death of his Son whose Court having for some time been fuller than his made him Jealous This was clear enough from a word that fell from him What will they bury me alive An expression which the World reflected on when the Prince of Wales came to die a little while after The occasion of so many Diversions and Festival Solemnities in England was the Marriage of the Princes Elizabeth the Kings Daughter with Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine This Alliance pleased the English extreamly and all the Protestants Mercure Francois 1613. The House of Austria took a great deal of pains to Traverse it And the Queen whom the Court of Madrid had took Care to make their Friend did her best to dissuade the King from it But he concluded it notwithstanding the Intrigues of the Spanish Faction James conferred the Honour of the Order of the Garter upon the Elector before the Solemnity of the Wedding The Illustrious Prince Maurice of Orange was Received into the same Noble and Ancient Society at the same time with his Nephew The Chapter of the Order was Convened at Windsor Castle the 14th of February this Year The Ceremony was performed with all the Solemnity imaginable The Elector Palatine who was himself in England to Negotiate his Marriage Received the Order in Person and Maurice being absent Received it by Count William of Nassau his Proxy Ten days after Frederick was publickly Married to the Princess Elizabeth Before and after their Wedding day the King Entertained the People with Plays and magnificent Spectacles Holland also was well pleased and joyful for a great while Prince Maurice Received in the Presence of the States General of the United Provinces the Garter which the Herald of the Order had brought thither and there was nothing omitted which might contribute to the Glory of the Ceremony The wise Barnavelt Pensionary of the Province of Holland Returned thanks in the Name of the States General to the English Ambassador who had presented the Garter in the Name of the King his Master to Prince Maurice The New Electoress having past from England into Holland in the Month of May following to go to Heydelberg she was Received almost in every City of the Province and particularly at Amsterdam with a Magnificence answerable to their Wealth and the Memory which they retained of the great assistances which their Infant-Republick had received formerly from the Crown of England The Protestants were in hopes that the Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the Princess of Great Britain would be very advantageous to their Religion But there was yet one thing which they wisht for And that was that King James would abondon his Design of Marrying his Heir to a Princess of the Popish Communion A Marriage talkt of between Charles Pr. of Wales Christiana of France But althô his Majesty did not stick publickly to say that the Pope was Antichrist yet he never had a sincere and fervent Zeal for the Establishment of the Reformation As soon as Prince Henry was in his Grave James proposed the Marriage of Charles his Second Son now Prince of Wales with Christina Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 44.45 c. Second Daughter of France The Regent frankly received the Memoires which the Ambassador of England delivered touching this Affair to Villeroy Secretary of State She hoped that the Protestants of France and elsewhere allarmed with the double Marriage concluded with Spain would be calmed when they saw that nevertheless the Crown of France was not set at such a distance from an Alliance with Protestants but that it still designed a strict Union with them in giving the younger Sister of the King to the Heir of the most powerful Prince of their Communion Althô the Conduct of Maria de Medicis in this Negociation was full of Artifice and Dissimulation the Court of Rome was Jealous and the Pope used all his Power to dissuade the Regent from listening to the offers of his Brittannick Majesty The Pope plainly told Breves the King 's Ambassador that he took it ill that there should be any design of mingling the Blood Royal oâ—… France with that of an Heretick Princeâ—… Breves took the liberty to represent to the Pope that the welfare of the Kingdom and of Religion it self required that the Proposals of the King of England should not be rejected The Old Man being devoted to Spain did not regard him He insisted to conjure the Regent not to enter into a Negociation so disadvantageous to the Church which is really as much as to say so little conducible to the Interests of the Court of Rome The Nuncio Vbaldini very much bestirred himself in France Ibid. p. 50.51 c. he tired the Queen with his Remonstrances he exhausted himself in finding out the most pressing motives of Piety and Religion at length he heated the Cabals of Devotees which are always numerous and powerful in an ignorant and superstitious Court. Said this Italian Prelate to the Queen Is it possible Madam that your Majesty should be so little sensible of the particular kindness of God to you 'T is to distrust his Providence to have recourse to the Alliance of Hereticks as a thing necessary for the Repose and Conservation of the Dominions of the King your Son Your Ministers think it convenient that you should hear the Proposals of an Heretick Prince Your Majesty agrees with them but that is not sufficient to clear you before God and all those who detest this sort of Politicks You should rather listen to the Voice of your Conscience and the good Advice of the Pope than the vain speculations of a Council that govern themselves by the maxims of the wisdom of the Children of this World rather than by those of Religion This Prelate advanced at that time a Principle of his particular Gospel which deserves to be related He declares that these pretended good People whom he would make the Queen afraid of entertain this piece of corrupted Morality that the Princes of their Communion are not obliged to observe Treaties made with those whom they are pleased to call Hereticks if the Terms appear to them to be never so little contrary to their Religion that is to the Court of Rome This Nuncio said moreover It is true Madam that promises made against the interest of God don't in any wise oblige and that we ought not to keep them But consider that your Majesty will hereafter find it more difficult to break your promise with the King of England than it is now to reject his Proposals Your Affairs are thanks be to God in a better Posture than they have been since the death of the King your Husband The Kingdom is in a peaceful State without the assistance of such an Alliance The time of your Administration will shortly Expire What a comfort will it be to you to deliver up to the King your Son France in a better Condition than you
The primitive Christians did they pretend the Empire to be in the Church She ought to obey God and Sovereigns but Emperors and Kings have none but God above them Thus they thought in the primitive Ages All the World would think still the same if Sovereigns would be instructed in their true Interests and those of the Religion they profess By giving great Riches and Principalities to the Clergy they have given them wherewith they may degrade their Benefactors Matthias having wisht the Empress his Spouse was Crown'd the Ceremony was perform'd two days after Leonard Donato Doge of Venice died almost at the same time Antony Memmi chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato Antony Memmi was Elected in his place the 24th of July and Crown'd the next Morning The Dogate of Donato was famous for the Contest of the Republick with Pope Paul V. who interdicted all the Country of the Seigniory of Venice The Doge and Senate seem'd at first willing to defend courageously the lawful Authority of Sovereigns but when they were come to treat of this with the Pope the Venetians Degenerated from the Vigour and Stedfastness of their Ancestors upon the like occasions They yielded cowardly to almost all the Articles which the Court of Rome required from them except the Reestablishment of the Jesuits who had been gone after the Fulmination of the Interdiction The Society had done much more Mischief in France than at Venice In the mean time being extreamly content to see themselves deliver'd from the good Fathers these Wise Senators Resisted a longer time than France the Solicitations of the Court of Rome for the Reestablishment of their Society During this quarrel with the Pope the Seigniory had forbid the Subjects of the Republick under pain of perpetual Banishment to have any Commerce with the Jesuits or send their Children to studie in their Colleges The same Act was this year renew'd Mercure Francois 1612. upon the account of a Woman of Bresse who was gone to Castilione to live there under the direction of the good Fathers They had Establish't there I can't tell what College of Women and a great many Maids had put themselves into it The Brissan Lady sold the Estate she had in the States of the Republick to Augment this New Foundation but the Senate endeavour'd to stop the Money that arose from the Alienation and caused the Venetian Dames to be recall'd that might have put themselves under the conduct of the Society into the College of Castiglione The Mareschal d'Bouillon's Embassy to England The Mareschal Bouillon was gone extraordinary Ambassador into England and this was to impart to King James the double Marriage and so dissipate all Suspicions and Jealousies which this double Alliance might create in his Majesty Bouillon had a particular design in this Voyage Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 684 685 686. He was minded to Negotiate a Marriage of the young Elector Palatine Nephew of the Mareschal's Lady who was of the House of Orange with the Princess of England Mary of Medicis whom the Court of Rome always made use of for it's own ends had recommended to her Ambassador that he should complain to the King of great Britain for that he had enter'd into a League with the Protestant Princes of Germany against the Roman Religion and to desire his Britannick Majesty to moderate the Rigor of the Laws against the English who were of the Popish Communion The Mareschal had besides express Order to cause King James to Disapprove of the Demeanour of the Reform'd of France in their last Assembly at Saumur but especially to bid him beware of the Duke of Rohan who was the most Zealous of the Protestant Lords Bouillon had already done to Rohan such ill Offices with the Queen of France as he himself was enough dispos'd not to be more favourable to the Duke in the English Court. King James was easily made to believe that France thought of nothing but the General good of Christianity by making this double Allyance with Spain and that the Regent would not less preserve the Amity of Princes and the States Protestants Bouillon endeavour'd at last to make his Majesty understand that the Pope would not use violent means against the Protestants and that he intended only to Convert them by Preachments and the good Examples of the Clergy The Mareschal laid hold on this occasion to insinuate into the King the Regent's Complaints for that he had enter'd into the Protestant League of Germany and the entreaty that Mary of Medicis made him in favour of the English Papists I don't know whether this good Prince was enclin'd to believe what the Ambassador had told him concerning the good Intentions of the Pope Whatever the Matter was James answer'd that the Protestants lookt only to the Reciprocal Defence of the States of the Confederate Princes and that Religion was not concern'd in it As to the English who were of the Roman Communion his Majesty protested