years he laboured in the study of holy Lawes to be well instructed in the knowledge of Iustice. He affirmeth nothing which he doth not learnedly proue All his works were directed to his owne King and the Royall Councell before whom more then once hee appeared in person to entreat of this Businesse Who can then beleeue that hee durst say that which was not apparant truth Men vse not to speake ill of Princes to their owne faces Ignorance of the fact or of the Law cannot be obiected to him so much practised and who had so long studyed these matters Argument of affection or of passion cannot be imagined in a Prelat of most exemplar life who renounced his Bishopricke onely to assist in the Court of his Prince in the defence of a People from any interest in him as farre remoued as our world is distant from theirs From whence of necessity it must be said that onely the loue of truth did moue him and the inuincible reasons wherewith he maintaines all his Assertions doe most clearly demonstrate it So that your Maiestie who is as much a louer of truth as of God considering with a 〈…〉 all the fore-alleadged discourses will in the sinceritie of your conscience conclude that which in the beginning was declared That Enterprises vndertaken onely for Religion are often reduced to proper Interest and that Titles Dignities and Authorities granted with most holy zeale by the Vicar of Christ haue beene peruersly abused It is very true that this good Prelatate hath indeauoured to excuse the Catholique Kings by saying that the aboue mentioned euills were against their Intentions clearely expressed in many orders and holy instructions giuen to those crooked ministers who obserued no part of them But this excuse is not admitted of wise men yea rather confuted with most strong Reasons First because it hath not beene found that the Catholique Kings did euer punish any of those Ministers vnlesse perhaps some for Rebellion notwithstanding their wickednesse was manifest vnto them which the foresaid Bishop doth more then once affirme Secondly because so many iniquities by them committed were neuer retracted in particular the Diuisions of the Commenda's vpon which the said Author doth exclaime euen to the Heauens Lastly because the immediate Dominions are encorporated vniuersally and particularly with the Supreme Dominions and this is euident in fact all faculty being taken from them which had it to choose their Prince and the inheritance from them to whom the estates by succession did appertaine of whom some miraculously escaping aliue in that destruction of the Indies lamentably by this Bishop described were transported into Spaine lest by the loue of their Naturall Subiects they should aspire to recouer that of which against reason they were depriued And yet to this day the Issue of that great Motezuma Emperor of Mexico doe liue in the Court of your Maiestie prohibited vpon paine of life to goe out of Castile From which most true reasons the wisedome of your Maiestie may easily comprehend how little the aforesaid excuses 〈◊〉 preuaile and how great Account the Catholique Kings haue to render to God of the vsurpation of the immediate dominion of the Indies vnder pretence of amplifying the Christian faith The religious zeale of the King Don Phillip the second father of your Maiestie cannot inconsiderately bee ouerpast when inuited by the Pope hee tooke Armes against Henry the fourth King of France The cause of Christ was in question against a publique Heretique and Enemy of Christ. It was expedient that the sacred Catholique King Protector of the Church of Christ should abandon his owne Affaires of Flanders to defend that of Christ. The which Heroique Action the fruit of perfect vertue which is rarely found among Princes of the World did beget in many wonder and incredulity and in others it caused too malitious suspition Algunos saith the Spanish Bishop que juzgaâ—an la virtud agena por la malitia propia no querian creer â—auia Pontif. par 3. vita di Grigor 14. C. 9. que el zelo de Rey Catholico fuesse tan grande che desamparando su haziendâ— propia â—on tan gran costa fuesse a remediar la agena That is Some who iudge the vertue of others by their owne malice would not beleeue that the zeale of the Catholique King could be so great that leauing the care of his owne business hee should at so immence Charge relieue the necessitie of others Behold the wonder and the incredulity Otros as after followes in the history que no bien conocian la Religion y Christianidad del gran Filippo II. â—auia p. 3. vita de Innocâ—ntio 9. C. 9. â—ondauan en esta jornada un gran edificio dizâ—endo que se queria hazer Rey de Francia ò ponelle de su mano assegurandosse ensus Estados comarcanos y sacando à bueltas no pequeno interes That is Others that did not well vnderstand the Religion and Christianitie of the Grand Phillip the second did from this vndertaking lay the foundation of a great building saying that he desired to make himselfe King of France or to place a King of his owne dependance hereby assuring his owne neighbouring States and drawing to himselfe no little aduantage Behold the malice and that truely very great against that most innocent Monarch who did clearely show to haue no other interest nor further desire then that the Catholique Religion should not be vtterly ruined as it was freshly threatned in the Kingdome of France But what cannot the Deuill doe Saints and Heremits are rarely secure much lesse Princes in Courts Scarcely hath Henry begunne inspired by the holy Ghost to shew himsefe willing to be reduced to the wombe of holy Church to be truely a most Christian King when the Catholique fell vpon a Councell by no meanes to consent that hee should bee King of France And yet to him the Rights of that Kingdome did appertaine nor for other cause was the opposition but for being an Heretique whence the impediment being taken away it was most vniust any longer to withstand him But it was whispered in the eares of the Catholique King by certaine Machiauells rather then Disciples that the Coronation of Henry might bring some danger to his Maiestie for the kingdome of Nauarr and the County of Burgondy vpon which States the Crowne of France hath pregnant pretensions and that his Maiestie had cast away in vaine so much Gold and spent so much blood of his people in that warre Therefore Latarde antes so saith Bauia que hiziesse la absolution Pontif p. 4 vita de â—le 8. Cap. 56 el Duqâ—e de Sessa Ambaxador del Rey Catholico de su parte hiza al Papa protestacion que la absolucion que su santitad pensau a dar à Enrico no perjudicasse al derecho de su Rey â—n lo toccante al Reyno de Nauarra y Contado di Borgâ—na ni à los gastos que hauia echo en la
