places would not be a Deliberation befitting the Wisdom and Gravity of the Venetian Senate It would be better to watch the occasion of some Extremity or Pinch of an Emperour which often happens and buy these places but then be aware that if it be not a Patrimonial Estate the consent of the Dyet is necessary to the purchase to cut off all claims in time to come 'T is as hard that the Emperour should unite with the Republick to acquire the State of any other Prince in Italy because first for Spain they are the same Family with the Emperour Against the Church he will declare as little professing a great Zeal for it and calling himself The Churches Advocate Modena Mantoua and Mirandola are Fiefs of the Empire Savoy and Florence are remote from him and to come at them he must overcome greater Princes that are between him and them so that this Union would prove difficult If the Emperour should fall out with some of these Dukes his Vassals and depose them it might happen that if Spain were busie elsewhere and the Emperour loth to take the trouble of chastising them himself alone he might then unite with the Republick upon condition to have the best part of the Spoil but if the Emperour should as formerly come to a great Rupture with the Church and employ heartily his power in the Quarrel 't is not impossible but he might be willing to engage the Republick by a promise of some part of the conquest I think in any other way 't is not probable to make any advantage of the Imperial Assistance The last Question is Whether he can unite with others against the Republick And of this there is no doubt For if Maximilian tho infinitely oblig'd to the Republick made no difficulty to unite in a League with Lewis the Twelfth of France his Competitor and Enemy whom for Injuries received he had declared a Rebel to the Sacred Empire tho Lewis laugh'd at that Imaginary Jurisdiction I say if he could submit to joyn with so suspected a power much less would the Emperour now scruple the uniting either with Spain or the Pope or any other Princes of Italy not only for to acquire Territory but even for bare Money if it were offer'd him With France I believe the Union would not be so easie as it was then because now the Emperour being partial for Spain if their Interest did not concur they would hinder him from being drawn away by any hopes or promises But this will appear better when we come to treat of Spain For if Spain will have a League against the Republick the Emperour will never stand out Now let us come to France 'T is not above Fifty years ago that the Republick thought themselves oblig'd not only to desire but to procure the Greatness of France because being under the phrensie of a Civil War it threatned little less than the dissolution of that Monarchy The Succession of Henry the Fourth to the Crown who had his Title from Nature and the Possession from his Sword reviv'd it and at last gave it such vigour that from deserving Compassion it came to move Envy and if a fatal blow of a mean hand had not cut off that Prince's Life and Designs there would have been requisite great Dexterity or great Force to defend the Republick from them The Count de Fuentes Governour of Milan us'd to brag that he had such Musick as should make those dance who had no mind to 't Henry the Fourth might have said so with much more reason and he us'd to affirm That at the pass things were the Neutrality of the Republick was a Coyn that would no longer be current If he had given career to his no ill-founded Designs half a World would not have suffic'd him but we must not be frighted if we see the Raging Sea swell in Billows and look as if it would swallow up the Earth since a little Sand stops all its Fury Death has a Scythe that most commonly cuts off all the Noblest Lives If Henry the Third of France had brought the Siege of Paris to an end if Philip the Second had not had the Winds and Seas against him England would have been in Chains and Paris would have been a Village In conclusion the Fatality of Humane Affairs is such that most great undertakings are disappointed by unexpected causes At present the constitution of France is such that there is little danger from them for during the Minority of their King they will have enough to do not to lose ground there being so many Jealousies and Factions a-foot 'T is true that the common people have open'd their Eyes and begin to be weary of spending their blood for the ambition of the great ones and amongst these the chiefest are old and at their ease so that they will think chiefly of keeping themselves in those Posts they enjoy The Duke of Maine who is Head of the Catholick Party is very ancient and very rich wherefore if in the time of the great troubles he either could not or would not aspire to make himself King when even he had all but the Name of it 't is not to be imagined he thinks of it now and if he will be content with the State of a Subject he is as great as he can be The Duke of Mercaeur who in his Wife 's right pretended to Erect Britany into a Kingdom is at last dead in Hungary the Duke of Epernon is more studious of good Husbandry than Soldiery the Duke of Montpensier has always been true to the Royal Family the Capricios of the Marchioness of Aumale will hardly have any Followers and it will be well if she can clear her self of the late King's Death On the other side the Prince of Conde the first Prince of the Blood is young and of a mild Nature he has besides before his Eyes the Example of his Father Grandfather and Great Grandfather who all perish'd