principall procurator for the Imperiall and Spanish Armies to forbeare and cease committing such outrages as they dayly did in the Dukedome of Parma though the Prince had joyned with the Christian King The Cardinal of Savoy relinquisheth the Comprotection of France and adhereth to Caesar his Countrey being a Fee appendant to the Church of which said he I have the tuition But in fine the French Advocate the Savoyard Cardinall wonne with large promises the King of Spaine offering to confirme unto him 40000. crownes of yearely revenew in Church living and a pension of twenty five thousand Crowns if he would relinquish the King of France and adhere to Caesar he accepted the proposition to the incredible joy of the Spanish and displeasure of the French not so much for his losse as his disloyalty A golden cosse-way pleaseth the eye though the pavement is not of sure footing Philip of Macedon by this false light bleared the sight of the Graecians and the Iberian King Philip made the same Minerall Sunne to dazell the eyes of this great Cardinall who as the French both at home and abroad at Rome relate it not regarding the sleights which the Spaniard put upon the deceased Cardinall Oâ—sino once Comprotectour of France but taken off in the end by the like allurements from the Christian King to serve the Catholike turned away his principall servants best acquainted with his French negotiations his late Secretary and Auditor ceised upon their writings and accounts whilest they were walking upon the banks of Tyber for their recreation forbad them his house and as quite eloigned from the King of France pulled downe the Flower de-Luces which the day before garnished his gates and at night set up in their stead the Armes of the Pope the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Hungarie This project was intended further then the gaining onely of the Cardinall who might promote the French affaires in the Consistory and could doe no more the Duke of Savoyes Armes in the field joyned with Criqui and the Parmesan were more to be suspected then the Cardinall of Savoyes words in the Counsell and the maine aime of the devise was to take off the Duke by the meanes of his brother the Cardinall The Spanish polity in gaining the Cardinall but the Spanish Artillery could not reach so farre the shaft fell some bowes short the Embassadour of Savoy then at Rome received the Secretary and Auditour into his house though the Cardinall had casheered them and the Duke of Savoy himselfe with as much zeale as ever doth yet prosecute the warre in Italy neither sparing his owne personall paines as being Generallissimo of the confederate Armies nor purse in making necessary provisions of warre to secure his owne men and offend the enemy Had the Cardinall stood firme to France yet his negotiation in the consistory could not have proved so prejudicious to the Imperiall and Spanish States as the mutiny of some malecontents and the appearance of the Galleys of Bizerta a port towne of the Kingdome of Tunis upon the coast of Italy were formidable to the Catholike Kings subjects in his Kingdome of Naples The Histories are thus reported The Count of Monterey Viceroy of Naples A mutiny in the kingdome of Naples zealous for preservation of his authority and the dignity whereunto he was advanced offended with an Ensigne of his Guard which let fall his colours upon the arrivall of the Duke of Medina de las Torres who came to visit the Viceroy at his Palace Iuly 6. new stile that ceremony of honourable observance being usually exhibited to none but the Kings Vice-gerent imprisoned the Ensigne with his Serjeant Major and casheerd the Captain of the company The Duke conceiving that the Viceroys sentence against those officers of his guard trencht on his honour his esteeme of the people might suffer some prejudice if he did not beare up and carry himselfe like a Grandee immediately thereupon provided his Caroch to be drawne with 6 Horses and rode in the state of a Viceroy through the streets of Naples to the discontent of the Count that being the proper garbe of the prorex and permitted to no other who first sent his monitory letters to the Duke forbidding him to appeare so magnificently and those not prevailing commanded him immediately to depart the Kingdome and returne to Spaine His order was obeyed by the Duke whose dismission wrought severally on the fancies of the Friends and Allies of the young Princesse of Stigliano lately married to the Spanish Duke each of them according to the capacity of their judgements projecting how to be avenged of the Viceroy The old Princesse Mother to the Dutchesse in melancholy betooke her to a Cloister and bequeathed all her goods money plate and Iewells after her decease to the Church of S. Peter at Rome The young Gallants of the Dutchesses Family tooke up Armes drew many of the Commons already offended with the Count for his government which they supposed to be somewhat tyrannicall and the heavy impositions which by reason of the present occasion were not unnecessarily laid upon them to their party elected the Duke of Matalona one of the Peeres of the Kingdome for their Chieftaine