Extraordinary Revenews of the Dutchy of Milan and for that cause a proclamation was made by the said Fontano's authority in King Philips name which was smartly answered and opposed by the Family of the Malaspines and had almost given an Alarm amongst the said Princes had not most of the Embassadorâ— in King Philips Court interceded with him and at length obtained that the prosecution of the businesse might be protracted and suffered to vanish Thuan lib. 134. 5. Anno 1606. there arose a controversie between Pope Paul the fifth and the State of Venice about certain Priviledges vvhich when it was almost brought to a friendly composition by the endeavour of Henry the fourth of France the Spanish faction the chief vvhereof were Cardinall Pompeio Arrigovio Paulo Sfondrato and Ferdinando Pacero Duke of Ascalonia by the pravalency of King Philips Embassador with the Pope the businesse was not onely frustrated but also brought to open war and the Pope excommunicated the Venetians and Philip forthwith by lettters artificiously pen'd offered his service to the Pope to that end Fontano listed Souldiers apace and yet nevertheless he sent Francisco de Castro as Extraordinary to Venice with intention that if the matter inclined to a peace which he having kindled the war at first began already to suspect he might praecept the honor of the pacification from the King of France or at least have a great share in it by his intervention But the common report in the Court of Rome was that Philip according to the Rule of his Ancestors was glad to hear of such Disputes amongst other Princes concerning the Popes Supremacy as in relation to Civil Government yea and to have them agitated up and down in Spain it self by connivencie as conceiving them not to belong to him at all he being very potent and using to quash the Popes attempts in all his dominions with a word well knowing that his Holinesse dares not so much as hiss against him which was sufficiently demonstrated afterwards in the businesse of Sicily yea and the Spaniards boyling with the heat of ambition convert such wars and feditions as spring from thence to their own privat advantage as lying in ambush in the mean while to see if any of the weaker Princes be prescribed that so they have an occasion to invade their Dominions as it hapned in the seizure of the kingdom of Navarre even in our parents dayes Thuan. lib. 137. 7. When Ferdinand King of Spain and Arragon Anno 1501. attempted the Kingdom of Naples and took the Citie of Tarento with Ferdinand son to Frederick King of Naples in it he swore to him by Gonsalvo before the Altar that he would leave him the liberty of a King but yet he slighted his oath sent him prisoner into Spain and reserved the kingdom for himself 8. By the exhortation of Ferdinand called the Catholick Henry the eighth King of England sent 6000 English into Spain to joyn with the Spaniards in the invasion of the Dutchy of Chira but Ferdinand who had a quite other designe sent them against John Albert King of Navarre by the right of Catherine de la Fosse who being wholly unprovided for Ferdinand carried his business with high dissimulation towards him fled into France and so Ferdinand seized the kingdom of Navarre without any cost or pains Speculum Tragicum Anno 1612. 9. It is no newes for the Spaniards to sow sedition in divers kingdoms at one and the same time as they did Anno 158â— in France and England Thuan. lib. 179. 10. Anno 1581. The Spaniards sowed discord amongst the Knights of Maltha by setting Matuirno Scuto Romaegassio against John Bishop of Casserio Avernio chief of that Order and casting him in prison from whence he was cited to Rome to his triall whither he came and stoutly acquitted himself howbeit he dyed during his abode there Thuan. lib. 74. 12. The Spaniards raised seditions in Scotland and sollicited with vain promises some Noblemen to a revolt some of whom were beheaded for it The States to the Letters of Ernestus Anno 1594. Thuan. lib. 109. 13. Antonio de Laeva a Spaniard and Governor of Lumbardy for Charles the fifth being besieged at Milan thought fit to spare neither things Humane nor Divine for the maintenance of his own honor and Caesars dignity and in stead of pay granted every Citie and every Citizen thereof to be most inhumanly plundred by the Souldiers that by the ejection of the Duke of Milan Sforsa might enjoy the command of so great a Principate Paulus Jovius lib. 6. Elogiorum 14. Hugo de Moncada governed Sicily after such a fashion that he left many monuments of avarice and cruelty behind him for he put many Sicilian Gentlemen to death and amongst the rest the Lord of Camerata for that he lived somewhat seditiously according to the ancient loosness of that Nation Paul Jov. lib. 6. Elog. 15. How cruelly did they use the Hussites in Bohemia as beating them dragging them cutting children in two and throwing them to their mothers saying Jam habes sub utraque Now thou hast it under both alluding to the ceremony of the Hussites who took the Sacrament under both species 16. Thomas Campanella in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy Chap. 26. faith That the King of Spain must take care that none but a Catholick king be elected to the Crown of Poland And therefore wise noble Embassadors must be sent to Câ—achoven to give weight and authority to the Spanish union amongst the Electors and prevail to have one of the King of Spains younger sons chosen King of Poland And the people of Scandinaven and Dantzick must also be moved to set forth a Fleet to sea against the English c. CHAP. XV. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and Rule IF that old saying Semper imperare superiorem esse aliis Alwayes to command and be superior to others be innate to any Nation it is certainly so more to the Spaniards then to any other since all their actions cogitations and consultations tend to that end and therefore they may most clearly consent and say with Caesar Si violandum est jus regnandi causa violandum If right must be wrong'd it must be wrong'd for Powers sake For this reason they are not afraid by publick writings to admonish and exhort their king yea and to shew him the wayes and means how he may arrive to the universall Monarchy amongst whom Thomas Campanella is the Ring-leader Nor did Charles the fifth seem to have laid slight foundations for this Monarchy when besides those kingdoms which he possest by right of succession in the West and elsewere he was also made Emperour of the Romans to which were yet added other titles afterwards and it hath been hitherto the onely business of the Spaniards to be alwayes in warres that so they may be ready upon all occasions to produce that Monarchy of the whole Christian world which they have long since
