avaricious thirst with the fair pretence of publick peace they are no less intent upon the usurping of other mens Dominions then were the Persians of old who aspiring at the oppression of Greece demanded a little water and some few clods of earth for no other end but that upon denial they might have some colourable pretence to make War upon them and tyrannically to subjugate them If then the safety and dignity of all Italy be indanger to be ruined by the abasing of my Master by the suppression of Piedmont will this Commonwealth contrary to her custom contrary to the constitutions and examples of her Predecessours stand idle spectators of other mens miseries careless lookers upon the common danger and calamity shall she sleep and be drown'd in a dull Lethargy which confesseth that she continually watcheth over and stands sentinel to the common liberty the Romans did of old make War and sent forth powerful Armies against Philip King of Macedon and Antiochus King of Asia not out of any desire of acquisition or of inlarging their Empire not out of any hatred to those Kings nor to revenge any injuries received from them but only to free the Grecians from the tyranny of those Princes but out of Roman generosity which could not suffer that those people who had been anciently born and who had long lived freed and masters of themselves should be subjected by barbarous Kings And yet Greece was a Nation far distant from Rome much differing from the Romans in Laws Customs Language and Religion so as the Romans needed not to have cared much for their Country nor Condition nor been much moved at their misery and will you who represent that ancient and august Commonwealth to the life in Wisdom Actions and much more in generosity of Mind refuse to assist in the freeing not of a Province or forreign Nation but of this which was anciently the Paincess of Provinces which is your Mother your Country the seat of your Empire and of the Majesty of your Common-wealth from whose dignity safety and freedom you reap so much splendor and security but why make I use of so remote examples when there are not wanting those which are fresher and more sutable to the times and present occurrences it is not much above 400 years since Italy and particularly all that which lies between the Apenine and the Alps being oppress'd by the Dutch Empire many of the Cities of Lombardy took courage to shake off the yoke of that fierce Nation so as joyning in League wherein your Ancestors having manfully for many years made War with Germany which had her foot upon their necks the peace of Constance did insue by which nothing remained to the Germans but the bare name of Supream Empire and the Italians repossest themselves of their so much desired liberty Shall not that then which made so many people disperst in so many Cities oppress'd by so severe a yoke able to venture for and to atchieve liberâ—…y be sufficient now to associate some few and free Chieftains will it not be able to infuse courage into free great and powerful Princes and ascertain them that the same thing begun with more prosperous presage shall have a more fortunate end shall peradventure the doubt of success make you hesitate whose fore-fathers dâ—…d manfully withstand the Forces of so many Princes joyn'd together against them shall the Commonwealth of Venice be afraid of Spain which being without either King or Government drown'd in luxury and riches and divided into so many parts and Regions as that the vastness of its Empire doth counterpoise or injure it self should it fear to resist that power against which the Hollanders who were then but a weak people did rebel and of Subjects have made themselves freemen of slaves Lords nothing can appear really difficult to generously minded men The Duke of Savoy hath no sooner sacrificed his State and Life in so laudable an enterprize but immedâ—…tely the French despising their Kings commands are come in to his aid and will very suddenly appear in greater numbers Nor will he want assistance from Holland and England as also from many of the German Princes who favour my Master and are tacitely confederated with him if for no other end at least to abate so great a surquedry and so odious a pride and shall not that which works upon forreigners prevail with this Commonwealth which to boot with the same Reasons is incited so to do by the safety of her friends by the protection which she professeth to take of the oppressed and which imports most by the imminent danger of her own liberty but if peâ—…adventure so great and important occasions should contrary to the expectation of all men be so little considered by her as in so urgenâ—… a necessity she should not defend the common interest think I beseech you what opinion will be had of her wisdom what esteem will be put upon her generosity and grandezza what will the other Italian Princes say who being anxious for the common interest what the end of the War of Piedmont will prove depend upon your Authority knowing that the safety of their Dominions and fortune depends upon your Counsels and Resolves Who doubts that our Princes shall no sooner know your inclination shall no sooner see the Venâ—…tian Colours display'd and that the people who are subject to the Spaniards shall no sooner see your arms glister but that those wearied with their pride and these vexed with their unsupportable tyranny will move and will expose themselves their children and all that is dear unto them to enjoy that dignity that golden liberty whereunto these Skies and this Country doth invite them Make use then of this so fair so rare and so opportune an occasion wherein all Italy all Europe is concerned which being imbraced by the Duke my Master gives assured signes of happy success Mark I beseech you how he accompanied but with a handful of men hath quickly cooled their threats hath at the first push turn'd their intentions of oppugning Piedmont into care of fortifying themselves in the State of Millain One small Victory one brush given them will throw them down headlong from that height from whence they with such arrogancy pretend to prescribe Laws to Italy will alienate their friends from them will put heart into their Subjects and make them see upon how weak foundations this their vast Monarchy is built And they losing their courage wherewith in their prosperity they are so puft up will yield to us the glory of so gallant an action whereby to boot with our natural liberty we shall purchase perpetual and immortal praise to our posterity These words were as attentively listened unto as efficaciously spoken by the Embassadour who being dismiâ—…d with general words the business was propounded in the Consiglio de Pegâ—…di where a Senator stood up worthy for the acuteness of his wit and for his affection to his Country of all those Honours which
a friend to them all insinuating the Popes Brother or Nephew Proposals which he listened very willingly unto as being much inclined to the exaltation of his kindred but they were mightily abhor'd by others particularly by the Venetians who grew as suspicious of the Pope after the Marriage as they were confiding in him before for the constancy which he profess'd in the common Cause To this was added That the Principality of the Valtoline being of it self but weak and lying open towards the State of Millain it would too necessarily depend upon the Spanish Authority and if this were not satisfactory in any other person the Venetians must needs abhor it in the Popes Nephews by reason of the Wives Estate held in Fee which being by the Marriage to fall unto the Lodovisian Family and to be annexed to his person who should be Prince of the Valtoline they were too pregnant proofs of the necessary dependance of that Principality upon the Crown of Spain Neither could the French though they stormed at the Popes alteration any ways resent it the business being by the Covenants of the Depositure reduced from Forces to Treaty wherein the French were to carry themselves cunningly lest they might exasperate the Pope and alienare him the more from their Kings interests The Treaty of Marriage which was near concluding between the Prince of England and the Infanta Maria Sister to the King of Spain did not a little trouble the French and suppress their pretentions which Treaty being one of the most memorable and signal Negotiations of those times and for that it was also of great concernment in the present Occurrences it will not be unnecessary nor will it swerve from our present Narration to give you a short account of it The King of Spain being deeply concern'd in the Bohemian wars did not only send men and monies to the Emperour through the Valtoline before it was deposited but commanded Marquess Spinola his Captain General in Flanders and in the Low-Countries to enter the Palatinate and wage war there in the Emperours name In obedience whereunto Spinola with incredible speed and prosperity possessed almost the whole Palatinate and suppressing the Forces of the numerous Army of the Protestant Princes associated in assistance of the Palatinate who durst not give him Battel forced them at last to forsake the Palatinate upon the Rheine and to receive Law from him By which prosperous success the parts of the Palatinate and of the other Confederates being overcome they were afterwards totally ruined by the Emperours Army and by that of the Catholick League in Germany for these two Armies jointly entering Bohemia and joining Battel with the Palatines Army before Prague they routed it totally and the Palatine having lost his new Kingdom and all hopes of regaining it he fled with his Wife Daughter to the King of England towards Holland that he might go from thence to his Father in Law and obtain favour from him or at least monies to recover his Paternal Estate which was possess'd and confiscated by the Emperour for Rebellion and high Treason The King of England could never be drawn to approve of his Son in Law 's resolution of accepting the Crown offered him by the Bohemians and professing that he could not with a just conscience assist him in that Cause which he thought to be unjust and a pernitious example to all Princes forbore sending aid or succour to him which he did profess at first and with miraculous constancy and faith made good unto the last whereby he deserved very well of the Emperour and of the House of Austria who were so deeply concern'd in those Revolts But afterwards commiserating the exile of his Son in Law Daughter and Grand-children and yet resolving not to assist their afflicted Country by Arms nor by joining with the other Princes of Germany who prepared to repair the Prince Palatine with new forces he thought he should be able to do him better service by Negotiation wherein he had placed no small hopes by marrying his own and only Son to the Infanta of Spain and by his having deserved so well of the House of Austria And unusual means being to be used in unusual enterprises he with a sudden and very secret resolution