of Reason to relinquish them that He had readily taken this resolution and would sustaine it constantly that He would not doe as the Spaniards who by a Letter had filled the Popes Spirit with Vanity to cary Him into a precipice but that He would execute with courage and sinceritie what He had promised He considered also as a thing of great importance that the Pope prepared himselfe for the Warre and had to this effect erected a Congregation of men Disaffected to the Republique and Dependents of Spaine To which He added that he would be as ready to performe his Promise as to publish his Declaration and if it might turne to the good of the Republique He would doe it with all possible Aduantage doing also good Offices in their behalfe with all Princes his Friends and Allies as with the King of Denmarke and the Princes of Germany from whom he hoped to draw some Succour For the King of Spaine and the Arch-Duke he said it was to no purpose to speak vnto them seeing that the Former had declared himselfe for the Pope and the Latter depended vpon the former that for France it was not necessary because Spaine being for the Pope it behoued that King more than others to consider it and to foresee the enterprises which might ensue against his Kingdome so as formerly he had experience that if he beleeued the Defence of the Church to appertaine vnto him by reason of his Title of Most Christian he might well know that the Church herein was not endangered but the Cause in common touched the Libertie of Princes by whom the Church was to be Protected and Maintained For conclusion He said that Hee would doe more by effects than in words And accordingly he executed all that he had promised Signifying by the Earle of Salisbury vnto the Ministers of Princes which were with him the resolution which he had taken to Assist the Republique and writing also as much vnto the Princes of Germany and other his Friends Whilest these things were thus treated with Kings and by them with the Pope the great Duke of Tuscany iudged that it would be an action worthy of his great Experience if he assayed to finish that which was so difficult to two so great Kings Wherefore euery weeke almost he spake thereof to Robert Lio Resident with him and caused his Resident Montagu in like manner to speake at Venice exhorting them to Peace and Concord for the good of Italy and offering himselfe to become the Mediator To which they alwaies answered with thankes and with this conclusion that he should addresse himselfe rather to the Pope since the Republique had so farre condescended that the King of France had thanked them But the great Duke was not content with this Answer which gaue no occasion for him to draw the affaire to himselfe and therefore he complained with great dexteritie that he had profitably imployed himselfe both with the Pope and with the Republique without any correspondence on their behalfe on the contrary that on both sides he had receiued such words which if hee had reported they had beene sufficient to trouble all the affaire and to cut off hope of a Conclusion That his meaning was not to giue counsell vnto the Senate knowing well their prudence much lesse to enterprise to Treat with the preiudice of other greater Princes but to ioyne with them for the Seruice of God and of Christendome That he would therefore aduertise the Republique of all that the Pope had said in the last Audience to his Ambassador which was that his Holinesse could not nor would consent vnto the Conditions proposed by the Ambassador of France in as much as it should be to him a great preiudice to receiue the Republique to fauour by the hands of any King being himselfe the Spirituall Head of the Church to whom it is not sitting to receiue his Subiects at the hand of another and so much the more because generally in any difficult betweene the Ecclesiastical Court and the Secular the Iudgement thereof pertaineth to the Ecclesiasticall as to the more worthy That the Pope further said that to receiue the Prisoners by the hands of the King was to goe backward because some Venetian Prelats which were then at Rome had assured him that the Republique would willingly deliuer them to himselfe That therfore he was resolued not to Suspend the Excommunication before the Prisoners were deliuered and the Writings reuoked which had beene published in fauour of the Republique that afterwards hee would be content the Differences remaining might be examined at Rome by a Congregation of Cardinalls Auditors and Diuines whereof a part might be the Confidents of the Republique vpon Condition notwithstanding that the King of France and the great Duke would passe their word that they would stand to that which was determined by this Congregation that although he had formerly condescended to an Accord by a reciprocall Suspension of his Monitory and of the Lawes of the Republique yet he could not execute this Accord because it was not approued by the Cardinalls That the Most Christian King had signified vnto him that the Venetians ought to accept this Condition but for himselfe he was not obliged That if the Venetians had the aid of Heretiques he would haue on his part more Christians than men beleeued That the great Duke signified these particularities to the Republique to let them see that there could be no worse resolution than that which enclined them to Warre against the Pope which must needs be to their damage for as much as whosoeuer contends in that kinde with him may lose much but gaine nothing which it shall not be meet doubly to restore That Warre is profitable to none especially not to them who finde themselues in good estate seeing it produces alterations and easily men passe therein from better to worse with little hope of returning That if the King of France treated in this Businesse with great zeale for the good of the Republique himselfe would not be inferiour to him in a good desire to procure the same being their Friend an Italian Prince and a good man That they ought not to doubt but if the Warre proceeded the Pope would be assisted by the Spaniards and others and therefore to auoid the Troubles of Italy which might follow he would perswade the Pope to be contented that all Differences might be referred to the iudgement of the Two Kings and desired the Republique to doe the same yea that he would counsell them to doe this not expecting the Popes assent considering that since it was certaine the Pope would not consent to this motion because it was to submit himselfe to the iudgement of another the Republique hereby might gaine some aduantage by putting the Pope in diffidence with these Kings and by taking away the courage of the Spaniards for his assistance And although the Pope should consent yet the Republique might be assured that the Kings in the decision
