THE PRESENT state of Spaine Translated out of French ET VSQVE AD NUBES VERITAS TVA Imprinted at London by P. S. for Richard Serger 1594. THE STATE OF SPAINE IT is a thing noted from all antiquitie that God hath appointed in this worlde the certayne continuance of Monarchies estats and families hath lymited the prosperity and thraledome of nations and bounded the very liues of all men liuing neuerthelesse as well in matters of state as priuate those are founde moste durable which retayne and keep the greatest perfection and excellencye from their creator Some being ordained to serue for ministers of his furie othersome for examples of his diuine bounty and grace For we see many men and sundry estates whome God hath from moste base foundations and petty beginninges raised and aduaunced to the most supreame degree of power and dignity inuesting them with mighty Empires and boundlesse kingdomes With whose power as of men little vertuous it hath pleased the almightye to serue himselfe but as with a scourge to punish the Enormous sins of his people others haue beene ratified from God aboue in this most soueraigne degree of all humaine maiesty in recompence of their holinesse of life and vnreprouable dealing among men But so soone as the one or the other beganne to forget the occasion for which they were placed in this world which was to set forth the kingdom honour and glory of God onely whome they together with all men ought to confesse to be their general Lord and father and that they haue gonne a boute by false pretextes and sinister meanes to aduaunce their owne priuat honor and glory and not that of their great Lord and maister Then God who alone raigneth whome onely we oughte to serue casteth them downe headlong destroyeth their monarchies desolateth their kingdomes and rooteth out their posterity from off the face of the earth For example the crowne of Castile aunciently a little country gouerned by Iudges afterwardes by Earles in the end by Kings created through the beneficence of Samson the fourth of that name King of Nauarre sirnamed Samson the Great was by Jsabel vsurped from the daughter of Henrye laste of that name Kinge of Castile the saide Jsabell matched in mariage with Ferdinando sonne to king Iohn of Aragon whose kingdoms encreased almost in our memory into a mighty puissaunce and state But for that the possessors therof not resting content with those blessings which God hath giuen them here on earth haue in hostile maner inuaded the Countries and possessions of other Princes they seeme at this presente to menace their own ruine as I hope to dilate more at large This Prince then ambitious if euer were any in this world amongst other his famous feates of Armes to the ende to inueigle the earle of Roussillon from Charles the eighte king of France made no bones to abandon his owne Cousin Germaine and brother in law Ferdinando kinge of Naples to the furie of those Armies whome Charles the eight marched against him for the recouery of the sayd kingdome Then during the raigne of Lewes the twelfth breaking al conditions of League and amitye forcing the degree of kindred and alliaunce which hee had with Frederick then king of Naples he confederated with king Lewes to dispossesse Frederick of his kingdome of Naples and to share it betweene them two as in effecte they did Afterwarde vnder a collour of supporting Pope Julius the second his quarrell againste the Emperour Maximilian and the kinge of Fraunce but of a troth for very feare he had of the greatnes of our king who then might haue chased him easely out of his vniust possessions which he held in Italie he entertained the Pope in deadly grudge againste him and stirred vp the king of Englande and the Switzers to warre vppon his iacke Inuaded likewise from his owne niece Catherine vnder pretext that hir husband was adherente to the French King the kingdome of Nauarre her owne proper inheritance which when he had conquested hee could find no better deuise to assure it vnto himselfe then by a false pretence protesting howe he was ready to make restitution thereof to his neece conditionally that lest he should be too much ouer seen a truce should be acorded him for a yeere with the king of Fraunce during which in liew of restoring it he fortified al places therof as much as he porsibly could razed al the rest of the citties so tresses and Cittadels making expresse inhibition that there shoulde not be any tillage of the earth at al to the end he might take away all meane of recouering the places by him vsurped and fortified in the sayd kingdome Yet this was not all For with his force hee could finely sow his subtilty and helpe himselfe with the cloake of religion to make his matters the better causing to excommunicate the kinge of Nauarre husbande to his said neece for that he had taken the parte of king Lewes the twelfth a Prince so good and so holy that as yet of vs all hee is called by none other name then a saint and a very father of the people and vpon this excommunication he sente very many preachers into the kingdom to turne the peoples harts from the obedience of their true kinge and Queene their lawful Princes And what with this matter succeeding so well vnto him and what with the death of the sayde kinge and Queene of Nauarre which hee sawe fell out soone after within eight moneths together hee suffered his young nephewe Henry their sonne to bee trayned vppe by certaine ministers in the opinion of Martin Luther and for the same effecte sent vnto him some expresly himselfe who drawing the Pope into hatred for the wronge don vnto their father to excommunicate him at the instance of his vncle Ferdinando who longe before had gaped for that kingdom it was no hard matter for them to transporte the heart of these young Princes especially that of Margaret his wiues sister to the great king Francis from the hatred of the Pope to the hatred of his very religion it selfe This is then the iust and true meane by which the Crowne of Castile hath receaued her ample encrease by annexing to it so goodly a kingdom as is that of Nauar. But what fell out afterwardes Ferdinando enioyed it a small time no more then he did the rest of al his other Kingdomes God permitting them to passe vnto another famely that his childrē both male femile who were many in number shuld die before him except onely Joan who was maried to Philip Arch-duke of Austria a generous Prince but of a very short life after whose decease she fell beside her selfe leauing notwithstanding behinde her the two greate Princes Charles Ferdinando sons begotten by the Arch-duke of her owne body This Prince Charles beeing come to the Crowne by the death of the said Ferdinando for he ruled King notwithstanding his mother Joan was aliue detained as prisoner by