sent his only Son to the Court of Spain to desire in his own person the Infanta for his Wife thinking that by the Authority of his Sons presence and by his generous shew of honouring that King he should cut off all difficulties and hinderances which might obstruct a business of so high concernment And that the Court of Spain being overcome by so magnanimous a favour should not only consent unto the Marriage but in savour thereunto restore the Palatinate which the Prince intended to demand and hoped to obtain amidst the Festivals and Jollities of the Royal Marriage The Prince of England departing from England privately past with a very small attendance disguised through France and came to Madrid before the knowledge of his departure and of so strange a resolution was arrived there The King and the whole Court being astonished and confused at the arrival of such a Guest knew not whether they were to be glad of the Princes coming in respect of the great Honour they received thereby or to be sorry for it being necessitated to grant him whatsoever he should desire though peradventure they were not thereunto well inclined Yet being received with all the demonstrations of Honour and with the greatest applause that might be he found a first very good correspondency of good will in the King and in the whole Court and already desire to please him in what concern'd the Match and for what concern'd the Palatine such demonstrations were used as he had reason to conceive hopes that he should obtain his whole desire by that voyage As for the Marriage all difficulties giving way to the Authority and presence of the Prince the point of Religion was the only Remora wherein the King of Spain desiring much satisfaction many debates were had about it But at last the English being desirous of a conclusion consented to whatsoever the Spaniards did demand so as the Marriage was held as good as concluded and for such divulged Very rich Presents past between the Prince and his Mistress as an earnest-penny of the future Marriage and many signs of rejoycing and of reciprocal affection and union past between the two Crowns There rested only one scruple on the King of Spains part which delayed the Consummation which growing daily greater became an invincible difficulty and afterwards reverst the whole business and did wholly defeat it For the King of Spain desirous to proceed cautiously in so weighty a business and which was on his side irretractable required security for the performance of what was agreed upon And the King of England offering his Princely Word and Solemn Oath which was all that he could offer or the other could pretend unto the King of Spain was
Chamber in defence of the Valtoline which did appertain little or nothing to the Church but spare them for the eminent danger of the State of Urbine which speeches being accompanied with some other favourable Demonstrations to the French did trouble the Spaniards and made them very circumspect in the business of Urbino lest the Pope to make a greater conjunction with the King of France might probably precipitate the business of the Valtoline and yet being naturally very considerate he had two Consultations about the business of the Valtoline of the most conspicuous Theologists of the Court and most exemplary for holiness of life who having discus'd the business were of opinion that the Pope ought not to permit Catholicks to return under the yoke of Hereticks out of the evident danger of their souls which belonging to the Flock of our Saviour Christ it became him according to the Gospel to defend them like a good Shepherd from the Wolves though with the hazard of his own life Thus did the Affairs of the Valtoline alter out of several respects in that Court just like the ebbing and flowing of the Sea and the Pope not being resolved what to do in it that he might hold them both in hand temporized and delai'd his resolution but the French who whilst Gregory lived were quiet when they had a Pope who was their friend began to rouse up and to pretend that the Valtoline the Forts being demolished was to return under the Grisons command nor did they admit of any exception unless that for what concern'd the safety of the Catholick Religion the Pope should be the determiner this they said was dictated by the first Capitulations at Madrid and thus Reason and the King of France his Obligation to Protect the Grifons did require they persisted the more in these pretentions for that they saw their affairs were much altered for in the Spanish Court instead of alliance enmity with the English was increased the Spanish Army in Flanders and all the Forces of those States were busied before Breda a very strong Town of the Hollanders both for Situation Fortification and for its being triple fenced by water the taking of it was held impossible the Siege very long and of uncertain success the Hollanders having raised a strong Army to relieve it The Affairs of that Court had had but bad success in the Indies and in America for Ormuz a very strong Town situated in the mouth of Persia a principal place for Merchandize and of great annual revenue and of greater concernment for the command of the East-Indies was taken by those Barbarians they being assisted by English shipping the Baja de todes santos or All Saints Bay the chiefest staple Town of Brasile being perhaps in pursuance of the League of Avignon assaulted by a Holland Fleet was taken and sack'd which having had booty thâ—…re to the value of above two Millions of Ducates fortified themselves there intending further progress these were two mighty blows to the Crown of Spain which did oblige that King to send a powerful Army as he did to recover them and to boot that the event of these Affairs was uncertain they required great store of shipping multitudes of men and money nor were the wars of Germany yet wholly at an end for many Rebels of the Empire and whose Forces seemed rather to increase then to lessen did molest it in several places for the King of Denmark in conformity to the League at Avignon came into the Field very strong and had made himself head of the Protestant Princes who took up Arms against the Emperour to restore the Palatine to his Patrimonial State and who made great progress in the lower Germany On the contrary the Affairs of France which till now had been full of troubles and civil wars seemed to be brought into a safe Harbour and by several accidents to be in a better condition the King of England having broken the match with Spain had concluded a Marriage between his Son the Prince of Wales and a Sister to the King of France who was yet unmarried and joyning in League with him promised great things against the interest of Spain both by Sea and Land answerable to the League of Avignon and the tumults of France were either totally composed or it was in the Kings power to end them which accidents concurring at the same time were able to incite any Prince to novelties though never so much an enemy thereunto much more the King of France and French Nation who were so far interessed and ingaged in the business of the Valtoline and therefore though after many Consultations had in Rome between the Embassadours of Spain and France of themselves and afterwards with the Pope the Pope put forth at last some Articles touching the security in point of Religion amongst those of the Valtoline whereunto the Embassadour did agree and made others between themselves in their Kings name whereby the Valtoline when the Forts should be demolished was to return to be under the Grisons but with some Articles Conditions and upon pain of Escheat in case of swarving from the agreement and particularly with leave for the King of Spain to pass men thorow it yet the King of France accepting only those that were propounded by the Pope did absolutely refuse those that were agreed upon by the Embassadour and being highly offended with the Commandator Sillery who was his Embassadour he sent Monsieur di Bittune to succeed him and sent for Sillery back to France and did not only deprive him of his favour but removed his Brother who was Lord Chancellor and the Chancellors Son who was Secretary of State together with other of their dependants from their imployments being apprehensive as was said that they held some secret intelligence with the Court of Spain and being incensed against the King of Spain desired the Pope that he would either cause the Forts to be demolished or else restore them to the King of Spain to the end that he might make way to their demolishment without offence to the Apostolick See but the Articles of depositure withstood the demolishing and the restitution was gainsaid for fear of raising new wars between the two Kings so as look with how much more circumspection it became the Pope to proceed in his resolves so much more did the fervency of the French increase who not brooking any delay and seeing things in a way for war furthered the execution of the League and the preparations for all things requisite for what was resolved on But the Marriage which was just at this time in hand between Prince Phileberto of Savoy and Princess Maria Daughter to Francis late Duke of Mantua did either totally hinder or at least retard for the present the effects of so great a combination by which Treaty the Duke of Savoy who if he were not the head was a principal member of this League was diverted from the common Counsels The Spaniards had