he willingly would let them be at Rest as soon as they could give certain Assurances of their Fidelity and Obedience Bouillon sent this into France and then Villeroy imparted it to the Nuncio as a great Secret The Regent press'd Vbaldini to make his Master acquainted of it Subjoyning that she would write of it to Breves her Ambassador to the end his Holiness might find some Expedient to content the King of Great Britain Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis When they came to speak touching the Matters of the Reformed Churches in France James was not altogether so Tractable The Duke de Rohan held a great Correspondence with Henry the King 's Eldest Son This was a very hopeful Prince he shew'd a Zeal little common to Persons of his Age for the good of the Protestant Religion Never did the Roman People so much love Germanicus as the English lov'd this Prince of Wales and the Father perhaps was not much less jealous of the Applauses they gave his Son than Tiberius was of old jealous of the Reputation of him whom Augustus made him adopt Rohan had gain'd over a Gentleman of the Ambassador's Retinue This secret Friend of the Duke was to instruct his Britannique Majesty with the truth of all which pass't in France Insomuch as the King was well prepared whenever he was spoke to concerning the Assembly at Saumur If the Queen your Mistress reply'd he to Bouillon will break Acts agreed to the Protestants of her Realm I don't pretend that the Alliance I have made and confirm'd with France ought to hinder me from succouring and protecting them When my Neighbours are Attack't in a Quarrel that respects me Natural Law requires that I should prevent the Mischief which may arise from thence Believe me Monsieur Mareschal said the King you must be Reconciled to the Duke of Rohan I will let him know 't is my desire that you live friendly together Would to God King James
Plot might be discover'd the Conspirators took a Resolution to set up the Duke of Parma in an Abby whither he had been retir'd to take the Air and be devout with the Capuchins and Assassinate him in this place They were to come after this was done to Parma in the Night-time to kill the Dukes Children and those of his House to sack the Palace and City and possess themselves of the Cittadel Another Party of the Complices were order'd to make themselves Masters by means of some Intelligence of the City and Castle of Placentia which they were to deliver up to the Duke of Mantua In all Conspiracies which require long time for Execution and a great number of Complices there 's almost always some one found who upon consideration reflects seriously on the Enterprize The fear of Punishment the hopes of being well rewarded the Horrour likewise of the Crime and Remorse of Conscience bring them to discover the Contrivance The Duke of Parma happen'd upon some Persons of this Humour who gave him notice of the Danger he was threatned withal After an exact Information of all the particulars of the Conspiracy Ranutius caused a Manifesto to be fixt up in all publick Places which contain'd the Story of the plotted Enterprise and the Names of the principal Complices whom the Duke summon'd to come and justifie themselves It appear'd that the Names of some Persons who were considerable for their Degree and Quality were suppress't Vincent Duke of Mantua some days agoe Deceased was so well describ'd as ev'ry one presently knew him by the Name of Chief Conspirator which was given him The Captain of his Guards was the second Man amongst the Plotters Francis his Successor complain'd aloud of the injury done to the Memory of his Father For this he demanded Reparation This Affair was so much nois'd in Italy insomuch that they fear'd an open breach betwixt the Duke of Parma and the Duke of Mantua The former had his Recourse to the King of Spain for Protection for whom the Famous Alexander of Parma had done Signal Services And the other the Queen Regent of France's Nephew implored the Succors of that Crown Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy would intervene for an Accommodation betwixt the two Princes But t' was strait known that this Disquieted Spirit sought to embroil them further and rather raise a War from whence he hop'd for an Advantage than any ways to make an end of the Differences The Parties agreed to refer themselves to the Arbitration of the Duke of Vrbin as to one part of the Contest The Governor of Milan stifled the rest of this Affair in the Name of the King of Spain and so the Princes dismiss't the Troops which they had raised A Proposal of Marriage between Christiana the 2d Daughter of France and Henry Prince of Wales To stop the continual Complaints of the Duke of Savoy the Regent sometimes offer'd to give Christina her second Daughter to the Prince of Piedmont yet this did not hinder the talk of Marrying her to Henry Prince of Wales the Eldest Son of James the I. King of great Britain Whether it was that Mary de Medicis had an Ambition to make all her Daughters Queens or that she wou'd break off the Negotiation already much advanc'd betwixt his Britannick Majesty and the Duke of Savoy for Marrying the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy James had demanded the Eldest Daughter of France but seeing that the Regent was so far engag'd with Spain he gave ear to the Duke of Savoy's Proposition which he had made him As his Majesty had got in the World a great Name for loving Money very well so Cosmus Great Duke of Florence a more Monyed Prince than Charles Emanuel thwarted the Design He offer'd one of his Sisters for the Prince of Wales with a more considerable Fortune But the Pope perhaps at the Instigation of the Regent who pretended to make the Duke of Savoy amends by bringing about a Match for the Prince of Piedmont with the Princess of Florence the Pope I say wrote forceably to the Great Duke for to persuade him from any Alliance which the Holy Chair could not approve of Notwithstanding the Pope's Letter which seem'd to be Precarious Cosmus thought always to Marry his Sister into England he press't the Queen to assist him with her good Offices at Rome to obtain a Dispensation but Mary de Medicis who had other things in her Head flatly denied him The Duke of Savoy wrote to his Ambassadors in France to tell the King of England's Ambassador that his Highness knowing well the Difference there is betwixt a Daughter of France and a Princess of Savoy Charles Emanuel might not think it strange that a Daughter of Henry the IV should be preferr'd before his but he thought he should receive a sensible Affront if his Britannick Majesty should Reject a Princess of Savoy for to Marry his Son into the House of the Medicis The Regent shew'd so much eagerness for the Marriage of Christina with the Prince of Wales as Edmonds Knight and Ambassador from England believ'd that after the way Villeroy had spoke to him it might be King James's fault if this Affair was not concluded and that Mary de Medicis would with much willingness yield to him all the Conditions he could ask of her When the King had heard this News he order'd Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester his Favourite to write to Prince Henry who was then at Richmond and pray him to speak freely if he like'd of the Match Henry had notice that Christina was not yet nine years of Age and that her Eldest Sister's Portion was but 500000 Crowns in Gold But France said Rochester seems to have so great a desire for this Marriage as no one doubts but she may give more to the Second Daughter in case the Augmentation of her Fortune be insisted upon The Prince of Wales with great Prudence answer'd the King his Father upon all the Articles of the Letter of the Chevalier Edmonds which he had sent him at the same time As for the time said he ' they 'l bring the Princess of France into England I believe the sooner it is the better and that your Majesty ought not to demur hereupon As long as the Princess shall be in France the Queen her Mother will be Mistress either to forward the Marriage or to stave it off and to oblige her Daughter to give her Consent or hinder her from it The younger she is the more time we shall have and easiness to instruct her in our Religion and Convert her Since they ask of your Majesty to Explain your self as to the Liberty the Princess shall have in the exercise of her Religion I desire you Sir to answer your Ambassador positively that you will not agree to any other Conditions with France than what the Duke of Savoy had demanded when he offer'd you his Daughter That is to say that the Princess shall
have the liberty to follow her Religion in private and in the most Retir'd Chamber of her Apartment I confess that these are too strait and narrow Conditions but if France speaks sincerely I don't question but that she will be contented with them Henry very well knew his covetous Fathers Humour For this reason he had a touch upon the Article of her Fortune in a somewhat more nice manner If your Majesty continued he regards the greatness of a Dowry I think you will prefer the Princess of Savoy she brings with her Two hundred thousand Crowns more than the Lady of France for at least I can scarce persuade my self that the Regent will give more to the second Daughter than to the Eldest But if your Majesty lays aside Interest to do what shall be more to the mind of the General Body of Protestants abroad it seems to me you will rather encline to France than Savoy Lastly concluded the Prince I fear lest your Majesty should not be content with the indifference I shew for all the Propositions of Marriage which are made me I most humbly beg your pardon for it T' is you Sir who is to take the most advantageous Resolution that may be for the good of the State I have but little experience in politick Affairs and can't speak like a Man smitten with Love upon this Occasion I have with the greater willingness inserted into History this Letter because it might be perhaps the last he ever writ T' was dated the 14th of October 1612. and the Prince died the 16th of November Having drank some small Beer to quench his Thirst after hard Riding he fell dangerously Sick All the skill of the ablest Physicians could do no good against the violence of his Distemper Heaven was deaf to the prayers of all England for the recovery of a young Prince Nineteen years of Age the Hopes and Delight of the Nation Those Persons who at first affected to shew the greatest grief for his Death were not sorry for't heartily At least t' was so believed The Affliction of the common People was more sincere and of deeper impression than that of the Court. They generally said the Applauses which we have so heartily given the Prince of Wales have been Ominous and Fatal to him They who will Reign as absolute Masters don't love to see their Children too popular The Affection which young Henry had for Religion and the Libertie's of his Country had caus'd the course of life to be cut off which had been so happily begun Charles his Brother and Frederick Elector of Palatine who was come to visit the Princess of England design'd in Marriage for him were present at the Funeral in close Mourning The Tears of the People who accompanied him to the Grave in reckoning up his Vertues which shin'd already in his Person and in bewailing the irreparable loss which England had suffer'd were the greatest Ornament of this Ceremony The Prohibition the King his Father made some few days after to appear at Court in Mourning redoubled the suspitions and indignation of the English-men Did not he think as a Roman Emperor did once heretofore that it did not become the Majesty of a Prince to sully his Face with Tears that great