they know that they are of the ancient Demaines of the crown of France Flanders making one of the members of the kingdome and being one of the principall seates of the twelue Peeres They crye with a lowde voice that it was not in the power of king Frauncis the first then prisoner so to abandon and giue them away and that in this case there ought to be restitution made seeing the lawe is held currant of all that a prisoner locked vp fast in prison as was then the said king hee is not bound to performe any promise made but remaineth afterward in liberty of his faith Those of Lille Douay and Orchies principall citties of the low Countries do know and confesse how by right they appertain to the kinge of Fraunce for Phillip the Hardy hauing promised Charles the fifte kinge of Fraunce who let him haue them at his mariage with the inheritrix of Flaunders to returne againe them vnto his right so soone as God shoulde haue called vnto him Lewes de Mayle Earle of Flaunders his father in lawe and bound himselfe by contract paste at Peronn the twenty of September 1368. vnder obligation of himselfe his heyres and successors and vpon paine of the Apostolicall censures wherunto the king of Spaine stands answerable vpon perill of his owne soule And as for Milan Sicilie Naples all the world knoweth what rights Fraunce hath in them all And as for the kingdom of Maiorica the Earldomes of Sardinia and of Roussillon out of which are as yet owing to the Crown of France the 300. thousand crowns which Lewes the eleuenth disbursed when they were engaged to him for that summe Lewes of Aniow had the gift thereof which the Ladie Marquesse of Montferrat sister and lawfull heire to Iames the last king of Maiorica presented him As for Biscay it appertained to the Duke d'Alenzou of Fraunce by the right of his mother Maria de Lara Lady of the said country but shee could neuer recouer her prerogatiue from Henry second of that name kinge of Castile earle of Tristemara inuested seignieur thereof by the aide only armes of Charles 5. king of Fraunce who sent thither Bertrand de Guesclin his Constable to ceaze it for Henries right who installed him therin And by this king albeit a bastard commeth all the title that king Phillip at this presente raygning hath in Spaine as in like manner from the side of Bastardes commeth all the rights and titles which he pretendeth to Milan Naples Sicilia which are not as yet in too great assurance to him As for Arragon beside the quarrell of the donation made by Pope Martin successor of Nicholas to Philip the third king of Fraunce or to Charles his second sonne to the preiudice of Peter kinge of Arragon husbande of Constance the daughter of Manfroy of Naples and bastarde to Fredericke the second Emperour and king of Naples the rights of Mathew of Castelbon Earle of Foix and Bearne on the behalfe of Joane the daughter of Iohn son to king Peter of Arragon sauing also the deedes of guift paste by Rene d' Aniou king of Sicilia to Lewes the eleuenth king of Fraunce by whose only aide he was crowned king of Arragon in the citty of Barcellona the house of Lorraine may pretende herin also som right bicause of Yolant daughter to the Duke of Bar maried to Lewes of Aniou who was forced to compound for alrights for one hūdred sixty thousand Florins And as for Portugal it is a thing as yet of very slender assurance in the house of Spain as well by reason of the auncient emnity and an old quarrell which is betweene these two prouinces as for the rights which may bee pretended therin amongst other by the successors either hauing right from the house of Boloing frō which the coūtry of Boulenois in Picardy is at this presēt anexed to the crown of Fraunce For Alfonso kinge of Portugall marying with Mahault or Mathilda countesse of Boloing had by her two children it fel out as she was in the country of Boulenois to sette order in the affaires of her husband the Earle the K· of Portugal being rauished with the beauty of Beatrix bastard daughter to Alfonso surnamed the sage or Astrologian King of Castile Leon and Toledo where al things were so well agreed vppon betweene them two that this Castilian king without other ceremonie maried her leauing Mathilda who liued twelue yeares during this dishonest mariage or rather concubinage and being returned into Portugall was forced to returne into Fraunce to make her complaintes to the king and afterwards to Pope Alexander the fourth who soone excommunicated the Portugal king and his new married wife Neuerthelesse the children of this his illigetimat wife did not forbear to vsurp the kingdom frō those who wer lawfullie begotten on his first Raynucio the D. of Parma at this present hath also most apparant right on the part of Maria his mother daughter to Edward son to king Emanuel of Portugal the king of Spain who hath vsurped it being issued but of one of Emanuels daughters Rainucio being descended of the son there commeth also a third chalenger Don Antonio K. of Portugal who is the son pretēded bastard of Lewes the elder brother of Edward but legitimated by the Pope by sentence of the of the holy Sea who after the full scanning of his title was elected king of portugall by the people according to the mentall law of that kingdome The kinge of Fraunce Henry the fourth demandeth the kingdome of Nauarre as to him appertaining by the right of his mother heire to that Catherine aboue said the neece of Ferdinando of Arragon whose proper inheritance which was that kingdome cannot be thus lost to her dommage when her husband should haue fallen into som enormous faulte To him appertayne the places of Sosierra depending from al antiquity of that kingdome which Queene Isabell the firste wife of Ferdinando by her testament and for discharge of her conscience gaue order that they shoulde bee restored as hauing bene vsurped by those of Castile from Nauerre To him appertains moreouer the Duchies of Gandia Mount-blanc in Arragon and Pegnafiel the Earledome of Ribargorcea the Infantasgo of Castile the cittie of Balaguer and the Townes of Castrocheris Harao Villalon Cuellar the which king John father to Ferdinando of Arragon gaue to the kingdome of Nauarre vpon condition that in recompence thereof he might enioy the said kingdom during his life whether hee had issue or not by his marriage with Blanch daughter to Charles king of Nauarre third of that name beeing the little sonne of Philip d'Eureux of the house of France and there are also due vnto his Maiestie foure hundred twenty thousande one hundred and twelue Florins of gold six shillings eight deniers money of Aragon as wel can witnesse the mariage of the said Blanch to the restitution of all which territories and to the paiment of euerie penie of these sums the