conceived For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale to this end were the seditions raysed in Scotland c. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause and in the Dutchy of Cleve Gulick and the Imperial Citie of Aquisgrane Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109. 5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphick Oracle and most infallible prophesie That the last Monarchy shall be fixt in Spain and that for this reason that in regard it came in order from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece and returned for a few years into Asia again under Alexander and his successors at length out of Greece to Rome therefore it necessarily followes that it must be establisht in Spain as being the most Westward of all other Countreys Thuan. lib. 133. 6. The Spaniards for the setling of their Monarchy by warres fraud and other plots destroy as many as are able to oppose them as Anno 1584. when Andino according to most mens opinions was poysoned whereof he being dead the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed by one hired of the Duke of Parma and the Queen of England aimd at by the same Arts at the same time lib. 79. 7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more then by subduing all other Kings and Princes to make themselves Monarchs of the whole Christian world Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118. 8. At the election of Charles the fifth Anno 1519. one of the Episcopall Electors said That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire would hardly restore it again to its liberty Sleidanus 9. The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy do not only permit but allow and perswade even incestuous marriages lest by the division of kingdoms forsooth their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Moreover for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces to streighten their priviledges liberties to impose new taxes and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches to poverty and misery Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60. 11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is to take off all free Elections which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperours and in the kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary yea and by the exclusion of the right heirs to advance their own Kings to kingdoms as in the said kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 69. 13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion his son Philip was troubled at it as if he had not had kingdomes enough even without those Provinces which when the Father observed he comforted him saying Quidvis promittas quid enim promittere laedit That he had indeed promised those Provinces but that there were many by-wayes and tricks to be found out to shun the performance Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 108. 14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon wherein he told them in most eloquent words That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong to get and occupate other kingdomes that so he might come to the long hop'd for Monarchy For it was fâ—r that since there was but one Head namely the Pope in spiritual affairs so there should be also but one namely the King of Spain in temporal and that he was therefore called Catholick because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world Now the wiser sort do justly conceive these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. That the inexpleble covetousnesse of the king of Spain was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine and that they were reputed his enemies by him whosoever should endeavour to stop or hinder his designe to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family Thuan. lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power that they never fail in all their kings dominions to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices and substitute Castillians in their places which more disgusted the Catalonians then any thing else as may be seen up and down in their complaint anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point and especially chap. 34.35 16. Antonio de Leva charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperour and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Dutchy of Milan and himself put in his place Paul Jovius lib. 6. Elog. 17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand to abdicate the Roman Empire and transfer it upon his son Philip or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy and the Low Countreys But Ferdinand answered him That he was called Augustus or the enlarger of the Empire and therefore he could not grant ought thereof to any other Zniegrefius part 1. Apotheg p. 112. 18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperour and answer being made That Europ was like a mans Body and that Spain represented the Head And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperour Livius Fink Graecensis replied If so then Germany wins the day for she is like the Belly and it is clear that the Belly rules all and all obey the Belly Znicgrefius p. 1. Apotheg p. 309. CHAP. XVI The Ambition Arrogance Boasting and Scorn of the Spaniards AS it happened to C. Caesar and Cn. Pompeius that the one could not endure a Superior and the other an Equall so is it also with the Spanish Nation For conceiving themselves only to be Eagles and to fly above the clouds they look upon all others as Dolopes or creepers as they frequently testifie both by their words and deeds When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugall the Spaniards to terrifie the Portuguezes boasted thus That there was no power equall to that of the Spaniards who as often as they had had warres had vanquisht France led the Princes of Germany in triumph put the Turk to flight and freed Maltha from the Barbarians Thuan. lib. 97. 2. King Philip the second after the seizure of Portugall whether justly or unjustly I say not caused money to be coyned with this Inscription Non sufficit orbis Luckius in Nummis p. 279. 3. When the
