whereupon they first joyned themselues vnto him This same hath caused in this State so many Republikes as there be Townes amongst whom in a generall decree pluralitie of voices has noe place because that if any one Towne approue it not shee is not bound to obserue it So as he deuised rather to flatter them in their libertie that he might wholly take off their desire to complie with Philip then to propound vnto them good Lawes for to maintaine them in the time of Peace His sonne Maurice brought vp from his infancie in Armes thought principally of the establishing of militarie discipline as the thing then most necessarie to vphold the State wherein he surpassed all the Captaines of his time Insomuch as this State beeing exceeding well grounded for to subsist by warre and as ill to maintaine it selfe in Peace it is euident that the true interest thereof is to continue the Warre According to the interest of each Prince their Ambassadours being assembled at the Hague did worke about The Spaniards make a great difficultie to ratifie the declaration of the Archdukes who acknowledged the States free and soueraigne to the intent to make them better relish the same and that in yeelding they might obtaine of them conditions that would worke their ruine As the graunt of libertie of conscience to Catholikes thereby to make diuisions among them The priuation of trafficke in the Indies and so to make a mutinie by the Marchands the most considerable corporation amongst them Besides the exchange of certaine places most aduantageous to the King of Spaine and most prejudiciall to the said States Maurice earnestly opposed such conditions Bernaueld durst not countenance them France and England perceiuing the venome hidden vnder the same could not digest them In such wise as all Treatie of peace being broken they renew that of a Truce for many yeares Maurice doth his best to hinder it but Bernaueld backed by France and England is the cause they did hearken to it The worke beginnes anew and the Spaniards seeing they could not obtaine the conditions which they desired imagining also their repose to be very necessarie at length they gaue ouer sauing that the Article wich declared the States free and that of trafficke in the Indies were couched so obscurely as they might saue their reputation and interpret them to their owne aduantage as occasion should serue On the other side the French for to induce the States to conclude make a league with them wherein they oblige themselues to giue them pay for tenne thousand Souldiers Specially for to make them keepe the Truce in case it should be broken on the Spaniards side whereupon the Spaniards complaining they were answered that whatsoeuer was done was for their good and that without doing the same nothing could be obtained Maurice for his part yeelds vnto that which he could not hinder conditionally that the Armie might be maintained for the securitie of the State Henry approueth this condition and contributeth to the maintenance of 4000 Foote and 200. Horse So as the Truce was concluded for twelue yeares the States acknowledged free and Soueraigne and their Ambassadours receiued in this qualitie by Princes Thus ended this negociation which lasted two yeares where each one endeauours to deceiue the other and also flatters himselfe with the perswasion of hauing gotten that which he had desired In effect Henry had the most honour in this affaire and the States by his meanes the most profit But he being dead and Louys vpon the Throne at nine yeares of age there was an vniuersall alteration in France For Marie had obtain'd the Regencie and willing to strengthen her authoritie against the Princes of the blood and great ones of the Realme shee procured a disunion amongst them and cast herselfe into the armes of Rome and Spaine beleeuing that shee had then need of the former Power and allwaies of the later insomuch as during the time of her gouernment the true interest of France being abandonned there was taken the contrarie course The Spaniards lost not so good an occasion especially vpon the Low-Countries in the businesse of the Arminians the which Bernaueld seeing himselfe vpheld by France through the practises of Spaine vndertooke to maintaine against the Prince of Orange in such wise as that from a dispute of Religion there was made an affaire of State so pernicious that it was like to ruine this Commonweath Here it was where the Spaniard displayed all his cunning for to make Marie worke in this Country according to his interests He perswaded her that her disunion was aduantageous to her to maintaine her authoritie To the end that shee might not assist the Princes of the blood disontented with her nor the Protestants of France which might joyne with the said Princes He makes her to act a superstitious zeale which is an euill counsellour to those that entertaine it So as the Ambassadours of France vnder the pretēce of zeale to Religion become sollicitours of the affaires of Spaine in