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 both to him and his Kingdom Philip King
of Spain seemed forsooth at first to disapprove and disswade it but it was observed by the wiser sort that he was not reall in the business as promising much and performing little yea and somtimes instantly denying his promises Thuan. lib. 65. 2. King Philip of Spain by his Emissaries the Jesuits deterred Henry successor to Sebastian aforesaid as well by menaces as other perswasions from his purpose of subrogating John Duke of Braganzia in his place in respect of his age howbeit all the Nobility of Portugall favoured the said Duke yea and he also wrote Letters to the common people of Lisbon to debauch them and gain them to himself which he at length in his Npehew Anno 1640 atchieved Thuan. lib. 65. sub finem 3. None have ever more sharply resisted free election for want of Male-issue and in a dubious right of succession to the Crown of Portugall then King Philip and his adherents Thuan. lib. 69. 4. Philip by Ferdinand of Castile deterred Henry King of Portugall from marriage that by his dying a Batchelour he might more easily come to the Crown of Portugal Thuan lib. 69. 5. Thuanus saith that Philip intended to prosecute his right to the Kingdom of Portugall by way of Arms as putting more confidence in his might then in his right or in the opinions of his Lawyers 6. Philip made many large promises to King Henry and the Portuguezes by the Duke of Ossuma his Embassadour to make him King which afterwards were not half performed Thuan. lib. 69. 7. Whilst the suit was still depending and King Henry yet living King Philip armed himself against Portugal which Henry perceiving began to boggle as being perswaded by Leo Euric a Jesuit that he would merit heaven if he would appoint Philip for his Successour Thuan. lib. 69. 8. The matter being come to blowes Philip referred the businesse to the Divines the Jesuits and the Franciscans to be discust at leasure A fine way of proceeding and proving his cause For they excluding the Popes authority because it was a meer earthly business c. gave their votes for Philip. Thuan. lib. 69. And howbeit the Pope indeed first by Sega his Nuntio and afterwards by Alexander Riario were urgent with Philip to desist from war til the business were composed yet could he effect nothing at all with him See Thuan. lib. 70. Anno 1580. but put off the Conference with various reasons delayes and excuses 10. The Duke of Alva took Cascaio by force and although before it were done the besieged put forth a white Colour and desired a Parley the Spaniards notwithstanding in hope of prey stormed the Town and put Diego de Meneses whom they found there together with Enric Perei ra Governour of the Castle with some others to death Thuan. lib. 70. 11. An. 1581. King Philip of Spain at his coronation gave the Nobility of Portugal a general pardon for what was past but the event answered not their expectation for not onely Antonio Prior Francisco Portugallo Count of Vimioso and Bishop Juan Garda brother to the said Count together with fifty more principal men of the contrary faction and all religious men were excluded from it Thuan. lib. 73. 12. Philip readily granted the Portuguezes all such of their requests as were of almost no moment but such as were of any concernment he either flatly denied or answering them ambiguously in the margine eluded Thuan. lib. 73. In the same manner he also denied the requests of the Nobility 13. How Philip gul'd the demands of such of the Portuguezes as had rendred him faithfull service in the acquest of the Crown Thuan teaches lib. 75. saying That either the Kingdom of Portugal in right belonged to him and then they were bound in justice to help him get it or not and so they were traytors to their own Countrey but whethersoever it were of both he owed them nothing and that it ought to suffice them that he had given them their lives 14. How inexorable and severe Philip shewed himself to some sacred persons who were against him in his acquisition of Portugal see by the Letters above Chap. 2. for two thousand of them perisht in that war Thuan lib. 72. 15. Immediatly after Philip got the Kingdome of Portugall he utterly outed the Portuguezes and preferred Spaniards in the government thereof Whereupon Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583. It troubled the Portuguezes that Francisco Villefanga a Castilian and not a Portuguez was made high Treasurer of Portugall 16. Michael de Vasconcellis the Spanish Kings Secretary shewed himself so proud and insolent in the said Kings Councell at Lisbon that he forbore not to strike some prime persons who came to him upon businesse Others of the chiefe Nobility he condemned and sent to the Gallies and used other insolencies Ex Relationibus Portugalliae Anno 1640. 