unfortunately in civil Broils and has in his own person experimented the Spanish Parsimony in his Retreat from Court to Brussels So that if he desires a greater Fortune he may compass it in France from the hands of the Queen her self who is so ill a Politician as to try to put out Fire with pouring Oyl upon it The Hugonots are weary the Duke of Bovillon their Head well pleased with his present Fortune and if he have a mind to be a Hugonot out of Perswasion and not Faction there is no body will hinder him but most of these great men have Religion only for a pretext as 't is reported likewise of the Duke de Lesdiguieres which if it be true they will never be quiet till the King be of Age and by consequence there will be little protection to be hop'd for from that Kingdom Our Speculation therefore may more certainly conclude that the Greatness of France is at a stand and cannot in the space of some years make any progress
Spiritual Monarchy has increased and in it the Goodness of Christian Princes is not more to be admired than the Dexterity of the Popes in not omitting any occasion to gain ground At present the Emperour is chosen by a Pontifical Bull where the Power of Election is committed to the Three Ecclesiastical and Four Secular Electors with an Obligation nevertheless in the Emperour chosen to receive his Confirmation and Coronation from the Pope so that the Subject is at last become Prince over his own Prince not without some reflection of Weakness upon Otho the Fourth Emperour of Germany who in the year 994. agreed with Pope Gregory to settle the Election in this manner for the Honour as he thought of the German Nation but with great Diminution of the Imperial Dignity To this Grandeur of the Papacy if we add that of having subjected to its power all the other Bishops of Christendom and obtain'd to be own'd the first of all the Patriarchs who long contested its Primacy I say so high a Power ought to make all other well-govern'd States very wary in their proceedings with it and to have a careful Eye upon all those occasions wherein the pontifical Authority may be still enlarged because 't is observed that all Courtesies and Favours of Princes are in that Court turn'd to Debts and Claims in the space of a few years and to obtain the possession they do not spare for Exorcisms and Anathema's There is one Custom or rather Abuse introduc'd in that Court which deserves great consideration from Princes which is the power the Pope has assum'd of deposing Princes and Soveraigns and giving their Kingdoms and States to others under pretext of ill Government The Prodigal Son in the Gospel did not lose his Right to his portion though he was resolv'd to dissipate and consume it viciously because that Title which we receive from Nature can never be lost in our whole Life The Kings of Navar were fain to go Vagabonds about the World for the sake of a Bit of Parchment which Pope Julius the Second put out against them whereby King John the Second lost his Kingdom which was given to Ferdinandâ— of Arragon and had not providence brought them to the Crown of France there would have been no mention in the World of the Kings of Navar From this Liberty of taking away Kingdoms the Popes assume that of Erecting them Pope Paul the Fourth made Ireland a Kingdom and Pius the Fifth Erected Tuscany into a great Dutchy Queen Elizabeth of England was deposed by Paul the Third and according to the usual custom her Kingdom given to Philip the Second of Spain who was to execute the Papal Sentence but he met with the Winds and Seas and the English Ships which quite defeated his Armada In France by a priviledge of the Gallican Church they admit of no Bulls that contain Deprivation of Kings but keep to the Right of Succession and indeed to depose an actual King and give away his Kingdom is not only to destroy a suppos'd Delinquent but to punish an Innocent Successour and likewise to prejudice the Right of Election in those who have it On the other hand England has often thought fit to make it self Tributary to the See of Rome by the Peter-Pence the first time under Pope Leo the Fourth and more remarkably under King John in 1214. to avoid the Invasion from France but Henry the Eighth delivered himself once for all and not only refused the Tribute but made himself amends by seizing the Church-Lands The fresh Example of Paul the Fifth towards this Republick is never to be forgot who charitably would have govern'd another bodies House under pretext that the Master did not understand how to do it himself And the constancy of the Venetian Republick will have given fair warning to the Court of Rome how they undertake such Quarrels since they were forced to come to an agreement with very little satisfaction or Honour on their side having been obliged tacitely to give up their claim for to demand peremptorily and then relinquish the Demand is a sign it was not well founded in Justice and the Absolution refus'd was proof enough that the Excommunication was void in it self So that the advantage that has accrew'd to the Venetian Government from the Contest has been much greater than the damage sustain'd in it If ever for the future which I scarce believe there should happen an occasion of an Interdict from the Court of Rome to the Republick I should advise presently to post up in Rome an Appellation to the future Council which is a cruel blow to them For first it insinuates the Superiority of the Council over the Pope and secondly it revives the memory of Councils and lets them see they are not things quite forgot