to be totally abandoned by the Commonwealth And there wanted not those who argued by the success that they did not only foment the Duke by private advice and promises but assisted him underhand with supplies The Duke obtained not a much differing resolution from the Court of France where he expected better things from the neighbouring dangers from the vivacity of that Nation and from the Kings minority for the Queen being assured by the King of Spain that he would forbear all hostility in Italy whensoever the Duke would consent to what was demanded she was therewith satisfied and endeavour'd to make the Duke yield to the Kings pleasure in regard of the interest of her Nephew the Duke of Mantua in whose behalf this new War was begun Not listening therefore to any of the Dukes desires or complaints she under severe penalties prohibited all her Subjects to take pay of him and yet she also for the honour of her Kingdom and to give satisfaction to the Princes and Chief Lords of her Count sen Charles a' Anghienes Marquess of Rambolliette to Piedmont Embassadour to exhort the Duke to peace with express commission that if he should forbear to lay down Armes fearing that he might be oppressed afterwards by the Spanish Forces he should give him all such assurances as he himself could desire and offer him the protection of that Crown and the Forces of the whole Kingdom Such was the publick resolution of that Court which was then governed by the Queen who was much inclined to preserve friendship with the Crown of Spain for the Interest of her own authority and greatness and for the quiet and safety also of her Sons affairs which would be less subject to troubles and perturbation by keeping peace and good correspondency with his neighbours That Court continued in the same mind for some years though the King being come to the age of 14 and according to the orders of the Kingdom out of gardianship took upon him the administration of affairs and consequently the Queens regency ceased For depending wholly upon his Mothers authority and advice the change of Government was for a while insensible the name of Governour being only altered The new Kings first action was to ratifie the Marriages contracted with Spain and seeming to be desirous to keep fair correspondency therewith the Duke of Savoy had small hopes of and good from France And though he seemed abandoned of all help from thence the Marshall de Dignieres Governour of Dolphenye sent good store of men continually unto him underhand it not being known whether the Queen did wink thereat or no who hearing that many did murmure that the Duke in so urgent a necessity and danger should be abandoned to the great diminution of the Kings authority and of the Kingdoms interest did underhand give way that the Kings resolution should be countervened And therefore besides those that were sent by de Dignieres many others falling down from the Alps a good number of that Nation were in a short time found to be in Piedmont By which the Duke being comforted aâ—… also by the promises of other Princes and being incouraged by the good beginning of the War as it is usually seen that enterprizes which at first appear fearful grow by degrees less dreadful he began to confide more in himself and looking for greater successes he was content to be intreated to do that which he bad much reason to desire So as the words nor perswasions of the French Embassadour prevailed but a little with him nor yet those of Monsieur Giulio Savelli who was likewise sent extraordinary Embassadour upon the same occasion to Piedmont by the Pope For the Duke persisting in not composing the affairs of Mantua without having some part of Montferrat given him and denying to lay down arms unless the Governour should do so likewise he refused also to refer the differences to be decided by the Emperour being jealous of him but he consented to refer it to the King of France and to the King of England to which he knew neither the King of Spain nor Duke of Mantua would agree It seemed therefore very hard to reconcile them and the less for that the Duke of Savoy growing bold by the Spanish Armies going out of Piedmont and by their lasie entertaining themselves about the building of the new Fort not caring much to pursue the War he thought he was the more secured from any new assaults Wherefore sending daily Troops of horse out of Vercelles which foording over the very River of the Sesia in sight of the enemies Army which the Governour in the Dukes absence durst not pass thorow with a numerous and gallant Army they dared to insult over the Souldiers which were busied about the Fort without either fear or respect though but by a snatch and away And the Governour being wholly intent about building the Fort did not only not care to suppress their insolence but would not follow the advice of many of the Commanders who thinking it bootless and dishonourable to busie the whole Army about building a Fort which stood in the Kings own ground advised to send part thereof in the interim to prejudice Piedmont where the Duke being imploy'd about the guarding and defending of Vercelles it was probable they might make some good progress But the Dukes affairs which seemed to be secure from any hostile act or at least were not troubled with any ran unexpectedly great hazard at home For the French and Swissers which were under the Dukes pay mutinying upon a small occasion put the City of Vercelles in defence whereof they were then imployed in great danger and confusion nor was the danger of a greater sedition small nor the Dukes labour less in appeasing it but being at last quieted the French as who were suspected of novelty and alteration were distributed into several quarters about the City The Dukes resistance being this mean while known in Spain and what had hapned in Italy contrary to that Courts expectation the King and Council were not a little incensed they thought the Kings honour and authority to be highly offended therefore minding resentment more then the appeasing of rumours they thought it necessary to alter their first orders and to take a more severe course in making the Duke acknowledge the Kings Grandezza which by his entring into the State of Millain in hostile manner he seemed to value but a little They therefore commanded the Governour and their other Officers in Italy that they should proceed no longer against the Duke with such respect as formerly but with all bitterness and severity To which end they gave out orders and made extraordinary provisions The Embassador Vives was returned from the Camp to Genoa who having sent some scouts to Nizza di Provensa and to Villa Franca brought back word that the Castle of Nice though otherwise very strong had only a Garrison of 150 Souldiers in it and but little Ammunition That the City
