute power that in the short time of his Uncles Pontificate procuring vast riches to his house he minded little else but the heaping up wealth and honours The state of Affairs and of Italy solicitously required the Election of a new Pope nevertheless amidst so many affections and interests of Princes and by reason of the forms with secret scrutinies prescribed by Gregory in his Bull it was doubted it would be long a doing But upon the 6. of August the Election where opinions and minds least inclined fell upon Maffeo Cardinal Barberino by Country a Florentine of the age of fifty and six years to the wonder of the Electors themselves who were amazed to have deceived their own hopes by promoting a person who for his complexion and vigour might out-live the greater part of them He takes the name of Vrban the Eighth with the applause of the World by reason of the high conceit of his Learning and Ability And now in Venice to Anthonio Priuli Duke deceased loaden with years and deserts was sustituted Franceso Contarini Cavalier Procurator signal for many publick Employments and for having undergone Embassies in almost all the Courts of Europe with such integrity and innocency that nothing could be condemned in his actions or accused in his manners One of the first cares in his Principality was to send to Rome the four elected Ambassadours according to custom to venerate the High Priest and they were Francesco Erizzo Cavalier Procurator Renieri Zeno Girolamo Soranzo both Cavaliers and Girolamo Cornaro who were so much the more inflamed as Sillery proceeded with luke-warmness The Pope to say truth detested the engagement into which his Predecessor had put the Arms and Authority of the Church complaining of the unseasonable charge but found no way to get out Lodovisio having strongly tied the knot both of the business and decency that although Vrban by reason of imployments had in that Court was thought inclined to France and in a manner partial it was nevertheless fit to be serviceable in name to the aims and designs of Spain But however time run on to the prejudice of those affairs no man in these beginnings durst irritate or provoke the Pope so that the Grisons groaned under the burden Leopold continued in possession and Feria bating the appearance enjoyed the conveniences and advantages which he had by the Valteline proposed Nor did the diversion of Mansfelt come to any thing for although he had received from the Confederates their money yet believing to make War in Germany with more profit to himself and being stirred up by the King of Denmark and the Protestants of the Lower Saxony was marched into the County of Oldenburg and having extorted great Contributions there leaving Garrisons in several places had entred into Westphalia and the Bishoprick of Munster On another side Halberstat separate in Forces but with the same ends and with the same supplies from the Bishoprick of Osnabrug threatned to advance into the Palatinate with thirty thousand men most new raised ill furnished with warlike Provisions and with but a few Cannon Tilly inferiour in number but better provided prevailing in Valour and military Discipline marches speedily towards him taking his passage through the Country of Hassia mortifying the Landgrave who had had the stoutness to deny it him with oppressions and contributions and indeed terrifying with his fame the whole Protestant Union He overtakes him in the Bishoprick of Munster and doubtful whether he should go forwards towards the Palatinate or bend towards Holland provokes him to battel he avoiding it with that disadvantage which he always hath who retires and gives way Coming at last close up to him at Bursteinfurt a place of no note whilst he was marching towards Statlo through a winding way interrupted with certain small Rivers which forming in several places dams and ditches gave him the opportunity to make a stand then facing about and leaving a strong defence there assure both the Reer and this March But the Catholicks pressed so hard upon him that overcoming all obstacles and the ressistance which was made them at the River Aa they came at last at Statlo upon the River Berchel the 6. of August to a general Battel in which being defeated leaving six thousand dead upon the place besides four thousand which rendred themselves Prisoners and the rest being dispersed eighty Colours Cannon Baggage and the glory of the Victory were the prey of the Conquerours Halberstat then with two Companies of Horse flyes into Holland giving Tilly liberty to re take many places in Westphalia in which he and Mansfelt had their Garrisons Tilly hereupon meditates on a great design to make himself Master of Embden and from thence through Frizland to pass into the bowels of the United Provinces of Holland so to retribute to the advantage of the Spaniards that powerful assistance they had given Ferdinand but the Hollanders furnished the place with all sorts of provisions sending thither men and a Squadron of Ships of War solliciting also Mansfelt for its relief