the State with the Pope a bout the end of October The Bishop told him that the Pope would not endure the emprisonment of a Canon and that hee was by him encouraged to doe the office of a Bishop that therefore it were good to giue satisfaction to his Holinesse by rendering the prisoner to the Iudge of the Church the crime being not so grieuous But the Pope was much more peremptory that he would not in any sort permit that Ecclesiastiques in any cause should be iudged by Seculars this being against the ordinance of the Councell The Embassadour aduertised the State of these passages and whilst he expected their answer the Pope againe complaines vnto him in another audience how that at Venice since the decease of Pope Clement 8. they had made a Decree forbidding Secular men to alienate their goods to Ecclesiastiques saying that howsoeuer that law were founded vpon another more ancient yet this latter was much more ample that both the one and the other were void and could not subsist as being against the Canons against the Councell and against the Lawes Imperiall that it was scandalous and made the condition of Ecclesiastiques worse then of infamous persons adioyning withall that they which made that law had incurred the Censures The he same cōmanded his Nuntio to propose in full Senate And the Embassadors of the Republique being come to Rome to congratulate with his Holinesse about the beginning of Nouember year 1605 hee repeated vnto them the same complaints chargint them at their returne to giue notice thereof vnto the Senate In the meane while they of Genoa for to satisfie the Pope had reuoked the Degree touching the reuiew of the accounts of their Fraternities but excused themselues for the other Decree touching the Congregation which for security of the State was necessarily to be executed Which did so much enrage the Pope that hee caused a Monitorie to be imprinted against that Republique meanacing the Cardinals of Genoa that if the Decree concerning the Oratories were not reuoked he would forthwith publish his Excommunication The Pope beleeued that by this example the State of Venice would bee induced toyeeld without vsing any reply to his desires strongly conceiuing that they would willingly abandon their liberty to auoid their trouble especially if they were taken before they had time to deliberate And therefore without expecting an answer to that which the Extraordinary Ambassadors had treated at their returne or that which the Ordinary had writ to Venice the Pope a new expostulated with the Ambassador both touching the imprisoned Canon and the Ordinance formerly mentioned the matter he exaggerated saying that the Law had beene made vpon Maundie Thursday and concluded his speech shewing the Monitory prepared against them of Genoa that he would be obeyed and that hee would send to Venice a Breue Exhortatory and after proceed yet further The Ambassador represented to his Holinesse that the 26. of March on which day the Law was made could not fall within the Holy weeke of that yeare considering that Easter day was then the tenth of April and praied him that since he had required him to write of these particularities to Venice and had giuen charge vnto the Ambassadors Extraordinary to treat thereof by word of mouth he would expect an answer before hee determined any thing in this businesse This stayed the Pope for a little time till that about the middle of Nouember the Ambassador hauing receiued answer to all that which he had written by order from his Holinesse although he had no intelligence of what the Extraordinary Ambassadors had treated he made remonstrance vnto him following the commandement which hee had from the Senate that the iust title and possession which the State hath to iudge Ecclesiasticall persons in causes criminall were founded on the naturall power of a Soueraigne Prince and on custome neuer interrupted by the space of a thousand yeares and approued by the Breues of Popes themselues yet extant in the publique Archiues shewing further that the Law against the alienation of Lay goods to the Clergie had not beene made only at Venice but was also receiued and established in the greater part of the cities of their Estate and for the rest which had it not it was their dutie to follow the ordinances of the Soueraigne and Capitall Citie He shewed likewise the equitie of that Law and how necessary it was in these times for the conseruation of the strength of their State by many reasons and examples of sundry Christian Kingdomes and euen of some Cities within the State Ecclesiasticall The Pope heard this discourse with impatience turning himselfe from one side to another and testifying by the outward gestures of his face and body how grieuously he did resent it within and then he answered that the reasons alledged were friuolous that for to iudge of an affaire it was to no purpose to ground it vpon custome which is often so much the worse as it is more ancient And for the Breues he said there was no other Archiue of the Breues of Popes but that at Rome that those which they pretended in fauour of their cause were but waste papers and that he would lay any wager they had not any authentique Breues in this matter For the Law he said that hauing passed his youth in the Schooles and after that practised in the Offices of Vice-Legat of Auditor of the Chamber and of Grand Viccar of the Pope he was become well versed and of good vnderstanding in these businesses so that he knew certainly that this Law was of itselfe inualid as