appear by the States answer to Peck 8. It is undoubted that the Spaniards treat peace to no other end then to collect their forces and work their designes by any means they can to scrue into the secrets of their adversaries to corrupt some and draw them to their party and to sow the seed of discord amongst others which hath been tried by France Flanders and Savoy and may be seen in various discourses of de jure Publico and what is more common then Lipsius his Consultatio Epistolica 9. All endeavour must be used saith Thomas Campanella Discursu de Monar Hisp c. 23. to breed perpetual discord between the Marquess of Brandenburgh the Landgrave of Hassia and the Duke of Saxony between the Duke of Brunswick and the Palatine of the Rhyne between the Duke of Wirtenbergh and the lower States of Germany c. CHAP. XXIV The Briberies and Pecuniary corruptions of the Spaniards THe Kings of Spain have learned to fight as well with silver and golden pikes as their Souldiers with iron ones yea and perhaps they effect ten times more with those then these and therefore they spare no Bribes how great soever to the Councellors and Secretaries of Kings and Princes to render them obnoxious to themselves or to tempt and seduce the Governors of Towns and Castles c. 1. Nicolas Hosta Villaroy's Secretary had a yearly pention of MCC crowns to reveal his Masters secrets to the Spaniards who when the business was discovered endeavouring to save himself by flight was drowned and his body proceeded against according to Law Thuan. lib. 132. 2. Charles Howard Earl of Nottingham being Embassador in Spain Anno 1605. had ptesents made him by that king which were said to be worth above XXXM pounds besides the presents sent to his wife his sons and son in law yea and Willongs Norrice and others of his train were also richly presented finally a pension of XIIM pounds as it is reported promised the said Embassador Thuan. lib. 133. 3. The Spaniards offered the Counsellors of Frederick Elector of Saxony a great sum of money at the election of Charles the fifth and they asking their foresaid Master whether they should take it or no he answered Yes you may take it but know withall that afterwards you must be no more any Counsellors of mine Znickgrefius Apothegmate 4. When Anno 1607. The consultation of Truce began between the Archduke and the States of Holland Fryar Ney forthwith began to tempt some men with money whereof Barnefeldt publickly complained Thuan. lib. 138. 5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. sayes That the King of Spain uses all means possible to corrupt the Ministers of Princes with gifts and bribes yea and sometimes also with menaces and by their means to get their Masters into his power and under colour of Protection to circumvent them and hurry them up and down at his pleasure 6. I forbear to relate the corruptions of the Governours of Towns and Castles c. For the trecherous conditions of Gertrudenbergh Geldres Zutphan Doesburgh c. are sufficiently known 7. The Spaniards got the lower Palatinate rather by money then force of Arms for as one said Hispanicos duplones facere duplices nebulones The Spanish Dublons make double Knaves And Thomas Campanella cap. 26. saith That the Spanish Gold hath a great strength CHAP. XXV That the Spaniards are murtherers DOlus an virtus quis in hoste requirat This was anciently a Symbol of the Heathens but it is now the fifth Gospel of our Spaniards We have already spoken of other juggles and frauds but there is yet one trick more whereby when they cannot do their businesse by open warres they endeavour to destroy Kings and Princes by secret deceitfull and murtherous plots Nor need wee fetch examples from the Indies as having plenty of them in Kingdoms and States neer at hand for who is so great a stranger to the proceedings in France in our times but that he knows that the Spaniards incited Peter Auden a Carthusian Monk to kill Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 118. sub finem And of their practises against the Queen of England I have spoken sufficiently before 2. The Prince of Orange was no less then six times attempted to be murthered by the Spanish Emissaries sicariss as 1. Au. 1589. by John Jaurege Thuan. l. 75. 2. by Nicolas Salcedo c. who also endeavoured to kill Allenson Duke of Brabant 3. by Peter du Vignon 4. by Balthazar Gerardi who also often sought to murther Prince William and at last effected it upon the sixth of July 1584. Thuan. lib. 79. Spec. Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 84. 3. In the same manner was Prince Maurice of Orange exposed to the danger of his life by men corrupted by the Spaniards with money to that end who voluntarily confest it and were punished according to their deserts amongst whom was Michael Renichove 1594. 2. Peter du Four 3. Peter Panne and others of whom Thuan and Metteran 4. I will omit to speak of persons of meaner quality who have perisht by the Spanish treachery since it appears both by History and experience that nothing is more treacherous and more practicall in this Art then the Spanish Nation 5. A certain Spaniard having murthered two women and being condemned to die for it the Governor of Gant a Spaniard said That it was not fit that so honorable a person then employed in the Kings service for he was a common Souldier should be put to death for killing of a paltry woman or two Met. lib. 27. 