peradventure that the apprehension of the neighbouring Army the Embassadours intercedings and the fear of having war intimated to him in the King of France his name might prepare him for conditions of peace so all things might be with much honour appeased without any danger or hazzard to the Kings Affairs That this might peradventure also be the cause that when he had got the Victory he was contented with the Dukes retreat and proceeded no further And that thinking that he being superiour in forces and victorious he might willingly listen to the urgent and efficacious protestations of the French Embassadour who acquainted him that the King did not intend he should proceed with loose Reins to oppress the Duke assuring him also that the Duke being overcome in battel could not but accept of the conditions of Peace as the Embassador mingling hopes and promises day by day with his protestations assured him it would succeed This is that which is pleaded in the discharge and defence of the Governour bâ—…sides many other Orders given which are unknown which were secretly sent to the Governour from the Duke of Lerma according to which it behoved him to govern himself for it was then tacitly murmured amongst many which increased afterwards in fame and opinion and was constantly and universally believed That the Duke of Lerma to whose severity the reason of these Commotions was chiefly attributed seeing how much contrary to his expectation and contrary to the Kings affairs they increased and fearing lest the disturbance of peace and the Dukes alienation might at long running ruine his own inteâ—…ests did streightly charge the Governour that setting side all other respects he should wholly mind composition and reconciliation with the Duke and that he was precisely commanded to slâ—…cken the carrying on of the war But these things werâ—… neither then nor afterwards so certainly manifest as that they were able to quench the pregnant suspicions which were formerly had of him Therefore the contrary opinion of those did generally prevail who aâ—…guing either out of self-emulation or out of a sinister impression of his actions said That none of the Kings Orders could be so precise or limited especially the far distance being considered but that they were to be varied according to the variation of affairs nor that the Governours hands ought to be so bound up as that he might not make use of his forces according as time and occasion should require Nor that any Negotiation of peace should with any reason so much impede the heat of war as that the progress of the latter should be lost or slackened in respect of not disturbing the uncertain conclusion of the former They made no account of the apprehension of future evils as being vain and not consonant to these times for the Governour having a well-experienced Army on foot commanded by the best Commanders of these times and provided with all things fitting for war which received greater force and reputation by the assistance of divers Iâ—…alian Princes things were so well asscertained as he might be confident of not only maâ—…ntaining Italy in her wonted fidelity and inclination to the King but to keep forreigners from moving and to suppress such as had moved And howsoever what sinister action said they could ever happen which would not be less then the prejudice which would result from the disbanding of that Army which being kept on foot was able to repair all inconveniencies and which being disbanded did infâ—…llibly draw after it all those mischiefs nay greater then those which were so much feared therefore said they it behoved the Commander in chief to know the condition of his own forces to make use of them to his best advantage by streightning and assaulting the enemy and by keeping him so molested as that he might desire covet nay account it a great favour to obtain a secure peace which assuredly is always most advantagious to those who are most against it That all Commanders and Generals had always govern'd themselves so and that by so doing they had reaped great advantage honourable conditions and much reputation to their Princes affairs but that to keep idle within Works to sit quietly under Pavillions and to expect that the enemy should be inclined to peace to suffer themselves to be wheeled about by words to feed themselves with vain promises of interessed Staâ—…e-Ministers and to shew small inclination to war and a great dâ—…sire of peace was nothing else but to increase the adversaries confidence to make him the prouder and more bold to alienate him from Articles of peace to make him backward and harder to consent to that which he finds to be so much indeavoured by his Adversary These and the like things were spoken of throughout Italy in the very Camp at all assemblies of men who not knowing the final ends of Princes and Commanders and of the Reasons which make them operate or which keeps them from doing so and less knowing what would have happened if they had done according to their intentions and discourses do often arrogate unto themselves to the prejudice of other mens reputations