and the Contract was voided by the not having received it within the time limited though it were made and not required and much more it not being made Shee staying as it was said for order from the most Christian King and they having as it was knowne demanded it That this clause not accomplished excluded her highnesse out of the Treaty and the King of France being included therein it severed him from his Sisters interests Shewing that his Majesties Officers also had therein committed a default by not withdrawing their Forces out of such places where they were employed in her Highnesse service because the Truce concluded in Italy with the King of Spaine did not admit of the securing any of his enemies places whence might be perceived how much they had gone beyond that which was agreed upon by entering into Susa Avigliano and Canor as if it were the same thing to exchange a Garrison and to take possession of a new one to leave the state of things as it was and to better it by the gaining of three places An act so farre from what was agreed upon that though the Dutchesse had ratified the contract and made of two parties one it could not choose but be a manifest breach He marvelled not that his Eminency had spoken nothing of Canor for having neither reason likelihood nor shew to defend the seizing upon it he would take no notice of the doing it seeing the Governour thereof had immediatly before the Truce by a Letter subscribed with his Captaines hands made an acknowledgement of it to be the Princes Cardinall and Thomas That which his Eminencie insisted upon of the like done by us by bringing in Garrisons where those of Piemont were was not as yet done And if it had it would have been a thing very different The King his Master with the Princes being but one party whereas the King of France and the Dutchesse were two That it was true Nizza had changed Lord but many dayes before the Truce But the French had bettered themselves in their Workes under the Castle of Villa Franca against and since the capitulation That the Decree published in Turin was no act of hostilitie of policie it was granted and that if it were of hostilitie it might bee done against the Dutchesse already excluded from the suspension of Armes That his Eminencie might know that the Spanish officers had observed the Truce as if it had been ratified And that the most Christian Kings Officers had broken it though it had been ratified And howsoever that the want of the ratification did debarre the most sophisticall understandings from questioning the defects of the one part and the subtilties of the other His Eminencie must excuse him if hee did not satisfie his request and that hee could not remedie the inconveniencies or understand them otherwise but that he must hinder the exchange of the sixe hundred Souldiers from Casal Nor would he doe it if the Dutchesse would ratifie and the King of France desert those places which his Officers had taken not binding them with so much rigour but that they might yet have so many dayes after the truce to amend what was past The Marquis concluded his Letter which was full of the Cardinalls praises with proffers and thankes I have herein trusting to the Readers capacitie not so farre enlarged the reasons nor unfolded them with so much spirit as the Marquis did write them Yet I have not added any thing of mine owne nor taken away any thing of the substance In the meane time the Fort of Salsaâ— in Spaine was set upon in foure places In the most dangerous place wrought the Count Dukes Regiment commanded by the Marquis of Mortara and Iohn d'Arza there th' enemy made out trenches sallied sprung Mines leaving nothing unattempted to hinder the designe but all in vaine When he sallied he was driven in sometimes by the one Commander sometimes by the one Commander sometimes by another still with excellent valour and by both of them first beaten into the out Dikes and afterwards from thence dislodged giving our men thereby leave to advance which they valiantly did The Governour with great care and watchfullnesse giving every one way to obtaine reputation The enemy was closely besieged without any more hopes of sallying out the Count Dukes Regiment being gotten within the Dike close to the wall to undermine it The great fall of raine hindered the worke for a time then the report of the enemies comming on to relieve it caused it to be intermitted and at last was quite given over through a deceitfull report or relation of deceived men For some being runne out of the Fort or at least dissembling as though they had forsaken it said there was not provision within to maintaine it for a weeke and that the Souldiers died for hunger They shewed some of the Bisket mouldy and stinking and added so many circumstances that the Captaines tooke the newes for certaine And to avoid the shedding of blood about a place of no great importance and because of the incommodities of rainie and cold weather the intemperatnesse of the aire which cause diseases in men and the necessity of fortifying our selves against the approching reliefe they determined to lie still till famine caused it to yeeld seeing by force it was not to bee wonne in lesse time The terme of many dayes being spent and no yeelding spoken of it was attributed to the Governours obstinacie never perceiving the deceit And one weeke passing away after another the enemy within and without still maintaining the report of the famine it was alwaies judged ill done that they had not set upon it by force and it was now thought it could never be taken Every day some precedent error was blamed and some new one committed losing time through th' opinion of having lost it I doe not affirme there was any error committed but if there were it may bee called a most fortunate one it stayd not the Conquest so long as it increased the glory of it taking away from the enemy all manner of excuse for covering his defects even of time Leaving men enow to besiege the place close they began to cast up our workes and though they were large they brought them to that perfection that there might be some hope of defending them All this worke which caused the effect of the enterprise must be attributed to the Count Duke who whilest the Generalls writ sometimes of impossibilities sometimes of difficulties with effectuall Letters shewing them it was not impossible relieving them with men engaged them to goe on with the work and made it so easie that in the end of the Siege it was almost inpregnable In Flanders the King of France his Army being divided in two parts one under the command of the Marshall of Chatiglion the other of Migliare the Cardinall Infanta opposed the first with Piccolomini and the other with the Marquis of Fuentes Few passages happened on either
