ordinarily the question of the Acquisition of States is handled a iust Prince ought very well to consider if hee haue lawfull cause and honest right to possesse them and where hee knowes no other Title then that of Religion much more hee ought to be aduised that it bee not a faire and honest Couer of a foule and wicked Couetousnesse Don Pedro the tenth King of Aragon and third of that name hauing raised the greatest forces in his power passed therewith into Affrica to make warre vpon the Moores the ancient enemies of our Christian Religion For which holy purpose he receiued great Aides of money from S. Lewis the most Christian King of France What more worthy action could be haue vndertaken Who would haue found occasion to blame him yet vnder the herbe lav hid the Serpent Iosephus Boufilis Hist Sicil. par 1. li. 8. Genzale de Igliescas Hist Pontif. par 1. lib 5. cap. 45. M. Anton. Sabel p. 2. Encad 9. li. 7. This King had sometime before sent into Sicily Iohn Precita who offended by Charles of Anioy his Lord desired to be reuenged disguised in the habit of a Fryar to stirre the mindes of that Nation to rebell who for some ill vsage did shew themselues distasted with the French Gouernment Iohn Precita effected his businesse The Rebellion of the Sicilians and the destruction of the French followed King Charles armed for the recouery of his lost Kingdome and the Rebells to resist him In the meane while Poter of Aragon that scarcely hauing touched the Coast of Affrica was retyred to Sardinia to be nearer Sieily obseruing the time and occasion of his designe fitting suddenly went to Palerme where hee was receiued with great ioy and gladnesse and published and proclaimed King of the Siciltans who flocked to him from all parts of the Island See now your Maiestie with what insidious and cursed Art vnder the colour of Religion the King Don Pedro faining to haue taken Armes against the Enemies of Christianity tooke that Kingdome from a Christian King and foedary of Holy Church and which is more with the help of that Gold which he had receiued from the most Christian King right Brother of King Charles Whereupon the blessed Pope Martin the fourth a man of renowned sanctitie of whom as the Spanish Pontificall Igliescas â—bi supra and other Histories doe report were seene many miracles after his death did excommunicate and depriue him of his Kingdomes and absolue his Subiects of their Oath of Allegiance giuing power to any Prince to persecute him as a common Enemy Perhaps the holy Bishop thought that with this rigour the King Don Pedro would be brought to acknowledge his error and to restore what he had ill gotten But it proued without any fruit for hee which made it lawfull vhiustly to vsurpe the rights of others did little feare Ecclesiasticall censures for their restitution And what more Catholique and more pious Enterprise could bee imagined then that of India for the enlargement or the sacred Gospell What iuster title then that which the highest Bishop Alexander the Sixt did grant to the Catholique Kings Ferdinand and Isabell in the new world ordeyning them as supreme Emperors ouer those Kings and Infidell Kingdomes But after what thing was more vniust then the Conquest of the immediat Dominion of those Countries I call it a Conquest to enter with warre to subdue the people before they were allured with the peacefull voice of preaching and to take away the life of lawfull Lords and Naturall Princes to vsurpe their States notwithstanding they did not hinder the promulgation of the Gospell but rather were ready to receiue the holy Faith And it is a certaine truth that when also they were not conuerted whilst yet they did not oppose the progresse of Christian Religiou they could not be by the way of warre subiected that being contrary to the will of Christ who said Speciosi pedes Euangelizantium pacem And much lesse could they bee spolled of their Dominion seeing the same Christ when he came into the world did declare that the empire also of the Gentiles is iust lawfull commanding euen his own Apostles to pay tribute to Casar Neither is it to bee beleeued that the Pope when hee granted to the Catholique Kings the Soueraign Empire of the Indies had any thought to preiudice the immediate Dominion of Gentile Princes because he could not doe it The which the great Atabalâ—â—a King of Peru did know by the onely light of nature to whom Friar Vincenze di val verde made the most sottish and abominable oration to reduce him to the holy faith that could be imagined amongst other Curious things which he spake this was one El Papa que ey biue did a nuestro potentissime Rey de Espana Emperader delos Romanos y Monarca del mundo Jgliescas p. 2. lib. 6. c. 26. Sect. 14. la conquista destas tierras El Emperador embia agora Francesco Picaro à rogares seays su amigo y trsbutario y que obedezeays al Papa yrecibays la feè de Christo y creays en ella porque uereys como es sanctissima y que la que vos agora teneys es mas que falsa Si esto todo no hazeys sabed que os hemos de dar guerra yos que braremos los Idolos y os for çaremos a que dexeys la Religion diuâ—estros falsos Dioses That is The Pope this day liuing hath granted our most mighty King of Spaine Emperor of the Romans and Monarch of the World the Conquest of these lands now our Emperor doth send Francesco Pisaro to desire you to be his friend and Tributary to obey the Pope to receiue the faith of Christ and to beleeue therein because you shall see that it is most holy and yours most false If you doe not all this know that wee must make warre vpon you wee will breake your Idols and enforce you to leaue the religion of your false Gods Who euer heard a holier and wiser Sermon Como siel hijo de Dios que murio per cadauno dellos Vesceuo di Chiappa nel lib della destructione di India ouiera en su lcy mandado quando dixo Euntes docete omnes gentes que se hiziessen requerimientos à los inficles pacisices y quietos y que tienen fus tierras propias y si no la ricibiessen Iuego sin etra predication y dotrina y si no diessen a si melmes al senorie del Rey que nuvca oyeron ni vieron espetialmente cuya gente y mensaieros son tan crueles tan desapiadados y tan horribles Tirannos perdiessen per el mesmo caso la hazienda y las tierras la libertad las mugeres y hijos con todas sus vidas que es cosa absurda y estulta y digna de todo vituperio escarnio y infierno That is As if the Sonne of God who dyed for euery one of
to vsurpe the State of others doth moue them also to vsurp the Pontisisall Iurisdiction O God if yet they did vse it well Holy Church doth continually pray for the extirpation of heresie not so of Heretiques But those Ministers with too much excesse of holy zeale will first vsurp the Estates of Heretiques and destroy their persons throughly to roote out their heresies Quidsaeuiunt vt stultitiam suam dum minuere volunt Lact. ipst Diu li. 5 C. 20. augeant longè diuersa sunt carnificina pietas nec potest aut veritas cum vi aut Iustitia cum credulitate coniungi Here a Consideration comes into my head which makes me astonished The Euangeliques among the Grisons so your Ministers affirme and I beleeue it are the superiour party These as wee say are impions wicked and our Capitall Enemies they desire our harme and our vtter ruine They might perhaps haue beene able with little difficultie with their owne force and with the ayde of those of Zurich and Berne obliged to them by loue by law and particular Confederation vtterly to ruine destroy and annihilate the Roman faction in their Countrey and to become Lords alone of the whole Dominion And yet these wicked these impious these Enemies of the true saith haue had so much humanitie that they haue abstayned and haue beene contented that the Roman Catholiques liue freely and quietly among them and to haue them friends and Companions in the politique Gouernment And those of Zurich and Berne no whit better then the Euangelique Grisons haue neuer promoued nor counselled them to Alterations On the contrary the true Sonnes of the holy Roman Church instructed in the meeknesse patience and benignity of Christ Men charitable pious and holy doe make it lawfull to rise against those who molest them not to rebell from those who admit them into fellowship of Gouernment to procure the losse of State to those who being able haue neuer attempted to expell them out of the State And the Ministers of your Maiestie who professe to bee the most true Catholiques this day liuing in the World are they