with a part and would for several weeks furnish Victuals to the Enemy But by contrary motives these justified themselves with a suspicion that succours were at hand and those by a doubt they were not in a condition to bring it so soon That which truly induced the Spaniards was the fear that Vittorio would adhere to France for that without expecting their consent he greedily embraced before any other the Truce Howsoever Spinola was for it in Madrid reprehended with great censure which being added to the frequent reproofs suffered by the occasion of the Savoyards and to the limited Powers which through Jealousie of a certain Correspondence of his which he officiously held with Richelieu were come upon him from Spain seeing his Command restrained and his Honour wounded he was afflicted in such sort that falling ill with a Delirium of mind and failing of strength retiring himself into Castel-novo di Scrivia he departs this life within a few days A Captain saving in these latter days of his always fortunate but without exception always prudent Being advanced in years from a Merchant coming to the command of great Actions and Armies before he had passed an Apprentiship in Arms he gained in counsel in understanding and in the executions of things committed to him such reputation that nothing else hath blemished the splendour of his name but the envy of Strangers whom though accustomed to justifie ingratitude by suspicions he an Italian for the desire alone of glory served Spinola dead the Marquess of Santa Croix takes the Command and keeping his Troops within Casal waited for the time prefixed to receive the possession of the Citadel and the French strengthening themselves by the benefit of the Truce prepared to relieve it In this doubtful state of things a Peace being concluded in Germany the news of it arrives unexpected in Italy Ferdinand for the Interests of the Empire and of his House held a Diet in Ratisbone where the Electors being assembled and taking courage from their Union in their declared Judgments detested the War of Italy as unseasonable and unjust together with many complaints that the Emperour at the instance of Strangers without the knowledge and consent of the principal Members of the Empire had undertaken it They exhorted to Peace and offered to mediate whereupon the French to interest themselves and take the business out of the absolute Arbitrement of the Emperour and the Spanish Ministers sent thither Monsieur de Leon assisted by Father Joseph a Capucin with whom Richelieu not only communicated the confidence but it seemed had in a manner imparted capacity for it These had in charge to make overtures of Peace but much more to search into the state of things foment the opposition of the Electors against the Creation of a King of the Romans and with other Princes of the Empire to settle according to the occasion those agreements which a while after brake forth King Lewis had now secretly treated with Sweden to invade the Empire promising them a sum of money the Venetians also coming in for their share when it should be time to be stirring to divert the War out of Italy Yet they by invitation from the Emperours Ministers insinuated to Pietro Vico their Resident with Ferdinand to send a Minister to the Diet not without hope to separate them by that means from the friendship of the French dispatched thither Sebastian Veniero Procurator of St. Mark as their Ambassadour Extraordinary but with charge not to separate from the Confederates both in managing and concluding any Treaties But before the Ambassadour could arrive the Peace upon the 13. of October was agreed upon in some short Conferences betwixt the French and Anthonio Abbot of Crembs Munster Otho Baron of Nostiz and Herman Count de Questemberg The Articles at length were reduced To promise mutually not to invade one anothers Countries nor give assistance to Rebels or Enemies As to Mantua the pretensions of the House of Lorrain for some kind of decency were referred to the Emperour or to an amicable Agreement To the Prince of Guastalla were assigned Lands of the Territory of Mantua to the Revenue of six thousand Crowns to the end he should renounce his pretensions to Carlo and his Line masculine To the Duke of Savoy were set apart in Monferrat eighteen thousand Crowns of annual old and stable Revenue Trino being therein comprehended To the Duke Carlo who should petition for it was by the Imperialists promised the Investiture of both the Dukedoms within six weeks and within a while after to withdraw their Troops except out of Mantua and Caneto That the Spaniards should quit Monferrat and Casal and retire out of Piedmont The French in like manner going out of the Citadel of Casal obliged themselves to repass the Alps and to restore what they possessed in Savoy except Pignerol Susa Avigliana and Briquerasco In Casal the Duke had the liberty lest to keep such a Garrison