1606. 6. Indeed there is nothing more frequent with the Spaniards then to poyson and destroy privatly such as they cannot do openly according to the Flemish Proverb Yemandt een Spaensche Vijgh koocken To dress any one a Spanish Figg CHAP. XXVI The Cruelty and promiscuous tyranny of the Spaniards ALthough it be evident enough by what I have already related that there is nothing more cruell nor more barbarously tyrannicall then the Spaniards yet will it be convenient for the confirmation of the argument of this chapter to alledge some examples thereof here that so I may seem not to neglect the Readers satisfaction and from whence can I more properly take my rise then from the Low-Countreys For how many of the prime Nobility did the Duke of Alva destroy partly by the hand of the Executioner and partly by the warres c. He condemned them promiscuously both Gentle and Simple to nasty Jayls caused many of them to be drag'd to death unheard and unconvicted confiscated their Estates The Trees through all Holland he made frequently serve for Gallows where men were hanged and their wives put to Spaniards against their wills yea and some women were put to death because by disguise or otherwise they helpt to save their husbands At Vtrick he hanged a man for suffering his son who was banished to lodge one night in his house and another for giving a poor
dâ—spatcht to some Office or employment farre from their Lordships where they may spend more then they get and if the King chance to go on progress he should do well to lodge at their houses thereby to put them to extraordinary charges And he further saith chap. 15. That as soon as the King hath conquered any Nation he must take away the immoveable goods of the people allow them only food and clothing and make them till the earth forcing their sons to be either Souldiers or Husbandmen 11. Nor must this practice of the Spaniards be past over in oblivion namely that they use to call Lords and Earles and such as are richest and most in power and favour with the people in any of their Dominions to the kings Court under any pretext whatsoever as of bearing an Embassie or commanding an Army c. out of hope whereof they are not wont to appeâ—r without great magnificence and spâ—endor and when they have made their appearance the Spaniards pretending sometimes one thing and sometimes another delay and detain them not only one but many years till by expectation they have spent and wasted the greatest part of their estates and are fain to pawn them to others And this practice they chiefly observe in the kingdom of Naples CHAP. XXX The various Apothegmes and Observations concerning the Spaniards A Certain Spaniard called Ferdinando Soto coming into the Isle of Florida said He was the son of God to whom one of the natives answered If your God whose son thou sayst thou art commands you to invade the Dominions Provinces and Estates of others and there to kill slay snatch wrest steal spoyle whore adulterate c. we tell you plainly that we cannot believe in such a God Another Indian speaking with Hieronymo Benzoon said What kind of people are these Christians They take away our bread our hony our sugar our cloathes our wives our daughters our silver our gold and what ever we hold dear They will not work they are cheaters theeves robbers plunderers before they go to Mass they brawle scuffle and hurt one another And when Benzon told him they were not all such he replied I never yet saw a good and honest Spaniard Joan. Petit. in Chron. Holland lib. 6. Martin Luther was wont to say That as the Spaniards write otherwise then they read so they think otherwise then they speak At the siege of Frankendal a certain Captain fell into the hands of the Spaniards who bidding him yeeld himself and they would give him quarter he cryed out aloud I will have no quarter of the Spaniard but quarter in heaven and so after he had received many wounds dyed with his sword in his hand The Spaniards having once petitioned Charles the fifth to remove all the drunken Germans from his Court he at length convocated all the Germans and shewing them the petition of the Spaniards pretended to go along with them which the Spaniards perceiving most earnestly besought him to stay Idem pag. 94. A certain Spanish Captain asked a subject of the Palatin why they so strongly and faithfully adhered to their Prince since he had been the cause of their being so opprest and exhausted in war by strangers The other answered Why should we not love him and stick close to him for we paid not so much to him in a whole year as to you in a moneth Znickgref p. 1. Apotheg p. 336. A certain Gascon called Pyrrhinuncule coming to his Inne and having a Ducklin oyld and garlickt set to Table a Spanish traveller suddenly stept in and casting his eye upon the Ducklin Sir quoth he may a friend be welcom to you What is your name sir said the Gascon the Spaniard strutted and answered Don Alopanzo Ansimarchides Hiberoneus Alorchides Marry out quoth the Gascon Four Spanish Lorsd to one poor little Bird God forbid here is but enough for Pyrrhinuncle alone for small things become small persons Simon Majolus in Canicularibus p. 326. The Spaniards traduced the Germans to Charles the fifth and especially the Souldlers intreating him to make a proclamation to forbid them drunkenness To whom he answered I should effect as much with them by such a Proclamation as I should with you by forbidding you fornicacation adultery and rapacity Hector Vogelman Chancellor of Wirtenbergh being asked by Duke Frederick his Master what rarities he had seen in Spain answered Mountains of pride and vallies of tears and happy is he who believes it without going to see it A Spaniard seeing a Fleming at dinner with a boyld Capon without Limmons cryed out with great vvonder What is a Capon without Limmons The Fleming answered And what are Limmons without a Capon Spinola at the treaty of the Truce between the King of Spain and the States shewed Prince Maurice some golden Apples and Citrons and bragged that they grew twice a year in Spain but