it self and two large Dukedoms in Silesia There remained both the Palatinates higher and lower the Patrimony of Frederick in whose name Mansfelt yet making War was as hath been said entred into Alsatia doing the Bishoprick of Spira and other places on the Rhine intolerable mischiefs and in Alsatia it self taking Haghenau and with a strait but vain Siege attempted Zabern In favour also of Frederick some other Generals of Armies discovered themselves who in imitation of Mansfelt had the boldness with secret assistance from other Princes to struggle with the Power and Fortune of Ferdinand One was John George Marquess of Jagendorf of the House of Brandenburg who by reason of the Reformation of Religion which the Imperialists in the subdued Provinces executed with so much severity that it seemed to many a slaughter rather than a remedy or chastisement assembled many of the male-contents and some Souldiers to infest Moravia and Silesia Another was Christian Duke of Branswich and Administrator of Halberstat who taking into his service some Troops of the King of Denmarks for that purpose disbanded and having formed a considerable Army harassed Westphalia and the Catholicks of those parts Frederick weary of the vexations of a Crown so troublesom and now desperate being retired into Holland gave way that under the protection of the King of England his Interest should be managed in the Imperial Court and that the Palatinate should defend it self But the offices of James were discredited by the weakness wherewith he accompanied his force whereupon under pretext that the business of the Peace and pardon of Frederick was to be deferred to a general Diet as was desired not only by England but by Denmark and the Lower Saxony the Army of the Austrians marched Upon Spinola's coming near the Rhine with an Army well ordered and provided the Princes Protestants of the Union being frighted condescended to a Treaty in Mentz by which their Union being dissolved which consisted more in name than in a true concord of minds they resolved to stand neutral and Spinola on the other side promises so to respect them In the Palatinate there being now and that but with a very few Troops only Colonel Veer an English man and Obentrauta German it would have been easie for Spinola to have possessed it if out of fear to have too much irritated the King of England and a desire he had to attempt some Exploit upon the Hollanders he had not consented to a Truce for some months A Truce highly disapproved by the Spanish Ministers but which being of little continuance advantaged them in the pretexts of their attempts because the Commanders of the Troops in the Palatinate encouraged with the succours which Mansfelt and Halverstat gave out they would bring them having by a pernicious Council broken it awakened the Spaniards separated into Quarters to assemble themselves and besiege Franckental after having taken Stein which was done by Gonzalo di Cordua Spinola being elsewhere imployed The King of England nevertheless ceased not by means of his Ambassadour Digby at the Imperial Court to sollicite the renewing the suspension of Arms. But Ferdinand impressed already with the thought of depriving Frederick of his Electorship and Country remits the Treaty to Brussels to gain time and in that interim the Duke of Bavaria in a manner provoked by Mansfelt who with several Treaties for several months had deluded him enters the Vpper Palatinate and possesses it without opposition the Country being destitute of Fortresses or Forces And the Duke not to be wanting to the occasion and his own advantages to pursue Mansfelt sends Tilli to the Rhine and orders him to seize all that part of the Lower Palatinate which lies betwixt the Rhine and the Neccar A blow which Maximilian believed doubly pleasing to the Catholicks not only because it deprived the Hereticks of that very strong Hold but because it prevented the Spaniards whom the Germans did not willingly see advanced into the Empire by such Conquests The King of England was inraged to see his son-in-Son-in-law oppressed and himself deluded but not having forces proportionable to his anger and his Authority serving no longer for a sufficient cover for his weakness had called a Parliament according to custom to consider of Contributions and Provisions But grievous complaints were presently started some desiring that the Treaty of Marriage betwixt the Prince and the Infanta of Spain might be broken and that a Wife might be given him of a Religion comformable to their own others pressing a Reformation in the Government with pretensions which were injurious to the Soveraignty and opposite to the nature of it so that he dissolves it without coming to a resolution The Palatinate then remained at the discretion of the Enemy-forces nor was to expect other succours but from Mansfelt who according to his custom with sly marches and unexpected arrives there so unlooked for that Cordua taking fright raises the Siege retiring or rather running away by night leaving in his Quarters sick Souldiers Materials and Cannon Thus ends this year famous for War kindled in so many parts and to the end no corner of Europe might remain free from the flame in the Low-Countries also the Truce being expired it fiercely breaks out again Heretofore in the interval of greater Wars that of Flanders served the Spanish Monarchy for a standing Army and to keep Military Discipline in exercise But exercise it self becoming violent and to excess consumed the most vital spirits of