how contrary soeuer to the honour of God and maintenance of his holy Catholique faith returned to reassemble in the City of Tauos where in their new Diett they haue not onely reconfirmed all the euills of that of Tosana but added others making Heads of the Persecution Executioners of their Arrests against Catholiques the same hereticall Ministers and by this occasion their tyrannicall gouernment is so visibly established particularly by the Assistance and purse of that Potentate the principall Cause of so many euills to the Christian Common Wealth that the Subiects can expect no other but a declination to a worse Condition and suddainely to arriue at the height and extremity of all euills now already approaching Admitting what hath bin already coÌ„pendiously deliuered yet in such maner that the Reader can neuer apprehend the degree whereto their tyrannicall gouernment was truely ascended that seeing as was in the beginning said all diuine and humane law did permit the Valtolines to withdrawe themselues by all possible meanes from so great a Tyranny it will appeare so cleare to euery one that it will bee too much vanity to heape vp reasons proofes and authorities in a matter in it selfe vndoubted euen when it were discussed betweene true Subiects and Vassalls and their naturall and absolute Lord. But now by so much more shall it appeare lawfull when two things shall bee considered the one that the ancient Capitulations of the Valley with the Grisons following the end hereof doe show rather a confederation between them then a true subiection and doe speake in such sort that the Empire exercised by them in the Valley is discouered to bee a meere vsurpation particularly the Valtolines doe binde themselues to the Grisons with limitation to things lawful honest besides the obligation is made ioyntly to the Bishop of Coira and the Three-leagues where now these Tyrants hauing de facto excluded with Sacrilegious exulation their Bishop haue alone vsurped that which neither to them nor him was granted The other thing is that whatsoeuer the Valtolines yet haue done hath beene prosecuted onely with Intelligence and helpe of the sounder part of the Grisons themselues and not to rebell against their Lords for such certainly the Three-Leagus neuer were but simply to reduce themselues to the true State declared in their Capitulations so far forth as the mutations alterations and other Accidents would permit them The Agreements between the Bishop of Coira and the Community of the Three Leagues of the one part and of the Valtoline of the other in the yeare 1513. Which appeare by the indented Instrument at Iant of the Grison League kept in the Rolls of Coira PRimò quod homines vallis Tellina Communitatis Tilij velint debeant Reuerendissimo Domino Episcopo Curiâ—nsi tribus Lighis perpetuâ—â— temporibus iâ— omnibus singulis licitis honestis parerâ— obedire Secundò quod praelibati homines vallis Tellina Communitatis Tilij sim esse debeant nostri Vlz Reuerendissims Domini Episcopi Curiensis omniunâ— trium Ligarum cari fideles Confoederati tales permanere pro tempore quo necesse fuerit ad Dietas nostras vocari in Concilijs pariformiter sedere consulere omne id quod eis Communitatibus magis expediens videbitur quando ad Dietas sic proâ—t supra vocabuntur â—unc debeant de quolibet Tertierio Communitate Tillij vnum mittere Consiliarium Tertiò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij gaudeant vtantur eoruÌ„ priuiligijs antiquis consuetudinibus si saltem fuerint de iure laudabiles Deo consonae Quartò quod praelibatus Reuerendiss D. Episcopus Curiensis omnes Lighae sint esse debeant dictis hominibus vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij adiutorio consilio erga Caesaream Maiestatem Duâ—atum Mediolani aut alibi vbicunque oportuerit liberi fiant à taleis similibus vti homines trium Ligarum Quintò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij teneantur singulis annis dare soluere Reuerendissimo Episcopo Curiensi omnibus tribus foederibus Tainenses mille in promptis denarijs persoluendos per quemlibet seu quoslibet habentes bona in dicta Valle ad ratam bonorum suorum exemptum non exemptum TO THE MOST MIGHTY CATHOLIQVE King of Spaine D. PHILIP THE THIRD Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie THE Manifest printed in the name of the Valteline wherein the Reasons of the Resolutions lately by them taken against the tyranny of the Grisons and Heretiques are alledged hath giuen great scandall to all wise men who easily doe comprehend from whence and why it was put to the Presse the Valtelines hauing no notice at all much lesse any part therein Whereupon hauing proposed seriously to discourse and to bring to light that truth which others doe endeauor to wrap vp in darknesse I haue thought it an act of Iustice and of no little seruice to your Maiestie whose minde truly religious it may be feared lest it become deceiued with a false apparance of Pietie and Religion with which the