Afflictions are for little private Persons and that Kings may die but the State is Immortal This was the reason why King James thought he ought not to Interrupt the Divertisements which were usual at the beginning of a new year T' was said that France was not sorry to hear of the Death of the Prince of Wales who seem'd rather to have the Inclinations of the ancient Kings of England than of the Kings of Scottish Race and one could but very badly Interpret the Sentiments which the Prince shew'd when he heard of the Death of Henry IV. I have lost cry'd he my second Father The common Opinion is that young Henry had resolv'd to steal away from the English Court and go learn the Trade of War under the King of France as soon as he march't at the Head of his Army At the same time the Prince of Wales lamented the Tragical Death of Henry the IV. a Courtier resolv'd to tell him that this Occurrence would give his Highness the means of making the pretension of England's Kings to France more strong and prevalent Get you gone idle Flatterer replyed the Prince in Anger dare you talk to me of making War against an Infant I am ready to defend him against all those who shall venture to attack him The Son of that Person for whom the Prince had so Noble Sentiments hath not had this delicate Generosity though he was much more advanc't in Age. I doubt whether it be needful to carry the Suspitions of young Henry's Death as far as many in England have carried them If it was hasten'd as the report of Physicians made People believe the Viscount of Rochester may have committed so horrible a Crime He and his Wife were accus'd since then as being guilty of Poysoning The Prince had no kindness for his Fathers Favourite he always look't sourly upon him and shew'd a great Repugnance of Spirit to suffer him near his Person Robert Carr a Gentleman of a mean Birth in Scotland having found out a way to be Page to the King his pleasant Countenance fine Stature insinuating Behaviour pleased him extreamly In a little time Car was Knighted and the King disgusted with the Count of Montgomery set all his Affection upon the Scotch Knight He raised him up further to the Dignity of Viscount of Rochester and afterwards to be Duke of Somerset The Fall of this unworthy Favourite was as shameful as his Rise was astonishing He at last fell in Love with the Countess of Essex who sought to engage him and he afterwards married her This is not a fit Place to relate this Lady's Adventures 'T is said that the Prince of Wales was struck with her great Beauty but Rochester was preferr'd before him The Despite which the Prince harbour'd from hence encreased the Aversion he had for his Rival The Countess having let fall her Glove as she was dancing he who had taken it up presented it to the Prince of Wales thinking to please him in giving him an Opportunity of shewing the Lady a Civility whom he seem'd to have a Kindness for But Henry threw the Glove back with Disdain saying Another hath stretched it out As the Two Lovers were expert in the Art of Poysoning so 't is very probable they had a mind to be rid of a Prince and make him away who would have been a great Impediment to their Repose and the Establishment of their Fortune The Count de Soissons dead some Days before the Prince of Wales left behind him vacant Places of great Dignity the Governments of the Dauphiny and of Normandy with the Office of Lord High-Steward of the King's Houshold The Regent gave this Office to the new Count Son of the Deceased with the
Advantageous to the King of Spain in appearance were despised The Duke was reduced at last humbly to desire that till the entire decision of the Controversie he might have one Place left him in token of his pretensions to Monferrat They would not enter into any Treaty with this good Prince but sent him Padilla a General of the Artillery one of the most morose Men in Spain who at first word told his Highness in Terms very concise and with an Air of severity that he must even restore all To compleat his mortification Padilla produced a Letter of the King of Spain's Short but Expressive which obliged the Duke to comply with whatsoever the Marquiss of Inojosa should prescribe to him Nothing so much mortifies an haughty and valiant Prince as to be treated like a Subject by one that is more powerful than himself But what shall say Poor Emanuel abondoned of all the Word was forced to receive the most rigid Terms Instead of giving a Positive answer to grave Padilla he sent of his Ministers to Milan with such proposals as tended to lengthen out the business and delay his Resolution Inojosa rejected them with Indignation and sent word to Charles Emanuel that if he did not presently Restore all that he had Usurpt the Prince of Ascoli should lay Siege to one of those Places which were Re-demanded that the Governor of Milan should come himself upon the Spot and hang up every one that dared to Resist him The Duke knowing no means to prevent it offered to Surrender and Resign all that he was in Possession of in Monferrat I can't tell but still he might have some little hopes of gaining time by reason of a Quarrel that arose between Inojosa and Castiglione Each pretended that the Places were to be delivered up into the hands of his Master But Castiglione who had only the Name and Authority of the Emperor to back him soon complied with the other who had the Power in his hands The Imperial Commissary only received one Town for Form sake and the Spaniards took Possession of the rest Never was there an Agreement sooner Concluded than this thô the Duke of Savoy made a great many Difficulties before he would be brought to it This was the last Artifice of a Prince who had a mind to have in Reserve a pretence to Break when he should see it Convenient A Treaty made with precipitation is never well fixt Ther 's always some room for Evasion left for one that has no mind to be honest A dispute between the D. of Nevers and the Governor of Milan Before the conclusion of this Agreement the Duke of Nevers who as we said was come thither for the Relief of Monferrat had some words with the Governour of Milan Nevers had joined Prince Vincentius of Mantua with an Hundred or Six score French Gentlemen Mercure Francoise 1613. These observing the steps of the Spaniards grumbled that the Prince of Ascoli had not the pleasure of an opportunity to Bang the Savoiard Army The Marquiss of Inojosa being angry that his Collusion with Charles Emanuel was discovered declared openly that he would not suffer the French to have any Soldiers in Italy nor that any should come into the Country of Milan that he would give no civil reception to any that should pass thrô that Province and if the Two thousand Men which the Chevalier de Guise was to bring with him into Italy should come thither he would cut them in pieces This Spaniard was so offended at the coming of the French that he Commanded the Gallys of Naples of Sicily and Genoa unitedly to oppose those Vessels which brought Aids from Provence and to hinder the French Troops from Landing in the Coasts of Italy Inojosa after all endeavoured to make the Cardinal Duke Jealous by giving it out that Nevers had a greater design to make himself Master of Monferrat than to assist the House of Mantua The Duke affronted with the arrogance and moroseness of the Governour told him that 't was too much in all reason for a Man of Inojosa's Quality to march with so great a Train but that the Duke Nevers of the Family of Gonzagua might be allow'd to have an Hundred or Sixscore Men at his Heels He added excepting four or five Friends that are come to me all the rest belong to me If the Marquiss d'Inojosa offers to abuse any of them I know the Reason As for his threatning to cut in pieces the Troops which may come from France to assist the House of Mantua 't is not to be rhought that his Catholick Majesty approves such Language There 's no body in the World can hinder the most Christian King from Assisting his Kinsman and Ally or opposing the unjust Designs of the Duke of Savoy He would also raise a suspition concerning me but I am not afraid that the vain talk of the Marquiss d'Inojosa should make the least impression My Interest is so much one with that of the House of Mantua Monsieur the Governour confirms himself the just suspicions we have of his Conduct We know his Aversion to the Cardinal Duke and we are not ignorant of the Reasons which he has to favour the Duke of Savoy agrinst the Pretentions of his Catholick Majesty Thus it was that the Duke of Nevers supported the Honour of France better than the Regent of the Kingdom And not listening to the wise Remonstrances of the Senate of Venice who prest her to bring Troops into Piedmont and other Places she suffered the Court of Madrid to have all the Honour of this Affair being ready to reap advantage from it as there should be opportunity Whilst the greatest part of Europe was in some Commotion The Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the K. of England's Daughter Larrey Hist d' Angliterr Tom. II. 1612.1613 on the account of the death of Francis Duke of Mantua James King of Great Britain who did not much concern himself with the Affairs of Italy lived peceably in his own Island he was Entertaining himself with Diversions and giving the People afflicted for the death of the Prince of Wales a Thousand spectacles Some said that the Father had a mind insensibly to efface the Memory of his Son which a little before charmed all England Instead of taking pains to discover the secret of the hasty death of his Son the King heaped new favours upon his unworthy Favourite who was thought by some to be the Author of it Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester was made Earl of Sommerset a very high Title which was not wont to be bestowed but upon the Princes of the Blood of England or at least to the near Kindred of the King by the Mother's Side This Favourite married afterwards Frances Howard Countess of Essex famous for her Crimes and Exploits Should I make a rash judgment if I should say that the good King lookt upon himself as a Man happily raised from the dead after the