as his Predecessors had been accustomed to do without jealousie to the Neighbours that notwithstanding being to have its effect which might by peradventure be ere this concerted in Italy for the demolishing of the Citadel The Investiture being dispatched and Carlo put in possession the places which were in the hands of the Imperialists and French were bona fide to be restored and last of all the Forts in Rhetia newly built were by Ferdinand to be razed the Country to remain in the same liberty it formerly enjoyed For the execution of all this Hostages were to be given and to be put into the custody of the Pope or the Grand Duke or some Prince of the Empire The Duke of Lorrain was comprehended in this Treaty and also the Venetians they upon restoring what they had taken not to be troubled for any thing done in this present War they also were to give their promise not to give any offence and to reduce their Army to a condition of not giving jealousie to their Neighbours provided nevertheless that before the signing hereof no other Agreement had been concluded in Italy to their exclusion This was the Compendium of the Treaty of Ratisbone which instead of being received with blessings and applauses met with the dislike of many and the blame of all The Duke of Mantua complained that he in effect was obliged to pay the Charge of the War and that his Countries were mangled and dismembred It seemed to the Venetians that though their Interests were secured yet their constant friendship to the Crown of France in the form of the expressions was but ill appayed Above all the Spaniards accustomed to preheminence were inraged to be as little more than accessories constrained to a Peace the determination whereof they saw divided betwixt Ferdinand and the French But at this time as well the Princes Contractors as their Ministers had not looked at ought but their own interests and to provide in some measure for their present occasions for the Emperour now felt himself
of the Viceroys be discovered But Ossuna to take away all doubt shewing to be angry caused the Wife of Piere to be detained and with feigned Letters propounding to him great rewards recals him to his service He on the other side to make himself acceptable at Venice shews the Letters themselves proposes many specious things feigns to discover the Viceroys designs and suggests the means to oppose them Having by this means gotten himself into great trust he was admitted with Langlad into the Arsenal to exercise his Art He had afterwards secret meetings with la Queva and there continually passed secretly Courriers and Spies to Naples They had drawn into their wicked intentions Niccolo Rinaldi Carlo and Giovanni Boleo Lorenzo Nola Roberto Revellido Vincenzo Roberti Captain Tornon who had then a Company in service of the Venetians and some others partly Burguignons and the rest French The contrivance was that under an English man called Haillot Ossuna should send certain Brigantines and Barks capable to enter into the Ports and Chanels of which they had every where taken the soundings greater Vessels were afterwards to follow and cast Anchor on the shore of Friuli under the countenance of which and in the confusion which the first were to make among the people the Conspirators had their parts divided Langlad to give fire to the Arsenal others in several parts of the City some to Pettard the Mint to possess the principal Posts kill the most considerable persons whose houses were now marked with private tokens hoping all to inrich themselves with rich and unwonted pillage Some things indeed were not easie to be put in execution but wickedness and avarice blinded them with the imagination that every strange fancy was not difficult At the same time Toledo having corrupted in Crema Giovanni Berardo Lieutenant of a French Company and some of his gang held a correspondence with him receiving Letters and directions to surprise the place for which end he had sent Souldiers to Lodi But God with a Mist frustrates such wicked designs Whilst the Brigantines were in a readiness to joyn together expected by the Conspirators with such impatience that every day they went up to the top of the highst Steeples to discover them some were taken by piratical Pinnaces others dispersed with a great storm so that being not able to get together again within the time appointed they agreed to defer the execution till Autumn Piere and Langlad commanded to go out with the Fleet could not avoid going with Barbarigo the Captain General The rest remaining in Venice ceased not to ruminate on the means of execution impatiently expecting the time But discoursing frequently of it amongst themselves and to increase the number of their Complices the confidence and secret coming to the knowledge of some others of their Nations treachery being seldom so blind or so deaf that it hath not some light and rumours Gabriel Montecassino