were removed for levelling them at the Monastery and beating down the Steeple it slew many of the defendants with the fall thereof he infused such terrour into the rest who returned tumultuously into Pieve leaving that station in the Princes power their example was immediately followed by the rest of the Guards so as the Prince being master of the Field sate down presently before the Town which being by so unexpected a chance fuller of confusion then order and the Walls not being fit for battery the Captain began to Parley and having the word of one of the Dukes Captains given him that he might march out he not minding who it was that gave it or what power he had to give it was presently made Prisoner and it being given out amongst them that were within that for fear of troubling of the Treaty they should put out their Matches the Besiegers approach'd the Wall without resistance and beating down the Gate with a Beam of Wood they entred the Town and those within fled away by another little Gate that was towards the Sea but they mist of their design which was to escape for that other Gate being presently possess'd by the Princes Souldiers many of them throwing themselves down from the Walls which were not very high in that part were some of them slain by the Musketiers who were placed on the out side and other some perish'd in their falling down here was the greatest slaughter of the best men to the number of 200 but those that kept within the Town met with more mercy for the Town being taken whilst the surrender was in Treaty the Prince provided for the peoples safety and the Souldiers falling to plundeâ—… and their avaâ—…ice being greater then their cruelty none were troubled but those that withstood plunder many were taken Prisoners amongst which Camp-master Doria and four other Gentlemen of Genoa two others who were got into the Castle yielded not long after upon promise of safety of life and liberty which was readily observed Thus was Pievs taken Doria made Prisoner and the people of the Commonwealth who were destined to guard that part were defeated La Riviera having lost its Garrison and not hoping for relief â—…ell into the Prince his power all the Commonalty ran to receive him and brought him the Keys they â—…reed themselves by moneys from being sack'd and rendred obedience to the Prince being order'd by the Commonwealth to do so which minding only the defence of Genoa suffer'd them to complain with the times so to keep from being sack'd and from the violence of War Whereupon Albenga Alassio Porto Mauritio San Remo and the City of Ventiâ—…iglia the chiefest Towns upon the River together with Oneglia fell without any gainsaying into the Princes hands as did also all the weaker places unless it were Triora which being seated upon the top of a Mountain held out and kept still manfully for the Commonwealth and defended it self manfully against many attempts The Castle of Ventimiglia held also for the Commonwealth which resisted for some days after the Town was surrendred till the Prince having caused some Artillery to be brought from Nice by Sea began to batter it and also to make a Mine whereupon the Captain who was but little experienced in the Militia aâ—… the end of eight days surrendred it whereby the Prince became absolute master of the River which extends it self for the space of 70 miles from Finale to Monaco The Duke at the same time notwithstanding the Constables backwardness persisting in going for Genoa made many provisions in Gavio which were sent from Piedmont he brought Artillery to Ottaggiâ—… he caused Scaling-Ladders to be made â—…e assembled Pioneers to plain the ways upon the Mountains and having taken many Fee-farms which held of the Empire beyond the Apenine from several Gentlemen of Genoa in the Valley of Serivia he sent his natural Son Don Felice to take Savignone another Fee of the Empire a great Town distant only six miles from the City on the Noth side by which way being able without any impediment to fall into the Valley of Bysagnaâ—… he made way to assault the City on that side which was thought the weakest Don Felice succeeded therein happily and without resistance for the City being brought into great streights and anxâ—…ety was wholly intent upon fortifying herself and to keep off the danger which she saw drew every day neerer she was very diligent in making â—…renches in furnishing the Walls with Artillery in digging Ditches in making Plat-forms and Stockcadoes to fence the weakest places Thus the Affairs of Genoa were thought to be brought to the last period moreover the City was at this time in great want of Moneys for some Gallies being gone into Spain to fetch moneys durst not make the Voyage for fear of the Fleet at Marcelles they therefore made use of the Plate of private persons which being turn'd into money did in part supply the need but the expence being excessive â—…ame far short of what was requisite there weâ—…e not many men ready in the State of Millain to come into the Field the Germans not being yet come and some few that were already come were sent to desend la Riva which was so necessary for the preservation of that State and Don Ieronymo Pimontello not thinking himself safe in Tortona thought it better to retreat with those few men he had into Alessandria at which the Genoeses were not a little astonished who by the fear he shewed upon this occasion were not well pleased to see him go further from the City instead of drawing neerer to the relief thereof and the like scarcity of money being there as was in Genoa the Swissers who were much in Arreer for former pay seeing the great necessity of the Spanish Officers and being set on by the Princes of the League denied passage to the Germans who came to defend the States of Millain and Genoa The failing of the Genoeses credit insued the want moneys for their State being given for lost throughout Italy and all Europe it was thought that the private Fortunes of those Citizens would perish with the publick The fear which was had in Genoa of the English and French Fleets was of no small consideration and did much afflict the minds of all men it being hourly feared that they would appear in those Seas by reason of the continual news which they had of great preparations made both at Marcelles and in England and of moneys sent by the Duke and his Son when they were before Ventimiglia to the Guisans that they might put the Fleet in readiness and appear as soon as might be in the River of Genoa to which Fleets it was feared that 40 Frigots or men of War would joyn which being come from forth of Holland and it not being known whither they were bent all men thought they were intended for the Enterprise of Genoa great was the danger lest taking Corsica or some of those Havens
the Duke of Savoy was held not only to be conscious of this Conspiracy but the chief Author and Composer thereof out of anger that the peace had been so concluded and that the Abbot Alexander Scaglia a chief Agent of the Dukes and then Resident in that Court was not only a great Contriver thereof but that being sent from thence by the Duke into Holland and into England he should treat of novelties with that King and with those States in the behalf of the Rebels and Rochellers who were at that time besieged and in great streights in relief of whom the King of England sent forth three Fleets which were all repuls'd the Duke of Savoy did also foment the Duke of Roan head of those that were risen up against the King he received and entertained Count Soissons in Turin who was gone from the Court and offer'd the Duke of Orleans safe reception and the command of his State when for fear of the King he should retire thither by which accidents seeing himself in open breach with the Court of France and fearing that lying in the midst between the two Crowns he might be equally hated by them both he began to endeavour to joyn again with the King of Spain to the end that if he should be assaulted by the one King he might be sustain'd by the other this business being brought into the Court of Spain and there discussed met with many difficulties as for the most part new and great affairs do for though at the first view it was well and willingly listned unto as an excellent means for the good of the affairs of Italy whereby to remove the inconveniences which had hapned by the Dukes alienation yet it missed not some contradictions some inclining to embrace the examples of Charles the Fifth and of Philip the Second who by rewards and alliance had always studied to keep that Prince their friend others were troubled at the Dukes genius who was various unquiet naturally a friend to novelties hard to be govern'd before he were broke harder afterwards when all respects being thrown aside and the reins given to resentment he had already troubled the affairs of the Crown so many several ways so as they thought his reconciliation would be unsafe and costly and which could hardly be integral after so many injuries done and received it being impossible to reduce him to his former obsequie and observance wherefore he was likely rather to trouble and perplex the Kings affairs then to secure them The Duca's authority prevailed he being desirous to signalize his inwardness with the King before that of his predecessour the Duke of Lerma who suffer'd in his fame for having been too severe in depriving the Crown of this Prince his adherence by whose alienation such prejudice and so many troubles had resulted so as thinking his reconciliation would prove as advantagious he was of opinion that if it should succeed in his time and by his means it would adde as much to his reputation as his alienation had detracted from that of his Predecessour the execution thereof was therefore out of good respects put off till the conclusion of peace between the Commonwealth and the Duke The mean while they went forward with the peace of Monsone by vertue whereof the Forts of the Valtoline were restored to the same condition they were in before they were taken from Torquato Conti in the Popes name after many delays interposed by the Marquess di Coure who would have had the Forts demolished before restitution which the Pope did constantly deny but did forthwith demolish them together with all the Fortifications of la Riva and Chiavenna so as the peace was ratified on that behalf fully with satisfaction to all men but the peace between the Genoeses and Savoy met with greater and more inextricable difficulties the Duke would have his Towns that were taken his Artillery together with the Galley and Prisoners restored before the Truce and that they should proceed to decide differences to which purpose he nominated Claudio Marini for his Arbitrator and the President of Grenoble came from France to Piedmont by direction from the King to be assistant together with one who should be named by the King of Spain in the Arbitrement which was to be made by Marini and by an Arbitrator to be named by the Commonwealth The Commonwealth on the contrary would have the Arbitrators first chosen who should determine the differences before any restitution should be made nor did they allow of Marini to be an Arbitrator as being formerly accused by them for that he had been in the Confederates Army in the present war and that he had as Embassadour from the King of France to the Duke intervened in the Consultations and Wars against the Common-wealth but the Duke being resolved not to consent to the Truce whilst the Genoeses should hold his Towns and the business being thereby intangled the Marquess of Castagneda found out this accommodation that without passing any express formal word each party should keep armed in their stations but with Orders to their Captains that they should stand only upon their Gurd and that in case any contention should fall out between the Country people and the Inhabitants none of them should interpose themselves in the behalf of their friends and having agreed with the Commonwealth that this should be observed by them he by Letters acquainted the French Embassadour who was at Turin with what he had done who writ back that the Duke had made the same agreement and had sent such Orders and Commissions to his Captains and Officers Thus the business seemed to be conveniently adjusted rather by reciprocal intelligence then by any express Truce or any formal word given or received for suspension of Arms. In this interim the term of four moneths prefix'd to the Arbitratours by the Capitulation of Monsone being expired the Treaty of Peace was turn'd over to the Court at Madrid where the Conde Duca was for the Genoeses and the Marquess of Rambollietto being gone to that Court upon an occasion of the birth of one of the Kings Daughters was detain'd there too by order from the King for this Affair The difficulties were many the Commonwealth refused to restore the Artillery and the Galley which were demanded by the Duke as things which being taken in open fair War are never restored in peace but the French pressing this point much who were desirous to appease the Duke he being offended and angry at the peace made at Monsone and the Spaniards desirous to gratifie him the most they could in what was more of shew then substance that they might thereby draw him over to them conformable to the endeavours which were had of reconciliation they desired the Commonwealth to give way to this at the request and for the satisfaction of the two Crowns whose aim was to settle a good and a secure peace The Commonwealth considering that restitution doth increase and not