them Conquests to be almost impossible disgraces easie and the dammages certaine No account to be made of Salsas and though it should chance to bee lost Perpignane not to be feared though it should be assaulted being strong of it selfe back'd by a Province abundant in provision rich in coine and numerous in hardie and valiant men That the King of Spaine would bee the hardlier turned by reason he was tied to defend himselfe being assaulted by great Forces and had strength enough to doe it and because of th' effect which the love of their King and the hatred they have to the French might worke in the hearts of the Catalonians That his Majestie had with the Havens the Dominion of the Sea his Gallies might hinder any one else from becomming master of it This gate being closed it would be impossible for the French to maintaine a potent Army seeing hee was to bring Ammunition and provision on his backe so farre for it The fire to bee kindled in Italie Piemont in eminent danger to bee lost and the Kings Sister with it That it was good to draw the Spaniards thither where the reward was great and whither they could not come but by Sea where the Climate is different and where once routed it was hard for them to bee recruited That Nature had parted these two Nations with th'Appenines the Spaniards Foote to bee more valiant and the French more numerous in Cavallerie The one to bee forced to come into the Mountaines to move warre where they can make no use of that wherein they most abound and the others to descend into the plaine where that was needfull which they most wanted To so many motives of reason and naturall cares was added the ancient experience and especially the moderne of Fonterable where the last yeare they lost so many men and so much reputation But now in these dayes experience is followed onely wherein it is favourable if adverse it must bee overcome and though its authority be not denied yet it must be interpreted The cause is attributed to chances which alwaies accompany every great enterprize and the crosse of chances imputed to the Commanders changing of which in stead of taking away th'inconveniences they alter the Generalls in stead of amending the evill they multiplied and increase it One runneth not twice into an error when in the same there is both shame and losse for the danger of losse will not suffer them to adventure the shame Enterprises obtaine not their effects either because they are projected or badly executed the error is sometimes in the one sometimes in the other but the fault is alwayes laid on him who can least helpe it It is common to all men to erre but proper onely to brave men to confesse their error He that hath often dealt infallibly if he receive blame for being once deceived receives no shame by confessing that he was deceived It is no abasement of spirit nor losse of reputation It is a confidence in ones owne credit which is not feared to be lost in one onely action Hee that confesseth an error bindeth himselfe to the cancelling of it by some great attempt whereas he that denieth it seemes to be subject to commit a greater And it is strange that an ignorant man will never confesse one when the wise man affirmes that the just man commits seven in a day The French Army numerous being of twenty thousand Foot commanded in chiefe by the Prince of Conde a Lord of a great bloud and secondarily by the Duke of Luin a Souldier of great valour was by the most Christian Kings Officers sent into the Countie of Ronciglione as though they would overcome the bounds of nature the valour of the Spaniards and alter the Generalls fortune Fortune smiled but did not favour Valour overcome by multitude appealed to time Nature was betrayed and not overcome The Governour of the Castle of Oppoli a small place a passage of those Mountaines of a craggie situation inaccessible by Ordinance and almost impenetrable to man suffered himselfe to be surprised by a Fanatick terror The cries of the French threats entred into his eares the number of the men presented it selfe before his eyes and in stead of viewing them with emissive rayes which he might have done a farre off from the foot of the hill he received th' impression of them in th' eyes of his imagination he figured them to himselfe as if they were before him and was disturbed and before hee could come to himselfe againe he lost his courage his discourse and himselfe for yeilding up the Castle to the French hee and his Lieutenant were put to death at Perpignane punishing him and by his punishment giving others example The Count of Santa Colomba governed the Province of Catalonia in those dayes to the King and peoples great satisfaction a Gentleman of great hopes though but of small experience The defect of this quality suffered him not then to bee an eminent Souldier the plenty of other promised he would be one Hee was noble apt prudent calme and valiant In a peaceable government you could have desired no more And in warre hee so behaved himselfe that it seemed that did him no hurt which he was defective in For providing discoursing and doing every thing