and consenting six thousand men to Haverstadt to repair his Army For these reasons Tilly seeing the enterprise difficult and of a longer continuance than the approaching season of the Winter did permit returns to take Quarters in Hassia Nor had Mansfelt better luck for Cordua having in Westphalia reduced many Garrisons of places partly possessed by him and partly protected by the Hollanders with great facility every other place except Lipstat which made some defence yielded At last the Count of Anhalt and Colonel Erwits took Mansfelt in the Bishoprick of Munster at such a disadvantage of situation and numbers that he was wholly defeated Heaven making War for the Imperialists with such partiality of favours that they publickly boasted That the justice of their cause was decided by the felicity of their successes The Imperialists
also perswaded Bethlem Gabor to be quiet for he proposing to himself either to make a short War or Peace having obtained the Turks consent by the means of the Count de la Tour who went to the Port for that purpose had invaded Hungary and Moravia But it being divulged that Tilly having the fame of so many Victories his fore-runners was coming to their relief he retired into his own Country and applies himself to new agreements He had also in this year sent Stephano Attuani his Minister of most trust to Venice to demand a League and assistance but without effect because the Senate purposed to be attentive observers of but not be intangled in foreign occurrences so far distant from them An. Dom. 1624 ANNO M.DC.XXIV But was so much the more watchful upon the Valteline experiencing now from the usurpation of the passages there the mischiefs foreseen whilst for recruiting their Army and increasing their strength in order to the fulfilling of the League and guard themselves against the jealousies which molested them on all sides they had no means to bring any Souldiers but by Sea with much length of time and charge The Pope to gain time proposed divers expedients and above all expressed that without re-imbursement of the charges he would not part with the trust but the Confederates offering that with all readiness provided he would put the Valley into their hands to be rendred when the Forts were razed and Religion restored to the first Owner he remained fearful to offend Spain and proposed that of the Valley should be formed a soveraign body to be united either to the Catholick Cantons of Helvetia or as a fourth League to the three of the Grisons But the Confederates proposing to themselves the end of restoring things to their former state judged they should be wanting to the protection promised to the Grisons and nevertheless feared lest the Valteline not being able to subsist of it self as a body apart should uphold it self by the Spaniards by which means taking away the cover of the name they should still enjoy predominancy over their minds the convenience and liberty of the passage to the exclusion of all others Nor could this chief interest be longer concealed because it being at last proposed in the name of the Pope that passage through the Valley should remain free for the Souldiery of the King of Spain it gave the Confederates occasion to conclude thereupon that the subtle pretext of Religion being now removed the Interest seemed discovered to tend to the subjecting no less of Italy than of Germany by the uniting of Countries and opening a door to over-run the one and the other at their pleasure The Pope nevertheless persisted in what had been proposed moderating the particular of passage by confining it to the Valteline excluding the Country of the Grisons and Chiavena and that to take away jealousie from Italy it should be understood only of passage from the Milanese for Germany and Flanders and not from them back thither and insisted upon it with so much urgency that taking upon him the part of an Arbitrator he pretended to a power to decree it by vertue of the consent the Princes had given that he should prescribe needful securities for the Catholick Religion affirming withal that to bridle the Protestants and Hollanders a sudden march of Spanish Troops was made necessary for the defence of the Low Countries and relief of the Empire but the others considered that a door once opened to the Spaniards limits and ways could no more be prescribed and that under the pretext of passage the Milanese being made a perpetual place of Arms jealousies troubles and apprehensions would be eternized in Italy Nevertheless the Ambassadour Sillery with the assistance of Gheffier who was at that time at Rome although he could not but know France more prejudiced than any others both by the blow which its Confederates would feel within and without Italy and the breach which would be made into that most ancient League with the Grisons by vertue whereof the absolute disposition of the Passes was ascribed to them readily consents to it to the so much dissatisfaction of the other Princes united that attributing all to Pisieux from whose Judgment and Pen by