and Baldasar juuen Gentlemen the one of Normandy and the other of Dauphiné and nearly allied to Dediguieres abhorring such wicked counsels discovered them to the Counsel of Ten. Being afterwards made more evident by the means of others secretly placed to hear undiscovered their conferences and discourses some of the Conspirators being imprisoned the Treason was confirmed both by Letters found about them and the confession of the guilty who satisfied the penalty both with publick and secret punishment Some nevertheless frighted with the arrest of their Companions saved themselves by flight betaking themselves to their Sanctuary which was no other but Ossuna But Piere and Langlad by an Order sent with diligence to the Captain General were drowned in the Sea and in Crema Berardo with his other Complices ended their lives ignominously under the Hangman The City dreadfully frighted at the discovery of such a Conspiracy and at the danger they had run to have seen the Churches and houses burning and the seat of the liberty and beauty of Italy inwrapt in a moment with sword fire and a miserable destruction by order of the Senate prayers and devout thanks were given to God But la Queva who was accounted the Director and Minister of such wicked designs was in great danger to have been from the fury of the people sacrificed to the publick rage resolved to retire secretly to Milan and the Senate already by an express Courrier had resolutely required of the King to remove him Princes being accustomed in such occasions to be pleased with the effects rather than the means in Madrid the actions of this Minister were disapproved and to make it certainly appear answer was given to the Venetian Ambassadour that Luigi Bravo was already designed to succeed him and he to pass into Flanders to be assistant to the Archduke Albert. Ossuna denies to have had any hand in it for when the event of such execrable practices is not such that for advantage or for the ingenuity is wont to make it commendable there remains nothing but the abominable image of ignominy rejected and detested of the Authors themselves The World nevertheless condemned him for guilty whilst the Fugitives it was evident had their refuge with him and the Widow of Piere set at liberty was sent to Malta with an honourable Convoy All this falling out at the time that the Peace was ready to be executed the Senate was willing deeply to dissemble it having respect to the honour of the two Nations defiled the one with Treachery and the other with Venality by the occasion of a few wicked Villains which being execrated of good men would be rejected even by Nature her self if she could as well revenge her self of a wicked man as it is necessary to uphold him no less than the good Unto this discovery and the stirs in Bohemia Italy was believed obliged for their Peace for now were the Ships of Ossuna withdrawn from the Adriatick and Vercelli was restored to Savoy A little while after Feria being arrived at Milan set his hand to a reformation and to disband the Troops deferred by Toledo upon pretext that the Republick was armed and the Duke of Savoy fortified with an extraordinary Militia It only remained that the Duke of Mantua should pardon his Rebels and nothing else hindred his assent but the delay of the approbation from Madrid whereupon the Ministers of France who desired to reap the glory alone prefixed him a certain time not without protests within which Ferdinand with the good liking of Spain should grant the pardon And thus one part of the unhappy Tragedy of Italy was at an end there remaining amongst the Princes as after a great tempest at Sea agitations of jealousies and distrust which quickly returned to new Wars and discords Carlo could not quiet himself from the jealousies he had conceived against the Spaniards nor cease from those thoughts which kept him always intent upon novelty and his own advancement On the other side the Council of France tended to keep him within bounds not only to
a Youth having visited the Pope and received noble entertainment at Venice was gone to the Emperours Court. And it was indeed easier for the Duke to defend himself by Negotiation than to maintain longer his Souldiers for there having till now been maintained in the Territory of Mantua six thousand five hundred Foot and thirteen hundred Horse pay at last failing the Strangers disbanded and those of the Country returned to their houses He then by the means of Ottaviano Vivaldini desires money of the Venetians to keep his Troops on foot and earnestly implores that to his they would joyn five thousand Foot and five hundred Horse of their own offering himself with that strength to march to Casale and having secured that place and in it preserved Mantua also to end the War with glory and expedition Monsieur d'Avo and Monsieur de Guron the one Ambassadour for France at Venice and the other sent expresly into