the Crown the Souldiers of Spain the gold of the Indies the vigour of Italy being not able to supply them And therefore a Truce for twelve years was willingly interposed and might easily again have been prolonged if in Spain at the expiration thereof the counsels of those had been continued who first setled it But the Conde Duke new in Government keeping the young King remote from affairs took the measure of his power from his own opinion and pride An. Dom. 1622 Hence the Treaties which for some months had run on being by this means broken his thought was to break out into War vainly believing to make the glory of the Monarchy appear if amusing France in the divisions of Religion and dandling England with Treaties of a Marriage he should slight all others and at the same time molest Italy overwhelm Holland and triumph over Germany Spinola then having consented to a Truce in the Palatinate as hath been said marches to the Frontiers of the United Provinces threatning many places At last encamps his Army near to Prince Maurice of Orange who was at Emerich to observe his motions and having by a Stratagem induced him to draw a thousand men out of Juliers making a shew to attacque another place turns to that first invested by Count Henry Vanden Berg with six thousand Foot a thousand Horse and six pieces of Cannon and afterwards by Spinola himself with the gross environed with Forts and deep Trenches That Town the Metropolis of the Dukedom
than the favour it self nevertheless he had the great Art how to fix the mutable and suspicious Genius of the King and the inconstant nature of the people governing as with a supreme Dictatorship the one and the other even to his death But as to the Affairs of Italy by the disgrace of Pisieux the Minister being changed there was a change also at Rome in the proceeding of the Treaty and Sillery being recalled all that was disavowed which he had negotiated and consented to Monsieur de Bethune a Minister formerly well known in Italy being come to Rome in his place assures the Pope that all that which his Predecessor had approved concerning the Passes was wholly against the Kings mâ—nd and in the name of the Confederates expressing to the holy See unalterable duty and ready consent to that which might secure Religion in the Valley as to the rest refuses any expedient which did not deliver the Grisons from the present oppression restore them to their Country and Soveraignty and did not exclude the Spaniards from the Passes They published this change of Ministers to be a shift but the Pope who had made them deliver to him Riva also and Chiavena endeavoured to gain time perceiving that to which soever of the Parties he should give the possession of the Forts it would serve but for a pretext to kindle a most dangerous War which flaming out betwixt the two Crowns by Auxiliary Forces would quickly extend it self throughout all Europe Nor did the Spaniards now fail as they had succeeded in the gaining of the Cardinal Lodovisio with Rewards and Marriages to try every way to insnare the Barberins also giving hopes to Vrbans Nephews of the Princess Stigliana who being an Inheritrix of vast Territories in the Kingdom of Naples brought also in Dowry the Soveraignty of the strong Fortress of Sabioneda Some also suggested to the Pope and to his House hopes that amidst the jealousies and dissensions of the Princes he might have the hap to get himself glory by uniting the Valley to the Church or obtain advantages by investing his Kindred in it But the one and the other equally displeased the Confederates because no less suspicious was the temporal greatness of the Popes who protected by the Cloak of Religion cannot make War themselves without danger nor overcome without blame then the inclination of the Nephews doubtful it being not possible for him that possesses the Valley but to depend upon the protection and assistance of the Governour of Milan Nothing then remained but the closing in a War France before ingaging out of the Kingdom strengthens it self with two great and important Treaties The first with the Provinces of Holland to whom were promised three millions and two hundred thousand Livres Tournois to be paid in three years upon condition not to make Peace or Truce with Spain without their knowledge and if it should so fall out that France it self should have need of assistance they were to retribute it either by restoring the half of the foresaid sum or by furnishing Ships in proportion The other was the Marriage of Henrietta Sister of King Lewis with Charles Prince of Wales from which was derived a report that the English would break into a War with Spain and the Palatine be restored into his Country by Arms. Charles to say truth from his Voyage into Spain had brought back discontent hatred and desire of revenge against that Crown for though he were received at Madrid with all possible honours he nevertheless penetrated the intention not to restore his Country to Frederick nor conclude the Marriage for which the King the Princess her self Olivares and all the Kingdoms had in their hearts a particular aversion Being for some months amused with several proportions and a difficulty which they feigned came to them from the Court of Rome though to remove it he was induced to write himself to the Pope and tempted at last if he would have a Wife to change his Religion he parted in great haste returning to London by Sea It is not possible to express what disdain vexed the heart of that young Prince and King James