the censuring of humane actions even as if the heart of him that governs or future events were apparent to theâ—…r eye And confining the duty of a Writer to the bare narration of what passeth will not permit of his judgment in the truest and most equitable ratiocination to him who shall be pleased and satisfied with his pains it is most certain that the Governour in the general opinion of men made himself suspected of having at the first instead of extinguishing disloyally nourish'd that fire the suppression whereof if he had more indeavoured he would have shut up the mouth of detraction and have beâ—…ter justified his loyalty to his King and together with his own reputation wherein he suffer'd very much have preserved the Kings honour which beginning from the first to bow did afterwards decline without any stop as the future success will shew But that we may return to where we left whilst the Army wasted as hath been said the indeavours of peace were not given over by the Agents of Princes the French Embassadour did Negotiate it together with Pier Francesco Costa Bishop of Savoy and Nutio resident with the Duke who succeeded Savelli he having for some particular indispositions of his own obtained leave to return to Rome and together with them the same Zeno for the Commonwealth of Venice with whom but apart from the Nuntio St Dudly Carleton did intervene who was come from Venice were he had been Embassadour in ordinary and was come a little before into Piedmont with the title of Embassadour extraordinary from the King of England which King adhering privately to the Dukes affairs at the same time that he Negotiated the peace as a friend to both had taken order for the disbursing of a hundred thousand Ducates to the Duke at Lyons and also seeming as if it were done by the Peers of
between the Duke and the French Embassadour who bound himself in his Kings name which King took upon himself the whole business and obliged himself to see whatsoever on his side or by the Spanish Agents abundantly executed For what remained there was no mention of any submission to be made by the Duke only in the preamble amongst the Reasons which moved him to peace he alledged the desire he had to witness to the world the obsequence and particular devotion which he had always profess'd to bear unto the King These Articles were subscrâ—…bed by the Embassadours of France England and Venice expresly obâ—…iging their Princes to defend the Duke if all that was promis'd were not made good to him as long as he should observe what he â—…ad promised When these Capitulations were ingross'd or drawn up The Duke who he ring that the Germane and Holland succours were at hand thought that he should now get absolute victory over the enemy who weâ—…e reduced to great extremity and were not able to keep longer in their quarters by reason of the excessive heats refused to under-writ the Articles But the French Embassador forced by express command from the King did at last let him know that â—…e came to intimate war unto â—…im and the Duke shunning his sight he made the Kings Order and the necessity of putting it in exeâ—…ution known to Prince Victorio and commanded the French Souldâ—…ers and Commanders under pain of grievous punishment in the Kings name that they should immediately forego the Dukes service and return to France whither he would follow them the next day which certainly he would have done if the Nuntio had not opportunely interposed his Authority who going several times between him and the Duke and earnestly intreating them not to let the almost concluded peace be disturbed obtained that the Embassadour should tarry and give leave to the Duke to bethink himself better and to reflect upon the danger and necessity of his affairs which would grow to a bad condition if the French who were the chief sinews of his Army should mutiny as they seemed to be already inclined to do or foregoing his pay should be inforced suddenly and in so ill a crisis of time to abandon him Wherefore â—…aging at the Embassadour he not without much indignation was at last brought to subscribe the Articles of peace but upon condition that the Instrument should be kept in the Nuntio's hands to be by him assigned over to the Embassadour when he should receive another from him wherein the Governour of Millan should sufficiently bind himself in his Kings name to observe what the French Embassadours had promised on the Kings behalf the Duke being desirous that it should be rather covenanted with him on the King of Spains behalf for that he knew he for his reputation sake abhorr'd to do it He was also satisfied herein though contrary to the capitulations of Madrid and to the intentions of the two Kings yielded unto by the Embassadour of France and by the other Embassadours who were desirous that Peace might be concluded the most that might be to his advantage and honour and therefore the Embassadour of France having written to the Governour who was now reduced to a state rather of giving then of receiving conditions of peace and having obtained sufficient assurance from him under his hand the business was at last totally agreed Whilst these things were a concluding or were rather held to be totally concluded the Duke not being yet satisfied with venting nor with resenting himself went out of the City by night with a great number of his valiantest Souldiers and Captaâ—…ns and assaulted the enemies Trenches He hoped to find them unprovided by reason of their great sufferings and negligent out of their hopes of the near conclusion of peace which made him desire to make great slaughter and notably to resent his conceived injuries but he failed in his design for the Governour having notice thereof re-inforced the Trenches with Garrisons and gave the chief care thereof to Gamboloita and Bravo who managed the business so well as they forced the Duke to retreat with the like prejudice which he had plotted against the Enemies The Duke lost