who instigate foment and ayd yea who principally doe opperate in these so honest Rebellions and with warre fire and ruines doe pronounce that it is requisite to defend the holy Religion O quam honesta voluntate miseri errant Lactant. vbi supra sentiunt enim nihil esse in rebus humanis Religione praestantius eamque summa vi oportere defendi sed in defensionis genere falluntur Defendenda enim Religio est non occidendo sed moriendo non saeuitia sed patientia nonscelare sed fide Illa enim malorum sunt haec bonorum necesse est bonum in Religione versari non malum N am si sanguine si torment is si malo Religionem defendere velis iam non defendetar illa sed polluetur atque violabitur Nihil est enins tam voluntarium quam Religio in qua si animus Sacrificantis auersus est iam sublata iam nulla est The Polititians say Salust de con Catil li. 1. that Imperium his artibus retinetur quibus initio partum est So is it consequent to say of our Religion the which was planted not by killing but dying not with crueltie but patience not in wickednesse but faith With these Arts Christ laid the foundation with these the Apostles and those holy fathers of the Primitiue Church did build vpon it and since their Successors from these wayes haue declined it is diminished restrayned and in many places vtterly extinct Religion is more free then the will of man because the forced will remaines still a will but enforced Religion is no more Religion for in the will the Act is regarded and in Religion the minde And therefore If the mind of the sacrificer be auerse the efficacie is taken away and annihilated Then the Ministers of your Maiestie doe erre in these their cruell proceedings against Heretiques They too farre wander from the path in which Christ hath guided them Let your Maiestie bee aduised not to suffer your selfe to bee drawn into the same error by giuing them faculty power to prosecute so bloody Enterprises Command them by your Roiall authority to leaue so preposterously to fauour Christian Religion For now the world doth know their ends and Christ himselfe doth hate detest and abhorre them And when they shall endeauour to perswade you otherwise bee not easie to giue them credit seeing as I haue already shewed vnder holy pretences they doe counsell Deuillish actions Let your Maiestie giue full credence to their Aduices when they shall perswade you to imploy your forces against the Mahometans Capitall and continuall Enemies of Christianitie when they shall say that therein you ought to spend those many Millions which you draw from the Church for that holy end when they shall excite you to dresse your Fleets and Armies to recouer so many Prouinces vsurped by Infidells vpon miserable Christians But why doe I say recouer them I tremble O Sacred Maiestie to speake it but it may not be passed in silence I feare that they rather will counsell you to take from the Christians Arzila in Affrica enforceth me to speake wrested from the possession of the Portugalls by the King Don Phillip the second and giuen to Muley Achmett King of Marocco I well know what they will answer that he gaue it because he could not defend it But if a King of Portugall did keepe it how can it be that a Monarch of Spaine of the new World and of so many other Kingdomes and Prouinces should be vnable No no wee are not deceined how matters did then passe with the Pertugalls doth too clearely shew the truth Phillip did feare that Muley might succour Don Antonio who did claime the Kingdome of Portugall wherfore to extinguish that Christian King the Ministers did perswade King Phillip with the price of that Citie to buy the friendship of that Infidell Consider now your Maiestie this perfidious Counsell the which drew King Phillip into so euill considerations though otherwise an excellent Prince that hee became publikely reproached Giou. Hist li. 34. and it was said that he had learned this liberalitie to Barbarians of the most famous Emperour his father Charles the sift Iglies vita de Paolo 3 lib. 6. C. 27 sect 1. Giou. li. 37. Iglies nel Capit. preditto sect 9. who after the Conquest of the Citie of Tunis in Barbarie did presently tender it to the King Muleasses which he would not haue done if it had bin taken from any Christian Prince As he refused to restore Castelnouo to the Republique of Venice recouered from the Turkes at the instance of that Common-wealth and with the ayde of their owne Armado although by particular conuention thereunto obliged Then againe I say let your Maiestie take heed of the false Counsels of your Spanish Ministers who where reason of State is in question would
may and ought to depriue the Prince his Vassall because the inuestiture of the fee is not granted for the peoples ruine but that they should bee gouerned with lustice wherefore if the feudatory vse iniustice and ill entreatment he falls from his Iurisdiction and the Soueraigne Prince may thereof depriue him and not doing it beeing able hee shall bee a wicked Prince and no lesse guiltie of the euill before God which he suffered his feudatory to doe then hee the feudatory himselfe is who acts it Now let your Maiestie apply this doctrine which is wholy conformable to reason and law to the Actions of your Ministers to the condition of your Subiects and to the right of other Princes ouer your Estates in Italy and you shall clearely see how your Ministers are damnable your Subiects miserable and how much other Princes are obliged to releeue them My words perhaps will seeme bitter but I beseech your Maiestie to consider if they be true and finding them so to take them in good part as bitter medicines fiery Canteries sharp lances vse to be gratefully receiued from the hands of Physitians Chirurgions to procure health be assured you shall find them most profitable because your Maiestie fully informed of the truth will correct your Ministers comfort your Subiects and ease other Princes of the necessitie to vse their supreame Iurisdiction The Cause of Subiects and of Ministers are together vnited because those are gouerned and these Gouernours whence as Correlatiues they goe paripasse I will then briefly represent to you Maiestie the Gouernment of your States in Italy so farre as is expedient to the present matter The State of Milun in the time of the Emperour Charles the sift began to bee ill intreated from whence that sad lamentable and despairefull Ambassage which they sent by Baptista Archinto to Nazan is recorded who onely because he did lament in the name of his afflicted Countrey was receiued with an ill eye sent back without remedy and by the Imperiall Ministers at his returne sharply reprehended which might haue occasioned the Rebellion of that people if they had found any better Prince who would haue receided them Hac vbi sub ipsum Caesaris à Nicea discessum ex legatione veâ—â—â—â— per vrbas Cisalpinae Galliae svulgate sunt Iouius Hist lib. 37. vsque adtò tamum ex vei indignitate odium Caesaricrâ—uit vt omnes ex rarum desperations fucise defect 〈◊〉 upoareret si mitior clemenotr qui dâ—dentes reeiperet Dominus offereretur immoderatis siâ—â—dem puoe bâ—llbque rributis upprossi nonn etiam tum mmstruae exactionis onerâ—â— periutâ—rant quae nunquam desitâ—aboni morâ—ales 〈◊〉 donoe vincret Câ—sar atque Italiae Imperis poteretur A feet also a second time when Strozzâ— Pallaâ—icino Visenti who made warre for the King of France approached to Millan all the Imperiall Ministers held that Citie as bad as loft onely because it did feele the yoake of Spanish Dominion too violent and heavy Assiduis at que intollerandis trubutis alienata Jouius lib. 45. parata credi poterat ad nouandas res vt inuictum pergraue Hispanici Regm ingum excuteret If from that time to this their grieuances are diminished or augmented your Maiestie best knowes To what termes that State is at this day reduced who doth not know let him consider this that already many and many year as it hath suffered great numbers of Spanish Souldiers lodged in the houses of poore particular men at discretion Discretion of Souldiers and Tyranny are one and the same thing who hath not proued it let him pray to God fust to die and hee shall die happier then euer to haue proued it And let him be content to beleeue for faith that vnder such discretion goods and honour are dispatched and hardly is life secure I passe ouer the burthen of new Tributes I leaue the Rapine of Ministers who like blood-suckers haue exhausted the veines of that plentifull bodie because in comparison