howbeit they had made peace and league with Charles the eighth yet by privat dispatches of letters and Agents to all parts and especially to Venice they brake it and instantly made war upon the French as Comines testifies lib. 5. belli Neapolitani p. 926. 23. An. 1614. Francisco Suarez a Spanish Jesuit set forth a scandalous Book against the State of the kingdomes of England France which was publickly burnt at Paris by order of Parliament howbeit the said Book was set forth by the approbation of Joan Alvarez Provincial of that Society CHAP. VII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England VVE have staid long enough in a continent let us now passe the Sea and see whether the King of Spain have shewn himself more faithfull to the English then to the French and others Not a whit Read what follows and you will find with me that a Wolf is every where a Wolf Attempts against Q Elizabeth and would as well take and devour the markt as unmarkt sheep And to begin with Queen Elizabeth it cannot be denied but that the Spaniard used all possible means to deprive her both of her kingdom and of her life Thuan testifies lib. 44. Anno 1569. that Mary Queen of Scots by the instigation of the Spaniards and others endeavoured to innovate things in England and to that end Rudolphus Robertus came into England to solicite the English to disloyalty and promise them great matters from the Pope and the King of Spain and he was employed by the Queen as her chief Minister and Assistant 2. That the Spanish Ministers by their Emissaries the Jesuits induced the Duke of Norfolk Anno 1572. to undertake dangerous designes against Queen Elizabeth was not doubted of by the wiser sort of those times yea and he was brought to lose his head for it Hist Belg. 3. In the year 1601. the King of Spain by the instigation of Garnet Robert a Jesuit endeavoured to trouble affairs in England but that enterprize being detected vanisht into smoak Metteranus lib. 27. 4. That the King of Spain did direct all his enterprises that by the Jesuits he might molest the affairs and innovate Religion in England so many reiterated designes but most of them being frustrated the writing made against the Jesuits in England 1602. in which among other titles they have this name that they are the King of Spains Trumpeters I cannot forbear to speak of that stupendious Fleet which was sent against England and the Queen Anno. 1588. 5. The King of Spain trecherously thinking to destroy Queen Elizabeth and to possesse himself of the English Nation provided a mighty Navy consisting of one hundred and thirty ships where of Galeasses and Galleons seventy two goodly ships like to floating Towers in which were Souldiers 19290. Mariners 8350. Gally slaves 2080. great Ordnance 2630. On the twentieth of May they weighed Anchor from the River Trigas but were by tempest so miserably disperst that it was long ere they met again But they sent before to the Prince of Parma that he with his Forces consisting of fifty thousand old Souldiers should be ready to joyn with them and with his shipping to conduct them into England and to land his Army at the Thames mouth But God so ordered that partly by distresse of weather and partly by the valour of the English they were driven back with infinite loss and disgrace 6 Fontano a Spaniard with a vast sum of money to wit 50000 Pistols corrupted Doctor Lopez to poyson Queen Elizabeth as the said Lopez himself together with Emanuel Ludovicus Tinotius Stephanus Errera freely confest Thuan. lib. 109. 7. Ibarra attempted the same plot upon the said Queen by Edmond of York Cousin german to him who perfidiously betrayed the Fort of Zutphan to the enemy as also by Richard Williams besides another youth and other complices for which he promised them 40000 Pistols 8. Anno 1601. the Spaniards were brought into Ireland by Hugh Earle of Tiron but were but scurvily entertained there Thuan. lib. 125. 9. When in the year 1603. certain Engglish were taken and executed for a conspiracy against the King Carolus Ligneus Count of Aremberg who was then Embassador there from the Archduke Albert was suspected to have conspired with them Thuan. lib. 129. 10. The King of Spain not long after the death of Mary Queen of Scots ordered the Duke of Parma then Governor of the Low Countries to promise in his name the King of Scotland both men and mony against the Queen of England thereby the more easily to revenge his mothers death And to that end the said Duke sent Robert Bruss a Scotch Gentleman into Scotland with a great deal of money Besides that the Scotch King was put in hope to marry the Infanta of Spain provided that he embrac'd the Roman Religion which was proposed by one William Crichâ—on who then belonged to the Popes Nuntio and had formerly been Rector sometime of the Jesuits Colledge at Lyons and he endeavoured to perswade Bruss either by force or fraud to kill John Metelan High Chancelor of Scotland and because Bruss abhorred so wicked a fact Crichton accused him to Fontano who clapt him up in prison for fourteen moneths together See Hospinian 11. How cunningly some of the Spanish Emissaries endeavoured to perswade James then King of Scotland and afterwards of England too that it was necessary for him to have a league and friendship with the King of Spain saying that it would much advantage him to have the favour of the Spaniards Thuan. lib. 83. 