Deuill a perpetuall enemy of Princes well enclined vseth oftentimes to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and to offer his help as a guide in the right path of Iustice and honestie to no other end but to draw them without discouery into the crooked way of iniquitie and tyranny But the better to ground my Discourse I will beginne somewhat high and imitate that good Architect who purposing to build a strong Tower by how much he designeth to raise the top so much lower he layeth the foundation That of Religion ô Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie is certainly a very powerfull obiect the which though fayned and disguised euer raiseth a great commotion in the mindes of them who thereof make profession For this cause many Princes of the world eyther by the counsell of ill ministers or through the greedinesse of their owne desires wherwith they embrace Prouinces Kingdomes and Empires and yet not satiated when they want all other iust title to make warre and to seize by violence that which they cannot pretend by Iustice suddenly they take the pretence of Religion vnder which Cloake they doe not onely seeke to couer their vniust Actions and to make them appeare lawfull and holy but therewith they inuite all men to fauour their attempts Many times also with an affection of holy zeale with true and vnfained Religion with most iust and honest Titles they vndertake some Enterprises truly holy But the Deuill who still practiseth to draw poyson from the fairest flowers and serueth himselfe with good for an instrument of euill in the end reduceth that very Religion to proper interest that zeale of Pietie hee conuerteth to zeale of Ambition and the most iust Titles hee vseth to the seruice of Tyrannicall Monarchy Therefore where ordinarily the question of the Acquisition of States is handled a iust Prince
he said Goe and teach all Nations that onely intimation should be made to peaceful and quiet Infidels which had their proper Lands and if they did not presently receiue the Faith without other preaching or instruction and should not submit themselues to the dominion of that King whom they neuer saw nor heard whose messengers are so cruell so impious and so horrible Tyrants that they should lose for this onely Cause their goods lands liberty wiues children and life which is a thing vnreasonable absurd worthy of all reproach infamy it Hell selfe Thus wisely speaking of the same matter though vpon another occasion discourseth the Reuerend Bishop of Chiappa a principall Citie of New Spaine in the Indies called Fryar Bartholmy dalle Case by Nation a Spanyard by birth a Siuilian but zealous of Iustice and a friend of truth in his booke of the destruction of the Indies But returning to our Subiect The King Atabaliba was iustly scandalized and grieuously moued at this so learned preaching that answering to euery point amongst other things he said these words Obedecer al Papa no me esta bien porque deue de ser loco puesdà lo que no es suyo Igliescas vbi supra y me manda dexar el Reyno que yò heredè de mi padre y quiere que yo le dâ— Ã qui en no conosco That is To obey the Pope is not good for mee because hee must needs be a foole seeing he giueth that to another which is none of his and commands me to leaue that Kingdome which I haue inherited from my father and would I should giue it to one that I know not what he is He could not certainly answer more wisely according to the Proposition which was also false Seeing the Pope was not so void of Iudgement to haue granted any such conquest to the Catholique King or any other especially by the way of warre as the holy Preacher with threats did affirme being in it selfe vniust and wicked And therefore the aforementioned Bishop of Chiappa earnestly defending the truth did send vpon this matter thirty propositions to the Royall Councell of India printed in Ciuill in the yeare 1552. In the 23 whereof he thus speaketh Soiuzgallos primero por guerra es forma y uia contraria de la ley y yugo suaue Vescouo di Chiappanelle 30. propositione y cargalâ—gera y mansedumbre de Iesu Christo. Es la propia que lleuè Mahoma y lleuaron los Romanos con que inquietaron y robaron el mondo Es la que tienen oy los Turcos y Moros y que comenca à tener el Xarife Y por tanto es iniquissima tirannica infamatiua del mellifluo nombre de Christo causatiua de infinitas nuebas blasfemias contra el verdadero Dios y contra la religiâ—n Christiana Come tenemos longissima experientia que se hà echo y oy se haze en las Indias porque estimande Dios ser el mas cruel y mas iniusta y sin piedad que ay en los Dioses y por consiguiente es impeditiua de la Conuersion de qualesquiera Infieles y que ha engendrado impossibilidad de que jamas sâ—an Christianos en à quel orbe gentes infinitas That is To subdue them by warre is a forme and way contrary to the law to the sweet yoke to the easie burthen and to the meeknesse of Iesus Christ It is the same which Mahomet and the Romans did hold wherewith they did disturbe and violate the world it is the same which at this day the Turkes and Moores maintaine and the Xerif doth beginne to practice and therfore it is most wicked tyrannicall infamous to the glorious name of Christ the cause of infinite and new Blasphemies against the true God and Christian Religion as we haue by long experience knowne to haue beene and yet vsed amongst the Indians For they haue an opinion of God that he is the most cruell the most vniust and merciless of all other gods And by Consequence it is the hinderance of the Conuersion of all sorts of Infidels and hath caused an impossibiltie that multitudes of People should euer become Christians In the last proposition whereof he concludes De todo lo susodicho en fuerça de consequentia necessaria se sigue que sin periuycio del titulo y scnorio soberano que à los Reys de Castilla