Extraordinary Revenews of the Dutchy of Milan and for that cause a proclamation was made by the said Fontano's authority in King Philips name which was smartly answered and opposed by the Family of the Malaspines and had almost given an Alarm amongst the said Princes had not most of the Embassadorâ— in King Philips Court interceded with him and at length obtained that the prosecution of the businesse might be protracted and suffered to vanish Thuan lib. 134. 5. Anno 1606. there arose a controversie between Pope Paul the fifth and the State of Venice about certain Priviledges vvhich when it was almost brought to a friendly composition by the endeavour of Henry the fourth of France the Spanish faction the chief vvhereof were Cardinall Pompeio Arrigovio Paulo Sfondrato and Ferdinando Pacero Duke of Ascalonia by the pravalency of King Philips Embassador with the Pope the businesse was not onely frustrated but also brought to open war and the Pope excommunicated the Venetians and Philip forthwith by lettters artificiously pen'd offered his service to the Pope to that end Fontano listed Souldiers apace and yet nevertheless he sent Francisco de Castro as Extraordinary to Venice with intention that if the matter inclined to a peace which he having kindled the war at first began already to suspect he might praecept the honor of the pacification from the King of France or at least have a great share in it by his intervention But the common report in the Court of Rome was that Philip according to the Rule of his Ancestors was glad to hear of such Disputes amongst other Princes concerning the Popes Supremacy as in relation to Civil Government yea and to have them agitated up and down in Spain it self by connivencie as conceiving them not to belong to him at all he being very potent and using to quash the Popes attempts in all his dominions with a word well knowing that his Holinesse dares not so much as hiss against him which was sufficiently demonstrated afterwards in the businesse of Sicily yea and the Spaniards boyling with the heat of ambition convert such wars and feditions as spring from thence to their own privat advantage as lying in ambush in the mean while to see if any of the weaker Princes be prescribed that so they have an occasion to invade their Dominions as it hapned in the seizure of the kingdom of Navarre even in our parents dayes Thuan. lib. 137. 7. When Ferdinand King of Spain and Arragon Anno 1501. attempted the Kingdom of Naples and took the Citie of Tarento with Ferdinand son to Frederick King of Naples in it he swore to him by Gonsalvo before the Altar that he would leave him the liberty of a King but yet he slighted his oath sent him prisoner into Spain and reserved the kingdom for himself 8. By the exhortation of Ferdinand called the Catholick Henry the eighth King of England sent 6000 English into Spain to joyn with the Spaniards in the invasion of the Dutchy of Chira but Ferdinand who had a quite other designe sent them against John Albert King of Navarre by the right of Catherine de la Fosse who being wholly unprovided for Ferdinand carried his business with high dissimulation towards him fled into France and so Ferdinand seized the kingdom of Navarre without any cost or pains Speculum Tragicum Anno 1612. 9. It is no newes for the Spaniards to sow sedition in divers kingdoms at one and the same time as they did Anno 158â— in France and England Thuan. lib. 179. 10. Anno 1581. The Spaniards sowed discord amongst the Knights of Maltha by setting Matuirno Scuto Romaegassio against John Bishop of Casserio Avernio chief of that Order and casting him in prison from whence he was cited to Rome to his triall whither he came and stoutly acquitted himself howbeit he dyed during his abode there Thuan. lib. 74. 12. The Spaniards raised seditions in Scotland and sollicited with vain promises some Noblemen to a revolt some of whom were beheaded for it The States to the Letters of Ernestus Anno 1594. Thuan. lib. 109. 13. Antonio de Laeva a Spaniard and Governor of Lumbardy for Charles the fifth being besieged at Milan thought fit to spare neither things Humane nor Divine for the maintenance of his own honor and Caesars dignity and in stead of pay granted every Citie and every Citizen thereof to be most inhumanly plundred by the Souldiers that by the ejection of the Duke of Milan Sforsa might enjoy the command of so great a Principate Paulus Jovius lib. 6. Elogiorum 14. Hugo de Moncada governed Sicily after such a fashion that he left many monuments of avarice and cruelty behind him for he put many Sicilian Gentlemen to death and amongst the rest the Lord of Camerata for that he lived somewhat seditiously according to the ancient loosness of that Nation Paul Jov. lib. 6. Elog. 15. How cruelly did they use the Hussites in Bohemia as beating them dragging them cutting children in two and throwing them to their mothers saying Jam habes sub utraque Now thou hast it under both alluding to the ceremony of the Hussites who took the Sacrament under both species 16. Thomas Campanella in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy Chap. 26. faith That the King of Spain must take care that none but a Catholick king be elected to the Crown of Poland And therefore wise noble Embassadors must be sent to Câ—achoven to give weight and authority to the Spanish union amongst the Electors and prevail to have one of the King of Spains younger sons chosen King of Poland And the people of Scandinaven and Dantzick must also be moved to set forth a Fleet to sea against the English c. CHAP. XV. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and Rule IF that old saying Semper imperare superiorem esse aliis Alwayes to command and be superior to others be innate to any Nation it is certainly so more to the Spaniards then to any other since all their actions cogitations and consultations tend to that end and therefore they may most clearly consent and say with Caesar Si violandum est jus regnandi causa violandum If right must be wrong'd it must be wrong'd for Powers sake For this reason they are not afraid by publick writings to admonish and exhort their king yea and to shew him the wayes and means how he may arrive to the universall Monarchy amongst whom Thomas Campanella is the Ring-leader Nor did Charles the fifth seem to have laid slight foundations for this Monarchy when besides those kingdoms which he possest by right of succession in the West and elsewere he was also made Emperour of the Romans to which were yet added other titles afterwards and it hath been hitherto the onely business of the Spaniards to be alwayes in warres that so they may be ready upon all occasions to produce that Monarchy of the whole Christian world which they have long since
Spaniards besieged Leyden they said That the starres in the Firmament would be pulled down with ones hand before that Citie would be freed from the siege Olerus in Lauro Nassovica pag. 30. 4. The pride of the Spaniards is such that if they see themselves reduced to streights they will not first ask conditions of peace but seek it by some second or third hand as they did anno 1597. when they suborned the Emperour and he the king of Denmark to move the Princes to a pacification Thuan. lib. 119. 7. A certain arrogant and proud Spanish Count asked a certain Gentleman coming out of the Court what was said of him in Court The other answered Nor bad nor good The Count being angry cudgel'd him and presently after gave him fifty Ducats saying Go thy wayes now to the Court and tell what I have done to thee to wit both bad and good Florista Oratione de gloria The Duke of Alva used to say That he would bring the Low Countrey people to obedience in despight of Heaven and Earth and also that the Sun and Moon should lose their light before hâ— would remit or take off the tax of the tenth penny Metteran And Juan de Vergas that bloody President of the Councell was also wont to say Vergas habet virgas Vergas has Rods. 9. When the Professors of Lovain complained to him for having taken Prince Philip of Orange out of the University and violated the priviledges of the said University he answered Non curamus vestros privilegios Such as himself vvas such was his Latin 10. That Navy vvhich vvas sent against England 1588. the Spaniards termed Invincible and compose these verses upon it alluding to the Queen of England Tu quae Romanas voluisti spernere leges Hispano disces subdere colla jugo Thou who the Roman Lawes scornd'st to obey Shalt learn to bow thy neck to Spanish sway But hese words were indeed but Wind and Smoke 11. The Duke of Alva caused a most magnificent Trophie of Brasse to be set up at Antwerp vvith various Elegies of his own exploits as Thuan describes it lib. 44. Anno 1569. upon vvhich the Duke of Areschots jest may be seen beneath cap. 33. Apotheg 12. The Spaniards after they had so miserably used the Indians were wont to brag that God had given them those victories because they made so just a war against Barbarians and Infidels Bartholomaeus de Casa CHAP. XVII The perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises NO wonder that this vice is common to the Spaniards with the Africans For in regard that they are for the most part their successors they seem to be also heirs of their vices amongst which perfidie was not the least and therefore I have thought fit to shew some examples thereof that so this Chapter may have credit True it is that King Philip sometimes promised the United Provinces pardon for what was past and made proclamation therof but the States being taught by the examples of others were not so credulous as for that reason to lay down Arms or consent to a wily fallacious pacification For so an 1576. Don Juan de Austria feigning conditions of peace vvith the States vvas convicted of fraud by that that amongst the Letters of Hieronymo Rhoda there was found one That he should first court his Countrey-men with fair words and by other means and assistance reduce Holland and Zealand and then he should punish the rebels according to their merit mean while that he should carry himself warily and conceal his design with exquisite Art Thuan. lib. 62. 