to conceive ill of him and to spy into his ways whereby discovering his aversion he had given them occasion to complain thereof and sometimes to break forth into words of just resentment which might have served to admonish him but he esteeming this medicine poyson had broken out upon small occasion nay indeed upon none at all if he would consider things justly chiefly when the question was touching a Prince so inferiour in force and power to the King of Spain and when greater things had been past by by greater Princes and wink'd at to keep them from disturbing the publike peace how many distastes had Duke Charles Emanuel suffered before he broke with Spain nor did he ever come to any breach till his own Dominions were assaulted by the Spaniards so as he may rather be said to have taken up arms in his own defence then against the Crown of Spain how many injuries have the Venetians past by nay how many the Popes themselves not to mention other Princes how many dislikes have been wink'd at between the two Crowns of Spain and France and between them and other Princes that great Princes do sometimes use acts of superiority and Seigniorie towards lesser Princes and the lesser have been known to think it wisdom to suffer them nor do greater Princes use always to look big upon lesser but to proceed moderately with them generously pardoning the defects and failing of lesser Princes committed against them without so much as taking any notice thereof otherwise the world would be turn'd upside down if arms were to be taken up upon every small offence that this is kept for the last refuge of an assaulted or tottering State not to offend or provoke one that is more powerful not to vent hatred upon the weaker or to secure suspition that then there being no occasion of a breach it must necessarily be concluded that either fear of being opprest by the Spanish forces or hopes of getting either the State of Millain or part of it by adhering to France or a desire to put Italy into her former liberty by driving out the Spaniards had thrust him upon this novelty as for fear it was said that being strengthned by the so many merits of his predecessours he could not possibly dread those forces which had been such a prop and defence to other Princes of Italy that had not deserved so well of the Crown of Spain that Ferdinand the Cardinal and after Duke of Mantua might serve to witness this who having given more manifest signs of alienation from that Crown both in Rome and elsewhere then Parma had before the breach yet when he succeeded his Brother in the Principality contrary to the expectation of all men nay of himself he was received into the Protection of the Crown of Spain and effectually defended by the Forces thereof against the Duke of Savoy who was joyn'd in alliance and interest to that King and yet this Ferdinando was not munited by the merits of his predecessors nay his Father was sorely suspected to have conspired against the Crown of Spain and as fear appeared not a sufficient occasion to justifie this commotion so had he less reason to be induced thereunto by hope for not to say that the aggrandizing of ones self is no just reason to make war he who shall balance these hopes justly will find them not to be well placed but that they were very â—…rail and unconsiderable The French pretend that the State of Millain doth by ancient right belong unto their Crown and therefore is unalienable either in part or in whole and they have spent more blood and moneys to get it then it is worth and will any one then believe that if the French should get it they would give it him or divide it with him especially since he concur'd to the getting thereof with so small Forces and if reason did not convince him in this former examples might have excluded him from all hopes thereof Lewis King of France won that State assisted by the Venetian Forces and covenanted with them expresly for the City and County of Cremona together with whole Giaradada but as soon as he atchieved his intent he re-demanded of the Commonwealth all that by the said Covenants was due unto her and this not under any other pretence but for that it being a State appertaining to the Crown it could not be dismembred from it and as for the so specious pretences of the Liberty of Italy which never moved the greater Princes of Italy how could they rationally fall into the conceit of this Prince who being none of the chiefest amongst them neither for Forces Wisdom nor Experience in wordly Affairs might learn by their proceedings that though they were sometimes perhaps incited by greater provocations of more absolute liberty yet they have always temporized lest being freed for the present they might be afterwards forc'd to yield to worser conditions and being content with having brought Italy now to a greater equality studied how to preserve her in it these were the considerations which were commonly had upon these occurrences which as we leave undecided so will we leave them free to be approved or disapproved as every one shall think fit And now to return to our discourse a little before this very time when the Duke of Parma's Dominions were by this peace freed from war Donna Anna Caraffa the only Daughter and Heir to the Prince of Stigliano a chief Lady in the Kingdom of Naples was married to the Duke de Medina dellas Torres a chief Lord of the Family of Gusman and one of the Grandees of Spain and who lately succeeded Count Moanterey in the Vice-royalty of the Kingdom of Naples from which marriage a Son was soon born to whom together with the large patrimony in that Kingdom belonging to the Mother the Patronage of Sabioneta did belong as being descended from a Sister of Vespatian Gonzaga married to the Grand-father of Donna Anna this place by reason of its strong situation is almost impregnable seated in the State of Cremona towards the Dukedom of Mantua and therefore of great consequence not only for the City of Cremona but even for the whole State of Millain and whereupon the Spaniards had fix'd their eyes long before being very desirous to be masters of it The Princes of Italy who did not love that the Spaniards should get this place were very jealous of this their desire and the Spaniards never having been able to get footing there though that Lady as also her Father both by birth and marriage were Subjects to the Crown of Spain yet they obtain'd their ends in these times without any violence or just occasion of complaint to the Princes of Italy for the aforesaid marriage and the birth of this Son Heir and Successor to that place made way for them to get that which they valued so much and so much desired but this place being for some respects assigned over to the Duke