pertenece sobrea quel orbe de las Indias todo lo que en ellas se hà echo ansi en lo de las iniustas y tirannicas conquistas como en lo de los repartimientos y en comiendas hà sido nulla yde ningun valor ne fuerça de derecho That is From all the fore alleaged matters it is necessarily inferred that without preiudice of the title and Soueraigne Dominion which appertaines to the Kings of Castile in that world of India all that hath beene done as well concerning the vniust and Tyrannical Conquest as the Diuisions and Commenda's is void of no value and vnlawfull And in the seuenth Rule of his Confessaries the same good Prelate vttereth these words Todas las cosas Vescouo di Chiappanel Consessâ—ionariâ— que se han echo en todas estas Indias assi en la entrada de los Espanoles en cada provincia dellas como en la sâ—jetion y seruidumbre en que pusieron estas gentes con todos los medios y fines y todo lo demas que con ellas y cerca dellas se ha echo ha sido contra todo derecho natural y derecho de las gentes y tambien contra derecho diuino y por tanto es todo iniusto iniquo tirannico y digno di todo fuego infernal y por conseguiente nullo inualido y sin algun valor ni momento de derecho That is All things which haue beene done in these Indies as well in the Entrance of the Spaniards to euery Prouince thereof as in the subiection and â—eâ—uitude to which they haue reduced this People with all the meanes and ends and all that besides which therein or concerning them hath been done is against all Law of Nature and Nations and contrary to the Law of God and therefore it is wholly vniust wicked tyrannicall and worthy of Hell-fire and by consequence annihilated inualid of no force nor iuridicall power Certainly Sacred Maiestie The Assertions of this Prelate are such that they strike honor onely in hearing and almost resemble open Maledictions of a minde subdued to Passion But who shall diligently reade all his workes and shall consider distinctly euery circumstance shall clearly know that these are apprehensions of truth exprest with an holy zeale free from all pâ—ssion or interest onely in the defence of right Friar Bartholomy dalle Case spent the most part of his life in India Forty nine continued yeares as himselfe affirmes hee saw that which therein was done and Thirty foure
conseruation della feè Catholicho en el Reyno di Francia y a instantia y requesta del y que no pensaua dexar las armas hasta cobrallos O yo el pontifice atenta mente la pretâ—stacion y tomò della el Duque instrumento publico Auertiò antes à sua Santitad de algunos inconuenientes che temia hauian de resultar de la absolucion que tenia determinado dar à Enrico That is The Euening before the Absolution should be giuen the Duke of Sessa Ambassadour of the Catholique King on his behalfe protested to the Pope that the absolution which his Holines intended to giue to Henry should not preiudice the Reasons of his King in that which concerned the Kingdome of Nauar and the County of Bourgundy nor in the expence which he had made for the Conseruation of the Catholique faith in the Kingdome of France at his instance and request and that he determined not to depose Armes vntill he had recouered them The high Bishop attentiuely heard the Protest and the Duke tooke thereof a publique instrument hauing first aduertised his Holinesse of some inconueniences which hee feared might result from the Absolution which was purposed to bee giuen to Henry These Protests did appeare to men of sound iudgement ill grounded prentences the alleaged inconueniences false foundations of that great Building which those malicious aboue mentioned did figure to themselues They said it was requisite to the strict Christianity which the Catholique King professed all humane Interest deposed to aduance with all his spirits the conuersion of Henry and to exhort the high Bishop affectionately to receiue the prodigall Sonne seeing he was returned penitent to his fathers house and to take into his Armes the strayed sheepe which hee had now found to carry him to the Sacred sheepfold of Christ They did blame as a work very 〈◊〉 Catholique but rather as a suggestion of the Deuill to attempt the hinderance of that Absolution which onely hee ought to haue procured for the quiet of France and the publique good of Christendome which if it had not succeeded might haue wholly allenated that Kingdome from the Church as the like had done in England They did consider that it was wide of the purpose to feare any preiudice in the kingdome of Nauarre and the County of Burgundy seeing the Absolution did not deriue any more right to Henry then that which any other which should be King of France might haue But aboue all the pretensions of the expence made in the warre did giue them greatest scandall They discoursed if only for the loue of Christ the Catholique King had disbursed that money why was he not content to haue Christ his Debtor But how a Debtor if hee doth enioy of the Patrimony of Christ aboue Three Millions yearely Reuenue granted him by the Vicar of Christ of Tenths Subsidiâ—s and Croysado's and other meanes with condition to employ them against the Enemies of Christendomeâ— why takes hee noâ— penne in hand and comes not to a distinct Account of the Receipts and Issues well balancing il dare con l' hauere and hee shall finde himselfe not Creditor of one Maraâ—edi but certainely Debtor of many and many Millions spent not according to his obligation for Christianity but for the interest of his owne priuate Estates What then doth hee pretend Why then doth he not lay downe Armes Vpon what hath hee fixed his thoughts To what end doth he aspire If he prosecute this warre he prosecuteth an vniust warre How doth that correspond with the zeale of Religion for which onely at first he vndertooke it What change is this Certainely it proceedeth not from