king of Spaine standes bounden yet at this day This is not al the verie kingdome of Castile may lawfullie be called in question for the king of France as being the true successour of Saint Lewes and herein can bee no prescription alledged For it is neuer admitted in matters concerning kingdomes and things purchased by fraudulent dealing His Maiesties right is this Henrie the first of the name king of Castile and Toledo sonne to Alphonso the 4. of Castile and to Leonora daughter to Henrie the second king of England and to that Leonora whome Lewes the young king of France put away and dying without issue by the fall of a tilestone vpon his heade left his sisters the elder called Blanch mother of S. Lewes the second Berenguere wife of the king Don Alfonso of Leon and the third Leonora wife to the king of ragon Nowe when the saide Berenguere by ordinanuce of Pope Jnnocent the thirde of that name had bene seperated from the King of Leon her husbande for that they were neere in Consanguinitie together shee retyred her selfe after that tovvardes Henrie her brother with her sonne Ferdinando which shee had by the King of Leon and hauing gotten infinite fauourites in the court of Castile seeing the King Saint Lewes farre distant from her and much busied in other warres shee handled her matters so cunningly to the preiudice of this S. Lewes she caused her son Ferdinando to bee elected King of Castile and Toledo vppon the confidēt hope which she gaue the Castilians that in the person of her son should the kingdom of Leon be reunited to that of Castile that they shuld auoid by this mean the domination of a French Prince being but a stranger amongst them S. Lewers began quickly to look to make instāce for his Kingdoms again but whilst they did finely hold him play with fair promises to restore him al again he being not able to transport himselfe thether by reason of his warres in hande the vvhole remained amongest them euer since I knowe well the Spaniardes alleage that S. Lewes compoūded afterwards by means of the mariage of his daughter Blanch with Ferdinando of Leon son to Alfonso the wise Astrologian elected in fauour of the French to be Emperour of Germany against Richard son to King Iohn of England But grant we that it were so which notwithstanding can neuer be accorded them the K. of France remaineth not without a second right to the said Kingdoms For afterwardes God permitting not that anie so vniust vsurpation should take place Alfonso the sage was deposed and depriued of the Empire by Rodulfe elected and placed in his roome in his owne life time was also bereaued by Sancio his second sonne of part of his kingdomes thorough the aide of a moore-Moore-king named Mahomet Myr of Granado with whom this Sancio made league to war vpon his father whereupon Alfonso growing into great indignation and fearing least he should dispossesse the little infantes issued of his second sonne Ferdinando de la Cerda but then latelie dead to whome the kingdomes did of right appertaine he gaue him his curse and disinherited him declaring by his Testament for heire in his kingdomes the eldest borne sonne of his elder son and in case he might not possesse them did substitute to the preiudice of his two other sons Iohn and Iames Philip son to S. Lewes vnto whom pricked with the testimonie of his owne conscience hee confessed these kingdoms of Castile and Toledo to appertaine And in case the rights of Saint Lewes should come to cease and faile that then these realmes should come to the children of the said Ferdinando de la Cerda whereof there is as yet some remainder in Spaine which possible will not be content to bee tongue tyed for euer And one of the descēdants of this Ferdinando de la Cerde Alfonsus who was father to John d'Espagne Constable of Fraunce behauing himselfe as a kinge of Castile and Toledo made a present to Philip d'Eureux king of Nauarre of the country of Guipuscoa Alaua and Rioia which had ben territories and appurtenaunces of Nauarre all which the kinge of Fraunce who is at this present may as yet as kinge of Nauarre reclaime and iustlie challenge for his owne right I will not staie my selfe at infinite other rights which not onely Fraunce but the Empire and other particular Princes may pretend in the dominion countries which the king of Spain holdeth who by allusiō to the house of Austrich may be called Riche of other mens goods I will not touch the share which the king of Spains daughters may pretend with his sonne as well in the kingdome of Leon as in other goods partable from all times betweene sons and daughters Little will I also speake of the signall dommage of the diuision of lands and goods pretended by the defuncte Emperour Ferdinando of Avstria against Charles the first his brother father to this king of Spaine Phillip rayning at this present What should I counte the reuoults which are daily practised in the indies by reason of the intollerable imposts which the king of Spaine maketh them endure who constraineth them to pay euery yeare as in Spaine likewise their part for the obtaining of the Popes Bull that they may eate flesh egges and cheese vpon fish dayes both the men and women poore and rich of citties and villages all without difference from seuen yeares of age vpwardes And vrgeth them to this inconsideration of the expences he is at in obtaining the saide Bull which none may refuse to take albeit he woulde neuer eate butter and cheese in all his life And that which is taken for a head in Spaine is two Reals which is twelue pence sterling and in the Indies is taken for euery poule eighteene or tweenty Reales Counte you after the rate what it doth amounte vnto in such a world of people and without the forsaide Bull none may nor ought not as saye these good hirelings preachers of Perdons be buried in hallowed groūd nor once come within the Church doore O abhominable abuse O sinne againste the holy-ghost of those who terming themselues defendours of religion sell vnto their owne subiects the help succour which they say to obtain for the health of their soules See what a goodly reuenewe this is and like to bee be long time fauored of God But in the meane time it is the greatest of all Spaine O miserable and vnnaturall French men who closing your eies to so many iniquities do suffer your selues to bee seduced by this GOLDE so ill gotten There remaineth their inquisition which serueth their turne rather to rob the goods of the innocent and miserable then to containe men in any religion wherof they were but as it were a maske an muffler Thus Spaine groweth to bee dispeopled by these cruelties intollerable and by the Alcaualle which they call the tenthpenny of euery thing boughte and soulde yea of the very habit