reason of the favour and his charge the business depended they resolved to discover the Plot to the King himself giving him to understand the alterations with which they had proceeded at Rome from what had been concerted at Paris setting at naught the Princes who were their friends neglecting the Interests of the Crown it self and having by a most destructive consent conducted the business to that very end which the Spanish Ministers directed Concerning Pisieux besides the hatred and envy which are the wonted followers of favour a common opinion was currant that he was not more powerful in the Kings favour than venal in his Ministry making use of his Authority rather for profit than honour Being therefore not at all acceptable besides to the great men of the Kingdom it proved no hard matter for the Ministers of the Princes and in particular Giovanni Pesari Ambassadour of the Venetians by their Offices and wonted Arts to help forward the secret Intrigues of Court which discovering themselves of a sudden his Fortune split in a moment the King intimating to him that he and the Chancellor his Father should presently leave the Court The Marquess de la Vieuville Superintendant of the Finances took quickly possession of the favour and in the little time he subsisted by the Marriage with England and other means laid the foundations of those contrivances perfected afterwards by his Successor with great felicity But the affections of the King towards Favourites having hitherto proved but short and unhappy he continued but a few months Some ascribed his fall to covetousness by which he provoked the hatred of the great ones accustomed to satisfie their private interests out of the publick Treasury Others judged that one ingratitude being commonly the punishment of another as he had lent his hand to the expulsion of Pisieux the Raiser of his Fortune so the Cardinal Richelieu introduced by him into business quickly excluded him This Cardinal is the person called elsewhere the Bishop of Lusson and there is no doubt that as for the most part in the choice of great Ministers the judgment of the Princes agree with those of their Subjects though soon after they differ in the maintaining of them he was not ordained for that place from applause or common consent but was brought into it chiefly by the savour of the Queen-Mother with whom he had been long exercised in all sorts of observance The King surely had no inclinations to him either for having in former Negotiations discovered the sagacity of his nature or because there is a certain natural secret aversion to those who with an ascendant of wit exceed Sure it is that the Cardinal possessed rather the power of the favour
afterwards into Alexandria raging openly that a certain prey had been taken out of his hand by the Duke of Savoy but rejoyced in his heart that if the Capitulation of Susa saved Casal it preserved also the Milanese at that time exposed by the weakness of Forces if it had been invaded to a most certain ruine Casal was presently provided with fifteen thousand Sacks of Corn brought in by the French and by others furnished by the Duke of Mantua to whom the Venetians gave for that purpose thirty thousand Ducats besides another sum to keep his Souldiers in order with some small pay Into the Town were put a good number of French under Monsieur de Thoiras Mareschal de Camp taking their passage through Piedmont and some were brought into Aqui and Nizza whence the Spaniards were gone out The displeasure at their being brought in more than the shame for the retreat vexed extremely Gonzales the French arriving happily there whence with so much noise of Councils and Arms the Spaniards had endeavoured to keep them far off and his jealousie was so much the more increased when he understood that Father Joseph a Capucin most confident with the Cardinal was going to Mantua to propose amidst many pretexts to the Duke that to spare care and troubles he would yield Monferrat to the Crown which should give him a Soveraignty in exchange near to the Estate he possessed in the Kingdom Carlo from these dealings had occasion to know that the succours of great Princes are seldom done without respect to their own advantage and understanding at what the French aimed he thought it good counsel if he could possibly bring it to pass to dis-ingage himself as soon as he could by assenting to the Treaty of Susa as well from the assistance of the one as the Hostility of the other Crown Dextrously therefore rejecting the Propositions of the Capucin he sends the Marquess Striggio to give the King thanks for his succours and together with ample powers to execute the Treaty But although there was a Meeting upon it of Deputies in Buzzolino a Town near to Susa and that the Mantuans offered to the Savoyards the choice of Lordships divided into four Ranks yet Carlo Emanuel who thought of any thing but observing the accord first by several excuses and after by the supervening of new accidents frustrates the business The Ambassadour Soranzo being arrived