1. How true and faithfull the Spaniards be to their Associates the case and end of Gomeron may shew whom Fontano cunningly enticed to Brussels cast him his two brothers in prison afterwards beheaded him in the sight of Hanâ—e which Orvilliers would not yeeld up to him without any respect to the Noblenesse of his Family or that he served the Henoticks who yet were most zealous to the Spaniards c. See Thuan. lib. 112. Anno 1595. Nor did they deal much more faithfully with Mercuriano chief Captain after Metuanio of the Legists for they endeavoured by all means to alienate the Nobility from him and force him to live as they pleased Thuan. lib. 113. 7. How the Spaniards have performed their promises to such as had done them any kindnesses the example of the Portuguezes shewes Thuan c. 3. lib. 78. 8. Don Juan de Austria Anno 1577 being put in mind of the Contract made and signed by the States said That the States must shew more prudence then to complain if the Kings interest were advanced by the breach of conditions 9. It is the Spanish Maxime That the promises of Princes made to their rebellious subjects are not binding 10. Lewis the 12. King of France said That the perfidie of the Paenes and Carthaginians was anciently much celebrated but that now the Spaniards sufficiently supplied their places 11. Anno 1577. Don Juan de Austria renewd the pacification of Gant with king Philips Provinces and tooke away the Spanish Souldiers but forthwith brought them back again and so made the later worse then the former And vvhen he resolved to cut off the head of Peter Pan of Mecklin and was informed that it was against the Pacification he answered That the pacification only concerned such as were banished and not such as remained in their Countrey A fine interpretation Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 106. 12. Howbeit the Spaniards made a peace with Charles the eighth King of France and many other magnificent promises yet they sent private Letters and Agents to various Princes and chiefly to the Venetians and made war against him not onely by themselves but by others also Comines lib. 5. Bello Neopolitani 13. The Duke of Ossuna the Kings Deputy in the Kingdom of Naples Anno 1617. presumed to maintain 1. That Agreements and Oathes obliged Princes of smaller Countreys to keep them but not his King because forsooth he was the greatest and most potent of the Christian world 2. That all the Kings promises and engagements ought to be accommodated to the resolutions of his Councels and the variations of times 3. That the Kings Ministers were not bound to what the King commanded but to what was advantagious to the King and Kingdom Baudart lib. 38. Anno 1617. CHAP. XVIII The Spaniards Hypocrisie and Dissimulations AS the Spaniards fall short of no nation in the breaking of Promises and Engagements so do they also excell in the Art and skill of Hypocrisie and dissimulation whereof there be many old and modern examples amongst which that great one of Philip the second may be noted who when Anno 1579 he invaded the kingdom of Portugall with his Army and knew well enough notwithstanding what sinister reports went up and down of him not onely in Portugal but even in Italy too finding it fit to indulge Fame a little by a dissimulation very familiar to him as if he
anno 1582. Philip the second son to Charles the fifth confiscated all the goods of the Archbishop of Toledo and caused him to be poysoned because he had said and that constantly indeed that the said Charles last Confession was that he confided only in the merit of Christ See Baudartius lib. 16. Apoph where also is rehearsed that contemptible Epitaph made upon Charles the fifth Hic jacet intùs Carolus quintus Ora pro eo bis vel ter Ave Maria Paternoster 15. Anno 1576. in that fury and direption of Antwerp raised by the Spaniards wherein they spared none of what Religion soever they ran up and down the Markets and streets crying out as loud as they could Todo todo todo All all all Dineros y no palabras Moneys and not words They brake open gates and windows with their guns and weapons crying Fuora fuora vellacos Out Knaves out and one of the chief of them caused these words to be wrought upon his pillow Castigador de los Flamengos The Chastiser of the Flemings 16. At Mechlin they plundred all the Archbishops of that Town and all the Bishops of Namurs his Church-stuff the dammage whereof was valued at some millions of gold See Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 41. 17. At Owdenard they threw some of the Clergy into the water Ibid. 18. The Spaniards likewise sufficiently testifyed their cruelty towards the Catholicks when the Admiral of Arragon invaded Westphalia the Bishoprick of Munster and Paterborn nor spared so much as the Bishoprick of Colein See Speculum Arragonicum Specul Hisp tyran in Belgio p. 99 100 101 c. 19. The Spaniards did more hurt in the Indies by their cruelty then good by their Religion yea they were often cause that the Religious men were murthered and ill used by the Indians as Bartholomè de la Casa teaches in his spec Hisp tyran in India And the same moreover says that the Spaniards could not endure that the said Religious men should be there and teach in regard that thereby the Indians were not so much their slaves as being better informed yea and they took it ill that any of them should be converted to the Christian Faith The same Barthol 20. The Noblemen of Catalonia discover remarkable examples of the Spanish Praevarications against the Catholicks and Clergy in their Catholick Complaint especially p. 4.10 12. See below Cap. de Cataloniae regno relata nostra 21. Nojo Moncata who first prophaned the Church in the Vatican at Rome never violated before and dedicated from the times of the very Goths and Vandals to St. Peter and Paul the Saints Guardian of the City was a Spaniard Jovius in ejus Elogio 22. The Spaniards use Churches for their safeâ—â— as Sanctuaries and yet if others flie thither for refuge they violently pull them out and carry them away without any respect to the Sacredness of the place or priviledge whereof the Reader hath an example in Perez in the Kingdom of Arragon And Anno 1640. the vice-Vice-King of Naples drew a certain Grandee of Naples out of the Church and put him to death CHAP. IV. The Spanish Inquisition THat all mischiefs were brought into the world by this Pandora the more sincere and more prudent Catholicks themselves cannot deny how much soever the Fathers of the Council of Trent defend it and how much soever the Spaniards like some Divine Palladium as without which their Religion can hardly stand adore it Whereof Thuan. lib. 104. says thus 1. The Inquisition is a Bencâ—â—â—r Tribunal in Arragon to enervate or weaken the Rights of their Countrey-Liberty invented by the Kings against such as bore publick Offices The Inquisitors a kinde of men of a more then Scythick or barbarous nature ingenious for the invention of most unheard of torments thought nothing sharp and bitter enough to torture mens bodies without sparing either sex or age Robertus Abbatius The Citizens of Lisbone offered King Philip five and twenty hundred M as the Author of the Book of the Inquisition sayes not that the said Inquisition might be taken away but that in the terrible jurisdiction thereof this temperament might be kept That no body might be imprisoned without first knowing his accusers name and expressing the heads of his Crime that so the accused by the knowledge thereof might be able to prepare his answer before his condemnation And in short that the prisoners might be heard according to custome in other Trials before sentence were pronounced against him But the Inquisitors would not endure to have their terrible power so circumscribed for it rambles up and down to express its jurisdiction at pleasure and hath this priviledge in it to give credit to the testimonies of base and perfidious fellows of whom no account is had in other causes By this trick was weakned the liberty of Lumbardy and the Kingdom of Naples the Arragoneses priviledges broken the Lisbonezes and Portuguezes by degrees disarmed Author anonymus ad ordines Belgicos An 1605. apud Thuan. lib. 133. 2. It was the Duke of Alva's designe having reduced the Low Countries to a hard servitude and destroyed the Noblemen to build a Castle for the Spanish Inquisition or Tyranny from whence he might send Armies to destroy the Germans English and French under colour of establishing Religion but the truth is to impose their Monarchy upon the whole Christian World which the Spaniards have long had in their thoughts and for the atchievement whereof there is nothing so detestable in counsell nothing so horrible in fact nor nothing so dishonest in issue but they hold it lawful for them witness Mounts and Berghs seat upon the publick trust with leave of Margaret Dutches of Parma into Spain and unworthily put to death so many Noblemen beheaded and more then 20000 innocent persons butchered by the Hangman The States in their answer to the King of Denmark 1597. Thuan. lib. 11.9 3. The perverse and preposterous form of the Tryals of the Inquisition against all naturall equity and lawfull order is observed in the explication of that jurisdiction as also the barbarousnesse of the torments wherewith contrary to truth whatsoever the Deputies should think fit to fancie they extorted confession from the wretched and innocent prisoners whereby it hapned that they said that it was not invented so much for the maintaining of piety for which there was another way shewed by the ancient Discipline of the Church as for that by ruining the fortunes of all freemen might by this means be brought into danger Thuan. lib. 3. where he likewise recounts how the Dominican Inquisitors being ejected by the Neapolitans there arose tumults about it Anno 1542. 4. How much the Dominican Inquisitors were also hated by the people at Rome and how odious the Inquisition grew to the Romans after the death of Pope Paul 4 Thuanus teaches lib. 23. Anno 1559. 5. Charles 5. An. 1550. granted the Inquisitors power to question not only the common people but the