the right hand of the most High But bee it so let him follow the warre at his owne pleasure there is no remedy Henry shall bee absolued and shall bee King of France Doth the Catholique King perhaps hope with his owne forces and by strong hand to depriue him If he was not able with the vnion of so many other Princes to hinder him from taking possession of his Kingdome how shall he now be able to expell him hauing set sure footing in his Throne He attempts a dangerous Action Here they proceed with witty and politique Consideration that a good issue of this warre against Henry not ensuing hee should be sure to acquire a powerfull and perpetuall Enemy that might in time make Spaine to tremble within her owne bowels and the Prophesie had well neare beene verified the whole world knowes it if a violent death had not interposed toâ—stay him But this yet which perhaps was foreseene they did iudge insufficient to free Spaine of the danger Seeing the offence of the father and with the offence the disdaine might descend to the Sonne his Successor as soone as heâ— came to ripe age and should fall into consideration that the Catholique King had done his vtmost to keepe him from being King of France when hee indeauoured to take the Crowne from the head of his father and that if his father in despight of Spaine mainteined himselfe King he also in despight of Spaine might enioy his fathers Kingdome But all these considerations which certainely were very great before any other conceiued them were resolued by the most wise King Phillip who by common Iudgement was the Salomon of his time From whence for the same reasons that others did iudge it requisite to leaue the warre hee esteemed it necessary to prosecute it Seeing he knew he had so grieuously offended Henry that hee could by no other meanes secure himselfe from his disdaine but onely by opposing him to become King of France Wherefore seeing the cause of Religion did cease it was expedient to fasten vpon some other pretence to resist with his Holiness the absolution and in France the Coronation and to proue if it were possible already reason of State had insinuated that great building of the Malicious to make a King of his owne fashion as he had already caused to be propounded in Parliament Tarde se desengana el desseo de mandar y ser Rey Bauia p. 4. vita de Clem. 8. C. 30. Por esto aunque con â—enos brio no desistian los pretensores Proponia el Duque de Feria al Serenissima Infanta de Espana Dona Isabel. Affermaâ—a deâ—ersele el Reynâ— porque hauiendo faltado la linea masculina de Hugâ— Capeâ—o eraquien tenià meior derecho a la Corona como hija de hermana mayor de Enrico III vltimo Rey de Francia Y dezia con esto que el Rey Catholico su padre la ca saria con al un principe Frances con que el nombramiento del tal quedasse en su elecion That is The desire to command and to bee King was slowly cleared from all doubt For this cause though with lesse boldnesse the Pretenders gaue not ouer The Duke of Feria did propound her highnesse Donna Isabella Infanta of Spaine He did affirme the Kingdom to belong
with all my spirits the attentiue mind of your Maiestie for when I shall haue demonstrated that all the Reasons of the Manifest are ill grounded and false and what the truth of the businesse is it shall together appeare that the Gauses of said Manifest cannot bee other then those aboue specified The Reasons drawne to excuse the Rebellion of the Valtelines are reduced to two Heads Religion and Tyranny Vpon these are made great Amplifications but all is affirmed without proofe A manifest signe that it is spoken without foundation Concerning Religion it is said that the Grisons vtterly haue taken from the Valtelines the libertie of Conscience and haue procured that all should be infected with Heresie shewing in euery occasion fauour to Heretiques and the contrary to Catholiques vpon some of whom they haue inflicted most cruell and infamous death onely in hatred of the Religion I repeate not euery particular It is sufficient to take this Maxime to which all other matters are reduced and in the Manifest may be distinctly read Concerning Tyranny it goeth painting out a kind of gouernment of the Grisons in the Valteline like to that which hertofore Verres vsed in Sicily and to speake more modernly like to some practised as well by the Ministers of your Maiestie as of your Predecessors in their States of Italy as by this discourse you shall fully vnderstand perhaps with some notable benefit to your poore Subiects who are waiting some ease from your Royall hand But before wee discourse particularly in these two points it is fit to consider That the Grisons though diuided in two Religions Roman and Euangelique may it please the diuine Maiestie that in time they may all agree in the vnitie of the true Apostolique yet in all matters in respect of the publique good of the State thee haue constantly stood vnited in the politique Gouernment With which Concord they haue so many yeares maintained themselues free Princes vndependent of other and highly estemed of all For which cause wee know with how much diligence and charge many great Princes haue sought their friendship But of late yeares in this part some Ministers of your Maiestie malignant to see them colleagued now with France now with Venice moued with an immoderate zeale of your seruice to which they supposed that such Confederations might bring somepreiudice and iudging it most important to your Crowne that you onely should haue the free passage through the straights of the Valteline into Germany and that to all other Princes they should at your pleasure bee shut haue gone contriuing Inuentions and insiduâ—us Artifices to diuide the Grisons as well in the politique gouernment as in Religion to the end they might easily slide into vtter ruine To this effect the late count de