make them depart as well by meanes of the Nuntio as of another Minister of a certaine Prince who for foure daies space hanted their Couent at last they gained them by suggesting that all the world would cast their eyes vpon the Capuchines and that their resolution would be a definitiue sentence of the validitie or inualiditie of the Monitorie Wherefore since their opinion would be infallibly followed and embraced by all the world they now had a faire occasion offered to merit much of the Holy See Which did puffe them vp in such sort that they went to the Prince to declare vnto him that they could not remaine and Father Theodore de Bergamasco the Companion of the Prouinciall passed so far as that he had the boldnesse to say that their condition was much differing from the condition of the other Religious whose actions were of small importance but the Capuchins ought to be the rule of all the rest all the world hauing an eye to them for to take example whether to esteeme the Popes Censures or to contemne them Now the terme of 24. daies prefixed in the Monitorie approaching the Iesuites were required on the 9. of May to giue a certaine resolution who then declared their equiuocation by refusing to say Masse which they said was not contrary to their former promise inasmuch as the Masse for the excellencie of it is not cōprehended vnder the name of Diuine Offices And certes it was a pretty inuention to offer themselues to doe Diuine Seruices and then after to exclude the Masse because of its excellence and all others likewise because they had not wont to celebrate them and so by this shift to promise all things and performe nothing to the Republique as also to abide within the State and yet withall to keepe the Interdict according to the intention of the Pope Hereupon the same day the point was put in consultation and it was determined in full Senate to send the Grand Vicar of the Patriarke for to receiue and take into his charge all the ornaments and iewels of the Church with commandement vnto the Iesuites that they should speedily auoid the Countrey Letters also were written to the Gouernours of Cities that they should cause them to depart from the places of their Iurisdiction The Iesuites of Venice vnderstanding this resolution called tumultuously vnto the Church their deuoted ones from whom they drew a very great summe of money and perswaded the Capuchines that at their parting they should goe forth in Procession with the Holy Sacrament seditiously intending to moue the people if it had been possible And the euening being come they demanded of the Magistrates to be assisted by publique Officers for their securitie which was accorded vnto them But here with not contenting themselues they sent to request the Ambassador of France that it would please him to let them be attended by his Seruants which he did not thinke fit seeing they had already a publike guard In the end that euening they departed two houres within night each one carying the Holy Host at his necke to intimate that Iesus Christ departed with them to this spectacle there were assembled a great multitude of people as well by land as by water And whē the Superior who last of al entred the Barque demāded Benediction of the Viccar of the Patriarch who was there straight a voice was raised by all the people crying in the language of that Country Andè in mall ' hora Goe with a vengeance or in the Deuils name These men in the meane while had hid in the Citie vessels and precious ornaments of the Church many bookes and the best moueables of their House which they left in a manner void All the next day there remained the relikes of a fire in two places where they had burned an incredible quantitie of writings They left also a good number of cruses to melt mettals the noise whereof being heard thorow the Citie which scandalized the few deuoted ones which were left there the Father Posseuine writ and his letter was publikely seene that these cruses were not to melt gold or siluer as they were slandred but only for to accōmodate their bonnets Shortly there remained not any thing of importance within the House saue the Library bequeathed vnto them by the Arch-Bishop Leuys Molino Bishop of Treuiso which was found with in their Armories and a case of bookes forbidden in a place separate But at Padua were found many Copies of a certaine Writing containing eighteene rules vnder this title Regulae aliquot seruandae vt cum Orthodoxâ Ecclesiâ verè sentiamus that is to say Rules which ought to be obserued to the end that our Beleefe may be conformable to that of the Orthodox Church in the seuenteenth whereof there is a prescription to take heed how men presse or inculcate too much the grace of God and in the third it is ordained that men must beleeue the Hierarchicall Church although it tell vs that that is blacke which our eye iudgeth to be white Before their parting they left vnto their Penitents some instructions how they ought to gouerne themselues in the obseruation of the Interdict The Iesuites being thus gone there seemed small cause of feare for the other Religious that they would breed