the Prince shewed him a Holland Cheese and said This Fruit growes every day with us in Holland Bartholome de la Casa a Spanish Bishop so often cited in this Book lib. de Descrip Tyran Hispan in India Describes the Spaniards with various Epithets and Titles and amongst others he sayes That they are hellish Tyrants plunderers of the Empire that by too much greediness of gold they sold and still sell denyed and still deny Jesus Christ that they are not Christians but Divels Not servants of God or Ministers of their King but Traytors Destroyers Robbers and Overthrowers of the Lawes and Ordinances of their King Villains fell Tygers devouring Wolves fierce Lyons pestilent men more mischievous then any plague from heaven voracious Dragons wild Beasts Butchers Hangmen c. The Book intituled Speculum Indiae occident printed at Amsterdam in Lowe Dutch sayes thus A Spaniard is like the Divel the more good a man does him the more will he plague him but such as value him not and care not for him he lets alone The Nobility of the Kingdome of Maguara being advised by the Spaniards to render themselves to the obedience of the king of Spain and embrace the Christian Religion said amongst themselves That they could not perceive that they should receive a better Religion then they should forsake in regard say they that we see no more good nor righteousness in their actions then in our own and our faith does us no hurt as long as our Gods defend our religion and are favourably inclined thereto But their religion brings us much mischief and unsafety and therefore neither can their Gods be good nor can the Christians be any where welcom for that they endeavour to overthrow and extirpate such mercifull Gods and such a merciful Religion The Emperour Charles the fifth being to depart out of the Low-Countries for Spain most earnestly commended those Provinces and the Nobility thereof for their singular faith and loyalty towards him for vvhich indeed he extraordinarily loved them to Philip 2. his son exhorting him to love them cherish them and advance them as his most faithfull subjects and not to shew too much favour to the Spaniards vvhose natures he very well knew as having had them alwayes about him nor suffer them to contemn oppress or in any wise abuse the said Nobility and subjects For said he I very much suspect the innate haughtiness and pride of the Spaniards if they get to the helm of the Government they should convert pervert and evert all and run the ship against the Rocks And some of the Dutch Nobility standing not farre off pointing them out with his finger to his aforesaid son Seest thou my sonne said he those Lords and Gentlemen Those are they upon whose faith I have hitherto relyed and whom I have chiefly trusted rely thou also upon them and trust them c. But Philip quickly forgot this advice of his Fathers and trusted chiefly to the perswasions of the Spaniards and consequently both he and his Successors received such fruit as they desired not from them THE CONCLUSION I Have now shewed you enough and more then enough indeed of the Spaniards and yet if any body fall short of his satisfaction herewith I remit him to the various Authors which I have cited and alledged in this small Book But methinks it should suffice the courteous reader as wel as it doth me for the present to have demonstrated that there is no Nation which hath given more and greater testimonies and prejudices of prevarications and exorbitations both in this and in the other world then the Spaniards therefore have they most deservingly incurred the hatred of all other nations I will add no more but onely declare in this writing that such as either blinded by the Spaniards gold or inticed by their briberies make it no scruple of conscience to serve them to the destruction of their Countrey Religion and Liberty do not only not perform the duty of good Patriots or true-born men of their said Countrey but are rather Sinons who lay open the walls and gates thereof to the common enemy and make a bridge for the Trojan Horse to come to invade fire and destroy our Ilion ah truly Ilion But God avert that evil both from them and us Amen FINIS
howbeit they had made peace and league with Charles the eighth yet by privat dispatches of letters and Agents to all parts and especially to Venice they brake it and instantly made war upon the French as Comines testifies lib. 5. belli Neapolitani p. 926. 23. An. 1614. Francisco Suarez a Spanish Jesuit set forth a scandalous Book against the State of the kingdomes of England France which was publickly burnt at Paris by order of Parliament howbeit the said Book was set forth by the approbation of Joan Alvarez Provincial of that Society CHAP. VII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England VVE have staid long enough in a continent let us now passe the Sea and see whether the King of Spain have shewn himself more faithfull to the English then to the French and others Not a whit Read what follows and you will find with me that a Wolf is every where a Wolf Attempts against Q Elizabeth and would as well take and devour the markt as unmarkt sheep And to begin with Queen Elizabeth it cannot be denied but that the Spaniard used all possible means to deprive her both of her kingdom and of her life Thuan testifies lib. 44. Anno 1569. that Mary Queen of Scots by the instigation of the Spaniards and others endeavoured to innovate things in England and to that end Rudolphus Robertus came into England to solicite the English to disloyalty and promise them great matters from the Pope and the King of Spain and he was employed by the Queen as her chief Minister and Assistant 2. That the Spanish Ministers by their Emissaries the Jesuits induced the Duke of Norfolk Anno 1572. to undertake dangerous designes against Queen Elizabeth was not doubted of by the wiser sort of those times yea and he was brought to lose his head for it Hist Belg. 3. In the year 1601. the King of Spain by the instigation of Garnet Robert a Jesuit endeavoured to trouble affairs in England but that enterprize being detected vanisht into smoak Metteranus lib. 27. 