Holland They fauour the cause of Bernaueld they foment the diuision within the State they bring it vpon the very brinke of its downefall and had it not beene for the patience and constant courage of Maurice assisted by the souldiers this Republike had runne the hazard to seeme as sonne extinct as borne By that which is aforesaid and by the sequele of affaires one may judge that the true interests of the State of the vnited Prouinces are to maintaine warre against Spaine otherwise it would be ruined of it selfe The interests of France and England are to assist the said State for to giue Spaine this bone to picke The interests of the Germane Princes are to foment the same to the end that by the fall of this burden they likewise be not ouerthrowne And the interests of Spaine are to keepe all the other in broiles amongst themselues or else set them one against another least they should all accord against her Therefore so soone as any of them haue abandonned these maximes their affaires fall to the ground THE FIFTH DISCOVRSE VPON THE affaire about the succession of Cleues and Iulliers SINCE the time of Charles the Fifth Germanie liued very happie so long as shee kept her true interest and whil'st that the Emperour did containe himselfe within the bounds of the lawes of the Empire which ballancing the power thereof with that of the Princes and Republikes of Germanie suffered them not to vsurpe one vpon another The first that forsooke this interest were the Princes Electors in hauing continued the Imperial dignitie without interruption to many of one and the same familie who in tract of time haue raised the same to the prejudice of the Imperiall Lawes the which hath chiefly happened to the house of Austria specially since this house and that of Spaine haue beene both the selfe same thing For seeing her selfe established in so high a dignitie and supported by such a Power shee was willing to be there
vnto them for to disunite them one from another ought to be the bands of their concord and good intelligence This is the true interest of the Princes of Germanie and of the Imperiall townes which they neuer ought to relinquish For without this support they will become the prey of the first Vsurper and their great magazins and stately Arcenalls will serue for a lure to intice those that are Masters of the field There are foure Kingdomes which depend in a manner vpon Germanie and are obliged to follow the fortune of this Country Poland and Hungarie for diuers interrests remaine tyed to the house of Austria Denmarke and Swedeland embrace the partie that maintaines the libertie of Germanie fearing their owne may be in danger after this comes to be oppressed It is requisite that Germanie remaine strictly vnited with both these Realmes But the latter shee can neuer forsake without an eternall blot of ingratitude hauing receiued from thence euen that which was beyond her hopes seeing her selfe allreadie swallowed in the very gulfe of so hard a bondage when this King shewed onely to the world through so many darke clowdes made the Sunne of her deliueraÌ„ce appeare to this desolate Country OF THE INTEREST OF THE SWISSES AND OF THE VNITED PROVINCES of the Low-Countries ON the two sides of Germanie at the entrie of this large Country there are formed two Common-weathes dreadfull amoÌ„gst the other powers of Christendome both for the valour of their people and for the forme of their situation So that very rightly one may call them the two armes of Germanie The right arme is Switzerland the left is the Vnited State of the Low Countries The one is amongst the rockes and precipices the other amongst the Seas and marshes The one domineers in the Alpes and the other in the Ocean The naturall disposition of both these people is so agreeable to the nature of the Countries which they inhabite as that the Swisses seeme made for the Mountaines and the Mountaines for the Swisses The Sea for the Hollanders and the Hollanders for the Sea In Switzer-land euery Canton in the Low-Countries euery Prouince is a Commonwealth The Swisses sell the libertie of their bodies to others and doe guard the libertie of their country the HollaÌ„ders gaâ—d their owne libertie intire Long peace hath enriched those but these flourish by the continuation of warre The interest of the Swisses is Peace but the Hollanders should hold for an assured maxime to be alwaies in Armes These two Republikes cannot make better alliance for their subsistence then with France who to oppose Spaine does enrich the Suisses with her money and supports the Hollanders with her Counsell and Armes These two Powers should neuer be diuided betwixt themselues either through iealousie or Religion since these are the sole maladies that may extinguish them OF THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND ENgland which is as a little world apart had not any thing to doe with other Princes but onely so far as the necessitie of commerce did oblige her which was then her true interest