Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A42675
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The Ghost of the Emperor Charles the Fifth appearing to Volcart the porter, or, A dialogue of the times
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1690
(1690)
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Wing G638; ESTC R30404
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32,343
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42
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on his Shoulders as I walkt notwithstanding the Jealousie I caused hereby to my other Courtiers Volcart The very same Ghost What Reason could he pretend for this Volcart Reason sufficient as you shall hear Luther and Calvin had brought over several People to their Sentiments and several here amongst us believ'd that the first of these was sent from God to reform the Abuses of the Catholick Religion In a word they suffered themselves to be perswaded by the Ministry of those who taught his Doctrine What shall I say The Exemplary Life they led compared with the dissolution of Manners amongst the Catholicks the Inquisition which Philip your Son would have brought in with some other Novelties altogether as dangerous the rigor of those which Govern'd and a thousand other things which I do not mention gave Birth to these troubles the Sequel of which has been as I now mention'd Ghost But why if they would have chang'd their Religion did they not rather take the Lutheran than the Calvinist Luther was so Honest a Man and so knowing Volcart If he were such a honest Man I much womder you should Persecute him so and not only him but all those that Profest his Doctrine and it seems to me they have not had a more mortal Enemy than you Ghost Prethee now these are Mysteries of State which every body must not see into I have already told thee that Princes are good Comedians I have experienc'd what I tell thee in my self how many things have I been forc'd to do against my Inclinations for so far was I from hating Luther and his Doctrine that I have always had a secret Veneration for both Thou enquirest of me just now how I came to leave my Sovereignty to retire into solitude I had no other reason than this that I had persecuted the Truth against the Light of my own Conscience and my Sin continually stared me in the Face So that imagining that nothing could appease the Anger of God but a Bloody Sacrifice I hence determine to leave all to do Penance I imparted this design to three Men who had the same Sentiments as I thouching Luther and his Doctrine I had already taken one of them for my Director though in appearance he was a zealous Roman Catholick and having all three of them approved of my Resolution they likewise promis'd to follow me And here 's in one word the Secret of this great retreat which has made such a noise in the World But after so much Blood so unjustly spilt could I do less than to Cloyster up my self as it were alive for the expiation of my Sins Volcart But you did not dye in those Opinions but undoubtedly came to your self again Ghost I did and the three Men I mentioned Philip II. knew it well and I learnt in the other World a Circumstance which I 'll tell thee My Son having been inform'd I know not how that these three Persons had always entertain'd me in the same Religion he would needs make their Process after their death But a certain able Counsellor more subtle than he advis'd him to have a care what he did seeing he could not condemn them without condemning my Memory as an Heretick and that as Rome had given out a Decree by which the Children of those Persons could not inherit so this would be to declare himself fallen from the fairest Succession as ever befel Prince So that they were let alone and my Bones likewise untoucht Volcart So then as far a I can perceive you are an Heretick Mr. Charles the Fifth but will you do me no hurt or shall I go and setch some Holy Water Ghost Fie sie at thy age to talk so This were well enough for a Child prothee be quiet and stay here I intend thee no harm the Dead do neither good nor hurt Volcart Ah good Mr. Charles the Fifth may I trust you good now swear as you are a dead Man for I believe dead Folks do not use to forswear themselves Ghost I 'll do more I 'll swear on the Faith of an Emperor and this Oath is stronger than that thou requirest Volcart What then the Word of a dead Man is nothing with you and that of an Emperor or Prince is less with me How many are there in our days who laugh at their own Promises their is neither Treaty nor Oath that holds them and provided they can say 't is a matter whereon the good of the State depends they think they deserve more praise than blame It s true your Gentlemen Courtiers are the Causes of these abuses for instead of blaming what 's blame worthy they are prodigal of their Incense in all occasions a great Deceiver is a great Polititian in their speech and they have always in their Mouths this Maxim that he that cannot Dissemble knows not how to Reign And therefore pray let me hear no more of your Emperor and your word of a Prince I had rather you would swear to me by the Faith of a dead Man Death makes all equal and as I shall be whether I will or no dead as well as you so I may require you to do me Justice if you put any of your Tricks on me your distinguishing Maxims being not able then to shelter you from my just Reproaches Ghost Well then on the Faith of a dead Man I promise thee all thou desirest Volcart What 's the meaning of this to promise me all that I desire Do's not this resemble the Treaty of Nimiguen where for want of an exact explication there arose a thousand Abuses I 'll have something more real and positive you Princes have such fetches which others cannot understand Did not Mr. Ravaux entertain you below with his subtilties and after having stretch in this World the Comté of Chiny as far as he pleased will not he make a good Counsellor for you he that now wants a Master to trouble all those you may have to do with Ghost Who is this Mr. Ravaux Volcart He is a Man that has gained more Countries to France than any Captain it ever had a Man that has introduced such a right of dependancy as was never heard of before him and who if a Truce had not hapned between his Master and the neighbouring States which has interrupted the Course of his Chicaneries would have made to depend at the end of a little County the Empire of Trebison'd which yet is distant from it some Hundreds of Leagues Ghost But why did the King of France encourage such great Injustice was he not inform'd better than thus of the Truth Volcart But why as long as you have liv'd have you upheld those who told you to make their Court to you that you had a right to the Kingdom of Naples and the other States which you invaded in Italy Was not you likewise inform'd of the Truth as well as he could be or was it more lawful in those times to seize on others Rights than