Italy for these Concerns promised the entire assistance of the Crown nay the person of the King himself when the Siege of Rochel should be ended and demonstrated withal that if they in this interim for want of assistance should let the Dukes Affairs perish and Casal were lost all attempts and succours afterwards would be rendred vain But the Senate apprehending the old aim of the French Ministers to ingage the Republick in an open breach with Spain to avoid that of their Crown referred all resolution to the arrival of the Kings Colours into Italy to which they continued their promises to joyn themselves The Pope also concurred in the same opinion to animate the French not to abandon Italy and in this interim sending to the Emperour and both the Kings Nuntio's Extraordinary to endeavour a Treaty of Peace armed and fortified his Frontiers planting in view of the Modenese not without the complaints and jealousies of that Duke a good Fort which was called by his Name Vrban The hopes of Italy being then referred to the issue of the one affair of Rochel which seemed now near an end it plainly appeared that as much as the Austrians had been advantaged by that Ingagement so much the less were they to rejoyce at the taking of it And the French began already highly to complain of the novelties and turbulencies raised in Italy and to support the Duke of Mantua till they could send him greater Forces they permitted him Levies and Supplies giving him connivence and incouragement whereupon in his name and with money drawn from his Estate in that Kingdom were raised under the Marquess of Vxelles twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse with six pieces of Cannon to be transported from this side the Mountains to his assistance seconded by some Troops of the Kings commanded by the Mareshal of Crequi Governour of Dauphiné This Expedition amplified also more than was necessary according to the prompt disposition of the Nation wont to believe that done which seemed near to be executed made them believe in France the Duke ready succoured and in Italy with great expectation fear was confounded with hope for at the report that that Army was drawing near Gonzales imbarked his Cannon and kept all ready to raise the Siege from Casale but at the same time to divert the storm from him uses all sorts of submissions and promises to the Duke of Savoy and now Carlo believed himself arrived at that Post which he had long proposed to make himself Arbiter of the War and Peace of Italy For the French also demanded passage of him with greater flatteries and ample offers of all sorts of advantages the Liberty and Wealth of the Genouese being the price which to strives was offered him by both the Crowns But mindful of the offences done to Richelieu and now fearful of his revenge taking time to answer the better to fortifie himself after having garrisoned his places and obtained four thousand Foot of the Governour of Milan refuses it The French notwithstanding resolve by the way of Castel Delphino to attempt it but the Duke being moved with his Army into the Valley of St. Pieter and having caused the Prince Vittorio to advance encountring the Vantguard in the Straights of those Mountains beats them and drives them back All the Army then of Vxelles retreats and being come into Dauphiné quickly disbands for a coolness ordinarily following the French fury Victuals were wanting and the money both managed with covetousness and wasted with negligence sufficed not to supply it In the beginning also of this Action the Venetians being requested to permit passage to certain Cavalry of the Duke of Mantua's that crossing the Milanese they might move forward to joyn the French refused it because in the difficulty to execute it they could not discern ought but the wonted intentions to draw them unseasonably to Declarations and Ingagements But the straights of that Prince being now brought to that pass that he could no longer maintain his Court and Family much less keep up his Army they being requested in his Name by the Marquess of Pomar with expressions of pity rather than assistance disbursed to him twenty thousand Ducats and before the end of the year they supplied him with other and greater sums for the maintaining of his Garrisons also Carlo Emanuel having repulsed the French triumphed greatly and the Governour of Milan was much more encouraged who believing already the gain of Casal secure jealous lest the Duke should yet take in some part of Monferrat which belonged to the King sends to Nizza with four thousand Foot the Count John Serbellone who took it in fifteen days after having so frighted the Inhabitants with the springing of a Mine that they forced the Count of Agremont a French man who defended it with twenty four of his Nation and some Monferrins to capitulate and leave it Of this distraction of Forces which retarded the Siege those within Casale made