The Cruell subtilty of AMBTIOIN DISCOVERED IN A DISCOVRSE CONCERNING the King of SPAINES Surprizing The VALTELINE Written in Italian by the Author of the Historie of the Counsell of Trent Translated by the Renowned Sir Thomas Roe Knight Many times Embassadour in Forraine parts with his Epistle to the House of Commons in PARLIAMENT Shewing the onely way in Policie to counterplot the designes of promoting Unjust Interests of STATE LONDON Printed for William Lee at the Turks Head in Fleetstreet next to the Miter and Phaenix 1650. TO THE KNIGHTS BARONS AND BVRGESSES of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament THings compared though contrary or alike in nature doe illustrate one the other Contrariorum similium eadem est ratio Iust Inst And therefore to discerne the strengths counsels and ends of diuers Kingdomes the straightest rule is comparison of their actions gouernment and foundation All Monarchies and Republiques which haue an end proposed whether to emarge or preserue their Dominion most effectually worke to their own ends because such operation is naturall Polib Is qui nouit quanam sint vniuscuinsque Rerumpublicarum principia naturaliâ— etiam incrementum et florentissimum statum ac mutationem finem potest cognoscere A wife and rationall Historian comparing and censuring diuers Common-wealths why one subsisted and others decayed and how the one preuailed vpon the other examined the formes and institutions their designes and ends and what was possible to be bulk vpon them That of Plato he esteemed vncapable of comparison other then as a Statue to a man which had excellent art without life Athens and Thebes were not vnderlaid to be are any aduersitie But when they were most like to rise the temperature of their policy was insufficient to allay the abundance and increase of humours the growth was too sudden and heauy for the foundation when they began to shake their root had no earth The Lacedemonian to sublist of it selfe to oppose forraine violence to need nothing exotique to liue in peace was in all perfection instituted Caterùm ad parandum sibi in vicinos dominatum to extend their Empire euen their owne foundation was an impediment A blessed state if Ambition were banished the world but defectiue to absolute safetie For no defence is secure that cannot offend Therefore as soone as that State began to affect conquest and to raise Armies they found in their constitution that the Lawes made to keepe them happy were too narrow to hold others in seruitude Plato and their vntried felicitie blinded their iudgement to ouer-value their owne abilities Qui vitam instituisset contra naturam meritò etiam contra naturam fato functus est Polib The Carthagenians and Romans had larger ends a broader foundation like abilities and aptitudes to effect them which were Imperium mundi And though all Common-wealths doe conuenire in aliquo medio yet they which designe quiet possession of their owne and vsurpation of the Estates of others are at both ends vtterly repugnant The reasons why the Romans preuailed vpon Carthage being alike instituted are another consideration Polib the manner of building the constancy vertue and goodnesse of Instruments are great differences In these the Romans excelled and perhaps in the youth for euery State hath an Infancy a mature and a decrepit age and consequently soonest arriued at their ends But that wherein most effectually they preuailed was in Counsels in which they had aduantage in the forme of their gouernment For the people in Carthage in all deliberations had too much authoritie which bred delay and hindered secrecy whereas in Rome the Senate and Optimati Tacit. experienced and wise men onely resolued Imus ad bellum non omnes Nuncios palam audiri Polib non omnia consilia cunctis praesentibus tractari ratio rerum aut occasionum velocitas patitur Victoria consilijs ratione perficitur From these Considerations a Consequence is deduced that when any two great Kingdomes fall into a warre that which will preuaile must consider the ends of the other and the wayes and meanes wherewith they are prosecuted and to them must apply all industry and direct opposition In the ends as there is great difference so there is great aduantage by theÌ„ because actiue things etiamsi agendo repatiantur weare-out passiue though of equall strength and hardnesse as the iron that strikes in time batters that which suffers Common-wealths that designe conquest and are alway attentiue to watch occasion get ground vpon the modest more by vigilancy then force and fraud which is a terrible instrument doth euer accompany Ambition Counsels vanquish Armes as spirituall things are predominant vpon materiall and as fire dissolues the fastest metals those Counsels are most preualent which are vnited in one head and issue from one fountaine Therefore rising and encreasing Empires are dangerous if they once grow great and must be resisted in their ends and in their counsels single defence is not sufficient troublesome neighbours must be made passiue to abate their reputation which the spirit of action presupposeth To apply these