in that affault by night above 200 of his best and valiantest Souldiers besides many Commanders and persons of note and had the Governour as some of his men thought sent a good body of men out of the Trenches who might have fallen upon the Assailants on the Flank not any of the Dukes men might have escaped scot-free and the Duke himself who was affirmed by many to be there preâ—…ent would have run â—…anger of his person Wherefore the Governour was for this action also much blamed ill spoken of and detested by the whole Camp The next morning which was Iune the 23d and the 34 day after the Batâ—…l upon the Hills peace was proclaimed and was the very self-same day put in execution for as much as was then requisite wherein the Governour was fain to pass by two things also which though small in themselves yet of no small consideration in point of honour the one that the Dukes Souldiers who went to throw down the abandoned Trenches should kill 200 of the Enemies Souldiers who were found sick there the Spanish Army being in a manner present who were not all of them gone from their quarters the other that the Governour deferring his removal for that day in respect of the scarcity of Carriages as also of the multitude of sick persons and of many other impediments the French Embassadour not admitting of any excuse nor giving way to any one hours delay forced him to dislodge immediately protesting and that resolutely that otherwise he would make the Souldiers return who were gone out of the City and that revoking the command to the contrary he would permit the French to tarry and continue in the Dukes service Thus meerly through their fault who govern'd the Kings Forces not only the enterprise of Asti but those others that proceeded had but bad success and not conformable to the greatness of preparation to the threats and imagined resentments Thus the Governour rather inforc'd then willingly and rather as conquered then conquerour went out of Piedmont sufficiently diminished both in Forces and Reputation who was entred thereinto but forty days before with a flourishing and gallant Army and glorious and triumphant for the Victory he had obtained The End of the third Book THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF ITALY BOOK IV. The Contents THe King being but badly satisfied with the peace of Asti makes Don Pietro di Toledo Governour of Millain Between whom and the Duke new differences arise touching the execution of the Articles of peace The Venetians by reason of the Slavonians who molest their Navigation in the Gulf make war in Friuli against the Arch-Duke and in Istria against the Emperour and possessing themselves of many Towns in Friuli come before Gradisca from whence they depart not
formerly kept secret grew now to be manifest The King of England and many other Protestant Princes of Cermany who seemed to â—…avour him confirm'd him in his belief that being upheld by so many and so potent Princes he might withstand the violence which was thrâ—…atned him and this opinion was increased in many men by the coming of Embassadours at this time to Turin from the King of England and from some German Princes but that which did out do all other appearings and seemings Marshal Deguieres's coming into Piedmont made all men wonder he having been long held to be one of the best Commanders in France and one who took the Dukes affairs very much to heart and more an enemy to Spain then any other French-man this man though he came in a peaceful posture and unarmed as it were to be a superintendent over the French Embassadour's Negotiations and privately to inform himself whether things were in that dangerous condition as the Duke related them to be yet the good correspondency which was held between him and the Duke and his continual assisting him his being nominated in the Capitulations of Asti to see all things perform'd and much more the great desire which he and the other French-men seemed to have of maintaining and backing the Duke upon this occasion so to lessen the Authority of the Spaniard in Italy made it appear manifestly that if the Governour should persist resolute in not disarming he would call the French Souldiery into Piedmont who were said to be ready at his beck upon the Confines of Italy and prepared for Piedmont His coming therefore did not only much countenance the Duke but all the Embassadours future Negotiation and the Duke being very vigilant and ready witted and accustomed to consort the disposition of his genius with outward demonstrations made much use of this present occasion in bâ—…asting of his own Forces and of the assistance which was promised him and which he hoped for wherefore receiving the Marshal with excessive and unusual honour and with singular magnificence and keeping close at very private Counsel with him â—…e seemed to repose much confidence in him not pretermitting any term of honour and liberality to make to himself propitious particularly such who being intimate with the Marshal might further most his ends and his desires but these so many demonstrations did more prejudice then further the conclusion of the agreement for the Spanish Ministers of State being very much troubled at the King of France and King of England's interposing themselves in the affairs of Italy did very much dislike nor could they tollerate the Capitulation agreed upon in France wherein the King swore unto the Prince of Conde and the other confederates that he would cause the Articles of Asti to be performed and the Embassadours and Marshals coming to see them executed and the new preparations which were said to be made in France for Italy being hereunto added they thought that the French did arrogate that authority to them in Italy by rigour and threats which the occasion and conjuncture of times and much easiness of the preceding Governour of Millain had procured unto their King and that the Venetians and other Princes did by declaring themselves to adhere unto