one and the same resolution wisely provided for her own affairs for the point of Religion and for protecting the Valtoline whereby she witnessed to the world that nothing else but zeal to Religion and the keeping Catholicks from being oppress'd by Hereticks and not any reason of State or desire to usurpe what belonged to others as was said had made the King interest himself in the present affairs the deposition being accepted the Pope sent his Brother Don Horatio who was Duke of Fiano and the Churches General with 500 Horse and 1500 Foot into the Valtoline to whom the Forts of the Valtoline of Chiavenna and of la Riva were immediately delivered up and the Archduke took the Garrisons out of Coira and out of the other places of that Country and Duke Fiano leaving the Forces of the Church in the Valtoline under their Officers and Commanders return'd quickly to Rome Thus the troubles which seemed to threaten Italy being pacified in the beginning of May in the year of our Lord 1623 the Negotiation touching the Valtoline was transfer'd from the Court of Spain to that of Rome and the end of so weighty a business which was formerly expected from the Court of Spain was now looked for from the Pope but neither were the Venetians nor those of the Valtoline pleased with this depositure for the latter complained very much that he whom they had chosen to be Protector of their Liberty after having received them into his Protection had turn'd them over to the Pope whom by reason of what he had done against them they did not only distrust but feared that he could not well defend them by reason of the far distance of his Dominions when they should be assaulted by the Grisons or by any other Potentates they said the King should rather have quite given over their Protection then have put them under anothers power for by giving it over he would have incouraged them when they should be at their own command either constantly to defend their Liberty or to die in the defence thereof neither complained they less in the Court of Rome whether having sent people of purpose to Negotiate their interests they forbare not to represent the justice of their cause to the Pope to the Cardinals and to the Embassadours of Princes not so much in point of Religion as of Liberty they exaggerated the Tyrannical and unjust actions of the Grisons their cruel orders to introduce Heresie amongst them the Usurpation of their ancient and natural Liberty they humbly beseeched that they would not suffer the people of Italy who were by nature Free-men and Catholicks to fall once more under the Tyrannical yoke of Transalpine Hereticks they shew'd the danger wherein their souls and lives should be if they should fall again under their Dominion from which they had withdrawn themselves for the preservation of the Catholick faith and from whom they could expect nothing but severe punishments in their lives and detestable violence of Conscience But the Venetians who had laboured to get the Valtoline out of the Spaniards hands were more vex'd and in greater streights then before now that they saw it fallen into the Popes power being no less troubled now to see the Pope made Arbitrator then the Spaniards Masters thereof before and this not so much out of the great interests which the Popes use to have with the Crown of Spain as for that the Venetians having of late begun to struggle with the See of Rome for the first place of Authority amongst the Princes of Italy And arrogating more Authority then became them in Ecclesiastical jurisdiction and in conferring Benefices they thought that if the Pope should keep the Key of that Gate for which they had striven so much the Popes Authority would be too great and that they of Compettitors being become inferiours must be forc'd to yield and foregoing much of their high pretentions must depend absolutely upon the Popes power And as it is natural to all men to be more willingly under the power of Forreigners then of those of their own Nation so they could not indure not only that they had not been able as yet to compass their desired ends not to secure their own liberty and the common Liberty of Italy but that instead thereof they had changed or rather doubled their subjection being compelled by the King of Spain to depend upon the Apostolick See They were yet more troubled to finde that the Pope who was very streightly joined unto them till the day of depositure should now after he had got possession begin to waver and to decline from the common Interests For the Pope seeing the surety and liberty of the Apostolick See secured by this depositure that the like of the Venetians and of the other Italian Princes did thereby depend upon him and that the Spaniards and French were thereby also under his Arbitriment If seemed that amongst several cogitations he had a mind to make use of the present occasion to purchase and establish more Authority and Grandezza in the Church and in his own Family Wherefore beginning to listen more willingly to those of the Valtoline he grew cool in his resolutions and ambiguous in his Answers and of a Partner being become Arbitrator of the common Cause he seemed to have laid much of his servency aside and that he did not listen either to the Venetians or to the French with that attention as he was wont to listen unto them and to confer the secrets of his soul with them The Spaniards were not displeased with these the Popes deportments who were well enough contented that if any but themselves should possess the Valtoline it should be the Pope and rejoycing that the world should be deceived in the imputation which they had formerly laid upon the Spaniards of thirsting more after Dominion then after zeal to Religion they used several pieces of cunning that the Pope delaying his Resolves might keep possession the longer Wherefore to boot with his fomenting the complaints of those of the Valtoline of whom the King of Spain still professed himself Protector making use of the conditions of the Depositure he was not content with the propounded Propositions And at last to the end that this private advantage joyned to the publick might make greater impression in the Pope they consented that his Nephew should marry with the only Daughter and Heir of Prince Venosa a Neopolitan Lord who had for her Portion 40000 Duckats annual Revenue of Inheritance which she held in Fee in the Kingdom of Naples Nor herewithal content they propounded That regard being had to the antient Conventions of those of the Valtoline a fourth League might be made of them which being governed by their own Laws and Magistrates might sit in the general Dyets and give their Vote with the other three in all publick affairs appertaining to the Common-wealth Or else That it being made a Principality it should be granted to some Prince who was