him soughte by all meanes possible the alliaunce of Fraunce promised by infinite Treaties especially in that of Noyon to be accomptable for the kingdom of Nauarre which for all tha the neuer was And tasting more and more the sweetnes of cōmanding he got vnto him made speedie prouision for himselfe of the two militarie Orders of that of Saint Iames and of that of Calatraua in Spaine to the preiudice of his brother to whom they were resigned opened his eyes also to the Empire obtained it enioyed all the Kingdoms and Seigniories both left him by Ferdinando of Arragon and these which his mother the foole held likewise the Estates of Flanders and the prouinces there vnto annexed leauing his said brother only some corner of a country towards Austria wherewith after some wrangling betweene them he did as a moderate prince content himselfe being neuer afterwards much mooued against his brother new created Emperour but because he was still egging him to resigne to his son Philip now at this present raigning the estate of King of Romanes whereof he was possest to the ende Philip might to the preiudice of the saide Ferdinando his vncle succeed in the empire Ambition most assuredly is a thing greatlie detestable before God who will haue men to content thēselues with the lot which he giueth them in the earth but the pretexts which are taken of the pure seruice of God for an other subiect are worst of all and crie for vengeance before his holy face I will not say this prince Charles the first vnder collor of defending the catholike religion in Germany went about as som haue said to inuade the estate and libertie of the princes of Germany but this I will aduouch that hee and Philip king of Spaine his sonne haue employed themselues by confession of his owne men and none of his meanest seruantes the one of them yet liuing as I thinke the Seigneur de Champigny not long since high Treasurer in Flaunders brother to the Cardinal Granduel towards the protestants of Germany following the steps of the abouesaid Ferdinādo of Arragon their predecessour to cause the deceased king of Nauarre to bee instructed in the opinion of Luther to the ende to make him the further frō the crown of France from the alliance of the Frēch frō the recouery of his kingdom of Nauar. But if he who seduceth but a litle simple child be pronounced by Gods owne mouth to be of worser state then if hee were cast into the bottome of the sea with a milstone tyed about his neck what shal his iudgment be towards him who seduceth not only a child but causeth others to seducea king a whol kingdome but this not sorting so good effect as they coulde wish there were 50000. crownes sent to the king of Nauarre then besides some horses in gift to moue the war in France the which 50000. crownes for al that wer refused witnesses good ynough of this most wicked inclination vile affectiō of the King of Spain may be the Marquessat of Saluces vpon the which hee hath caused 2. seuerall enterprises to be made by his son in law the Duke of Sauoy at the first it was recouered by the sage conduct of Mounseur de Rhets Marshall of France and the pernicious league made for the ruine of al Frāce nay rather of all the Estates of Europe wee need no other testimony of his good nature and dispositon towards euerie one of vs the places borrowed in Germany from the Archbishop of Liege and Colonia there to foyst in his garrisons when hee list and to leuell right from thence at the empire to the preiudice of his coosens the children of Ferdinando of Austria vnder shew of making rāpire against the Protestants of Germanie for the good of the Catholik religion forsooth his practises past and euerie day put in vre in Italie his agents sent into Poland Denmarke England Scotland and other corners of the world say the same and wel may we liken the king of Spaine to those who detaining an inheritance wrongfullie seek by greater wronges and outrages to driue the true heirs farther from the recouerie of their owne But the iudgments of God are great his counsels woonderfull and the effectes of his iustice inestimable He suffereth according to the Apostles saying that we be cōmō lie punished by those against whom we haue trespassed The king of Spaines fathers and he himselfe haue sought by all means to ruine the kinges of Fraunce and particularlie Henry the fourth raigning at this present and by abusing the muffler of religion to recoyle this lawful successor from the crown of France whom they see full of valour and fed as they say with the bloud and marrow of the Lion ready prest one day to chalenge his iust inheritance But God who hateth him more who abuseth the holie name of religion than him who hauing bene seduced by purposed malice as our king hath hath turned from it would that this king should bee newe borne who beeing deliuered from so manie snares laide to entrappe and snare him hath receiued the Crowne of Fraunce presented vnto him by a puissant Armie who hath submitted it self vnto him with all the greatest States and honestest people of France And when Euen then when al the world iudged him by the malicious cariages and practised death of the deceased king Henry the third the farthest from the diadem thereof Germanie for her part shee openeth her eies to defend her selfe against this kinge of Spaine who as an eagle supposeth to holde already in his talēts the empire of the whole world The like doth Italie and already this building of kingdomes patched together of so many vsurpations beginneth to dissolue and shake in sunder Already the states of Holand and Zeeland knowing by the iuste iudgement of God howe wrongfully they were forced and distracted from the obedience of laqueline of Henald their Countes and lawfull Princesse who for to saue her owne selfe was constrained to forsake her estate haue puld their necks out of the yoke and made themselues free choosing rather to die then to be subiect to a Domination so intollerable as is that of the proud Spaniard The prouinces of Zutphen and Gueldres taken away from their lawfull Seigneurs by the deede of guiftes which the laste Duke Charles of Bourgundie who died before Nancie sought to get at the handes of Duke Arnald then his prisoner to the preiudice of Adolf his sonne haue slipt the coller also of his obedience and the Country of Frizelande hath don no lesse The best aduised inhabitants of the lowe Countries of Flaunders Henald and Artois held out their armes to the king of Fraunce nor onely for the excessiue impositions as of paying two shinllings for the grinding of a quarter of wheate foure shillings for a cow which is the slaughter or kept to giue milke and other such like petty taxes for which they pay full deere in Flaunders but for that