at Susa and finding the Agreement concluded though he could not divert the prejudices which were apprehended by the Republick endeavoured at last that the execution might be warily provided for by deferring the departure of the King and the Army till Ratifications should arrive from Spain His considerations to the King and Cardinal were That Peace was not well grounded upon words alone and promises in an Age in which fraud passes for expedience and infidelity is reckoned amongst advantages but that security consisted in fulfilling and effectuating Agreements That fear of that unconquered Army had extorted from the Duke of Savoy a Consent Fame the fore-runner of the Glory of so generous a Monarch had forced the Governour of Milan from Casal But that agreements dictated from necessity as by an unjust and violent Minister have always been observed to be of short continuance If that troublesom and inconstant spirit of the Duke be thought to be sufficiently fixed it were but reason to loosen the bond of Force If the will of Gonzales be thought changed or the Maxims of the Councils of Spain moderated he for his part consented that the thought of Arms should be laid aside But if in the one from the provocation of the affront an ambitious heart be discovered and in the other vexed to the purpose with shame a haughty mind and in both the gnawing desire of Ambition and Empire be invited from difficulty a false security would delude the mind of so great a King and scorn the counsel of his wise Minister That Glory was a Plant which endured load and weight upon it self but if abandoned to the offences of time and the injuries of men naked and torn though at first adored within a while it would be despised That from the Alps the prosperous name of the Crown of France resounded through Italy but if so soon as arrived it disappears its friends would within a while seek for protection two Archbishopricks twelve Bishopricks and a great number of Abbies and rich Monasteries to the so great commotion of the Hereticks that Saxe with all his Party highly complained of it and denied that such Authority was due to the Emperour alone without a Diet and the consent of the States of the Empire But flattered with a crafty promise that the restitution should not be pressed but in a judiciary and civil way he within a while perceives that the Generals of the Armies were deputed for the execution of it who confounding the doubtful with the certain filled the Empire with alteration and the Princes with losses and complaints The contrivance seemed of moment because the best Pieces and the Churches which had Principalities annexed were to be incorporated into the Sons and Family the rest to promote the Reformation of Religion were with vast riches to be given by the Emperour to the Jesuits now exalted and believed the Authors of this Decree which considering the condition of the times even to the most zealous seemed unseasonable Designs stopping not here he sends General Arnhein into Prussia with an Army in favour of the Polacks not so much in a thankful retribution of the succours in the greatest pressure of his necessities obtained from King Sigismond as to keep the King of Swede intangled in those parts But the effect was very differing from the counsel for the Polacks having a natural distrust of Strangers and in particular detesting the Germans so soon as under the warmth of this assistance they began to breathe with some prosperity obliged their King to make a Truce for six years Whereupon Gustavus began to ruminate in his vast mind upon vast thoughts and provoked or desirous to prevent the injuries he feared lent his ear to many invitations which in the name of Princes discontented and enviers of the Austrians were brought to him and to lay the grounds of some Intelligences and Agreement he sent secretly to divers Princes Wolmar Count of Faremsback But in Holland England and France he found as then rather a hearing than reflecting upon this Proposition of moving Arms against Ferdinand whilst the late Wars in Poland with the felicity of successes had rather gotten the King the reputation of wise and valiant than renown to the Kingdom believed by all no less poor than remote and by consequence too weak to grapple with the Fortune and Power of the Austrians now grown to a full age and well rooted Nevertheless Richelieu who despised nought that was profitable and great resolves to send secretly Ministers to sound better the Genius and Power of the King and the