17. Comines neer the end of his fifth Book of the Neapolitan warre sayes that the Spaniards do naturally hate and contemn he Portuguezes CHAP. IX The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countreys TIme the greedy Readers expectation require me now to return out of forraign parts into our Low Countreys and shew what things have been cruelly perfidiously trecherously and lecherously both done suffered then by the Spaniards before and after this war which hath already been begun and with no lesse variety then heat and courage of the parties contending continued since the year 1566. But in regard there is so great a cloud and bulk of them that one my sooner grasp the sky in ones hand then relate them either with tongue or pen Besides that there be many other Authors extant of both Religions who have collected them with as much faith as care and have inserted them in their Histories according to the series of years I will forbear to tire my pen with setting them down There are few who have not seen the History of Emanuel Metterano together with the continuation of William Baudert written in Low-Dutch as also the Relations of P. Boorn of the same War besides the History of Eberhard Raid to be silent of the noble Historian Jacobo Augusto Thuano the Livies of the French Kingdom by whom both the beginning and successe of the Low-Countrey-war are written with great elegancy and integrity where we may also see what plots were contrived against the Noblemen and especially against them of the house of Orange both Father Son how many Towns taken and miserably plundred and the Inhabitants more then barbarously treated how many rebellions raysed by the Spanish Souldiers and how miserably the subjects and Citizens especially they of Antwerp and Mecklin were abused and pillaged yea how many thousands died by the Hangmans hands excluding such as perisht in the warres To which may also be added the Martyrology of Corvinus and the Apologie of the Prince of Orange besides the speech of Ansellus to the German Princes together with other Apologetick writings
set forth by the Noblemen of the Low Countreys likewise Speculum Hispan Tyran In which book the Reader will find such things as will amaze him principally pag. 35 36 37. at Brussels Mounts in Hennault upon the Moze Lile Tornay Roterdam Mechlin Zutphan Nard Harlem Antwerp the sacking whereof exceeded all the rest above 8000 Citizens and Souldiers being massacred in it besides that they extorted and took from the Inhabitants above forty Tuns of gold excluding Jewels and other things of price c. For these and other causes I shall not weary my own hands with writing nor the Readers eyes with reading of these things but will make a leap over rhe sea into Catalonia That excellent book of Thomas Camponella a Spanish Fryer must not be left out of this Catalogue wherein be shews above thirty wayes for the King of Spain to subjugate the Low Countreys as first by sowing the seeds of discord amongst the Inhabitants Secondly by throwing them out of their Countrey to which he adds this advantage that the King should fly to Jasons Arts and procure some Medaea that is some promiscuous marriages CHAP. X. The Praevarications and Excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principal of Catalonia THe States and Noblemen chiefly the Magistrates of Barcelona Anno 1640. publisht a Book called A Catholick Complaint to King Philip wherein first they demonstrated their fidelity and constancy in his service freenesse zeal submission and other deserts towards him whereby they justly deserved and ought to be more gently and better used by the Spaniards for as they write chap. 7. whilst the war lasted between him and the King of France in the County of Rossillion Anno 1640. they maintained 30000 men for seven moneths together Gathered and presented him an infinite sum of money at several times for his necessary uses without order insomuch that scarce any Province hath deserved more better But what thanks received they Those which in their Preface or Epistle to the King they complain of to wit that they had been bitterly treated by his Souldiers who as they write c. 4. had extorted a great deal of money from the Husbandmen that they had committed various sacrileges in Monasteries Churches and other sacred places plundred Churches and fired them broken Fonts burnt consecrated Hosts violated the Images of Christ and the Virgin In the seventh chapter they shew how the favour which they had merited was bestowed upon the Spaniards for that they bad been traduced by them to the King to have run out of the field and afterwards they accuse the Spaniards of envy and falshood and purge themselves to the King of the crimes objected against them saying that the Spaniards make other mens merits and honour their own by all means extenuate obliterate and forget the praises of others They recount the various Arts of the Spaniards adding that since the year 1620 the Spaniards had done nothing in Catalonia but vex torture and suppress the Catalonians in manifold manners infringed their ancient priviledges and immunities and took them quite from them traduced and accused them to the King sowed differences and discords betweeen the King and the States of the kingdome utterly averting his Majesties heart from them imposed unnecessary charges upon the King and kingdom exhausted the Countrey with exactions and expeditions and brought it even to beggery Adding moreover that now they were worse and more cruelly used by their Associates and Auxiliaries the Spaniards then they formerly were by their profest and open enemies the Mores that the Count of Fonteclaro squeezed a great sum of money out of the Company of Merchants violated their wives and daughters kild their husbands and others plundered their goods and estates fired their villages many whereof they express by their names That Leonardo Mala the kings Captain seized upon the Gates of Villa Franca extorted money from the inhabitants