howbeit they had made peace and league with Charles the eighth yet by privat dispatches of letters and Agents to all parts and especially to Venice they brake it and instantly made war upon the French as Comines testifies lib. 5. belli Neapolitani p. 926. 23. An. 1614. Francisco Suarez a Spanish Jesuit set forth a scandalous Book against the State of the kingdomes of England France which was publickly burnt at Paris by order of Parliament howbeit the said Book was set forth by the approbation of Joan Alvarez Provincial of that Society CHAP. VII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England VVE have staid long enough in a continent let us now passe the Sea and see whether the King of Spain have shewn himself more faithfull to the English then to the French and others Not a whit Read what follows and you will find with me that a Wolf is every where a Wolf Attempts against Q Elizabeth and would as well take and devour the markt as unmarkt sheep And to begin with Queen Elizabeth it cannot be denied but that the Spaniard used all possible means to deprive her both of her kingdom and of her life Thuan testifies lib. 44. Anno 1569. that Mary Queen of Scots by the instigation of the Spaniards and others endeavoured to innovate things in England and to that end Rudolphus Robertus came into England to solicite the English to disloyalty and promise them great matters from the Pope and the King of Spain and he was employed by the Queen as her chief Minister and Assistant 2. That the Spanish Ministers by their Emissaries the Jesuits induced the Duke of Norfolk Anno 1572. to undertake dangerous designes against Queen Elizabeth was not doubted of by the wiser sort of those times yea and he was brought to lose his head for it Hist Belg. 3. In the year 1601. the King of Spain by the instigation of Garnet Robert a Jesuit endeavoured to trouble affairs in England but that enterprize being detected vanisht into smoak Metteranus lib. 27. 4. That the King of Spain did direct all his enterprises that by the Jesuits he might molest the affairs and innovate Religion in England so many reiterated designes but most of them being frustrated the writing made against the Jesuits in England 1602. in which among other titles they have this name that they are the King of Spains Trumpeters I cannot forbear to speak of that stupendious Fleet which was sent against England and the Queen Anno. 1588. 5. The King of Spain trecherously thinking to destroy Queen Elizabeth and to possesse himself of the English Nation provided a mighty Navy consisting of one hundred and thirty ships where of Galeasses and Galleons seventy two goodly ships like to floating Towers in which were Souldiers 19290. Mariners 8350. Gally slaves 2080. great Ordnance 2630. On the twentieth of May they weighed Anchor from the River Trigas but were by tempest so miserably disperst that it was long ere they met again But they sent before to the Prince of Parma that he with his Forces consisting of fifty thousand old Souldiers should be ready to joyn with them and with his shipping to conduct them into England and to land his Army at the Thames mouth But God so ordered that partly by distresse of weather and partly by the valour of the English they were driven back with infinite loss and disgrace 6 Fontano a Spaniard with a vast sum of money to wit 50000 Pistols corrupted Doctor Lopez to poyson Queen Elizabeth as the said Lopez himself together with Emanuel Ludovicus Tinotius Stephanus Errera freely confest Thuan. lib. 109. 7. Ibarra attempted the same plot upon the said Queen by Edmond of York Cousin german to him who perfidiously betrayed the Fort of Zutphan to the enemy as also by Richard Williams besides another youth and other complices for which he promised them 40000 Pistols 8. Anno 1601. the Spaniards were brought into Ireland by Hugh Earle of Tiron but were but scurvily entertained there Thuan. lib. 125. 9. When in the year 1603. certain Engglish were taken and executed for a conspiracy against the King Carolus Ligneus Count of Aremberg who was then Embassador there from the Archduke Albert was suspected to have conspired with them Thuan. lib. 129. 10. The King of Spain not long after the death of Mary Queen of Scots ordered the Duke of Parma then Governor of the Low Countries to promise in his name the King of Scotland both men and mony against the Queen of England thereby the more easily to revenge his mothers death And to that end the said Duke sent Robert Bruss a Scotch Gentleman into Scotland with a great deal of money Besides that the Scotch King was put in hope to marry the Infanta of Spain provided that he embrac'd the Roman Religion which was proposed by one William Crichâ—on who then belonged to the Popes Nuntio and had formerly been Rector sometime of the Jesuits Colledge at Lyons and he endeavoured to perswade Bruss either by force or fraud to kill John Metelan High Chancelor of Scotland and because Bruss abhorred so wicked a fact Crichton accused him to Fontano who clapt him up in prison for fourteen moneths together See Hospinian 11. How cunningly some of the Spanish Emissaries endeavoured to perswade James then King of Scotland and afterwards of England too that it was necessary for him to have a league and friendship with the King of Spain saying that it would much advantage him to have the favour of the Spaniards Thuan. lib. 83. 12. The dangerous designes of the Spaniards by the Jesuits and their Emissaries to destroy both the Queen and Kingdom of England Anno 1596. is described by Thuan and others in the English Complaint to Pope Clement the eighth 13. Divers outrages and Acts of hostility have been committed by the Spaniards against the subjects of England in their Colonies of the West Indies 14 Anno 1605. Certain English men being on the North side of Hispaniola were enticed a shore by a Priest named Father John on promise of secure trading were inhumanly and barbarously murthered by the Spaniards The Master was tied naked to a tree and most cruelly pinched and stung to death 15. An. 1608. The Richard of Plimouth trading to Virginia was assaulted by the King of Spains ships and notwithstandding the Master produced the Broad Seal of England he with all the men were condemned to the Gallies where some were with much cruelty beaten to death 16. With what tricks and juggles the Match in Spain between the late King Charles and the King of Spains daughter was treated prolonged and at last quite eluded is sufficiently known to such as were employed in that business So that Spaniards are every where Spaniards CHAP. VIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugall WHen Sebastian King of Portugall Anno 1578. resolved to undertake that Expedition into Africa fatall