of Castile which did so embitter their very souls as made them fall into rebellion Many have said and it is generally believed that this Minister of State did use the Catalonians with all extremity of rigour purposely to make them rebel to the end that upon that pretence he might deprive them of all priviledges as guilty of High Treason and reduce them to meer subjection till by his continual vexations he wrought his ends upon them and gathered the bitter fruits of his Tyrannicâ—…l Counsels The like beâ—…ell the Kingdom of Portugal which being by rigor and bitterness compell'd to rebell chose the Duke of Braganza the only branch of Regal blood in Portugal for their King which when the Conde Duca heard of he hasted joyfully to the King as rejoycing at this rebellion and câ—…aved thanks from him for the good news he brought him that he was now become absolute King of Portugal and Master of all the Territories and Fortunes of the Duke of Braganza which were very great in that Kingdom Nor did this his tyrannous â—…allon confine it self only to the people and Provinces which weâ—…e subject to the Crown but it extended to confederate friends and Princes who having been treated by the former Kings with all Love and Respect and allured by benefits and honors largely conâ—…er'd upon them he began in an imperious manner to distaste and afâ—…erwards to whip them soundly His Government was grown so hateful to the very Castilians themselves as he grew detested and abhor'd by them all the Grandees of Spain being in several sorts distasted and ill treâ—…ed were not able to endure it went voluntarily to the Court and retired themselves from their own jurisdictions so as the King was almost left solitary alone at Court it was observed that the two greatest Princes of Christendome were at the same time and by severall wayes deprived of their chiefest favorites and almost rob'd of that lustre and splendor which Princes use to receive from the numerous attendance of the greatest Personages of their Kingdomes One of them by the excellency of Vertue which drew them after her possessour and with drew them from the King the other by the hatred which all men bore to the Favourite which made the great ones keep far from Court Wherefore when the Favorites fall was heaâ—…d of as the King returned â—…rom the Escurialle to the Court he was met by ten Grandees a league before he came to Madrid which caused the King who had not for a long time before been so attended ask what the matter was and if any strange accident had hapned at Madrid to which Don Melchior di Borgia answered in all their Names that now the time was come wherein his Majesty should know the true devotion which the Grandees Spain boâ—…e to the Crown and to his person and that if they had not waited upon him formerly as they ought it was out of those reasons which were well known to his Majesty Nor were they the Grandees onely that were distasted with the greaâ—…ness of the Conde Duca but the Nobility and all other inferiour persons lived discontentedly by reason of their hard usage and those few who enjoy'd any favour at Court came so hardly by it as they thought it hardly thanks worthy So as the Fountains of Regal bounty being shut up and those of hardship and â—…igor only open the publick Government was become nothing but severity which made men only not dissatisfied but mad and desperate and though he were not ignorant of all this yet did he not alter his way of proceeding but being sure that all this hapned for his being wholly intent upon the Kings service he did rejoyce and glory in it and if the Castilians fell not into rebellion as did the Catalonians and Portugueses or into conspiracies as did the French it must only be attributed to their great continency and to their obsequious devotion towards their King which made them by a singular example of Love and Loyalty rather suffer the indiscretion and unbridled Will of the State-Minister then under pretence of reforming the publick Government venture upon disturbing the publick Peace to the prejudice of all men All men and himself acknowledged that fortune crost all â—…his undertakings and just as he was far from favouring other mens desires so fortune appeared to delight in thwarting his But though it may be true that his unfortunate Genius had a great part in ruining his designes yet it cannot be denyed that much of his miscarriages proceeded from his choice of those whom he deputed to work his own and the publick ends for he alwayes prefer'd his own confidents before those that understood more then they and depriving himself and the Kingdom of their worthy parts he commonly committed the carriage of the most important Affairs to the hands of unexperienced men as may be seen by some unfortunate successes by us related And so faulty was he herein as having not long before his fall declared one Iuliano to be his natural Son and Heir to his County of Olivares and Dukedom of St. Lucar whom as if he had been born again he called Henry by his Fathers name and never having made any the least account of this Iuliano before had suffer'd him to live a Vagabonds life in Taverns and Bawdy-houses exposed to all those miserable adventures to which men that are so given are subject even till by good fortune he had escaped an ignominious death to which for enormous faults he was adjudged by Law this his declaring of his Son-ship was publickly confirm'd by Regal Authority to the loathing and detestation of all men but more particularly to his neerest of Kin Which hatred and detestation grew the greater for that this new Henry having gotten nothing by his formerly led life but customs answerable thereunto he had nothing in him of gentile or handsome but a rusticity of manners and an incapability not only of what was Lord-like but even of what was civil or like a Gentleman To this his Declaration that this Henry was his Son was added the undoubted succession of his Paternal Inheritance which contain'd very large Territories and Titles deriving from the supream dignity of Grandee together with an infinity of riches So as this new Henry was raised to the highest pitch of greatness in Spain and being desirous to match him nobly he endeavoured to marry him to one of the prime Ladies of the Court to the Daughter of the Constable of Castille a chief Lord of Spain who boasts himself to be descended from the race of five Kings not being able to effect his desire by reason of the Constables detestation of the match not thinking that the immense wealth nor the great titles honours which this new 〈◊〉 had accumulated was a sufficient recompence for the sordidness of his past life and of his unhappy inclination by which his blood and those that should descend from him should be contaminated which the