premisses hauing read with pleasure the following Discourse of the Reasons of the Resolution in the Valteline and being at leasure eyther to sleep or wast in mine owne meditations I thought it would be a good recreation and not vnacceptable to my loyall Countrimen to teach it to speake as plaine English as it doth truth and finding the whole scope of the Author an Authour of great worth and greater works to be an information to the World of the dangerous encrease and ambition of the house of Austria and if possible to read the King of Spaine a lesson not to bee learned but vnder a Rodd of Iron that in time necessity would open the eyes of all Princes to oppose his secret proiect of Vniuersall Monarchy I beleeued that some profit might be gathered out of this forraine Garden I wil suppose that this Theame is sufficiently handled and that there are few practised in the world who will deny it The witnesses are great and euident India vniustly vsurped Sicily surprised by treason Naples by breach of Contract Millan held by Intrusion Nauarre by excommunication of the lawfull Prince Portugall oppressed by the Sword Conâ—â—lag and the Pope refused to iudge either competently or as Arbiter the pretences of Parma Braganza when it was possible in temporall Causes his spirit might erre in not adoring Spaine The Valteline possessed vnder the colour of Religion The Palatinate and the States of Clene seised by auxiliars and kept for Debts forced vpon the Proprietaries which they desired not to borrow Wesell stollen in a truce and the Rhyne passed ouer vnder the fauour of a Treaty Embden attempted Venice conspired Piemont assaulted France twice corrupted into Combustion with holy leagues and open Armes and England practiced and inuaded And to bee able to doe any or all these a scelerous peace sought with the
Turke to whom in truth Spaine is only a true friend These are such a Cloud of witnesses as no modesty will oppugne them Which being now manifest to the world and that it is expected euery wise Prince and State will consider nune mea res agitur I also haue presumed to warne diuisos ab orbe Britannos who being separated from Generall Commerce by the Sea which is our wall true Information may bee kept out as well as Enemes To which purpose without any malignity or willing offence I must looke one age back For in the former Alas the Kings of Castile were good Neighbors and were content not to bee supplanted by their owne Moores mingled with their Subiects both in house and bloud England hath been the speciall and most advantagious marke at which this new Monarchy hath aymed since cupido dominandi outgrew Conscience and all lawes of Iustice England the Queene of the Sea and Lady of Traffique being conquered halfe of the whole is done England hath more hindered this vnnaturall growth then all Europe it is then out of question that the wisedome of Spaine which neuer erreth in the way of greatnesse loues and hates no kingdome so much as England When Don Iohn of Austria had wonne the famous battaile of Lepanto Raphael Pereg. and therein laid to himselfe a foundation of advancement and had gotten possession of the Citty of Tunis the Spanish Councell foreseeing the rising Starre of a new Monarchy though in their owne Princes bloud rather resolued to rase and destroy that Towne and accordingly gaue order to the Generall But hee who had higher thoughts fortified it and sollicited the Pope Pius quintus to intercede with the Catholique king that the Title of that kingdome might bee conferred vpon him to erect a fresh opposite to the Ottoman Empire The king of Spaine iealous of any Concurrent vtterly refused this honor to his owne Brother and suddenly to exercise his great mind vpon some subiect of his priuat seruice sent him Gouernour into Flanders where hee was as like to breake as rise The young Prince whose fahers bloud boiled in his veynes discontent to bee shut vp in so narrow a Compasse fell vpon a net practise to conquer England and procured so farre with the same Pope that he dealt earnestly with the Catholique King to consent to that Enterprise and to contribute Aydes for the Execution in fauour whereof his Holiness had already granted him Bulls Breues Money and the secret Inuestiture though this Proiect in the manner was not acceptable to King Phillip that the Pope should giue that away without first consulting with him which hee had embraced in his owne thoughts yet he yeelded and promised to assist Don Iohn in the Inuasion of England So much more hee thirsted to depriue a Christian Prince of an antient Inheritance then to keepe a great Kingdom opportunely seated to annoy the Turks from his friends the Ottomans I will not Physically coniecture what bloud begat this Counsell but propose it as a worthy and great Consideration The attempt of the Duke of Medina and the inuincible Armado was a fruit of the same root But that the sword might not seeme to cut through all Iustice to corrupt the minds of the ignorant and to satisfie the doubtfull and scrupulous a counterfeit booke vnder a counterfeit name was published Dolman discussing the seuerall