Poland He succeeds to the Kingdom of Sweden Differences between King Sigismund and Charles Duke of Sudermannia The States of Sweden give the Regency of the Kingdom in the absence of King Sigismund to the Duke of Sudermannia The Duke of Sudermannia and the Senate of Sweden are divided King Sigismund Attempts in vain to reduce the Duke of Sudermannia by Force The States of Sweden depose King Sigismund Charles Duke of Sudermannia is chosen King of Sweden The King of Sweden sends the Challenge to the King of Denmark The Death of Charles King of Sweden BOOK III. THE State of France since the Regency of Mary de Medicis The Treaty of the double Marriage between France and Spain The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings Intrigues in the Court of France when the Treaty of the double Marriage was known there The double Marriage at last passes in the Council of France The Popes Nuncio complains of the Sentence of Parlement on the Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits The Nuncio's Invectives against the Advocate-General Servin The Nuncio's Advances to the Parlement to procure a Modification of the Sentence The Nuncio's Intrigues with the Clergy The Difficulties of the Jesuits to keep even in their Conduct to the Court of Rome and Parlement of Paris A Book of Doctor Richer Syndic of the Faculty of Paris makes a great Noise there The Cardinal du Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens assembled together to Condemn Richers Book Richer has the Syndicat of the Faculty of Paris taken from him Publick Rejoycings for the double Marriage New Disturbances in the Court of France The Duke of Mayenne is sent into Spain to demand the Infanta for the King Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia is Elected Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus II. Antonio Memmi is chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato The Embassy of the Mareschal of Bouillon into England The Discontent of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres Mary de Medicis depresses â—…e Factions of the Duke of Guise and Epernon The Count of Soissons undertakes to ruine the Ministers and engages outragiously to Attack the Chancellor de Sillery The Marquess de Coeuvres diverts the Count of Soissons from this Enterprize The Impostures of the Marquess of Ancres Some Persons suborned to accuse him of Magick The Affair of the Duke of Rohan at St. John of Angeli The Reconciliation of the French Protestant Lords The Protestation of the National Synod of Privas in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of France against the King's New Declaration The Entry of the Duke of Pastrane into Paris The Signing of the Marriage Articles between the Prince of Spain and the Eldest Daughter of France The Duke of Mayenne's Entry into Madrid The Signing the Marriage Articles between Lewis XIII and the Infanta of Spain A Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma A Discourse of Marrying Christina second Daughter of France to Henry Prince of Wales The Death of Henry Prince of Wales The Fortunes of Robert Carr in England The Death of the Count of Soissons A New Face of the Court of France The Condemnation of a Book of the Jesuit Becanus The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Schioppius Peace between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark Revolutions in Muscovy A False Demetrius in Poland Demetrius enters Muscovy and causes himself to be Crowned there Demetrius and a great number of Poles are Massacred at Moscow Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down Ladislaus Prince of Poland is proclaimed Czar of Muscovy The Polanders are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovitz is elected Czar BOOK IV. THE Baron de Luz is killed by the Chevalier of Guise The Regents Anger against the Guises The Duke of Guise desires to combine with the Prince of Conde The Queen becomes jealous of the Prince of Conde The Violence and Mercenary Temper of the Duke of Guise The generous Sense of the Duke of Epernon The Regent is Reconciled to the Dukes of Guise and Epernon The Ancient Ministers are recalled The Confusion and Perplexity of the Prince of Conde The young Baron de Luz is killed again by the Chevalier of Guise The Death of Francis Duke of Mantua New Projects of the Duke of Savoy upon this occasion Artifices of the Duke of Savoy The Governor of Milan demands the Dutchess Dowager of Mantua and her Daughter The Regent of France opposes the Duke of Savoy's designs The Pope's Conduct in the Affair of Mantua The Republick of Venice supports the Cardinal of Mantua Ferdinand Cardinal de Gonzaga takes the Character of Duke of Mantua New Efforts of the Duke of Savoy to fetch away from Mantua the Princess Mary his Grand-daughter Ambitious Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy carries Montserrat This Enterprize is the cause of New Metions in Italy Manifesto's of the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal Duke of Mantua Artifices and Bravades of the Duke of Savoy His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Marquess of Ancre being found Intriguing with the Duke of Savoy is exceedingly Embarassed The Ministers are reconciled to the Marquess of Ancre The Court resolves to send a powerful Aid to the House of Mantua The Queen is diverted from sending Aid so soon to the Cardinal Duke The King of Spain declares against the Duke of Savoy The Emperor requires the Duke of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize on Montferrat The Governor of Milan constrains the Duke of Savoy to submit to the King of Spain's pleasure A difference between the Duke of Nevers and the Governour of Milan The Marriage of the Elector Palatin to a Daughter of the King of England A Discourse concerning the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with Christina of France The Emperor Matthias comes to the Diet at Ratisbon The Catholicks and Protestants reciprocally complain of each other The ill success of the Diet at Ratisbon The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania A difference between the Houses of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Prince Wolfgang of Neuburgh Marries the Sister of the Duke of Bavaria and changes his Religion Difficulties to make the Peace concluded between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua lasting The Governor of Milan presses the Duke of Savoy to Disarm The Dukes Evasion The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua on the King of Spains part The King of Spains Views in this demand The Republick of Venice traverses the King of Spain's Designs The Perplexity of Mary de Medicis in the Business of Mantua A Proposition made to the Council of France to cause Troops to march into Italy The Regent sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres into Italy to treat an Accommodation between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua The vast Ambition of Conchini made a Mareschal of France and Galigai his Wife A Continuation of the Disputes about Grace
take to a contrary Interest possibly underhand countenanced the discontented Party and the Papists in England formed that Horrible Attempt which has since been call'd the Gunpowder Plot. Since that time James ever dreaded the Spaniards And they were so Skillful to improve this weakness of his and Avarice of his Ministers that far from opposing the Enterprizes of the House of Austria you will find he will patiently suffer her to dispossess the Elector Palatine who married a Daughter of England Henry IV. prepares for War In this posture were the Affairs of Europe when Henry Troops and bring them to to raise Troops and bring them to the Frontiers of Champagne John William Duke of Cleves Bergh and Juliers dying without Children lest a contended Succession His four Sisters or their Children had each different Pretenstions some Imperial Constitutions contrary to each other embroil'd the Affair more Some of these determined the Fees of the Contested Countries to be the right of the Heirs Male and others supposed Daughters capable of the Succession Among all the Princes who were pretenders the Right of John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburgh and that of Philip Lewis Palatin of Newburgh were the most plausible The first had married the Daughter of the Eldest Sister of the last Duke and the other was Husband of the second Sister who maintained that the Succession was devolved on her to the prejudice of the Children of her Eldest Sister Deceased before Duke John William These two Princes each took possession of a part of those Estates they pretended did entirely belong to them But it was to be feared a third stronger than both of them would make himself Master of the best places while they made War to drive each other out Therefore the Landgrave of Hess their common Friend made them consent to a Provisional Treaty In this they promised to terminate their Differences Amicably and by Arbitration and to joyn their Forces against any who should Attempt to usurp the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Till this should be decided it was agreed they should govern Individually and in common and without prejudice to the right of the Emperor or the other Princes pretenders The States of the Country Assembled at Dusseldorp took this Affair into their Cognizance at the Intreaty of the King of France who already declared for the two Princes They were both Protestants and the Vnited Provinces supported them as far as they were able This gave Umbrage to the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries whose Estates bordered on one side on those of Juliers A certain Prince of their House in Germany would have been glad to have made his Advantage in this Litigious Title The pretence of Religion is never wanting upon occasion and here it would have been very seasonable The Governour of Juliers then is won over and Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and Passaw passes secretly into the place He brought with him a Commission from the Emperour who pretended to be the Natural and Soveraign Judge of a Difference arising about the Fiefs of the Empire and in the mean time he gave to his Cousin Leopold the Administration of the contested places This Sequestration seem'd to tend to an Usurpation By the Addition of the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers to its other Hereditary Countries the House of Austria was in a condition to oppress the German Liberties with more ease The Neighbourhood of the low Countries gave the King of Spain an opportunity to send his best Troops to the Assistance of his Kinsmen This Enterprize ought to have alarmed equally all the Princes of Germany but the Jealousie caused by difference of Religion made the Duke of Bavaria the Electours of Mentz Triers and some others fear the Protestant Party would be too strong if the disputed Countries should fall to a Prince of that Religion See then the Catholicks assemble at Wirtsbourg and form there a League of which the Duke of Bavaria was Chief and send a Deputation to Rome and Madrid to demand Aid of Pope Paul the V. and Philip King of Spain On the other hand the Protestants come in great numbers to Hall in Swabia The Electour and Princes of Saxony do not appear there Those of the branch of Weymar and Koburg had their particular Pretensions to the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers and hoped the House of Austria would espouse their right sooner than that of other Princes more jealous of her growing Greatness The Elector of Saxony contented himself to send to Hall in conjunction with the King of Denmark to exhort all the Pretenders to put their Interests into the Emperours hand The Resolutions taken in that Assembly were kept private The Prince of Anhalt whom those of Brandenburgh and Newburg had desired to go on a Negotiation to the Court of France returned to Hall accompanied with Boissise Ambassadour from the King This Minister declared publickly his Master would Assist them with all his Strength and would march himself at the Head of a powerful Army to oppose the Designs of the House of Austria The Vnited Provinces too promised to joyn their Troops with those of Henry The Neighbourhood of the Contested Countries made it unsafe for them to suffer them to fall into the hands of a Kinsman or Friend of Spain The mortal Displeasure the King of France had to see the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries and the King of Spain receive the Prince of Conde with open Arms who had secretly withdrawn himself to Brussels with the Princess his Wife and promise him all sort of Assistance against the Injustice done him by Henry This Accident I say hapning at the same time with the Affair of Cleves and Julieâ—…s urged him more to a War than the Noble desire to assist his Allies Being Resolved to revenge the many Affronts he had received from Philip the II. and his Son and to have the Princess of Conde back what ever it cost him Henry again sent Troops towards the Alps. Lesdiguieres who from a mean Birth and Fortune had raised himself by degrees during the Wars in Dauphiny and Provence and had obtained the staff of Mareschal of France This Man was sent to conduct to the Duke of Savoy the Troops designed against Italy and to Attack the Milanese in Conjunction with him Vast Preparations were made These at first were covered with the ordinary pretence of the Publick Safety the preserving the Râ—…pose of Europe and the maintaining the Kings Allies in their rightful Possession but a Vile and Criminal Passion made them to encrease and march with the greatest Expedition Henry it was said had reason to fear that his ancient Enemies abusing the easiness and resentment of the first Prince of the Blood should excite an Ambition in him and put it into his Head to contest the Validity of the Marriage of the King with Mary de Medicis after a Divorce founded on very frivolous Reasons and the I egitimacy of his Children by this second Wife