was likewise the other of the yeare MD XXX VI that the power ouer his owne goods belongs to each man so that he may freely dispose of them neither can that freedome be restrained without tyrannie that the Senate it selfe esteemed it vniust forbidding to giue a copie thereof to any person that if else-where were any such like Lawes they had beene made by authoritie of Popes that it pertained not vnto the Venetians to gouerne the Ecclesiasticall State but to the Pope who might appoint and ordaine what himselfe pleased in that State and that hee would be obeyed In all this the Pope obserued not suffering himselfe to be transported by his vehement passion that whilst he desired to defend the Ecclesiasticall liberty he gaue vnto Secular men too great a licence to dispose of their goods at their pleasure without any restraint or respect of Lawes by calling that a tyrannie which was indeed a iust limitation he principally branded the Popes themselues guilty of the same excesse The Pope not content with these difficulties added yet another vnderstanding that the Count Brandolino Valdemarino Abbot of Neruese was imprisoned hee commanded that both this Abbot and the Canon should bee deliuered into the hands of his Nuntio Besides he heard of another Ordinance made in the yeare MDC III. whereby was prohibited the building of any new Church without the
of the Court of Rome which being by them interpreted a contempt is the cause that they cary all an especiall hatred and nourish in themselues an euill will against that State Hereupon being aduanced vnto the Papacie he proposed no other thing for his end but to enlarge the Ecclesiasticall authoritie or as he termed it to restore it vnto that condition from which it was fallen by the negligence of this Predecessors and particularly of Clement 8. Wherefore his first purpose was to establish a Congregation at Rome whose only charge and studie should be to consider oâ—… whereby this authoritie might 〈…〉 and augmented or at least by cramining all writings vpon these matters to raise new difficulties and to prepare occasions for his Successours to giue perfection vnto that which he could not finish and in the meane while to mortifie the presumption as he called it of Secular Estates Besides he imagined that to bring this his designe to perfection it was necessary to send into all Kingdomes and Courts of Catâ—… Princes such Nuntio's as were enclinâ—… the like thoughts That which straight wayes he began to execute by changing the 〈◊〉 formerly imployed and particularly 〈◊〉 to Venice Horatio Matthei Bishop of Giâ—… a man so passionate in this cause that he blâ—shed not to say vnto the Duke in full assembly that Alines and other workes of pietie the frequâ—â—â—ing of Sacraments and all other good and Christion actions ad nihilum valent vltra were nothing auaileable if men did not fauour the Ecclesiasticall libertie these were his words And in many familiar discourses which he had with diuers persons he was wont to say that he had heard the pietie of the City of Venice often 〈◊〉 amply commended by himselfe could perceiue but little considering that Christian perfection doth not consist in almes deeds and deuotions but in exalting the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction which is the true ciment of that perfection And many times he would intimate that he had beene sent by the Pope in that charge of his Nuntio for to receiue martyrdome if it were needfull in defence of the authoâ—â—tie of the See Apostolique But the vanitie of this man so desirous of Martyrdome was not without some mixture of ambition and desire of command For if any one did reply against him with reason or contradict his discourses vpon this subject his ordinary answer was as if it had beene a forme of speech or a lesson giuen him here I am Pope and I will be obeyed But the Pope did not crect this Congregation according to his first deseigne being aduertised that by this meanes hee should too manifestly discouer his intentions which might bring iealousie to all Princes and cause them to proiect some remedies and so it might produce effects quite contrary to his meaning as it fell out with Clement 8. who by founding a Congregation vpon the affaires of England excited the spirit of that King to obserue more narrowly the cariage of the Catholiques of his Kingdome which was the cause that their enterprises were afterward much more thwarted And againe the Pope would not put in execution during the first Monthes of his Papacy any one of those particulars which were alreadie designed because being first weakened by the vehemence of his hopes and ioyes hee â—as afterward assailed with a grieuous melancholy accompanied with a strong apprehension of death which he feared would seaze vpon him within a few dayes This feare was more encreased by a rumour dispersed thorow Rome that the Image of our Lady de Subiacco had sweated which vsually happens as the vulgar beleeue for to aduertise the Popes that their death is at hand And further a Flemmish Astrologer had foretold that in March Pope Clement 8. was to die and that after him should be elected one Leo and then one Paul who should liue but a short time Besides this Pope by nature was timorous and much inclined to giue credit vnto Diuinations which he entertained vpon all occurrences and accidents This perturbation of spirit held him fiue Months in such extremitie that all things affrighted him in so much that he dismissed his Cooke and his Caruer who had long time serued him and if any