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
about that business and he sent the Senator Lodovico Zoello along with the said Count to the end that the Count passing on to Venice Zoello might bring him the Compendium of the business These being gone to Millain the Governour propounded Propositions to them not only very satisfactory for the Duke but made also many promises of advancing the Duke â—…nd his Sons to great preâ—…erment if passing by the nicity of the Capitulations he would humble himself to the King and on the contrary strange doubâ—…s ad difficulties touching the execution and interpreâ—…ation of the said Capitulations if the Duke should tenaciously stick thereunto they were therefore desired to exhort the Duke to write unto the King in conformity to what he had proposed but the Duke being frustrated of any Spanish hopes would not give way to the Governours allurements esteeming them so many baits to make him fall unworthily from that Glory which through so much trouble and danger he had atchieved to the end that throwing himself dishonourably into the Kings Arms and indiscreetly estranging himself from the friendship and protection of those Princes who had subscribed the Peace he might the more easily be brought into his former condition by the Kings Ministers of State with little hope that the same Princes should resent his injuries another time if upon this occasion he should so sleightly have foregone their favour and Authority Resolving therefore to undergo whatsoever misfortune rather than to do what he would not consent unto whilst he had the Enemies Army upon his hands he absolutely denied to forego the Capitulations or to make any submission but pretending that the King was bound by the Articles to disarm he said it was the Embassadours intentions who made them that he should do so though for his Majesties greater honour it was expressed with more circumspection and notwithstanding being desirous that he might not thereby receive any prejudice in compassing his chief end which was that that Army might be disarmed he was content to write a Letter wherein not saying any thing which was not worthy of himself as a free and independent Prince and without parting from the Capitulations at Asti he with great respect excused himself for what had happened and laying the fault upon the late Governour he added that by this means he hoped he should keep himself in his Majesties former favour desiring him to preserve him therein in the same degree which he and his children out of so many relations pretend unto This he sent to the Governour by Zoello with a flying Seal with order that he should deliver it him when he should engage himself by express word that he would dismiss himself within a certain prefixt time But this Letter was neither received by the Governour nor sent into Spain for it did not please him who desired it might have been written more humbly and so as that it might have prejudicated the Capitulations or else thinking that the Duke by that Letter might get a promise of effectual disarming he did not think the prize equivalent to the demande nor the bargain answerâ—…ble to the condition of the present times therefore shewing the Duke the necessity he had to keep his men in Arms by reason of the war in Friuli and offering to restore the places that were taken and giving him his word in the Kings Name that he would not offend him he kept from disarming He added also that the Duke of Mantua would not listen to the pardoning of Rebels and as if the King of France had done more than he had power to do in promising that without his consent he seemed to be prejudiced in the rights of his Principality so as having sent the Marquess Don Iohn Gonzaga into Spain he obtained that that point might be left to his free will that King professing that he though himself not bound by the Articles of that Peace to pardon 〈◊〉 and that he would not nor could not justly keep the Duke oâ—… Mantua from 〈◊〉 Jurisdiction in that State which he had obliged himself to protect And therefore the Duke of Mantua being therein encouraged by the new Governour to whom he was near allied and being moreover desirous that the Duke of Savoy might reap no good by this peace he did not only constantly deny the pardoning of Rebels which he waâ—… much press'd to do by the King of France but selling tâ—…e remainder of Count Guido's goods and confiscating those of the rest who he pretended to be Rebels he also put some of his Subjects to death for having served the contrary party in that War But the Duke of Savoy who could not be satisfied neither by the Kings word nor by the restitution of places taken which the Governour offer'd him without the effectual difarming of the Kings Army seeing that no good was yet got by the peace of Asti but some vain promises by which he had suffer'd himself to be perswaded to lay down Arms and to consent to other of the Kings demands having now lost all hopes of obtaining his intent of the Governour as if he had run the danger of being again assaulted by the Spanish Army and being inforced to send some Souldiers and Ammunition to the Confines of Piedmont that he might thereby move the Princes who were bound to observe the Capitulations to which betaking himself he did not a little exclaim against the not observance of what was agreed upon under their Authority and replying to the Governours oppositions and difficulties he complain'd that all this proceeded only from his not submitting himself unworthily to the King and by renouncing the Articles covenanted from not â—…erding himself from their union and from his not undervaluing their Authority and Dignity who were the Arbitrators and Moderators thereof and putting all men in mind but particularly the French how prejudicial it would be to their King and to the honour of France that the Regal Name and Authority should be cancell'd from the Conventions of peace he endeavour'd by all means to make them to get them to be maintain'd and made good promising that for his part he would refuse no pains would not forbear for any expence would not be afraid for any loss or danger but would adventure his own person his sons and his State and whatsoever he held dear in this world that the glory of that King and Nation in having preserved his State unto him and in the Kings having interposed himself as an Arbitratour in compounding the affairs of Italy should not be turned into as much shame and dishonour â—…hy not being able to maintain them but though he could promise himself but little from the King of England by reason of the far distance of his Country or of the King of France for the aforesaid reasons yet had he a new occasion to hope well in the favour of the Venetians who being entred as hath been said into a new War with the House of Austria were necessitated for
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
not therewithal contented as not being willing by any means in a business of so great concernment and importance to depend upon anothers will subject to so many casualties and accidents of Variation which might peradventure happen And because the business of the Palatinate grew more difficult the King of Spain keeping himself within the bounds of not promising any effectualy estitution which the Prince of Wales desired and pretended that it was promised affirming that he would use his Authority and best indeavours with the Emperour to whom he said the inteâ—…est of concession did chiefly belong and upon whom the disposal of that State did absolutely depend men began therefore daily to suspect more and more that the Court of Spain having been from the beginning intentionally and inwardly against the Match they had only cunningly held on the Treaty partly out of their own ambition and Grandezza partly for the Honour of the Prince whom they seemed to esteem very highly but chiefly that they might gain time and advance the mean while in the business of the Valtoline Which the Prince percerving he parted from that Court after he had been six Moneths there without having made any conclusion and imbarking in a Fleet which was come from England to re-conduct him he returned to his own Kingdom carrying with him implacable hatred grievous complaints revenge and enmity instead of friendship and a Wife Here I the Translator of this Book must crave leave both of my Author and Reader which if it may not be granted me I will presume to take to insert a passage which then happened and does relate to this Story it being a full and perfect Vindication of a scandalous imputation laid by some black back-biting Dogs nay foul-mouth'd Curs upon this then glorious Prince my since blessed King and now and for ever that undoubtedly happy Saint in Heaven King Charles late Monarch of Great Britain and Ireland they being defirous to make the world believe by their scurrilous speeches and writings that this pious conscientious and religious King was a Papist in his heart and intended to introduce Popery into this Land And truly since it falls out so pat and so aptly here I cannot forbear doing it though I know it be unusual and contrary to custome for Translators to adde any thing of their own and this it was I Who had the honour to be bred up with this hopeful Prince and who account it my greatest happiness to have known him and to have been known by him when he was King having heard a street Report that this Infanta his then Mistress and since Wife to the King of Hungary was turned Lutheran according to the gratious freedom his Majesty was always used to afford me I told him of it one day when he was at Dinner upon the hearing whereof His ever blessed Majesty was pleased to say Harry if this be true I am confident I know who turn'd her which I desiring to know who it might be His Majesty answered Padre Rohose This Padre Rohose said His Majesty when I came to Spain was Confessor to the Infanta and in the absence of the Kings Confessor was also Confessor to the King He was one said His blessed Majesty