titles of England and seeming to giue euery one their owne right it cunningly insinuates that the reasons of the Infanta Isabella were more pregnant then all the rest which could not come into question vntill Sixteene Princes successorily raigning were condemned for Vsurpers one of whom her father had married and by her taken the title of England But God fought for vs Tonante in coelis lehouah Excelso edente vocem suam grande Psal 13. prunae igneae ita emittens sagittas suas dispergit fulgura iaculans fundit illos When fained Titles were foolishnesse before God and men and the Chariot wheels of the Enemy were taken off outward force not prevailing Religion and the defence of that as the last refuge and Sanctuary of Ambition was taken vp and a holy pretence aduanced to practise Treason and Rebellion in Ireland To this end the Earles of Desmond and Tyron were thrust out and maintained in defection against their naturall Prince and as soone as their actions were worth the avowing Aids and Supplies were openly sent from Spaine and that Kingdome doubly inuaded by Conspiracie and Armes But Kinsale is a famous sepulcher of their honor that Climate perhaps hauing as naturall an Antipathy to Cholerique complexions and Intruders as to noysome and venemous beasts I purpose not to enumerate priuate and clandestine minings and machinations These three notorious examples will proue the general Assertion That Spaine doth aspire the subiection of Europe by the first ascent of England yet to shew more clearly the wiles and religious Counsells where with this Designe is prosecuted it will be no vnprofitable digression to reveale to the world the Negotiations of this Monarchy with the Ottomans when eyther it hath beene in want or feâ—re or preparing for some new Attempt Catholique waies which the Lyon hath neuer trode in the Desert nor the Vulturs eye seene in the wildernesse It is one of the Vaine-glories of Spaine that they hold no correspondence nor euer made any peace with the great Enemy of Christendome calumniating and reproaching all other Princes and States who for vtilitie of Trade maintaine a Civill Commerce with them But wise men will discerne the fallacy and difference betweene those who according to the liberty of the lawes of God and Nations doe onely traffique communicate the abundancies of their Countries with Infidels and others who will haue no exchange nor intercourse but vnder the condition of diuiding the world and oppressing by mutuall consent of all Princes And such a Peace and opportunitie the Spaniard hath offered and sought of the Emperour of Turky And if this be not sufficient to returne the ignominie cast vpon others Let it be weighed vprightly and it shall appeare that all the correspondence and trade of all the Princes in amity with the Grand Signior together doth not bring to him halfe the profit and securitie as the dissentions and Intrusions of the House of Austria wherwith they keepe all Christendome in continuall feare or warre Wherby that common Enemie liues in safety and at ease watching aduantages vpon all indifferently About the time that Phillip the second the holy League to depriue Henry the Fourth of the Crowne of France failing him in the Reigne of Mehemet Grand father of Morat now liuing a certaine rich Portugall lew Don Aluaro Mendes resident in Constantinople pretending occasion to send another of his Tribe called Iehuda Serfati vpon priuate affaires but practised by the Ministers of Spaine into that Country as soon as he arriued at the frontire by the Kings order he was created
an Ambassador from the Grand Signior and conducted in that qualitie to the Court and a Counsel held in what manner to giue him audience His name was already changed to Don Gabriell di Bona Ventura his Instructions drawne by a Iunto for the purpose and thus hee was shewed abroad defrayed by the King and his Message published that hee was imployed to offer Peace and friendship from the Turkish Emperour When this Scene was acted he was sent backe with true Letters of Don Christofero di Mora and the Secretary Catagna to the great Vizier and for his better securitie a safe Conduct and Credance was giuen him signed by the King Yo el Rey. Passing by Sicily by Catholique Order Forty Turkish Slaues were deliuered him to present at the Port in earnest of the Spanish and Ottoman amitie Letters also of credit for good summes were furnished to enable him to spend procure answer from the Grand Signior and fauour of the Vizier Mufti and other of the great Officers With which Orders and Armes being arriued at Constantinople he vsed all meanes with all men to induce an acceptance of the Peace vrging and demonstrating the earnest affection and desire of the King of Spaine to conclude it But this practise being discouered by the Ambassadors resident at the Port and others not too well affected to Spaine the falshood was made appeare and Don Gabriel by the great Vizier was clapt in prison as a Counterfeit and Impostor In a few moneths this Vizier was displaced and another aduanced to his Office and as it is a common rule with them to runne a