with no less vehemency published his revenge having a mind in his old age to adorn his Sepulchre with those resentments which in the course of his Reign having been blunted by idleness seemed to have blemished the glory of his life For this purpose he calls a Parliament in which Buckingham having justified with a zeal to common good and a desire of Peace the Kings intentions concerning the Marriage with Spain and rendred an account of the Princes Voyage it was resolved that the Kings Son-in-law should be restored into his Country by Arms and that the Son should marry with a Princess of the Blood Royal of France But it being usual in England that Parliaments have an equal suspicion of their Kings when they are armed as Kings have of Parliaments when they are united it was presently desolved many jealousies being spread abroad which were believed fomented at least if not raised by the Ambassadour of Spain as if the Parliament adhering to the youthful age of Charles and with applause flattering that Generosity which he shewed to revenge himself would condemn the cooler proceedings and past actions of the King in whose life time they were disposing the spoils and Funerals of his Authority and Command But withal the means were not ripened nor the contributions consented which might raise and keep on foot an Army So that as the Marriage with Henrietta was easily concluded with a dispence from the Pope and many Articles of favour to the consciences of the Catholicks so the moving of Arms quickly vanished It is notwithstanding true that Mansfelt beaten in Germany and in Holland not willingly suffered by Orange through emulation of military glory and the applause of the people was called into England by the King where being received with great honour making him his General for the recovery of the Palatinate he ordains him an Army of ten thousand Foot and three thousand Horse with six pieces of Cannon if France would concur with a Force proportionable Sending him with this Proposition to King Lewis who professed himself disgusted with the Count because he had taken the Title of the Kings General without his knowledge and therefore when he went to London had forbid him coming into France he obtains to be admitted to treat with his Ministers denying him his own presence He was supplied with some money by the French with promises of more though in effect they had little fervency in the interest of the Palatine But for Italy having secured all behind him by the friendship of the English and the flank by the War of Flanders they applied themselves with more warmth to the Affairs of the Valteline The Venetians imployed all care with the Princes of Italy to unite them in the common Interest But succeeded no further but to induce the Dukes of Savoy and
his vast hopes could not be paid with any reason but moved against the resistance of the Republick began to give place in his heart to those disgusts which carried him afterwards to greater transgressions Nevertheless not willing for the present the Armies being in action in the Grisons to alienate themselves from the Republick by an open separation of their counsels from their aims taking pretext from the Winter-season they make a shew to refer the resolution and imployment of their Arms to another time But in effect the concert was secretly concluded betwixt the Crown and the Duke to invade the year following the Genouese of which the East side of the River remaining to Savoy that of the West accrued to France with the City it self of Genoua About this there passed some dispute each desiring for the importance and wealth to annex it to his Dominion but Carlo at last gave way such being the greediness he had of that enterprise which though the augmenting the power of France and letting himself be environed in a manner on all sides was not his interest nevertheless calculating always his designs above his hopes he fancied to himself to remain at last Arbiter of Italy out of a belief that the French would either quickly be weary of their Conquests or at least would soon neglect to preserve them To remove him from such thoughts the Spanish Ministers propounded large offers to bestow the Archbishoprick of Toledo of great Revenue upon the Cardinal his Son and other advantages with some satisfaction also in the business of Zuccarello But he hopes for all Feria attentive upon the motions in the Grisons and the designs of the Duke had raised a gallant Army in the Milanese and the Republick encompassed by so many Troops of that State and by no less jealousies towards Tirol and Friuli strengthened it self more and more Amongst many military Commanders which put themselves into their Service the chief was Henry de la Tour the famous stirrer up of the Rebellion of Bohemia They increased also their Forces by Sea arming in Dalmatia Gallies extraordinary and it fitly happened that thirteen Pinnaces of Barbary being advanced into the Chanel of Cattaro with the connivence of the Turkish Commanders in Castel novo assaulting Perasto by night and plundering it had given pretext to twenty three Gallies of Spain in the pursuit of them to advance to Ragusa whereupon to repulse the one and the other Anthonio Pisani Proveditor of the Fleet assembling it in all haste came into those waters But the Spaniards retiring and the Pirates flying with the same celerity these did some little hurt as they passed to the Islands of Teacchi and of Zant withdrawing themselves from the deserved chastisement which with a more signal revenge