4. That the King of Spain did direct all his enterprises that by the Jesuits he might molest the affairs and innovate Religion in England so many reiterated designes but most of them being frustrated the writing made against the Jesuits in England 1602. in which among other titles they have this name that they are the King of Spains Trumpeters I cannot forbear to speak of that stupendious Fleet which was sent against England and the Queen Anno. 1588. 5. The King of Spain trecherously thinking to destroy Queen Elizabeth and to possesse himself of the English Nation provided a mighty Navy consisting of one hundred and thirty ships where of Galeasses and Galleons seventy two goodly ships like to floating Towers in which were Souldiers 19290. Mariners 8350. Gally slaves 2080. great Ordnance 2630. On the twentieth of May they weighed Anchor from the River Trigas but were by tempest so miserably disperst that it was long ere they met again But they sent before to the Prince of Parma that he with his Forces consisting of fifty thousand old Souldiers should be ready to joyn with them and with his shipping to conduct them into England and to land his Army at the Thames mouth But God so ordered that partly by distresse of weather and partly by the valour of the English they were driven back with infinite loss and disgrace 6 Fontano a Spaniard with a vast sum of money to wit 50000 Pistols corrupted Doctor Lopez to poyson Queen Elizabeth as the said Lopez himself together with Emanuel Ludovicus Tinotius Stephanus Errera freely confest Thuan. lib. 109. 7. Ibarra attempted the same plot upon the said Queen by Edmond of York Cousin german to him who perfidiously betrayed the Fort of Zutphan to the enemy as also by Richard Williams besides another youth and other complices for which he promised them 40000 Pistols 8. Anno 1601. the Spaniards were brought into Ireland by Hugh Earle of Tiron but were but scurvily entertained there Thuan. lib. 125. 9. When in the year 1603. certain Engglish were taken and executed for a conspiracy against the King Carolus Ligneus Count of Aremberg who was then Embassador there from the Archduke Albert was suspected to have conspired with them Thuan. lib. 129. 10. The King of Spain not long after the death of Mary Queen of Scots ordered the Duke of Parma then Governor of the Low Countries to promise in his name the King of Scotland both men and mony against the Queen of England thereby the more easily to revenge his mothers death And to that end the said Duke sent Robert Bruss a Scotch Gentleman into Scotland with a great deal of money Besides that the Scotch King was put in hope to marry the Infanta of Spain provided that he embrac'd the Roman Religion which was proposed by one William Crichâ—on who then belonged to the Popes Nuntio and had formerly been Rector sometime of the Jesuits Colledge at Lyons and he endeavoured to perswade Bruss either by force or fraud to kill John Metelan High Chancelor of Scotland and because Bruss abhorred so wicked a fact Crichton accused him to Fontano who clapt him up in prison for fourteen moneths together See Hospinian 11. How cunningly some of the Spanish Emissaries endeavoured to perswade James then King of Scotland and afterwards of England too that it was necessary for him to have a league and friendship with the King of Spain saying that it would much advantage him to have the favour of the Spaniards Thuan. lib. 83. 12. The dangerous designes of the Spaniards by the Jesuits and their Emissaries to destroy both the Queen and Kingdom of England Anno 1596. is described by Thuan and others in the English Complaint to Pope Clement the eighth 13. Divers outrages and Acts of hostility have been committed by the Spaniards against the subjects of England in their Colonies of the West Indies 14 Anno 1605. Certain English men being on the North side of Hispaniola were enticed a shore by a Priest named Father John on promise of secure trading were inhumanly and barbarously murthered by the Spaniards The Master was tied naked to a tree and most cruelly pinched and stung to death 15. An. 1608. The Richard of Plimouth trading to Virginia was assaulted by the King of Spains ships and notwithstandding the Master produced the Broad Seal of England he with all the men were condemned to the Gallies where some were with much cruelty beaten to death 16. With what tricks and juggles the Match in Spain between the late King Charles and the King of Spains daughter was treated prolonged and at last quite eluded is sufficiently known to such as were employed in that business So that Spaniards are every where Spaniards CHAP. VIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugall WHen Sebastian King of Portugall Anno 1578. resolved to undertake that Expedition into Africa fatall
intollerable pride by the depression of others 6. That the Vice-kings Officers and Governors have ingrost all the riches of all the Provinces Ibid. 7. By how much the severer an Officer professes himfelf in the kingdome of Naples especially towards the Nobility in so much the more favour and esteem is he with the Spaniards by whom he is advanced in Court and exalted to higher degrees and titles 8. The aforementioned Author also complains of other burthens imposed and daily to be imposed upon that kingdome as of an extraordinary Donative of certain * Granos Granos is as I remember about an English penny or somwhat more in value which every Fire or Family is bound to pay for the quartering of Souldiers and for salaries to the Vice-kings Train of seven Granos for the guard of the Towers of five Granos for the Field-Sergeants of nine Granos for the reparation of the wayes of the tax for five foot Souldiers upon a hundred fires of yearly pensions of the new tribute put upon wrought and unwrought silk of the tax upon Cards which is farmed at 20000 Crowns a year and other emunctions of this kind 9. He complains that the King of Spains Vice king commanded the Neapolitans once to make and eat the bread of a certain root called Panis porcinus or Hoggs bread which proclamation was nevertheless