any trouble But vpon the bruit which ran of the Capuchines and Theatines who said that they must needs keepe the Interdict there were some that imputed this manner of proceeding in them to a feeblenesse of conscience easie to be deceiued and so condoled with them and desired they might be tolerated Others more aduised seeing well that this did proceed from their ambition to seem better than others with designe to be fauoured by his Holinesse detested their hypocrisie But the Senate reputing it not agreeable to that reason and iustice which they vsed in matters of State nor to the seruice of God and tranquillitie of Religion and that on the contrary in times so calamitous such a noueltie might bring much danger if within the State it were permitted that any Ecclesiastique should obserue the Iuterdict gaue order that all those who were not disposed to continue the Diuine Seruices should retire out of their Dominions Whereupon the Capuchines Theatines and the reformed Franciscanes departed from Venice and others Religious were appointed to the Gouernment of their Churches But the Capuchines in the Territories of Brescia and Bergamo where there were no Iesuites to seduce them did not accord with the other but remained and continued their Diuine Seruices without any innouation for which they were bitterly persecuted by their Superiours at Rome with Excommunications and other Spirituall penalties although without effect as touching their Temporalls because the Prince had taken them into his protection and for the Spirituals they defended themselues by some Writings which were published vpon very good groūds being men well learned and of great prudence who were not carried to take any resolution but with the
render him seruice the Emperour excused himselfe for what had passed saying he knew nothing of it Which was very likely considering that his Ambassador at Venice was present with the Duke in all the Chappels and Solemnities as also was the Ambassador of the most Christian King In Spaine vpon the first newes which was brought touching the pretensions of the Pope and the answer of the Republique they knew well that i◠concerned the common interest of all Princes and commended the constancie of the Senate although that the Marquis de Villenas Ambassador at Rome inclined to the Popes side to the end to obtain by that means the Cardinalate for Don Gabriel Pacieco his brother he writ also into Spaine in fauour of his Holinesse But they not beleeuing that for such a cause men would come to armes and being assured that the Republique would maintaine the common cause of all Princes iudging specially that they might draw profit to themselues if these dissensions betweene the Pope and the Republique were continued since a difference between two the most Potent Princes of Italy would render their affairs more firme and that if the Republique should preuaile against the Pope it would increase so much more their Temporall Iurisdiction and if happily these things might be reduced to the termes of a rupture that which they did not beleeue it was in their power to hinder the warre if their vtilitie required so or to serue themselues thereof to their aduantage they left the businesse to haue its course without giuing any instructions to the Ambassador who was at Rome who by this meanes might continue his practises in fomenting the intentions of the Pope whereunto his owne inclination and profit carried him going so farre as to promise succour of armes when there should be need yet onely with generall words which did not precisely oblige him But vpon notice that the Interdict was published the King saw that things had passed further than he was willing and was grieued that he had no sooner interposed The Nuntio in the meane while made instance that the Ambassador of Venice might be declared Excommunicate in the Pulpits saying that if the Ambassador presented himselfe in the Chappell of the King hee would command the Kings Chaplaines to cease the Diuine Offices and if he were not obeyed that he would goe out In this Court were rendered many euill offices to the Republique especially by them of Genoa out of enuie because their Republique had yeelded to the Popes will and that of Venice preserued their libertie They turned all to their aduantage recommending Genoa for Deuotion and Obedience and ascribing to obstinacie and want of Religion that which had beene iustly done at Venice for the conseruation of their owne Libertie But aboue all that shewed themselues enemies of the Venetians the principall was the Bishop of Monte-pulcian Ambassador of the great Duke of Tuscany who not only abstained from visiting the Ambassador of Venice but also sought all occasions to detract from the actions of the Republique as also Asdruball de Montaigu Resident for the same Duke at Venice did not cease to doe in like manner on all occasions that were offered For these reasons at Madrid in the House and presence of the Cardinall of Toledo was assembled a Congregation of twelue Diuines where it was consulted whether they should admit the Ambassador of Venice to Diuine Offices not only the Nuncio but the Iesuites also making great instance that he might be excluded but in the Congregation there being none which opined against the Republique but only the Iesuites it was in the end concluded that nothing should be altered And the King that he might not declare himselfe either by admitting or excluding him in his Chappell remained many daies without vsing it And the newes being arriued in this Court that the Ambassador Soranzo had beene excluded at Prage from the Processiō they did not make any great accoūt of what had passed in the Court of the Emperour touching this businesse and the Nuntio who in his instances proposed him for example was answered that that Kingdome was not gouerned after examples of others The Ambassador of Spaine at Venice being not accustomed to be present in the Ecclesiasticall Ceremonies