Fuentes Gouernour of Millan erected that Fort which to this day beares his name so preiudiciall as nothing more to the State of the Grisons Hauing first with money corrupted some of the chiefe of that Countrey to the end that if the Lords would oppose themselues they should with various Arts be disturbed as it came right to passe by the labor of Io Baptista Preuosti Pompeio Rodolfo Planta Nicholo Rusca and others noted in the Manifest of the Grisons of the yeare 1618. Instantly after which Don Pedro de Toledo Gouernor of Millan in the yeare 1617. did attempt to make a perpetuall league with the Grisons vpon Articles molded by the Lord Alfonso Casale Ambassador of your Maiestie in that Republique after his owne fashion In which there was nothing inserted in the fauour of the Grisons but a delusory promise to demolish the fort of Fuentes wherewith it seemed to him that they should condiscend to all other things how contrary soeuer to their libertie The same men who did fauour the building of the Fort did not faile to aduance also this Confederacie perswading many that by al meanes it ought to be embraced but the crooked practises of these Patriots Enemies of their Countrey being to the Grisons discouered they would not accept these Capitulations but forming a luridicary and Capitall Processe against these Rebels they found so many Machinations treasons and other wicked Actions by them wrought that proceeding to Iustice it was requisite with Banishments and death to giue them deserued punishment From that time till now that they remained exiled aided with money by the Ministers of your Maiestie with which they proceeded maintayning fresh practices with their friends and adherents and corrupting many others they haue sollicited continually to sowe dissention among this people thereby to raise some insurrection as finally hath succeeded in the Valteline The truth of all this is clearly collected from the forealleaged Manifest of the Actions of the Grisons in the yeare 1618. to which Credit cannot be denied as the Ministers of your Maiesty desire seeing the things therein related are matters of fact and iuridically approued where these affaires haue beene handled without passion or respect of persons as euery dispassionate mind by the reading thereof will iudge The intent then of your Maiesties Ministers was not to establish a Confederacy with the Grisons which had it bin so they would haue procured by lawfull wayes vpon Conditions reasonable as other Princes vsed and not by interuention of particular persons corrupted with gifts and vpon Articles so vnsauory as among them are seene But their purpose was so cunningly to frame them that they should not be accepted because being promoued by the factious party of men corrupt and reiected by the sound part dis-interressed and louers of the publique good there might arise a discord sowed by this art to cast these people into Confusion so that from their diuision according to the Gospell the desolation of the State might follow For the Ministers of your Maiestie fomenting one part against the other did hope to oppresse both the one and the other and highly to merit of you by enlarging in what way soeuer your Empire This Artifice O Sacâ—ed Catholique King to disunite Subiects from their Princes to send them into destruction is most proper and practised by the Ministers of your Crowne and who would here recount how often and in what maner they haue plotted disunion in the Kingdome of France should weaue a large Historie The French Lords doe well know it and it is a common opinion amongst them who best vnderstand the Affaires of State that if all the Hugonotts of France should bee reduced to the Catholique Religion the Spanish Ministers would therewith be grieuously displeased seeing that of them they make principall vse as of most deare friends to embroile that Kingdome whensoeuer they haue any doubt that the French may moue his forces to the dammage of Spaine And they doe glory not to feare at all the Armes of his most Christian Maiestie not because the are inualid but that they know the way to keepe them busied at their pleasure in his owne house Which therefore being well considered might
Conscience Antonio de Leua discoursing Gio. Boteras detti memorabiâ—â— l. 1. by occasion with Charles the fift Emperour concerning the Affaires of Italy did perswade him to put to death this and that Prince and to take possession of their States and to make himselfe Lord of all The Soule answered the Emperour What replied Leua hath your Maiestie a soule then renounce your Empire This was truly too shamelesse an Impietie of Leua such I am sure as none of your Ministers would dare to propound to your Maiestie for knowing the great goodnesse of your most Catholique minde they should be sure to incurre your Roiall Indignation But it doth not therefore follow that they preserue not in their heads the same rules and that they doe not thereby gouerne all their Actions and thereunto conformable addresse all their Counsells the which are so much more dangerous in as much as they couer them vnder holy pretences as at present in the warre against the Grisons Wherefore your Maiestie hath so much more cause to feare and to take heed and so much more reason to accept in good part this Aduertisement But to returne to our Matter Let your Maiestie consider that to punish Heretiques as already I haue said is not the office of a secular Prince And therefore your Ministers doe ill to put their Sickle into anothers haruest and so much the worse because they know it And to deceiue the world they make it lawfull without the Pontificall authority to aduance he standard of the high Priest to iustifie a warre which they know to be vniust Wherefore his Holinesse whose Iurisdiction is directly offended ought not and cannot beare it And if hee haue and doe suffer many other things in the end a long abused patience is conuerted into a iust anger Besides let your Maiestie be aduised that all Heretiques are not to be treated as Rebells with extreame â—igour but onely those who borne within the wombe of the Church by their owne malice haue reuolted these which are borne nourished and brought vp in the Sect of their Parents it is true they erre but vnder an excuse of well doing they erre it is true but they knowe not their errour they are more worthie of Compassion then of penalty they deserue helpe and not punishment Multum enim interest inter illos qui in ignorantia sunt Chrisost. 