who gave very diligent attendance upon me when I came first to Spain and for two or three Moneths space never failed to wait upon me when I was at Dinner insomuch as some acquaintance being grown between us he one day moved me that a Disputation might be had in publick between my Chaplains and some of the King of Spains Priests in point of Religion affirming that he knew it would be very pleasing to the Infanta I answered no saying I came not hither to turn nor to be turned in my Religion by any publick Argumentations nor have I any such Commission from the King my Father but rather a Command to the contrary but if you Padre Rohose have any thing to object against the Religion which I profess I will give you the hearing in private Padre Rohose being glad that he had got thus much began to object somewhat against the Religion profess'd in my Fathers Dominions at the beginning whereof said the Prince laying his hand upon the others Arm No Padre Rohose this is not the way this is to Dispute de non concessis But let me give you an account of my Faith and of the Tenents of my Religion first and then if you have any thing to object speak your mind freely Padre Rohose being herewith content as surely he had good reason the Prince began and made him a full and true relation of the Tenents of his Religion which when he had done Rohose replyed Sir do you believe all this Yes said the Prince And will your Highness give me leave said Padre Rohose to affirm this to others from your mouth Yes said the Prince do it boldly for this is the Religion I was born in and bred up in the Religion which is profess'd in my Fathers three Kingdoms and wherein by the Grace of God I am resolved to live and dye Why then said Padre Rohose for ought I know Sir you may be saved as well as I. My blessed King having told me this I asked His Majesty whether Rohose did not object any thing against what His Majesty had said Not at the present replied His Majesty but some few days after he took me aside and began to alledge some trivial things against what he had heard me say to which said the King I gave him such an Answer as I heard no further news of Padre Rohose for a good while whereat marvelling not a little I wonder said the Prince one day in publick why Padre Rohose hath not visited me of late What is become of him To which he was answered by a whisper in the ear That the Priest Rohose was forbidden coming any more to the Prince his Court left instead of his converting the Prince the Prince should convert him I could not omit mentioning this remarkable Passage here since as I said before I had so pat an occasion to do it and since it was to my self that His blessed Majesty was pleased to make this Relation upon the aforesaid occasion And upon the Faith of a Christian and Word of a Gentleman this is the full sence and as near as I can remember the very words His ever blessed Majesty was pleased to do me the honour as to tell me which though they wrought nothing upon me more then what I did formerly know and did confidently believe if they be not able to stop the mouths of those slanderous companions and make them bite out those Tongues wherewith they have indeavoured to throw dirt upon the Memory of His Sacred Majesty yet at least his constant perseverance in the profession and witnessing his Faith at his unpresidented death me thinks should make them do it And now to pursue my Authour again These practises made the French grow cooler as I have
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
Enemies Army retreats from the Enterprise of Genoa and attemps Savona but being overtaken by Feria retires to Piedmont Feria takes the City of Acqui he goes afterwards to Asti and from thence to Verrua where he stays long to little purpose leaving many of his men behind him and being forc'd to give over the Enterprise returns with his Army much lessened into the State of Millain many actions happen at the same time in the besieging and defending of Riva di Chiavenna wherein the Spaniards have still the better of the French they drive the French at last out of the Valtoline and raise the Siege of Riva The English Fleet falling upon Spain is repuls'd and having in vain endeavoured to take the Plate-Fleet which came from America retires into England torn by Tempests A Discourse upon the quality and usual Navigation of the Plate-Fleet the Apostolick Legate returns from France to Rome and is sent from Rome to Spain whither being come he finds the Peace concluded between the two Crownâ—… and the Affairs of Iâ—…aly and of the Valtoline composed The Pope and all the Princes of the League are very much displeased with this Peace as also all the Princes and the Court of France Some of them do therefore conspire against the Kings person In pursuance of the Peace the Forts of the Valtoline are restored and demolish'd New occasions of disgust between the Genoese and the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Guise his Fleet goes from Marcelles and comes to Ligorne and returns from thence to Marcelles without having done any thing The Duke of Mantua dies and long after his Brother who succeeded him in his Principality The Genoese Factors who were interessed with the Crown of Spain are much prejudiced in their private fortunes by reason of the alteration of Payments and of other Decrees made to their prejudice by the King BUt the troubles and dangers of Genoa which were not much compassionated in Italy met with more favour and benignity from the hands of God whose anger the Senators being desirous by all means possible to appease publick Processions and Vows were added to the private Prayers and Processions which were privately made in Churches and in holy places their Piety seemed to be presently seconded by Gods goodnesse for at the same time that the Doge Senate and People were pouring forth Prayers to Almighty God for publick preservaâ—…ion a Galley entred the Haven which brought in her a Million of Ducates from Spain a favour the more singular by how much more necessary for the present need and which was acknowledged to proceed the more from Divine mercy in that it came when least expected for two days before the arrivaly of this Galley news came from Corsica that the same Galley being gone from Genoa 15 days befoâ—…e fearing to be discovered by the Fleet that lay at Marcelles had lanch'd out into the Sea and was driven by the wind upon that Island where the Genoese thought her to be still detained by the same wind the news was true but the conjecture false for the wind changed there by favour whereof the Galley came seasonably to Barcellona and receiving in the moneys which lay ready there return'd with great speed and success to Genoa soon after some other Gallies appeared which brought with them six Millions more from Spain whereby the Commonwealth abounding in money was largely inabled to supply her urgent necessities and the private men of Genoa to whom those moneys belonged having redeemed their credit were able not only to furnish Feria with moneys to hasten the Levies of the Dutch and for other necessaries for marching into the Field against the Confederates Army but also moreover to provide for the Armies in Flanders according to their obligations with the Court of Spain The Rivals of the Genoese grandezza were astonished and not without reason when they saw their Common-wealth which they held to be in a perishing condition not only able to subsist and to maintain her self but to administer help to Forreâ—…gn Armies and make them move to their prejâ—…dice who had plotted her ruine Nor were her enemies less amazed whose whole thoughts were set upon her extirpation so as instead of flocking to so rich and plentiful a prey they began to fall from their hopes of success just as befel Hannibal who whilst he was with an Army before the walls of Rome understood that some Lâ—…gions were sent out by other Gates to recruit the Spanish Armies sent into that Province They fell yet further from their hopes when they heard that great succours of men were almost at the same time come to Genoa For from Millain to boot with those that were sent with Guasco came the Cavallier Pecchio after the loss of Gavio and Ottagio with part of his own Brigadâ—…e and part of those of Modena and Parma which did amount in all to about 3000 Foot and the Marquess della Croce came about this time to the City with 33 Galleys wherein were 4000 Foot all very good men and whereof 2000 were Veterane Souldiers trained up in the Wars of Flanders and a little before 1500 Neapolitans were come thither in some Galleons The Sicillian Galleys came also thither with 600 Spaniards which were sent by Ianettino Doria Vice roy of that Island at his own expence in defence of his Country Marquess Bozzolo came thither also with his three brothers 800 Foot and 200 Horse besides Infantry which came daily from Naples so as with these and those which Guasco brought from the State of Millain those that were sent from Lucca and those which came though somewhat late from Germany the Commonwealth was in a short time provided with about 15000 paid Foot for defence of the State and City besides many Commanders and people of Quality and experience who were brought thither from several parts upon extraordinary pay By means of these Forces and of her own people who were very vigilant in defending their Country and Liberty and with the Militia of the State the Affairs of the State were prettily well securâ—…d and almost brought into a condition of safety The Popes Galleys and those of the Great Duke came along with Sancta Croce which returning from Marselles whither they had carried â—…he Legate and meeting with Sancta Croce as he came from Naples to the relief of Genoa turned back the same way by Orders directed to the Captains from their Princes which Orders Sancta Croce brought with him it was not thought strange that the Great Duke should issue out such Orders who profest himself a friend to Spain and to the house of Austria the Popes Concession came more unexpected he being commonly held to be not only averse to the Spaniards but to joyn in ends with their Rivals and the French Embassadour Resident at Rome did exclaim much against it yet it was thought that the Pope to remove so great suspicâ—…ons which were had of him had done it at the perswasions of the
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