of lodging Souldiers at discretion I esteeme all to bee nothing and he who is able to endure to see them eate the sustenance of his poore family and that which exceeds all other Tyranny to grow familiar with his wife daughters and Sisters it may be said that he is growne insensible of any iniury I remember to haue read in the warres which were so sharpe betweene the Venetians and Genoueses that these did take a Citie of their Enemies and held it the space of tenne yeares subiected to discretion whence it is credible that besides other matters they did dispose of their wiues according to their pleasures for which cause to this day though now two hundred and fifty yeares are ouerpast there cannot bee done a greater Inuiry to those people then to call them Genoueses Bastards and notwithstanding that staine with length of time and the continued peace of that Citie which neuer since felt the offence of Enemie hath beene oftentimes worne out and washed away yet vpon euery occasion they resent the onely memory of that ancient Iniury done to the honour of their women which seemes indelible and eternall If I then say that the greatest of all the Tyrannies which the State of Millan doth now suffer is to haue their wiues at the Souldiers discretion I shall not speak much wide of the purpose because it is a matter very likely that in times to come the Millaneses may bee called Spanish Bastards If this be tolerable let your Maiestie consider Wee proceed to Sicily Let it not be grieuous to your Maiestie that I speake this truth that if this day there were any other Prince as ready to solicit the destruction of Spanyards as there was once a Spanish King to procure that of the French sodainly and easily wee should see another Scicilian Vesper the causes are the same and are not newly begunne Let the Insurrection of Messina bee remembred then when the Vice King Don Iuan de Cardona Ioseph Bonfigl Hist Sicil. p. 1. lib. 10. would oppresse that Kingdome with intolerable Tributes And let it bee considered with what pride and with how great disdaine he vsed the Messinesi because they defended the libertie of their Kingdome For which cause iustly prouoked they did generously to his face vpbraid him that he acted another Phallaris another Dionisius Don Vgo de Moncada who would not start Bonfigl p. 2. lib. 1. onely to heare this name this was that impious man that sacked Rome was also Vice-Roy how can it bee thought that hee handled them Let vs obserue the words of the History Hee was by Nation a Catalonian by birth a Barcellonese a man most ambitious greedy of Riches and immoderately enclined to dishonest Luxury Hee gouerned Sicily with Crueltie Auarice and Impudent Iust Hee neglected so farre to punish the falsifiers of money vntill depriuing it of Commerce hee impouerished that Kingdome and that which more imported he made publike Mechandise of Graine insomuch that hee
exhausted Sicily and of a most fruitfull Countrey reduced it to the want of bread Couetousnesse was accompanied with other notorious vices so that hee became to the nobilitie and people hatefull which being knowne vnto him when the death of the Catholique King was published hee durst not appeare abroad for feare of receiuing some notable afront Here the Author proceedeth to the Insurrection of that Kingdome against so strange a Monster who disguised in the habit of a Seruant saued himselfe by flight and after got away to his King in Flanders In whose place was sent Hector Pinatello Earle of Monteleone who by publique Decree would ratifie all the Acts of Don Vgo how tyrannicall soeuer Whereupon the People who insteed of remedy saw the mischiefe confirmed made a new Commotion in the Citie of Palermo and the new Vice-King was inforced to escape to Messina vntill the Commons by the Nobility appeased and many Spanish Souldiers supplied him from the King he became strong and was able to vent his rage as he did with extreame rigor vpon the mutined And Don Vgo de Moncada who had so ill entreated the poore Sicilians in stead of punishment was rewarded with great riches and honored with the standard of Captaine Generall of the Sea They who at present liue by tradition of their old men and for as much as themselues haue proued doe testifie before God that that kingdome hath continually suffered grieuances cruel extortions but that the people had almost veterly forgotten them when they felt the heauy yoake of the Duke of Ossuna because in respect of extreame euills moderate may be called goodnesse They exclaime to the Heauens that he hath left the wretched Sicily desolate and rooted vp They complaine with miserable outcryes to haue more then once sent into Spaine to lament to your Maiestie and alwaies without fruit And since they remaine wholly confused and astonished with the consideration how he like another Don Vgo in stead of receiuing punishment should be honored and recompenced with the charge of the vice-Vice-King of Naples And now it is time to discourse of Naples it selfe I should vndertake a great worke to recount that which I haue seene and tryed and perhaps I might seeme as passionate I will then mention onely that which I haue found in Histories that which the kingdome with full voice doth proclaime It was practiced lately in Naples to introduce the Inquisition al vso de Spania Igles p. 2 l. 6. c. 27 Sect. vlt. Bonfigl p. 2 l. 4. The people cryed out there was no need of so great rigour because by Gods grace that Kingdome was not full of Moores and Spaudo Christians The vice-Vice-King insisting on his purpose began to vse force the people instructed by nature armed to oppose against such violence The Pope informed of the business cōmanded the Vice Roy in vertue of holy obedience to be quiet and he well may doe it both as Prince of the Church in respect of Eaelesiasticall Iurisdiction and as temporall Prince that Kingdome being the proper faude of the Sea Apostolique yet for this the vice-Vice-King would not desist but with small and great Artillary attempted to bring his purpose to effect All the Citie rose in vptore Many houses were loueiled with the ground and men not a few slaine But sooner hee might destroy all then those generous mindes be subiected to his will so that he did great harme and obtained nothing Who shall well consider these Actions cannot be perswaded that Christian zeale transported the Vice-King to intermeddle in Ecclesiastique Iurisdiction and to desire to burden that people with a yoake little needfull and lesse reasonable against the will of the Vicar of Christ Soueraigne Prince as well in Temporals as Spiritualls in the Kingdome of Naples From whence it must be concluded that vnder that pretence the Vice-Roy had some other end which certainly could not be but little for the good of the Subiect I know not how to excuse of Tyranny that Action in the yeare 1585 Bau. Pontis p. 3. vita Siste 5 c. 5. when the officers drew out of that kingdome so great a quantitie of Corne to send into Spaine that although the yeare were most abundant the poore Citie of Naples did perish of famine A Crueltie indeed horrible to take from the Neapolitans their owne broad to feed their Spaniards Therefore not without cause that people conducted by necessitie to desparation rose all in tumult from whence the Vice-King this also was a Duke of Ossuna tooke after occasion to vent his sury putting to death forty sending to the Gallies a hundred and exiling infinite numbers The present State thereof imitates that of Sicily as the Duke of Ossuna succeeded in that Gouernment after Sicily To performe my promise I will say no more let that Inscription no lesse true then compassionate by the Kingdome it selfe published to the World speake which shall remaine of that Duke a perpetuall and famous Elogte Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri Petrus Gironus Dux Osscinensium Natione Hispanus Genere Perduellis Religione Turcicus Italici Dalmatici Germanici Fax Cruenta Bellorum Non. Vnius Sicilia Verres Neapoli Pollutis Templis Conspurata Nobilitate Depredato Aerario Monito Mauro Accersito Trace Veneta Vrbe Per. Insidias Ad. Excidium Tenta Regis Simplicitate Per. Corruptos Aulicos Diu. Multumque Delusa Hospitum Manubiis Per. Triennium Ditato Milite Compulsisque Populis Ad. Eorum Stationes Redimendas Foedata Infandis Exemplis Ah. Nimis Ad. Infandū Prona Ciuitate Nobilibus Aliquot Adse Vario Quà Munere Quà Vaframenta Pellectis Largitionibus Et. Vanis Spebus Plebe Delusa Atque Eorum Seditiosissimo Bis. Extra Sortem Renunciato Tribuno Denique Frustra Vetatis Armis Tentatis Arcibus Et. In. Armatos Ciues Per. Triduum Circumducta Acie Scelestorū Opportune Successoris Aduentu Cedere Solo. Et. Salo. Compulsus Aurum Nostrum Quod. Hic Corrasit Nequiter Alibi Lasciue Sparsurus Prouinciae Neapolitani Heu Quondam Regni Inermes Enerues Populorum Deglubiti Greges Palantes Balantes Teterrimas Suas Clades Ignotas Regi Longirquo Et. Torpenti Fascino Sandonallico Pagella Et. Calamo Quae. Sola Sunt Reliqua Representant Vrbi Et. Orbi Miserescite Exteri Exhorrescite Posteri In so wofull manner sacred Maiestie Naples doth lament No lesse doth Sicily grieue and Millan equally complaine But of all their vexations the vnhappy people are afraid to speake All their iniuries with open voice it is not lawfull to expreise Scarcely they dare publikely bewaile their extreame miseries whence their hearts are more corroded Tacitus moeror lust lib. 8. luctus verentibus ne ipsae lachrymae pro contumacia hubeantur Crescit dissimulatione ipsa dolor hoc altius dimissus quo minùs profiteri licet Of these three principall Prouinces of Italy vnder the gouernment of the Emperour Charles the fift I find recorded in Historie that Insubres ex opulentissimis ad egestatem redacti