with the Duke because of the question of Prioritie betweene him and the other of France had no occasion herein to shew the intention of his Master but in all other things he comported himselfe after the same fashion as before treating after the accustomed manner so that no man saw any difference And though in these affaires and others the King of Spaine and his Ministers shewed much respect towards the Republique yet they intended to make declaration for the Pope his Holinesse hauing written very effectuall Letters vnto the King and to the Duke of Lerma to which they made answer conformably to his desire so as shall be said hereafter In France when vpon the thirtieth of Ianuary Peter Prinli Ambassador of the Repub. gaue aduise vnto the King of all that had passed his Maiestie testified a very great desire that there might bee found some meanes of agreement which might be without preiudice and that a Treatie to this purpose might be furthered giuing example in himselfe who had eluded the great instances which had beene made vnto him for the receiuing of the Trent Councell so far as offer was made him to restraine it where it should be contrary to the liberties of the French Church And albeit he knew well at what they aimed notwithstanding that he made his benefit of the time dissembling somethings which he saw well He enquired further of the Ambassador how these encounters might be auoided without wrong to the order in Gouernment vsed in the Republique discouering herein a desire to be sollicited to be a Mediatour in this affaire He commanded also speedily Alincourt his Ambassador at Rome that he should render all kinde of good Offices for the Republique with his Holinesse Fresne likewise Ambassador of the same King at Venice aduertised the Senate that the Pope had made knowne vnto his Master the iustice of his cause and therefore exhorted them as of himselfe to informe the King to the end that he might receiue some impression adding that as well himselfe as the Ambassador which was at Rome had commission to serue his Serenitie Which words were vttered with great zeale as well by the King as by his Ministers with aime to finde an ouerture to be employed in the composing of so great a difference For which the Senate thanked the King and gaue information to his Ambassador vpon all the points controuerted as also commanded Prinli their Ambassador in France to represent the same things to the King which he did accordingly Now presently after the newes of the publication of the Monitory at Rome was arriued in France the Nuntio Barberin made great instance that the Ambassador of Venice might be excluded out of the Churches but he could
Temporall as also that the Admonitions of his Holinesse haue here no place where the question is not of any thing Spirituall but of a matter meerely Temporall not any way touching the Papall Authoritie much lesse yet could they beleeue that his Holinesse full of Piety and Religion would persist without knowledge of the cause in his Comminations That this was the summary of thereasons of the Senate remitting themselues to their Ambassador Extraordinary further to explaine and open vnto him their intentions In the meane while the Pope longed with an extreame desire to haue their answer to his Breues which he expected would be conformable to his fantasie and he could not be perswaded that the State would haue more care to preserue their Liberty than feare of his threatnings Which that he might make to appeare more formidable he serued himselfe not only of the example of them of Genoa but yet of one much greater For hauing notice that the Duke of Sauoy had commanded the Bishop of Fossano to depart out of his Dominions which he was occasioned to doe vpon great and important reasons being hereby incensed he menaced the Duke with Excommunication vnlesse he reuoked his commandement At length the Letters of the Senate arriued at Rome and were presented by the Ambassador vnto the Pope who opened them in his presence and at the first sight was greatly moued for the errour committed in the presentation of two Breues both of one tenor in stead of two different and attributed the fault herein vnto his Nuntio And passing further in the reading of the Letter he shewed himselfe much more troubled In the end not comming to particularities he said that the Monitory Breues could not be answered and that the answers of the Senate were friuolous that the matter was cleare and that he was peremptorily resolued to proceed on further He added that lately he had heard of another Law touching goods Ecclesiasticall holden as Emphyteuticke which his pleasure was should be reuoked with the other and although till then he had not mentioned this Law because he knew not of it yet hee had more to say against it than against all the other that it behoued in all these things to obey him because his cause was the cause of God Et portae inferinon praeualebunt aduersus eam That if the Monks of Padua or other places should purchase more than were meet they might haue recourse to him and that in this case he would prouide the Secular Authority being not herein to intermedle which the Venetians doing were Tyrants and different frō their Ancestors The Pope spake all this with so great heat that the Ambassador did not iudge fit at that time to passe on further wherefore after some words concerning the last Law he tooke leaue But as he was going out of the Chamber of Audience the Pope called him backe and rising from his seat hee tooke him into a chamber apart where releasing some what the extŕeme rigor which hitherto he had vsed he discoursed moderately of his pretensions and heard the answers of the Ambass as she wing himselfe inclined to some composition and touching the Law newly questioned he concluded that he had not spoken of it if they had giuen him any satisfaction in the other two comprised in the Breue which he had sent And for the Prisoners that if they rendred the Canon