the Duke pretend to have an eye unto their Crowns authority so as if the power and dignity thereof were therein too much concerned they thought themselves the more bound to resist what so great a union of wills did threaten for that the danger was greater that if they should give way it might be esteemed they did it out of fear of the French Forces A respect which if it penetrated deep into any one it must needs make a deeper impression in the Governour as in him who being come into Italy wholly inflamed with exalted thoughts who had put himself in a posture of restoring his Kings authority to its former condition would have been too much failing to himself and to the opinion which he had generally won if he had gone less in any thing then what he had at first so openly profest and it would have been basely done by him it seeing his affairs grow worse and worse he had not indeavoured by all possible means to sustain them and if he had not been the more sollicitous in providing for war by how much his enemies bravadoes were the greater Therefore to boot with the moneys which he had already disburst for raising of men that it might be seen he durst sheâ—… his face and to make them jealous who did almost already openly threaâ—…en him he sent some Forces to the Venetians Confines and to the Confines of Piedmont and as if he would assault the Staâ—…e of Venice for the effects of their League with the Duke appeaâ—…ed daily more and more he gave order for a Bridge to be made over the Adda Whereat though the Commonwealth were much troubled yet having a great scarcity of men at that time the Senators not being able to do more were forc'd to commit the defence of that part of the State to the people of the Country Whilst the Governour was thus busied in making preparations every where the Embassadour after having staid some days at Turin came to Millain the substance of whose Embassie was That the King had by reason of the accidents which hindred the laying down of Arms used many indeavours to the Duke and given him his word to secure him from the extraordinary Militia of the State of Millain but that the Duke not being therewithal satisfied the King out of his great desire to publick peace and by the obligation which was upon him by the Articles of Astiâ—… did desire him that he would prosecute the disarming which was begun by his Predecessors to the end that the restitutions of the Towns might be come to and the execution of other things appointed by the peace To this proposal which was given in in writing the Governour replied in a long discourse given also in in writing wherein by a methodical Narration of all things that had occur'd from the beginning of the war of Montferrat to the peace made at Asti he inferr'd That the King had done all things for the protection and security of that State to which he was much sollicited by the Queen of France That the King was not bound by the Treaty of peace to dismiss no not so much as one man and that the Duke had only at the beginning given satisfaction in this point but that he had afterwards openly countervened it by the many novelties attempted against Montferrat by his new Levies of men and by his League lately concluded with the Venetians against the House of Austria So as the King was in all acceptations free from the Articles of peace That the Duke refused the security offered him by the words of two so great Kings not out of any doubt or distrust but in favour to the Venetians and that therefore the King of France was no
had encreased his â—…roops with the men that were sent into Flanders and that joyning with Archduke Leopold he threatned innovation against the Grisons and that in the mean while Merodes and his Lievtenant did by several ways molest those people and pick new occasions to break the peace that the Duke of Feria being desired by the Nuntio Panciruolo and press'd thereunto by the Fâ—…ench to cashier those men so to remove all occasions of new jealousies he openly denâ—…ed to do it and this for nothing else but for that as he saâ—…d the new Duke of Mantua had put new Garrisons of French Souldiers into Casalle contrary to Covenants and for that the Grisons contrary to the Articles of Ratisbone had fortified the passes of Stainc and of other places and that therefore it was necessary to provide against these inconveniences by way of anticipation lest other more great might follow thereupon that the Spaniards who were now more powerful in the Emperours Court then the Dutch themselves had labour'd very much even since the Treaty of peace that the Emperour would deliver the City of Mantua into their hands and that not being able to obtain it they had treated with the Imperial Officers who had the Government of that City to deliver it up unto them and that they had proceeded so far therein as they failed but a liâ—…tle of having it done had they not been hindred by such Officers as were faithful to the Emperour and who would not consent to so great a piece of treachery he also said that the Emperour bare no good will to the new Duke nor was pleased with the peace that he himself made for that the next day after the investment was granted he by a secret Article procured by the Spanish Agents had declared the investment should be null and of no effect if at any time the Articles of Ratisbone should not be observed and as if this were directly contrary to the same Articles wherein he in express words covenanted that the investment should be granted in the same manner as it had been formerly granted to the former Dukes the King alledged that that Declaration was procured only to serve for a pretence that the Spaniards might once more assault that Duke and bereave him of his Dukedom upon any slight occasion since they and the Emperour who were parties in this business were made judges of the breach thereof and accusers of those that should break it he further argued that the Spaniards fomented the civil dissentions of his