persons of base and meane condition and vnknowne did present him with any memoriall or petition as hee passed the streets very often hee let them fall to the ground fearing lest they might bee empoysoned Being thus vexed with suspitions his designe touching the enlargement of Ecclesiasticall Libertie was neglected But in the Month of September after his promotion to the Papacie his friends and kinsmen found a remedie for this feare hauing made a great assembly of all the Astrologers and other Fortune-tellers of Rome in the house of the Lord Iohn Francis brother to his Holinesse who concluded by their rules that the time of some perils threatned by the influences was past and that therefore he might now liue many yeares His feare being thus remoued he resumed againe his first and ordinary thoughts of augmenting the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction He began to moue the most Christian King that the Councell of Trent might be receiued in his Kingdome In Spaine he procured that the Iesuites might be exempted from paying any Tithes At Naples he wrought in such sort that Iohn Francis de Ponte Marquise of Morcone called the Regent de Ponte was sent to Rome as punishable in the Inquisition for hauing condemned to the Gallies a Bookeseller for a matter which the Inquisitor pretended to belong to his cognisance Hee tooke from the Religious of Malta the collation of certaine Commanderies conferring them vpon the Cardinall Borghese He raised many difficulties to the Duke of Parma as well for the imposts which he had put vpon his Subiects of Parma in the absence of the Bishop as for the fact of Count Albert Scotto and also for other things which the Pope pretended to haue beene enterprised against the Bull in caena Domini Moreouer he had some differences with the Duke of Sauoy not only because his Officers tooke knowledge and gaue iudgement in the temporalty of Benefices but also because Laiques assist at the Office of the Inquifition but especially by reason of an Abbey which the Duke had conserred on the Cardinall Pio. All things being put in deliberation the Duke changing the person named to the Abbey placed therein a Nephew of his Holinesse some what to appease him But none of these attempts succeeding to his minde in the beginning of October two occasions were offered not only of themselues very proper for the end which the Pope pretended but very commodious as being so many degrees and meanes to open him a passage to greater matters The one was that the Republique of Luca considering that many of their Citizens hauing changed their Religion had retired themselues into Protestant countries in this regard they had published an Edict by which all their subjects were forbidden to haue any commerce or to treat in any fashion
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
the wars which were put in the Garrisons He made also some musters of Horse-men within their quarters that they might not be payed who appeared on horses for the most part borrowed being not able to furnish themselues with horses vnlesse they had receiued their pay He brought also out of ranke some Spanish Souldiers comming downe from Monaco and Final and made them diligently to labour at Pauie in the Castle of Milan for the transporting of the Artillery And the Pope to enduce the Count de Fuentes to serue him with more cheerefulnesse gaue many Benefices in Spaine to his kins-men and to such as he commended and to aid his expences he granted him the Tenthes out of the Clergie of Milan although the Ecclesiastiques assembled by the Cardinall Borromeo for the execution of this Grant did contradict it saying that the charge was new and had neuer beene imposed Wherefore they resolued humbly to intreat his Holinesse and the Count de Fuentes that such a nouelty might not be introduced The Count was not earnest in the affaire and therefore it easily passed without execution He made also a rumor to be scattered that he would haue an armie in readinesse of fiue and twenty thousand men composed of Neapolitans Dutch Suisses and Spaniards but because he began not to execute this Designe till the yeare following we shall speake more thereof in due place In the meane while the Spaniards armed at Naples six and twenty Gallies to be ready vpon any exigent But the Senate at Venice did not so much attend the Preparations of the Pope as to preuent some ambushes and the army at Sea prouided at Naples Therefore besides the eight and twenty Gallies which they had ordinarily they adioined other ten and three great Gallies with twentie lesser Barques whereof each one carried fifty Souldiers They gaue charge vnto the Prouisor Generall in Candie that he should send to Corfu the Gallies appointed for the guard of that Isle well strengthned They commanded all the Sea-Captaines to retaine all Vessels which passed by the Gulfe for what place soeuer and to send them vnto Venice except such as had Patents from the K. of Spaine for his affaires which brought a great disorder on the Coasts of Romagna and the Marquisate of Ancona which by this meanes were in a manner besieged All exportation of Corne was prohibited euen vnto Subiects Ecclesiasticall and the transportation of Gold and Siluer aboue ten Ducates into the State of the Church the Reuenues of such Ecclesiastiques as were out of the State were sequestred which brought many incommodities to the Court of Rome many Prelates being hereby constrained to abridge their Families and expences The leuies of men which had beene made out of