For thereby shee gained great riches which together with her situation haue made her of very great account But since that vnder the shadow of that misterious mariage betweene PHILIP and MARIE the practises of Spaine are insensibly slipped in England which before had maximes conformable to her owne selfe is by litle and litle accommodated sometimes to the interest of France and sometimes to the interest of Spaine Queene ELIZABETH who by her prudent gouernment has equall'd the greatest Kings of Christendome shee knowing well the disposition of her State beleeued that the true interest thereof consisted First in holding a firme vnion in it selfe atcheiuing to smother the reliques of precedent factions deeming as it is most true that England is a mightie Animal which can neuer dye except it kill it selfe Shee grounded this fundamentall maxime to banish thence the exercise of the Romane ReligioÌ„ as the onely meanes to breake all the plots of the Spaniards who vnder this pretext did there foment RebellioÌ„ And allthough shee professed her selfe very much obliged to Philip towards whoÌ„ shee bare euer a speciall regard neuerthelesse shee had so carefull a consideration of the interest of her State that shee beleeued it was neuer fitt to conclude a peace with him for three very euident reasons The first was for to weaken the power that shee suspected in the Indies The second for to enrich her Realme by depredations The third thereby to make her Subjects warlike and keep them in perpetuall exercise for Sea-fight which is the defence of the Kingdome Shee beleeued that the interest of her Estate was to aide France and releeue it least that by the fall thereof shee suffer those to waxe great from whom shee had cause to defend her selfe By the same maxime Shee supported the springing libertie of the Vnited-Prouinces whose protection against the puissance of Spaine is one of the principall points of Englands interest as well because shee thereby weakens a too powerfull Neighbour as for that Protection serues sometimes for a step to reach some higher matter Shee held most strait intelligences with the Protestants of France for reasons alltogether peculiar to England Shee did the same though for other respects with the Protestants of Germanie By all these maximes this wise Princesse has very well made knowne to her Successours that besides the Interest which the King of England has common with all Princes he has yet one particular which is that He ought throughly to acquire the aduaÌ„cement of the Protestant Religion euen with as much zeale as the King of Spaine appeares Protectour of the Catholike For this effect England should haue intelligences throughout where soeuer it is fitting and take part in all the Treaties that are made with Protestant Princes Shee should likewise be allwaies armed to become thereby considerable Here is the true interest of England which being well followed will establish a third Puissance in Christendome THE SECOND PART OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES AND STATES of Christendome AFTER the stablishing of the true interest of each Prince and State it ought to be made appeare by the recitall of the principall affaires agitated in Christendome for the space of fifth yeares past how the ill successes that haue therein happened proceeded not from any other cause then the neglecting of the said interest For to teach vs that in matter of State one ought not to suffer himselfe to be led by inordinate desires which carrie vs oftentimes to vndertake things beyond our strength nor by violent passions which doe diuersly trouble vs according as wee are possessed therewith nor by superstitious opinions whereby ill-conceiued scruples are ministred vnto vs but rather by our proper interest guided by reason aloÌ„e which ought to be the rule of our actions to the end that by such examples wee seeing as in a mirrour the faultes of others may thereby benefit our selues THE FIRST
perpetuated and because shee would not be violently incountred hereafter shee has essayed to put downe those who had lawfull right to interrupt that course endeauoring likewise to lift vp her selfe by abolishing the lawes of the Empire and by vsurping the principall States and Townes thereof The first euident occasion that has manifested in our time this designe was vpon the succession of Cleues and Iulliers which happened in the beginning of March the yeare 1609. occasioned by the death of Iohn William who hauing noe children of his owne left this goodly heritage to his foure sisters married to the Elector of Brandebourg to the Duke of Neubourg to the Duke of Deu ponts and to the Marquesse of Turgaw The first of these laied claime to the succession entire as indiuisible hauing married the eldest The second makes the same claime because the eldest sister died before the brother and his wife was the eldest of the sisters liuing The two other say that it ought to be equally parted betwixt them all foure Moreouer