contrary course to their fallen Predecessors without examining the merits or causes this Iew was set at libertie and all his actions and Letters approued as true and authenticall And thereupon Petition made to the Grand Signior to enforme the Negotiation and by the counsell of the new Ministers it was admitted and accepted and answer granted to the King of Spaine that seeing hee had shewed so much affection to peace and to enter into a fineere Correspondence with the Port especially by the charitable liberty of so many Mahemetans freely presented that the Gates of the Ottoman Empire were alway open to whomsoeuer did seeke their friendship and that Ambassadors might securely come to treat and conclude it With these Letters to the Catholique King and others to Don Christofero di More and the Secretary Catagna from the Vizier Don Gabriel was dispeeded with two Messengers of the Port by the way of Wallachia to the confines of the Empire purposing to take his iourney through Germany But Rodolphus being then in warre with Sultan Mehemet he was stayed and examined on the Borders To free himselfe he fained that he had Letters to the Emperour whereupon all his papers were seized and sent to Prague His Imperiall Maiesty very discontent and iealous of such Treaties betweene Spaine and Turky without his communication and in such a Coniuncture gaue order that the lew should be brought to Vienna and kept in close Prison vntill he had some advice from Madrid The Catholique King finding diu non latêre scelera to saue the honor of his priuate Designes denyed the fact forsooke and protested the poore Don Gabriel who miserably there ended his life con assai mala-ventura It may be collected that the Spanish ends of this Treaty were such as durst not abide the light seeing they might not bee trusted to the nearest friend and it was iudged great modesty to be ashamed and the part of a good Christian to renounce secret practises with Turkes by the mediation of Iewes but of an ill Master to leaue and aband on his Seruant Such Vessels in the hands of Princes are formed for honor or dishonor as their interests counsell them In later times the extraordinary Ambassadors of the Emperour treating at Constantinople the frontire Affaires and accidentall Breaches another ouerture was by them made in the name of the King of Spaine and the best argument vsed was that the world knew but two great and Imperiall Families Austria and Ottoman who if they were reconciled might make another Diuision of East and West The rest it is more humanitie to conceale then Christianitie to negotiate This last yeare a Bolognese was sent from the Vice-King of Naples in pursuit of the same Designe and counterfeit Letters printed in Spaine with a Catalogue of impossible presents pretended from the Grand Signior to beg peace and spread abroad to add reputation to his Armies as if the world would tremble at a smoake And though this Engine returned fruitlesse yet Spaine is not hopelesse They know the ease and aduantage they should draw by securitie on this side to haue all their Gallies at libertie to shut vp the Straights to hinder traffique and to succour Genoua and their Garrisons of Calabria and Sicily free to be imployed in their other necessities And here it cannot be ouer-passed that while Spaine did negotiate this Peace doubting not to effect it the same instruments were imployed with monies and Letters to excite the Cossacques though in preiudice of the Peace of the King of Poland allyed to the House of Austria by a double mariage to inuade the Bospherus that the Armado of the Grand Signior might necessarily be kept in the blacke-Sea for defence whereby the Spaniard by a fine Art doth enioy halfe the fruits of the Peace without obtaining it These are a modell of the wayes and counsels of the Spanish Monarchy If the King of Spaine enuied his Brother the Conquest of a Mahometan kingdome and treat vnderhand with the Turks without respect or knowledge of the Emperour If he sollicit the seeds of a warre between Poland and the Grand Signior vnder the colour of a peace without care of the vtilitie of that Crowne so neerly to him allyed It may be concluded that ambition of vniuersall Monarchy is onely able to extinguish all obligations both of Religion and blood Because Si violandum jus est imperij gratia violandum est Eurip. alijs rebus pietatem colas If the first step to this sole Empire be the Conquest of England as the Designes of the Enemy from whō some lessons are best taught and their Counsells to their owne ends doe clearly demonstrate and the resolution of diuers Iunto's haue laid for a foundation It is happy for England to fore-see the blow and to prouide timely to preuent it and not be bound to the disaduantage of making a desperate Bett when the aduersary shall call and the game irrecouerable These Demonstrations admitted for true the next Consideration will be by what meanes most effectually and virtually to worke a iust defence Wherein if the Ends Counsells and Wayes whereby Spaine hath in few yeares aduanced bee obserued they will reflect a true light vpon the contrary how they may be humbled The end of Spaine is Vniuersall Monarchy conformable to the Romans in all but the noble contempt of Treasons Herein and