his Fathers infinite wisdom neither by reason of his years not exceeding the age of twenty three nor of his experience Therefore the condition of times being changed together with the Prince great men grew to be of more Authority with the King in the Administration of State Affairs which was more largely and more indifferently shared out unto them by him then by Philip the second Amongst these Don Francisco Scandoval and Roxas Duke of Lerma were highest in favour with the King upon whose liking all important Resolutions as also the distribution of Offices the Government of Provinces and the Crown Revenues did depend râ—…ther as upon a Moderator then Court-Minister The eyes of all men weâ—…e therefore with much applause fixt upon him as upon the chief manager of so great a Monarchy Who being of a good and pleasing disposition and for his understanding sufficiently capable of so great Imployment sate long at the Helm of Government in so great an Empire not only with Loyalty to the King but with general satisfaction It is true that being grown very jealous of his own Grandezza he diligently studied the preservation thereof which finding that he might the more easily do in times of peace he hated all novelty and neglected no means whereby the Affairs of the Crown might be quietly proceeded in both at home and abroad Nor was it hard for him to do it the publick interests of the Kingdom concurring thereunto in many respects as also the peoples desire and the minds of the great ones who being rich and happy loved rather to injoy the publick and their private fortune in peace and quietness then to increase it by uncertain and dangerous war But the Affairs of Italy and particularly those of Lombardy did depend almost absolutely upon the Authority and Arbitrement of Don Pierd d' Azevedo Henriques Count of Fuentes a man of high imployment and great worth who being sent by the new King to be Governour of Millain governed that State long with extraordinary Authority And being good both at peace and war and generally held to be of a military spirit seeming more inclined to Arms then quiet he without altering the publick peace held up the Kings Affairs at so high a pitch and brought them unto such reputation in Italy as they were never formerly done by any Governour The government of Affairs being in this posture the Duke though the new King forgetting former distastes had made one of his Sons Grand Prior of Castilâ—… and another Son of his the like of Cratâ—… the latter worth 30000 Duckats a year the other of 100000 Duckats did continually aspire out of his accustomed pretences and desires to the augmentation of his Fortune which was impossible to be afforded him either without lessening the Kings Revenue or without disturbance to the publick peace to which the Government of the Crown was then so much inclined And therefore whilst beyond all expectation he found all access to further greatness blockt up under the new King he had some colourable pretence to vent his anger which by reason of the King his Father in law's Majesty he had kept long concealed for not being of like employment and Authority in the Resolutions oâ—… that Court as he had been formerly he began to complain thereof with less respect thinking that it proceeded rather from the State-Ministers being ill-minded towards him then from the King himself Hereunto was added that it being necessary to make the Duke of Lerma chief in Court as the Arbritrator of the Kings Resolutions and in Italy Fuentes Governour of Millain for the relation and executing of things resolved upon and not finding himself satisfied with their proceedings or pleased in his ends which did totally differ from their ends and intentions and finding sometimes at least seeming to find a certain ambition in them and in other Court-Ministers which doth usually accompany eminent power and the Princes immoderate favour whereby he thought they meant to keep him under he could by no means bear with it He openly exclaimed against them as if making use of the Kings name and Authority for the establishment of their own greatness they would arrogate unto themselves the more Authority over him who was a free Prince and Cousin to the King Hereupon anger and ranckor broke forth between the Duke and the Kings Ministers of State especially between him and Scandoval and Fuentes so as tokens of ardent indignation appearing in the Duke and the like in them for the practises he had held with Henry to the prejudice of that Court and of the universal peace they at last seemed as if they were not able to pay the Pensions which appertained to him as if the exasperating him were the only cure for that wound for which gentler applications would be too disproportionate Their hatred grew the greater when the Duke demanding his Pensions of his Father in law and after his death of his Cousin he resolved to send his eldest Son Prince Philip Emanuel with two other Sons of his into Spain that they might be brought up in the Kings Court upon whom the King not having as yet any Sons the succeâ—…on of so many Kingdoms might probably fall The Duke being come with this intent to the Sea side and having agreed upon the time of their Imbarking and upon other things concerning theiâ—… Voyage in Oneglia with Prince Doria the Kings Lord Admiral wherein they were to be conducted by Don Carlo Doria Duke of Tursi and Son to the Admiral it so fell out as Don Carlo deâ—…arting unexpectedly from Villa Franca whether he was come with the Kings Gallies to Imbark those Princes he left both their Father and them much astonished at his unexpected departure wherefore the Duke credibly believing that a resolution of such importance proceeded not from Don Carlo but rather from the Court Ministeâ—…s of State and particularly from the Duke of Lerma who for his own interest would be loth to see the Kings Nephews so near their Uncle he therefore and for that the King did not appear afterwards to resent it thought himself therein very much injured and yet being resolved that his Children should pursue their intended journey he sent them to the Court where they were graciously received by their Uncle and were by his command treated with all the demonstrations of Honour and with the Title of Infants of Spain a name which is given to the younger Children of that King But on the other side the States-men and great ones of the Kingdom fearing that it might much prejudice their own greatness and their Administration of publick aâ—…fairs that Authority should be added to those that were so nearly allied to the King they did not only keep them at distance from the publick Negotiations of the Kingdom but from any privacy with the King and not being able to suffer their so much preeminency they seldom visited them or discoursed with them rendring the Grandezza of their condition almost