Citizens rather than by her own strength or the assistances of Strangers With these better times began the Principality of Francesco Erizzo assumed to be Duke after the death of Nicholo Contarini with great applause for having through the course of many years assisted the Country with counsel and joyntly defended it by Arms. And because he held the Generalship of the Terra firma there was put into that Charge as his Successor Luigi Giorgio at that time Proveditor in the Army But States being like the Sea where it fluctuates though there be no storm there arose at this time several diversities in opinion and unkindnesses with the Pope which though they molested not Italy with Arms distracted nevertheless mens minds with troublesom business Vrban after the death of Francesco Maria della Rovere the last Duke of Vrbin had united to the Church that most noble Fief And because during the life of the Duke who was now grown very old he kept a Prelate in that Country which assisted in all affairs he had after his death so little trouble to possess himself of it that Taddeo Barberino Prince of Palestrina entring into it with Souldiers to take quietly possession of it it looked as if the old Dominion was rather continued than another new one introduced The Pope under the pretext of the Commotions of Italy was already in Arms expecting this accident to the end that if in so great a confusion of affairs any body should go about to disturb him he might be able to maintain his right with a puissant Force But the Princes rather offered him to strives their assistance and exhorted him to invest his Nephews with it some believing to oblige him others by dismembring that State desiring that the Church should not so much increase its temporal Dominion The Pope having regard to the severe Bulls of his Predecessors and apprehending to leave to his House a Patrimony of unquietness and trouble rather than a peaceable Dominion made shew to think his Kinsmen more worthy of the Principality by refusing it than by retaining it He only confers as the Spoils of so noble a Conquest upon his Nephew Taddeo the Government of Rome a long time enjoyed by the Family of Rovere This dignity retains a certain ancient and venerable memory of the Praetor Praetorii in the times of the Caesars of so much esteem and authority though at present there remained nothing of it but the dress and the name From hence brake forth a great distaste with the Princes because the Prefect or Governour pretending precedency of Ambassadours who in the most solemn Functions assisting at the Popes Chair of State representing the members of all Christendom united to their head did all dissent from it The Barberins attempted to gain the Emperour because from his example other great Princes would certainly depend and they omitted not any means offering him great succours and powerful assistances But in vain for the Emperour resolving not to depart from what was fit and complaining that Merchandize for private respects was made of his necessity pulled upon him by maintaining of a cause in which Religion had the chief part orders his Ambassadour to abstain from the Churches and the other Ministers of the Crown followed him considering the Pope in his own house and in the cause of his Kindred Uncle and Party no less than a Prince From this common distaste of the Princes rose afterwards a particular one of the Venetians for Giovanni Pesari Cavalier Ambassadour of the Republick meeting casually in a street with the Prefect who stopping his Coach and the other not observing it by reason of the obscurity it being now late though he civilly caused an excuse to be made for it yet the Prefect taking offence at it meets him another time on purpose having corrupted the Ambassadours Coach-man who feigning that his Hat was fallen off staid the Horses and run his way Pesary was no sooner got home to his house but the Coach-mans flight was backed by some armed men to rescue him from the punishment he deserved The Court of Rome always talking and always greedy of occasions for it measuring things by appearances and shadows judges such Formalities to be of no less account than bloody Battels and important Conquests use to be esteemed elsewhere An. Dom. 1632 It being on this occasion in some disorder and the other Ambassadors taking it for their common interest offer themselves to the Venetian to do him right The Senate knowing that by the support of the Uncle the party of the Barberins would be too strong in Rome order Pesary that for a publick resentment he should immediately leave the City without taking leave of the Pope or his Nephews and at Venice they suspend giving audience to the Nuntio With this another disgust was interwoven upon occasion that Vrban at a time which was judged very unseasonable while Christendom was in a flame and Italy destroyed betwixt War and Plague had in the year past by his Bull decreed to the Cardinals the Ecclesiastical Electors and the great Master of Malta the Title of Eminence forbidding them to receive any other except from Kings The Republick notwithstanding continued to write in the stile accustomed but some of the Cardinals taking occasion from the affliction which they saw it would be to the Pope and his Kindred refused the Letters to the great resentment of the Senate There were added sharp contests betwixt those of Loreo subjects to the Venetians and those of Arriano which belong to those of Ferrara where the Cardinal Palotta the Legate disturbing the undoubted Confines of the Venetians by imprisonings and other mischiefs shewed