for going in and out and that adulteries rapes murthers plunders house-breakings and firings were but sport and pleasure to the Spaniards That Baron Lisaga took away their goods and sold them by out-cry fired their houses and committed an infinity of other tyrannicall facts and insolencies against the Catalonians And although they complained of these excesses to the kings Officers and Ministers they had effected nothing but to be sent back with scorn which irritated the Souldiers to commit still greater outrages They complain likewise that the kings Officers were still desirous of warres and to prolong them yea and to sow warres out of warres thereby to gain time and opportunity to vex and burthen the people and enrich themselves and theirs as finding that it was better to be rich Souldiers in war then poor and contemptible Fellows in peace chap. 8. They often complain that one and he no rich Countreyman neither was forced to quarter and maintain above a dozen Souldiers which was enough to devour them to the very bones and when there was no more left to give them that they pluckt them by the Beards drag'd them about the floor beat them and crippled them with their swords abusing them moreover with most bitter scoffs saying Go now and sell thy wife and children and give us meat and drink They besieged the Castle of Antonio de Fulvia a man of prime Nobility and beloved by all for his integrity of life burnt the gates pillaged the Countrey peoples goods brought thither to be secured and most cruelly massacred the said Antonio with some others in the very Church with a sacred Image in his hand and left him naked on the ground Cap. 10. They relate how in a certain village called Gava the Spaniards proceeded by killing ravishing of wives in the presence of their husbands hanging men by the arms to extort their money from them beating of a Priest in the Church saying Though it were the Apostle Paul himself and had the Sacrament of the Altar in his hands he should not be better used And in another place they stole all the ornaments out of the Church ravisht young women and murthered their parents who came to help them and all this without punishment nay they say that the Spanish Officers and Ministers severely forbad the Lawyers to undertake the cause or defence of the Catalonians Their petitions were derided and the Inhabitants prohibited under pain of death to complain of the injuries done them so that the Spaniards do often more cruelly and hainously handle their Friends and Associateâ— then open Enemies In Catalonia there is nothing seen or heard but women bewailing the murtherings of their husbands and husbands the ravishing of their wives and abusing of their marriage beds old men complaining of the violating of their daughters and the daughters lamenting the losse of their chastity Orphans howling for the violent death of their parents both Citizens and Countrey-men invocating the help of Heaven in these calamities c. Chap. 12. They recount how the Citie of Perpinian was vext besieged
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
conceived For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale to this end were the seditions raysed in Scotland c. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause and in the Dutchy of Cleve Gulick and the Imperial Citie of Aquisgrane Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109. 5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphick Oracle and most infallible prophesie That the last Monarchy shall be fixt in Spain and that for this reason that in regard it came in order from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece and returned for a few years into Asia again under Alexander and his successors at length out of Greece to Rome therefore it necessarily followes that it must be establisht in Spain as being the most Westward of all other Countreys Thuan. lib. 133. 6. The Spaniards for the setling of their Monarchy by warres fraud and other plots destroy as many as are able to oppose them as Anno 1584. when Andino according to most mens opinions was poysoned whereof he being dead the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed by one hired of the Duke of Parma and the Queen of England aimd at by the same Arts at the same time lib. 79. 7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more then by subduing all other Kings and Princes to make themselves Monarchs of the whole Christian world Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118. 8. At the election of Charles the fifth Anno 1519. one of the Episcopall Electors said That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire would hardly restore it again to its liberty Sleidanus 9. The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy do not only permit but allow and perswade even incestuous marriages lest by the division of kingdoms forsooth their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Moreover for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces to streighten their priviledges liberties to impose new taxes and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches to poverty and misery Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60. 11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is to take off all free Elections which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperours and in the kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary yea and by the exclusion of the right heirs to advance their own Kings to kingdoms as in the said kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 69. 