all the World over If there be care taken to examine well all Bulls that come from Rome and the Observation of what has been hitherto practis'd be strictly continued it may be hop'd that the Republick shall not undergo any greater Subjection than other Princes but rather shall have some Liberty above them particularly more than the Spaniards who find their account in complying with the Tyranny of Rome because they receive at the same time great Favours from it and are proud of maintaining its Authority To say truth the Popes hitherto have shew'd little kindness to the Republick and except the Priviledges granted by Alexander the Third which serve more to register to the World the Action of the Republick in restoring and protecting him than for any thing else For the Doge might of himself without the Papal Concession have assum'd those other little Ornaments of the Ombrella the Standard and the Sword So that bating the Concessions of the Decimes upon the Clergy and the Nominations to the Bishopricks this Country of ours feels but slender Effects of the Pontifical Kindness which may be an advantage upon all Occurrences of Interest of State to stick the closer to that because there needs no Complements where every one desires but his own In considering the Secular Power of the Pope we will do it upon Five Heads which may serve to examine all other Princes Interests with the Republick First If it be advantageous to the Republick to have the Church grow greater Secondly What Title Inclination or Facility the Popes may have to acquire any part of the State of the Republick Thirdly What Inclination Title or Facility the Republick may have to acquire any part of the State of the Church Fourthly If the Church may unite with the Republick to acquire the State of any other Princes Fifthly If the Church can unite with other Princes to hinder the progress of the Arme of the Republick To begin with the First we will answer with a General Rule which is That it never is advantageous to a Prince who desires to remain free and powerful to let another grow great except it be to lessen a Third who is greater
ADVICE Given to the Republick of VENICE How they ought to Govern themselves both at home and abroad to have perpetual Dominion First Written in Italian by that Great Politician and Lover of his Countrey Father PAVL the Venetian Author of the Council of Trent Translated into English by Dr. AGLIONBY Dedicated to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland LONDON Printed for Christopher Nobbes at the Sign of the Olive-Tree in the Inner-Walk above stairs in the New Exchange 1693. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HENRY Viscount Sydney Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to Their Majesties and one of Their Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council My Lord THough your design'd Favours to me might justly claim this offer of my Respects in a Dedication yet I must own That it is not only Gratitude that requires me to make this return but it is my Choice and Judgment that prompts me to take the Liberty of putting this Piece under your Protection And indeed if I regard either the Greatness of your Family or your own Personal Endowments where could I have found a more Illustrious Name or a more generally own'd Desert The Sydneys have fill'd our English History and adorn'd our Nation Great in Employments both at Home and Abroad but more Glorious in asserting constantly their Country's true Interest And your Lordship has not been wanting to follow such Honourable Examples first by a steddy adherence to all the measures that could be entred into by a wise man in times full of dark designs and then as soon as your Countries Good requir'd it by boldly laying aside all dubious Counsels to appear in Arms with our Great and Glorious Deliverer His Present Majesty Amongst the Thanks we owe to all those who have done the like I think no one can more justly be extoll'd by this or recommended to the esteem and admiration of the next Age than your Lordship In your Negotiation in Holland during the close Intrigues of the latter end of King Charles his Reign you strove to keep both him and us happy and quiet by promoting the true Interest of both But when the Ferment of our Affairs forc'd you to more sensible demonstrations of your thoughts you Nobly chose rather to appear an ill Courtier than be thought an ill Man to your Country The Protestant Interest carried it with you while the Roman Faction thought their designs as secure as they were deeply laid 'T is rare to find such Conduct and Courage in a Publick Minister But what could be expected less from one ready to venture his Life in the Field at the Head of our Nation abroad against that unquiet Monarch who was then invading all the Liberty Mankind had left Heaven My Lord has at last bless'd these constant endeavours for England's Prosperity and we see you in the Councils and Privacy of a Prince born for our Felicity The Great Queen of this Monarchy who so lov'd her People and understood their Interest had a Sydney for her Favourite and such a man as she admir'd living and lamented dead and our King who has begun with restoring this Nation to its true Interest and will no question advance its Glory to the highest pitch has your Lordship in his Councils and Arms Guarded by you in the day he sleeps often under your care in the Night safe in your Loyalty and pleas'd in your attendance To whom then could I more properly offer these Arcanums of a Wise Government than to one who must be a good