en la conseruation della feè Catholicho en el Reyno di Francia y a instantia y requesta del y que no pensaua dexar las armas hasta cobrallos O yo el pontifice atenta mente la pretestacson y tomò della el Duque instrumento publico Auertiò antes à sua Santitad de algunos inconuenientes che temia hauian de resultar de la absolucion que tenia determinado dar à Enrico That is The Euening before the Absolution should be giuen the Duke of Sessa Ambassadour of the Catholique King on his behalfe protested to the Pope that the absolution which his Holines intended to giue to Henry should not preiudice the Reasons of his King in that which concerned the Kingdome of Nauar and the County of Bourgundy nor in the expence which he had made for the Confernation of the Catholique faith in the Kingdome of France at his instance and request and that he determined not to depose Armes vntill he had recouered them The high Bishop attentiuely heard the Protest and the Duke tooke thereof a publique instrument hauing first aducrtised his Holinesse of some inconueniences which hee feared might result from the Absolution which was purposed to bee giuen to Henry These Protests did appeare to men of sound iudgement ill grounded prentencos the alleaged inconueniences false foundations of that great Building which those malicious aboue mentioned did figure to themselues They said it was requisite to the strict Christianity which the Catholique King professed all humane Interest deposed to aduance with all his spirits the conuersion of Henry and to exhort the high Bishop affectionately to receiue the prodigall Sonne seeing he was returned penitent to his fathers house and to take into his Armes the strayed sheepe which hee had now found to carry him to the Sacred sheepfold of Christ They did blame as a work very little Catholique but rather as a suggestion of the Deuill to attempt the hinderance of that Absolution which onely hee ought to haue procured for the quiet of France and the publique good of Christendome which if it had not succeeded might haue wholly alienated that Kingdome from the Church as the like had done in England They did consider that it was wide of the purpose to feare any preiudice in the kingdome of Nauarre and the County of Burgundy seeing the Absolution did not deriue any more right to Henry then that which any other which should be King of France might haue But aboue all the pretensions of the expence made in the warre did giue them greatest scandall They discoursed if only for the loue of Christ the Catholique King had disbursed that money why was he not content to haue Christ his Debtor But how a Debtor if hee doth enioy of the Patrimony of Christ aboue Three Millions yearely Reuenue granted him by the Vicar of Christ of Tenths Subsidies and Croysado's and other meanes with condition to employ them against the Enemies of Christendome why takes hee nor penne in hand and comes not to a distinct Account of the Receipts and Issues well balancing il dare conl'hauere and hee shall finde himselfe not Creditor of one Maranedi but certainely Debtor of many and many Millions spent not according to his obligation for Christianity but for the interest of his owne priuate Estates What then doth hee pretend Why then doth he not lay downe Armes Vpon what hath hee fixed his thoughts To what end doth he aspire If he prosecute this warre he prosecuteth an vniust warre How doth that correspond with the zeale of Religion for which onely at first he vndertooke it What change is this Certainely it proceedeth not from the right hand of the most High But bee it so let him follow the warre at his owne pleasure there is no remedy Henry shall bee absolued and shall bee King of France Doth the Catholique King perhaps hope with his owne forces and by strong hand to depriue him If he was not able with the vnion of so many other Princes to hinder him from taking possession of his Kingdome how shall he now be able to expell him hauing set sure footing in his Throne He attempts a dangerous Action Here they proceed with witty and politique Consideration that a good issue of this warre against Henry not ensuing hee should be sure to acquire a powerfull and perpetuall Enemy that might in time make Spaine to tremble within her owne bowels and the Prophesie had well neare beene verified the whole world knowes it if a violent death had not interposed to stay him But this yet which perhaps was foreseene they did iudge insufficient to free Spaine of the danger Seeing the offence of the father and with the offence the disdaine might descend to the Sonne his Successor as soone as hee came to ripe age and should fall into consideration that the Catholique King had done his vâ—most to keepe him from being King of France when hee indeauoured to take the Crowne from the head of his father and that if his father in despight of Spaine mainteined himselfe King he also in despight of Spaine might enioy his fathers Kingdome But all these