use to great advantage reaping the harvest and bringing it into the Town where was come in Monsieur de Guron to animate in the Name of King Lewis the Inhabitants and Garrison The Nuntio's sent from the Pope being come to the Camp projected in the midst of these actions a suspension of Arms for fifteen days in which space the Infanta Marguerita entring into Casale some Proposition of agreement might be concerted But the Governour jealous of some artifice of the Savoyards to prolong his conquest by pretending that together with his there should be put into it a Garrison of the Emperours dissolves the Treaty And the Grand Duke being returned from the Imperial Court had speech in Maderno a place of pleasure upon the Lago di Garda with the Prince of Mantua and proposed to him a change of those States since that the Monferrat exposed to the greedy desires of the most powerful occasioned so great disagreements but the Spaniards not willing to offer an equivalent that discourse came to nothing The Negotiation then yielding to force Gonzales strengthned with new
that by some way or other and at any hazard he should cast into Mantua a thousand Foot with a hundred Horse and some money But it being necessary to concert with the Duke the way of their getting in he with various pretexts to the great difficulty interposed yet greater in such sort that Estré had a vexatious life of it seeing him by the suggestions of some that held a constant Correspondence with the Imperialists disposed to some agreement and to receive a Garrison in Porto The French and Venetian Ministers represented lively to him That by separating his particular from the general Treaty he deprived himself of the Warranty which the Authority of France alone was able to afford him and the Vnion of the League for the assurance of that which should be promised him and that recourse to Friends being for ever excluded by ingratitude and having once received the yoke of Garrisons it would be no more in his power to regulate the numbers nor the burdens The Duke at last after having some days wavered amidst various counsels consents to receive the new Succours There happened a great dispute about the difficulty of the way and about the plague spread through all the Country of Lombardy with so great terrour and mortality that counsels were very often confounded in the execution Howesover Marco Giustiniano advances with his men to attempt it and having made some German Troops to remove from Castiglione delle Stivere who attempted to invest that place possessed himself of Caneto but the Castle making resistance and many men coming suddenly to its succours he retired It not succeeding to put in men in a Body it was hazarded to get them in by Parties Some from the Confines of the Veronese entred other two hundred and fifty conducted by Captain Carlincane being attacqued by the way were dispersed yet not in such sort but that some few arrived safely with a small portion of money which in gold they carried on their backs From the side of Brescia Giustiniano sent the Cavalier Gori a Florentine with two hundred and fifty Foot more who defeating upon the way some of the Dutch Guards arrived happily there But humane provisions being of no force against the determinations of Heaven although the Chevalier de la Valetta with his Lieutenant and with Sciabant escaped out of Prison from Goito related that the Germans prepared Ladders Bridges and Petards which probably were to be used in the surprisal of Mantua nevertheless the City negligently guarded or rather treacherously sold felt the night after the 18. of July its cruel destiny The Germans coming near without noise in the stillness of the night to the Lake at the Post called de la Palata set down there certain small Boats brought upon Waggons a Guard of Venetian Barks armed that was near taking no notice of it because it was commanded by him that betrayed the place that they should not stir that night though they should hear a noise because Succours was to be brought in So that a small number passing at first without disturbance and they afterwards being increased by the Boats passing to and again they with a Petard flung down the Gate of the Castle where the Duke with a Guard only of his own Souldiers was and Etré lodged Upon the first Alarm Durant who had his Quarter near to the Gulph of St. Giorgio would have gone out to fall upon the Germans at the place where they imbarked but finding the Keys hidden and the Ammunition carried away was deprived also of the means to cause either Cannon or Muskets to be discharged from the Walls upon the Assailants Whereupon all in fury he ingages with Francesco Orsino one of the Dukes of Lamentana who with the first relief of men was by the Republick sent into Mantua and in the Siege and afterwards had given proof of great courage to charge the Enemy which entred by the Castle and by the Gate of St. Giorgio