12. The dangerous designes of the Spaniards by the Jesuits and their Emissaries to destroy both the Queen and Kingdom of England Anno 1596. is described by Thuan and others in the English Complaint to Pope Clement the eighth 13. Divers outrages and Acts of hostility have been committed by the Spaniards against the subjects of England in their Colonies of the West Indies 14 Anno 1605. Certain English men being on the North side of Hispaniola were enticed a shore by a Priest named Father John on promise of secure trading were inhumanly and barbarously murthered by the Spaniards The Master was tied naked to a tree and most cruelly pinched and stung to death 15. An. 1608. The Richard of Plimouth trading to Virginia was assaulted by the King of Spains ships and notwithstandding the Master produced the Broad Seal of England he with all the men were condemned to the Gallies where some were with much cruelty beaten to death 16. With what tricks and juggles the Match in Spain between the late King Charles and the King of Spains daughter was treated prolonged and at last quite eluded is sufficiently known to such as were employed in that business So that Spaniards are every where Spaniards CHAP. VIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugall WHen Sebastian King of Portugall Anno 1578. resolved to undertake that Expedition into Africa fatall
with the self same right and to the self same end that the Duke of Parma in his Kings name seized upon the County of Moersen and the like aim had the Spaniards in seizing upon Rheinbergh and other Towns in the Empire 12. With no better seasons did they invade the lower Palatinat the Dutchy of Simmeren and the Bishoprick of Trevirs there they committed the former excesses and prevarications in the Empire and indeed it is but like them to keep Frankental against the express Articles and their promise made to King James of England to restore it to his daughter the King of Bohemiah's Widow But they think it a piece of policie to cheat Kings with oathes as men do children with nutâ— 13. Anno 1598. a Citizen of Groâ—ninghen being taken Letters were found about him to Ezard Earl of East Freezland wherein he was bid by a Courtier of the Archduke Alberts to fly speedily to King Philips protection which was offered him Thuan lib. 122. 14. At the same time by the instigation of King Philips Embassadour and Mendoza a sentence was pronounced against the Citizens of Aquensis Ibid. 15. Anno 1584. when there arose a war between Gebhard Archbishop of Colein and the Colledge the Spaniards instantly thrust themselves into the business however the Emperour and Princes often admonisht the Duke of Parma to withdraw his Souldiers out of the Empire Thuan. lib. 78. 16. Ancellus the French Embassadour in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. sayes In Italy there are few Countries which turn from the Empire under pretext of protection do not groan under the cruel yoak of the Spaniards Nor is Germany to hope better in which the Town of Berk upon the Rheine is already against all right and equity held by a forraign Garrison and the Castle of Starkenburgh in Westphalia is daily fortified with all expedition The excursions of the Spaniards as far as into Hassia these former years are notorious c. Thuan. lib. 118. Germany hath two potent enemies hanging over her head the one the Turk a plundering indefatigable terrible and insuperable Prince the other the Spaniard who craftily and by the ruine of the Princes his Ally's opens his way to the Empire It must be warily considered whether of these two is to be thought the more formidable by comparing the Alcoran with the Spanish Inquisition and whether it be better to have to do with the Eastern or Western Turks The Author of the Exequies of the Pacification of Prague printed at Roterdam 1593. writes that the Spanish Embassador at Ratisbon visited the Electors house by house only like a perpetual Dictator and dictated to their pens what his Kings pleasure was p. 32. and a while after he adds Unlesse the Electors shake off the Lethargy and the Lords of the Chapters in the principal Churches look more attentively to their businesse it will shortly come to that passe That upon the Ecclesiasticall Electors â—ill be obtruded the Albani Farnesii Leopoldi and upon the very Chapters themselves and Collegiat Churches the proud Leirae Vergosii and others of that stuff whose character is sufficiently known in the Belgick History who value as much the Nobility of Germany as Bethleem Gabor did Priscians Rules who having often made the Assembly laugh with his Latine handsomly answered Quid curaremus Priscianum Grammaticum qui non metuimus Imperatorem Romanorum Why should we care for Priscian the Grammarian when we fear not the Emperour of the Romans Idem ibidem p. 33. 