considerations which certainely were very great before any other conceiued them were resolued by the most wise King Phillip who by common Iudgement was the Salomon of his time From whence for the same reasons that others did iudge it requisite to leaue the warre hee esteemed it necessary to prosecute it Seeing he knew he had so grieuously offended Henry that hee could by no other meanes secure himselfe from his disdaine but onely by opposing him to become King of France Wherefore seeing the cause of Religion did cease it was expedient to fasten vpon some other pretence to resist with his Holiness the absolution and in France the Corenation and to proue if it were possible already reason of State had insinuated that great building of the Malicious to make a King of his owne fashion as he had already caused to be propounded in Parliament Tarde se desengana el dessee de mandar Bauia p. 4. vita de Clem. 8. c. 30. y ser Rey Por este aunque con menos brie no desistian los pretensores Proponia el Duque de Feria al Serenissima Infanta de Espana Dona Isabel Affermaua denersele el Reyno porque hauiendo faltado la linea masculina de Hugo Capcto eraquien tenià meior derecho a la Corona como hija de hermana mayor de Eurico III vltimo Rey de Francia Y dezia con esto que el Rey Catholico su padre la ca sarsa con alâ—un principe Frances con que el nombramiento del tal quedasse en su elecion That is The desire to command and to bee King was slowly cleared from all doubt For this cause though with lesse boldnesse the Pretènders gaue not ouer The Duke of Feria did propound her highnesse Donna Isabella Infanta of Spaine He did affirme the Kingdom
exhausted Sicily and of a most fruitfull Countrey reduced it to the want of bread Couetousnesse was accompanied with other notorious vices so that hee became to the nobilitie and people hatefull which being knowne vnto him when the death of the Catholique King was published hee durst not appeare abroad for feare of receiuing some notable afront Here the Author proceedeth to the Insurrection of that Kingdome against so strange a Monster who disguised in the habit of a Seruant saued himselfe by flight and after got away to his King in Flanders In whose place was sent Hector Pinatello Earle of Monteleone who by publique Decree would ratifie all the Acts of Don Vgo how tyrannicall soeuer Whereupon the People who insteed of remedy saw the mischiefe confirmed made a new Commotion in the Citie of Palermo and the new Vice-King was inforced to escape to Messina vntill the Commons by the Nobility appeased and many Spanish Souldiers supplied him from the King he became strong and was able to vent his rage as he did with extreame rigor vpon the mutined And Don Vgo de Moncada who had so ill entreated the poore Sicilians in stead of punishment was rewarded with great riches and honored with the standard of Captaine Generall of the Sea They who at present liue by tradition of their old men and for as much as themselues haue proued doe testifie before God that that kingdome hath continually suffered grieuances cruel extortions but that the people had almost veterly forgotten them when they felt the heauy yoake of the Duke of Ossuna because in respect of extreame euills moderate may be called goodnesse They exclaime to the Heauens that he hath left the wretched Sicily desolate and rooted vp They complaine with miserable outcryes to haue more then once sent into Spaine to lament to your Maiestie and alwaies without fruit And since they remaine wholly confused and astonished with the consideration how he like another Don Vgo in stead of receiuing punishment should be honored and recompenced with the charge of the Vice-King of Naples And now it is time to discourse of Naples it selfe I should vndertake a great worke to recount that which I haue seene and tryed and perhaps I might seeme as passionate I will then mention onely that which I haue found in Histories that which the kingdome with full voice doth proclaime It was practiced lately in Naples to introduce the Inquisition al vso de Spania Igles p. 2 l. 6. c. 27 Sect. vlt. Bonfigl p. 2 l. 4. The people cryed out there was no need of so great rigour because by Gods grace that Kingdome was not full of Moores and Spaudo Christians The Vice-King insisting on his purpose began to vse force the people instructed by nature armed to oppose against such violence The Pope informed of the business cōmanded the Vice Roy in vertue of holy obedience to be quiet and he well may doe it both as Prince of the Church in respect of Eaelesiasticall Iurisdiction and as temporall Prince that Kingdome being the proper faude of the Sea Apostolique yet for this the vice-Vice-King would not desist but with small and great Artillary attempted to bring his purpose to effect All the Citie rose in vptore Many houses were loueiled with the ground and men not a few slaine But sooner hee might destroy all then those generous mindes be subiected to his will so that he did great harme and obtained nothing Who shall well consider these Actions cannot be perswaded that Christian zeale transported the