and fifty two Fire-balls thrown into it and five hundred sixty four houses consumed with fire and 1115. pillaged not so much as the very Churches spared and the Monastery of the Carmelites together with other sacred places plundered by the Spaniards who took above eight thousand Ducats in despight of the intercession of the Bishop and the Religious The Inhabitants of Perpinian disarmed no body permitted to go out of the Town and the Townsmen imprisoned The complaints which were made hereof to the Spaniards were either not accepted or plainly rejected or else put off till other times Many of the prime Citizen were taken and cast in prison without cause and there retained for some moneths before they could know why no justice administred the rents of the Bishop and Clergy of Barcellona taken away all Jurisdiction both Temporal and Spiritual transferred upon the Spaniards c. They also complain of the Spanish Kings ingratitude concluding thereby that they were forced to take arms against their wills c. But I will stay here and remit my Reader to their Catholick complaint out of which I have taken this CHAP. XI The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Arragon VVHat I have written elswhere that the Spaniards endeavour to diminish the ancient liberties and immunities of other Kingdomes and Provinces thereby to give the inhabitants an occasion to rebell and themselves a fair pretence to chastise them as they call it and to invade depress and plunder others and do all things according to their lust is testified by the process and suit of Antonio Perez which I wil briefly relate here Philip the second resolved for some suspitions to destroy Escovedo Secretary to Don Juan de Austria his brother and that by some clancular Art not to offend his said brother to whom Escovedo was chief Favorite which thing he brought to passe by Antonio Perez his own Secretary and aemulator of Escovedo But Escovedo's friends and kindred petitioned the King that this murther might be revenged upon the murtherers employed by Antonio Perez The King who had incited Perez to this fact and promised him protection and safety under his hand craftily after a thousand tergiversations and as many sharp instances of the Escovedo's at last imprisoned Perez to satisfie them and by this means secure his life whom they plotted to destroy After a long imprisonment wherein Perez was sometimes proclaimed free and then instantly clapt up again and at length also rackt the Letters wherein the King had commanded him to do this act were the greatest part of them extorted from his wife by the fraud of her Confessor or Ghostly Father and she together with her children also taken and all their goods sold by an out cry so that poor Perez had nothing left him but his life and even that in imminent danger too But he made his escape to Saragosa in Arragon whither the Kings Officers pursuing him took him out of Sanctuary and threw him in Jayl from whence he was freed and taken again and delivered to the Kings Governor The Saragosians angry hereat as a thing against their priviledges making a concourse of the people forced him out of that Inquisition and kild some of the Kings Officers in the tumult and so Perez being freed absolved by a publick sentence of Justice evaded After he had been three years in this misery sometimes a prisoner and sometimes a freeman sometimes condemned and sometimes absolved the king by the instigation of the Spaniards to revenge this injury done them by the Saragosians sent an Army into Arragon under the conduct of Antonia Vergas which that State by vigor of their priviledges opposed But the king wrote kind Letters to such of them as whom afterwards by the dissembling of Vergas he chiefly punishâ— for as soon as Vergas was admitted he first laid hold of them to whom the king had written so kindly and afterwards of the rest of the principall Officers of the kingdom restoring them who had formerly been thrown out of their places by the Deputies as traytors to their Countrey and subverters of the Lawes He confiscated the estates of most of them he also seized upon the Lord chief Justice of Arragon whose name was Juan de Nuzza and twenty hours after admitting of no excuse or defence caused him to be beheaded and his estate to be confiscated The Citizens were deprived of their priviledges so that that murther of Escevedo proved highly damageable to Perez destructive to the kingdome of Arragon reproachfull to the King dishonorable to the Spaniards and scandalous to the whole world Ex relatione Historiae de Perezzio The Catholick Kings Governor in Arragon sent once for the Advocate Misero Sarces who conceiving that the Governour wanted his advice came speedily to him and as soon as he came the Governour caused him to be strangled without any lawfull proceeding at all Ex eadem relatione Perez whilst he was in prison was fain to live upon almes amongst the kings Ministers in Arragon his Majesties Officers having taken away all his goods yea and puld off his very childâ—ens shirts Ibidem The Spaniards also most injuriously treated the Religious because out of compassion they had undertaken to protect and mediate for Perez as seizing upon them and plundering them and casting them in prison insomuch as a certain Canon died of grief Ibid. In which relation many things are described of the attempts of the Spaniards against that kingdom and their priviledges CHAP. XII The Praevarications against the kingdom of Naples IN the description of the kingdome of Naples which is in Thesauro Politico apotelesmate 62. the Author sayes thus 1. That the Spaniards have extenuated this Body i. e. Naples monstrously and yet they hold it with such suspition that not content to have duld the heart of it and broken all its members they labour still by all means to hinder it from gathering strength lest it should afterwards abhor physick and with great losse of reputation and disadvantage extrude the Physitian 2. King Ferdinand of Spain after the death of Queen Joan howbeit she by her Will transferred the kingdome of Naples upon Rene brother to the Duke of Anjou took it and made himself free Lord thereof pretending that it was reverted to the Church c. 3. The Spaniards alwayes take a course to have the Popes favourable to them in the cause of the kingdome of Naples and to lessen and depress all such as maintain the report of any other power in the said kingdom 4. The Spaniards somtimes grant the Neapolitan Noblemen some Offices especially in the Court but publick administrations to none or very seldome and with great limitations 5. Whilst the King of Spain committed the government of all things in the kingdom of Naples to the Spaniards and suffered no complaints to be made of his Ministers the insolencie and licentiousness of the said Spaniards sweld so big that abusing the kings design they tyannically satiated their
The KING of SPAINS Cabinet Councel Divulged OR A DISCOVERY of the PREVARICATIONS of the SPANIARDS With all the Princes and States of Europe for obtaining the Universal Monarchy LONDON Printed by J. H. for J. S. and are to be sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard 1658. The Contents of the severall Chapters CHap. 1. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants and their Religion pag. 1 Chap. 2. The prevarications of the Spaniards in order to the Pope and his Elections pag. 9 Chap. 3. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards towards the rest of the Catholicks pag. 17 Chap. 4. Of the Spanish Inquisition pag. 24 Chap. 5. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Empire pag. 30 Chap. 6. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of France pag. 40 Chap. 7. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England pag. 48 Chap. 8. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugal pag. 54 Chap. 9. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countries pag. 59 Chap. 10. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principate of Catalonia pag. 62 Chap. 11. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kingdom of Aragon pag. 69 Chap. 12. The prevarications against the Kingdom of Naples pag. 73 Chap. 13. The prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Common-wealths thereof pag. 77 Chap. 14. The prevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms pag. 80 Chap. 15. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and rule pag. 87 Chap. 16. The Ambition Arrogance boasting and scorn of the Spaniards pag. 94 Chap. 17. The Spaniards perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises pag. 97 Chap. 18. The Spaniards Hypocrisie and Dissimulation pag. 101 Chap. 19. The ingratitude of the Spaniards toward such as oblige them pag. 104 Chap. 20. What the Spanish succours are pag. 110 Chap. 21. The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages pag. 114 Chap. 22. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans pag. 117 Chap. 23. How the Spaniards treat and keep peace pag. 120 Chap. 24. The Briberies and pecuniary Corruptions of the Spaniards pag. 123 Chap. 25. The Spaniards are Murtherers pag. 126 Chap. 26. The Cruelty and promiscuous Tyranny of the Spaniards pag. 129 Chap. 27. The Cruelties and Barbarities of the Spaniards in America pag. 132 Chap. 28. The rapacity avarice lust adultery and other vices of the Spaniards pag. 137 Chap. 29. Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their designes pag. 145 Chap. 30. The various Apothegmes and Observations concerning the Spaniards pag. 151 The Conclusion pag. 157 Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for or sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard In Folio THe Civil Warres of Spain in the Reign of Charls the 5th Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherein our late unhappy differences are paralleld in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of King James The History of this Iron Age. Dr. Lightfoot his Harmony of the N. Testam In large Quarto John Barckley his Argenis Translated by his late Majesties special command The Prose by Sir Robert le Grise The Posie by Tho. May. In Quarto The Harmonious consent and Confessions of Faith of all the Protestant Reformed Churches professed in all the Kingdoms Nations and Provinces of Europe published with Authority to prevent the spreading of Errors and Heresies Camdens Remains concerning Britain with many choice Additions by W. D. Gent. Christ tempted the devil Conquered being an Exposition on part of the fourth Chap. of St. Mathews Gospel by John Gumbledon Rector of Coyly in Glamorgan Abrahams faith or the good old Religion proving the Doctrine of the Church of England to be the only true faith of Gods Elect By J. Nicholson Minister of the Gosp The Anatomy of Mortality by George Stroad Aynsworth on the Canticles Paul Bayne his Diocesans Trial. The Supream Power of Christian States and Magistracy vindicated from the insolent pretences of Gulielmus Apolonius By E. Gralle A Treatise of Civil Pollicy being a clear decision of 43 queries concerning prerogative right and priviledge in reference to the supreme Prince and the people By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St. Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military observations of Civil and Military Government containing the birth increase decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr. Pinchin his meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Stars and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Large Octavo The Reconciler of the Bible wherein above 2000 seeming contradictions are fully plainly reconciled A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customes and Ceremonies The History of England Illustrated with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the Conquest Small Octavo Ed. Waterhouse Esq his Discourse of piety and charity A view and defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Peter du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the delusions of the Priests and Jesuits who are now very busie amongst us Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers useful upon all occasions Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of scheams or figures of heaven ready set for every four minuits of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the reign of William the Conqueror to the death of the late King Lingua or the Combat of the Tongue and the five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The Poor mans Physician and Chirurgeon Duodecim Doctor Smith's Practice of Physick The Grammer Warre Poselius Apothegms Faciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions Drexelius School of Patience Helvicus Colloquies The Christian Souldier his combat with the three arch enemies of mankinde the world the flesh and the devil In 24. The New Testament The third part of the Bible FINIS The Causes of the Publick Hatred of the King of Spain and the Spanish Nation CHAP. I. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants and their Religion TO shun the suspition of fancying to write Iliads after Homer I will not now make a large Martyrologie which of it self were enough to fix a Title to this Chapter nor will I compile Histories of the Belgick or Low-Country War especially of that which was waged by the Duke of Alva for those are both sufficiently known and there is store of them to be had This I shall only say and this for their sakes who think the Spaniards will prove milder to them because they imagine to themselves that they are
certain Nobleman of that Kingdom a Kinsman of the Popes notwithstanding the Popes intercession 9. How the Spaniards gulled the Censure of Pope Vrban the 8th against Poza the Jesuit Alphonso de Vergas in his relation teaches at large See also the Appendix to that relation 10. Thomas Campanella a Spanish Dominican Fryer in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy cap. 6. says We must labour to get a Spanish Pope or rather one of the house of Austria 11. That the Spaniards bear not that reverence and respect which they pretend to the Bishop of Rome but abuse his Authority for their own Interest is clear enough out of Ancellus in his Speech which he made to the Princes of the Empire 1597. Thuan. lib. 118. 12. What stone did the Spaniards leave unmoved in the Election of Clement the 8th to wit that by the exclusion of him a more Hispaniolized Pope might be chosen and chiefly Sanctorio though yet for all that Clement were elected who after he had absolved Henry the fourth King of France from his Excommunication the Spaniards said openly That the Pope was worse and more an Heretick then he whom he had absolved Perionius in his Epistle to Henry the fourth Thuan. 13. When Leo was chosen Pope the Spaniards reclaimed much against it especially Cardinal de Avila who when Pope Leo was nominated cryed out as loud as he could Treason Treason I protest I protest He is an enemy to the Catholick King See Perionius in his Epistle to the King And Hulsius in Leon. ii They had a design to poyson the Pope nor was it far short of truth for he lived but 25. days and the Spanish Arts are known 14. In like manner did the Spaniards behave themselves at the Election of Vrban the 8th which when they were not able to hinder they set forth a Libel at Rome wherein they asked Whether the Pope were a Catholick or no To which Pasquil answered Peace peace He is most Christian And at the Popes Arms they jeered thus Mella dabunt Gallis Hispanis spicula verum Spicula si figunt vita cum melle carebunt Their Honey France to Spain their stings they 'l give If stings they fix nor Bees nor Honey'l live But another answered Pope Urbans Arms were as I remember three Bees Vrbani Imperium vis dicam quale futurum Dùm dominantur apes copia mellis erit What Urbans sway shall be wilt thou needs know Whilest Bees bear sway still shall their Honey flow CHAP. III. The Praevarications and excesses of the Spaniards towards the rest of the Catholicks THE rule whereby I have purposed to my self briefly and as it were by Indexes to shew the Praevarications of the Spaniards permits me not to recount whole Histories of their excesses and Praevarications towards the rest of the Catholicks themselvs for the confirmation of the Argument of this Chapter it will suffice slightly and cursorily to hint such Histories and Authors as have written them more at large 2. In the year 1580. when the war was hot in Portugal besides other extraordinary cruelties committed by the Spaniards against the Catholicks and Clergy they came to the Church of St. Roch neer the Almeda which is the Jesuits Colledge and whither many people out of respect to the Jesuits and for safety sake had transported their goods of most value and thrusting out the Italians under colour of Friendship and as if they had been sent by their Commanders to guard the Place partly by force and partly by theft they plundered the said goods and carried them to the Navy then neer at hand Thuan. lib. 70. And many of the Clergy who would not adhere to the Spaniards in their Invasion of Portugal were killed and destroyed by them as is delivered by the Historians who wrote that War 3. When Charles the 5th sent his Spanish Souldiers against the Turk under the conduct of Antonio de Leva the said Souldiers used all kinds of baseness coveteousness and libidiousness towards the Catholicks in Austria plundring and firing of Towns as if they had been amongst their open enemies 4. Who can choose but be strucken with extream horror to read the sacking of the City of Antwerp 1576. as it is described by Thuan. lib. 62. when it began to be a vulgar saying amongst the Spaniards to them of the same Religion when they begged them to spare them for Religions sake If you have a good faith that is for your souls but if you have much money that is for us and our Trunks 5. The fine Latine Speech and the form of condemning men which Vargas the Spanish Inquisitor was wont to use when being drunk and drowzy he pronounced the same Sentence upon all such as were accused unseen and unheard viz. Haeretici franxerunt templa simulachra Catholici nihil fecerunt contra ergo utrique debent patibulari The Hereticks have broken the Churches and Images the Catholicks have done nothing to the contrary therefore they must both be hanged 6. Nor is that usual scoff of the Duke of Alva related by Thuan. lib. 42. to be silenced viz. That one Salmons head was more worth then fifty Frogs heads for the said Duke fulfilled this verse Tros Tyriusque fuat nullo discrimine habendi Be they Protestants or Catholicks if they be not Hispaniolized c. away with them Hereof the Counts of Egmond Horn Montigni and other Noblemen had sad experience yea and all the Catholick part of the Low-Countries likewise Witness so many Towns taken sackt and dispeopled Witness those Towns which even yet being loaded with Spanish Garrisons are brought almost to the utmost calamity by various exactions pressures and burthens Witness the Clergy of Portugal heretofore and at present the Kingdom of Catalonia omitting that of Arragon Sicilie and Naples Witness some Bishops of the Empire one whereof to another great man brake out into these words I see and foresee that the Spaniards seek nothing more then that we and other Bishops may speedily die and bequeath our Bishopricks and habits to them by Will But what do we read Yea even whilest we are yet living they are plotting and struggling to pull them from us and put them upon themselves And further says he It is not enough for them to have invaded the Electoral Land but they will needs mount up to our Altars and place themselves neer the Virgin and her childe We need not says he go far for the Archbishop of Trevirs and the Abbot of Maximinus can testifie by experience c. 13. Philip the second King of Spain in his Pardon which he granted them who had resisted him in Portugal ever excepted sacred Persons so that he gave leave to all people either to kill or severely punish them For when that War of Portugal was ended it is known that two thousand Religious men in the Islands and in Portugal either by the sword or some other mischief lost their lives for the said Wars sake Thuan. lib. 75.