forthwith suspended under pretext that it was commanded onely to try whether in time of need that bread would suffice 10. He complains that the Vice-king would needs crown a certain fellow called Catinario who was rich indeed but not considerable otherwise in despight of the Order of Knighthood 11. He complains that he took the Princes daughter out of a Monastery by force under pretext to try whether she had a mind to marry or no when the true reason of it was because he resolved to match her to his own son 12. He complains that when the States of the kingdom intended to send the Donative of the kingdome to the King by their own men the Vice-king would needs send it by his men and forced them to deliver it to him 14. He complains that he got in a short time seven thousand pistols a year for his wife and as much for his son Bernardino out of the Church Revenewes c. That Dispute was written An. 1579. in the beginning of April and it is to be seen in Thesauro Politico Casp Ensi part 3. Apothegmate 62. CHAP. XIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Common-wealths thereof IT would be a business of too much length for me by going through a series of Histories to pick out all the prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Princes and Republicks thereof and insert them into this Narration especially since some of them against the Pope are already alledged and other are to be alledged Cap. de Praevaricationibus c. And yet in regard that though there be so various Principates and so various Common-wealths there is yet scarce any which complains not of the Spanish domination and ambition it seems fit to alledge at least some of them and omit the rest to avoid prolixity 1. What monuments of their ambition they have exprest towards the Pope and his dominions is said above What intention they have towards the Republick of Venice is very well known to the said common-wealth though she think fit to dissemble it and yet she hath not forgotten how craftily they carried themselves in the Confederation or vvar against the Turk and in the Controversie between Paul the fifth and Her Nor do I think the Genuezes have also forgotten what their designs were against them both in and after the time of Dory How they seized upon the Dutchy of Milan Sleiden shewes In the Countreys of Piemont and Savoy and other territories they have erected very many monuments of their prevarications and are daily erecting more What the Sienneses and Florentines have suffered by the Spaniards is taught by the Historians both of this and the former Age. I willingly pass by the Dutchys of Mantua Montferat Ferrara Appulia and Calabria nor will I touch the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily because every body knows by what tricks they got those how unworthily the Spanish Ministers treat the Noblemen and subjects thereof insomuch as that according to Histories and Relations for never so slight a cause as sometimes for an inconsiderate word their lives and fortunes are in danger 2. How the king of Spain invited Charles the eighth king of France to make vvar upon Italy Comines 5. lib. Belli Neopolitani neer the end 3. Anno 1617. Whilst the vvarres yet lasted between Ferdinand of Austria and the Common-vvealth of Venice the Vice-king of Naples invited and encouraged the Turks to make vvarre upon the Venetians but the Turks made an impression into Sicily and carried away great booty Baudart lib. 38. Vt etiam Epistola ipsa 4. It is written also in the same book how the Embassador of Savoy complained to the Princes of Germany at the Dyet at Hailbrun of the breach of Articles 5. Anno 1618. in the beginning of May vvas discovered a dangerous plot and treason of the Spaniards against Italy and the Republicks thereof vvhen they intended by their Emissaries to set Venice in many places on fire and kill the Senators but the business being detected many of the Conjurators were hanged many stifled and many executed other wayes Baudart lib. 38. 6. At the same time the Spaniards attempted to surprize Cremona but the business had the same issue vvhich the plot upon Venice had Ibid. CHAP. XIV The Praevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms THe King of Sweden smelling the Catholick Kings designs howbeit he could hope for nothing from the house of Orange yet he despised all the said Kings great promises and refused him the use and loan of his great Vessels whereof he hath good store and for that reason the Poles several times rejected the Austrians lest by the addition of so vast a kingdom to Bohemia and Hungary the City of Dantz by the benefit thereof should forbid commerce and force the Hollanders to submit Thuan. lib. 107. 2. Nor was it without some remorse of conscience that when Philip the second and his Father were a dying they desired that the business of the kingdom of Navarre might be looked into by Lawyers and learned men to wit because they were convinced that they held it unjustly by the exclusion of the right heir Thuan. lib. 120. 3. The reason why the Spaniards gape for the possession of Saluces and the Territories adjoyning is because they can most conveniently send Souldiers from thence into the Low-Countreys and therefore Fontano Anno 1600. earnestly urged the Popes Nuntio that the King of France might yeeld up the County of Bress Thuan. 125 Anno 1605. Don Pedro Guzman Fontano Vice-King of Lumbardy summoned most of the Princes of Italy by the President and Treasurers of the