of Cleves and Juliers the Emperor had a mind to perplex this matter more The Archduke Leopold whose small Army every day received some check from the Troops of the States-General or of the Confederate Princes was not strong enough to preserve the contested Countries Besides Maurice Prince of Orange prepared in earnest to come and lay Siege to Juliers with the Auxiliary Troops of France and England The House of Austria then found it would be impossible for her to resist so many Powers united to oppose the Usurpation she designed The only means she could have recourse to was to bring the Succession of Cleves and Juliers into the hands of a Protestant Prince less contrary to her Interests than those of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh She cast her Eyes on the Elector of Saxony His House had pretensions on this Litigious Succession by virtue of several Grants of the Emperor These had lain dormant a long time though there had several times been occasion to have presented them A Daughter Inherited the States of Cleves and Juliers since the Emperors had granted the House of Saxony a Right to succeed in defect of Heirs Male But when a fair Soveraignty is the Subject of Dispute Princes are not very Scrupulous The least colour of Right is enough for them to dispose of it or reserve it for themselves Rodolphus then gave on certain considerations to the Elector and House of Saxony all the Estates which belonged to the late John William Duke of Cleves and Juliers The Siege and taking Juliers by Maurice Prince of Orange This had been a more handsom Present if when the Act of Concession was put into his Hands he had at the same time an Army given him to assert his Title Maurice Prince of Orange invested the Town of Juliers the 28th of July with the Troops of the Vnited Provinces join'd by those sent from the King of England The 18th of August the Mareschal de la Chatre brought twelve Thousand French Foot and two Thousand Horse Rauschemberg Governor of the Place defended it with great Prudence and Courage But Prince Maurice was so great a Master in the Art of Attacking and taking Towns that Rauschemberg Capitulated the 1st of September Thus Juliers was put into the Hands of the Princes of Brandenburg and Newburg These were then called the Princes Possessors to distinguish them from the other Pretenders The Meeting at Cologne to adjust the Affairs of Cleves and Juliers After the Surrender of Juliers some Princes of Germany met at Cologne to find out some way of Accommodation The Elector of Triers and the Count of Hohenzollern came thither in Quality of Commissioners for the Emperor Lewis Landgrave of Hess made divers Propositions The Princes in possession did not care to accept them They tended to a Sequestration into the hands of the Emperor and to put the Elector of Saxony in possession of the Litigious Countries conjointly with the Princes of Brandenburg and Newburg The French Ambassador proposed another way which was not liked by the Landgrave nor the Imperial Commissioners The German Princes never love that Foreign Soveraigns should meddle too much with the Affairs of the Empire There was a great number of Writings on the side of the Possessors the Elector of Saxony and the Commissioners of the Emperor but they could not come to any Agreement The Assembly broke up and each one protested for himself he was not the cause that hindred the Troubles from being pacified This was the better for Brandenburgh and Newburgh They continued in peaceable Possession of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers till the Affair should be determined The Protestant confederated Princes did them yet very good Service by obliging Maximilian Duke of Bavaria Head of the Catholick League to Disarm and the Elector of Collen to put a stop to all Hostilities of his Subjects against those of the Country of Juliers The Coronation of Lewis XIII The Court of France was then at Rheims for the Coronation of the young King The Cardinal of Joycuse representing the Archbishop of the place performed the Ceremony with the usual Pomp. The Princes of Conde and Conti the Count of Soissons the Dukes of Nevers Elbeuf and Epernon Represented the ancient Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitain and the Counts of Thoulouse Flanders and Champagne It is not needful for me to relate in this place all the particulars of this long Ceremony it may be found in divers places There is one thing not to be forgotten which well deserves our Attention Before that which the Credulous People call the Holy Bottle be made use of the King promises when required by the Prelate who Officiates to the Bishops and Churches to preserve their Canonical Priviledges to make good Laws to do Justice to protect his Subjects according to the Obligations of a King to his People Two Bishops Peers of France after this ask all present if they receive this Prince for their King and all the Orders of the Kingdom having given their consent the Solemn Oath of Inauguration is administred to him A convincing proof there is a Reciprocal and Relative Engagement between a Soveraign and his Subjects Reflections on the Coronation Oath In an Elective Kingdom the Subjects oblige themselves only to the Prince who is chosen on Conditions mutually agreed on in the Act of Election But in an Hereditary State they stand engaged to him whom they have Elected and to his Descendants it being still understood they shall observe all the Conditions promised by the first of the Royal Family Thus we see why each of these in particular is not received as King till after the Ratification of the Original Contract made with him from whom they derive their Pretensions to the Crown This Maxim is founded on Divine Right and Natural Equity The good Frenchmen commonly believed this in the XV. Century Joan Gerson Oposculo adversus adulatores Principurm Considerat VIII It is a gross Mistake says one of the most Famous and Pious Writers of the Gallican Church to pretend that a Soveraign has not contracted any Obligation to his Subjects In the same manner as by Divine Right Natural Equity and by the true end of Government the latter are bound to continue faithful to and assist their Prince so he Reciprocally engaged to be Faithful to them and protect them If it shall happen then that a Sovereign shall do manifest Injustices without having regard to the Remonstrances of his Subjects they have a Liberty to defend themselves according to the Rule of Natural Right which allows every one to repel Violence with all his Might Claude Despence Institution d'un Prince Chrétien Another Divine of Paris not less Eminent for his Birth than his rare Learning said frankly to Henry II. That his Majesty ought to detest a Tyrannick Maxim more fit for a Turk or Tartar Soveraign than a Christian Prince a Maxim I say since received at Court That the
Assistance of the Pope and Governor of Milan did not desist for all this The Count of Soissons sent him privately word to be very reserved to Berrault a Creature of Villeroy who aimed to surprize and daunt the Duke Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 463 464. The Pope's Nuncio in France declared his Master knew nothing of the Designs of Charles Emanuel but this Italian Minister maintained them as well as he could and strove to prove the Justice of them to the Queen All this gave Umbrage This was the reason she earnestly recommended to the Cardinal of Joieuse to Discourse with the Pope upon this Subject and to Represent the Reasons which France had to oppose the Enterprize which the Duke of Savoy seemed to design The Duke of Savoy is forced to Disarm The World could not comprehend the Intrigues of this Prince perhaps he himself did not very well know what he would have Charles Emanuel undertakes to make a War on the Protestants and his chief Prospect is to raise the Hugonots of France in case he were left alone to act against Geneva At the same time he proposes to the King of England a double Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy and of the Prince of Piemont with a Daughter of England It was very difficult at first to make King James hear the Envoy from Savoy and yet the Duke pushed the Matter so far that the Court of Rome was alarmed at it Paul V. took Measures to break the Treaty which the King of England and the Duke of Savoy had no great mind to conclude A Capucin had Orders to go to Turin with an Instruction from Cardinal Borghese to divert Charles Emanuel from thinking on an Alliance with England All that could ever be guessed of so capricious a Movement was that the Duke thought to create a Jealousie in France and bring her by this means to finish the Treaty or the Marriage of the Eldest Daughter of that Kingdom with the Prince of Piemont He hoped too the Pope would break the Treaty of the Double Marriage between France and Spain and Assist the Prince of Piemont to Marry the Eldest Daughter of either of those two Crowns rather than suffer the Duke to bring a Protestant Princess to Turin The poor Duke spoil'd all his Affairs by aiming too much to be crafty His Intrigue with England did not succeed better than any of the rest The Regent determined too on the double Marriage between France and Spain thought no more on the Prince of Piemont except for Madam Christina second Daughter to the late King For his designs on Geneva and the Country of Vaux these he must quit too Mary de Medicis had acted her part so well with the Pope and King of Spain that they joyned with her to compel the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. La Varenne was sent from the Court of France to Turin to conclude this Matter Charles Emanuel still flattered with some Hopes the Regent would be his Friend had a mind to do this with a good Grace He thought at least to make this Advantage that Mary de Medicis should take in good part the Deference which he feigned to have for her Majesty A Civil Meeting of the Protestants of France The Queen was the more Solicitous to put a stop to the Commotions in Savoy because the Court feared the Protestants met at Saumur might take Umbrage at it When the Reformed of France saw there was a necessity for them to defend themselves against those who attacked them with open force they began to form set Meetings in different Provinces of the Kingdom to agree on Measures for their Safety and the free Exercise of their Religion One or more Provinces joined together first held their Provincial Assembly Out of these they deputed a certain number of Gentlemen of those they called Elders or Ministers to form the General Assembly who were to take Resolutions for the common Good of the whole Body Reason and Natural Equity allow of these sort of Confederacies The Primitive Christians united and had their Meetings for the Regulation of their Discipline and preserving the Purity of the Gospel After their Example the Reformed had