Judge of all Writings of that kind and therefore with repeated Offers of my humble Respects and readiness to obey your Lordship's Commands I take leave and am My Lord Your Lordship 's Most Humble and most Devoted Obedient Servant W. Aglionby THE PREFACE THat Padre Paulo Sarpi of the Order of the Servites is the Author of this Treatise there needs no other proof than the reading of it for whoever is acquainted either with his style or his manner of thinking must of necessity acknowledge that they are both here And indeed we may say that this is not only a true representation of the Government of the Venetian Republick but that the Author also like great Painters who in all their Works give us their own Genius with the mixture of the Representation has likewise drawn the truest Picture of himself He was one of the greatest men of his Age of vast Natural Parts to which he had added all the acquir'd ones that great Study and much Conversation with Men could give him It was he who defended the Republick in the dispute they had with Pope Paul the 5th which he did so solidly and yet so modestly that his Subject never carried him either to Invectives or Railleries unbeseeming the Gravity of the Matter nor the Dignity of the Persons whose Cause he managed that Quarrel being accommodated by the interposition of the Kings of France and Spain in which the Republick had all the advantage possible The Senate very sensible of the Obligation they had to P. Paulo made him Consultor of State and added an Honourable Pension for his Life giving him at the same time Order to view all their secret Records where all their Papers and Instruments of State were laid up all which he reduc'd into such a new order as that they might be recurr'd to with the greatest ease imaginable upon all occasions The Esteem they made of his Abilities was so great that they never had any important debate in which either by publick order or by the private application of some of their Senators they did not take his advice which most commonly was assented to afterwards Towards the latter end of his Life the Inquisitors of State seeing that they could not hope long for the continuation of those Oracles resolv'd that once for all he should impart them his thoughts upon the whole Constitution of their Government and withal add his Opinion touching their Future Conduct both within and without and that is this Piece with which I now present the Publick As it was made for the perusal of those only who were the participants of all the Arcanums of the Empire it is writ with less regard to the Publick Censure to which he suppos'd it would never be subject All other Writers of Politicks may in one thing be justly suspected which is that when they write with a design of publishing their Works to Mankind they must have a regard to many considerations both of the times they write in and Opinions that are then receiv'd by the People as also to the Establish'd Forms both of Government and Religion besides that Self-love too will not let them forget their own Glory for the sake of which they often swerve from the true Rules of writing but here all these considerations ceas'd the Work is directed to those whose Interest it was to conceal it And for the Author himself it may be said it was rather his Legacy than any desire of shewing his Abilities
and till it come to an Excess not to be thought on for these fifty years it can give no Jealousie to the Republick As to the Title Inclination and Facility that France may have to acquire any part of the Republick's Dominions I say we need not doubt of their Inclination because Princes are like Wolves to one another always ready for prey As for Title they can set up none till they have conquer'd the Dutchy of Milan and Facility they have as little because they cannot come at the Republick's Territories without first passing over those of other Princes which they will never consent to lest they prove the first conquest themselves Whereupon I conclude that for a long time the power of France can give no jealousie to the Republick And on the other side the Republick can have no pretences as things stand upon any part of the French Territories as long as they are totally Excluded from Italy and if there be no Title there is less Inclination and Facility The Union of France with the Republick to acquire the State of any other Prince will always be easie when France is in a condition to mind such acquisitions the past Examples prove that sufficiently but they do sufficiently bear Testimony likewise of the danger of such Union Now that the French are totally excluded Italy they would agree to very large conditions with the Republick and allow them a great share of the Kingdom of Naples and Dutchy of Milan but they would no sooner have made the acquisition of their share but they would begin to cast their Eyes upon that of the Republick and enter into a League against them with some other Prince just as it happened in the time of Lewis the Twelfth when to gain Cremona he was the first that consented to the League of Cambray deceiving all the while the Venetian Embassador at Court and affirming even with Oaths That he would never conclude any thing to the prejudice of the Republick tho he had sign'd the League above six weeks before the War began which he exercised likewise in a most barbarous manner hanging up the Noble Venetians that were Governours of the Towns he took I believe France to get footing in Italy would engage with any other Prince against the Republick except with the Spaniard and if