house of Bavaria which State and Dignity being forfeited by the Prince Elector Palatines Rebellion were for some years before confer'd by the Emperor upon this Duke of Bavaria the occasion which moved this Prince to this resolution was commonly attributed to jealousie of the peace made at this time at Madrid between the Kings of Spain and England for knowing that the King of Spain was displeased at the conâ—…erring of the Electoral State and Dignity upon him and that the authority and power of the house of Bavaria should be so encreased and that he had opposed the Emperour in conferring it upon him and knowing that the King of England whose Sister was Wife to the Palatine labour'd hard that the Palatine or his Son might be restored to their former condition he thought he had just occasion to doubt that the Peace made between the two Kings who were for several respects desirous to deprive him of it might tacitely contain some Agreement between them to his pâ—…ejudice And on the other side having soon after that Peace was concluded sent the Abbot Scaglia into England in appearance to treat of Truce and Peace in the Kings Name with the Hollanders but in effect to treat oâ—… a League against him as he complain'd and as the King of France had heard therefore both Bavaria and the King of France easily joyn'd in this Convention for their own safeties sake and that they might make plots not inferiour to those that were plotted against him And that they might the better alienate the Bavarian from the Emperour the Kings of France and of Sweden promised him the Imperial Crown whereof when the Emperour should be beaten no Germane Prince seemed to be more capable then he as being the most powerful of all the Catholick Princes and who had most care of the Catholick Religion and for that he as one of the Electors had a Vote in chusing the Emperour and his Brother who was Elector and Arch-bishop of Collen another Vote with whom the Arch-bishop and Elector of Triers would joyn who was the first that had joyned in League with the King of France and had received a French Garrison into that State particularly into the Fort of Hermenestein a strong Fort and of great consequence being scituated where the Mose falls into the Rheyne The Votes of the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg who were declared Enemies to the House of Austria and who depended upon the Swedish King would likewise have concurr'd in the same Election when the Bavarian should be by that King promoted to the Empire as he â—…ad promised The Duke being therefore â—…ed with these hopes and apprehending that the Austrians would deprive him of the Palatinate and Electoral Dignity and that they would restoreâ—…it to the Palatine totteâ—…'d in his intelligence with the Emperour and met with a new accident which gave him more and better reason to alienate himself from the Emperour The Emperour being reduc'd to great streights by the Swedish Forces by the rising of so many people and by his being deserted by so many Germane Princes had as hath been elsewhere said for the last remedy of the imminent danger the Empire was then in which also threatned him sent for Wallestine Duke of Fritland and had once more made him general of all his Forces for he was the only man on whom it was thought the welfare of the Empire might saâ—…eliest depend There had been such high distastes between this Wallestine and Bavaria as the Bavarian in the Diet of Ratisbone had been the chief cause of his being laid aside and doubtlesly had the Bavarian openly declared against the Emperour and had adhered to the contrary Parties the Affairs of the Empire would have been but badly sustained But were it either that he received such assurances from the Emperour as took from him all distrust or that his hopes of attaining the Empire seemed but small especially since both the Kings who offered and promised it unto him were known to be ambitious of it themselves or that he was at last wisely aware that the two Kings did desire to separate him from the House of Austria only that they might weaken it and so the more easily suppress it whereupon his ruine would assuredly succeed he medled not with any novelty but stood firm and constant in defence of the Catholick Religion and of the Imperial Majesty To this was added that the chief ends of the two Kings and of all the German Pâ—…nces was to restore the Palatine to his former state and dignity whereof they were much more troubled then was the King of Spain to seâ—… Bavaria master He therefore had no reason to trust them in what was directly contrary to the end of the common Arms and to the universal desire and consent of whole Germany which for the common concernment could not see the Palatine devesâ—…ed of his Dominion and Bavaria indued theâ—…ewith and as it might be supposed that the two Kings out of these respects did promise that unto him which they could not possibly effect so it might also be comprehended that the same Bavaria seemed to make league and union with the two Kings so to keep the Austrians from depriving him of the State and Dignity which they had confer'd upon him so uncertain and fallacious are the unions and confedeâ—…acies of Princes In this wavering condition were the Affairs of Germany whereof the King of France seemed to be become no lesse Arbitrator then of those of Italy for the Swede differ'd much from him in point of Authority and profes'd to depend much thereupon notwithstanding all the victories he had gotten and all the happy course of his prosperity and the King of France his being deeply ingaged in the affairs of Germany took him much off from the Wars of Italy whereat though the Governour of Millain and the Spanish Agents were much troubled fearing his Forces which they saw were received into the Towns of Italy yet did not his Forces do any thing after the assignment of Pinarollo all things passing quietly on unless it were the preparations and several levies of men the Spaniards being obliged to keep greater Garrisons upon occasion of Pinarollo Cassalle and Mantua The new Duke of Mantua though peacefully possess'd of his States was not at all happy in injoying them for not to mention the troubles which he past thorough the monies spent and the dangers which he ran in arriving at the succession thereof his Dominions were so lessened so dismembred so consumed and wasted both in men and monies as his need of assistance from other Princes to maintain them was greater then the authority or Grandure that he got by them and having ingaged his Lands in France in defending and maintaining his Dominions in Italy he lost the advantage of both his chiefest Towns being possess'd by others he had little more then the bare name of Principality left him Nor was he in a more free and absolute condition of Prince
introduce a Vote absolutely depending upon the King of France into the Electoral colledge A thing which though it was sufficiently contrary to reason and to the preeminence of the German Empire and repugnant to the Votes of the German Nation yet would it not have been ill looked upon by the Protestant Princes in those times and to such as were ill affected to the Austrian Name And the Emperour fearing these plots which he saw were a framing by this Electory he ordered the Infanta that he should secure his person In order whereunto the Infanta put 2000 Souldiers in some barks cover'd with cloth like to Merchants vessels which pass upon those Rivers and sent them down the Mosell towards Tryers which is seated upon the bank thereof whither being come by night and telling the Sentinels that they were boats come from Lucemberg they fastned two Petards to two Gates by one of which they entred and by the other 200 Horse which were sent by land to that purpose by the Infanta who coming to the Gate at the same time that it was beaten down by the Petard the Horse and Foot entred the Town at unawares cut the French Garrison in pieces who were overcome with fear and the darkness of the night and easily made themselves Masters of the City and of the Elector who being speedily carried to Lucemburg and from thence to Namures and so to Brussels was honourably treated there as an Archbishop and Elector but was diligently guarded as a Prisoner The King of France held himself highly offended by this action as if it had been done in a resentment of the new Protection whereinto that Prince had put himself he therefore made the Electors liberty be demanded of the Infanta by his Resident who was then in that Court to which the Infanta answered That what was done at Tryers was done by the Emperours express command and that therefore he was to address himself to Cesar. The King not being satisfied with this answer sent an Herauld to the Infanta who did intimate War against him and against the King of Spain expresly declaring and protesting That that intimation should serve as effectually for the King of Spain as if it had been given to his own Person in Madrid Many Discourses pass'd about under the Names of the Kings themselves and of others as they stood severally interessed or devoted to either of the Courts wherein each side sharpely defended their cause The most solid and most ascertained Reasons of this breach publish'd in print by the King of France in his own Name were That the Elector of Tryers being abandoned by the Emperour when the Empire beaten by the Swedish Forces was not well able to sustain it self not knowing whom to â—…ly unto for refuge had put himself into his protection to free himself from being suppress'd by them wherefore he deserved not to be made prisoner for doing so without citation or being condemned he therefore accused it as not only unjust but unworthy being committed against a Sacred Person an Archbishop and one of the seven Electors of the Empire and that since it redounded not only to the great offence of his Crown in respect of the protection whereunto the Elector had put himself but to the like of the Apostolick See and of the Electoral Colledg the Pope and Electors were to resent it as well as he To this was answered That that Elector had never put himself into the protection of the King of France but had only desired some assistance from him as from a Prince that was his friend against the Swedes so as even by the Electors own confession the title of protection was faulty which was the chief foundation of the complaint and of the injury pretended to be done to the King and if the Elector had desired or received help under the name of protection he ought not to have withdrawn him from the natural Sovereigâ—…y of the Emperour nor from the protection of the Dukes of Luxenberg he being a Prince of the Empire and under the protection of the ancient Dukes of Luxenberg it being a clear thing That a natural Subject cannot withdraw himself from the Jurisdiction of his Sovereign Prince nor prejudicate it by any action of his and that howsoever his protection against the King of Sweden did not extend against the Emperour or King of Spain the one being his Sovereign the other his ancient Protector no otherwise then fealty by a natural Subject of a Prince sworn to another Prince from whom he holds any Town or Castle in Fee shall never be of force to engage him against his natural Prince nor to withdraw him from his obedience That therefore the King of France ought not by title of new protection to intermeddle with what the Electors Sovereign Prince was pleased to order The ground-work of the breach seeming to be shaken by these Reasons the King of France pleaded other former injuries which he had at several times and upon several occasions