and had gone further to the plundering of the Spanish Families dispersed in the Kingdome had not the Cardinall Aldobrandino a popular man Appeased by the Cardinall Aldobrandino and Vnckle to the Dutchesse by the Mothers side interposed himselfe and disswaded the hot-spurrs from such a rebellious insurrection promising to write to the King of Spaine in the behalfe of his grieved Neece and the State and giving them an assurance of a gracious answer prevailed so farre that they laid downe their armes and write he did but received this onely summary answer from his Majesty that he was ignorant of the marriage of the Princesse with the Duke and that the necessity of his affaires so requiring it He could not alter the courses of his Viceroy in that Realme Yet in the end the Catholike K. moved with the importunate complaints of the Friends and Allyes of the Princes and willing to compose the differences which the Dukes absence had caused returnes the Duke to Naples in the beginning of September with letters to the Viceroy to permit him his state and dispatched soone after him the Marquesse D Alcaniza with a commission to establish the Duke of Medina Viceroy of Sicilie The Duke thus authorized shewed his state Quite settled by the King of Spaine riding to the Court at Naples in a Caroch of blacke Velvet imbroydered with gold and drawne with sixe Horses and the Princesse his Wife being carried in a stately Sedan in the like equipage yet with this devise in thankefulnesse to his Majesty Philippi Quarti Munificentia Before the returne of the Kings answer the Mutineers grew cold laid downe their Armes and returned to their severall dwellings to the joy of the Neapolitane Court as being past feare of that
our enemies more audacious and insolent and that the compassion which we have had towards France hath drawen on the ruine of those whom God hath put under the obedience of their Maiesties For those considerations according to the power which we have received from His Imperiall Maiesty we have commanded our ioyned Armies to enter into France for no other purpose then to obliege the King of France to enter into firme Covenants of a good and sure Peace and to remove those impediments which may hinder this so great a good And forasmuch as it principally concerneth France as weary of such tumults to hearken to this proposition we cannot but beleeve that all the States of that Kingdome will not onely set forth their demonstrance but also if neede be assist us with their Forces that the King convinced either by arguments or armes may be induced to chastise those which have beene the authors of all those warres which these 7 or 8 yeares past have beene in Christendome And which when they had provoked and assailed all their neighbours have brought upon France all these evills which she suffereth at this present and all those which doe at this time threaten her And although wee are well informed of the weaknesse and division into which those great disorders and evill councels have cast that Kingdome yet we declare that the intentions of their Maiesties are not to serve themselves of this occasion to ruine it or to draw from thence any other profit then by that meanes to worke a peace in Christendome which may be stable and perminent for these reasons and withall to shew what estimation their Maiesties doe make of the Prayers of the Queen-mother of the most Christian King we give them to understand that we will protect and use as friends all those of the French nation who either ioyntly or severally shall second these our designes and have given order that neutrallity shall be held with those of the Nobility and with the Townes that shall desire it and which shall refuse to resist them who shal oppose good of Christendome and their owne safety against whom shall be used all manner of hostility without giving quarter to their persons or sparing either their houses or goods And our further will is that all men should take notice that it is the resolution of their Maiesties not to lay down armes till the Queen e-Mother of the Most Christian King be satified and contented and till the Princes uniustly expulsed from their estates be restored and untill the peace be fully ratyfied that they may not feare to bee disturbed by him who hath violated the treaties of * * Onely a pretended treaty say the French wher in Father Ioseph the Capuchine being imployed by the Cardinal Richelew as agent for the Christian K. after a negotiation of 3. yeares to no purpose finding himselfe deluded by the Austrians and Spaniards returned into France revealed what he had discovered which caused the French King to take up Armes Ratisbon and others made before and since he hath had the mannagement of the affaires of France neither doe we pretend to draw any other dammage from the good successe which it shall please God to give unto our iust persecutions then to preserve and augment the Catholique Religion to pacifie Europe to relieve the oppressed and to restore unto every one that which of right belongeth unto him Given at Mentz this fifth of Iuly 1636. And then leaving a flying Armie with the Count de Feria for the