their Synods to draw up their Confession of Faith and form the Government of their Churches These being born in a Christian State where Subjects have Privileges and Liberties had not only their Religion to take care of but were under an Indispensable Obligation to defend their Right as far as the Rules of Natural Equity and Christianity admit against their King and a Faction of their Countrymen who strove to oppress them The Sovereign Power ought to hinder as far as may be all Associations and Meetings which may cause Disorder and Confusion in a State but this must be by a due Execution of the Fundamental Laws and maintaining those Rights and Privileges which Subjects cannot without Injustice be deprived of It is reasonable to alledge Men ought not to form a State within a State None would think of this if they were left peaceably to enjoy their Birthright But for Princes to pretend to prevent Disorders which would never happen if they were disposed to do Justice and to use these plausible Maxims to oppress with more ease those whom they have Sworn to protect is a Tyranny which it is lawful to oppose This is ever most dangerous when it is covered with the fair Colours of the publick Good The King of Navarre liked these Principles very well and thought them solid and conducing to the Welfare and Repose of Civil Society whilst he was struggling to defend himself against the power of the League but when he once saw himself Master of a fair Kingdom he soon abandon'd those Sentiments which Interest more than Reason had led him to embrace Princes never consult this Oracle they are only entertained with Discourses of Reason when they are not in a condition capable of understanding it In the following part of their Lives they are flattered and Transported with Passion for their own Greatness Whatever makes them absolute and Independent ever seems most Just and Reasonable to them After the Verification of the Edict of Nants Henry did not without great difficulty grant the Protestants leave to hold a General Meeting He was afraid the Lords that resorted to it or had their Creatures there should attempt any thing to his prejudice Are not the Synods said the King sufficient to determine Matters of Discipline and Religion As for Civil Affairs and the keeping the Edict of Pacification the two Deputies General which I allow the Protestants to have in my Court can represent to me the Griefs and Complaints of the Provinces I will take care to do them Justice This manner of Reasoning had been good if Henry had had the Knowledge and Integrity not to be Surprized by the Popes Nuncio and other crafty Men who were ever near him to Extort
Government of Dauphiny She was willing to keep that of Normandy to her self and have it manag'd by a Lieutenant General But the Prince of Conti was to be satisfied who ask'd for one of his Brother's two Governments This seem'd very reasonable Conti having heretofore given up the Government of the Dauphinate to the Count. To give him and the Guises some satisfaction a Sister of whom the Prince had married it was caus'd to be propos'd to Charles of Valois Natural Son of King Charles IX whom we before call'd Count d' Auvergne and henceforth shall be stil'd Duke of Angoulesme to lay down the Government of Auvergne Henry IV. had put him into Prison for a Conspiracy and the Regent kept him there still The Marquiss de Coeuvres was ordered to speak to him for accommodating the Matter The Duke d' Angoulesme who long'd for his Liberty accepted the Proposition to obtain his Liberty and so the Prince of Conti was made Governour of Auvergne The Count de Soissons had vast Designs rolling in his Head when he died 'T was said that he had bound himself in a great Correspondence with Henry Prince of Wales Maurice Prince of Orange the Duke of Savoy and the Huguenot Party The Duke of Rohan perceiving him discontented with the Regent and her Ancestors sent to offer him his Services He did not ask for the Government of Quillebeuf but only to be in a Condition of giving Entrance to the Succours which he had projected should come from England and Holland His greatest Passion and Desire was to remove the Ministers and quell the Party of the Guises and of the Duke of Epernon He would have had the Joy of seeing his Wishes almost fulfill'd if Death had not taken him hence the first Day of November The Marquiss and Marchioness d'Ancre had so much prepossess'd the Queen against the Ministers of State and especially against Sileri that she began to keep them in the dark as to her Cabinet Affairs Galigai had the Insolence to say a thousand offensive things to the Chancellor in presence of the Queen and to upbraid him with the ill Administration of his Office Mary de Medicis suffer'd her She-Confident to speak all and poor Sileri dar'd not to answer a Word for himself He was afraid lest the Queen should second the Reproaches perhaps too true which were said against him The Marchioness d'Ancre being sure of her Mistress's Sentiments spoke confidently as she was able to put out of Countenance the boldest Man alive 'T is a Maxim amongst interested Courtiers not to be put off and repuls'd easily and not to quit the Game but at the last Extremity The Chancellor went into the Queen's Closet with other Ministers but there he was afresh mortified Her Majesty turn'd her Back to him affecting to speak with a deal-of trust to the President Jeannin A new Party was now set up at Court which having got the upper most dissipated all the rest The Prince of Condé headed it The Dukes of Nevers Maienne Longueville the Marshal Bouillon and the Marquess d' Ancre came into it The Guises Epernon Amville and their Friends found their Affairs retarded by these Means The Duke of Amville was Brother to the Constable Montmorenci in whose Absence being gone to his Government in Languedoc he joyn'd himself to the Guises whom he thought had got further into the Queen's Favour than others The Master of the Horse Bellegarde of the same Party was then at Bourgundy as Governour of it He receiv'd Orders to come presently to Court Bellegarde obey'd the more willingly for that the Duke of Guise had hasten'd him to come to their Relief As soon as he had reach'd Sens they gave him notice that the Queen had sent for him only to put him out of his Government Understanding this he went back to it with all speed The Marquess d' Ancre had laid an Intrigue for causing Bourgundy to be given to the Duke of Mayenne There were more open Contentions at the Sorbonne than at the Court The Jesuit Becanus his Book condemned The Jesuits let loose against the lawful Authority of Sovereigns publish'd new Books every Day upon this Subject to court and please the proud Borghese Becan a famous Author of the Society had printed one this Year Mercure Francois 1611. with this Title The Controversie of England touching the King and Pope's Authority When Doctor Filezac new Syndic of the Faculty at Paris had perus'd it he spoke of it to Cardinal Bonzi to know whether the Queen would think fit the Sorbonne should censure so pernicious a Book The Nuncio and the Jesuits strove alike to shake off the Blow Vbaldini saw that the Faculty would not fail to have a fling in its Censure at the pretended Authority of the Holy Chair The good Fathers feared lest a new Decree of the Faculty of Paris publish'd throughout all France might further confirm the common Opinion That the Society makes Profession to teach constantly a Doctrine which is contrary to the Authority of Kings and Security of their Persons But the Propositions of Becan were so loudly complain'd of as it was expedient to appease Mens Minds by some Condemnation of them Here 's the Expedient which the Pope's Counsel and the Jesuits resolv'd upon They told the Queen that it would be of greater efficacy to have these sorts 〈◊〉 Books condemned at Rome and that 〈◊〉 Censure coming forth from the Holy Chair would carry more Authority with it than one from the Faculty of Paris Mary de Medicis was easily drawn into the Snare they had laid for her She bid the Cardinal Bonzi tell the Syndic of the Faculty That her Majesty would not have the Sorbonne to determine any thing upon Becan's Book because the Queen had a design to have it condemn'd by the Pope the Court of Rome and the good Fathers to make for them this Evasion If the Sorbonne had left off making a noise the Examination of the Book had been stopt Whatever came on 't the Inquisition condemning a Book in general Terms without specifying any thing People could not exactly know upon what Point the Condemnation fell and thus the exorbitant Proposition concerning the Pope's Authority would have been not touch'd or meddled with It was supposed that the Inquisition never intended to condemn them One Paris having presented in the Sorbonne the first of December some Propositions extracted out of Becan's Book wherein the Assassination of Kings and Princes was permitted and many other things contain'd which were contrary to Divine and Humane Laws the Syndic made a Report of what Cardinal Bonzi had told him concerning the Queen's Intentions Dr. Paris's Mouth being stop'd with this Answer desir'd that what he had propos'd might be register'd and that a Copy of what the Faculty had concluded upon might be given him It was granted him The first Day of the Year following the Faculty of Paris deputed four Doctors to represent to the Chancellor that
more particular Light into the State of Euâ—â—pe in Levis XIII his time The Czar John Basilovits fam'd for his Cruelties and the War which the brave Stephen Battori King of Poland wag'd against him with so much Glory and Advantage French Mercury 1605. as the Muscovite was oblig'd to have recourse to the Pope's Intercession for obtaining a Peace Basilovitz I say had left but two small Children behind him of seven Wives which he had Theodorus and Demetrius The eldest stupid and heartless succeeded him Whilst he diverted himself in ringing of Church-Bells Boris Frederovits a Muscovite Lord who had married his Sister govern'd the State This wicked Ambitious Man caus'd young Demetrius to be slain who dwelt with his Mother in a Castle remote from Mosco And the better to conceal his Crime he procured him to be assassinated whom he made use of to commit this Villany The Czar Theodore died in a little time after 'T was though Boris had poyson'd him The Masculine Line of the ancient Czars being thus at an end it was not hard for Boris Brother-in-Law to this last Prince to mount up into the Throne Being as crafty as he was cruel he had taken care to gain the Love of the People and to remove far from him under specious Pretences the Lords who were in capacity to oppose his Ambition He was crown'd at Mosco in all Forms and Ceremonies His bloody and suspicious Nature render'd him quickly odious to the Muscovites A Nation accustomed to Slavery doth not so patiently suffer the Tyranny of a Prince newly rais'd up to the Throne as that which is establisht in a long Succession of one and the same Family A Counterfeit Demetrius in Poland About the year 1604. Boris receiv'd News from Poland which put him to strange Difficulties A Russian Monk had carried thither a young Man who much resembled in Stature and Countenance the Prince Demetrius whom Boris had caus'd to be put to Death The Monk first puts this youth into the Service of Vietsnovisky a Polish Lord who had Marryed the Palatin's Daughter of Sendomir from whence he got into the Palatines Wine-House When the Monk thought he had prepared Men well enough he told the Palatine as a Secret that this young Man was Demetrius lawful Heir of the Empire of Russia who had been privately and happily convey'd away from the Cruelty of Boris by