Vice-King to intermeddle in Ecclesiastique Iurisdiction and to desire to burden that people with a yoake little needfull and lesse reasonable against the will of the Vicar of Christ Soueraigne Prince as well in Temporals as Spiritualls in the Kingdome of Naples From whence it must be concluded that vnder that pretence the Vice-Roy had some other end which certainly could not be but little for the good of the Subiect I know not how to excuse of Tyranny that Action in the yeare 1585 Bau. Pontis p. 3. vita Siste 5 c. 5. when the officers drew out of that kingdome so great a quantitie of Corne to send into Spaine that although the yeare were most abundant the poore Citie of Naples did perish of famine A Crueltie indeed horrible to take from the Neapolitans their owne broad to feed their Spaniards Therefore not without cause that people conducted by necessitie to desparation rose all in tumult from whence the Vice-King this also was a Duke of Ossuna tooke after occasion to vent his sury putting to death forty sending to the Gallies a hundred and exiling infinite numbers The present State thereof imitates that of Sicily as the Duke of Ossuna succeeded in that Gouernment after Sicily To performe my promise I will say no more let that Inscription no lesse true then compassionate by the Kingdome it selfe published to the World speake which shall remaine of that Duke a perpetuall and famous Elogte Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri Petrus Gironus Dux Osscinensium Natione Hispanus Genere Perduellis Religione Turcicus Italici Dalmatici Germanici Fax Cruenta Bellorum Non. Vnius Sicilia Verres Neapoli Pollutis Templis Conspurata Nobilitate Depredato Aerario Monito Mauro Accersito Trace Veneta Vrbe Per. Insidias Ad. Excidium Tenta Regis Simplicitate Per. Corruptos Aulicos Diu. Multumque Delusa Hospitum Manubiis Per. Triennium Ditato Milite Compulsisque Populis Ad. Eorum Stationes Redimendas Foedata Infandis Exemplis Ah. Nimis Ad. Infandū Prona Ciuitate Nobilibus Aliquot Adse Vario Quà Munere Quà Vaframenta Pellectis Largitionibus Et. Vanis Spebus Plebe Delusa Atque Eorum Seditiosissimo Bis. Extra Sortem Renunciato Tribuno Denique Frustra Vetatis Armis Tentatis Arcibus Et. In. Armatos Ciues Per. Triduum Circumducta Acie Scelestorū Opportune Successoris Aduentu Cedere Solo. Et. Salo. Compulsus Aurum Nostrum Quod. Hic Corrasit Nequiter Alibi Lasciue Sparsurus Prouinciae Neapolitani Heu Quondam Regni Inermes Enerues Populorum Deglubiti Greges Palantes Balantes Teterrimas Suas Clades Ignotas Regi Longirquo Et. Torpenti Fascino Sandonallico Pagella Et. Calamo Quae. Sola Sunt Reliqua Representant Vrbi Et. Orbi Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri In so wofull manner sacred Maiestie Naples doth lament No lesse doth Sicily grieue and Millan equally complaine But of all their vexations the vnhappy people are afraid to speake All their iniuries with open voice it is not lawfull to expreise Scarcely they dare publikely bewaile their extreame miseries whence their hearts are more corroded Tacitus moeror lust lib. 8. luctus verentibus ne ipsae lachrymae pro contumacia hubeantur Crescit dissimulatione ipsa dolor hoc altius dimissus quo minùs profiteri licet Of these three principall Prouinces of Italy vnder the gouernment of the Emperour Charles the fift I find recorded in Historie that Insubres ex opulentissimis ad egestatem redacti
Iov Hist lib. 39. diuque vel in paee inaniter vexati frustra apud surdas Caesaris aures praesidum acerbitatem querebantur Neapolitanum verò Regnum quo uihil spoliatius vnquam fuit euersum exutumque omni pristina dignitate conciderat Et in Sicilia cum annuis Tributis tum nouis rei frumentariae vectigalibus frequentibus Hispanorum astiuis hybernisque euastatn occasio potius rebellandi quam consensus deesse videbatur But certainly certainly they are in much worse estate at this present I beleeue not O sacred Catholique Maiestie that there is any Prince in this world who for reason of State doth not sometimes slip into some indecent Action because it may happen that the Iudgement and the will are surprised the one peruerted the other blinded with passion and interest To the conditions of Princes their Ministers ordinarily do conforme for these are their eyes eares hands and feet and therefore as is formerly said the Actions of Ministers are attributed to themselues the Princes Let vs then say that Ministers as well as Princes may and doe also erre either by ignorance or passion or of pure malice But in all Christendome I certainly beleeue that there haue not beene nor are found any Ministers of any Prince or Rapublike whatsoeuer who haue committed so great errors nor vsed so many wicked dealings as the Spaniards Let your Maiestie consider the few in this discourse alleaged which are scarce the thousand part of those in history recorded and bee pleased with attention to read what they haue done in India faithfully described by the aforementioned Bishop of Chiappa And you shall clearly see that to this truth there is no reply and with great griefe of heart you will compassionate the condition of