which you shall cary newe in your cloake bagges Who shall then bee the man so miserable that will admit in our Fraunce such people whose very name is so ill receaued and odious that to name them only skarreth the little children and maketh them affrayde Alas Take heede Frenchmen it be not reproched you before God how ye haue chaced away your owne brethren to lodge among you barbarous people take heede that this curse fall not vpon your heads to be called iustlie Vipers who teares out the entrals of your own mother that is to say of your own natiue country beleeue that euerie one that wold ruine the building of Fraunce shall remaine buried in the ruines But if the lawes do punish a man for hauing slaine a man who is his like by how much more strong reason shall those be punished who do not only kill a man but procure the entire death and destruction of a kingdome The king of Spaine who here to fore said that we must come to no tretie of peace with our king being swarued from the faith ceased not in the mean time and giueth not yet ouer to assay by all meanes to make peace with his subiects of Holland and Zeland who are Lutheriens Caluinists or Anabaptistes He offreth to leaue them their free exercise of religion to let them haue their citties and gouernments in the same estate wherin they possesse thē demandeth only at their handes that they woulde but acknowledge him for their king But those States ful wel knowe to whom they appertaine and what manner a thing the Spanish domination is that this nation doth applaud as doth the Crocodile when she wil cast forth her venome or bite witnes be the poor Earls of Aignemont of Horn put cruelly to death notwithstanding their seruices done for the reducing of countries into his obedience the faith to them promised The death also procured by poison as is said to the poor Lord of Montigny the end of the poore Marquesse of Bergues and of al the Nobility which by one or other meane they race and root cleane out King Henry the fourth can wel tel how to defie all their false drifts he mistrusteth their cunning cariages for all their sending him the portraite of the infant He may too well knowe how when Ferdinando of Arragon the last Philip Archduk of Austria were in treaty of the mariage of Madam Claudi of Fraunce with Charles the fifth the father of this Philip nowe rayning and after the mariage concluded sworne and confirmed at Blois the king of Fraunce Lewes the twelfth his Lieutenants mistrusting nothing the Spainards ranne vppon them defeating two French Armies the one in Calabria vnder the Conduct of the Lord d'Anbigny the other at Cirignolla lead by the Duke of Nemours the Lord Lewes d'Armignac the chiefe commanders of the Spaniards alledging for all excuses that they had heard of no prohibition giuen them from their maister to make warres At this present the king of Spaine being of the age of sixty 7. yeares and aboue vnlustly of his person as he is doubtles seeth himselfe at the period of his subtilties cannot tel by what meanes to keepe that which he hath purloined from others his faire promises vapour away to nothing his mind is bewrayed and his counsels discouered Hee seeketh to helpe himselfe with the feebler side in Fraunce to the end to keepe vs stil in war for feare least the weaker parte through want of means should abandōn the war hee would make vs knocke one another on the heades that he may make his preie on vs afterward He goeth about to cut our throats with our own kniues and to ouerthrowe vs with our owne weapons because by his hee knoweth he cannot do it He entertaineth the warre in our country for feare least wee set vpon him in his owne And if that parte which he taketh should become the stronger he would incontinent war vpon it He is not yet come to sollicite as they call them the Huguenotes of Fraunce to rebell against King Henrie the fourth and to wage warre vpon him Let then all Princes and Potentates take heed of the enterprises and counsels of so charitable a neighbour And you Frenchmen learn to be wise by your owne harmes I adiure you all by the honour and respect you beare vnto God by the faith loue and loyaltie you owe to King Henry the fourth giuen by God vnto Fraunce sonne to your predecessor Kings issued from the loynes of S. Lewes and by the charity yee owe to your countrie and to the safetie of your selues of your wiues and of your children and to the conseruation of our religion Temples and Fortunes cease among your selues this peeuish rebellion if as yet it haue place in anie of you and reduce it to a due obedience which onely can make next after the grace of God spring againe vpon vs the blisse of our fathers and the peace and tranquillitie of their golden ages Some preach that religion is in great ieopar die that many of the fathers in the primitiue Church are dead for the catholick faith and that we must die for the same I grant it but they must giue vs the Scriptures as they are vnderstood We are already to die when they shal force vs to renounce our Sauiour Iesus Christ to sacrifice vnto Idols Then and no otherwise ought death to bee endured in this case so haue those fathers receaued it we will die before we will bee other than followers of the true Catholike and Apostolike religion Our fathers in the church fled in time of persecution none of them haue resisted kings in armes finding it better to suffer then to reuolt Our Lord also counselled his Apostles to flie in time of persecution from one cittye to an other and not to make any resistance by armes And ye the Lords of the Cleargy knowe ye that the doctrine which God hath giuen vs to you principally as a pledge of his grace hall neuer gette his perfect and resplendent brightnesse as long as these bloudy warres shall trouble the sweete streams flowing from so goodly a fountain O how the league doth well shew it selfe to be come from the lowest cauernes of hell sith it putteth diuision namely among the Catholikes who being vnited together might liuely haue set vpon the Heritikes and by faire war cut off many thousands of them Knowe that you haue neede of the materiall sword which is that of the kinge to make you liue in safety rest and iustice and to maintain this our religion which is the trew soule of the body of our estate And sure needefull it is to conserue the kingdome in his entire body without diuiding it into his mēbers for fear least by the cutting off of som one principall this soule take his flight away Behold I pray you the fruit of the preachings of some amongst you and possible albeit not all moued with a good