Families were discharged to a third part to the end that al heads of Families and men maried should be left behind and that third amounted to the number of twelue thousand foot-men Besides the Garrisons which were ordinarily kept in the Forts they leuyed in the beginning two thousand Italians six hundred Corses and an hundred and fifty Alban Horse vnder three Captaines to whom they ioyned six hundred more vnder the pay accustomed all which were distributed vpon the Continent in seuerall places sending to this effect Nicholas Delfin to be Prouisor on this side the Menzo and Iohn Iames Zanne vpon the Po and in the Polesin of Rouigo And the troubles after increasing they intertained six thousand Italian foot-men the ordinary Bands remaining which were put vnder the charge of certaine Gentlemen of the Continent Subiects of the Signiory which were augmented the yeare following vnto the number of twelue thousand foot besides those of the former leuies and foure thousand horse as shall be said hereafter In the same time the Cities and other particular Subiects offered to contribute whensoeuer they should be commanded and these offers from diuers places amounted to the number of seuen thousand foot-men and twelue hundred horse which were not leuyed because at length peace was concluded As also there was no need to make vse of those Christians Subiects of the Turke whom the Arch-bishop of Philadelphia a man highly esteemed among the Greekes as well for his good life as for his excellent learning offered to cause to come by his authority in such numbers as they would desire and vpon such honest conditions as the Senate should iudge fit whereunto the Turkes also easily accorded Likewise for the same reason they did not imploy the seuerall succours which some French Lords offered among whom the Duke de Maien offered to send his sonnes and the Prince of Ionuile his nephew and Monsieur de Boniuet whose ancestors haue beene alwaies well affected to the Republique was purposing to come himselfe in person And the Protestants of that Kingdome not onely offered voluntarily Captaines and Souldiers but euen sollicited to be therein imployed and although the Senate thanked them with a purpose to serue themselues of them if need required yet had they a firme resolution not to vse them vnlesse they were pressed with extreme necessitie as also not first to begin the Warre in Italie but onely prepare themselues for defence in case they should be assaulted The Count de Fuentes for to maintaine the effect of the promise of his King and of his sleights gaue the Pope often to vnderstand sometime by meanes of the Ambassador of his Master at Rome sometime by expresse persons what he purposed to doe and how he had resolued to hinder the passage of any souldiers into Italy giuing aduise that hee kept a strong guard on the confines of the Grisons to that end and that he was armed in the frontiers of Venice to keepe them in awe All this notwith standing the Pope knew well that by reason of the dearth and famine which was in Naples the Prouisions out of that Kingdome would goe on but slowly and further he saw that hee could not satisfie the demands which were made on the behalfe of Spaine Besides he thought deeply vpon the words which that King had spoken to his Nuntio that his purpose was not to moue any warre but onely to assist the Pope if he were assaulted in his owne State for which cause he imagined that the King of Spaine did rather desire to see Him lose reputation and the Republique driuen to expences then that the affaire should be ended to his aduantage And therefore hee lent an eare to all that spake of the accord and especially because it was ardently desired by his Brethren who had a purpose to buy Regnano of Lucio Sauelli as afterward they did notwithstanding the need which the See Apostolique had of money For these considerations the Pope heard and fauoured greatly the Ambassador of the most Christian King who spake vnto him touching the accord and although the Ambassador of Spaine did the same offices for a Peace his Holinesse neuerthelesse hearkned more willingly to him of France as well because he iudged
of respect vnto the Pope and of modestiē towards them who had written in his fauour pressing the matter in hand without digressions and without nothing the faults of the Court of Rome not for want of good information being so many and so notorious to all the World but onely to vse all due seemelinesse which is not to passe from the matter to the persons as doe those who faile of reasons All this may be euidently seene in the Recollections printed in diuers places and in seuerall Languages wherein are contained the Writings of both parties The Spaniards were not well pleased with the publication of these Writings and they signified vnto the Pope that it was better to proceed herein by his sole Authority forasmuch as Books gaue matter of discourse vnto the World and occasion to each one to frame his iudgement with diminution of the Popes authority Especially that they of his side had too far trenched vpon the Authority of Princes which could not bring any aduantage to the Church as also that they did more abound with reuilings then with reasons besides that each proposition drew to it selfe an Answer Also Father Sosa a Franciscane was reprehended for Writing in Spanish vpon this matter and he was inioyned to call in all the Copies of his Booke which accordingly he did And at the instance of the Nuntio they consented that all these Writings should be forbidden