your miserable Subiects you will abhorre the execrable Actions of your Ministers and as a true Catholike Prince will prouide to the whole conuenient remedie which if you shall not doe then that right of other Princes which I haue pointed at will take place Your Maiestie doth know that Millan is a feud of the Empire Naples and Sicily of the Church Therefore the Pope and the Emporer when their Subiects in these States are not gouerned with vpright Iustice are bound in conscience to God either to resume the immediate Dominion as they haue the Supreme or to prouide another Prince that rightly and iustly may gouerne depriuing your Maiestie of the Inuestiture of those feudes which will bee escheated by the Iniustice of your Ministers by you tollerated And if at present it may seeme that the State of Millan is secure the Emperour being of the house of Austria and your neare kinsman and that you feare not Naples and Sicily knowing the high Bishop most inclinable to your fauour yet in many respects there remaines much whereof to doubt The affection of the minde and the alliance of blood with some other interest ioyned to the one and the other are considerations that can doe much But the loue of Heauen and the feare of Hell and the infallible Iudgement of God which will giue the one or the other as I beleeue may much more preuaile So that at last the Pope and the Emperour will haue more care of their owne soules then of your Maiesties satisfaction I adde that the Empire Popedome are Electiue Principalities and not hereditarie whence if the present Bishop bee obsequious to your Maiesties will perhaps his successor will bee contrary And though now the Emperour bee an Austrian in short time an 〈◊〉 of the house of Austria may succead him who finding so lost occasion will certainty bereaue your Maiestie of your feudes â— and when neither of these would I may say God will doe it and might alleadg the authoritie of holy men and prophesies of Sacred Scripture but I will oâ—â—it them as superfluous onely this I will adde that when all other danger should faile you ought greatly to feare the heauy dislike of all your owne Subiects Senec. Thabai Actâ— 3. sce 2. because innisae nunquam Imperia r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diâ— Let your Maiesly then consider to close vp this Discount how your Ministers bring your States of Italy into extreame peril both in respect of your Subiects by their manor of Gouernment with the machinations which they continually weaue against other Princes And if ouer Emperor or Pope should take Armes against you you may bee assured to haue all the Princes of Italy and perhaps of Europe your Oppesites because the interest of State hath opened their eyes Let your Maiestie imagine to ouer-heare all the Italian Potentates after this manner to discourse among themselues Now what doe we doe Why doe we not oppose him who with a thousand frauds doth aspire our ruine The Spanyards possesse in Italy Millan Naples and Sicily besides many lands wrested from poore particular Lords at Monâ—â—â— Piombino Corregio and others and yet are not content If now they become Masters of the Valteline whereby they proiect to shut vp the passage of stranger Nations called to our seruice and to keepe it at pleasure open to ioyne with theirs the German forces of the house of Austria By this vnion they promise themselues vtterly to bring to nothing the power of the Republique of Venice the which being remoued they hope in Italy to finde no other resistance so that thereof they will soone acquire the absolute Monarchy Vt sunt impotentia Iou. Hist lib. 10. at que imperandi auida ingenia Hispanorum qui quum semelirrepserint ad summans sâ—â—â—per potentiam cunctis artibus contendunt Then would they expect that the Pope should bee Chapleyne of the King of Spaine and we inferiour Seruants of his Royall house wee are too sure that this is the In tention of the Spanish Ministers Already wee see in what treacherous manner they seeke to effect it and wee stand still with our thumbs vnder our girdles too late we shall repent if soone wee doe not resolue Here returning their thoughts vpon your Maiestie in whose name your Ministers worke they proceed meditating the same conceit in these words Phillip King of Macedon who alwaies with snares with treacheries with sacriledge attentiue to enlarge his Empire being by the Thebans chosen Captain of their Army against the Phacians who robbing the Temple of Apollo with sacred treasures had armed to make warre on Thebes vnder the show of piety and Religion readily accepted the charge and Enterprise and at the first Encounter ouercame the Enemy whence hee was celebrated with Immortoll glory Incredibile quantum eares apud omnes nationes Philippe gloriam dedit Illum vindicene sacrilegij illum vltorem religionum Iust 8. Quod orbis viribus expiari debuit solum qui piacula exigoret extitisse dignum Itaque Diis proximus habetur per quem Deorum Maiestas vindicatasit But finding himselfe victorious and powerfull hee discouered his dissembled piety and feined Religion breaking his faith with those who had made