exceeding well none could judge he needed that which hee onely wanted Hee did not find himselfe to have strength enough to resist the enemie in the field The men he looked for to recruit that Armie were not yet come greater conveniencie therefore was to be exppected it being reasonable to doubt in things not to be questioned at that time The Marquesse of Leganes businesse would not permit to have six thousand Foot taken from the Army which were allotted for that place seeing he had lost many men in the Conquest and employed many to secure the conquered places The Gallies of Naples and Sicily thinking their orders for comming into Spaine had a connexion with those six thousand Foot 's comming stayed for new orders whereby they retarded the arrivall of the Tertia of Modona of the Levies made within the Territories of Lucca and of the old Gally souldiers The Catalaines either because they did not imagine the enemy would at that time set upon those parts or because they were too much tied to the Letter construing their priviledges too straitly and rigorously had not made any fitting preparation To all these accidents there concurred at last to the great wrong of wisdome which opposed is the ruine of wise men some French Officers had intercepted certaine Letters sent by the Marquesse of Leganes importing that the Prince of Conde with his Forces in Linguadoc was to march towards Italy It was easily believed for if it was not it ought to have been so and though it did not perswade to desist from being carefull yet it disswaded from using compulsion Spaine was encompassed with enemies a mighty Fleet at the Groine a great Army in the County of
Prince with the Marquis his advice resolved to attempt it Which he did and advancing forward one night with two thousand horse and a thousand foote he hung a pettarre upon the gate set scaling ladders to the walls and though with resistance and bloud he wonne the Citie where a thing which seldome commeth to passe the prisoners were more in number then they who tooke them The dutchesse recovered the Cittadell but so closely pursued that for want of time she was forced to leave even her very jewells behind her In this action were most taken notice of the Marquis of Carcena Don Martino of Mexica and D. Francisco Tuttavilla who bravely relieving one another revived the almost extinguished hopes and perfected the designe which was almost desperate And this is the effect which the Cardinall of Savoy his phantasticallnesse brought forth who bringing his brother and his friend into a streight occasioned the taking of Turin As births come not forth of a woman with child without great paine so the understanding cannot bring forth without great labour The expulsive vertue worketh not unlesse it be provoked and best when most valour increaseth and falls according to wrath and interest and the understanding through affliction There is none naturally carefull or valiant man but may be carelesse and fearfull in respect of him who is made carefull by danger and valorous through dispaire The King of France his Fleet rather patched up then repaired covering its nakednesse with the spoiles of English German and Holland ships which lay in the harbours of Brittanie set saile againe and comming in sight of the Province of foure Cities after some tacking about came into Laredo an open place without any forts to relieve it or souldiers to defend it he tooke the towne sacked it wasted the country about and robbing ruining and burning went abord againe With the news of Laredo there arrived into France the the newes of the surprise of Turin by Prince Thomas Paris and the whole Kingdome murmured that so many millions should be laid out upon such a powerfull Fleet to no other end or profit but to sack a poore place which had been a small matter for a poore sea rover to have done Upon a mighty Army to take a Castle which brought more losse then gaine with it causing a great Army to be kept there wasting many men and much money That with these costly vanities the interest of Italie was abandoned friends and the Royall bloud exposed to dangers fraudes accidents and fortune They accused the Officers of vanitie that they made difficult the surest enterprises where something might be gotten wasting time and the bloud and substance of subjects in those things which made but a faire shew and a great deale of noise Perswaded sometimes by passion sometimes by emulation rather to kindle coales then conquer states To those who defended them by saying that the powerfullest way to destroy the Monarchie was to set upon it in Spaine for keeping the Warre there and diverting it from other places the rest of the dominions were cut off from reliefe where there was continuall need of men and money They answered that to defend Italie by invading Spaine Flanders and Burgundie was to make one plant grow by sowing of another that it was wasting of Gold in Alchimie and like thinking to make Gold of Mercurie and brasse and give over digging it out of the mines That it was not to be thought a small matter to divert the Marquis of Leganes fortune in its fierce beginning and that it was impossible to doe it with a Fleet in the Ocean that fired three or foure straw ricks or with a powerfull Armies taking a small Castle in the County of Rouciglione and that they could much lesse make Piemont secure with onely diverting the enemies forces and not defending it That diversion required an opportune time great forces and prosperous fortune That the Romans did not make use of it with Aniball in the torrent of his victories but after his first violence was past and when though his course were not staid his fury was asswaged That they opposed him strongly in one place to call him to another that they forsooke not the defence of Italie when they invaded Africk and did not only divert him with Armies but tyed him to it with victories But whosoever shall at this time