vnto his Nuntio he would in fauour yeeld and deliuer the Abbot to the iudgement of the Secular Magistrate but that this should be done speedily because he was an enemie of time and would not that they should defer in hope that the Pope might die That if within fifteene daies he had contentment he promised not to trouble them during his Pontificate but if that time were expired that he would proceed Further he counselled the Ambassador to write hereof and that to this effect he meant to dispatch a Currier as also he did And in conformitie of this the Nuntio spake in Senate exhorting them with many words to giue satisfaction vnto the Pope by reuoking the two Lawes and by deliuering the Canon promising that this being done from his Holinesse they should receiue as ample fauours as in former times had beene euer granted by the See Apostolique to any Prince He mentioned also the Law of the Emphyteuses which the Pope esteemed more opposite to his authoritie than the other two notwithstanding he did not much inlarge himselfe vpon this point but left it without conclusion which caused in the Senate a great astonishment and the Duke not vnderstanding fully his meaning desired of him a more ample and exact explication But the Nuntio approching neere him said in his eare that it was not needfull to passe further vpon that subject promising on his word vnto his Highnesse that there should be no more speech of it The Duke did not thinke fit to keepe secret this promise and therefore he repeated aloud what the Nuntio had said vnto him and on his word had promised This release of rigor which the Pope vsed at Rome and his Nuntio at Venice made men beleeue that vpon the arriuall of the extraordinarie Ambassador with his Holinesse all these debates would easily be composed The Senate did much desire that the Pope would be perswaded by their reasons and therefore answered the Nuntio who earnestly moued them for their resolution that Duodo should goe to his Holinesse to represent vnto him that which had passed But the Pope scarcely let passe the fifteene daies when being returned to his accustomed rigor though the Ambassador Nani had told him that Duodo was already dispatched in the moneth of February he complained that they deferred so long saying he could not in any sort endure such delay and that he would not be tied to expect any longer And a few daies afterward when the Ambassador was relating vnto his Holinesse some newes of the route of Cicala vpon the confines of Persia he made not any reflexion vpon this narration but thinking all the while vpon Duodo he said Let him not come with any more reasons for you haue spoken thereof sufficiently The Pope remained firme in his deliberation and accordingly commanded his Nuntio to present the other Breue dated the 10. of December before and addressed to Marin Grimani Duke and to the Republique of the Venetians concerning the Canon and the Abbot Prisoners which commandement hee executed the 25. of February two daies after the departure of Duodo going to Rome his instructions being expedited vpon the 18. of the same Moneth The Duke appeared to be much offended that this Breue should be deliuered two daies after the departure of an Ambassador sent vpon this businesse and so much more because it was not addressed to him but should haue beene presented to his Predecessor In this Breue the Pope said That he vnderstood by the letters of his Nuntio and by the discourses of their Ambassador that the Canon and Abbot arrested hereto
Rome the Pope vpon all occasions continued to make instance with Alincourt that the French Ministers would vnite their Offices with the Spaniards which was diuersly interpreted Some said it was out of his desire that the Accord might be effected because he feared left if they proceeded seuerally they might hinder one the other through reason sie or other respects which ordinarily doe not permit that any Affaire come to good end which is handled by two Mediators who doe not communicate together Others said on the contrary that to hinder all good successe in the businesse he desired that it might be managed by the Spaniards and French to the end that one should vndoe what the other had done which vsually comes to passe when an Affaire is vndertaken ioyntly by those who haue different ends and interests and when there is no likelyhood that the one will yeeld to the other At Rome Alincourt answered that it was necessarie to haue first some order and commandement from the King And at Venice Fresne was displeased that such a thought should come into the Popes head saying openly that he knew not what end he had vnlesse it were his owne aduantage but that he saw well this was nothing else but to crosse the Treaty of the King his Master since hauing often proposed the Suspension which the Pope said he demanded onely in apparence and to haue some colour to preserue his Dignity and Authoritie the Senate had still denied it as a thing most preiudicall and therefore he saw not how they could now yeeld it On the contrary he requested the Senate when they had a purpose to grant more then they had done at the instance of the King his Master that it would please them to let him know it to the end that he might accordingly gouerne himselfe Also when the resolution giuen to Don Francis de Castro that they would not in any sort condescend to the Suspension was communicated to him he assured them his King in that Matter would sollicite them to farther Whilst these things were treated at Rome and a Venice the Emperour continuing in his purpose to interpose himselfe for the accommodating of this dissention resolued to giue the charge hereof to the Duke of Sauoy and to the Marquis of Castillon with some prerogatiue vnto the Duke but without touching any particulars in their Commission only in generall giuing them order to Treat the Manner in what manner they should see fit yet so same reseruing himselfe that when there should happen any point