putting another Child in the Prince's room whom the Tyrant intended to cause to be slain This adventure was related with such probable Circumstances as the Palatine believ'd all that was told him He presently discover'd the Secret to Sigismond King of Poland who was willing to be fully acquainted with the pretended Demetrius The Youth who neither wanted Wiâ—â— or Education Rehearseth the Misfortunes of his Life in the presence of the King with much Craftiness and a good Grace he shew'd certain natural Marks on his Face and upon one of his Hands which he pretended to be undeniable Proofs of the truth of his Birth and then addressing himself to Sigismond he thus proceeded I am Sir very happy to have fallen into the hands of a King who having been himself unfortunate and persecuted during his Infancy by his Vncle must have the greater Compassion for my hard Fortune You was born in the Prison where the Cruel Erric had put your Majesties Father and Mother The Polanders have made choice of you before all the Princes in Europe This distinction Sir ought to render you the more respected by the Swedes your Natural Subjects Another Ambitious Vncle raiseth 'em against you he endeavours to snatch forcibly away your Patrimony Thanks be to God your Majesty is still powerful enough to help me to be Restor'd to mine As soon as you shall put me into a condition to be thankful for so great a Favour the Polanders and Muscovites united together shall quickly reduce the Swedish Rebel May Heaven grant that after this Happy Expedition we may joyntly set upon the common Enemy of the Christians If King Sigismond did not believe what was told him he hop'd however that the Story whether true or false might stand him in some stead against the Muscovites T' was resolv'd upon to Assist the pretended Demetrius and to send him first into Lithu mia that from thence to write to the Pope he might be nearer Muscovy He askt of him to do him all the good turns he cou'd in Poland The Court of Rome always attentive to what is capable of extending her usurpt Domination willingly gave an ear to the Person who made her hope to Reduce the Russians to the Obedience of the Holy Chair Demetrius enters into Muscovy and there Crown'd A private Rumor presently run aboroad at Mosco that the Prince Demetrius having scap'd the fury of the Tyrant Boris shew'd himself near to the Frontiers The Malecontents and they who lov'd Novelty confirm'd for truth what others had said The People easily drawn to believe extraordinary Contingencies and who flatter themselves with finding a milder and more supportable Government seem'd to wait with impatience Demetrius's coming Boris inform'd of what had pass't at Poland and of the practices begun at Mosco did not know which side to take whether he should despise this Story as if it was but a ridiculous Story the noise of which in a little time vanisheth or if he should downright prepare himself to press and quell a Party which seem'd to fortifie it self ev'ry day both at home and abroad Persuaded at last that nothing was to be neglected he caus'd it to be spread abroad on his side that the pretended Demetrius was a known Mag cian and after Orders for the safety of the Frontiers he sent Ambassadors to the Diet at Warsaw They were to complain to the King and Republick of Poland for that they had Transgress'd the Conditions of Peace made betwixt the two States by shewing their willingness to uphold the Impostures of the miserable Son of a Priest and to demand the delivery of him up to 'em alive or dead In case the Ambassador cou'd not obtain of 'em a favourable Answer Boris had order'd 'em to Negotiate with some Popish Lords for to engage them to oppose a design which the King might have against him Sigismond answer'd the Muscovites in general Terms and in the mean time prepared himself underhand to assist him who averr'd himself to be the rightful Heir of the ancient Czars Demetrius enter'd into Moscovy at the Head of an Army consisting of Ten thousand Poles and Cossacks which the Palatine of Sendomir commanded under him Demetrius and he not having known the advantage they had of so good an occasion to rout the Muscovite Army were themselves defeated in the beginning of the year 1605. Demetrius too weak to keep the Field any longer shut himself up in a Town which he had before taken he hop'd to receive new Succors from Poland before the Enemy could retake the places which had been taken from
Yoland his Daughter and of Edmund of Savoy whom she had married should inherit Montferrat preferrably to the Daughters of the Family of the Paleologues who might only pretend to a Portion suitable to their Quality Charles Emanuel had other Pretensions to a part of Montferrat by Virtue of the Will of Blanche Paleologus married into the House of Savoy She made Duke Charles II. Heir of a part of Montferrat which she laid claim to and of what was besides due to her for her Jointure The Sum was but Fourscore Thousand Crowns but the Interest for a long time added to the Principal made it amount almost to a Million of Livres This occasioned a very long Sute between the Houses of Savoy and Gonzaga Instead of ending the Process by a Definitive Sentence the Emperor Charles V. made the Affair more perplex'd He to content both Parties awarded the Possession of Montferrat to the House of Mantua and left as they were the Pretensions of Savoy by Virtue of a Testamentary Donation of Blanche Paleologus The Marriage of the last deceased Duke Francis with Margaret of Savoy was at last concluded with design to put an end to all the Differences of both Houses In favour of this Alliance Charles Emanuel gave up all his Pretensions to his Daughter and the Children begotten of her if she should have any 'T was agreed likewise on both sides that a Line should be drawn to divide as equally as possible could be the two Princes Estates which ran into one another But this Division being made the Duke of Savoy was minded to renew his ancient Rights insomuch as he was not so ready to maintain the Pretensions of Mary his Grandchild for Montferrat as his own Cartifices of the Duke of Savoy As soon as he had heard of the Duke of Mantua's Death he sent two Persons whom he chiefly rely'd upon not so much to comfort his Daughter as to instruct her in what she was to do in this present Conjuncture The first counselled her to say she was with Child to hinder Cardinal Gonzaga who came in haste from Rome to put himself into Possession of the deceas'd Duke's Estate his Brother Margaret was extreamly fix'd on the Interest of her House and Charles Emanuel had taken care to breed up his Children upon an entire dependance on their Father so that the young Widow was easily brought over to counterfeit her self big with Child Victor Amedaeus Prince of Piedmont went in Person to Mantua under pretence of visiting his afflicted Sister but he had secret Orders from his Father to take her out of Mantua with her Daughter to Turin or Milan or lastly to Montferrat of which Place the Princess Mary was Heiress It is not convenient said Victor Amedaeus to the Court of Mantua for a disconsolate Widow to live in a Place where she constantly finds Objects to renew her Sorrow and Decency will no more permit her to be with the Cardinal her Brother-in-Law who is not much older than she and hath so great Interest for the Succession of Mantua He besides ought to wish it so for his own Reputation Would he make himself responsible for all the Accidents â—…hich might happen to the Mother or the Daughter My Sister continued he ought â—…lso to take along with her the young Prinâ—…ess she can't be in better Hands Natuâ—…al Right gives to Mothers the Education of â—…heir Children They can take more care of them and be more tender of them than any other Person The Cardinal Ferdinand understood very well that the Savoyards thought of nothing more than making sure to themselves Montferrat under the Name of the Pupil who was in their Hands or at least at the disposal of John Mendoza Marquess of Inojosa Governor of the Milanese their good Friend Therefore the Cardinal alledg'd several Reasons to hinder his Sister-in-Law and his Niece from going out of the States of Mantua Is it Reasonable answer'd Ferdinand that we should suffer the Princess to go away who perhaps may quickly bring an Heir capable to make this Country happy The Princes of the House of Gonzaga are ordinarily born where they are to Govern and is it not more convenient for my Niece to be brought up in a Country where we shall endeavour to make her some time a Sovereign Mistress by Marrying her to the Heir of the House of Mantua If the sight of my Deceased Brother's Palace troubles too much his Widow we have other places whither she may retire for her Pleasure with all imaginable Liberty Charles Emanuel Negotiated at Milan with as much Zeal and Artifice He persuaded that they would not consent to entrust with him the Heiress of Montferrat caused it to be reported at Inojosa that she was the King of Spain's Grandchild that his Catholick Majesty was interess't to get her out of her Uncles Hands by the Father side that they should before-hand beware of the Cardinal from whom she carried away with her the Succession of a rich Marquisate that Philip III. was to take so much the more care of the Princess Mary that it was of great concern to his Majesty that Montferrat should be in the possession of a House which might be the best agreeable to him Lastly that it was to be feared lest the Gonzagues should marry their Niece into France with the Son of the Duke of Nevers their near Relation The Governor of Milan demands the Widow Dutchess of Mantua and her Daughter These Reasons t' was said backt with some Presents which Charles Emanuel had sent to the Marquess Inojosa engaged this Governor to send the Prince d'Ascoli to Mantua with a great Retinue to demand of the Cardinal the Widow Dutchess and her Daughter Such a Proposal at first surprised him but recovering himself a little he found an Expedient which broke the Measures of the Prince of Piedmont and the Envoy of the Governor of Milan T' is true answer'd Ferdinand that the Princess Mary hath the Honour to be related to the King of Spain but she hath this likewise of being the Emperor's and Queen of France's Niece I can't disdispose of her without the consent of their Majesties Besides the Dutchess my Sister-in-Law and I are at difference about the Tutelage of her Children It belongs to the Emperor on whom our Estates depend to judge which of our two Rights are best grounded The Prince of Piedmont and d'Ascoli departed after this Answer whether it was that the respect they had for so greaâ—… a Name stopt their Mouths or that they had not taken necessary Measures for speaking more resolutely The Regent of France opposeth the designs of the Duke of Savoy The Marquess Trenel was at Turin iâ—… the behalf of Mary de Medicis when the News was receiv'd there of the Death oâ—… the Duke of Mantua Amongst the Complements of Condolence to Charles Emanuel upon this troublesom Accident which happen'd in his Family Trenel as from himself insinuated into the dissembling Savoyard