zeale but not ruled as saith the Apostle according to knowledge but what haue you done trulie you haue furnished bellows and straw to kindle the coales of our quarrel O furie O madnesse vnbeseeming your Priesthood So is it come to passe that millions of your flocks are perished with out confession without sacramentes without sepulture Of a hundred Churches scarce shal ye finde one standing whole nor in ten parishes hardlie one parish-priest if it bee not in the countries reduced to the Kinges obedience This was the matter that moued Mounsieur Vigor one of the most famous Doctors of diuinitie in France for his singular learning made by the holie Father Archbishop of Narbona to say in his sermons vppon the feast of Trinitie and S. Martin Jf God woulde so much afflict vs as to giue vs a King who were a Turke or an Heretike yet must not wee leuie Armes againste him nor warre vppon him for the great mischiefes which ensue thereupon These very words are cōtained in the books imprinted before the troubles but are maliciouslie put out in the new imprinted by the League for feare least this knife of truth shuld cut the throate of these suppostes of 1easing who could not abide so good a lesson in so good an authour But now our King is God bee thanked most Catholike and when hee were not so God who caused himself to be enregistred in the records of the Emperour Augustus when he caused the whole world to be taxed the commandement to pay the tribute vnto Caesar albeit he were a prophane Pagan the example also of Saint Paul who appealed vnto Nero a most wicked Emperour shew that the King being such as God sendeth to take the royal place is to be obeyed The examples likewise of the thirtie three Popes being all martyrs died consecutiuelie one after another haue shewed vs the same who neuer caused sword to be vnsheathed against the persecuting emperours or any other heretikes The same did S. Gregory the Pope dedicating his dialogues to Theodolinda wife to Agilulphus King of Lombards holding as yet then his paganisme that thorow the sweet perswasion of his vvife he might be brought to christianisme purchase peace vnto the church Did not Pope Leo the like prostrating himselfe at the feet of the vvicked Attilas No lesse did Pope Iohn the first of that name going from Rome to Constantinople to the Emperour Iustin to pray him to set open the Temples of the Arrians which he had caused to be shut vp fearing least the Arrians which might consume of themselues would disturb and trouble the peaceable estate tranquillity of the Church Doubt ye not also but that our holy father the Pope moued by these examples wil seeke to repaire the wrong donne vnto our king by some misinformed of his iustice or possibly caried headlong away with the Spanish passion He shall find him to bee such a one that he is the eldest sonne of the Church hee will call to mind how our king is descended from those who haue consecrated and giuen in almes to the Church the fairest flowers of their garland and the best of their good Alas His holinesse cannot do lesse for our king Henry the fourth then by one of his predecessors hath beene donne within these fewe yeares to the Quene of Sweden being excommunicated and in relapse receauing her with all ioy and gladnesse in the person of her embassadors into the bosome of the church The holie fathers haue neuer refused the penitent princes witnesse bee the peace of Constance and other decrees wherof the histories and holie Councels are fully replenished His Holinesse may see how much is enuied the share which god hath giuen our king in the earth But hee shall say to the king of Spain the greatest spiter thereof that which Pope Boniface the 8 told most wisely Albertus of Austria who by his cunning working caused himselfe to be elected Emperour to the preiudice of William Earle of Nassau then Emperour of Germanie whome he slewe in battel he shal tel him I say that hee who hath slaine the Emperour with his own hand is vnworthy to bee inuested and confirmed in the Empire For it is by his onely hand and handling that this death and slaughter is purchased in our kingdom of France wherein he went about and was willing to cause himselfe to be called king but God bee thanked hee hath lost his labour therein The holie father who was in the time of Emanuel Emperor of the East wold not once harken to the offers hee made him to cause the Greek Church to bee reunited with the Latine vpon condition that the Empire of the West being vacant by reason of the depriuation of Frederick shuld be reunited with that of the East foreseeing also that it was a matter greatly to be suspected whereby to make the vniuersall Church to depende but of one only power among men and should his Holinesse so much weaken a King or a kingdom of Frāce which is the true arme of the church to suffer all the world to be ouerflowne with a king and a prouince meer mixed with races of Moores Saracens and Gothes than with true Christians hauing more holines and respect to sacred thinges than is borne to the least village in Fraunce His Holinesse shall know that the kinges of Fraunce their peoples haue bent their forces made good for the Church then when Asia Afrike Spaine Italie and almost all the world were full of Arrianisme and heresies let him remember also and his successors may for euer cal happilie to remembrance in their holy sea how that in the year of the birth of king Philip of Spaine at this present was fatall and dismall to the holie Sea hauing therin the Army of Charles the fifth his father surprised and sackt Rome ransommed the holy father Clement and his cardinals ruined profaned the temples churches of Rome which Attilas beeing named for his inhumain cruelties the scourge of God refused to do King Henry the fourth of France knoweth right wel that he must one day giue accompt of his charge that God wil cause him to be obeyed honored and serued of his subiects as he wil obey honour and serue God Hee knoweth how the first marshall king and father of the whole worlde Adam before his fall was respected of all liuing creatures as Lord thereof but after his reuolte the verie beastes rebelled against him the Lyon began to dismember tear him in peeces the horse to kick and winch at him the dog to snarl and bite at him and so al the rest in their kinds began to bende all the vigour of their furies against him and that God hath possibly permitted the same to be done to him by some of his subiects albeit if they turn not again to their allegeance they can neuer escape the diuine vengeance because their king hath by the suggestion of his enemies wandered astray in Religion