1. Math. Homil. 49 c. in ignorantia perierunt inter â—os qui in veritate quidem nati sunt propter aliquod autem mundiale scientes ad mendacia tranâ—ierunt perierunt in cis pereunt Illi enim forsitan aliquo modo habebunt remissionem isti antem nullam remissionem habebunt neque in hoc sâ—culâ— neque in futurâ— quoniam ipsi sunt qui blasphemauerunt in Spiritum Sanctum Illi enim iudicandi sunt quia veritatem non quaesierunt isti autem condemnandi quia spreuerunt Leuior enim culpa est veritatem non apprehendere quam contemnere apprehensam Let Preachers then be sent to instruct them let gentle meanes be vsed that they may hearken vnto them Let praiers be continually made for them and after leaue the care to God to illuminate them in the holy â—aith seeing that faith is the onely guift of God which he freely giues not giuen by Mars nor by the meanes of warre God did command that the Foxes which destroyed the Vines should be taken Cant. c. 2. not slaine Capite nobis Vulpes parnulaâ— quae demoliuntur Vineas Et si iuxta allegoriam S. Bernard tom 1. In Cant. ser. 46. Ecclesias Vineas Vulpes Hereses seu potius Haereticos ipsos intelligamus simplex est sensus vs Hâ—retici capiantur potius quam effugentur capiantur dico non armis sed argumentis quibus reffellantur eorum errores Ipsi vero si fieri potest Ecclesiae Catholicae reconcilientur reuocentur ad veram fidem haec est enim voluntas eius qui vult omnes homines saluoâ— fieri ad agnitionem veritatas perâ—emire And a little after Quod si reuerti noluerit nec conuictus post primam iam secundam admonitionem vtpote qui omninò subuersus est erit secundum Apostolum deuitandus This is the way ô Sacred Maiestie to proceed against Heretiques which this holy man doth teach and not that by the rigor of Armes which your Ministers practice Esteeme it a truth that to vse crueltie against Heretiques doth euer make them more peruerse And if this in no place should be done much lesse there where Heretiques and Catholiques are together mingled with libertie of Religion because our persecutioÌ„ of them for Religion doth teach them to do the like as well for preseruation of their own which they esteeme as good as we doe ours as for the securitie of their States liues From which so many losses haue hapned to the Church of God that it is a consideratition worthy of many teares Poore Germany into what state is it reduced by this occasion which perhaps but why do I say perhaps certainly certainly had bin in much better estate if therewith other proceedings had been vsed I call not England to witnesse the storie is too notorious What hath ruined Flanders but a will to introduce with too much rigor the Spanish Inquisition And the Citie of Naples for the same cause hath it not fallen into generall tumult which if it had further proceeded to day by Gods grace it remaines Catholique that perhaps we had found with all that noble Kingdome full of heresie May it please the Diuine Maiestie that the present warre against the Grisons proue not a fire of faith and Religion in all Italy The Deuill hath prepared the wood the Ministers of your Maiestie haue kindled the flame If presently there be not some ready to extinguish it this paper God make me a liar which some will esteem foolishnes others call malignitie will perhaps be found a Prophesie from heauen But of this enough hath beene said let vs proceed to the rest The second head of Tyranny doth follow Great matters are related in the Manifest printed in the name of the Valtolines But seeing there is not one particular case obiected nor any thing proued it might be said the whole is false but wee will not vse that aduantage because wee know many things are most true Lucio da Monte with the money of forraine Princes supplied him by Pompeio Planta to the summe of two thousand florens distributed among particulars did procure the office of supreme Prouinciall Iudge of the Grison League binding himselfe to administer that charge not according to right and Iustice and the libertie of his Country but conformable to the will of the said Planta Whence it is confirmed for truth that the Gouernment was conferred vpon him who did offer the greatest price that from thence a thousand Tyrannies did proceed against the goods and liues of the Subiects there is no cause to doubt seeing this
Prince his Vassall because the inuestiture of the fee is not granted for the peoples ruine but that they should bee gouerned with Iustice wherefore if the feudatory vse iniustice and ill entreatment he falls from his Iurisdiction and the Soueraigne Prince may thereof depriue him and not doing it beeing able hee shall bee a wicked Prince and no lesse guiltie of the euill before God which he suffered his feudatory to doe then hee the feudatory himselfe is who acts it Now let your Maiestie apply this doctrine which is wholy conformable to reason and law to the Actions of your Ministers to the condition of your Subiects and to the right of other Princes ouer your Estates in Italy and you shall clearely see how your Ministers are damnable your Subiects miserable and how much other Princes are obliged to releeue them My words perhaps will seeme bitter but I beseech your Maiestie to consider if they be