And at the same time keeping on the Treaty of the new League and his Sons Marriage in Paris he hoped that each of these Crowns would grow to such jealousie by reason of this double Negotiation as that the one not to lose him and the other to gain him they might both of them vie who should give fairer conditions for this Marriage when it should be hotly negotiated at the same time in both these Courts Chusing theâ—…efore for Agents in these his so great designs Count Verrua a Counsellor who was in great favour with him and Monsieur Iacob he sent them both at the same time the former into Spain the latter into France where both of them negotiated their Commissions The Duke of Lerma greedily imbracing this occasion in the Court of Spain that by assisting to make this Maâ—…ch he might aggrandize his own Family so the Treaty of Marriage between Prince Victorio and the Kings Daughter seemed to proceed on fairly For though the King would not Treat of his eldest Daughter whom he had destined to a much greater Marriage yet not being averse to part with his youngest Daughter this Match though not totally agâ—…eed upon yet was it likely to be speedily concluded And Don Phileberto the Dukes second Son was destined to be made Admiral at Sea and the Dukes third Son the Cardinal was to be furnished with the châ—…ef Church-livings which should be vacant in that Kingdom to a large proportion In pursuit of which Negotiation there were two Gallies already provided by the Duke in Italy to bring the Prince Victorio into Spain together with two of his Sisters that they might be brought up there with the Queen yet many were not fully of an opinion that this would really succeed As if the Duke had juggled in this Marriage with Spain or that he had done it out of cunning to accelerate the Negotiations in France which were carried on with hopes of prosperous success by Iacob For the King having drawn England and the States of Holland into the new League and giving out that he would â—…ut the Princes of Brandenburge and Newburg into full possession of the Dukedoms pretended unto by them had already prepared a powerful Army with which and with the Forces of the Colleagues it was thought that he really intended war against Flanders and those parts of the Low-Countries which were under the King of Spain And at the same time he put a Fleet in order at Marselles with intention to assault Genoa and Millain and offered the Duke of Savoy an Army of 20000 Foot and 3000 Horse to be paid by him the King to the end that the Duke might enter into the 〈◊〉 of Millain with 12000 Foot and 2000 Horse of his own which State he propounded to the Duke of Savoy as a surplus of Portion in respect of the future Marriage These practises were they either true or but reported did no good to the Treaties of Spain which seemed to be as good as already concluded for the King of Spain growing incens'd thereat did not incline any more to the Marriage of his Daughter and the Duke of Lerma who had cordially listened to Verrua's proposals finding that he was not well looked upon by the Court where the practises held between him and Verrua were known to shew himself averse to the Dukes interests and intelligence who was grown odious to the Court for the same respects did all he could to clear himself thereof And the whole Court out of the same reasons being at the same time scandalized with the Duke of Savoy he thinking that he could promise himself no good from that Crown and despairing to make any progress in that Court quite foregoing any thought of further pursuing his Affairs there and betaking himself to the Kingdom of France he indeavoured to joyn in League and to make Alliance with that King Hence it was that we may return to where we gave over that the Duke of Savoy to the end that he might have greater adherences in Italy as also that he might interest other Princes in his ends and designs married forthwith two of his Daughters wherein King Henry had a hand the eldest to Don Francisco then Prince of Mantua and the other to Alphonso Prince of Modena which was not done without much jealousie that the Dukes their Fathers did privately partake in the same ends and designs And at this very time another Marriage coming strangely to light which was very privately treated of in Rome for the Prince of 〈◊〉 the Popes Nephew with a natural Daughter of King Henry it made people very jealous of the Popes Intention This suspicion reached also to many of the Lords of Rome which by many Aâ—…guments drawn from their indeavours and inclinations seemed to follow King Henries party King Henry was then in greater Fortune Authority and Grandezza then peradventure any of the preceding Kings of France had for a long time been he was admired by all Christendom wherefore part of Italy being full of expectation other part full of fear of these so great preparations Italy was partly inclined unto and did tremble at the name and reputation of the French Forces But to the end that the Differences touching Montferrat might not disturb so great hopes as were promised by this Conjunction the Duke of Savoy thought it not good to look too narrowly into them then though they fell into consideration in the conclusion of the Marriage with the Prince of Mantua and therefore he thought it bettâ—… to hasten the conclusion of that Marriage leaving those differences undecided On the contrary the King of Spain finding whether the confederacy or Affinity of the Italian Princes did at that time tend and indeavouring to disturb it I â—…oured though in vain that the same Marriages might be crost but King Henries so unexpected death having either dissipated the ends or allayed the jealousies of that so great Unon and the Duke being afterwards pacified and joined with the King of Spain and the Kingdom of France foregoing the Match with the Duke as having after the Kings death entertained new Negotiations of a double Marriage with Spain whereby Lewis the new King of France was to marry the King of Spains eldest Daughter and King Lewis his Sister she who in her Fathers time was intended for Prince Victorio was also to marry the Prince of Spain to the conclusion of which Marriages there was no leâ—…t at that time but the tender years of those that were to be married Therefore the King and Court of Spain confiding much more in this new Conjunction then they had formerly distrusted the Union of the Italian Princes and their Intelligence with the French did at the same time indeavour that the Marriage might be concluded between the Cardinal and the Dowager Dutchess a thing which made very much for the preservation of peace in Italy and for the new Union which was agreed on with the King of France On the contrary