an intention to attempt greater novelties by erecting new high-ways making the Po useless and changing the course of the Waters Nor were the Venetians wanting by equal mischiefs to repair themselves but Luca Pesaro Captain of the Gulph entring into the Sacca di Goro with certain Gallies and armed Barques stopped the Ships which with Victuals and Merchandise contrary to the Decrees of the Republick passed by Sea towards Ferrara He destroyed also in the River the works newly made to divert its course whereupon spirits imbittering it looked as if things would have proceeded further because Troops increasing on both sides the Ecclesiasticks on their Confines raised a Fort called delle Bocchette and the Venetians opposed another calling it della Donzella ANNO MDCXXXII To the end this first heat of Arms might not proceed to greater ingagements the French Ministers interposed proposing a suspension of offences and that the Souldiers should be withdrawn from those Borders where just at that time the Agreement was ready to be concluded it hapned that in an occasion some of those of the Popes were killed and thirty three taken Prisoners with hurt on the Venetians side But the Pope and the Republick giving their promise to King Lewis not to offend one another by Arms and to remove the souldiery there remained a larger field
act of confidence agreed that together with the National the Cardinals also of the Palace Brother and Nephew of the Pope himself should do it But as to the affairs most important the Ambassadour demonstrated to Vrban what the danger was which impended from the Turkish Arms. That Babylon was taken and therefore in Persia the War at an end or Peace very near It was not to be doubted but that to Amurath puffed up and elated in his mind ambition and power would suggest new designs and bold attempts The long intestine discords of the Princes had these many years served for pastime to the Barbarians who carefully observe the conjunctures by assaulting the weakest to make way to invade the more powerful War was scattered in Italy and in every other part Christendom appeared all bathed in blood nor were other reports heard of but those of deadly Battels and lamentable Sieges Why should so great slaughters be endured for unprofitable Conquests nay for great damages if we will compare them to the progress which the common Enemy promises himself That Christendom can save it self from this present shipwrack but by Peace alone That it was Urbans duty to apply the prayers and ingage the Authority of a common Father and a Prince to pacifie his Sons and unite them against the Power of the Barbarians That it was his office to calm the World appease the Kings pacifie the Princes quiet disturbances and compose the people The Republick would not spare pains and endeavours to second those pious intentions and his most prudent judgment She saw her self threatned by the unjust rage of the Turks but what was her Country but the out-works of others She maintained with a long Frontier the Guard of the Confines of Italy and the violence of a furious Torrent If she should yield to necessity or fall under force what would become of the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples nay the State of the Pope himself This Country the Guardian of Religion the Seat of Liberty and Honour cannot be invaded by the Turks in one part but it will be oppressed all over Their dreadful Arms are to be compared to that poyson which by one sole touch creeps irresistably over the whole body That the Senate for a common benefit promises a constancy in maintaining the War equal to the Generosity of provoking it The proud pretensions of the Turks had for their aim to extort from the Republick Ships and Gallies to offend Christendom with the very instruments of their own defence In case of denial War ensued of granting the power and strength of the Enemy was increased who not content with the usurping of so many spoils lies in wait for the last breath of languishing Christendom That the Republick had given an absolute denial to their demands yet knew their Forces unequal and by consequence the danger great Nevertheless put their Arms in order prepared for resistance with a firm hope that that War being from God and the cause undivided betwixt the Church and the Republick blessings from Heaven would abound nor would warlike assistances be wanting in particular that of the Vicar of Christ The Pope heard all with grave reflections discoursed of many things and although more difficult to resolve and put them in effect nevertheless affirmed that urgency coming upon them he would not suffer his endeavours and forces to be wanting For the present he permitted the Levy of three or four thousand men in his Country and to promote more vigorously the Mediation of Peace betwixt the Princes he sent Extraordinary Nuntio's to the Courts with vehement intreaties and effectual considerations to bring them to some Conditions of Peace and if that should be found too difficult and long to a Truce or at least