true and finding them so to take them in good part as bitter medicines fiery Cauteries sharp lances vse to be gratefully receiued from the hands of Physitians Chirurgions to procure health be assured you shall find them most profitable because your Maiestie fully informed of the truth will correct your Ministers comforts your Subiects and ease other Princes of the necessitie to vse their supreame Iurisdiction The Cause of Subiects and of Ministers are together vnited because those are gouerned and these Gouernours whence as Correlatiues they goe paripasso I will then briefly represent to you Maiestie the Gouernment of your States in Italy so farre as is expedient to the present matter The State of Millan in the time of the Emperour Charles the fift began to bee ill intreated from whence that sad lamentable and despairefull Ambassage which they sent by Baptista Archinto to Nizza is recorded who onely because he did lament in the name of his afflicted Countrey was receiued with an ill eye sent back without remedy and by the Imperiall Ministers at his returne sharply reprehended which might haue occasioned the Rebellion of that people if they had found any better Prince who would haue receiued them Haec vbi sub ipsum Caesaris à Nicea discessum ex legatione renunciata per vrbes Cisalpinae Galliae evulgata sunt Iouius Hist. lib. 37. vsque adeò tantum ex rei indignitate odium Caesari creuit vt omnes ex rerum desperatione facilè defecturos appareret si mitior clementior qui dedentes reciperet Dominus offereretur immoderatis siquidem pace bellòquâ— tributis oppressi noua etiam tum menstruae exactionis onera pertulerant quae nunquam desitura boni mortales crederent donec viueret Caesar atque Italiae Imperio potiretur After also a second time when Strozza Pallauicino Visâ—nti who made warre for the King of France approached to Millan all the Imperiall Ministers held that Citie as bad as lost onely because it did feele the yoake of Spanish Dominion too violent and heauy Assiduis atque intollerandis trubutis alienata Iouius lib. 45. parata credi poterat ad nouandas res vt inuistum pergraue Hispanici Regni iugum excuteret If from that time to this their grieuances are diminished or augmented your Maiestie best knowes To what termes that State is at this day reduced who doth not know let him consider this that already many and many yeares it hath suffered great numbers of Spanish Souldiers lodged in the houses of poore particular men at discretion Dâ—scretion of Souldiers and Tyranny are one and the same thing who hath not proued it let him pray to God first to die and hee shall die happier then euer to haue proued it And let him be content to beleeue for faith that vnder such discretion goods and honour are dispatched and hardly is life secure I passe ouer the burthen of new Tributes I leaue the Rapine of Ministers who like blood-suckers haue exhausted the veines of that plentifull bodie because in comparison of lodging Souldiers at discretion I esteeme all to bee nothing and he who is able to endure to see them eate the sustenance of his poore family and that which exceeds all other Tyranny to grow familiar with his wife daughters and Sisters it may be said that he is growne insensible of any iniury I remember to haue read in the warres which were so sharpe betweene the Venetians and Genoueses that these did take a Citie of their Enemies and held it the space of tenne yeares subiected to discretion whence it is credible that besides other matters they did dispose of their wiues according to their pleasures for which cause to this day though now two hundred and fifty yeares are ouerpast there cannot bee done a greater Iniury to those people then to call them Genoueses Bastards and notwithstanding that staine with length of time and the continued peace of that Citie which neuer since felt the offence of Enemie hath beene oftentimes worne out and washed away yet vpon euery occasion they resent the onely memory of that ancient Iniury done to the honour of their women which seemes indelible and eternall If I then say that the greatest of all the Tyrannies which the State of Millan doth now suffer is to haue their wiues at the Souldiers discretion I shall not speak much wide of the purpose because it is a matter very likely that in times to come the Millaneses may be called Spanish Bastards If this be tolerable let your Maiestie consider Wee proceed to Sicily Let it not be grieuous to your Maiestie that I speake this truth that if this day there were any other Prince as ready to solicit the destruction of Spanyards as there was once a Spanish King to procure that of the French sodainly and easily wee should see another Sicilian Vesper the causes are the same and are not newly begunne Let the Insurrection of Messina bee remembred then when the Vice King Don Iuan de Cardona Ioseph Bonfigl Hist. Sicil. p. 1. lib. 10. would oppresse that Kingdome with intolerable Tributes And let it bee considered with what pride and with how great disdaine he vsed the Messinesi because they defended the libertie of their Kingdome For which cause iustly prouoked they did generously to his face vpbraid him that he acted another Phallaris another Dionisius Don Vgo de Moncada who would not start onely to heare this name this was that impious man that sacked Rome was also Vice-Roy how can it bee thought that hee handled them Let vs obserue the words of the History Hee was by Nation a Catalonian Bonfigl p. 2. lib. 1. by birth a Barcellonese a man most ambitious greedy of Riches and immoderately enclined to dishonest Luxury Hee gouerned Sicily with Crueltie Auarice and Impudent lust Hee neglected so farre to punish the falsifiers of money vntill depriuing it of Commerce hee impouerished that Kingdome and that which more imported he made publike Merchandise of Graine insomuch that hee exhausted