13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion his son Philip was troubled at it as if he had not had kingdomes enough even without those Provinces which when the Father observed he comforted him saying Quidvis promittas quid enim promittere laedit That he had indeed promised those Provinces but that there were many by-wayes and tricks to be found out to shun the performance Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 108. 14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon wherein he told them in most eloquent words That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong to get and occupate other kingdomes that so he might come to the long hop'd for Monarchy For it was fâ—r that since there was but one Head namely the Pope in spiritual affairs so there should be also but one namely the King of Spain in temporal and that he was therefore called Catholick because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world Now the wiser sort do justly conceive these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. That the inexpleble covetousnesse of the king of Spain was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine and that they were reputed his enemies by him whosoever should endeavour to stop or hinder his designe to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family Thuan. lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power that they never fail in all their kings dominions to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices and substitute Castillians in their places which more disgusted the Catalonians then any thing else as may be seen up and down in their complaint anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point and especially chap. 34.35 16. Antonio de Leva charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperour and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Dutchy of Milan and himself put in his place Paul Jovius lib. 6. Elog. 17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand to abdicate the Roman Empire and transfer it upon his son Philip or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy and the Low Countreys But Ferdinand answered him That he was called Augustus or the enlarger of the Empire and therefore he could not grant ought thereof to any other Zniegrefius part 1. Apotheg p. 112. 18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperour and answer being made That Europ was like a mans Body and that Spain represented the Head And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperour Livius Fink Graecensis replied If so then Germany wins the day for she is like the Belly and it is clear that the Belly rules all and all obey the Belly Znicgrefius p. 1. Apotheg p. 309. CHAP. XVI The Ambition Arrogance Boasting and Scorn of the Spaniards AS it happened to C. Caesar and Cn. Pompeius that the one could not endure a Superior and the other an Equall so is it also with the Spanish Nation For conceiving themselves only to be Eagles and to fly above the clouds they look upon all others as Dolopes or creepers as they frequently testifie both by their words and deeds When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugall the Spaniards to terrifie the Portuguezes boasted thus That there was no power equall to that of the Spaniards who as often as they had had warres had vanquisht France led the Princes of Germany in triumph put the Turk to flight and freed Maltha from the Barbarians Thuan. lib. 97. 2. King Philip the second after the seizure of Portugall whether justly or unjustly I say not caused money to be coyned with this Inscription Non sufficit orbis Luckius in Nummis p. 279. 3. When the
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
kingdomes of Spain might be committed was himself committed and dyed with grief of mind c. Nor did the Duke of Braganza or the Marquess de Monte Real obtain their rewards and dignities expected from king Philip from whence they both of them had suffered much affliction the former a while after deceased lamenting that his Country was brought under the Castillian yoak and the kings promises not performed Thuan. lib. 78. 10. The ingratitude of the Spaniards towards Marquess Spinola may appear by this That the king did not only not pay him his promised Sallery but did not also satisfie those debts which he had contracted in the said kings name and for which he had past his word so that when he died he left nothing to his son but debts for which he durst not claim his inheritance 11. The Ingratitude of the Spaniards towards such as do them service especially the Germans is shewed by Thuan. lib. 16. where he sayes That the king paid the Spaniards and neglected the rest But Count Henry Vandenberg layes it more open when in his Letter to the Infanta Isabel Anno 1632. amongst other things he complains That without any respect to his forty years services done the King of Spain in which time he lost six brothers in his Majesties warrs he had not onely received no thanks but moreover by the envy of the Spaniards especially of the Marquess of Leganes he was deprived of his charge of chief Generall of the Kings Army That the Flemings were every where thrust out and