attentively consider the state of France the houses full of bloud the neighbouring Islands full of exiled men the Kingdome of tributes the publick priviledges cancelled private mens goods taken away Subjects discontented Hereticks multiplyed under the name of overcome the Province destroyed under pretence of reforming every thing by nature turned upside downe and by violence kept quiet may know that the endeavours which are used to maintaine the Swede in Germanie with store of money to assault Spaine Flanders and Germanie with powerfull Armies are prudent and necessarie that the evill may not penetrate into the inward parts of a body full of very evill humours And that the glory of being an invader losses dissembled conquests multiplied and increased may so fill the ears of the Parents that they may not heare the grievous groanes of their sacrificed children resounding in their aire Order was given the Count of Santa Columba that he should not undertake any new enterprise before th' arrivall of the Marquesse of Balbases who stayed so long that before him came the Marquesse of Torracusa the rest of the Count Dukes Regiment the old tertiaes of Cantabria the horse and foot disembarqued out of the Neapolitan and Sicilian Gallies so that at his comming he found the Army numerous and valiant desirous of enterprises and able to performe great ones But because the enemy prevailed in number of Cavalrie and many recruits were by him daily expected it was considered of in the Junta of State and warre whether it were good to goe find him out and fight with him And there was but one who was of opinion that we should not give battell That we ought not to fight with the enemy when we were too weake and that if we were too strong we could not Hee would retreat into France where the pursuit of him would bee impossible through want of victuals fotherage and traine of Artillery And that we were then to fight with them in their owne Country where their reare was secured their provisions certaine and their Cavalrie advantagious When the enemy is not afraid if it be a shame to feare yet it is wisedome to doubt and this Monarchie ought not to be exposed to a doubtfull fortune which adverse may make us unhappy and prosperous can adde no felicity to us Princes take Citizen-like advise when they adventure their estates upon a point of reputation which consists not in the losse of a Castle in the mid'st of warres but in the ending of them with great Conquests or an honourable Peace Finally it would doe small good to overthrow the French Army in
occasion serves and never before Monarchie and Aristocracie often lose themselves by seeking to get what is â—nothers and Democracie sometiâ—â—â— by suffering it to be taken away The Switzers to the perswasions of neutrality had added a protestation That if the most Christian King followed the warres in Burgundie they should be driven to recall their forces which served him And because they were but small of no profit and great charge to the King of France it was a threatning hurtfull to them onely that made it which cansed every one to judge it vaine and of no moment Yet I will adventure to say that the hurtfuller the Protestation was to the Switzers the more it was to be feared by the French King Hee that doth hurt in shewing himselfe to be distasted seemes to be by that already satisfied Hee that receives hurt shewes a token that he will have satisfaction I cannot believe that so warlike and honourable a Nation will so shamefully forsake the Burgundians in such an urgent case without any occasion or infamously by taking a reward to doe it Weymar left Pontaglier and Joux contrary to his conveniencie it being a most important passe And burned them contrary to his promise for which hee had received money sufficient Hee went to wards Alsatia and without attempting any great matter either there or in Burgundie he died This Nobleman was a man of his own interest He was no friend to the King of France whom he being a German abhorred as a stranger Hee was an enemy to the house of Austria which hee descending from Duke Maurice of Saxonie hated he was of a turbulent minde various in fortune he lost oftner then he got yet got more then he had lost His spirits were generous his bloud royall expert and very valiant in warres better known through our mens defaults then his owne victories Seeing the greatest that he obtained were the overthrowing of John Vert when he was carelesse and the taking of Brisack when it was unprovided The hopes which through his reputation he had framed for the raising of his Famiâ—ie ended with his life There happened this yeare no losse of any value in Burgundâ—e The faithfulnesse prudence trust attention and vigilancie of Don Antonio Sarmiento who by the Kings command was there Marquis de Leganes his victories which drew from thence the Duke of Longueville his forces The battell Piccolomini wonne which broke Weymars designes and his death which gave no time for the reundertaking of them defended it The Kings Fleets which were in the Harbour of Cadiz set saile one very powerfull towards Italy commanded by the Duke of Naccara and Maccheda to be employed for the Common-weaâ—th of Venice if need required the other commanded by Don Antonio di Oâ—hendo directed its course towards the Ocean to fight with the French shipps and having spent much time in putting out into the Maine to come up with a scarce wind to the Capes St. Vincent and Finisterre fell just upon the Groine It came not into the Harbour but stayd onely till the shipps under the command of Don Lope de Ozes came out of it which though hee performed with all possible celeritie yet they could not come so soone but that the French ships were retired into their own harbours Almost at the same time came his Majesties Army out of Perpignane and the Fleet from the Groine the rumour of the one made the Duke of Luin returne into France and the report of the