Royal Court and were of intelligence with his Brother and Mother who were at this time fled from the Court of France and were gone into Flanders to the end that he and his Kingdom being troubled with intestine dissentions might not apply themselves to the Affairs of Italy and so they might assault the Duke the third time with greater Forces nor herewithall contented that they endeavoured to draw the Duke of Savoy to joyn with them in their Plots contrived against the quiet of his Kingdom as was discovered by Letters of the Spanish Embassadours Resident with the Duke of Savoy which were intercepted and as might be better comprehended by the Abbot Scaglia's going into England which Abbot being Embassadour from the Duke of Savoy in Madrid at the same time when the Towns of Savoy and Piedmont were restored was sent at the King of Spains charges into England to treat of new Leagues against France he further urged the Cardinal of Savoy his going into Flanders at the same time that the Queen-mother was to be there and the imprisonment of the Baron S. Romano who after having treated in Millain with Feria and afterwards with the Spanish Embassadour in Turin was gone into Languedock with the Dukes Pass-port and with Order to raise men for the Kings Brother moreover Orders given for the going of 500 Spaniards and 2000 Italians at the same time to Barcelona to put those designs in execution which might by all men be imagined Monsieur di Servien who was the Kings Embassadour in Turin havâ—…ng delivered the Duke a long Discourse in writing upon these and other lighter complaints he at last required an answer from him to these the Kings demands within three days to the end that the King might know how to dispose of his Forces that were yet in the Provinces which confine upon Italy putting him also in mind that he the Duke having gotten so great a part of Montferrat by the Kings means and being consequently the only man that had got advantage by the late war he was bound both for convenience and gratitude to do some thing for the safety of the Affairs of Italy and for the satisfaction and reputation of the Kings Forces The Duke immediately acquainted the Governour of Millain with the Kings demands and with the threats which might apparently be seen in case he should deny them adding that he the Duke not having wherewith to resist must be forc'd to chuse the lesser evil and to comply with the Kings will unless he were furnish'd with 10000 effectual Foot and 1000 Horse for the defence of Savoy and with 6000 Foot and 1000 Horse for the defence of Piedmont and if they were paid what was their due he should submit to the Kings will The Governour not being able to furnish him with so many men at the preseâ—…t offer'd to send him as many as he was able now and that he might be suâ—…e that for the future he would procure him what assistance he could for the preservation of his Dominions The Duke not content with these uncertain generalities agreed with the French Embassadour to assign over Pinarollo and Perâ—…sa and San ' Brigata to those very Swissers to whom Susa was assigned the year before upon Oath that they should hold them for the King for six moneths space and that time being ended that they should re-assign them over again to him the Duke unless by his own consent the time of assignment to the King should be prorogued that the King might put a Governour into them who should take the same Oath The Duke obliged himself also and promised not to co-operate with them who should go about to trouble the peace of France during the Kings Mothers and his Brothers absence and to give free passage for the French to enter Italy if they should be brought thither by any novelty against the Duke of Mantua There was not any one who did not resent this so sudden and unexpected demand and who did not wonder and were not amazed at the Dukes so ready yielding thereunto so as none were so void of reason as not to think that it was agreed upon long before between him and the King especially by the many accidents and circumstances which went to the approving thereof The Cardinal of Savoy went to Paris a little before the French restored the Towns of Piedmont and Prince Thomasâ—… with his Wife and Children on whom the Duke having no Children
some amends and have repaired the reputation of the Kings Forces wherein they suffered very much if following the enemy they had vigourously re-entred Piedmont at their heels so the keeping with the whole Army for above two moneths about the Fort which was erecting did necessarily detract from their honour and so much the more for that mighty things being looked for from them no mean successes would have satisfied expectation On the other side the Duke making less account of the discomforture given to his men then of the enemies going out of Piedmont thought the least harm that befell the enemy a great comfort to his own affairs And therefore thinking that at the very beginning of the War he had made the world see that the Spanish Forces were not invincible he hoped that the Italians being awakened thereby as by a warlike trumpet would the sooner joyn with him both in Forces and in intelligence against strangers Therefore not being upon this occasion wanting to himself but making his cause the common cause he was well pleased that divers writings and composures should be thrown abroad in Italy but especially in his own Dominions wherein stiling him the head and author of the recovery of their ancient Liberty the Italian Potentates were exhorted to throw off the forreign yoke by which they had been so long oppress'd And still continuing with more fervency the indeavours long before begun in France and Germany with the Princes who did emulate the Spanish Grandezza with the King of England and with the States of Holland he strove to make them joyn with him that so they might unanimously oppose that power which did overshadow a great part of Europe But believing particularly