beaten down with a Petard for that a Court of Guard which on the middle of the Bridge might have hindred the passage deceived by the Traitors with the same order formerly given the Boats had given leave to the Enemy to come near to it But Orsino was killed at the first Encounter and Durant hurt in the face was with fourteen other Officers made Prisoners Whereupon the Chiefs failing all was pestered with confusion as it happens in the actions of night where Valour not taken notice of fights without reward and Cowardise not reproved for want of Witnesses is covered The Post only of Predella assaulted by the Dutch for a present distraction of the Forces was by the Venetians defended but they also quickly advertized by the cryes and clamour that the Enemy become Master of the City was at their backs were forced to yield some seeking safety in the waters of the Lake were drowned there the rest that were more in number were cut to pieces Thus the Garrison was destroyed those that were in Arms being first killed in the fight and those afterwards that were without Arms except some few who preferring life and prey before honour and fidelity joyning with the Enemy took part in the spoil The Duke with the Prince and Mareshal d'Estré at the first entry of the Souldiers into the Castle retired hastily into Porto the Princess Mary having saved her self at first with her little Children into a Monastery and being respected there by reason of her Sex and Relation to the Empress desired also to be brought Not one of the Inhabitants stirred for defence some rather applauding the Imperialists and hanging out of their houses with lights the Imperial Eagles thought to preserve themselves but had the experience what the insolence of a victorious and cruel Army could do for the Souldiers making no distinction and the Chiefs not regarding that inclination which that unhappy people had nourished towards the Colours and Name of the Austrians nothing either prophane or sacred escaped free from impiety lust and cruelty The pillaging lasted for three days but will remain infamous to all Ages for there was seen a direful representation of all sorts of calamity with all the excesses which Cruelty and Licence suggested to Conquerours The City for many years increased in idleness and nuzled up in pleasures became the Spectacle of deplorable misery Boys and Virgins were ravished Churches robbed Houses pillaged Fire and Sword every where heaps of dead bodies and Arms appearing at every step with torrents of blood and tears The Dukes had in a long Peace made a collection of precious things with so much pomp that Treasures having been profusely expended for ostentation it seemed now that luxury served for nothing but the Funerals of Fortune The Palace was given to plunder and so many Rarities and so much Wealth were every where found that the value of the prey exceeds the memory of all other spoils whatever Nevertheless the enjoyment was but short for God the righteous Survivor
being come from Paris to Lions and the Mareshal della Meilleray being advanced before them with a very flourishing Army left it doubtful whether so great a preparation tended towards Catalogna or Italy And though within a while after the Forces were seen engaged before the Fortress of Perpignan nevertheless the Cardinals mind was discovered to be inclined the place quickly taken as he hoped to send the Army into Italy before the Campania should be at an end And this he thought to do upon so much the better ground by how much that in Piedmont the Princes of Savoy were agreed with their Sister-in-Law and by consequence declared of the French party by a Treaty in which to Mauritio besides the promising him to Wife the Princess Lodovica Maria his Neece was left in Government Nizza with its appurtenances as also to Prince Thomaso Inurea and the Biellesa with title of the Dukes Lieutenant for so long as the Duke remained in his minority To the Dutchess remained the quality and authority of Regent without other obligation but to admit her Brothers-in-Law into the Council when they should be at Court and to communicate to them the most weighty matters concerning the State With this agreement the Princes being composed but the Country dismembred little else was left the Duke but the name and that great gate of Italy was thought to be set wide open to the French which was wont to be kept shut by the Savoyards with force or to be opened with great caution The French besides had promised the Princes great advantages and in particular kept Thomaso in secret hopes and agreements to assign him an ample part of the Milanese in Soveraignty when it should be conquered with united Forces To say truth the Governour of Milan failed not to employ all his endeavours to keep those Princes adhering to Spain but found that it was in their name demanded that there appearing in the King of France a disposition to withdraw