other caused the Archbishop of Burdeaux to forsake his place The coast of Spaine being freed from the enemie they undertooke their voyage to carry the reliefe into Flanders Being come into the Chanel they discovered seventeen Holland shipps Don Antonio appointed his to goe on and hee followed with the Admirall but they staying and he thrusting forwards found himselfe alone in the front of the enemies who had placed themselves in form of a halfe moone for to deceive them Hee desired to board their Admirall which to attaine unto he was for almost an houre forced to be the aime of all their shot without answering with his intending to make use of it at the boarding So soone as he came neere hee began to shoot and when he thought to board the enemy hoysed up his Sailes and went further off The next day being made stronger by sixteen ships he shewed himselfe againe There began the horriblest fight that ever was seene at Sea The noise of so many pieces of Ordnance hindered their hearing and the smoake their sight that little as could be seen or heard was the battering of ships tearing of sailes shivering of masts the voyces of Commanders and the groanes of dying men One of the Kings Ships and a Hulke inconsideratly or ignorantly straying from the rest fell into the hands of the Hollanders reare-ward Don Antonio went to rescue them he rescued the ship but not the Hulke finding it already taken by the enemie The time being farre spent the Fleets tacked about to get the wind and were parted that of Generall Ochendo having sailed within sight of the coast of France found it selfe neere the English shore where the securenesse of the Habours the friendship and peace between the two Kings and finding his Admirals ship evill intreated having alone fought with sixteene ships of the enemies made him resolve to Anchor at the Downes from whence hee sent over almost all the reliefe to Mardick in small vessells though the Hollander were in the same Harbour increased in shipping to the number of one hundred and fourteen The Spanish Fleet seemed to lie there secure and was to be so by the capitulation between the King of England and the Catholick King But the Hollander was not long before he undeceived the world if there were any one in it so simple as to be deceived by setting upon his Majesties Fleet though the two Generalls of Spaine and Holland had both passed their words to the Vice-Admirall of the King of England that they would not offend one another the Vice-Admirall being there and threatning to fall upon them who should break their Covenants A great boldnesse and presumption in those Ports and harbours which are their Asylums and places of refuge and a dishonour done by them to that King whose Ancestors first set up their reputation But what dare not those people doe They are pernicious to all men and lesse to those to whom they most seeme to bee so more powerfull in stratagems then valorous in strength without God without Law without Faith friends or enemies they measure all in one manner They hate all that is not common-wealth and lay snares for any thing that is a Principalitie In one part they fight against a Monarch and in another against Monarchie They seeke to augment the one and diminish the other In some places they assault states in some the formes of them And having bin assisted while they were rebells they likewise assist rebellion They are every where
that should not hinder their good order yet might you keepe backe their reliefes and provisions in those rough and narrow waies and provide as is fitting for Perpignane Out of which in my opinion it would bee good to leave some Commanders of Horse and Foot who uniting themselves with the men of the Province might upon any occasion either obstruct the enemies provisions or bring him in between those Troops and your excellencie For as it may be believed and as upon the last Orders advice is given that the Catalanes were raising forces whereof the faintest part increasing the bulk and the best strengthening Perpignane would make the enemies intentions exceeding difficult if not impossible Besides I hold it very painfull there being no provisions ready upon the Frontiers the 24th day to bring all necessary provisions from Sicas to Rivas altas for an Army which stands in want of it by reason of the great compasse which by reason of the ill way they must fetch and the short time of ten dayes which they have to worke in your Excellencie being abundantly stored with every thing for above twelve If the enemy should make his attempt by the way of Rivas altas your Excellencie would not have so much time as I think of between the one and the other action But before any such passage could bee made you would have had it by that which I have spoken of Perpignane and alwayes cut off the enemies Convoyes they being at such a distance or burne their provisions in their Magazines For it is impossible and not to be imagined that he can keep such a guard upon his provisions and other places and secure himselfe Whence shall he provide such a strong Army both in quality and quantity as might stand for seaven whole leagues in every place stronger then the body of your Excellencies to secure him from receiving a blow which may disorder him and utterly overthrow his designe I beseech your Excellencie to pardon me as Don Pietro de Toledo was wont to say if I souldiour it with so great a fouldiour who am altogether inexpert in that art I conclude Sir that we are and ought to be Gods hoping he will not forsake his cause I send your Excellency money I will also rehearse the circumstances they will seeme weake but they are necessary to lay open the great ones they will abase my stile but what is that to the purpose so they doe exalt anothers glories He did not elaborate this letter with his pen he did dictate it without any intermission not when he was quiet and farre from any noise sitting at his desk but in his coach