His Maiesty knoweth too well that hee cannot purchase the grace of God if being aduanced by him into a more eminent than they in all maner of vertuous actions Hee sheweth already by the diligence which he vseth in feats of armes that as he is far gone in the iourny of his age and ther remaining for him so many things to be done in the world the honour and labour whereof it seemeth that God hath reserued for him he wil imitate the birds of the more northen nations where the day hauing but one hower of length they flie more couragiously more swiftly then any other of the aire For he hath in a small time reduced into his obedience the most of the people of his kingdome and sheweth them by the mild dealing he vseth towards them that he hath conquered them not for his owne particular good but to bring them into their greater ease and securitie Alreadie his Maiesty doeth meditate nothing els but to make of his court the cabinet of the most excellent rarest thinges of the earth and that therein shall be found the most vertuous honest and best accomplished men of this world Vertue shall be in esteem if euer it were he pretendeth so soon as he shal haue satisfied those vnto whom his people miserable as it is hath for their follies past constrained to promise recompences quite to abolish or so to moderate the taxes that his poore subiectes shal haue cause for euer to pray vnto the Almightie for him and his memorie therefore may be sacred to all posteritie He is not ignorant how by the too great excesse of the saide taxes his people remaineth in languishing sort the nobilitie who followeth him is made poor because the Pezant cannot nor dare not till the lands of the nobility of others for fear of the said taxes by means wherof the groūd should ly barren without tillage the Nobilitie which hath no other riches but of the glebe soyl can no longer follow and serue him nor the people of the country or husbandman the verie forge of all commodities of the kingdome succour him any longer Yee then of the Nobility if there bee any of this qualitie who wil against the deuoir of his profession weare the skarfe of the League in steed of our white collour of the flowres de Luce of France what honor think you to leaue to your children to say that you haue fostered and nourished this mostrous Hydra the league which hath brought foorth vnto vs our children so many mischiefs and miseries See you that you stop vp the light and brightnes of your races vnder the sinders of your rebellion Take ye take ye the collour of your brethren and permit not that your noble race remaine vilanized stayned and spotted with treason towads your selues and towardes you countrie And you good people whose prosperity is so much different from that in which our deceased kings and fathers left you behould the surface of our poore country aunciently adorned with your goodly buildings I cānot speak this without teares nowe desert rugged and without tillage Where is this liberty promised you by the league Alas As said I thinke Theophrastus ' to the Greekes They haue put in too much vinegre where is this abolition of taxes Alas they are six fold as many as they were before Where is this restablishment of religion Alas they haue beaten downe to the grounde and profaned your churches the priests themselues taking armes haue run into a thousande villainies Consider that there is in Fraunce neither iustice nor publik force but from your king which may sauegard ye from iniury Perceaue ye not how you empouerish your selues daly and that these hunger-starued gouernors whose rebellion ye nourish will stifle you one of these daies to haue your bloud will flea you to haue your skins seeing that amongst them the richest hath nought to liue vpon if it be not vpon your substance nor any commoditie which they forge not alreadie vpon your battered Anuile Liue liue vnder your king and vnder his lawes chace far from you these hireling-preachers of sedition this miserable fierers and destroyers of our countrie it is not religion but rebellion they preach away with them The Duke de Maine acknowledgeth alreadie that he hath bene deceiued and abused by them All the world knoweth it and there is hope seeing that the Crowne as said Titus Vespatians son called for his vertue and goodnesse the delight and darling of the worlde is a gift of God bestowed on him whome hee pleaseth by his onlie hand and pure will that the said Duke of Maine will reknowledge his Maiestie for his King and will repose more confidence in him than in any other prince liuing Well hee knoweth that the Maximees of Spaine are first to make a hande of them who aide them in the Conquest of their prouinces saying iustlie that they cānot credit the faith of them who haue failed in that which they owe to their owne countrie and when all that were not so neuer was there man who followed them but is dead miserably The said Duke of Maine hath done but too much for his part when hee had had place but to reuenge the death of his brethrē wherunto K. Henry the 4. was neuer consenting If he passe further he remaneth for euer most culpable and blameworthy Let him not then let slip this good occasion whilest the time is that he may come in and yeeld himself to his king with honor making shew of the common pretext of religion of no other thing to haue mooued him to take armes and let him call to minde how hee hath to deale with a kinge of France who shal neuer be without successor to reuenge all iniuries that his maiesty may one day come to an accord with the K. of Spaine and so then by that meane this Duke may remaine oppressed and of small esteeme Let him confesse that euery Christian ought to leuell onely at the saluation of his soule the which he can neuer obtain at Gods hands nor any good for his children but in restoring vnto his kinge that which he detained vniustly from his kingdome against the dutie of a subtect a vassall and an officer to the crowne FINIS A COPIE OF SPECIALL RECORD OF THE Homage done by Philip Archduke of Austria Earle of Flanders c. to the most Christian King of France Lewes the twelft of that name in the yeare 1499. Iohn Amys Notary and Secretary to the King our Soueraigne For somuch as it hath pleased the Noble and puissant L. Monsieur Guy of Rochefort Knight Lord of Pleuuot and of Labergemant Chauncellour of Fraunce as well of his fauour to preferre mee as to commaund and inioyne me to take a copy of the receipte of an Homage done to the King our gracious Lorde in his person by the most high most puissant Prince the Lord Philip sonne to the King of Romains Arch-duke of