the Duke of Savoy's intentions seemed to differ according to the condition of times from what they were when he married his Daughter to the Prince of Mantua for failing of the Grandezza which he hoped for if King Henry had lived by his death and by the streight Union of the two Crowns he did not listen to the new Marriage of his Daughter for that thereby his designs of inlarging his Principality by some other means and the leaving it greater to his posterity then he had received it from his Ancestors would be disturbed He saw Montferrat a great State and very convenient for him as lying almost in the bosome of Piedmont furnished but with few forces and lesseâ—… Garisons far from the City of Mantua was now almost vacant between the uncertain Succession of the off-spring which was to come and his Nieces questionableness therein He knew how many Reasons he himself had to pretend thereunto how much the Dukes his Predecessors had laboured to get it and having not only had it in his thoughts whilst his Son in law was alive but given manifest signs of his desire thereof he thought the occasion was now very ripe and the time fit to execute his secret designs of making himself easily Master thereof if when he should have got his Daughter and his Niece into his possession he might honest his ends by the Title of Succession of the Male Issue which he hoped for by his Daughter or at least by that of his Niece who was already in being and when by shewing those of Montferrat their true Lord and Master he might either cunningly bring them to accept of him for the Protector of their State and young Duke or force them by arms to obey him Nor were there some wanting who incouraged him in these designs by fair hopes and promises of the peoples rising Guido de Conti di St George was then in the Court at Turin the chief of the Nobility of Montferrat rich in Inheritances and personal Estate and powerful in friends and adherents This man had not many years ago a Cardinal to his Uncle of very much esteem and who as it was commonly believed would have been Pope had he not been kept from it as was thought by the contrary indeavours of Duke Vincent who it may be was jealous to see a subject of his so highly exal ed or resenting the displeasure he had received from him whilst being leâ—…t Legat by Pope Clement the Eighth in Ferrara which was but newly regained to the Church he entred with Sword in hand into the State of Mantua touching the difference of Confines where he did much prejudice to the Towns neighbouring upon the State of Ferrara and though the Count's Predecessors had formerly been raised to great Authority and Honour from but mean fortune by the extraordinary favour of Duke William Father to Duke Vincent yet the memory of former good turns being of less force with the Count then the prejudice and injury which he had newly received he was but badly inclined to the House of Gonzaga And therefore not thinking himself looked upon by the Duke according to his quality and that his ways were narrowly pry'd into he had almost given over his Country and was retired into Piedmont where he was in no little Authority and favour with the Duke by whom he was highly graced with the Order of the Annuntiata and other imployments and dignities he being as much alienated in mind from his Prince as in person from his Country out of revenge and out of hopes of farther preferment profest he had much Intelligence with the Inhabitants of Montferrat and promised much to the Duke in their behalf The recourse and inclination which the Citizens of Cassalle and formerly to Emanuel Philibertus Father to the present Duke of Savoy when William Duke of Mantua usurping upon their pretended liberties got absolute dominion over them and their being still but ill satisfied therewith gave more of credit to these his promises And as the business seemed in these respects to be easie enough of it self to be effected so neither did the Duke want other reasons which would secure him from meeting with any impediments from elsewhere for though Montferrat and the Dukedom of Mantua had formerly been under the protection of Spain wherefore the Dukes of Savoy not taking themselves to the way of Arms had only civilly made trial of that of Reason yet this protection seemed to 〈◊〉 in the person of the Cardinal for that he having in the Court of Room where he was chosen Protector of France by the Queen his Aunt exercised that Charge not only with extraordinary affection and inclination to the French but sometimes much distasted the Spanish Agents He seemed upon occasions to make less account of the favour and grace of that King and Nation and though being by his Brothers death near possessing the States he thought it neither reasoâ—…able nor safe for him to abet the Cardinal Protector of France but necessary to preserve the friendship and countenance under which his Ancestors had for so many years happily injoyed the Principallity wherefore he had immediate recourse to the King of Spain for the favour of his wonted protection he could not as yet obtain his desire for the King deferred and protracted the expedition of this affair not without much jealousie in the Cardinal and in all his Court wherefore the Duke who was not ignorant of these difficulties thought he might probably hope that that King and Nation either out of anger to the Cardinal or for the safety of the State of Millain for which it did not make that Montferrat especially in respect of the Citadel of Cassalle should fall into the hands of a Prince in whom the Crown did not confide and who having discovered himself to adhere to France was likely to incline more thereunto in the future troubles then unto its adversary and though for the aforesaid reasons the King had doubtlesly moâ—…e cause to suspect the very person of Duke Charles Emanuel yet as the desire of obtaining ones ends makes the means of obtaining it appear more likely and easie he peradventure perswaded himself that many other things would cause that King and that Court not to oppose his intention the Alliance which he and Duke Francis his Sons had with him the design which amidst these troubles the Kings party might peradventure have of securing themselves of Cassalle the desire which it was probable the King and his Officers might have of giving him satisfaction so to avoid giving him occasion of disordering Italy again and because it made not for the Kings advantage to satisfie him by the lessening his own Dominions he thought that out of all or out of some of the aforesaid Reasons the King passing by his antient and now doubtful protection of Montferrat ought at least not to hinder him from possessing himself of that State whereunto he had long pretended Hereunto was added the streight