that the Venetians the great harm which would insue unto them by his suppresion being considered would not give him over in so great a danger he therefore having composed the differences which had been between them and him touching the War of Montferrat by the intercession of the Embassadours of France and England then resident in Venice he resolved to send Iacomo Pissina with title of Embassadour to Venice to exhort them upon this occasion to imbrace his cause with their Forces and the defence of the common safety and liberty who being brought into the Colledge may be supposed to have spoken to this effect It is most certain Serene Prince and wise fathers that diffidence hath always been the ruine and undoing of friendship as on the contrary affiance and trust hath always been held the streightest bond to keep Princes perpetually colleagued in friendship to one and the same end The distrust that the Duke my Master joyning with the Spaniards conspired against the common saâ—…ety when upon just occasion he took up arms against Montferrat made you readily imbrace the Duke of Mantua's cause which was then held to be the common cause Out of this Reason the Duke my Master as best knowing his own intentions which he by open manifestoes published to the world thought this Commonwealth more inclined to favour his adversary then him And that therefore constriuing his intentions to be otherwise then they have been since known to be by reciprocal diffidence the ancient friendship so long preserved between him and this Commonweâ—…lth hath on the sudden been turned to enmity Now since all men may assertain themselves by what hath hapned at Novara and Vercelli that the Dukes intention never was nor can ever in the future be different from the common end of the Princes of Italy and particularly from that of this most glorious Commonwealth which is manfully to make good and constantly to maintain the common safety dignity and liberty against the common enemies he therefore hath reason to hope that past distastes being turn'd to as much confidence the former good correspondency will be redoubled and that in so just and honest a cause in so useful and necessary a War he may presume to be favoured by the Venetian Forces For if you did resolve to patronize the Duke of Mantua against a Prince so streightly joyn'd in interest and good will with this Commonwealth only out of fear that he might assault Montferrat with an intention to annex it to the Spaniards how much more ought you now prepare to defend the Duke of Savoy whilst he is assaulted by the ambitious Spaniard for the preservation of the publick dignity by those Forces wheâ—…eby under a colour of preserving peace in Italy and which they are the first that do disturb they indeavour to possess themselves of Piedmont so lawfully injoyed by him and by his predecessors the Spaniards as all men may see would be believed to be the Arbitrators the Patrons of Italy the Supream Moderator of her Potentates they therefore think it reasonable that all Italian Princes as if they we eâ—…so many of their Subjects should obey every the least beck of that King nay of any of his Ministers And terming the slavery of Italy peace the obedience thereof security and on the contrary the freedom thereof contumacy and its generosity turbulency of spirit they by these artifices strive to make themselves gracious and others odious to the people And now having begun to exercise this their superiority to the no less general prejudice then to the universal loss of reputation upon the weakest they will arrogate the like over the greatest They of late commanded the Duke of Modena and the Lucchesi to lay down arms and were immediately obeyed without any reply They now indeavour the like with the Duke of Savoy whom after having secured Montferrat from all Hostility they command to lay down Arms and to disband his Souldiers and because he keeps 2000 Souldiers more then usual in his Dominions they threaten him Was there ever known so unjust and so imperious a command with what reason does that King and that Nation who as all men know are but as of yesterday in Italy give Laws to the Dukes of Savoy who held the Scepter of Piedmont 400 years before he was master of one foot of Land in Italy will there none then dare to shew their faces and gainsay such insolent commands shall the generosity of the Italian name be so totally extinct as that all Italy shall obey those whom they have formerly commanded who sees not that by these beginnings they aim at the reducing of the power and liberty of the Princes of Italy into a Precarious power into a Precarious liberty depending upon every nod of theirs but why talk I of a Precarious power of a Precarious liberty these beginnings tend manifestly to the reducing of the Duke of Savoy into miserable slavery and to the subjugating of Piedmont nor ceasing here to the making themselves absolute Lords of Italy the Monarchy whereof having long fancied unto themselves in Idea they now begin to try how it may succeed by the suppression of the Duke my Master and by counterfeiting with the other Italian Potentates And cloaking this their ambitious and