The Cruell subtilty of AMBTIOIN DISCOVERED IN A DISCOVRSE CONCERNING the King of SPAINES Surprizing The VALTELINE Written in Italian by the Author of the Historie of the Counsell of Trent Translated by the Renowned Sir Thomas Roe Knight Many times Embassadour in Forraine parts with his Epistle to the House of Commons in PARLIAMENT Shewing the onely way in Policie to counterplot the designes of promoting Unjust Interests of STATE LONDON Printed for William Lee at the Turks Head in Fleetstreet next to the Miter and Phaenix 1650. TO THE KNIGHTS BARONS AND BVRGESSES of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament THings compared though contrary or alike in nature doe illustrate one the other Contrariorum similium eadem est ratio Iust Inst And therefore to discerne the strengths counsels and ends of diuers Kingdomes the straightest rule is comparison of their actions gouernment and foundation All Monarchies and Republiques which haue an end proposed whether to emarge or preserue their Dominion most effectually worke to their own ends because such operation is naturall Polib Is qui nouit quanam sint vniuscuinsque Rerumpublicarum principia naturaliâ— etiam incrementum et florentissimum statum ac mutationem finem potest cognoscere A wife and rationall Historian comparing and censuring diuers Common-wealths why one subsisted and others decayed and how the one preuailed vpon the other examined the formes and institutions their designes and ends and what was possible to be bulk vpon them That of Plato he esteemed vncapable of comparison other then as a Statue to a man which had excellent art without life Athens and Thebes were not vnderlaid to be are any aduersitie But when they were most like to rise the temperature of their policy was insufficient to allay the abundance and increase of humours the growth was too sudden and heauy for the foundation when they began to shake their root had no earth The Lacedemonian to sublist of it selfe to oppose forraine violence to need nothing exotique to liue in peace was in all perfection instituted Caterùm ad parandum sibi in vicinos dominatum to extend their Empire euen their owne foundation was an impediment A blessed state if Ambition were banished the world but defectiue to absolute safetie For no defence is secure that cannot offend Therefore as soone as that State began to affect conquest and to raise Armies they found in their constitution that the Lawes made to keepe them happy were too narrow to hold others in seruitude Plato and their vntried felicitie blinded their iudgement to ouer-value their owne abilities Qui vitam instituisset contra naturam meritò etiam contra naturam fato functus est Polib The Carthagenians and Romans had larger ends a broader foundation like abilities and aptitudes to effect them which were Imperium mundi And though all Common-wealths doe conuenire in aliquo medio yet they which designe quiet possession of their owne and vsurpation of the Estates of others are at both ends vtterly repugnant The reasons why the Romans preuailed vpon Carthage being alike instituted are another consideration Polib the manner of building the constancy vertue and goodnesse of Instruments are great differences In these the Romans excelled and perhaps in the youth for euery State hath an Infancy a mature and a decrepit age and consequently soonest arriued at their ends But that wherein most effectually they preuailed was in Counsels in which they had aduantage in the forme of their gouernment For the people in Carthage in all deliberations had too much authoritie which bred delay and hindered secrecy whereas in Rome the Senate and Optimati Tacit. experienced and wise men onely resolued Imus ad bellum non omnes Nuncios palam audiri Polib non omnia consilia cunctis praesentibus tractari ratio rerum aut occasionum velocitas patitur Victoria consilijs ratione perficitur From these Considerations a Consequence is deduced that when any two great Kingdomes fall into a warre that which will preuaile must consider the ends of the other and the wayes and meanes wherewith they are prosecuted and to them must apply all industry and direct opposition In the ends as there is great difference so there is great aduantage by theÌ„ because actiue things etiamsi agendo repatiantur weare-out passiue though of equall strength and hardnesse as the iron that strikes in time batters that which suffers Common-wealths that designe conquest and are alway attentiue to watch occasion get ground vpon the modest more by vigilancy then force and fraud which is a terrible instrument doth euer accompany Ambition Counsels vanquish Armes as spirituall things are predominant vpon materiall and as fire dissolues the fastest metals those Counsels are most preualent which are vnited in one head and issue from one fountaine Therefore rising and encreasing Empires are dangerous if they once grow great and must be resisted in their ends and in their counsels single defence is not sufficient troublesome neighbours must be made passiue to abate their reputation which the spirit of action presupposeth To apply these premisses hauing read with pleasure the following Discourse of the Reasons of the Resolution in the Valteline and being at leasure eyther to sleep or wast in mine owne meditations I thought it would be a good recreation and not vnacceptable to my loyall Countrimen to teach it to speake as plaine English as it doth truth and finding the whole scope of the Author an Authour of great worth and greater works to be an information to the World of the dangerous encrease and ambition of the house of Austria and if possible to read the King of Spaine a lesson not to bee learned but vnder a Rodd of Iron that in time necessity would open the eyes of all Princes to oppose his secret proiect of Vniuersall Monarchy I beleeued that some profit might be gathered out of this forraine Garden I wil suppose that this Theame is sufficiently handled and that there are few practised in the world who will deny it The witnesses are great and euident India vniustly vsurped Sicily surprised by treason Naples by breach of Contract Millan held by Intrusion Nauarre by excommunication of the lawfull Prince Portugall oppressed by the Sword Conâ—â—lag and the Pope refused to iudge either competently or as Arbiter the pretences of Parma Braganza when it was possible in temporall Causes his spirit might erre in not adoring Spaine The Valteline possessed vnder the colour of Religion The Palatinate and the States of Clene seised by auxiliars and kept for Debts forced vpon the Proprietaries which they desired not to borrow Wesell stollen in a truce and the Rhyne passed ouer vnder the fauour of a Treaty Embden attempted Venice conspired Piemont assaulted France twice corrupted into Combustion with holy leagues and open Armes and England practiced and inuaded And to bee able to doe any or all these a scelerous peace sought with the