running not imparting it to any onely dictating it to Don Antonio Carnero one of his secretaries a man of great understanding and knowledge of most unspotted fidelity and cleane hands in service attentive and infatigable I beare with them who set me out for a flatterer They see me rewarded they examine my talent and because they find no great worth they blemish it with a great vice They find me a writer of great actions they examine what they can doe and because they find it come short they call my relations fables The conciousnesse of what themselves would doe causeth them to thinke ill of him that writes that which they cannot do to misunderstand him that doth it An Historian of understanding flatters himself if he imagines he can avoid slanders He hath somewhat within him which he concealeth a great vertue and a great vice which being hid from the eyes of the vulgar when it comes to be manifested it seeming he addeth it of his own because that though it were so it was not knowne they call him if he writes of excellent good ones a flatterer if of exceeding bad ones a malicious person I would be pleasing to heare vice reproved but with modesty and vertue extolled but with moderation and its displeasing to have the secrets of vertues and vices discovered They would be willing to embrace the one and not have it knowne and to not labour for the other and yet have it imagined that they have it They heare the writers expressions blame vice wholly but in vertue praise onely the greatest and men having commonly of the one and the other and few of the latter excessively participating of the reproof which extends it selfe even to mediocrity and not of the praise which goeth onely upon the extreames on the one part they remaine ill satisfied on the other offended Upon the report of the reliefe comming out of France his Majesties Army was increased by a considerable number of Catallanes who in this occasion carried themselves cunningly and by many souldiours who having recovered their healths went to employ it in their masters service Above all others remarkeable was the arrivall of the Duke of Naccara and Maccheda not so much because he brought three hundred of the choicest musquettiers of the Fleet with him as for the person of so compleate a Gentleman who not through any other perswasion but of his own well-guided courage voluntarily came to increase it in that Army and whereas before he without feare stood expecting the enemy now fearelesse came to challenge him He put himselfe in the regiment of the Count Duke under the Command of the Field Marshall Don Iohn de Arze to make himselfe famous with his pike in his hand Let it be a sufficient attestation for the nobility of his bloud that I have named him Of the great endowments of his person the relation of this action In the former are rehearsed the memories of his many illustrious forefathers and a person is set forth in whom is made the union of all those greatnesses in the latter shines modesty wisdome valour and devotion to the King and gallantnesse in serving him Th' intelligences which many wayes came out of France were That the most Christian King was resolved to have the Fort relieved That to that purpose came cut of Paris Monsieur de Poncourle Marquis of Coastin Nephew to the Cardinall of Richelieu That the old and new Forces of Languedock were appointed for that purpose soure companies of forraign Nations the Regiment of Lionnois the Regiment of guards eight which came out of Lorraine downe the Rone all the Cavallerie that was in pay the bound Nobility which was bound to come and that which came voluntary and because they should be enow for such a great enterprise there being a scarcitie of them in France they resolved to remedy it by the same way as it came taking the Baron of Bassompier out of prison for so they write him that hee might with the Duke of Luin and Marshall La Force goe to the reliefe All this rumour ended with the approach of the Vanguard within foure miles of the place the day before that which was agreed upon for the yielding of it And to th' end the default might be imputed to want of time or peradventure to the Governour
THE CHIEFE EVENTS OF The Monarchie of SPAINE In the yeare 1639. Written By the Marquesse Virgilio Maluezzi one of his Majesties Councell of Warre Translated out of th' Italian Copy by ROBERT GENTILIS Gent. LONDON Printed by T. W. for Humphrey Moseley at the signe of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard 1647. To the right Honourable EDWARD Earle of Dorset Lord Buckhurst Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Garter Lord Chamberberlaine of his Majesties Houshold and one of his Honourable Privie Councell SIR I Have presumed to present this Translation to your Lordships view and send it into the world under your Patronage And though my selfe bee not worthy so great a Patron yet the Author Count Virgilio Maluezzi his Workes generally are of such esteem that a Noble and honourable Penne in this Kingdome hath vouchsafed to English some part of them And this particular Historie is so inter-woven with severall grave politick Discourses learned and pithy Speeches upon sundry occasions that I question not but your Lordship may find somewhat in it worthy your reading at vacant houres This and your ever knowne love to learning shewed by your daily favours continually flowing upon Scholars hath encouraged mee to prefix your honoured Name to these my endeavours in which though I come farre short of Maluezzi's incomparable stile or the honourable Translators facunditie I shall most humbly beseech your honour to cast a gracious aspect upon it which may encourage mee to attempt higher things if so great a one shall deigne to accept of this so small present So praying God ever to blesse you all your honorable family I humbly rest Your Honours most devoted and humble servant Robert Gentilis To the Reader REader I confesse I use my