17. The Spanish Embassador was wont to brag at the Dyet of Ratisbone that his King maintained three Electors there aâ—d fed thâ—m amongst his Flocks yeâ— and thâ—â— his King Ferdinand ruled the then King of Kings In Exeq. Pacif. Praâ— p. 66. 18. Anno 154â— The Spaniards who marcht under the conduct of Charles 5. assâ—ulting partly by force and partly by cunning the Citie of Constance had already seized upon the Suburbs where after they had committed many outrages being repulst by the inhabitants they fired it and retreated Sleid. lib. 21. Com sui 16. The States of the Empire assembled at Norimbergh 1640 amongst other things earnestly petitioned the Emperour that he would command the Spaniards as disaffected to the Empire to depart from his Councel and assembly of Princes as very well understanding that that Nation uses to fish in other mens Pools the better to obtain their own ends 19. The Princes of Germany did not without ground suspect Charles the fifth as if under pretext of Religion and establishing the Empire he lookt upon his own private advantage and the translation of the Empire by right of inheritance upon his own family Thuan. lib. 107. 20. The Spanish faction highly threatned Matthias K. of Hungary to deter him for giving free exercise of Religion to the Austrians Hungarians whereby it clearly enough appears how much the Spaniards esteem the house of Austria with the rest of the Catholicks and how much they hate them of the Reformed Religion By the same way they over-ruled the Emperour Rodolph for granting liberty of Religion to the Bohemians and Silesians Metteranus lib. 30. Anno 1608 1609. 21. Thomas Campanella a Spanish Fryer in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy c. 5. speaks thus of adding the Empire to the Spanish Kingdomes The Pope must make it his business to excommunicate the three Protestant Electors threatning them that unlesse they return to the Roman Church he will deprive them of their Electoral dignity And then it were better if the King of Spain would get himself chosen Emperour and so invade Germany with a great Host and subdue it but he must do it under pretext of going into Hungary CHAP. VI. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdoms of France AS France is neerest to the Empire in limits so is it also neerest to the plots and tricks which are framed against it by the Spanish Nation For in regard that no kingdom is a greater Remora to the Spanish Monarchy then France therfore do the Spaniards bend all their forces and studies to the conquest thereof insomuch as I could discover the whole Magazine of their plots designs and prevarications against it were I not hindred by other reasons but amongst many it may suffice for the present to bring some few I will silence the warres between Charles Francis because they were publick as also other Martiall differences and will onely touch upon some clancular attempts and such as were exercised secretly and under colour if not of true friendship yet certainly with no shew of open hostility 1. In the first place we meet with the League of the Henotickes who affected to be called Zelots in which action not onely and singly of the Spaniards but a manifold prevarication might be observed of which conspiracy or Holy League as they would needs have it styled the Noble Historian Thuan sayes thus lib. 90. Never was there Portent in France to be compared
conceived For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale to this end were the seditions raysed in Scotland c. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause and in the Dutchy of Cleve Gulick and the Imperial Citie of Aquisgrane Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109. 5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphick Oracle and most infallible prophesie That the last Monarchy shall be fixt in Spain and that for this reason that in regard it came in order from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece and returned for a few years into Asia again under Alexander and his successors at length out of Greece to Rome therefore it necessarily followes that it must be establisht in Spain as being the most Westward of all other Countreys Thuan. lib. 133. 6. The Spaniards for the setling of their Monarchy by warres fraud and other plots destroy as many as are able to oppose them as Anno 1584. when Andino according to most mens opinions was poysoned whereof he being dead the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed by one hired of the Duke of Parma and the Queen of England aimd at by the same Arts at the same time lib. 79. 