of moment they should giue him aduice and wait his answer This his resolution being sent to the Republique by their Ambassador Soranzo in the Name of his Maiesty the Senate writ back to the Ambassador that he should than he his Maiestie for that it pleased him to interpose in 〈◊〉 Affaire as also for that he purposed to employ herein a Prince of such note and eminency But that he should perswade him to turne his Offices towards the Pope from whom proceeded all this stiffenesse for so much more facile as they were at Venice the Pope was still so much more difficult It is certaine that the Duke of Sauoy seeing what difficulties had passed in the Treaties of Peace by the French and Spaniards did thinke that himselfe should ouercome them or at the least make his vse of these occurrences to some other effect Wherefore that he might interpose with great Reputation besides the credit of his owne Person being a Prince of greâ—â— consideration in Italy he thought to ioyâ—â— thereunto this quality of One representing the Emperour together with the Kings of France 〈◊〉 Spaine But in those two Kingdoms he found many oppositions The Spaniards disswaded him saying That it was not for the Reputation of himselfe or of their King to whom he was so neerely Allied that he should runne the hazard of doing nothing in this Businesse as there was euident danger That notwithstanding all this the King had granted his desire if he had knowne his intention in time that he might haue reuoked the Commissions giuen to Don Francis de Castro But there wanted not some who beleeued that there was a more secret cause which moued the Spaniards vnwillingly to behold the Duke mingling himselfe in this Treaty as iudging that he might haue some Designes separate from theirs Againe in France the Proposation of the Duke was holden for a Spanish Artifice and therefore the King excused himselfe that he could not grant him what he desired saying That he had already appointed the Cardinall de Ioyeuse to accomplish the Treaty begun by his Ambassadors So the Duke had recourse only to the Imperiall Authority When this was signified vnto the Pope it was to him very welcome newes as well because all those which intermâ—â—ed in this Treaty did him an acceptable courtesie as also because the greatnesse of this Duke would giue great Reputation vnto the Businesse The Pope was resolued to come to a Concord and to doe all he could to that purpose neuerthelesse he desired to obtain the best Conditions that he might possibly and hoped that each one of these Mediators would get something to his aduantage and further if he should be constrained to yeeld hee should seeme to doe it with lesse indignitie when hâ— was swayed therein at the instance of so many great Princes With these Treaties the yeare 1606. passed year 1607 But in Ianuary of the yeare following although the Treaties were not intermitted yeâ— seemed to approach to a Conclusion notwithstanding in the Duchy of Milan and in the State of Venice were made great preparations of Was which gaue iealousie to all Italy And the Pope though he desired not to make any greater prouisions than formerly contenting himselfe to rest his Reputation vpon the Spanish Armes yet to shew that he would not haue Warre without his cost he obtained of the Genuöis to make a leuie of foure thousand Corses vpon condition that they should name the Captaines which yet tooke not effect Moreouer he sent by Fabricius Verallus Bishop of Saint Souero his Nuntie a Breue vnto the Catholique Suisses Wherein he gaue them notice of his Differences with the Senate of Venice and the purpose he had to vse temporall Armes against the Republique sineâ— the Spirituall were not sufficient requiring 〈◊〉 this effect a Regiment of three thousand footmen of their Nation and appointing fifteene thousand crownes to be answered at Milan by the Merchants to begin the leuie But this money was not sent to the Suisses nor any mention made afterwards of the Leuie The Spaniards to make it appeare vnto the Pope that they did not onely giue words vnto the World saw it necessary to shew themselues at least prepared to effects although as they testified and as the euent declared they abhorred to see any Warre in Italy Yet the opinion of Men was that the Count de Fuentes desired it but could not alone bring it to passe especially
whereof he named the Captaines That 〈◊〉 would further prouide himselfe but that it would not be good to passe too speedily That by his presence at Nancy he had rather increased than diminished the difficulties caused by the euill offices of the Iesuites This difficultie found Padauin in the successe of his iourney But at Basil he receiued a very fauourable answer from the Counsell as touching the Leuie but for the passage it was told him that it was meet to expect the returne of the Deputies from Soloturn because Basil being the gate of Heluetia they ought to haue the consent of their Allies before they suffered any forreine Souldiers to enter At Soloturn a Gentleman appeared in the Name of the Archduke Maximilian who said that his Master vnderstanding of the Iourney of the Secretary of Venice to obtaine a Leuie and a passage demanded that both might be denied which demand he made for his zeale to Religion and for the quiet of Heluetia and their neighbours principally for his Estates of Alsatia by which they of Lorraine must passe This instance was fauoured by the Catholique Cantons and especially with great heat by the Sonne of the Colonell Lusi of Vnder walden who had beene dismissed by the Republique for the small contentment they found in him But the Protestant Cantons opposed themselues saying that it was not the Custome of that Nation to deny passage to those who would not any way endamage the Countrey or bring preiudice to their Neighbours or Friends On the contrary that without danger or trouble the Lorraines might passe orderly without insolence and without Harquebuzes being no way reasonable