intollerable pride by the depression of others 6. That the Vice-kings Officers and Governors have ingrost all the riches of all the Provinces Ibid. 7. By how much the severer an Officer professes himfelf in the kingdome of Naples especially towards the Nobility in so much the more favour and esteem is he with the Spaniards by whom he is advanced in Court and exalted to higher degrees and titles 8. The aforementioned Author also complains of other burthens imposed and daily to be imposed upon that kingdome as of an extraordinary Donative of certain * Granos Granos is as I remember about an English penny or somwhat more in value which every Fire or Family is bound to pay for the quartering of Souldiers and for salaries to the Vice-kings Train of seven Granos for the guard of the Towers of five Granos for the Field-Sergeants of nine Granos for the reparation of the wayes of the tax for five foot Souldiers upon a hundred fires of yearly pensions of the new tribute put upon wrought and unwrought silk of the tax upon Cards which is farmed at 20000 Crowns a year and other emunctions of this kind 9. He complains that the King of Spains Vice king commanded the Neapolitans once to make and eat the bread of a certain root called Panis porcinus or Hoggs bread which proclamation was nevertheless forthwith suspended under pretext that it was commanded onely to try whether in time of need that bread would suffice 10. He complains that the Vice-king would needs crown a certain fellow called Catinario who was rich indeed but not considerable otherwise in despight of the Order of Knighthood 11. He complains that he took the Princes daughter out of a Monastery by force under pretext to try whether she had a mind to marry or no when the true reason of it was because he resolved to match her to his own son 12. He complains that when the States of the kingdom intended to send the Donative of the kingdome to the King by their own men the Vice-king would needs send it by his men and forced them to deliver it to him 14. He complains that he got in a short time seven thousand pistols a year for his wife and as much for his son Bernardino out of the Church Revenewes c. That Dispute was written An. 1579. in the beginning of April and it is to be seen in Thesauro Politico Casp Ensi part 3. Apothegmate 62. CHAP. XIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Common-wealths thereof IT would be a business of too much length for me by going through a series of Histories to pick out all the prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Princes and Republicks thereof and insert them into this Narration especially since some of them against the Pope are already alledged and other are to be alledged Cap. de Praevaricationibus c. And yet in regard that though there be so various Principates and so various Common-wealths there is yet scarce any which complains not of the Spanish domination and ambition it seems fit to alledge at least some of them and omit the rest to avoid prolixity 1. What monuments of their ambition they have exprest towards the Pope and his dominions is said above What intention they have towards the Republick of Venice is very well known to the said common-wealth though she think fit to dissemble it and yet she hath not forgotten how craftily they carried themselves in the Confederation or vvar against the Turk and in the Controversie between Paul the fifth and Her Nor do I think the Genuezes have also forgotten what their designs were against them both in and after the time of Dory How they seized upon the Dutchy of Milan Sleiden shewes In the Countreys of Piemont and Savoy and other territories they have erected very many monuments of their prevarications and are daily erecting more What the Sienneses and Florentines have suffered by the Spaniards is taught by the Historians both of this and the former Age. I willingly pass by the Dutchys of Mantua Montferat Ferrara Appulia and Calabria nor will I touch the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily because every body knows by what tricks they got those how unworthily the Spanish Ministers treat the Noblemen and subjects thereof insomuch as that according to Histories and Relations for never so slight a cause as sometimes for an inconsiderate word their lives and fortunes are in danger 2. How the king of Spain invited Charles the eighth king of France to make vvar upon Italy Comines 5. lib. Belli Neopolitani neer the end 3. Anno 1617. Whilst the vvarres yet lasted between Ferdinand of Austria and the Common-vvealth of Venice the Vice-king of Naples invited and encouraged the Turks to make vvarre upon the Venetians but the Turks made an impression into Sicily and carried away great booty Baudart lib. 38. Vt etiam Epistola ipsa 4. It is written also in the same book how the Embassador of Savoy complained to the Princes of Germany at the Dyet at Hailbrun of the breach of Articles 5. Anno 1618. in the beginning of May vvas discovered a dangerous plot and treason of the Spaniards against Italy and the Republicks thereof vvhen they intended by their Emissaries to set Venice in many places on fire and kill the Senators but the business being detected many of the Conjurators were hanged many stifled and many executed other wayes Baudart lib. 38. 6. At the same time the Spaniards attempted to surprize Cremona but the business had the same issue vvhich the plot upon Venice had Ibid. CHAP. XIV The Praevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms THe King of Sweden smelling the Catholick Kings designs howbeit he could hope for nothing from the house of Orange yet he despised all the said Kings great promises and refused him the use and loan of his great Vessels whereof he hath good store and for that reason the Poles several times rejected the Austrians lest by the addition of so vast a kingdom to Bohemia and Hungary the City of Dantz by the benefit thereof should forbid commerce and force the Hollanders to submit Thuan. lib. 107. 2. Nor was it without some remorse of conscience that when Philip the second and his Father were a dying they desired that the business of the kingdom of Navarre might be looked into by Lawyers and learned men to wit because they were convinced that they held it unjustly by the exclusion of the right heir Thuan. lib. 120. 3. The reason why the Spaniards gape for the possession of Saluces and the Territories adjoyning is because they can most conveniently send Souldiers from thence into the Low-Countreys and therefore Fontano Anno 1600. earnestly urged the Popes Nuntio that the King of France might yeeld up the County of Bress Thuan. 125 Anno 1605. Don Pedro Guzman Fontano Vice-King of Lumbardy summoned most of the Princes of Italy by the President and Treasurers of the
and provide for the Indians there is nothing more sure then that God will most grievously punish if not quite overthrow Spain Thus writes thinks and foretels a Spaniard of the Spaniards And his authority ought to be so much the greater in regard he was an eye and not an eare witnesse thereof 9. Thomas Campanella in the last Chapter of his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy copiously complains of the tyranny avarice and cruelty of the Spaniards in both the Indies CHAP. XXVIII The rapacity avarice lust adultery and other vices of the Spaniards POpe Julius the second was wont to call the Spaniards Volucres coeli Birds of Heaven alluding to their pride and ambition to outstrip and soar above all others But since he was pleased to call them Birds why did he not rather name them Stymphalidas or Harpyes since the rapacity theevishnesse and greedinesse of that Nation is so well known by extruding lawful heirs from their kingdoms and unjustly and violently invading seizing and impoverishing them By contaminating all things sacred profane private and publick and hooking them into their clutches Witnesse the Kingdomes of Naples Navarre and Portugal besides their rapacities and thefts in the Low-Countries where it is reported by some Historians worthy of credit that the Duke of Alva drew yearly fourscore tuns of gold out of the confiscated Estates besides the ordinary tributes insomuch as that in six years time he extorted 52 millions of gold from those provinces 2. The exaction of the tenth penny upon all vendible commodities sufficiently shewes their greedinesse of gold for when the States so earnestly beseeched the said Duke to forbear that Tax he answered That he would not remit it though all the Low-Countreys were sunk thereby and though Heaven and Earth came together And this was not the last and least cause why the States took Arms and renounced their obedience to the Spaniard Many other examples there are as of the plunder of Antwerp and Mecklin their proceedings in Portugal and the Tercera Islands the new Taxes against the priviledges of the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and the like which are not necessary to be repeated here in regard they have been cited before in various chapters of this book But amongst other causes of the publick hatred of the Spanish Nation their lusts and promiscuous adulteries are not to be omitted though yet because they may seem to be excused by some by the common example of military exorbitances and in regard also that there be too many of them to be comprized in this short Discourse it shall suffice to remit the Reader to these Authors Thuanus Metteranus Everardus à Raid and others however it will not be tedious to recite some few of those which were committed by them in the Low-Countries 1. Anno 1598. When Don Francisco de Mendoza devasted the Dutchies of Gulick Cleve and Mounts the Spaniards amongst other things plundered the Monastery of Schlehenhorst stript the Nuns crowded them together and ravisht them Thuan. lib. 121. 