the Garrisons from those places which in the past revolutions the Dutchess had trusted to him the Spaniards would also restore those others except Vercelli and Trino which they might keep in their possession till a general Peace and so long as the French should enjoy Pignerol and Casal The answer was such as before the instance made had been supposed for the Governour alledging that he kept those places the better to facilitate a Peace in the Treaty whereof it would be fit to speak of them refused to withdraw the Garrisons Yet though vexed at Thomaso that he would not accept of his propositions and comply with his will he recalls some hundred of Souldiers out of Inurea by a precipitate Council but to the great joy of the Prince who shaking off the yoak caused the Gates to be shut before their face when Sirvela repenting his oversight countermanded them with earnest instances that they might be readmitted On the other side the Garrison which with the Camp Master Tuttavilla was in Nizza not willing to leave it by fair means was constrained by the threatnings of Mauritio who having assembled three thousand men of the Country put himself in a posture to force them Thus the Scene being changed in Piedmont Fortune smiling on the French sollicited them to undertake most assured Conquests in Italy and for that cause the Spaniards proposition to close in a union came to be hearkened to by the Princes of it and more than formerly considered but in the turbulent conjuncture of the present contests all being not able to unite themselves in one party that might be of force to withstand Strangers thought it a less evil not to adhere to any of the Crowns Therefore were also rejected the Propositions of the French who instigated particularly the Pope by remonstrating to him the glory and the opportunity to make advantage of so many Troops raised for a more noble design than the gaining of Castro tempting him together with the puissant Forces of their Crown to drive the Spaniards out of Italy which in the present state that that power could no longer be said distracted but lacerated into so many pieces and in a manner ruined they represented easie to be done To flatter him the more they left to his arbitrement the disposal of the Conquests and offered the Crown of Naples to his Nephews promising to be assisting with six thousand Foot and a Naval Army by Sea to assist the enterprise esteemed so much the easier as that besides the ancient intelligences with many of the Barons the people weary of the intolerable impositions desired a change of Government Vrban knowing the propositions more specious than easie refused them In this uncertain state of things Monsieur de Lionne was sent by France into Italy to add warmth to the offices in the cause of Parma but much more to observe and lay hold of the conjunctures seasonable to perswade the Princes of Italy into the party of that Crown till Cardinal Mazarine designed for that service should arrive As for Parma the Affairs were quickly brought to a desperate issue for there being not obtained from the pressing endeavours of many Princes and those which the Venetians rebuted a new with severe answers were willing to reiterate any delay of the sentence after these accidents which for a few days as hath been said the order of the cause carried with it Edward was declared to have incurred the greater Excommunication deprived of his Dominions and Fiefs of the dignity he held of the holy See and condemned in all charges done and to be done In execution whereof his Palaces and the Goods in Rome were exposed to sale and the Camera took possession of Castro Vrban as yet deferring the Declaration to comprehend it in the rigorous Bulls of Pius Quintus which forbid any alienation of that which was reunited to the holy Chair The Princes were greatly moved as if all their instances had been despised by the Barberins Edward stirs himself up so much the more against them shewing therefore not the least fear calling together the Nobility and the Chief of the people with power and eloquence deduces the causes of the War the hatred of the Barberins and his own right exhorting them to fidelity and constancy Being heard with applause there were not any that promised not obedience He thereupon causes the Religious persons that were Strangers and the Bishop of Piacenza to depart his Dominion that by observance of the censures or other means they might not stir up the people Lionne passes to Parma and to Rome with several propositions but in the Barberins was clearly discovered an aversion to render and a repugnancy in the Duke to hearken to any expedient whatsoever because to the exchange in which those that interposed insisted more than in ought else and especially the Duke of Modena who had again dispatched Montecucculi to Rome the obstacle was the impossibility to find another Soveraignty which for the quality the extent and