to a suspension of Arms by Sea by transmitting their powers to Rome to the end that under the eye and direction of the Pope the Treaty might with as much care as the necessity required be brought to perfection The Ambassadours of the Republick cooperated in the same the interposition of Vrban proving faint and not acceptable For a pretext of particular diffidence served the distaste which was pretended by the Emperour by France and by Spain for there being named in the promotion of Cardinals by the Emperour the Prince Rinaldo d'Esté and by one of the Crowns Giulio Mazarini and by the other the Abbot Peretti the Pope denying to comply with the instances and to cover the little inclination he had towards those persons alledging that they were not National deferred the promotion though there were many places vacant The Crowns herewith not at all content insisted on the Nomination with so much heat that being at variance in all else they agreed only in this to force the will of the Pope and passing from intreaties to protests and threatnings gave out they would forbid their Subjects to accept of that Dignity as often as the nominated should not be comprehended The French in particular pressed for Mazarine who besides what he had negotiated in Piedmont had in his extraordinary Nunciature of France so gained the favour of Richelieu and had declared himself so partial for that Crown that having drawn the Cardinal Anthonio to the dependence upon it he not only passed in Rome for the most confident Minister of France but being called to Paris was declared Plenipotentiary at the Meeting for Peace not without the disgust and murmuring of some of the Nation that for the Purple and weightiest Imployments Strangers were preferred as if Merit and Capacity were wanting in so many persons of the Kingdom To exasperate minds the more there happened afterwards other lesser accidents which yet in the Court of Rome take the place of greater matters for the Master of the Horse of the Mareshal d'Estré Ambassadour of France being out-lawed for having taken away out of the hands of the Serjeants a Friend of his was killed in the Country while he was yet in his service and his head publickly exposed in Rome Whereupon the Ambassadour taking himself to be slighted intermitted going to Audiences from whence came that in France also they were denied to Monsieur Scotti Nuntio Extraordinary with much rigour and severity This disgust was at last composed with the punishing some Officers and with the offices of respect and esteem which the Cardinal Barberin passed with the Ambassadour in his own house going thither to visit his Wife After this upon the old diffidences with the Spaniards were sowed new discontents so that the Ambassadour Marquess di Castel Roderigo suspended in like manner the Audiences with Barberino because he being the Cardinal Protector of the Religion of the Franciscans had by the Authority of the Pope assumed to the Generalat a Brother that had not the Royal approbation and the displeasure was so much the more increased by how much the same Ambassadour the night of the Nativity caused in Rome fast by a Church to be arrested the Prince of Sans of the
pleasing and Courteous he introduced himself with a general applause into the place and withall exposes himself to the expectation of the world where so great a force of Fortune was to end ANNO MDCXLIII His first care was to assure the Confederates of the Crown that there should be no change of a constant continuance in their friendship and with the Princes of Italy he affects to beget a greater confidence as one that born under the same Climate and versed in the Affairs of that Country had a better inclination towards it and therefore shews himself sollicitous to procure a Peace betwixt the Pope and the Prince of Parma But at the instant that he intended to set upon the Mediation with earnest it hapned that the Ambassador Fontenay with Lionne were retired from the Court of Rome The cause seemed not great for Vrban having deposed from the Generalat of the Dominicans the Father Ridolfi upon a Schism raised in the Convocation of that Religion held in Genua the Spaniards thereupon saving Rodolfi his rights had chosen Rocca Mora and the French with the Italians Mazarini Brother to the Cardinal the Pope having made void that Convocation that they might proceed to a new Election the Ambassador of France pretended that that was against the promise made him to promote Mazarini and leaves the Court. The pretext seeming too slight though he aimed chiefly to gain the good graces of the new Favourite he added other disgusts and amongst them that the Portuguese Ambassadour was not admitted and the Mediation of the King had been slighted in the fraudulencies of the Treaties with the Duke of Parma But the Court at Paris ill resented that he had ingaged himself so far the Cardinal abhorring that under the cover of the Kings favour his private interests should so soon appear to the world He therefore orders the matter so that the Ambassadour