Chamber in defence of the Valtoline which did appertain little or nothing to the Church but spare them for the eminent danger of the State of Urbine which speeches being accompanied with some other favourable Demonstrations to the French did trouble the Spaniards and made them very circumspect in the business of Urbino lest the Pope to make a greater conjunction with the King of France might probably precipitate the business of the Valtoline and yet being naturally very considerate he had two Consultations about the business of the Valtoline of the most conspicuous Theologists of the Court and most exemplary for holiness of life who having discus'd the business were of opinion that the Pope ought not to permit Catholicks to return under the yoke of Hereticks out of the evident danger of their souls which belonging to the Flock of our Saviour Christ it became him according to the Gospel to defend them like a good Shepherd from the Wolves though with the hazard of his own life Thus did the Affairs of the Valtoline alter out of several respects in that Court just like the ebbing and flowing of the Sea and the Pope not being resolved what to do in it that he might hold them both in hand temporized and delai'd his resolution but the French who whilst Gregory lived were quiet when they had a Pope who was their friend began to rouse up and to pretend that the Valtoline the Forts being demolished was to return under the Grisons command nor did they admit of any exception unless that for what concern'd the safety of the Catholick Religion the Pope should be the determiner this they said was dictated by the first Capitulations at Madrid and thus Reason and the King of France his Obligation to Protect the Grifons did require they persisted the more in these pretentions for that they saw their affairs were much altered for in the Spanish Court instead of alliance enmity with the English was increased the Spanish Army in Flanders and all the Forces of those States were busied before Breda a very strong Town of the Hollanders both for Situation Fortification and for its being triple fenced by water the taking of it was held impossible the Siege very long and of uncertain success the Hollanders having raised a strong Army to relieve it The Affairs of that Court had had but bad success in the Indies and in America for Ormuz a very strong Town situated in the mouth of Persia a principal place for Merchandize and of great annual revenue and of greater concernment for the command of the East-Indies was taken by those Barbarians they being assisted by English shipping the Baja de todes santos or All Saints Bay the chiefest staple Town of Brasile being perhaps in pursuance of the League of Avignon assaulted by a Holland Fleet was taken and sack'd which having had booty thâ—…re to the value of above two Millions of Ducates fortified themselves there intending further progress these were two mighty blows to the Crown of Spain which did oblige that King to send a powerful Army as he did to recover them and to boot that the event of these Affairs was uncertain they required great store of shipping multitudes of men and money nor were the wars of Germany yet wholly at an end for many Rebels of the Empire and whose Forces seemed rather to increase then to lessen did molest it in several places for the King of Denmark in conformity to the League at Avignon came into the Field very strong and had made himself head of the Protestant Princes who took up Arms against the Emperour to restore the Palatine to his Patrimonial State and who made great progress in the lower Germany On the contrary the Affairs of France which till now had been full of troubles and civil wars seemed to be brought into a safe Harbour and by several accidents to be in a better condition the King of England having broken the match with Spain had concluded a Marriage between his Son the Prince of Wales and a Sister to the King of France who was yet unmarried and joyning in League with him promised great things against the interest of Spain both by Sea and Land answerable to the League of Avignon and the tumults of France were either totally composed or it was in the Kings power to end them which accidents concurring at the same time were able to incite any Prince to novelties though never so much an enemy thereunto much more the King of France and French Nation who were so far interessed and ingaged in the business of the Valtoline and therefore though after many Consultations had in Rome between the Embassadours of Spain and France of themselves and afterwards with the Pope the Pope put forth at last some Articles touching the security in point of Religion amongst those of the Valtoline whereunto the Embassadour did agree and made others between themselves in their Kings name whereby the Valtoline when the Forts should be demolished was to return to be under the Grisons but with some Articles Conditions and upon pain of Escheat in case of swarving from the agreement and particularly with leave for the King of Spain to pass men thorow it yet the King of France accepting only those that were propounded by the Pope did absolutely refuse those that were agreed upon by the Embassadour and being highly offended with the Commandator Sillery who was his Embassadour he sent Monsieur di Bittune to succeed him and sent for Sillery back to France and did not only deprive him of his favour but removed his Brother who was Lord Chancellor and the Chancellors Son who was Secretary of State together with other of their dependants from their imployments being apprehensive as was said that they held some secret intelligence with the Court of Spain and being incensed against the King of Spain desired the Pope that he would either cause the Forts to be demolished or else restore them to the King of Spain to the end that he might make way to their demolishment without offence to the Apostolick See but the Articles of depositure withstood the demolishing and the restitution was gainsaid for fear of raising new wars between the two Kings so as look with how much more circumspection it became the Pope to proceed in his resolves so much more did the fervency of the French increase who not brooking any delay and seeing things in a way for war furthered the execution of the League and the preparations for all things requisite for what was resolved on But the Marriage which was just at this time in hand between Prince Phileberto of Savoy and Princess Maria Daughter to Francis late Duke of Mantua did either totally hinder or at least retard for the present the effects of so great a combination by which Treaty the Duke of Savoy who if he were not the head was a principal member of this League was diverted from the common Counsels The Spaniards had