to forbid them passage seeing it had beene yeelded two yeares before vnto the Spaniards going into Flanders To returne to the Secretary Padauin Verdeut seeing him resolued to speake with the Count de Vaudemont to diuert him from Nancy he conducted him to Badonuille a place in the County of Salma where not finding the Count he was welcomed and defrayed by Therel his Secretary and Treasurer but he discontentedly made his plaint to Verdelli saying That it would seeme very strange to the Republique that their Minister should be thus hindered in the Affaires of the Signiory by one who was obliged to doe them Seruice especially being further to Treat with the Duke and his other Children and thereupon complained also of the Duke Verdelli excused the Duke as knowing nothing hereof and that the Count was very well disposed but his Seruants had found meanes to stop him to auoid many euill accidents and especially the Cardinall was the cause who for his Interests was a Partisan of Rome All these discourses did not satisfie Padauin wherefore Verdelli resolued himselfe to go in post to Nancy from whence he would write for him to come and that he would come to meet him as he did in the Caâ—â—ach of the Duke and told him that he should be very welcome to all and that the Cardinall would euen embrace him without scruple offring himselfe to interpose for a peace because the Pope desired it Verdelli further declared to Padauin how the Pope had writ a Breue vnto the Cardinal wherein he charged him to command Frier Verdellia Knight of Saint Iohn of Hierusalem that he should not make any leuie of men for the Republique of Venice who were refractarie to his commandements which the Cardinall had intimated vnto him setting before his eyes his owne interests and those of his Fraternity And that Mounsieur de Maliana father to a Chamberlaine of the Popes offered him the first vacant Commendam to make him desist from his enterprises But that he answered that seeing he leuied not men for to command them nor at his owne expence he might doe it without scruple Padauin also had aduice at Nancy that the Canton of Zurich had granted the passage and the Leuie absolutely declaring the Cause of the Republique to be as iust as that of the Pope vniust and violent Likewise that Basil and Berne had freely granted the passage without condition and for the Leuie they had done the same only reseruing to speake with him by word of mouth to consult about securitie for the payment of stipends and touching the conditions according to the custome of that Nation who will not admit of Captaines but onely such as are Natiues of their Countrey Padauin had Audience of the Count de Vaudemont and declared his Commission reporting vnto him what he had Treated with them of Zurich and the other Suisses and gaue him to vnderstand that the money was ready for the Leuies and that now nothing wanted but to come to execution The Count answerd coldly that he would doe his duty and take care to Treat the other particulars but he praied him to consider that he was onely a Sonne in the Family and that he depended vpon his Father with whom it was necessarie first to speake The Secretary replied that he had order so to doe and two daies after hee had Audience of the Duke and said vnto him in the first place that the Republique did well accept the sending of Marinuille and the zeale which he had shewed to publique Tranquillity from which the Republique was neuer auerse but that the Preparations of the Pope and of others in his fauour constrained them to doe the same for their conseruation The Duke answered that he had sent Marinnille with good intention and that it pleased him well that he was accepted He exhorted them to Peace and said That he was busied about the Assembly of the States of Lorraine to be holden at Nancy in such sort that he had not leasure to thinke vpon any other particular Affaires Padauin did also his complements to the Duke of Bar and requiring the Cardinall to giue him Audience he answered That he would willingly heare him if he would Treat how to end these Controuersies but for simple Complements he could not admit them because of the Dignity of Cardinall which he had and lest it might giue occasion of Discourse The Cardinall vpon this occasion dispatched a Currier to Rome giuing aduice of the comming of Secretary Padauin and of the quantitie of siluer which he brought together with the preparatiues which were made in diuers places as also the answer which Verdelli had giuen him Padauin knew well the great instances which the Count had from diuers Persons to hinder him from seruing the Republique in this particular The Pope also had renewed his Instances by other Breues complaining that a Sonne of the House of Lorraine would take Armes against the Church to maintaine Rebels in their obstinacie especially hauing no obligation to this Seruice the seuen yeeres being now expired during which he had obliged himselfe He offered him further to make him Confalonier that is chiefe Standard-bearer of the Church beyond the Mounts a new title which cost the Pope nothing The great Duchesse his Sister writ vnto him that he should not by seruing in fauour of the