safeguard of the Provinces under him immediatly as if hee would not give time to his Majestie to arme himselfe against his furie viz. about the end of Iuly appeared before Roy a small piece in Picardie with 14000 horse 10000 foot for service and 3000 others which were to bee imployed to bring in forrage for the Cattell and bread for the Armie A prodigious Comet never appeared more formidable a sudden feare of his power so surprized both the Citizens and Peasants generally that not onely the inhabitants of those Frontiers abandoned their habitations but some peeces of strength La Capella and Catelet delivered up trayterously as la Capelle a Catelet the Commanders more ready disloyally to take part with the forreigne Invader then to hazard a blow for their Liege Soveraigne yeelded to the Spanish Prince and so facilitated his enterprize against Corbie a Citie of some importance upon the river Soame which being commanded by as false a man as either of the other and followed their example and surrendred it before the French Armie could come to secure it His Majesty in this confusion knowing himselfe to be the man to whom the care of so many people was committed slept not but advising with his Councell in the beginning of August raysed a puissant Armie for the recovery of his Countrey and expulsion of his enemies His goodnesse to the inhabitants of his Frontiers in Picardie Champaigne and Burgundie in releasing so many from their taxes and contributions for the space of three yeares as should voluntarily serve in this expedition and his wisedome in commanding those Gallants which ruffled it in the streets of Paris when they should have beene before the face of the enemy whether Commanders or ordinary Gentlemen to repaire to their colours within foure and twenty houres the one upon the penaltie of the losse of their places the other upon forfeit of their Gentry and losse of their goods to bee employed to his Majesties necessary use and charging the superfluitie of unnecessarie Artificers to attend his service by his Edicts published August 15 5 speedily supplied him with a puissant Armie of fiftie thousand foote and fifteene thousand horse well mounted to hinder the Cardinals progresse And yet before the Army should march forth his Majesty not relying meerely upon the multitude of his host nor the strength of his horses proclaimed a solemne Fast wherupon the Romanists the Archbishop of Paris the Sorbonne and the Curates of the severall parishes made prayers for the good successe of his Majesties Armies in the Citie and the Protestants met together at Charenton in faithfull devotion for their Soveraigne Where after supplications made for his Majesty and the Kingdome Drelincourt the Protestant Preacher made a Sermon to admonish his auditors of their faithfulnesse and duty to their Soveraigne This being past Du Beck and S. Leger Governours of La Capelle and Catelet to strike terrour into all treacherous hearts which might by the impunity of perfidious disloyall men take courage in after time to conspire with the enemy against their Soveraigne and the publicke State his Majesty in a full Councell of warre proceeded against du Beck late Governour of la Capelle and St. Leger Commander in Catelet for their base Cowardise and treason a coward is seldome loyall in surrendring their places of charge to his Majesties and the kingdomes adversaries Their severall crimes were first published and upon examination Du Beck was
seditious commotion The Pyrats were the onely people they feared The Galleys of Bizerta were seconded with an accreut from Argiers and first roaving about the coasts of Calabria they landed at the Cape of Palinudo a great number of Turks which ransacked the Country adjacent and carrying away 700. Christians prisoners returned to their Ships fearing least the Viceroy who was mustering of his Forces to secure the Maritine Townes should come upon them with his Army and surprize them But their going from land The Gallyes of Bizerta cause great feare in the Kingdome of Naples and launching could not remove the feare of the people the cloud still hovered about the Sea-coasts and where it might fall was uncertaine The Mart at Messina was drawing on the customes wherof by the frequent recourse of Merchants thither and the great trade were of no small consequence the Viceroy therefore sent in the end of Iuly to the Great Master of Malta for his Galleys for the securing of the Sea-coasts of Naples and Sicilie against the incursions of the Turks during the time of the Fayre But before the Maltezan Gallyes could be dispatched the Turkish Pyrats understanding that the Prince of Bisignano was sent by the Viceroy with some Cavalliers and many Foote-souldiers to Putzoli and Pausilippo to defend the sea-townes thereabouts hoysed sayle and with 10 Gallyes and 2 Brigantines rode before Vico a towne just opposite to Naples on the other side of the Baye and began to land some of their Rovers to the great affrightment of the inhabitants which instantly left the towne and their goods fled to the Mountaines to save their persons and had beene ransacked by the Mahometans An excellent and valiant act