Turke to whom in truth Spaine is only a true friend These are such a Cloud of witnesses as no modesty will oppugne them Which being now manifest to the world and that it is expected euery wise Prince and State will consider nune mea res agitur I also haue presumed to warne diuisos ab orbe Britannos who being separated from Generall Commerce by the Sea which is our wall true Information may bee kept out as well as Enemes To which purpose without any malignity or willing offence I must looke one age back For in the former Alas the Kings of Castile were good Neighbors and were content not to bee supplanted by their owne Moores mingled with their Subiects both in house and bloud England hath been the speciall and most advantagious marke at which this new Monarchy hath aymed since cupido dominandi outgrew Conscience and all lawes of Iustice England the Queene of the Sea and Lady of Traffique being conquered halfe of the whole is done England hath more hindered this vnnaturall growth then all Europe it is then out of question that the wisedome of Spaine which neuer erreth in the way of greatnesse loues and hates no kingdome so much as England When Don Iohn of Austria had wonne the famous battaile of Lepanto Raphael Pereg. and therein laid to himselfe a foundation of advancement and had gotten possession of the Citty of Tunis the Spanish Councell foreseeing the rising Starre of a new Monarchy though in their owne Princes bloud rather resolued to rase and destroy that Towne and accordingly gaue order to the Generall But hee who had higher thoughts fortified it and sollicited the Pope Pius quintus to intercede with the Catholique king that the Title of that kingdome might bee conferred vpon him to erect a fresh opposite to the Ottoman Empire The king of Spaine iealous of any Concurrent vtterly refused this honor to his owne Brother and suddenly to exercise his great mind vpon some subiect of his priuat seruice sent him Gouernour into Flanders where hee was as like to breake as rise The young Prince whose fahers bloud boiled in his veynes discontent to bee shut vp in so narrow a Compasse fell vpon a net practise to conquer England and procured so farre with the same Pope that he dealt earnestly with the Catholique King to consent to that Enterprise and to contribute Aydes for the Execution in fauour whereof his Holiness had already granted him Bulls Breues Money and the secret Inuestiture though this Proiect in the manner was not acceptable to King Phillip that the Pope should giue that away without first consulting with him which hee had embraced in his owne thoughts yet he yeelded and promised to assist Don Iohn in the Inuasion of England So much more hee thirsted to depriue a Christian Prince of an antient Inheritance then to keepe a great Kingdom opportunely seated to annoy the Turks from his friends the Ottomans I will not Physically coniecture what bloud begat this Counsell but propose it as a worthy and great Consideration The attempt of the Duke of Medina and the inuincible Armado was a fruit of the same root But that the sword might not seeme to cut through all Iustice to corrupt the minds of the ignorant and to satisfie the doubtfull and scrupulous a counterfeit booke vnder a counterfeit name was published Dolman discussing the seuerall titles of England and seeming to giue euery one their owne right it cunningly insinuates that the reasons of the Infanta Isabella were more pregnant then all the rest which could not come into question vntill Sixteene Princes successorily raigning were condemned for Vsurpers one of whom her father had married and by her taken the title of England But God fought for vs Tonante in coelis lehouah Excelso edente vocem suam grande Psal 13. prunae igneae ita emittens sagittas suas dispergit fulgura iaculans fundit illos When fained Titles were foolishnesse before God and men and the Chariot wheels of the Enemy were taken off outward force not prevailing Religion and the defence of that as the last refuge and Sanctuary of Ambition was taken vp and a holy pretence aduanced to practise Treason and Rebellion in Ireland To this end the Earles of Desmond and Tyron were thrust out and maintained in defection against their naturall Prince and as soone as their actions were worth the avowing Aids and Supplies were openly sent from Spaine and that Kingdome doubly inuaded by Conspiracie and Armes But Kinsale is a famous sepulcher of their honor that Climate perhaps hauing as naturall an Antipathy to Cholerique complexions and Intruders as to noysome and venemous beasts I purpose not to enumerate priuate and clandestine minings and machinations These three notorious examples will proue the general Assertion That Spaine doth aspire the subiection of Europe by the first ascent of England yet to shew more clearly the wiles and religious Counsells where with this Designe is prosecuted it will be no vnprofitable digression to reveale to the world the Negotiations of this Monarchy with the Ottomans when eyther it hath beene in want or feâ—re or preparing for some new Attempt Catholique waies which the Lyon hath neuer trode in the Desert nor the Vulturs eye seene in the wildernesse It is one of the Vaine-glories of Spaine that they hold no correspondence nor euer made any peace with the great Enemy of Christendome calumniating and reproaching all other Princes and States who for vtilitie of Trade maintaine a Civill Commerce with them But wise men will discerne the fallacy and difference betweene those who according to the liberty of the lawes of God and Nations doe onely traffique communicate the abundancies of their Countries with Infidels and others who will haue no exchange nor intercourse but vnder the condition of diuiding the world and oppressing by mutuall consent of all Princes And such a Peace and opportunitie the Spaniard hath offered and sought of the Emperour of Turky And if this be not sufficient to returne the ignominie cast vpon others Let it be weighed vprightly and it shall appeare that all the correspondence and trade of all the Princes in amity with the Grand Signior together doth not bring to him halfe the profit and securitie as the dissentions and Intrusions of the House of Austria wherwith they keepe all Christendome in continuall feare or warre Wherby that common Enemie liues in safety and at ease watching aduantages vpon all indifferently About the time that Phillip the second the holy League to depriue Henry the Fourth of the Crowne of France failing him in the Reigne of Mehemet Grand father of Morat now liuing a certaine rich Portugall lew Don Aluaro Mendes resident in Constantinople pretending occasion to send another of his Tribe called Iehuda Serfati vpon priuate affaires but practised by the Ministers of Spaine into that Country as soon as he arriued at the frontire by the Kings order he was created
were iudged Traytors and their expected reward was changed into a shamefull pardon I conclude Nothing is sure without the approbation of this Court of Conscience Nothing so vnsure as what Law or equitie is the rule thereof Therfore that Peace onely will be secure with Spaine which the two Counsells of State and Conscience shall together resolue to be profitable because necessarie To reduce this Discourse to a briefe Conclusion If right iudgement of all States arise from their ends If their Counsells direct the way to discouer them and both being discerned to affect Conquest must be actiuely opposed lest they preuaile vpon a suffering modestie If the ends of Spaine are apparantly Vniversall Monarchy and all their Counsells by Negotiations infamous and vnchristian or by practises of fomenting Treasons and diuisions among their neighbours are directed to attaine that end If the Pope must be alway obsequious for the affinity of their common ends If there be no securitie of Peace but in their pouerty What other resolution can bee proposed then that a liuely warre must bee transported to that part of the Dominions of Spaine which being separated and cut off the ancient modesty and naturall constitution of that Kingdome may returne to bee glad to liue in Peace and cate quietly their owne Figs and Oliues And because in great diseases as well blood and ill humours must be diuerted as the main Cure intended so it wil be requisite more for expedition then necessitie of health to imitate other States in thrift France in times past had Scotland England Burgundy and Navarre Spaine their owne Moores and Barbary euery kingdome had a back-friend vpon their Enemies Such may be found vpon the weakest side of the House of Austria Port d'Atras drawne from their owne Confessions that though the Palatinate be conquered Hungary Bohemia will neuer be secure vntill the Hills of Transylvania be made the