the Electour of Saxonie reuiued an old title and also the Duke of Neuers another Brandebourg and Neubourg enter in possession the Emperour becomes offended thereat pretending that the whole heritage ought to be sequestred into his hands and each of them to vndergoe his ordinance He sends thither Leopold a Prince of hie owne House who seiseth on Iulliers the principall fortresse of the Country The Princes that were in possession seeing such an obstacle judged well that this sequestration tended to an vsurpation and not thinking themselues able enough to resist in regard of the neighbourhood of Flanders and of the best forces of Spaine who in an occasion so aduantageous for the House of Austria would not faile to helpe her kinseman they haue recourse to those who were principally interessed to impeach the amplification of the said House They rallie to their defence France England and the Low-countries with the most part of the Protestant Princes of Germanie who made such a mightie warlike prouision to recouer Iulliers seised by the said Leopold that notwithstanding the vnexpected death of Henry which happened before the execution yet the designe was happily accomplished Spaine not daring to oppose it One may see in this affaire euery one 's true interest That of the Emperour was to make vse of the occasion to catch hold of such an Estate in Germanie That of the King of Spaine to assist him therein as well for the principall end which is the aduancement of the whole House as for the neighbourhood of the said State to Flanders That of the lawfull successours was to maintaine their owne right That of the Germaine Princes not to suffer that Power whereof they were jealous to be strengthened by their owne weakening And the interests of France England and Holland were not to permit the amplifying of all the House of Austria Hitherto euery one played his game aright but Marie for to support the interests of Spaine that promised her to maintaine hers euen to the end abandonneth those of France and againe secondeth the trouble about this succession The occasion was offred by the imprudence of the Princes that held the possession which caused the King of Spaine to reattempt the businesse The sonnes of Brandebourg and Newbourg did joyntly gouerne this faire Estate The forteresses were guarded by equall garrisons they dwelt in the same Pallace and managed their affaires with one common hand But this lasted not long it being no easie matter to gouerne a State long time after this manner without dissension especially between two Princes of diuerse houses where there is also diuersitie of Religion They beganne to enter into jealousie one of another Those that were friends to them both and interessed in their subsistence perceiuing the same and fearing least their misintelligence should increase perswaded them to make an alliance together Newbourg agrees thereto goes to the Electour Brandebourg and requires of him his daughter in marriage But as the best meates being corrupted turne into the strongest poison so in the most wholesome counsell giuen to these Princes to confirme their amitie there was found occasion of a most implacable hatred which caused the ruine of them both in the said succession For whil'st they were in the deboshes of their feastes the Electour vpon some discourse that did not please him offended Newbourg so farre euen in his owne house and at the table as to giue him a boxe on the eare for which he would not afterward make him any teasonable satisfaction In such wise that in stead of a wife he carries backe an offence so engrauen in his heart as he admitteth noe other counsell but that of reuenge This spirit thus exasperated being vpon returne to Cleue-land it was easie for the Spaniards to gaine him to them They made meanes to marrie him with the sister of the Duke of Bauaria perswaded him to turne Catholike for to make all the Catholike league of Germanie to be on his side they take him into protection and giue him a pension The vnited States seeing how prejudiciall this change would be to them they supported Brandebourg These Princes from suspicions doe come to attempts Newbourg seiseth on Dusseldorp Brandebourg on Iulliers from whence the King of Spaine takes a pretexte to stirre and armeth powerfully to recouer the same The States on the other side prepare to defend it They furnish it with men and munition fitt to sustaine a great siege The true interests of France being forsaken they had nothing from thence but words and Embassages England seeing France had giuen off was contented to doe the like in sending her Embassadours The Princes of Germanie seeing themselues forsaken of these two Crownes and diuided amongst themselues both by Religion and by the different affections that they bore to those two Princes they therefore stirre not at all Spaine finding now noe other opposition but onely from the vnited States prosecuteth her intentions and whilst shee amuseth the Ambassadours of these two