Spaniards preferred who every way opprest and supprest them and contemned their Nobility That they labour by all means to protract the warre thereby the better to exhaust and impoverish the Belgick Provinces That they were angry if they had not alwayes the best Commands in the Army That they shot his Image through at Brussels and defaced it Tha they intercepted and concealed the Kings Letters to him c. Which later complaints were taken out of his Letters to the Lords of Brabant CHAP. XX. What the Spanish succours are AS it was said by I know not whom of the Ancients A socio infido qui concilium petit vel accipit ex poculo inaurato venenum haurit He who asks or takes counsell of an unfaithfull companion drinks poyson out of a guilded Cup. The same may they also say who have recourse to the succours of the Spaniards for the Spaniards what they dare not do openly as hindered either by some reason of Blood or Religion that they indirectly attempt with a vain offer and ostentation of defence Cardinall Perron and others agree in this opinion for in his speech to Pope Paul the fifth concerning the pacification vvith the Venetians he argues thus That the Spaniards through their in-begotten ambition would make use of their time and so it would come to passe that his Holinesse by the Sectaries on the one side and the Spaniards on the other who sell themselves for Auxiliaries would be most unhappily endangered vext And presently after The Spanish succour will be unsafe and very small besides for they are for the most part burthensome and importunate to their friends Thuan. lib. 137. 2. Anno 1575. When there was a disturbance betwixt the Nobles and Citizens of Genua K. Philip craftily feigned himself to be troubled at those dissentions and gave leave for Corn to be brought out of Sicily for the use of the Citie But Don Juan de Austria ingenuously confest That he consented to the warre against the Genuezes and that he had rather when he saw them who were in the Citie refuse equall conditions have them try it out amongst themselves then flye to any other Prince but such as were Philips friends for their protection nor did his Ministers cease more and more to inflame the Nobles against the Citizens But by the intervention of Princes his hope was eluded Thuan. lib. 61. 3. That the Spaniards succours prove for the most part to the ruine of them to whom they are given may be learned by the ruine of Frederick of Arragon for Gonsalvo king Ferdinands General feigning that those Forces which were sent for his destruction were sent for his relief under colour of securing his said Forces seized upon some Towns of Calabria by Fredericks own consent and a while after laid open both his own and his Kings designs yea and Fredericks son was also detained and sent into Spain and there kept prisoner contrary to his word given See the story in Spec. Tragic anno 1501. 5. The privat differences of aemulation vvich arose between Meduanio the chief of the Henotick faction and the Duke of Parma were encreased by suspitions as if the said Duke by king Philips order had undertaken an Expedition into France that so under shew of friendship and aid he might take all the authority from Meduanio and putting Garrisons into the places taken oppress the French who aspired to liberty with the hard yoak of slavery Thuan. lib. 99. 6. For the succour which the Spaniards gave the Duke of Newburgh in the controversie about Cleve and Gulick neither the said Duke himself nor any of his subjects have any great reason to thank them for they did not only exhaust those Principates but carried all things according to their pleasure as if forsooth they had been the lawfull Lords thereof 7. The Spaniards under shew and pretext of succouring their sociates and confederates seek how themselves may be able to surprize and draw Cities to their own power and possession which had almost hapned to the Citizens of Lyons in France Anno 1594. had they not perceived the fraud and reconciled themselves with Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 104. who sayes moreover lib. 107. that the Spaniards are wont to undertake the protection of kingdoms but that those protections at last draw domination with them Thus was the kingdom of Bohemia and Hungary which are otherwise carried by election and thus was the Common-wealth of Genua subdued under the colour of protection But the protection of an inferior is useless of an Equal fruitfull of a Supeperior suspect and perilous CHAP. XXI The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages THere was a proverb amongst the Ancients Eadem fideliâ— duas dealbare parietes To whiten two walles with one Chalk which we interpret thus with one daughter to get two sons in law 1. That the Spaniards have this Art in daily practice the better to advance their interest thereby it plainly appears by the many matches which they pretended for the Infanta Isabel aâ— sometimes to Guise somtimes to Ernesto and sometimes to others Thuan. lib. 106. 107. 2. The marriages with the daughters of Spain have scarce succeeded well to any for either they have been barren as Eugenia was or the causes of warres as the Duke of Savoyes wife was or scrues into the secrets of the Princes their husbands as those of the house of Austria are Anonymus 3. Philip
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
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