of an English Merchant had not an unexpected accident fallen in fortunately for their succour An English Marchant comming from Sicilie loaden with powder and other Ammunition having past the Ilands of Vulcan was discovered by the Turks who presently deferring their former designe though meaning to prosecute it afterwards haled the Marchant who perceiving the condition of those whith whom he was to deale He is reported by our Seamen to be the younger Ellis Infidells and robbers prepared to fight and was quickly rounded with the Turkish Gallyes The fight was fore for the time 50 Canons shot in a small space were discharged by our brave country man the last of which cutting off the Turkish Admirals poope made the rest retire to the glory of the English Master who wrought out his owne way with shot and powder and cleared the coast thereabouts of that enemy deserving better of the Spanish Viceroy for this service then he found his requitall being onely a Court-smile and a cup of voydance His name is worthy to he recorded but I find it not expressed in the letters from Naples in which I find this history Aug. 5 13. Soone after this the expected Gallyes from Malta put to sea and abode there the space of 50. The Gallyes of Malta scoure the Levant of Turkish pirats dayes scouring the Levant and sayling up and downe by the coast of Barbarie and in the beginning of September returned to their owne Iland carrying along with them two Gallyes and two other bottomes taken at Negrepont with 150. Turkes prisoners and other booty esteemed at 100000. Crownes The Neapolitans thus happily delivered from their Mahometane enemies by sea prepared for the Catholike Kings service against the Christian by land The Viceroy The Neapolitans taxed by the Viceroy that there might neither be want of men money nor ammunition laid an hard taxe upon the officers of his Courts of Law and Iustice Bills were sent to all the Tribunalls charging every prime Regent of the Courts to set forth 8. souldiers every President Counsellour and Iudge either civill or criminal 4. every Procurator to the Fiske or Auditor 2. each Register Advocate or Doctor one or 40. crownes twelve pound sterling English in stead of a souldier and that he might not seeme partiall in his impositions gave commandement to all the Nobles Gentry of the Realme to bring him a true particular of their horses and plate that they might be employed in his Majest service if the necessity of his affaires should require it This done he appointed the Prince of Botero Grandchild to the Constable Colonna to be Generall for the Campe and Cavallary of the Kingdome and the Marquesse of Terra-zana for the Infantery and sent Melchior Borgia Generall of the Gallyes of the Squadron of Naples with the Galleys of Ligourn to releeve the Ilands Margarita and Honoria whilest the Gallions and other vessels for warre were made ready and brought to Portolongo in the I le of Elbe that place being designed for their generall Randevouz The French Navy under the command of the Earle of Harcourt and the Archbishop of Burdeaux was under sayle long before the Neapolitane Fleete could be ready to incounter them The 16. of Iune New Stile they put forth from Saint Martins roade yet reached not Marselleis till August 24. September being oft becalmed and constrained to hull in stead of sayling their way being long about the coasts of Spaine and Portugall and sometimes forced to slacke sayle upon severall occasions The 7 17 of the same moneth the Fleete arrived at the rode of Belle-Isle where a particular muster was made of the Matiners Provisions Ammunition and it was listed as followeth The Squadron of Bretaigne consisted of 16. The list of the French Navy vessels for service The Admirall of 1000. tunne under the command of Goutes a man of eminent authority under the Earle of Harcourt who was in person aboard that Ship with the Archbyshop of Burdeaux their Families and Volunteers and carried 54. peeces of Cannon The Reere-Admirall commanded by Poincy of 550. tunne carried 34. peeces The Swanne the Vnicorne the 3 Kings the Corall the Cooke the Saint Michael the Saint Guinever the Pearle the Margarite each of 500 tunne the Hermine of 300. tunne the Saint Marie of 200. tunne the Rose of 120. tunne the Petit Saint John of 60. tunne and the Aigrette of 120. tunne made up that number The squadron of Normandy consisted of 17. vessels for service besides 10. great shippes and as many laden with victuals and serving as a Magazine for maintenance of the Army in which were also transported 28. companies of the Islanders each Company consisting of 120. men under Saint Estienne a Limosin Gentleman and Lievetenant Colonell to de la Porte The Magdalene of Haure du grace of 300. tunne the Saint Anne of 200. tunne the Margarite of 100. tunnes the Eagle the Leveret and the Neptune each of 150. tunnes the Griffon of 200. tunnes sixe vessels of fire-workes two whereof were each of 200. tunnes two of 150. and two of 100 and foure great Flemish Floytes provided of 60. beds for the sicke and wounded men Physitians Apothecaries Chirurgians necessary attendants and medicines and viands made up that number