Kings shee sends Spinola into the country with a puissāt Armie who in stead of setting vpon Iulliers which was then but a rude entreprise he goes to inuade the States he passeth the Rhine assaults and takes wezel within foure dayes Maurice seeing this exploit he delayes no longer leaues the Ambassadours in their negociation takes Rez and Emerik and at length a thing neuer before seene these two Armies seize vpon this heritage without impeachment one of another without breaking the Truce and also without making any skirmish at all For when one of these Captaines had possessed a place the other still retired not pretending any thing there So as he that was most diligent made the most progression The reason of this gentle dealing was because Spinola knew well the Armie of Maurice to be better then his owne Maurice likewise well vnderstood that the safeguard of the States consisted in the subsistence of his Armie So as he beleeued he
should come off with honour enough to diuide this spoyle with the King of Spaine without exposing any thing to danger Is is now easie to judge that the ruine of the Princes which were in the possession proceeded from hence viz. Because that Newbourg forsaking his true interest to follow his passion cast himselfe into the armes of Spaine Because the Protestant Princes of Germanie not considering their true interest did not stirre at all likewise because France embracing not the interest of Maurice forsooke her owne and for that England did the like with France On the other side the aduantage that Spaine and the Low-Countries haue gotten in this conquest proceeded hence for that both the one and the other were entirely fixed vpon their true interest THE SIXT DISCOVRSE VPON THE Election of the Count Palatine to the Kingdome of Bohemia IF the quantitie of set battailes or the number of the personnes slaine or the reuolution of sundrie States or the qualitie of the Princes interessed or the length of the time might make a Warre memorable then that which Germanie now suffers is in the highest degree since that there are giuen already more then fifteene battailes three hundred thousand men haue lost their liues in the same almost all the States of Germanie haue thereby changed their condition and their Masters all the Princes of Europe haue taken an interest therein and it is now fourteene yeares since the warre begunne without being yet ended The occasion thereof happened through the rejection of Ferdinand of Austria from the Kingdome of Bohemia and the Election of the said Kingdome conferred on the personne of Frederic Count Palatine of Rheine The first would establish himselfe in a dignitie which he beleeued was vnjustly taken fron him The second would maintaine himselfe in the Kingdome as being justly chosen thereunto The first would make it a businesse of Religion thereby to interest all the Catholike Princes of Europe in the same The second would shew that it was nothing else but a State-warre that he might interest in the same all those by whom the greatnesse of Spaine was suspected But for to judge well of this great commotion one ought to remount a little higher It is certaine that since the warre which happened about the succession of Cleues and Iulliers Germanie was as it were deuided in two factions and in imitation of the Catholikes the Protestants also had made a League whereof the Prince Elector Palatine was chosen Chiefe as the Duke of Bauaria had beene of the other The pretence which euery one tooke for the defence of his Religion did agrrauate the matter amongst them And the secure peace which this nation had enjoyed a long time did not permir her following the reuolution of this world to abide thus any longer There wanted onely an occasion to make her bandie against her selfe The Bohemians present this occasion whether it were by reason of their naturall ficklenesse or for being ill treated in the libertie of their consciences or else through some discontentment of the principall men amongst them or for all these reasons together they reject Ferdinand their King and choose Frederick in his place And for to render themselues so much the more irreconcilable with him in the full assembly of the States they cast those of his partie out of the windowes This action arriued in the yeare 1619. after which euery one tooke armes The Protestants were the forwardest for they were alreadie prepared to it and attended onely the bruit of this Election to beginne the game Amongst those who tooke part with Frederick he that brought the most powerfull assistance was Betheleem Gabor who from an ordinarie Gentleman being made Prince of Transiluania and fearing the house of Austria which had alwaies endeauored to appropriate this State he put himselfe into the protection of the Turk for to secure the same and finding so faire an opportunitie to depresse this House his interest suffered him not to loose it The vnited Prouinces not to be wanting to their interest doe here contribute on their