that should happen it would be necessary to stir up the Factions of that Kingdom and bring upon them some powerful Neighbour such as England The Friendship of Savoy would likewise be useful to hinder the Passes of the Mountains and make some diversion in Provence and Dauphine if there could be any relying upon this present Duke but he is a Proteus that turns himself into many forms and with his Capricio's and Humours would soon empty the Treasures of S. Marc But these are things so remote that they may be left to the prudence of those who shall live in those times for according to the Times there must be alteration of Councils And so much for France Now let us turn to Spain A Family that from low beginnings is come by Marriages to the possession of Twelve Kingdoms and several Dukedoms in Europe besides what it has in the Indies does certainly evidence a great Favour of Fortune joyn'd with great application and industry So that if it be not stopp'd by Fatality may bid fair for an Universal Empire If Charles the Fifth had had as much prudence in his youth as he had in his old Age he would not have separated the Empire from Spain but would have made his Son Philip have been chosen King of the Romans instead of his Brother Ferdinand He understood his Errour and repented of it at last trying to perswade Ferdinand to a Renunciation but he shew'd as much prudence in keeping what he had got so wonderfully into his Hands as Charles would have shew'd folly in going to deprive him of it by Force Charles was not less unhappy in the other Act of Moderation he shew'd when he renounc'd all his Kingdoms to his Son and retired to a private Life For to one who on the Anniversary Day of that Famous Action congratulated King Philip for his Felicity he answered That Day was likewise the Anniversary of his Father's Repentance So that Actions of Moderation in Princes are but like that Insect called the Ephemera which lives and dies the same day The Greatness of Spain is therefore to be suspected it has Two Wild Beasts that follow it always close one on one side and the other on the other which is the Turk by Sea and France by Land and besides that it has that Issue of Holland as witty Boccalini calls it which will sufficiently purge it of all its ill Humours and it must be own'd that all the Spanish Sagacity has not hindered them from following the Fable of the Dog who forsook the Substance for the Shadow For for Forty years together France was sufficiently taken up with their own Intestine Broils during which time Spain might with great advantage have made a Truce with Holland and having likewise humbled the Turk by the Battle of Lepanto they might have applied their whole Force to Italy which had no Defence but its own Natives and not of them above half So that in all probability they could have met with no considerable opposition One might say That it was an Effect of King Philip's Moderation if he had not shew'd as great an Ambition of Dominion as possible in endeavouring first to unite France to Spain by conquest then to have his Daughter chosen Queen and lastly seiz'd upon as many Towns as he could Therefore we may give the Italians Joy that half an Age of so much danger passed without the least loss of their Liberty Now by reason of the French King's Minority the Jealousies against Spain are a-foot again but I think not with so much ground For if not France at least England would raise their old Enemies the Dutch particularly if the Italians should help with Money So that if Italy can but resist the first brunt it may hope for all sort of Relief for France has Forces and they would soon have a will to succour Italy against Spain Neither do I believe that Spain would hazard the Truce with Holland it having been compass'd with such Difficulties even to the loss of much of their Honour and Fast 'T is enough that to all other Christian Princes except the Emperour the Greatness of Spain is of ill Consequence And therefore to be opposed by all secret means first and if need be at last openly and without a Mask If Spain has any Title Inclination or Facility to acquire part of the Republick's Dominions there will be little Difficulty to answer Their Title would be upon Brescia Crema and Bergamo ancient Members of the Dutchy of Milan And these Three Cities are so considerable that with their Territory they would perhaps make up as rich a Dutchy as any in Lombardy except
no occasion of mending it either by acquisition of new Territory or by receiving Subsidies and Pensions Florence only would hardly be mov'd by that last motive because he is not needy being at this time perhaps the Richest Prince in ready Money that is in Christendom and his Riches always increase because the Princes of that Family do yet retain their Ancestors Inclination to Merchandize and that enriches the Prince without damage to the Subject The Dominions of the great Duke are considerable as well because they are placed as it were in the Navel of Italy with a fertile Territory all united together as also because the States of other Princes are as it were a Wall and Defence to it and it is besides to be valued by the Communication it has with the Sea by Leghorn and some other Maritime Fortresses So that if one were to reckon upon any Italian Prince I know none that deserves so well as being exempted from the temptation of being bought and having yet some of that punctual mercantile Faith If the Republick will have a League with any of the other Italian Princes there will be no difficulty in it provided they pay them but