was suspended till another time During this interim four Frigats of the Pirates of St. Maura falling into the hands of the said Proveditor paid the penalty of their Rapine and Piracy An. Dom. 1624 THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICK OF VENICE THE SIXTH BOOK THE Negotiation of Piedmont suspended actions of Arms begin in the Grisons and against the Valteline towards the end of the year the Confederates making choice of that season which though in the sharpness of situation might render proceedings difficult was yet very advantagious to keep what should be gotten The banished with the incouragement of the Regiment of Salice one of their own Country came down at the same time from several parts and by the knowledge of the situations over-powering the Posts kept by the Souldiers of Leopold in a very little time and with no great contest possess themselves of the Steich the Bridge of the Rhine Majanfelt the Sluse of Partentz and Flex excluding succours out of Germany It is not to be believed how upon the sudden glaring forth of liberty the people were refreshed who had scarce known what it was till they saw it oppressed Applauding therefore the League as their Redeemer those of the ten Directorships took courage shaking off the yoke of Leopold The Regiment of Monsieur de Harcourt advances now into Rhetia and the Levy of Switzers and Grisons according to agreement was made The Ambassadour le Coevre commanded these Troops with the assistance for the Venetians of Luigi Valaresso Knight who returning from his Embassie of England had order to remain there with him They both went to Coira to incourage and animate that Government from thence to Poschiavo to prepare for the Invasion of the Valteline Feria that he might preserve it cared little for Leopolds losses in Rhetia but howsoever left the defence of the Valley to Bagni to ingage the Pope so much the more to maintain it and induce him to unite at last with Spain Bagni found himself exercised with other thoughts for on the one side he knew not how with a very small force to resist the flood he saw coming upon him and on the other calling Feria to assist derogated to the neutrality desired by the Pope and hastned a War betwixt the two Crowns He endeavoured to help himself by art threatning the Confederates to deliver the Forts to the Governour of Milan if they should attempt them by force But they having now their Troops in readiness could no longer nor were inclined to it remain amidst the Rocks of Rhetia without losing their Army by the rigour of the Winter and the want of Victuals With six thousand Foot and three hundred Horse they enter by the way of Poschiavo where the Valley being narrowest opens a short passage to receive from the State of the Republick Victuals Assistance and Cannon The Pontificians abandon presently the weaker places to be able to make better resistance in the stronger Whereupon the Confederates become Masters of that of Piantamala whence without stopping they pass on to Tirano Bagni was fitly there with the Cavalier Robustelli one of the chief Contrivers of the late Revolutions and two hundred and fifty Souldiers besides some of the Valteline not very fit to bear Arms. Nevertheless he made a shew to be willing to defend himself more with the name and veneration of the Ensigns of the Church than with the Garrison but the Towns-men not trusting to so weak Forces and fearing death and pillage from the fury of the Souldiers went out through a hole in the Wall while the Governour kept the Gates shut to capitulate the delivery which was accepted upon condition not to put a Garrison of Grisons but of French into it Bagni being retired with his Souldiers into the Castle imploring succours of Feria and demanding of Coevre a suspension of Arms for some days desired to protract time in hope that wanting Cannon for battery and other provisions the season and situation might defend him But all conditions that might hinder their progress being refused by the Confederates that which the one believed impossible succeeded easily to the others for six Cannons arrived in the Camp with a number of Pioneers and every thing
great pomp and with a numerous squadron of Ships where he was received with a sutable welcome and applause The chief point agreed upon consisted In arming forty Ships to ply too and again in the Ocean to interrupt the Navigation of the Indies and lying in wait at Sea to make prey of the Spanish Fleets and Treasures The Hollanders were to join twenty others With whom a Truce also was stipulated by Portugal for ten years with many Articles which concerned Navigation and Trade especially in Brasil and the Indies it being agreed That each should remain possessed of what he held in those parts and endeavours be used to drive out the Spaniards every where But that the Treaty beyond the Equator by reason of the distance should not take place till after a year The United Provinces making use of this time with great artifice and much advantage dispatched with diligence orders to Count Maurice of Nassau who commanded in Brasil that he should with all expedition make profit of the opportunity as he did by possessing on the Coast of Africa San Paolo Loanda with certain Islands and places of great importance to the great damage and bitter resentment of the Portuguais who nevertheless were forced to dissemble it But they now wanted not an intestine and perillous storm The Archbishop of Braga had in appearance adhered to the revolt but conserved in his heart