said in the affairs touching the Valtoline for doubting lest by this Marriage a streight League might be concluded between the Crowns of Spain and England the Kingdom of France being placed between them grew apprehensive of it And the intestine wars continuing in France against the Hereticks who were much favoured by the King and Kingdom of England it behoved the Fench to be very circumspect in falling foul with the Crown of Spain when it should be so closely annex'd to the English as it was likely to be by that Marriage But new accidents did this mean while happen which did much better the French affairs The Pope who was grown very inward with the Spaniards died about the end of Iune in the year 1623. who was succeeded by Maffeo Cardinal Barbarino a Florentine by Nation who caused himself to be called Urbane â—…one of a most pleasing wit as well for his great Erudition in the more weighty Sciences as in humane Learning He was also well vers'd in the affairs of the world and in State affairs for having been accustomed to the most important imployments of the Court of Rome he had also been Nuntio both ordinary and extraordinary with the King of Francâ—… and whilst he was in that imployment was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the fifth wherefore he was thought to be inclined to the French and that he could not wish well to Spain and yet he did so win upon the Spanish Faction by his wisdom dexterity wit and canâ—…id comâ—…oitment as the Votes of the Spanish Cardinals and particularly Borgia's Vote who was the head of them weat to the making him Pope He was created according to the new form prescribed by his Predecessors who to the end that the Cardinals might give their Votes with the more freedom did by a particular Bull ordain so secret a way for the giving of Suffrages as it could not be discovered by any which form though as new and not formerly used it kept the Conclave a little longer yet it being then the Dog-days and the Cardinals being much incommodated by their being kept so close many of them fell sick and some died wherefore forced by fear and danger they joined in the election of Pope Urbane who was indowed with all those parts and ornaments required in a great Prince and in a powerful Pope Having taken the Popedom upon him great signes of constant resolution appeared in him of a good affection to Christendome and that he was not apt to siding For to the great neutrality which he seemed to profess in publick affairs and in such as appertained to the Papal dignity he added great severity in his private affairs by refusing great offers which were immediately made him by the French Agents for the aggrandizing of his House but on the other side being very gratious to the Cardinals of Savoy and to the French and Venetian Cardinals with whom he held close consultations he caused much distrust in the Spanish Cardinals and Agents who therefore quickly shewed little satisfaction in his choice and were displeased with themselves for the favour they had done him And truly the success of affairs under his Popedom shew'd they did not much erre in their judgment nor in the diffidence which they conceived of him for Pope Urbane whether moved thereunto by his own Genius and inclination to the French or out of a desire to restore the Pontifical dignity to its former vigour and render it less exposed to the dependancy of anothers will or that he nourished more generous and more exalted thoughts of the Liberty of Italy he soon discovered himself no great favourer of the Spaniards and very much a friend to those who being desirous of the like liberty of Italy strove to oppose the Spanish greatness This jealousie was augmented by the knowledge of an important accident which happned in Avignon in the Moneth of October this very year The Kings of France England and Denmark the Venetians Duke of Savoy and Hollanders many of the German Princes and as some will have it Bethlem Gaber the Transilvanian Prince sent their Embassadours very secretly to that City where coming unknown and in the habit of Merchants they made a League between them against the Emperour and the King of Spain for the liberty of Italy for the restitution of the Valtoline and of the Palatinate The principal Articles whereof were That the Hollanders to boot with the war which they made in their own Country against the Spaniards should send Fleets into America and possess themselves of Brazil That the King of England should assist the Hollanaers with a certain number of men in their Domestick wars and should send a powerful Fleet to Spain to assault those Rivers and to intercept the Navy which useth to come thither from America That the King of Denmark together with the Protestant Princes of Germany should raise a powerful Army and wage war with the Emperour in Flanders for the Restitution of the Palatinate And that Bethlem Gaber should molest the Emperours Dominions towards Hungary to the end that being assaulted on two sides he might be the less able to make resistance That the King of France should hinder the commercâ—… between Spain and Italy with a powerful Fleet to be kept at Marselles and should pass into Piedmout with an Army of 25000 Foot and 4000 Horse and that joining with the Duke of Savoy who was to raise another Army of 12000 Foot and 2000 Horse he should assault the State of Millain for the maintaining of which Army the Venetians should disburse 100000 Duckats a Moneth to the Duke of Savoy And that at the same time the King of France should fall into the Valtoline with another Army out of the Grisons Country and when he should have possess'd himself of it he should fall down from thence into the State of Millain and joining with the Venetians who for those enterprises were to join a certain number of men to the French Army he should assault the same State of Millain with the Common forces and that they should assault the affairs of the Kingdom of Naples with a Fleet of Ships towards the Adriatick Sea This League being made two months after the Pope Election in a City belonging to the Church made the Spaniards suspect that it never would have been appointed without tacite intelligence held between the Pope and the French who were thought the authors of it because besides the restitution of the Valtoline and the Palatinate the restoring of the Apostolick See to all that did anciently belong unto her was agreed upon wherein it seemed the Kingdom of Naples might be understood and place was also left in the same League for the Pope and great Duke of Tuscany who was also promised to have all the Havens of Tuscany restored unto him but the French openly denying any such Conspiracy and no wise man being to believe that a Pope hardly waâ—…m in his Chair should enter into so weighty