with some appearance of satisfaction should return to Rome and the Venetians were in the Kings name desired to interpose notwithstanding their so slender confidence with the Pope in the present Affairs They nevertheless employed their offices but the business was quickly silenced for the charge of Master of the holy Palace being conferred on the Father Mazarini and he flattered with greater hopes easily let fall his pretensions to the Generalat The Ambassador now come to Court again employs himself with greater warmth than formerly in the agreement of Parma But all without effect because the Cardinal Barberino put more confidence in Tricks than Treaties and therefore sending the Abbot de Bagni to Florence proposed to the Grand Duke That to Edward should be given the absolution of the censures with the forms contained in the Ceremonial that to his eldest Son the investiture of his Dominions should be granted with the restitution of all that was possessed except Castro Montalto and so much Country round about as a Cannon-shot could reach These propositions handed by the Grand Duke to the Venetians were by common advice rejected they seeming not admittable by the Duke of Parma and little honourable to the League who declared themselves Protectors of that Interest For this cause the Treaties were confirmed more closely in Venice whither were come the Cavalier Giovanni Battista Gondi the Grand Dukes chief Secretary in the place of Pandolfini who was sick and the Duke of Modena to recommend to the Senate besides the publick his own private interests also He had a great desire that his pretensions with the Pope might be comprehended in the League but they importing many and weighty difficulties could not but too much disturb Italy besides that every one of the Confederates would thereupon have reason to produce their own that were of no less moment It was therefore resolved that they should not abandon their first ends of protecting the Duke of Parma procuring Peace and also shewing resentment of the contempt in the late Treaties But in the interim of these Negotiations Duke Edward put forward by the fury and fervour of his Genius sends under the Marquesses Sciabuf and Edward Scott about three thousand Foot cross the Appennines through the Lunigiana to be imbarked where the Magra falls into the Mediterranean upon certain Tartanes hastily got together in hope that landing upon the shore and easily taking the weak Rock of Montalto they might speed also in possessing themselves of Castro in the sudden astonishment of the surprise To second the design and divert the Enemies Forces he with fifteen hundred Horse intended as formerly to enter into the Bolognese The cold of the Winter and the difficulty to pass over the Snow retards so long the march of the Foot that advice of it came to Rome so that they had time to prepare for the defence and strengthen the place But the Dukes Souldiers came not there at all for being scarce imbarked and the Tartanes put from the shore so fierce a storm encounters them that being driven to Genoua and Porto Fino they were forced to cast Anchor and save themselves there Victuals wanting that were but scantily provided and money part of the men perished and the rest disbanding were received into pay by the Spanish Ambassadour who seasonably sent them to strengthen the Governour of Milan who besieged Tortona Upon this accident the Barberins published that it was evident that Fortune from Heaven had fought upon the Sea in favour of their cause Seeming afterwards to doubt that the Duke rather irritated than wearied by ill success designed to possess that part of the Ferrarese which beyond the Po confines with the Republick the Cardinal Anthonio talked of laying a great Fort at Lago Scuro to pass a Bridge over the River and draw a Chain cross it which was there ready upon the Banks with all preparations to fortifie himself on this side the Po and send men thither If the Venetians had in the beginning been troubled when by the Barberins certain Guards had been sent thither and a certain Fort traced that to avoid at that time jealousies proceedings were discontinued they were at present so much the more moved as they saw the design to shut up the River to others and facilitate passage for their own Army which passing to this side of the River might ravage as far as to the Adice possess or at least lay waste the Polesene and drown it at their pleasure They therefore gave it to be understood that they were not to suffer the novelty and violation of so ancient agreements and ordered Giovanni Pesari Cavalier and Procurator succeeded into the Generalat di Terra firma to Luigi Giorgio deceased that with powerful Forces he should go into the Polesene to save harmless their concerns and to hinder the building of the Bridge or destroy it if he found it built He marching immediately thither with six thousand five hundred Foot and a great number of Horse was the cause that the Cardinal Anthonio suspended putting it in effect Minds being in this manner irritated