a most partial affection for Castile retaining a confidence with Olivares from whom he secretly received incitations and incouragements He communicates his thoughts to Lewis Marquess de Villareal and found him no less inclined whereupon animating one another the Marquess draws into them by force as it were of perswasions and by authority the Duke de Camina and the Marquess d' Armamar the first his Son and the other his Nephew They agreed to kill upon the third of July the King the Queen and their Sons to set the City on fire in several places and if it could be compassed the Ships also in the Port to the end that the people being in confusion and distracted in several parts and amazed should not mind succouring the Kings Palace nor to suppress the Conspirators Hereupon the Archbishop a man of a majestical authority with a Crucifix in his hand was to cry up and perswade obedience to Castigle Nor were Troops to be wanting in a readiness on the Confines to be brought into those places where confusion opened the Gates or the conjuncture required Treachery and Secrecy being for the most part incompatible every thing was revealed to King John and he seemingly hiding it calls a Council whereat the Conspirators were present and being come into the innermost Rooms of the Palace causes them to be arrested The Archbishop was detained in Prison the others with publick punishment expiated the offence The King with equal Art endeavoured to revenge himself of the Castiglians tempting his Brother-in-law the Duke of Medina Sidonia to revolt with Andaluzia where he had good Credit and a great Estate Nor should his endeavours have wanted success for upon the invitations of the Portuguais and the insinuations of Richelieu the Duke had lent his ear and promised safe shelter to the Fleet of the Mareshal de Brezé under the countenance whereof he was to declare himself but that the news coming of the relief of Terragona and of the Siege raised apprehending his own danger he refuses to receive the French Fleet into his Ports and knowing that Olivares had got knowledge of the Intelligence to clear himself of it he challenges the King of Portugal to fight with him reproaching him with the title of Traitor and Infamous He then not having appeared as was well to be supposed in the field he sets upon his head a great sum of money But King Philip being therewith not contented the Duke was summoned to Court and he not finding in Andaluzia an alienation to the Castiglians nor for himself the favour he had hoped obeys with so much readiness that he caused the first suspicions to vanish or at least to be dissembled Whilst Portugal established it self and the Armies were contending in Catalogna Richelieu easily made himself believe that the Affairs of Italy and Flanders would remain in prey to him and in this push of Fortune every thing might have succeeded for him if the course of his felicity had not been hindred in France it self by very considerable accidents though quickly and happily suppressed It hath been said elsewhere that hatred against the Cardinal was with his prosperity increased corrupt and discontented humours being now amassed to such a degree that the vigour of the Government Reputation and Force it self were found not sufficient to digest and purge them It was doubted that the Duke of Vendosm imployed some to kill him Whether it were true or false the Cardinal being in reputation to know every thing and pardon nothing the Duke passes into England where the Queen-Mother as yet resided and thither repaired other dissatisfied and suspected persons The Parliaments of the Kingdom were also exasperated and particularly that of Paris for that having shewed a will to oppose certain Edicts it had been severely reproved by the King with a command that for the future it should not meddle in any thing that belonged to the Government The people then in general as they are wont to be the first to cry up Favourites so being also the readiest to execrate them it cannot be said how much they abhorred the Name and Authority of this Minister The Wars obliged to vast expences and the Kings Revenues being ill managed it was found that the grievance arose from the publick want for money being wanting in the Treasury there was a necessity to take it by force from the rich and extort it with vexations from the poor All seemed full of lamentations but each one passed frequently under the accusation of a Spy tears going not unpunished and the very sighs admitting of reproach Grief becoming at last too fierce could not be suppressed any longer with fear and if talking and discourses were forbidden and punished Writings and Pamphlets abounded that filled all places with detractions and invectives There was raised at last a great storm and the body of it appeared assembled at Sedan declared by the Duke of Bouillon who was Soveraign of it the publick refuge of the Malecontents He was not satisfied with the Court and to his disgusts were quickly added those also of others The chief were the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Guise who framing to themselves a general Commotion of the Kingdom oppressed by the Cardinal with all sorts of calamities represented His Ministry as the sad Center of the common miseries He Author of the War betwixt the Crowns under a feigned lustre of prosperity kept the mind of the King bewitched in the mean while extorted Treasures consumed the spirits and the blood of the Kingdom and to preserve himself in this ambitious station kept