2. At the same time they bound the Judge of Dussimont in a Cellar and seven Spaniards lay with his wife before his face 8. In the village of Giffick they endeavoured to ravish a Woman with child who when she had long resisted them they thrust a sword into her womb and kild both her and her fruit 4. At Bulcholz they attempted to force the Burgomasters daughter and her father coming to help her they kild him and then tied her to his dead body and ravisht her Ibidem 5. The same Author lib. 66. recounts a generous revenge taken by the daughter of John Milet a Countrey man upon a Spanish Captain who had violated her chastity and instantly after he brings another how a Lawyers daughter revenged her self upon a Spaniard who vitiated her by stabbing him with his own dagger and how at his death he left her his heir 6. How libidinously they carried themseves in the Indies with all sorts of persons yea even with Queens themselves Barth de la Casa shewes at large in Spec. Tyran Hisp The Spaniards are also naturally in respect of other Nations great lovers and cryers up of themselves and contemners of others 1. Thus Pedro Roycio Mauraeo a famous Spanish Poet at that time to wit 1548 being once with Langius a German and king Ferdinands Embassador and hearing his servants waiting at table speak Dutch with a hard and affected kind of tone and pronunciation jeeringly said The Germans do not speak but thunder and turning towards the Embassador I believe quoth he that God out of his indignation made use of this Thunder-bolt when he threw our Forefathers out of Paradise To whom Langius answered And I think it very likely on the other side that the Serpent used this smooth and flattering Spanish tongue when he cheated Eve Mordamus in vita Langii 2. The presentation of the Golden Fleece was studiously and craftily invented by the King of Spain to feed mens vanitie Illicium Thus the Emperour in king Philips name presented Sigismund Bathorius with the Golden Fleece at Prague anno 1567. 3. So great is the insolency of the Spaniards that even in extream necessity they cannot shew their want which the Count of Mont-major in Sicily found with sad experience Anno 1604. For when he was speaking to the vice-king in the behalf of the Sicilians to moderate the exportation of Corn thereby to prevent a scarcity or dearth which he well foresaw was suddenly like to follow the said vice-king took him scornfully up as if he had spoken too sawcily to him and caused him to be killed by his Guards before his face Thuan. lib. 3. an 1604. Many other vices of the Spaniards we have already demonstrated in other chapters of this Book and therefore forbeare to recapitulate them here however it be not amiss to reiterate some few examples of their falshood and juggling in regard that this is the main hinge upon which their most important designs depend 1. It is the Spanish fashion easily to complain of others when themselves are onely guilty as Don Juan de Austria did Anno 1577. when by his Embassador he accused the States of Holland to the Emperour the Electors and the Queen of England that they had not kept the peace when himself had broken it before Thuan lib. 94. 2. Barth de la Casa against Sepuluenda sayes That it is not true that the Spaniards as they write in the Indies converted every year so many thousand men from Gentilism to Christianism But this sayes he is true indeed that the Spaniards since their coming to the Indies have butchered and sacrificed more Indians for avarice and rapacities sake then the Indians had done to their Idols in a hundred years together And that the Spaniards did falsly accuse the poor innocent and simple Indians to the King of such crimes as whereof the most wicked in the world could not be guilty 3. The king of Spain promised Saladin Count of
Isenburgh at the taking of Mounts in Hennault that if he would be ruled by him he would not only make him Archbishop of Colein but that the Citie of Colein her self should settle him as her Lord. But falsly all Fruchchessius in Literis ad Colonienses apud Thuan. lib. 179. 4. A certain Franciscan Fryar to prevail with Ferdinand king of Spain for the expulsion of the Jewes secretly made a Table of lead wrote what he thought good therein touching the said expulsion with threats c. if it were not done hid it in a sacred place and caused it three years after to be digged up by a Comerade of his as if it had been some divine thing and a Prophesie but the king observing the fraud neglected it Majolus in Canicularibus 351. 5. Howbeit envy seem to be a vice of prosperity onely and proper to the rich yet are the Spaniards so much possest with it that it seems to be as it were hereditary to them as Thuan. lib. 75. sayes of the Duke of Alva That he was most ambitious in confidence of his own merits A Detractor of the vertue of others and by the vice of his Countrey contumelious towards other Nations and imperious and severe to such as were just And by and by The envy and hatred of the Duke of Alva sayes he made Charles the fifth deal so ungratefully with Gonzaga Ibid. CHAP. XXIX Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their Designes THe other wayes which the Spaniards use for the acquisition of Kingdoms are very many but chiefly six 1. Perswasions to the people and mercenary sermons especially of the Jesuits Thus was it carried in that French League against Henry the third and Henry the fourth and in the acquest of the kingdom of Portugal by the Jesuits 2. Force of Armes 3. Bribes and Corruptions 4. Marriages and Alliances 5. Presentations of the Golden Fleece to various Lords of the Spanish Vnion 6. If they suspect any one to destroy him as they did Egmund Horn and the Battenburghs c. Or if that cannot be done to send him by all means out of their Territories as they intended to do Mansfeldt and Prince Maurice of Orange by making them Generals against the Turk with large praises of their valor and prudence Thuan. lib. 120. 1. The Spaniards ever have and still do take extreamly ill the Confederation of the Swissers with the French and therefore when Henry the fourth Anno 1602. desired to renew it Fontano Governour of Milan moved every stone to hinder it Thuan. lib. 129. 2. It is a very familiar thing with the Spaniards to hinder Leagues and Confederacies thereby to obtain their ends Thus Pedro Guzman Toledo Fontano Vice-king of Lumbardy Anno 1605. to disturb the confederation contracted between the Venetians and the Swissers made severe proclamations at Milan wherby he inconvenienc't the commerce of both and at an appointed place viz. a Rock five miles from Nova-Camo having Clavenna and the Veltelin on each side built a Castle with five Forts Royal and called it by his own name to hinder the importation of Corn to the neighbouring parts yea and he sowed so many seeds of dissention amongst the Swissers that it was like to have proved their utter ruine Thuan. 134. 3. Charles the fifth seeing Genua to be a convenient place as well for other causes as chiefly for the transportation of Forces out of Spain into Italy and therefore intending to fortifie it could never bring Dory either by threats or promises to give way to the building of a Castle in it that is to the putting of a yoak upon his Countrey wherefore he thought fit to take another course to bridle the Citie which was to borrow the Genuezes money which is upon the matter their whole support at what rate they pleased conceiving that thereby he should quickly by degrees draw the wealth of those greedy men to himself and so have the Citie in his debt that is the affections of the Citizens at his disposal Which trick his son Philip in imitation of his fathers example being involved in the Low-countrey war which was hugely expensive used and took occasion to draw vast sums of money of the principall of the Nobility for which he paid huge interest and assigned the chief taxes of the Indies and Spain for the paiment thereof Thuan. lib. 61. 4. Anno 1577. Some letters of Don Juan de Austria to king Philip were intercepted wherein amongst other things they advised him to sow discord between the Gentry and Commonalty of the Low-Countries about Religion and liberty of conscience lib. 64. It was the Maxim of Escovedo and now of the Spaniards in general to breed and cherish dissention amongst the Princes of the world that so since they could not check them altogether they might check them apart 6. The Spaniards permit no Councels or Assemblies amongst their Noblemen because they hold them very prejudiciall to their affairs and therefore they flatly prohibited them to the Lords of the kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583. 7. Another of the Spanish practices is to take lawfull heirs out of the Dominions of their ancestors as they did Anno 1583. when Augusta Philips sister under colour of visiting a Monastery of Nuns took away Julian of Lancaster Heiress to the Principate of Avern to the high displeasure of the Portuguezes who conceived themselves by this example to be hurried into a wretched captivity to the Castillians Thuan lib. 78. 8. The Spaniards in the Duke of Alvas time made it their business to provoke the Low countrey men to novelty and war by diminishing and taking away their Priviledges and Immunities yea and they openly boasted that that was the onely thing they aimed at that so they might have a fairer pretext to rifle the goods and estates of the people and destroy Cities and Provinces Spec. Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 35. Thus the aforesaid Duke stript the Citizens of Vtrick of their priviledges Anno 1571. And thus also did the Spaniards in this age of ours serve the Catalonians c. Status Barcenonenses Catalauni in quer sua Cath. hinc inde imprimis c. 8.12.29 9. The Spaniards if at any time any Commander or Governor of theirs commit any remarkable crime to save themselves lay hold of some poor innocent and undeserving Souldier or other and sacrifice him to the Hangman to satisfie for their wickedness One example wherof is related by Janus Duza Satyra 40 sub finem and the like was also done heretofore in the mutiny at Vtrick and at the firing of Duiburgh in Cleve 10. Thomas Campanella Disc de Monar Hisp c. 14. sayes Care must be taken that the sons of such Lords and Noblemen as live in Kingdomes distant from Spain and under the Spanish Government may have Spaniards to their Tutors to Hispaniolize them in habit manners and customes and when they are grown potent they must be humbled and under pretext of honor be