Bulwarke of their Empire But this would be too large a Digression There remaines onely of my purpose to preuent a Question why I haue chosen to dedicate by this Epistle the ensuing Translation to you most worthy Senators of the House of Commons For this boldnes may be subiect to various misinterpretations No maÌ„ will suspect me of so great arrogance as that I hope to teach you any thing you doe not know But seeing your owne wisedome did first foresee the necessity of a warre with Spaine and your owne zeale to the honour of your King did counsell to vndertake it I thought such forraine Meditations as these concurring with your owne thoughts might also animate and nourish in you a spirit and generous Resolution vigorously to maintaine it You know how much of the good successe of great Actions depends vpon reputation and they haue aduanced much who haue gotten opinion As Astrologers make their iudgments vpon the first minute of time in Natiuities so doth the world prognosticate of the happy successes of Princes by the first coniunctures in their Kingdomes and their first actions abroad Therefore instandum famae nam vt prima cessissent fore vniuersa You know Tacit. Idem Monies are the sinewes of warre Neque arma sine stipendijs neque stipendia sine tributis haberi queunt If you now restraine your liberall hand you expose your Prince to dishonor and your Country to Consumption It is Time onely that will macerate England when without traffique and exchange and that especially of Germany our owne treasure must be exported to pay forraine Armies Qui citò dat bis dat Seneâ—â— and it is ill husbandry to doe that sparingly which cannot be well done but at once and speedily It will be time to be thrifty in the members and particulars when the Head and the whole State is safe And if you deferre vntill a lingring warre hath exhausted you Remember that which remaines will not suffice because sera in fundo parsimonia non enim minimum Idem sed pessiâ—nam remanet Your humble Seruant Philo-Britannicos THE REASONS OF the Resolution lately taken in the Valteline against the Tyrannie of the Grisons and the Heretiques THe miseries of the vnhappy Valteline are now at last so notorious so intollerable are the barbarous oppressions and tyrannies that the inhabitants thereof doe suffer as slaues vnder the Grisons their pretended Lords and Superiours that they ought certainly to stirre vp great compassion in the mindes and for their reliefe also the force of Princes and people farre remoued And seeing this contrary to all expectation and equitie is not to them administred now that of themselues with the meanes giuen them almost immediately from the hand of God they haue procured to free them from so sharp a bondage they might beleeue that for their iustification in that action before the World there needed no other diligence Neuerthelesse seeing the malice of peruerse Ministers the tongues and infernall pennes with which Tyrants serue their owne occasions haue too great credit with the vulgar to obscure any truth how cleare soeuer to calumniate Innocency and to procure hatred it hath beene thought fit to publish this Treatise by which all men may be informed briefly and truly that what they haue done is not onely right by all Diuine and Humane law but worthy to be approued with high praises of men iudicious intelligent and well affected to Iustice and Christianity and to be protected by all States and Princes Omitting therefore colours and artifice of words proper to those ministers who study nothing but to deceiue Euery one doth know that all which a Subiect can pretend consisteth in Soule Life Honor and Goods Of all these nothing remained to the miserable Valtelines wherein they were not extreamly oppressed and tyrannized Concerning the Soule it is sufficiently knowne that the Inhabitants of that Vally were anciently bred and nourished in the holy Roman Catholique faith That therein are many beautifull Churches dedicated to the blessed Virgin and other Saints fauoured by God with graces and miracles and therefore frequented by the deuour concourse of sundry Nations to the great comfort and benefit of the People who were by the Catholiques to them admitted in them to celebrate Masse and Seruices for the health of their foules according to the holy Roman Rite But now these Barbarians giuen vp in prey to the most peruerse Professors of euery Heresie and particularly of Caluinisme haue so with all their industry wrought that this poyson hath slided and infected the whole Valley from whence it may more easily spread into the bordering parts of Italy And although first they did not apparently shew to take from the People the vse of their ancient religion yet their actions manifestly were thereunto addressed seeing by their Decrees they gaue power to the Heretiques to prophane the old Catholique Churches with their Preachings and Burialls and doe take away the reuennues left to Catholique Churches for Masses and other offices which they transferre to hereticall Ministers That they
and monies of that Neighbour Potentate who per ragion dâ—stato makes any thing lawfull how contrary soeuer to the honour of God and maintenance of his holy Catholique faith returned to reassemble in the City of Tauos where in their new Diett they haue not onely reconfirmed all the cuills of that of Tosana but added others making Heads of the Persecution Executioners of their Arrests against Catholiques the same hereticall Ministers and by this occasion their tyrannicall gouernment is so visibly established particularly by the Assistance and purse of that Potentate the principall Cause of so many cuills to the Christian Common Wealth that the Subiects can expect no other but a declination to a worse Condition and suddainely to arriue at the height and extremity of all cuills now already approaching Admitting what hath bin already coÌ„pendiously deliuered yet in such maner that the Reader can neuer apprehend the degree whereto their tyrannicall gouernment was truely ascended that seeing as was in the beginning said all diuine and humane law did permit the Valtelines to withdrawe themselues by all possible meanes from so great a Tyranny it will appeare so cleare to euery one that it will bee too much vanity to heape vp reasons proofes and authorities in a matter in it selfe vndoubted euen when it were discussed betweene true Subiects and Vassalls and their naturall and absolute Lord. But now by so much more shall it appeare lawfull when two things shall bee considered the one that the ancient Capitulations of the Valley with the Grisons following the end hereof doe show rather a confederation between them then a true subiection and doe speake in such sort that the Empire exercised by them in the Valley is discouered to bee a meere vsurpation particularly the Valtelines doe binde themselues to the Grisons with limitation to things lawful honest besides the obligation is made â—oyntly to the Bishop of Coira and the Three-leagues where now these Tyrants hauing de facto excluded with Sacrilegious exulation their Bishop haue alone vâ—urped that which neither to them nor him was granted The other thing is that whatsoeuer the Valtelines yet haue done hath beene prosecuted onely with Intelligence and helpe of the founder part of the Grisons themselues and nor to rebell against their Lords for such certainly the Three-Leagus neuer were but simply to reduce themselues to the true State declared in their Capitulations so far forth as the mutations alterations and other Accidents would permit them The Agreements between the Bishop of Coira and the Community of the Three Leagues of the one part and of the Valtoline of the other in the yeare 1513. Which appeare by the indented Instrument at Iant of the Grison League kept in the Rolls of Coira PRimò quod homines vallis Tollinae Communitatis Tily velint debeant Renerendissime Domino Episcopo Curiensi tribus Lighis perpetuis temporâ—bus in omnibus singulis licitis honestis parere obedire Secundò quod praelibati homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tiliâ— sint esse debeant nostri Vlz Reuerendissims Domini Episcopi Curiensis omnium trium Ligarum cari fideles Confaederati tales permanere pro tempore quo necesse fuerit ad Dietas nostras vocari in Concilsjs pariformiter seders emsulere omne id quod eis Communitatibus magis expediens vidditur quando ad Dietas sic pront supra vocabuntur tâ—â— debeant de quolibet Tertierio Communitate Tillij vnum