received from the Crown of Spain and beginning from the reciprocal Marriages made between the two Kings it was said that the Spaniards had never ceased to make plots against the quiet and safety of France and in the first place That the King of Spain had waged war with the Duke of Savoy under the honourable pretence of protecting the House of Mantua against which the same King did afterwards conspire himself for no other reason but because the Duke would not joyn with him in making war with the King of France To this was added the revolutions of the Valtoline to the prejudice of the Grisons ancient Clients and Confederates of the Crown of France which were endeavoured for no other end and somented by the King of Spain but only that he might carry the war more commodiously through the Valtoline from Germany to Italy and from Italy to Germany and to make himself Master of the parts confining upon the Valtoline That the Court of Spain not being able to endure the good correspondency which was held between France and England had by means of Marquess Mirabello his Embassadour at Paris sowed dissentions and discords between them and fomented the Rebellion of the Hereticks of France to the end that the King being busied in suppressing them might not have leisure to defend Mantua and Montferrat which were then powerfully assaulted by the Spaniards and that when the King of France had by the success of his Forces and by the Peace of Susa freed Cassalle the first time the King of Spain had not only let slip that occasion of preserving Peace in Italy and of securing the liberty of the Client of France but had called in the Dutch against the City of Mantua whilest his Commanders endeavoured once more to take Cassalle by force whereby the King of France was forced to send his Arms back again into Italy to secure his Confederates and to keep the Spaniards within some bounds wherein faring as successfully as
amongst the offences which he pretends to have received that the Queen and the Duke of Orleans the one Sister the other Brother in Law to the King of Spain both of them being gone from France were received with safety to their persons in Flanders and that 2000 Horse were given to the Duke of Orleans for a conduct so the Emperour and King of Spain might with much more reason complain of the King of France for giving the like protections and fomentations to the Hollanders the German Princes and the Duke of Nevers who were in Arms against the Emperour that therefore it was no less an injury to the Emperour that the King of France should desire that the German Princes who had taken up Arms against him should be admitted into the peace which was in treaty between the Emperour their Sovereign and the King of France it being no better then to abet a Subject against his Prince to prescribe Laws between a Sovereign and his Vassal and to make the world know that the King of France was Arbitrator of Peace and War in Germany and Moderator of the Empire which were undoubtedly too high pretentions and which were never put for not practised by any that the case of the King of France his Mother and Brothers who were fled into the King of Spains Dominions and honourably received there was otherwise that these were personal Offices between a Father in Law and Son in Law and between Brother in Law in the like case nor did they extend further then to the person to whom they were done and if they would talk of the 2000 Horse given to the Duke of Orleans these and other assistances as the Fleet at Sea destined against Provence ought to be opposed to the King of France his fomenting so many both open and secret Hostilities against the Emperour and King of Spain since it was not reasonable that it should be lawful for the King of France to undermine the Austrian Grandezza and that the Austrians should act nothing against him that the dissentions between the Crowns of France and England and the wars made by the King of France against the Duke of Savoy because he would not abet the Spanish designs were not to be considered being things notoriously false and whereof there was no proof that the world knew the reasons of the differences between France and England and whence the distastes arose in the Royal Family of France and what were the occasions of the war made against the Duke of Savoy and how much the then Queen Regent of France and the Potentaâ—…es of Italy did press the King to force the Duke to lay down the Arms which he had taken up to suppress the Duke of Mantua These were the chief charges and defences made by each party and it being hard to say what was the just cause of this breach those who understood the Affairs of the world best were of Polybius his opinion an ancient Authour who discoursing upon the true occasions from whence the bitter Wars between the Romans and Carthaginians arose makes no account of this or that hostile act which happened between these Common-wealths or of any breach of peace between them but layes the true reason of the Wars which succeeded between them upon the meer Ambition that the one Common-wealth had to exceed the other The like say they was the occasion of the Wars between these two Crowns and Nations which contending for superiority great Emulation arose between them from whence those reciprocal hatreds which are grounded between them cannot be cancell'd by any Peace The roots of the like Ambition being hatch'd say they then in the Souls of both these Nations it was necessary that the fruits of hatred continual jealousies and reciprocal suspitions by which their minds are continually agitated should bud forth From hence grow cruel hatreds which branch out into secret treaties into plots and then into open Wars Building therefore upon these foundations they say ' t is true that the King of France had promis'd to forget all faults past in the Peace of Vervin and that he had promis'd to forego all Intelligence with the Enemies of the Crown of Spain But that finding afterwards that his Kingdom was bounded on the South by Spain on the North by Flanders which is under the Crown of Spain on the East by Germany in part obedient in part subject to the House of Austria and a little lower by Italy which is likewise partly subject partly adherent to the same Crown And thinking that being as it were imprisoned by the Austrian Forces he did enjoy the freedom which became so great a King but that every the least addition of this so great power indangered the suppression and suffocation of his Kingdom he held his honour and authority to be but small and that the eyes of all the world were fix'd only on the Austrian Sun These were sharp goads to unsettle a well fix'd Resolution he considered also what commotions and troubles the meere Dukes of Burgondy who commanded all Belgia had caused in France that those Territories would now be incorporated into the Crown of Spain and back'd by the Forces of Germany That therefore it became him to think not only upon his honour but upon his Kingdomes safety which being weakened by the late Wars and vex'd with intestine dissentions could not well secure it self from so great a neighbouring power that it was usual for Princes to keep others low for their own better preservation and to endeavour the pulling down of those that were more potent that principalities were maintained by these Arts. He therefore apply'd himself to get out of their streights and to favour the Hollanders lest if they should be beaten the King of Spain should grow too strong upon those Confines or at least that that wound being kept open he might be lesse able to advance further that therefore this Resolution was more necessary then voluntary arising from the interest of self-preservation which is by natural reason more warranted to bruit beasts and surely then to men and great Potentates then it is prohibited by the gain-sayings of Peace That such Peace wherein one of the parties is subject to the other does not deserve the name of Peace but is rather to be termed Slavery and not likely to last long as was clearly shewn by the Embassadours of Privernum who being asked in the Senate of Rome how long that Peace was like to last which they desired answered that if it were a good one for them it should be perpetuall if a bad one very short An answer which made those Senators know that no people nor person can keep long under the sharpness of an unjust condition and this made them mitigate the conditions of Peace which were granted to those of Privernum That notwithstanding the King of France had pieced up that rent by the Truce which was by his means made between the Crown of Spain and the
a day of Battel neer the City Wherein the Spanish Army being Victors it goes before that City whither the Duke was withdrawn with his men about which the Governour having imployed much time to little purpose At last peace is concluded by the means of Princes Ministers 59 BOOK IV. 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 â—…ouching 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 many days after by reason of Treaties of Agreement which were introduced The Duke of Savoy complaining still of the not observance of peace fears to be again assaulted by the Governour and therefore prepares for war again He joins under-hand with the Venetians and calls Diguieres Marshal of France into Piedmont but is quickly and unexpectedly assaulted in Savoy by the Duke de Nemours who is somented with monies and promises from the Governour of Millain The King of France to provide against the commencing uproars in Lombardy sends Monsieur di Bettuve thither and the Pope Monsignore Lodovisio Arch-Bishop of Bologna Preparations for a new war are renewed in the State of Millain and in Piedmont which is again begun betwixt the Duke and the Governour who draws neer the Confines of Piedmont with an Army 113 BOOK V. The Duke unexpectedly assaults the Spanish Army which was entred his State and being beaten retreats to Assigliano From whence finding that the enemy went to possess themselves of Crescentino he departs and speedily preventing them defends it The Spanish Army take Santya and San Germano The Duke endeavouring to keep back their Victuals was forc'd to come to a Battel where he was again worsted The Popes Nuntio and the French Embassadour hold the Governours Forces in hand by introducing new Treaties of Peace In the interim the Marquess of Mortara entering le Langhe takes many of the Dukes Castles and Don Sanchio di Luna takes Gattinara Winter coming on the Governour fired Santya and leaving a Garrison in St. Germano sends the resi of his Army into their Quarters and retires into the State of Millain The Duke the Prince his Son being come to him from Savoy and the Marshâ—… Diguieres from France with new men takes the Principality of Messerano and makes himself master of San Damiano Alba and Monteggio Towâ—… in Montferrat Wherefore Mortara firing Canelli abandons the Langhe The Marshal being sent for back by the King returns with his men to France