dâ—spatcht to some Office or employment farre from their Lordships where they may spend more then they get and if the King chance to go on progress he should do well to lodge at their houses thereby to put them to extraordinary charges And he further saith chap. 15. That as soon as the King hath conquered any Nation he must take away the immoveable goods of the people allow them only food and clothing and make them till the earth forcing their sons to be either Souldiers or Husbandmen 11. Nor must this practice of the Spaniards be past over in oblivion namely that they use to call Lords and Earles and such as are richest and most in power and favour with the people in any of their Dominions to the kings Court under any pretext whatsoever as of bearing an Embassie or commanding an Army c. out of hope whereof they are not wont to appeâ—r without great magnificence and spâ—endor and when they have made their appearance the Spaniards pretending sometimes one thing and sometimes another delay and detain them not only one but many years till by expectation they have spent and wasted the greatest part of their estates and are fain to pawn them to others And this practice they chiefly observe in the kingdom of Naples CHAP. XXX The various Apothegmes and Observations concerning the Spaniards A Certain Spaniard called Ferdinando Soto coming into the Isle of Florida said He was the son of God to whom one of the natives answered If your God whose son thou sayst thou art commands you to invade the Dominions Provinces and Estates of others and there to kill slay snatch wrest steal spoyle whore adulterate c. we tell you plainly that we cannot believe in such a God Another Indian speaking with Hieronymo Benzoon said What kind of people are these Christians They take away our bread our hony our sugar our cloathes our wives our daughters our silver our gold and what ever we hold dear They will not work they are cheaters theeves robbers plunderers before they go to Mass they brawle scuffle and hurt one another And when Benzon told him they were not all such he replied I never yet saw a good and honest Spaniard Joan. Petit. in Chron. Holland lib. 6. Martin Luther was wont to say That as the Spaniards write otherwise then they read so they think otherwise then they speak At the siege of Frankendal a certain Captain fell into the hands of the Spaniards who bidding him yeeld himself and they would give him quarter he cryed out aloud I will have no quarter of the Spaniard but quarter in heaven and so after he had received many wounds dyed with his sword in his hand The Spaniards having once petitioned Charles the fifth to remove all the drunken Germans from his Court he at length convocated all the Germans and shewing them the petition of the Spaniards pretended to go along with them which the Spaniards perceiving most earnestly besought him to stay Idem pag. 94. A certain Spanish Captain asked a subject of the Palatin why they so strongly and faithfully adhered to their Prince since he had been the cause of their being so opprest and exhausted in war by strangers The other answered Why should we not love him and stick close to him for we paid not so much to him in a whole year as to you in a moneth Znickgref p. 1. Apotheg p. 336. A certain Gascon called Pyrrhinuncule coming to his Inne and having a Ducklin oyld and garlickt set to Table a Spanish traveller suddenly stept in and casting his eye upon the Ducklin Sir quoth he may a friend be welcom to you What is your name sir said the Gascon the Spaniard strutted and answered Don Alopanzo Ansimarchides Hiberoneus Alorchides Marry out quoth the Gascon Four Spanish Lorsd to one poor little Bird God forbid here is but enough for Pyrrhinuncle alone for small things become small persons Simon Majolus in Canicularibus p. 326. The Spaniards traduced the Germans to Charles the fifth and especially the Souldlers intreating him to make a proclamation to forbid them drunkenness To whom he answered I should effect as much with them by such a Proclamation as I should with you by forbidding you fornicacation adultery and rapacity Hector Vogelman Chancellor of Wirtenbergh being asked by Duke Frederick his Master what rarities he had seen in Spain answered Mountains of pride and vallies of tears and happy is he who believes it without going to see it A Spaniard seeing a Fleming at dinner with a boyld Capon without Limmons cryed out with great vvonder What is a Capon without Limmons The Fleming answered And what are Limmons without a Capon Spinola at the treaty of the Truce between the King of Spain and the States shewed Prince Maurice some golden Apples and Citrons and bragged that they grew twice a year in Spain but the Prince shewed him a Holland Cheese and said This Fruit growes every day with us in Holland Bartholome de la Casa a Spanish Bishop so often cited in this Book lib. de Descrip Tyran Hispan in India Describes the Spaniards with various Epithets and Titles and amongst others he sayes That they are hellish Tyrants plunderers of the Empire that by too much greediness of gold they sold and still sell denyed and still deny Jesus Christ that they are not Christians but Divels Not servants of God or Ministers of their King but Traytors Destroyers Robbers and Overthrowers of the Lawes and Ordinances of their King Villains fell Tygers devouring Wolves fierce Lyons pestilent men more mischievous then any plague from heaven voracious Dragons wild Beasts Butchers Hangmen c. The Book intituled Speculum Indiae occident printed at Amsterdam in Lowe Dutch sayes thus A Spaniard is like the Divel the more good a man does him the more will he plague him but such as value him not and care not for him he lets alone The Nobility of the Kingdome of Maguara being advised by the Spaniards to render themselves to the obedience of the king of Spain and embrace the Christian Religion said amongst themselves That they could not perceive that they should receive a better Religion then they should forsake in regard say they that we see no more good nor righteousness in their actions then in our own and our faith does us no hurt as long as our Gods defend our religion and are favourably inclined thereto But their religion brings us much mischief and unsafety and therefore neither can their Gods be good nor can the Christians be any where welcom for that they endeavour to overthrow and extirpate such mercifull Gods and such a merciful Religion The Emperour Charles the fifth being to depart out of the Low-Countries for Spain most earnestly commended those Provinces and the Nobility thereof for their singular faith and loyalty towards him for vvhich indeed he extraordinarily loved them to Philip 2. his son exhorting him to love them cherish them and advance them as his most faithfull subjects and not to shew too much favour to the Spaniards vvhose natures he very well knew as having had them alwayes about him nor suffer them to contemn oppress or in any wise abuse the said Nobility and subjects For said he I very much suspect the innate haughtiness and pride of the Spaniards if they get to the helm of the Government they should convert pervert and evert all and run the ship against the Rocks And some of the Dutch Nobility standing not farre off pointing them out with his finger to his aforesaid son Seest thou my sonne said he those Lords and Gentlemen Those are they upon whose faith I have hitherto relyed and whom I have chiefly trusted rely thou also upon them and trust them c. But Philip quickly forgot this advice of his Fathers and trusted chiefly to the perswasions of the Spaniards and consequently both he and his Successors received such fruit as they desired not from them THE CONCLUSION I Have now shewed you enough and more then enough indeed of the Spaniards and yet if any body fall short of his satisfaction herewith I remit him to the various Authors which I have cited and alledged in this small Book But methinks it should suffice the courteous reader as wel as it doth me for the present to have demonstrated that there is no Nation which hath given more and greater testimonies and prejudices of prevarications and exorbitations both in this and in the other world then the Spaniards therefore have they most deservingly incurred the hatred of all other nations I will add no more but onely declare in this writing that such as either blinded by the Spaniards gold or inticed by their briberies make it no scruple of conscience to serve them to the destruction of their Countrey Religion and Liberty do not only not perform the duty of good Patriots or true-born men of their said Countrey but are rather Sinons who lay open the walls and gates thereof to the common enemy and make a bridge for the Trojan Horse to come to invade fire and destroy our Ilion ah truly Ilion But God avert that evil both from them and us Amen FINIS