mittere Consiliarium Tertiò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij gaudeant vtantur coruÌ„ priniligijs antiquis consuetudinibu sisaltem fuerint de iure laudabiles Deoconsonae Quartò quod praelibatus Reuerendiss D. Episcopus Curieusis omnes Lighaesint esse debeant dictis hominibus vallis Tellina Communitatis Tilij adiutorie consilio erga Caesaream Maitstatem Ducatum Mediolans aut alibi vbicunque oportuerit liberi fiant à taleis similibus vti homines trium Ligarum Quintò quod homines vallis Tellinae Communitatis Tilij teneantur singulis annis dare soluere Reuerendissimo Episcope Curiensi omnsbus tribus foederibus Tainenses mille in promptis denarijs persoluendos per quemlibet seu quoslsbet habentes bona in dicta Valle ad ratam bonorum suorum exemptum non exemptum TO THE MOST MIGHTY CATHOLIQVE King of Spaine D. PHILIP THE THIRD Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie THE Manifest printed in the name of the Valteline wherein the Reasons of the Resolutions lately by them taken against the tyraâ—ny of the Grisons and Heretiques are alledged hath giuen great stanâ—â—ll to all wâ—â—emen who easily doe comprehend from whence and why it was put to the Pirsse the Valtelines hauing no notice at all much lesse any part therein Whereupon hauing proposed seriously to discourse and to bring to light that truth which others doe endeanor to wâ—ap vp in darknesse I haue thought it an act of Iustice and of no little sâ—â—uice to your Maitstae whose minde truly religious it may be feared lest it become deceiued with a false apparance of Pietie and Religion with which the Deuill a perpetuall enemy of Princes well enclined vseth oftentimes to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and to offer his help as a guide in the right path of Iustice and honestie to no other end but to draw them without discouery into the crooked way of iniquitie and tyranny But the better to ground my Discourse I will beginne somewhat high and imitate that good Architect who purposing to build a strong Tower by how much he designeth to raise the top so much lower he layeth the foundation That of Religion ô Sacred Royall Catholique Maiestie is certainly a very powerfull obiect the which though sayned and disguised euer raiseth a great commotion in the mondes of them who there of make profession For this cause many Princes of the world eyther by the counsell of ill ministers or through the greedinesse of their owne desires wherwith they embrace Prouinces Kingdomes and Empires and yet not satiated when they want all other iust title to make warre and to seize by violence that which they cannot pretend by Iustice suddenly they take the pretence of Religion vnder which Cloake they doe not onely seeke to couer their vniust Actions and to make them appeare lawfull and holy but therewith they inuite all men to fauour their attempts Many times also with an affection of holy zeale with true and vnfained Religion with most iust and honest Titles they vndertake some Enterprises truly holy But the Deuill who still practiseth to draw poyson from the fairest flowers and serueth himselfe with good for an instrument of euill in the end reduceth that very Religion to proper interest that zeale of Pietie hee conuerteth to zeale of Ambition and the most iust Titles hee vseth to the seruice of Tyrannicall Monarchy Therefore where
Thirty soure years he laboured in the study of holy Lawes to be well instructed in the knowledge of Iustice He affirmeth nothing which he doth not learnedly proue All his works were directed to his owne King and the Royall Councell before whom more then once hee appeared in person to entreat of this Businessa Who can then beleeue that hee durst say that which was not apparant truth Men vse not to speake ill of Princes to their owne faces Ignorance of the fact or of the Law cannot be obiected to him so much practised and who had so long studyed these matters Argument of affection or of passion cannot be imagined in a Prelat of most exemplar life who renounced his Bishopricke onely to assist in the Court of his Prince in the defence of a People from any interest in him as farre remoued as our world is distant from theirs From whence of necessity it must be said that onely the loue of truth did moue him and the inuincible reasons wherewith he maintaines all his Assertions doe most clearly demonstrate it So that your Maiestie who is as much a louer of truth as of God considering with a setled minde all the fore-alleadged discourses will in the sinceritie of your conscience 〈◊〉 that which 〈◊〉 beginning was declared That Enterprises vndertaken onely for Religion are often reduced to proper Interest and that Titles Dignities and Authorities granted with most holy zeale by the Vicar of Christ haue beaue peruersly abused It is very true that this good Prelatate hath indeauoured to excuse the Catholique Kings by saying that the aboue mentioned euills were against their Intentions clearely expressed in many orders and holy instructions giuen to those crooked ministers who obserued no part of them But this excuse is not admitted of wise men yea rather confuted with most strong Reasons First because it hath not beene found that the Catholique Kings did euer punish any of those Ministers vnlesse perhaps some for Rebellion notwithstanding their wickednesse was manifest vnto them which the foresaid Bishop doth more then once affirme Secondly because so many iniquities by them committed were neuer retracted in particular the Diuisions of the Commenda's vpon which the said Author doth exclaime euen to the Heauens Lastly because the immediate Dominions are encorporated vniuersally and particularly with the Supreme Dominions and this is euident in fact all faculty being taken from them which had it to choose their Prince and the inheritance from them to whom the estates by succession did appertaine of whom some miraculously escaping aliue in that destruction of the Indies lamentably by this Bishop described were transported into Spaine lest by the loue of their Naturall Subiects they should aspire to recouer that of which against reason they were depriued And yet to this day the Issue of that great Motezâ—ma Emperor of Mexico doe liue in the Court of your Maiestie prohibited vpon paine of life to goe out of Castile From which most true reasons the wisedome of your Maiestie may easily comprehend how little the aforesaid excuses doe pruaile and how great 〈◊〉 the Catholique Kings haue to render to God of the vsurpation of the immediate 〈◊〉 of the Indies vnder pretence of amplifying the Christian faith The religious zeale of the King Don Phillip the second father of your Maiestie cannot inconsiderately bee ouerpast when inurted by the Pope hee tooke Armes against Henry the fourth King of France The cause of Christ was in question against a publique Heretique and Enemy of Christ It was expedient that the facred Catholique King Protector of the Church of Christ should abandon his owne Affaires of Flanders to defend that of Christ The which Hereique Action the fruit of perfect vertue which is rarely found among Princes of the World did beget in many wonder and incredulity and in others it caused too malitious suspition Algunos saith the Spanish Bishop que juzgauan la virtud agena por la malitia propia Bauia Pentif par 3. vita di Griger 14. c. 9. no querian creer que el zelo de Rey Catholico fuesse tan grande che desamparando su bazienda propia con tan gran costa fuesse a remediar la agena That is Some who iudge the vertue of others by their owne malice would nor beleeue that the zeale of the Catholique King could be so great that leauing the care of his owne business hee should at so immence Charge relieue the necessitie of others Behold the wonder and the incredulity Otros as after followes in the history que no bien conocian la Religion y Christianidad del gran Filippo II. Bauia p. 3. vita de Innocentie 9. C. 9. fondauan en esta jornada un gran edificio diziendo que se queria hazer Rey de Francia ò ponelle de su mano assegurandosse ensus Estados comarcanos y sasando à bueltas no pequeno interes That is Others that did not well vnderstand the Religion and Christianitie of the Grand Phillip the second did from this vndertaking lay the foundation of a great building saying that he desired to make himselfe King of France or to place a King of his owne dependance hereby assuring his owne neighbouring States and drawing to himselfe no little aduantage Behold the