uttermost skill to not write a Historie with a plaine narration and that I employ the uttermost of mine understanding to set it out it seeming to me to be the dutie of him who is to leave unfolded to posteritie the noble remembrance of the renowned deeds and admirable actions of the greatest King in the world The Tuscane aires the Ruggierie and Romancies other touches Songs and Daunces are playd in the streets and Market places and also in the Royall Palace The Merchant the Citizen the Gentleman and the King also goe clothed in Silke but those which are playd in the Royall Pallace are playd leisurely with learned counterpoints touched with Forraigne daintinesses stopps quavers accents and spirits This place on most noted dayes clotheth the Kings person in a habit woven with gold and gemmes embroidered and garnished and so great is the art and workmanship that the least thing that is heard in the one is the Basso and that is seene in the other is Silke If Royall things are so different from City ones who shall blame my Historie onely for the manner of it Surely if the subject is good I have given it state and embroidered it if bad I have put it out of tune and bundled it up If Histories be written to give instruction instructing or teaching is not to take off the course and bring to an end a thing needfull to bee done both for those which read them curiously and for them who study them attentively either to change vain desires or give satisfaction to those as are well regulated So that hee is questionlesse praise-worthy who taketh a man out of the ordinary way which is long and broad and conducteth him through one that is not darke but short full of strangenesse sentences expressions which sometimes teach and sometimes delight and which at sometimes mingled together doe both teach and delight If I have done so I have fulfilled my desire and peradventure my duty But because it would be pride in me to affirme I had done it it shall be a sufficient excuse for me I have a desire to doe it that if I be not praised I may at least be suffered The Italian Printer to the Reader THe Author is resolved to print this Booke in his owne naturall tongue in Regard of some considerable errors with change of the sense which passed in the Spanish Impression at Madrid through the Printers carelesnesse which happened whilst he was absent from that Court The chiefe Events in the Spanish Monarchy AFflicted Europe weepes for many ages from time to time at her ruines either because God doth most chastise the carelesnesse of those whom he loveth best and so it is good will or because he most punisheth the faults of them who are most bound unto him and so it seemes revenge he either trieth as mercifull or scourgeth as wrathfull Sometimes she seeth her Inhabitants bloudy themselves in civill warres and oftentimes she seeth her land overflowne with barbarous Nations Our bitternesse calls simplicitie Barbarisme and him barbarous who is not tedious of other mens affaires who is content with his owne as long as it is able to maintaine him who to offer violence will first have it offered to himselfe who goeth against a man through a desire of preserving himselfe and not through greedinesse of growing great who slayeth another to preserve his own life who invadeth Countries to get a dwelling place valorous without cunning hardy without deceit as if Nature were worse then Art and he best who much knoweth when much knowledge serveth him to doe the greater hurt Warre was once more terrible to Nations when it was moved against them to dwell in the Country then when the aime was domination The one was against all the other against one in losing the one obliged to change a master the other to leave being one Now adayes also the worst would be our leader if our lamentable times with a most evill comparison did not justifie it The Countries were more fortunate the men lesse evill The necessity of living pricked men forward and not the greedinesse of commanding nor the hatred of him that commanded The land changed its Inhabitants it did not lose them men did not destroy the houses where they meant to dwell they did not make the land barren which was to nourish them they peopled it and did not lay it waste and it did renew it more then ruine it Then was Europe a prey but to men now it is a prey to the Sword Fire Famine and Pestilence warre taking the dominion away from one and not gaining it to the other if so be command is meant over men and not over buried carkasses which are turned to dust over fruitfull and abounding plaines and not a desert burnd unmanured and barren Countrie In these turbulent motions and deplorable times came in the yeare one thousand six hundred thirty nine the fire of dissentions burning more then ever and like Mount Aetna shewing no signe of going out as if it also had its Scillaes and Charibdies which devouring the wealths of Kings and Nations did feed upon bloud and treasure Germany was destroyed full of civill warres The French overcome but not weakened nor
mortified thought upon revenge Great Britaine as last in the world was rather then forgotten reserved for the last beames which made an influence of warre over Europe and now feeling the dammages of it sought for a remedie The state of the Austriacall Monarchy was various Flanders victorious but not secure Spaine triumphant and threatned The affaires in Burgundy dangerous in Brasill doubtfuâ—l in Germany adverse Weymar possessed of Brisack the Swede of Bohemia the Turkish armies ready to move the Hans townes wavering the Switzers irresolute The Fleet set upon by the Hollanders and though not overcome yet hindered and staied In vain did the Catholick King desire peace withstood by the Rebels obstinacie the enemies greediness agreement of their Officers These not being able to bee governed but by the violence of motion and the other not satisfying some their rage some their envy but with conquests