part The King of Denmarke for the same reason and also for his honour and reputation assisteth his Nephew King Iames more interessed then he forgetteth his interest concerning his Sonne in law The King of France likewise drawes backe and stands newter At this beginning Ferdinand is ill handled and reduced to great extremities Here Spaine seeing that shee must venture her share to or else loose both her hopes and reputation shee spares nothing but vseth all manner of meanes In Germanie shee vrgeth the Elector of Saxonie against the Palatine in point of honour shee remonstrates vnto him that he holds his Electorship of the house of Austria and that he cannot maintaine it without her At Rome shee perswades the Pope that her losse is the ruine of the Catholike Religion and the meanes to make all Christendome a prey to the Turk insomuch as the Pope abandonning his true interest takes part with her fournisheth both men and money and laboureth to declare the other Catholike Princes for her defence In England shee easily entertaines King Iames in his peaceable inclination In France by the Nuntio's helpe shee gaineth the Duke de Luine who hauing vsurped neere Loüys the authoritie that Marie had there possessed he tooke also the same maximes supporting himselfe by Spaine which neuer faileth in such occasions to maintaine those who distrusting their owne worth seeke their securitie out of the Realme So as the interest of a Fauorite being preferred before that of the State they assist Spaine But to the end that it might be with more profit and lesse noise they vndertake an agreement they send Embassadours to both parties they amuse the Protestants with faire hopes they make them loose the opportunitie of a victorie which they had in hand and they induce them to disarme In the meane while the Catholikes hauing this time for respite strengthen themselues on all sides take their aduantage prosecute their former designes and by gaining the battaile of Prague wholly ruine their ennemies In this reuolution of affaires Spaine makes good vse of the victorie continues her intelligences amongst her Neighbours that shee might not be diuerted in her conquests and joynes her forces of Flanders to those of Italie for to become absolute Mistresse of the Empire Feare and corruption interpose amongst the Princes of Germanie and the Imperiall Townes Euery one hasteth to submit himselfe to the yoake distrusting least he should not be time enough receiued there The Counsellours of Princes and Magistrates of Common-wealthes are corrupted by money and all contribute to forge the irons of their owne bondage This kind of proceeding makes the King of Denmarke feare least the firing of Germanie consume him he takes the defence thereof and goes into the field but is vanquished looseth part of his dominions and for to recouer it againe is constrained to make a dishonourable peace The Transiluanian seeing this disorder maketh his
peace likewise but so much the better by reason of the Turk's protection Here was the issue of the second reuolution of the affaires of Germanie which proceeded chiefely from this that France prostituted her interest to the greatnesse of Spaine Wee should come now to the third reuolution It is oftentimes more difficult to gouerne ourselues well in great prosperitie then in aduersitie because that the one ingenders neglect and lulles vs in idlenesse but the necessitie of the other keeps vs waking and makes vs search the meanes of our restauration Such was the case of the House of Austria who seeing herselfe from such a heauie blow authorised beyond her hopes absolute Mistresse of Germanie of innumerable armies entertained at the cost of her ennemies France not stirring against her proceedings and besides imbroiled in Ciuill warres England yet forgetting her interest Holland hauing enough to doe to conserue her owne and Italie without appearance of being able to defend it selfe Shee therefore feareth nothing but despiseth all in such wise as without hiding any more her designe vnder the pretence of Religion wherewith shee had so well serued her purpose euen to the present shee openly inuades the Territories of the Duke of Mantua being a great Catholike vaunting shee could not suffer a Prince that was French borne to possesse any State in Italie which is the first remarkable errour that shee committed against her owne interest For this vsurpation gaue all the Princes of Italie to vnderstand that the tempest would come whirling vpon them insomuch as the Duke of Mantua was assisted by the most resolute amongst them Louys cannot digest this affront and being assisted with a Counsell whose prudence and resolution was necessarie in such a perillous conjunction of affaires he fortunately imployed his Armes in his defence Which was the first occasion of importance wherein he recouered the vsage of his true interest But seeing that diuersions in Germanie were needfull for him and not finding the same amongst the Germains being