The Venetians whilest they are busying themselves to little purpose in Friuli are molested at Sea by the Spanish Fleet sent by the Viceroy of Naples into the Gulf which not being able to draw the Venetian Fleet to fight take three Gallies richly fraught 149 BOOK VI. The Governour of Millain goes with his Army to before Vercelles and besieging it on all sides and the Town not being able to be relieved after a long Siege he takes it upon Articles The Capitulations of Peace as well for what concern'd Piedmont as Friuli are Treated of in the Court of Spain and are concluded in the Court of France as also at Madrid The Duke of Savoy being assisted by the French who came into Piedmont after the Surrender of Vercelles takes some Towns in Montferrat and in Allessandria And at last in pursuance of the Capitulations stipulated in the Courts of France and Spain the Peace is concluded in Pavia between the Governor of Millain and the French Embessador The Viceroy of Naples sends some â—…lieoons into the Gulf in defence of the Ragâ—…siens who were vex'd by the Venetian â—…t which Galleoons get the better in fight of the Venetians A Conspiracy is discovered in Venice and some rumours are spread abroad upon the Confines of Venice toward Millain between the Spanish Souldiers and those of the Commonwealth which being appeased a period is put to the war and Italy is restored to her former peace 186 BOOK VII In this seventh Book you have the condition of the affairs of Italy after the appeasement of the War of Piedmont The death of two Popes as also the death of the King of Spain and of the Emperour The Insurrections in the Valtoline the occasion of new rumours which arose from hence in Italy of new jealousies and of new Leagues made by many Princes against the Crown of Spain The Forts of the Valtoline deposited into the Popes hands The Prince of Wales his Iourney into Spain The Prince of Urbin's death and the approaching Escheat of that State And lastly the seeds of new troubles rising between the Genoese and the Duke of Savoy by reason of their having purchased the Fee-farm of Zuccarello whereat the Duke was displeased Here are also touched by way of passage some accidents of Warr which hapned in Germany Flanders and in the East and West-Indies 212 BOOK VIII In this Eighth Book you have the Description of the Commonwealth of Genoa her Interest and good Correspondency with the Crown of Spain The Diet held at Susa wherein two attempts are resolved upon the one against the Valtoline the other against Genoa for the execution whereof many preparations are made both in France and in Italy The French fall down into the Valtoline under the conduct of the Marquess of Coure and driving the Churches Forces from the Forts which were deposited in the Popes hands they make themselves masters thereof they likewise fall down into Piedmont under de Diguieres Grand Constable and joyning with the Duke of Savoy and with his Forces go to the Enterprise of Genoa and proceed far in that State the Pope sends his Nephew Legate into France The Genoeses are reduced into a very dangerous condition by hostile Arms. 257 BOOK IX By relief of Monyes and Victuals sent from Spain and Men from Naples Genoa is comforted in the midst of her troubles she is encouraged by the wants of the Enemies Army and through the disagreeing of their Commanders and is at last wholly freed by Friends coming into the Fiâ—…ld with a powerful Army The Enemies Army retreats from the Enterprise of Genoa anâ—… attempts Savona but being overtaken by Feria retires to Piedmont Feria takes the City of Acqui he goes afterwards to Asti and from thence to Verrua where he stays long to little purpose lâ—…aving many of his men and being forc'd to give over the Enterprise returns with his Army much lessened into the State of Millain many actions happen at the same time in the besieging and defending of Riva di Chiavenna wherein the Spaniards have still the better of the French they drive the French at last out of the Valtoline and raise the Siege of Riva The English Fleet falling upon Spain there is repuls'd and
having in vain indeavoured to take the Plate-Fleet which came from America retires into England torn by tempests A Discourse upon the quality and usuall Navigation of the Plate-Fleet the Apostolick Legate returns from France to Rome and is sent from Rome to Spain whither being come he finds the Peace concluded between the two Crowns and the Affairs of Italy and of the Valtoline composed The Pope and all the Princes of the League are very much displeased with this Peace as also all the Princes and the Court of France Some of them do therefore conspire against the Kings person in pursuance of the Peace the Forts of the Valtoline are restored and demolish'd New occasions of disgust between the Genoese and the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Guise his Fleet goes from Marcelles without having done any thing The Duke of Mantua dies and long after his Brother who succeeded him in his Principality The Genoese Factors who were interessed with the Crown of Spain are much prejudiced in their private fortunes by reason of the alteration of Payments and of other Decrees made to their prejudice by the King 304 BOOK X. The Duke of Nevers succeeds Vincenzo in the Dukedom of Mantua and Montferrat he is opposed by the Emperour King of Spain and Duke of Savoy Don Gonzallo di Cordua the new Governour of Millain having divided Montferrat with the Duke of Savoy goes with his Army to before Cassalle which whilst he endeavours to take the Duke takes Alba Trino Montcalvo and many other Towns belonging unto him by the division A Conspiracy is discovered in Genoa whereof the Duke of Savoy being found the Author he pretends the impunity of the Conspirators The Spanish Agents being desirous to satisfie him favour this pretention which occasioneth some distasts and jealousies between the Commonwealth and the Crown of Spain Succours fall into Italy from France in behalf of the Duke of Nevers but being opposed by the Duke of Savoy are soon dissipated The Spaniards take Nizza Ponsone and other Towns in Montferrat and finding it too hard to assault Cassalle they fall to besiege it they are forc'd to forsake it by the Kings coming with great Forces into Piedmont Which whilst the Duke endeavours to oppose he is beaten by the Kings men in a conflict neer Susa wherein the King being victorious takes Susa and forces the Duke and the Governour of Millain to an agreement by which Cassalle is freed and the States of Mantua and Montferrat secured to Nevers The King returns to France Marquess Spinola is made Governour of Millain goes from Spain into Italy to provide either by War or Peace for the Affairs of Spain which are in a bad condition by reason of the preceding accidents 350 BOOK XI The Articles of Susa not being observed forceth the King of France to prepare a new Army for Italy Marquess Spinola the new Governour of Millain sends men into Montferrat of all which he makes himself master except Cassalle whether the French abandoning the rest of Montferrat withdraw themselves The Cesarean Army falls into Italy under Count Collalto and entring the Territories of Mantua possess themselves of almost all the Towns of that Dukedom and sitting down about the Suburbs of Mantua take some of them they afterwards fall to oppugne Porto but quit it by reason of the excessive cold weather The Duke of Savoy professing neutrality Negotiates with both parties and endeavours to sell his friendship as dear as he can The French Arâ—…y falls into Piedmont conducted by Cardinal Richelieu wâ—… being kepâ—…â—…ery scarce of Victuals Quarters and other Necessaries by the Dâ—… of Savoy breaks with him and going to Pinarola takes iâ—… and some of the adjacent Towns Marquess Spinola and Collalto come with Forcâ—… â—…o assist the Duke whither also comes Cardinal Barbarino the Popes Legate to treat of Peace which not being able to â—…e made Collalto returns to Mantua and Spinola sits down before Cassalle The Legate returns to Bolognia and Cardinal Richelieu to France by whose departure the French Army is weakened being re-inforced it endeavours to relieve Cassalle but being opposed by the Duke cannot do it wherefore being forced to keep beyond the Poe it meets with various fortunes and takes some Castles The Seige of Cassalle proceeds with much difficulty The Siege of Mantua is brought â—…o a final end for not being relieved by the Venetians who were â—…outed by the Dutch at Valleggio and being consumed by the Plague it is at last taken and sack'd The Duke of Savoy dies at Savigliano 393 BOOK XII Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy is succeeded by his Son Victorio Amadeo who finding that the French had taken Carignano goes from Savigliano to recover it wherein failing he comes to a conflict wherein the French have the better The French go from Carignano to Avigliana which they take Collalto having taken Mantua comes into Piedmont with fresh Forces Peace is treated of in Italy and in Germany and not being able to be concluded in Italy a Truce is endeavoured which being refused by Spinola he dies soon after and after his death is accepted of by the Duke of Savoy by Collalto and by the Marquess of San ' Croce who succeeds Spinola in the Government of Millain and in being General The Truce being expired the French come with new Forces from France to relieve Cassalle and being come to the Trenches of Spinola's Camp just as they were beginning Battle peace is concluded in conformity to the peace formerly made in Germany in execution whereof the interessed Princes Agents met in Chirasco and there adjust the differences between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua a great part of Montferrat is assigned over to the Duke of Savoy and the manner of restoring the States of Mantua and Montferrat is agreed upon as also the like of the Towns of Piedmont and of the Grisons Towns after the effectual restitution whereof the King of France demands Pinarollo of the Duke of Savoy together with the whole Valley of Perosa and obtains it The proceedings of the King of France and of Swedland in Germany against the Emperour are treated of and the Negotiation and Conclusion of Peace between the Commonwealth of Genoa and the Duke of Savoy together with the miraculous Fabrick of the new Walls made at Genca and the strange preservation of that City from the Plague wherewith the whole State of Genoa was infected and more then half Italy This twelfth Book and the whole present History is concluded with the Marriage between the King of Hungary Son to the Emperour and the Infanta Mary Sister to the King of Spain and with the Duke of Urbin's death and the devolving of that State to the Apostolick See 438 BOOK XIII The Peace of Italy obtained by the Articles of Ratisbone and Cherasco gives place for a digression of things which hapned elsewhere This present Book tells you of the Duke of Orleans his going from Flanders into Languedock and how being routed