7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more then by subduing all other Kings and Princes to make themselves Monarchs of the whole Christian world Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118. 8. At the election of Charles the fifth Anno 1519. one of the Episcopall Electors said That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire would hardly restore it again to its liberty Sleidanus 9. The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy do not only permit but allow and perswade even incestuous marriages lest by the division of kingdoms forsooth their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Moreover for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces to streighten their priviledges liberties to impose new taxes and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches to poverty and misery Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60. 11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is to take off all free Elections which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperours and in the kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary yea and by the exclusion of the right heirs to advance their own Kings to kingdoms as in the said kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 69. 13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion his son Philip was troubled at it as if he had not had kingdomes enough even without those Provinces which when the Father observed he comforted him saying Quidvis promittas quid enim promittere laedit That he had indeed promised those Provinces but that there were many by-wayes and tricks to be found out to shun the performance Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 108. 14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon wherein he told them in most eloquent words That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong to get and occupate other kingdomes that so he might come to the long hop'd for Monarchy For it was fâ—r that since there was but one Head namely the Pope in spiritual affairs so there should be also but one namely the King of Spain in temporal and that he was therefore called Catholick because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world Now the wiser sort do justly conceive these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. That the inexpleble covetousnesse of the king of Spain was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine and that they were reputed his enemies by him whosoever should endeavour to stop or hinder his designe to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family Thuan. lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power that they never fail in all their kings dominions to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices and substitute Castillians in their places which more disgusted the Catalonians then any thing else as may be seen up and down in their complaint anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point and especially chap. 34.35 16. Antonio de Leva charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperour and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Dutchy of Milan and himself put in his place Paul Jovius lib. 6. Elog. 17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand to abdicate the Roman Empire and transfer it upon his son Philip or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy and the Low Countreys But Ferdinand answered him That he was called Augustus or the enlarger of the Empire and therefore he could not grant ought thereof to any other Zniegrefius part 1. Apotheg p. 112. 18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperour and answer being made That Europ was like a mans Body and that Spain represented the Head And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperour Livius Fink Graecensis replied If so then Germany wins the day for she is like the Belly and it is clear that the Belly rules all and all obey the Belly Znicgrefius p. 1. Apotheg p. 309. CHAP. XVI The Ambition Arrogance Boasting and Scorn of the Spaniards AS it happened to C. Caesar and Cn. Pompeius that the one could not endure a Superior and the other an Equall so is it also with the Spanish Nation For conceiving themselves only to be Eagles and to fly above the clouds they look upon all others as Dolopes or creepers as they frequently testifie both by their words and deeds When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugall the Spaniards to terrifie the Portuguezes boasted thus That there was no power equall to that of the Spaniards who as often as they had had warres had vanquisht France led the Princes of Germany in triumph put the Turk to flight and freed Maltha from the Barbarians Thuan. lib. 97. 2. King Philip the second after the seizure of Portugall whether justly or unjustly I say not caused money to be coyned with this Inscription Non sufficit orbis Luckius in Nummis p. 279. 3. When the