malice and that truely very great against that most innocent Monarch who did clearely show to haue no other interest nor further desire then that the Catholique Religion should not be vtterly ruined as it was freshly threatned in the Kingdome of France But what cannot the Deuill doe Saints and Heremits are rarely secure much lesse Princes in Courts Scarcely hath Henry begunne inspired by the holy Ghost to shew himsefe willing to be reduced to the wombe of holy Church to be truely a most Christian King when the Catholique fell vpon a Councell by no meanes to consent that hee should bee King of France And yet to him the Rights of that Kingdome did appertaine nor for other cause was the opposition but for being an Heretique whence the impediment being taken away it was most vnrust any longer to withstand him But it was whispered in the cares of the Catholique King by certaine Machiauells rather then Disciples that the Coronation of Henry might bring some danger to his Maiestie for the kingdome of Nauarr and the County of Burgondy vpon which States the Crowne of France hath pregnant pretensions and that his Maiestie had cast away in vaine so much Gold and spent so much blood of his people in that warre Therefore La tarde antes so saith Rauia que hiziesse la absolution Pontif p. 4 vita de Cle. 8. Cap. 56 el Duque de Sessa Ambaxador del Rey Catholico de su parte hiza al Papa protestacion que la absolucion que su santitad pensau a dar à Enrico no perjudicasse al derecho de su Rey en lo teccante al Reyno de Nauarra y Contado di Borgona ui a los gastos que hauia echo
not vnderstand it This is that Potentate which was borne in the wombe of the Holy Catholique Reman Religion This is that Potentate that in twelue hundred yeares hath neuer embraced other faith other law then that of Christ This is that Potentate who since the Roman libertie was loft hath euer maintained libertie aliue in Italy This is that Potentate which alone with iust an honourable titles both by land and Sea hath largely and gloriously extended his Empire This is that Potentate who hath made with his blood a Counterscarfe to Italy and with his treasure so many ages hath and doth defend it from the Rapine of the Barbarous Enemies of holy faith This is that Potentate which hates and persecutes all Tyrants and loues and protects with all his power lawfull and iust Princes for which onely it seemes he is so much hated and persecuted by the Ministers of your Maiestie A glorious and renouned Potentate whose most noble Actions exalted to the Heauens with immortall praise of the histories of all Nations I doe not decline those of Spaine who dispassionately honor Vertue with Truth are abundantly known to your Maiesty From whence you may well comprehend that if your Ministers doe seck vnworthily to blemish that their glorie with defamations they doe it out of intestine hatred which by naturall instinct they beare to all who are not to them conformable in one thing onely iust vpright and sincere that they are no Accepters of Persons but without any partiality deale alike with all men And if the Pope the true Supporter vpon whom Christ our God hath founded his holy Church shall not to their will conforme they will say that hee is an Apostate and an Heretique and when yet htey dare not so much vnder other pretences they will call him vniust wicked Disturber of the publique peace they will esteeme him Enemy inuade his State sacke Rome beseige him in his Castle take him prisoner impose vpon him a grieuous ransome as if hee were Slaue and they Turkes They will by necessity force him to sell Chdlices and Grosses to redeeme himselfe and not there with content they will haue Cardinalls in hostage the Castle in their power Indulgences for the purse and yet more if more were to be found I durst not certainly say these things to your Maiestie if in times past they had not happened They did thus handle in the Reigne of Charles the fist much against the will of that Religious Emperour Clement the seuenth and would readily haue done the like vnder King Phillip the second Iglies lib. 2. C 26. Sect. 8. C. 30. Sect. 2. father of your Maiestie when they raiped warre against Paul the fourth and tooke from him Veletri Tiuoli and Ostia if the King of France truely most Christiun had not diuerted their fury and the Catholiks King apprehended a conueniencie suddenly to accommodate his differences Sacred Catholike Maiestie if these things are all true as surely they are reason â—bly it may be doubled that like actions will proceed from like persons wherefore to the end you easilie may as you earnestly desire vndeceâ—â— your selfe and free your name from scandall and other Prinees from calâ—moy and the vnworthy iniuries of your Ministers which are the three Aduertisements by me proposed it will not be one of the purpose to set before your eyes some particulars which vnder your Empire are done as lawfull which by all good Christians are held abominable I implore from a benigne Prince attention and in attention benignieâ—e so that my words may passe without molestation of your Royall mind that receiuing them with a righteous temper as they are by mee vttered with hearty affection I am assured they shall not end without some profit The Ancestors of your Maiestie haue established in the kingdome of Sicily a supreame Monarchy both in the temporall and spirituall so that your Vice-Royes dispense not onely Offices and Benefices but also Excommunications and Indulgences and who will then wonder that the Duke of Sessa doth publish Iubilies The great Cardmall Baronius hath fully written vpon this Subiect and with Euidences inuincible shewed the vniust possession of that Kingdome and that neither your Maiestie can hold nor the Pope grant it Baron To. 11. If your Ministers had found the least apparant reasons to answer and confute the doctrine of Baronius as they did of the passage of St. Iames into Galitia they willingly would haue done it An. Christ 1097. Vrb. 2.10 but failing therof they had recourse to the fire and caused the E euenth of the Baronian Annalls to be publiquely burnt did prohibite it vpon grieuous paines to all your subiects so dexterously working that your Maiestie beleeuing your selfe lawfull Lora or at lest possessor bana fidei might as you yet continue to vsurpe the spirituall iurisdiction in that Kingdome as if betwixt you and the Pope the Apostecique iurisdiction were equallie diuided What this action may be called let others iudge But proceeding further they haue also induced your Maiestie to arrogate not an equality but a Supremacy vpon the high Priest So that in the Censunes which his Holinesse or his Nuncio or others with his authoritie doe send against particular persons into Castile these men refuge to the Royall Conncell aggrauating the cause of violence and the Councell doth vsurpe cognition ouer such Censures and doe command defacte their suspension vntill the alleadged violence be determined and vnder this pretence oftentimes causeth an absolute Reuocation that in them there is no further proceeding In Spaine not many yeares since were publikely printed bookes of Lawyers that your Maiestie Hieron Cruelles Tract de Cognit per viam vielent in caus Eccl. in t person Eccl. your Royall Councell hath this authoritie and may iustly vse it Which doctrine hath greatly scandalized the world as well for the person that wrote it who professeth to bee Christian Dector as for your Maiestie which doth admit and serue your selfe by it and yet are the Gatholique King but much more in respect of the highest Bishop who sometime deceiued by sinifter Informations malignant suggestions of certaine wicked Hypocrits is seene to fulminate most heauy Censures to threaten horrible war against great Potentates who rightly vnderstood haue not at all offended his reputation nor his Ecclesiastique Iurisdiction Neuerthelesse hee doth at present beare these high iniuries with so much scandall of Christianitie and so great diminution of his authoritie Some iudge that this is not done without a mystery but let him declare it that vnderstands it I will diuine no more This sufferance of the Pope greedinesse of the Ministers of your Maiesty who presume to do alwayes absolutely wel when they amplifie in any sort perfas nefas the Roiall Iurisdiction hath caused that after hauing made you equall to his Holinesse in dispensing Ecclesiastique Affaires in the kingof Sicily and superiour in censuring the Pontisiciall Censures in that of