Austria Earle of Flanders of Artois and of Charrolois the fift at day of Iuly 1499. the saide Lorde Chancellour being then in the Cittie of Arras in the Bishoppes pallace And for that such great actes and ceremonies which haue bin vsed and obserued therein to the honour exaltation profit and aduantage of the King and his Crowne are worthie of perpetuall memorie I haue beene so bolde at his instance to couch in writing all that I could see and vnderstand touching this present act and busines and especially since the nine and twentie of Iune last past vntill the fift of Iuly next ensuing And to come to the matter certaine and true it is that the Lord Chancellor departed the same day at after dinner from Dourlent in the countrie of Picardy to goe for the Cittie of Arras where he arriued before night being all the way accompanied with the Lordes de Rauestain and de la Gruture with Charles de la Vernada Knight of the same place Master Christopher de Cremona Counsellers of state and ordinarie Masters of Requests of the Kings house Master Ralfe de Launoy Baily of Amiens Master Francis d'Estain Hugh de Baigel Almaury de Quinqui ville Nicholas de Foix Philip d'Estas Richard Nepueu Peter de la Vernada common Counsellers Macé Toustain the Kings Proctor generall in his Priuie Counsell John Bourdelot the Kings Proctor generall in his Courte of Parliament at Paris Antony le Viste Register of the Chauncery of France Dreux Budé John de Villebresme Ralfe Guyot Philip Maillart Notaries and Secretaries to his Maiestie and to me And as the Lord Chauncellor came with this traine within a mile and halfe of the Cittie of Arras riding in gallant order hauing before him the Gentleman Vsher of the priuie Councell carrying vpon his shoulder in open sight his mace grauen and imbossed with the Kings Armes after the Gentleman Vsher followed next the Clarke of the Signet who carried the Scale as the vse is when the Lord Chauncellor rideth his circuits into the Countrey on either side of this Clarke of the Signet marched one of the two kinges of Armes of our Lord the King enrobed with their coates of Armes to wit Mont-ioye the chiefe king of Armes of France and Normandie here came to meete the Lorde Chancellor the Bishop of Cambray Thomas de Pleures Knight Chancellor to the Archduke the Lorde Earle of Nassau the Lorde of Fiennes and diuers others both Knightes and Squiers most of them of the Archdukes Councell The Bishop addressing himselfe towards the Chancellor signified vnto him that the Lordes of his companie were sent by the Archduke his Master to informe him that the saide Lorde Archduke was most ioyfull of his ariuall and likewise of that of all the other Lords in traine with him that they were al the welcōmest men that might be with other faire speeches gentle greetings sweete salutations all this nobilitie doing great reuerence and honour to the L. Chancellor and giuing princely entertainement to all the Nobles of his troupe for the which the L. Chancellor returned most honorable thankes to the Archduke and to the other Lordes who were come thither in his behalfe And soone after they on both sides tooke their way to goe vnto the Cittie As the whole company arriued at the entrance of the Suburbes the Chancellor was met by the Archduke himselfe who to receiue him the more honorablie and to meete him by the way was departed on horsebacke from the Abbey of Saint Vas in the Cittie of Arras and had passed cleane through the greatest streete thereof And so soone as the Archduke accompanied with a great number both of Knightes of his order with Squiers and other officers of his household who were marshalled on euery side to make way and place for the Chancellor and those of his traine to passe perceiued the Chancellor hee put his hand to his hatte and vncouering his head hastened on his Mule to march towards the Lorde Chancellor whom hee embraced holding still his hat in hand and there gaue him the gentle welcome demaunding him in this manner How dooth my Lorde the King To whom the Chancellor answered very well God bee thanked as hee intended to declare vnto him more amply The like great entertainement gaue this Archduke to the Lordes of Rauestain and la Gruture saluting graciously the Masters of Requests and the other of the Kings Counsaile who were there present After many friendly speeches and countenances past betweene the Archduke the Chancellor and the Lorde Rauestain the Archduke holding still his hatte in his hand and would not bee couered except the Chancellor would also put on the Archduke and the Chancellor roade on their way to enter into the Cittie the Chancellor still holding the right hand and the Gentleman Vsher to the Kings Councel bearing vp his mace in open sight and the Clarke of the Signet hauing the Kinges seale vpon his backe as the custome is when the Chancellor rideth thorough the Kingdome and the two Kinges of Armes in their order nor was there any other there on the behalfe of the Archduke or Chancellor which thing was and hath been greatly noted as well by the Archdukes people and officers as by the other Cittisens and Countrie whereof there was no small number both within the Cittie and without thither flocked to beholde this their magnificent entrance Thus the Archduke conducted along the Lorde Chancellor still parling vnto him vncouering his head oftentimes and by no meanes would not put on againe except the Chancellor were couered as soone as hee and thus did hee bring him along vnto the verie porch of the cloyster of the great Church whence the Archduke would by all force carrie him into the Bishops Pallace in the which the Lorde Chancellor hath alwaies been lodged nor coulde the entreaties and requests which the Chancellor made vnto him to content himselfe that hee had done so much vnto him for the honour of his King preuaile any thing at all Vpon these enterparlies the Archduke departing from the Chancellor withdrew himselfe into the Cittie of Arras to his lodging in Saint Vas his Abbey and the Lorde Chancellor into the Bishops pallace accompanied with the Earle of Nassau and other great personages of the Archdukes house and afterward euerie one of the Chancellors trayne retyred themselues into such lodgings as the herbingers had appoynted for them After many goings and commings to and fro which by the Lorde Bishoppe Thomas de Pleures the Countie Nassau the Lord of Mont-labais and other of the Archdukes officers during all the dayes of Munday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday following being the first second third and fourth of Iuly were made to the Chauncellour into his lodging to treate and conclude vpon some poynts and articles propounded by the Kinges Proctor generall in his Courte of Parliament The said matters comming to an issue upon thursdaye request was made by the Archdukes officers to the Lorde Chancellor that