oppressed with the burden of so grieuous a subjection he goes to seeke them in the cold Northerne parts The renowne of Gustavus King of Swede-land had beene carried euen vnto him This Prince his desire of glorie made him easily surmount any difficulties he could imagine likewise his vast and great designes he surpassed as it were by such a courage in execution as made him not dishearken to any enterprise The conquests of Walstein Generall of the Emperour's armie vpon the Balticke sea and the prouisions which he made to render himselfe Master there made the King of Swede-land know that he might well be in suspicion of the House of Austria and that his interest was to oppose the same He therefore allieth himselfe with France and prepares to enter into Germanie for to deliuer it from the thraldome whereunto it was reduced Here is the second fault that Spaine committed against her true interest to wit the contemning of this Prince For whilst that on the one side he enters into Germanie the Emperour at the sollicitation of the King of Spaine sendeth his best troupes into Italie against the Duke of Mantua which welmost all perished there without any great effect And the successe of Gustavus in Germanie was such as that those of the Emperour's side and the Spaniards were faine to conclude a peace in Italie with the French at the expence of what they had gotten and of that reputation whereof they make so great esteeme for to draw back the remainder of their scattered troupes to the succour of Germanie leauing in the hand of the French Cazal for a place of armes in Italie and Pignerol as a port to enter therein So as the desire to conquer Italie before they were well assured of the conquest of Germanie made them loose both the one and the other This happie exploite of Loüys made him acknowledge his former errours and wholly embrace his true interest He deliuers the Grizons from their seruitude diuerteth the vnited States from accepting a Truce maintaineth the Swedish partie notwithstanding the death of Gustavus defendeth the Electour of Trâ—â—â—s against the persecutions of the Spaniards and chastiseth the Duke of Lorraine for adhering to the Emperour In a word he does brauely recouer his place which his ill Counsellours had made him forgoe Pope Vrbâ—n seeing himselfe deliuered from the apprehension of the Spaniards and Germains hauing likewise vnderstood by the inuasion made vpon the Duke of Mantua that they would deale noe otherwise with the Catholike States then with the Protestants he thereupon opposeth them The Republike of Venice that considers better then any other State what belongs to her true interest and which neuer failes but in too much circumspection as ordinarily those Common wealthes doe which are not founded by Armes shee continueth neuerthelesse her assistance to the Duke of Mantua Amedis Duke of Sauoye receiuing instruction by the danger that he and his Father were in to loose their Estates through neglecting their true interest does now rejoyne himselfe to France The other Princes of Italie seeing the aide of France could be noe impeachment to them let goe the apprehension which they had of the Spaniards The Germane Princes and Imperiall Townes seeing themselues supported by the armes of France and Swedeland assisted by the diuersion of their other allies and reassured by the prosperous successe of their affaires they take courage againe England alone as if shee were in another world remaines without medling at all On the other side Spaine failes not to animate her cause takes vp againe the pretence of the Catholike Religion which shee had as it were left off and perceiuing the errour shee committed thereby crieth more then euer against the Protestants exceedingly vrgeth the Pope to haue of him his money and his fulminations maketh much of the Venetians courteth the English intertaineth dissension in the house Royall of France mightily endeuoureth to draw the vnited Prouinces to a Truce laboureth to disengage the Duke of Saxonie from the Swedish partie neither is shee cast off by any repulse And yet notwithstanding shee spares neither men nor money for to raise new armies to oppose her ennemies In briefe necessitie has reduced euery one to follow his true interest which is the reason that in this last reuolution the contestation about these affaires is of longer continuance THE SEVENTH DISCOVRSE VPON THE commotions that happened in Italie for the succession of the Dutchies of Mantua and Montferrat ITALIE enjoyed a profound peace and fouÌ„d it selfe wholly exempt from suspicioÌ„s which are woÌ„t to disturbe the repose of States when on a sudaine happened the death of Francis Duke of Mantua which one may say produced the seeds of all those troubles that haue at seuerall times since disrested this Country For Charles Emanuel Duke of Sauoye quarrelling in right of his grand child Marie for tâ—e Dutchie of Montferrat with Ferdinand so inkindled the fire of warre in Italie as since it was neuer so