wherefore if he had no feare to promise it he ought not to feare the execution of it And he adioyned that the Duke hauing demanded so much respite as they might write and receiue answer he knew not how they could come to a refusall without breach of word The Duke answered that he held the Peace for assured and euery houre expected to heare of the Conclusion After two houres audience where passed many answers and replies on the one part and the other the Duke continuing still to say that he expected the Conclusion Padauin told him that if they resolued to say nothing else they should declare themselues that he might immediately depart to prouide else where for the seruice of his Prince since he could obtaine nothing frō Them that were obliged Vpon this the Duke praied him to wait three or foure daies The next morning Padauin had audience of the Count who at the first fight told him that he desired death rather then to be in this estate which hee neuer beleeued would haue hapned That hee could not dissemble his griefe for that he saw on the one side his owne engagement and on the other the will of his Father whom he durst not contradict That the Breues of the Pope the pursuits of many especially of the Iesuites had put scruples into the Dukes mind w th he could not abolish being aged subject torecciue impressions of terror That he cōfesse of the Republique had iust cause to complaine of him for the money which he had receiued seeing he failed them in time of need but he protested that it was not his fault and praied Padauin to condale with him and spake with such affection that teares fell from him Padauin comforted him and said That in aduersitie it was needfull to vse prudence and that he must complaine of the Pope who sold away his reputation by meanes of his Father Hee repeated vnto him the same things which he had said to the Duke with greater vehomence and confidence exhorting him to make a new tryall with his Father to take away all impediment to the send that such an action which would blemish his honour might not come to the knowledge of men Vpon these words the Count promised to vse all his power with the Duke his Father but withall remembred him that his Father by I enson of his yeares was feeble in body and mind and oppressed with the suggestions of diuers Padauin saw well that all this was nought but artifices wherefore hauing waited the foure daies he demanded Audience to take his leaue which they prolonged to serue themselues of time But in the end being constrained to dilcourer themselues the Count proposed this motion That a Leuie should be made vpon promise that the men should not serue against the Pope and this onely to take away the scruple of the Duke his Father obliging himselfe that when once the souldiers were in Italy they should obey the commandements of the Republique without reseruation This Padauin would not accept that he might not violate the Capitulation which was to serue Contra quoscunque So he resolued to passe into Suitzerland presently after he was aduised where he might finde the Deputies of the Cantons The Pope in the meane while during these Differences neglected not any thing which might susteine his Dignity For hauing learned out of the writings of the Venetians that at Genoa was a Law altogether conformable to that of Venice which forbade Ecclesiastiques to purchase he made instance that it might be reuoked Which the Republique readily obeyed to doe a thing gratefull to his Holinesse and to shew that the reuocation of their Edicts made the yeare before as we haue formerly said had proceeded from a free disposition beleeuing also hereby to render the cause of the Venetian Republique more odious And vpon the like instance of the Pope they gaue aduice of this reuocation in Spaine by their Ambassador which was esteemed in that Court for an extreme affectation whereby it appeared manifestly that herein they would giue example not onely to Venice but to Portugall also to Arragon and to the King himselfe The Duke of Sauoy signified vnto the Catholique King by Iames Antony de la Tour his Ambassador Extraordinary arriued a little before in Spaine to giue aduice of a Mariage concluded betweene his Daughter and the Duke of Mantua that he had accepted the Instructions of the Emperour to be Mediator of the Differences betweene the Pope and the Republique of Venice To which the King answered in generall terms but the Duke of Lerma commended him for that he obeyed the Emperour that the King had so great a desire of the Agreement that he praied God to grant him good successe that so good an effect might be produced by his meanes The Duke without expecting any further published his voyage and gaue order to his Court to make ready Whereupon at Venice the bruit of his comming euery day more and more increased and the Duke sent to Venice Iohn Baptista Soluro with Letters of credence of 27. of February to giue notice vnto the Senate how the Emperour had sent to Turin the Marquis of Castillon to sollicite him to passe to Venice for the accommodating of these Differences which being willing to vndertake as well to obey the Emperour as to serue the Republique he was determined to defer no longer but immediatly to begin his iourney hoping that the Republique would well accept his comming and his interposing That he had sent his Ambassador to this end to certifie the Republique of his good will and of the diligence which he would vse Audience was giuen to this Ambassadar on the 11. of March with a courteous answer that the Senate tooke in good part the comming of his Highnesse For this cause the Cardinall de Ioyeuse resolued to send a Gentleman to Rome to aducrtise the Pope what had beene deliberated and by the meanes of Alincourt to pursue the businesse to a Conclusion But whilest he was on dispatching hee changed his minde and resolued to goe himselfe in person and accordingly departed the day following which was the 17. of the same Moneth of March. After the Cardinall was parted from Venice the Marquis of Castillon Ambassador for the Emperour arriued there and without any publique and solemne entry presented himselfe vnto the Duke Where hauing put him in minde of the good offices which he had done him in Rome vpon the beginning of these troubles to the end that the Pope might suspend his Monitory howsoeuer he did not preuaile as he desired for the euill disposition of the Affaires He said further that he had alwaies done the same in the Court of the Emperour and that the Emperour vehemently desiring to see an end of these controuersies had designed the Duke of Sauoy to bring this good worke to effect with whom he was willing to ioyne himselfe for his great affection to the Republique as well for his proper