banish'd from his Paternal Country which God and Nature had given him and complaining of the imputations wherewith he was charged that he held intelligence in the Towns of Piedmont and of his being threatned with the French Army he added that as the small company which he brought with him into Piedmont did fully demonstrate the vanity of the imputations which were laid unto him so it shewed how little he feared the French Forces building upon the peoples love and favour against any attempt of the French he finally desired her not to credit such imputations and not to shew any resentment upon those who were maliciously blamed to have held treaties with him but this his intercession prevailed not for being found guilty they were by the Senate condemn'd to be put to death process was made against the Governour who was kept prisoner in Turin till such time as he was set at liberty by the Princes when they took Turin as shall be said hereafter and he died afterwards of a natural death whilst he took up Arms in the Princes behalf whose quarrel he embraced as soon as he was at liberty The Princes forbore not for all this to pursue their pretences and being desirous that their justification might precede their taking up Arms they made use of the anger which the house of Austria had conceived against the Dowager for her having renewed the League and for her having joyn'd in Arms with the King of France and by the favour of the Court of Spain which had embraced their cause they obtained a Monitory Decree directed to the Dowager from the Emperour as from the Sovereign Lord of Savoy wherein she was fairly exhorted to forego the League which she had renewed with France and to appear before the Cesarean Tribunal to justifie the Guardianship of her Son and the Regency of the State which she had taken upon her The Senate and Nobility and people of Piedmont were also ordered by the same Decree to perswade the Dowager that Cesars Orders might be duly executed but all this would not do the Dowager would not admit of such Decrees or Citations pretending them to be novelties and attempts upon the Sovereignty of the Piedmontese Principality no Emperour having ever formerly interssed himself in Guardianships This mean while Prince Thomaso about the end of February in the year 1639 came from Flanders to the State of Millain to prosecute his and his Brothers pretentions whither as soon as he was come they agreed upon the manner and way of making war upon Piedmont The whole business was by the Emperour refer'd to Don Francisco di Melo the King of Spains Plenipotentiary to the Princes of Italy with whom after many discourses it was concluded that war should be made to possess the Princes of Savoy in the Guardianship of their Nephew and in the Regency of the State and amongst other things it was agreed that the King of Spain should assist them herein and should work with the Emperour to declare them to be their Nephews Guardians and Regents of the State to the exclusion of the Dowager that the Towns whereinto the Princes should be received by the peoples free will should have Garrisons put into them by the Princes and that those which should be taken by Force of Arms should have Garrisons put into them by the Governour of Millain he being bound to restore them to whom they should be decreed by the general Peace and that howsoever the Politick Government of Justice and the Revenues should belong unto the Princes as Governours of the State but the Governour who was to make the war refused to subscribe these Capitulations for he said he was ordered by the King of Spain to make the War of Piedmont upon his Majesties account wherefore he could not alter the title without new Orders but he assured the Princes that he would connive at and underhand allow them whatsoever was contained in the Capitulation The Princes might clearly see by this that the Spanish Agents were not to fight upon their interests but upon those of the King of Spain and that they were to make use of the favour and assistance which the Princes had with the people for the more happy progress of the Kings Forces in Piedmont and they might have known it better by the very substance of the Agreement though the Governour should have subscribed it but the necessity which the Princes were brought into made them care the less for future danger so they might escape the present or were it that they did assuredly hope that all the Towns even those wherein the strongest Garrisons were the Garrisons and Governours being Piedmontese would willingly receive them when they should appear with convenient Forces for they were so confident of the peoples favour as they thought it would be always in their power to dispose of them as they listed wherefore being desirous to forward the business they thought good to give way to what the Spaniards desired The Governour making use of the pretence of putting the Princes into the Government of the State did not only think to drive the French out of Piedmont but to make himself master of the chief Towns of that Principality and so to make the Princes and all Piedmont depend upon the King Things being thus established the Princes plainly let the Dowager know their intention which was to come to Turin to keep there to serve her to take order for their own and for the common affairs to defend the Vassals to free the State from the imminent danger of Forreign Forces and to preserve it for the Duke to whose Guardianship as also to the Goverment of the State they were chosen and deputed by the Emperour even to the exclusion of her the Dowager and yet they added that they would be contented to take 〈◊〉 in for a third in the Guardianship and Regency declaring finally that nothing less would content them and that they were resolved to do their utmost and to lose their lives rather then not compass this that was so justly due unto them The Dowager who neither in respect of the King of France his authority nor for her tie of consideracy could not only not receive the Princes who adâ—…ed to the Spaniards in part nor in whole into the Guardianship or Regency but neither suffer them to tarry in Piedmont thought this answer to be an intimation of War but was not thereat any whit abash'd but gave order that Proclamations should presently be made throughout the State that the people should take up Arms for the defence of their Lord the Duke whose preservation was concern'd in this War and for the defence of their Country which was shortly to be assaulted by Spanish Forces led on by the Princes she hoped by this means to prevent their intentions but she failed therein for the people as the sequel will demonstrate were much devoted to their natural Princes and more inclined to be govern'd by them then by