not by the Counsell of the King as was desired but by the Inquisition And lest the Protestation of the Prince should be included they specified by name in the Censure all Writings imprinted saue onely that censuring the Manuscripts in generall tearmes in the end commanding that for the time to come none should write in this cause for the one side or for the other Not withstanding this Edict was not imprinted nor affixed contenting themselues onely to haue it published throughout the Parishes which are Churches lesse frequented By occasion of these Writings in Milan was like to haue followed a great disorder For as they were greedily read by some in secret so were they by some ill affected bitterly reprehended with calumnies and iniuries familiar to the Ecclesiastiques which Antony Paulucci Secretary of the Repub. could not endure and gaue testimony of his dislike Whereupon a Processe was formed against him in the Inquisition which being come to his knowledge he complained thereof to the Count de Fuentes who maruailed at their presumption and promised to take speedy order for his quietnesse But a few daies after a Notary of the Office cited him in the name of the Inquisitor to whom he answered that he was a publique Person and vnder the protection of the Count and that he owed no obedience to any besides his Prince threatning the Notary to proceed against him on another fashion The Count aduertised hereof sent for the Inquisitor and signified to Paulucci that he might come securely to the Audience Yet after the Count had talked with the Inquisitor he said to Paulucci that he published too freely the Reasons of the Repub. and that he should doe well to goe to the Inquisitor who had one word to speake vnto him and no more Paulucci refused to submit himselfe to any whomsoeuer without Commission from his Prince The Count offred to send along the Treasurer Torniello to accompany him to the Office who should stay with him till the Inquisitor had taken his answere and then conduct him backe vnto his house For which Paulucci thanked him but said hee could not doe it without leaue Wherefore the Count sent to tell him that hee would not trouble him any further or take more knowledge of the matter The Secretary gaue aduice of all to Venice whereupon complaint was presently made to the Ambassador of Spaine and all that their Secretary had done was approued The Ambassador hauing written hereof vnto the Count he called Paulucci telling him that he had spoken too boldly of these affaires and that it behoued him to giue no scandall To which Paulucci answered that he hoped his Excellency would take order for the time to come that none should giue him any occasion Afterward the Inquisitor gaue him to vnderstand that not as Inquisitor but as his friend he desired to speake with him in some priuate house He answered that before this difficulty he was stil ready to speake with him as a particular Friend but now he could not and he would not doe it But to returne to the treaty of Peace which still continued not withstanding that either part defended their Reasons by writing in the end of August was made a greater ouerture to the Agreement which almost gaue perfection vnto the Treaty although afterwards many Negotiations passed without effect On the seuenteenth of August Mounsieur de Fresne came to the Senate with Letters from the King of the fourth of August wherein he testified his great displeasure for the Differences betweene the Pope and the Republique fearing the mischiefes which might ensue that in regard of the place which he held in Christ endome for his Deuotion to the See Apostolique and for the Amity which he had with the Republique he was moued to interpose himselfe desiring to finde some honest Composition but that he should be hindered to execute this his laudable designe if the Republique did not aid him by such meanes as depended vpon them that he had enioyned Fresne his Ambassador to exhort his Serenity to continue his ordinary Prudence and the affection which he had towards God towards Christendom and towards the State and to assure him that his intention aimed meerely at the conseruation of the Libertie of the Republique The Letter of the King being read Fresne made his proposition saying that the King was disgusted for that he could not draw from them any thing but generall words in a businesse so important and so pressing that he doubted the new instance which now he made with sincerity would bring discontent and be interpreted to other ends than he intended neuerthelesse being a friend and obliged to the Republique for that which sometimes they had done in his behalfe and remembring their courtesies as also fore-seeing the inconueniences which might fall out he was sory for this quarrell and had interposed himselfe not being desired to stay these euils which doubtlesse would increase if the Repub. would not aide him that the Pope had condescended to honest Conditions and such as he seemed not to demand any thing contrary to the Dignitie and Liberty of the Republique that the King would be displeased if the Pope hauing iustified his Cause to the World in some sort though in effect all iudged for the Repub. they should resist the Motions of al Christian Princes in which case he could not fauour them as otherwise he was purposed to doe if the Pope against all iustice would force their Libertie and endamage their Gouernment for then he would employ all his Forces all his Armes and his
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