Isenburgh at the taking of Mounts in Hennault that if he would be ruled by him he would not only make him Archbishop of Colein but that the Citie of Colein her self should settle him as her Lord. But falsly all Fruchchessius in Literis ad Colonienses apud Thuan. lib. 179. 4. A certain Franciscan Fryar to prevail with Ferdinand king of Spain for the expulsion of the Jewes secretly made a Table of lead wrote what he thought good therein touching the said expulsion with threats c. if it were not done hid it in a sacred place and caused it three years after to be digged up by a Comerade of his as if it had been some divine thing and a Prophesie but the king observing the fraud neglected it Majolus in Canicularibus 351. 5. Howbeit envy seem to be a vice of prosperity onely and proper to the rich yet are the Spaniards so much possest with it that it seems to be as it were hereditary to them as Thuan. lib. 75. sayes of the Duke of Alva That he was most ambitious in confidence of his own merits A Detractor of the vertue of others and by the vice of his Countrey contumelious towards other Nations and imperious and severe to such as were just And by and by The envy and hatred of the Duke of Alva sayes he made Charles the fifth deal so ungratefully with Gonzaga Ibid. CHAP. XXIX Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their Designes THe other wayes which the Spaniards use for the acquisition of Kingdoms are very many but chiefly six 1. Perswasions to the people and mercenary sermons especially of the Jesuits Thus was it carried in that French League against Henry the third and Henry the fourth and in the acquest of the kingdom of Portugal by the Jesuits 2. Force of Armes 3. Bribes and Corruptions 4. Marriages and Alliances 5. Presentations of the Golden Fleece to various Lords of the Spanish Vnion 6. If they suspect any one to destroy him as they did Egmund Horn and the Battenburghs c. Or if that cannot be done to send him by all means out of their Territories as they intended to do Mansfeldt and Prince Maurice of Orange by making them Generals against the Turk with large praises of their valor and prudence Thuan. lib. 120. 1. The Spaniards ever have and still do take extreamly ill the Confederation of the Swissers with the French and therefore when Henry the fourth Anno 1602. desired to renew it Fontano Governour of Milan moved every stone to hinder it Thuan. lib. 129. 2. It is a very familiar thing with the Spaniards to hinder Leagues and Confederacies thereby to obtain their ends Thus Pedro Guzman Toledo Fontano Vice-king of Lumbardy Anno 1605. to disturb the confederation contracted between the Venetians and the Swissers made severe proclamations at Milan wherby he inconvenienc't the commerce of both and at an appointed place viz. a Rock five miles from Nova-Camo having Clavenna and the Veltelin on each side built a Castle with five Forts Royal and called it by his own name to hinder the importation of Corn to the neighbouring parts yea and he sowed so many seeds of dissention amongst the Swissers that it was like to have proved their utter ruine Thuan. 134. 3. Charles the fifth seeing Genua to be a convenient place as well for other causes as chiefly for the transportation of Forces out of Spain into Italy and therefore intending to fortifie it could never bring Dory either by threats or promises to give way to the building of a Castle in it that is to the putting of a yoak upon his Countrey wherefore he thought fit to take another course to bridle the Citie which was to borrow the Genuezes money which is upon the matter their whole support at what rate they pleased conceiving that thereby he should quickly by degrees draw the wealth of those greedy men to himself and so have the Citie in his debt that is the affections of the Citizens at his disposal Which trick his son Philip in imitation of his fathers example being involved in the Low-countrey war which was hugely expensive used and took occasion to draw vast sums of money of the principall of the Nobility for which he paid huge interest and assigned the chief taxes of the Indies and Spain for the paiment thereof Thuan. lib. 61. 4. Anno 1577. Some letters of Don Juan de Austria to king Philip were intercepted wherein amongst other things they advised him to sow discord between the Gentry and Commonalty of the Low-Countries about Religion and liberty of conscience lib. 64. It was the Maxim of Escovedo and now of the Spaniards in general to breed and cherish dissention amongst the Princes of the world that so since they could not check them altogether they might check them apart 6. The Spaniards permit no Councels or Assemblies amongst their Noblemen because they hold them very prejudiciall to their affairs and therefore they flatly prohibited them to the Lords of the kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583. 7. Another of the Spanish practices is to take lawfull heirs out of the Dominions of their ancestors as they did Anno 1583. when Augusta Philips sister under colour of visiting a Monastery of Nuns took away Julian of Lancaster Heiress to the Principate of Avern to the high displeasure of the Portuguezes who conceived themselves by this example to be hurried into a wretched captivity to the Castillians Thuan lib. 78. 8. The Spaniards in the Duke of Alvas time made it their business to provoke the Low countrey men to novelty and war by diminishing and taking away their Priviledges and Immunities yea and they openly boasted that that was the onely thing they aimed at that so they might have a fairer pretext to rifle the goods and estates of the people and destroy Cities and Provinces Spec. Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 35. Thus the aforesaid Duke stript the Citizens of Vtrick of their priviledges Anno 1571. And thus also did the Spaniards in this age of ours serve the Catalonians c. Status Barcenonenses Catalauni in quer sua Cath. hinc inde imprimis c. 8.12.29 9. The Spaniards if at any time any Commander or Governor of theirs commit any remarkable crime to save themselves lay hold of some poor innocent and undeserving Souldier or other and sacrifice him to the Hangman to satisfie for their wickedness One example wherof is related by Janus Duza Satyra 40 sub finem and the like was also done heretofore in the mutiny at Vtrick and at the firing of Duiburgh in Cleve 10. Thomas Campanella Disc de Monar Hisp c. 14. sayes Care must be taken that the sons of such Lords and Noblemen as live in Kingdomes distant from Spain and under the Spanish Government may have Spaniards to their Tutors to Hispaniolize them in habit manners and customes and when they are grown potent they must be humbled and under pretext of honor be