of new Cities and Kingdoms did already make easie things seeme difficult with strange pretences and difficult things easie with new tributes levies and Engines In the meane time the body of Christendome infirme languishing and hurt in its most solid parts coâ—sumed like an Ectick either finding no Physician or wanting a remedy It seemed because of the sharpnesse of the season to rest and accumulate matters to kindle a new paroxisme The motion did not cease passing from the body to the head from the heart to the mind which partly disquieted partly necessitated studied aâ—l meanes to trouble the bodies and stirre up armes In France the Officers discoursed of making new conquests in Flanders of making sure the affaires of Germany of troubling Spaine by Sea and by Land little reflecting upon the businesse of Italy where they weighed not the losse of small places and thought time long in conquering great ones That in the meane time the Spanish Army would decrease and theirs increase That they wouâ—d goe to relieve pâ—aces and force their enemies either to give over what they had undertaken with shame or fight with danger That they should gaine in Flanders and in Burgundie and what sinister accident soever should happen they esteemed not the losse of a place in Italy considerable beyond which they imagined those powers could not reach they having so many there so that they thought it impossible to be counterpoised much more to be overcome In Spaine were very different thoughts they looked upon the affaires of Italie as their chiefe scope That it was good to goe with great strength where the reward was great the opposition small The dates which they set in Piemont would be sufficient to bring foorth olive trees That to be the most sensible part of Europe Thither to be called by men and invited by fortune and if the one did shew themselves favourable and the other should prove prosperous the King of France his conquests would be counterpoised and he would be called into that Province where he most feared and be diverted from that where he had most hopes They were not carelesse of the defence of their other States the provisions for Flanders were great both of men and money Foure Millions and a halfe of silver Seaven thousand Foot at the Groine ready for to go an Army of Germans under the command of Count Picolomini all old Souldiers and new Levies in the Country Holsatia and Burgundia were to be releived with an Army under the Command of Don Francesco di Melo In Spaine Cantabria was made sure with foureteene thousand Horse and Foote who asisted it And for a supply of the Forces in the County of Râ—nciglione there were great Levies appointed to be made in that Province A Tertia of Walloones which was comming out of Flanders the Italian Infantrie which the gallies of Spaine Scicilie Naples and Genoa were to bring over in the Spring Now for to keepe the Mediterranean Sea and the Ocean there should bee the Navies which should come from Carthagena and Cadiz that which was at the Groine and the Ships of the Fleet which was expected out of the Indies And to secure themselves totally from the threatnings of mighty Fleets which were preparing in Britanie the Coast of Spaine was all furnished with Men Ammunition and Provision Providing for Land affaires as if they wanted defence by Sea And thinking upon the Fleet at Sea as if they could not defend themselves by Land A victorie obtained against the Hollander at Sea gave a beginning to this years conquests an enemy of a long time and yet domesticall almost at home and therefore continuall Some Dunkirk Ships were to goe to the Groine to take in some Spanish Infanterie they went to Mardick to joyne with the rest having fought with the emie who strong with a Fleet of seaventeene saile all of strength came to besiege them at the mouth of the haven The Generall Michael d'Orno though unequall in strength yet superiour in courage being not able to endure the rebells insolence with a prosperous wind came forth of Mardick and set upon them three times The first time though for a little space they fought generously yet the Hollander made some shew of giving back the second he gave back the third he fled and getting into their owne harbours left a most glorious victory to his Majesties forces which joyfully being but eight ships strong furrowed the waves to gather the fruites many promising them the dominion of the Ocean yeelded by the Hollander shut up and weakened But who is the Master of the Ocean It is not overcome though in it one overcommeth yea he often is conquered by the Sea who hath conquered man He that was overcome fled and the Sea is overcome by flying it He that overcommeth fighteth and who fighteth with the Sea looseth by it There arose the most horridest tempest that was in the memory of th' eldest men it scattered the ships tore them so that with much toile and almost by miracle they came into harbour some at Ostend and some at Dunkirk without rudders sailes or masts more like reliques of a shipwrack then ships fled from the injury of the waves I could note to make you bend the eye-browes the strangenesse of it there being but very few houres betwixt the rejoycing with triumph and the bewayling of losses if I would therein follow the tracks of a wise man who for an admirable particularitie of the Sea cried out that in the selfe same place ships were one day playing and sporting and cast away the next As if the Land did not produce such effects which are not thought of nor observed because they are more frequent Who seeth not that in the selfe-same bed where man taketh his best rest and where he enjoyeth sometime amorous sometime Matrimoniall delights bee a so lets forth his last and vitall spirits and breathings with paine and horrour amidst tormenting sorrowes The Marquesse of Fuentes care did get the ships mended and shipping two thousand Walloons in them for the Groigne caused them to set saile