withal one must not forget the witty Reflection of Boccalini when the Italian Princes are willing to be taught manners out of the Galateo provided that it may not look like ill breeding in them to eat with both Jaws as fast as they can With Poland the Republick can have no other Concern than that of defending Christendom and by some diversion from that Crown bear the more easily the weight of the Ottoman Power Therefore it would be well for the Republick to have that King and Kingdom grow more powerful As for any thing else the great distance that is between that State and the Republick takes away all matter of any further Consideration The same thing may be said of the Moscovite England being the greatest of those powers that are separated from the Church of Rome is a Kingdom of great strength particularly since the Union of Scotland and the Kings of England have nothing left to desire as to Territory All that Island is now under the Dominion of one sole Monarch and has the Sea for a Wall So that if England be not disunited within it self there is no power to overcome it We see the Example in the Invasion of Philip the Second of Spain and yet then the Union was not so great as might have been who lost his mighty Armada that he had been so long preparing at such vast Expences Queen Elizabeth who has shew'd the World how far a Woman's ability can go in Government did likewise enlarge her Dominions by Navigations to the Indies and wounded Spain in that tender part She likewise had some Ports of the Low-Countries consign'd to her so that she seem'd to be hardly contain'd in that separate World of hers The Island is fertile and delicious producing all necessaries for Life and though the Natives go abroad and buy the Products of other Countries it is more as Superfluities and out of Luxury than want and amongst the rest they have a Trade for Grapes called Currans which they buy in the Dominions of the Republick Henry the Eighth who was the King that Apostatiz'd from the Church of Rome did use to concern himself in the Affairs of Italy and several times the Popes have had good Protection from the ancient Kings of that Country who were most devoted to the See of Rome to say truth Religion has had a great Loss and the Court of Rome a greater I cannot well say whether out of the great Lust of Henry the Eighth or the little consideration of Clement the Seventh at present that King will not hear of Rome and has but small Curiosity for the Affairs of Italy If this King could grow greater it would be advantageous to the Republick because it might obtain his Alliance and by that means a greater respect from other Crown'd Heads but however even without this consideration 't is a Power to be courted because the Nation having an ancient Antipathy to France and a modern one to Spain it cannot but have a good inclination for the Republick 'T is true that the present King is more enclin'd to Wars with his Pen than with his Sword having a mighty Love for Disputes and valuing himself upon the Character of a Notable Divine so much has the Quarrel with Rome influenc'd that Country that even their Princes study Controversie but however I should not think the Republick ought to mind any of those Circumstances because where there is strength there is always hopes of making use of it that depending only upon raising of Passions The best means would be besides the continuation of those Offices already introduc'd of mutual Embassies strictly to command the Governours in the Levant to shew all good usage to the English Merchants and particularly observe punctually all Treaties and Engagements with them because there is no Nation that puts a greater value upon their Word than the English do and the Kings of that Island have not yet learnt the modern Policy that gives them leave to break their Faith in order to reigning more absolutely With the Seven United Provinces 't will be good to cultivate Friendship and to encrease it by a mutual defensive League particularly at this time that the Truce is but newly concluded with Spain for it will be a Curb upon the Spaniard if he should attempt any thing against the Republick for fear his old Wounds should be set a bleeding again they being but just bound up and not healed 'T is feasable likewise to procure something more of Trade with the Hollanders because they are extremely ingenious and addicted that way and moreover since both the Republicks stand in awe of the same Power it will not be difficult to unite their inclinations and they have made on their side a sufficient Advance by sending an Embassy to the Republick which though of Complement yet it has shew'd great esteem and inclination to an Union Besides the Advantage of a solid diversion of the Forces of Spain there is another Essential consideration which is That from them might be had a considerable Body of well disciplin'd Soldiers and that with admirable celerity besides several Regiments that might be rais'd in a Country so well us'd to War if there were occasion and all the inconveniencies of Transportation are not to be valued for the Republick will always have a greater scarcity of good Soldiers than of good Money With the Princes of Germany of a different Religion there can hardly be any Concerns if there is no room for Quarrels As the World stands now if it be not well they should grow greater at least 't is not amiss they are already great enough because they are a Check upon the Emperour who else would be a most formidable Potentate to all Princes but more particularly to the Italians and