found it without doing any thing against your Conscience or the welfare of Religion These studied Discourses made no great impressions on the Queen She coldly answered the Nuncio that all her Council except the Marschal de Bovillon were good Catholicks and that they were the best Judges what made for the Interest of the Kingdom and of Religion Besides added her Majesty I do nothing upon this occasion but what certain Princes of Italy have done as well as I and that before the Pope's Eyes The Dutches of Tuscany with all her Devotion did she refuse to allow of any Discourse concerning the Marriage of her Daughter with the late Prince of Wales The Emperor Matthias goes to Ratisbonne to the Diet. Of all the Protestants the United Princes in Germany were those which flattered themselves with deriving great Advantages from the Alliance of the Elector Palatine with the Crown of England They hoped that King James would Support their League of which Frederick his Son-in Law was the Chief Since the Dispute that arose concerning the Succession of Cleves and Juliers the Animosite which the Catholicks and Protestants bore towards one another in Germany was inflamed The Two Parties got all the Strength they could and made Attempts upon each other The weakness of Rodolphus contributed much to this unhappiness Matthias his Brother and Successor tryed to Cure it in the begining of his Reign But he had neither Power nor Wisdom necessary to reconcile so different Interests or to Command equal Respect from Princes that were sowr'd one against the other with mutual Discontents Possibly the Emperor had no very ill intentions with respect to the Protestants at least he seemed to imitate the moderation of Maximilian his Father But not having so much Sense and Resolution he was ensnared with the Contrivances of the Court of Rome the Catholick Party The Progress the Turks made a little while ago in Hungary seemed to threaten Matthias with a War near Home This obliged him to keep even with both Sides because he equally needed their assistance against a formidable Enemy The Protestants endeavoured to make their use of this opportunity to better their Condition and to secure the repose of their Churches The Catholicks and Protestants complain of each other Matthias had promised at his Coronatiion to call a Diet to consult about means to secure the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire and to remedy those Disorders of which several parts of it had complained a long time It was appointed to meet at Ratisbonne The Emperor and the Three Ecclesiastical Electors came thither But the other Electors only sent their Deputies Lewis Landgrave of Hesse declared at large the Reasons the Emperor had to convene the Diet. Mercure Francois 1613. Five were with relation to the particular Government of the Empire and the Sixth related to the Attempts of the Turks upon Hungary His Imperial Majesty thinking it necessary vigorously to oppose them desired that they would grant him certain Contributions for that purpose but before they would enter upon the Consideration of what the Emperor proposed the United Protestant Princes who were then called Correspondans presented several Grieveances of which they had before complain'd under the preceding Reign without obtaining any Redress 'T would be to no purpose to give an account of them here The Emperor in vain endeavoured to Elude the Demands of the Correspondans and to defer till another time the Examination of that Affair they stood to it that his Imperial Majesty ought first to Redress their Greivances The Catholick Princes being convinc'd of the Justice of the pretensions of their Adversaries were of Opinion without having any regard to the Complaints of the United Protestants that they should immediately proceed to deliberate upon the Articles proposed by the Emperor The Consideration of some particular Persons less in Number said they ought to be preferred before the necessity of the publick Welfare which was very pressing Being sure to have the plurality of Voices on their Side these Gentlemen had a mind that what ever they Ordered should be lookt upon as a Resolution of the Diet There could be nothing more contrary to the Repose and Tranquility of the Empire in the present posture of Affairs At this Rate they would presently have Ruined all the Protestants in Germany The Catholicks did likewise maliciously insinuate to the Empire that the Protestants had ill Designs under-hand and that there was Reason to fear they would at last Contest the Lawful Authority of his Majesty Within a little while after they presented a long account of the Complaints which the Catholicks had to make against the Protestants They accused them of diverse Infractions of the Treaty of Pacification that was made some time past at Passau and of diverse Attempts contrary to the Constitutions of the Empire The Catholicks Demanded Justice in their turn of his Imperial Majesty These Gentlemen have been a long time us'd to cry out of Injustice and Persecution against those very Men which they Tormented and Opprest Not to suffer them to Tyranize is to Persecute them So that the Pope grants Jubilees and Indulgences with a liberal Hand to obtain the Deliverance of those of his Religion as if they were unjustly Opprest althô at the same time they live in perfect Tranquility This we see done every day The bad Success of the Diet at Ratisbonne Not being able to Reconcile Spirits which were more and more sowr'd against one another the Emperor endeavoured to avoid the Examination of the Complaints which were made of either Side He proposed to defer it to another time Nevertheless he demanded Assistance for the Security of Hungary where Bethlem Gabor the New Prince of Transilvania Supported by the Turks had made himself dreadful The Protestants answered that they did not doubt but the Emperor was well affected to them and that they were ready to Contribute both Men and Money for the Defence of his Majesties Hereditary Countrys But that they could not forbear to desire his Imperial Majesty in the first Place to restablish the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire and take Care of redressing the Greivances which they had presented to him The Arch-Duke Maximilian the Emperor's Brother a Prince of a sweet and moderate Temper was then at Ratisbonne Matthias desired him to Treat with the Protestants hoping he was able to bring them over but althô they profest a great Respect for the Arch-Duke yet he could obtain nothing of them With a design to make the Emperor more favourable the Catholicks shewed themselves Liberal and well Inclined They promised to furnish him for Two years with their Antient Contributions to carry on a War against the Turks the Protestants oppos'd this Deliberation being resolv'd not to suffer that the Resolutions taken by the Catholicks should be lookt upon as the Decrees of the whole Diet of the Empire Thus the Diet of Ratisbonne broke up instead of remedying the disorders of
the â—â—voyard would not re-demand his Granâ—â—ughter nor require an Amnesty from â—…ose of Monferrat who had appeared for 〈◊〉 Inojosa was enrag'd that the Duke 〈◊〉 Savoy would have him pass for a Cheat. 〈◊〉 that he could say in his own Defence â—â—s that Charles Emanuel had played many such tricks before In his Negociations with the Ministers of Henry IV. and the most considerable Persons in the Court of France he often affirmed that in their private Conferences they had promis'd him things which they never thought of Whatsoever this Intrigue was if the Governor of Milan had ever said such things to the Duke of Savoy he was not much concerned about them afterwards Inojosa persisted to press Charles Emanuel to lay down his Arms. It was his business now to find out other Evasions France said he hath Troops in Dauphine The Mareschal de Lesdiguieres expects only the Queen Regent's last Orders to advance towards Piedmont Doth his Catholick Majesty expect that I should not be upon my guard This cunning Duke knew very well that Mary de Medicis being fully satisfied that the Houses of Savoy and Mantua had made a Peace without France's sending any Troops over the Mountains had no design that Lesdiguieres should March. The Queen Regent for her part desired likewise that he should lay dowâ—… his Arms. Charles Emanuel had answered the Ministers of her most Christian Majesty that the Spaniards did not wisâ—… him well and that Prudence obliged him to be in a posture of Defence againsâ—… those which had not forgot that he was iâ—… a League against them with the late King Vargas Secretary to his Catholick Majesty was upon the point to return to Madrid after he had executed the Orders which were given him with relation to Italy They sent him New ones to pass first by the way of Turin and to know the last resolution of the Duke This business perplex'd Charles Emanuel less than any of the rest Nani Hist oria Veneta Lib. I. 1313. He pretended to dismiss his Troops in the Envoy's Presence But he Cashierd only the Militia of his Country which he could recall in a Moment It was enough that he retained the Foreign Troops which were in his Pay We see the reason why he us'd all these Tricks unworthy of a Man of his Quality His Spies in France gave him an account that the Prince of Conde and the other Malecontents would shortly Rise and that there would be a Civil War Charles Emanuel was in hopes to make his advantage of this Conjuncture to re-establish his Affairs in Italy or on the Side of France The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua in the Name of the K. of Spain But the poor Duke was always deceived in his Expectations and unsuccessful in his Intrigues and Artifices The Cardinal Duke would have been pleas'd to see his Enemy perplext with â—…he Spaniards if the Governor of Milan had not been as troublesome to him as â—…e was to Charles Emanuel Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. The Venetiâ—…ns advis'd Ferdinand to make this Answer â—…o the Demand that Inojosa made him to send his Niece to Milan that as to all his Quarrels with the Duke of Savoy and particularly that which related to the Princess of Mantua Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 123.126.127 c. he was ready to refer himself to the Judgment of the Pope the Emperor and his Catholick Majesty But in his Arbitration the Spaniard could not endure that Philip should have either a Superior or an Equal Without having any respect to that which his Imperial Majesty had told him by the Prince of Castiglione that he ought to treat the Princes of Italy with more Softness and Civility the Governor sent Pimentel General of the Milanois Horse to Demand in the Name of the King of Spain that they would forthwith send the young Princess to Milan to be Educated there Pimentel represented to the Cardinal Duke that Philip would take care of the Education of his Niece and that the repose of Italy depending in a great measure upon the disposal of the young Princess his Majesty who was careful of thâ—… Conservation of the Peace ought to have the Princess in his keeping for fear they should Marry her to one that should noâ—… be agreeable to the Neighbouring Princes and perhaps might raise a War Pimentel concluded his Remonstrance in giving Ferdinand to understand that if he would not deliver up his Niece willingly theâ—… would take her away by Force Thâ—… Cardinal Duke answered according to hiâ—… usual manner that he could not do any thing without the consent of the Emperor and the Queen of France Pimentel not being satisfied with this answer he told him further that the Princess was not well and because he would not believe it he gave him a sight of her to convince him that she was not in a Condition to be removed after this Ferdinand dismist him as Civilly as he could The Designs of the K-of Spain in this demand It was no hard matter to penetrate the Designs of the Court of Madrid The Cardinal Duke and Don Vincent his Brother had so ruined their health by their excessive Debauches that it was thought they would never have any Children and that they were not long lived To preserve Monferrat in the Family of Gonzague it was necessary to Marry the Princess to the Son of the Duke of Nevers the undoubted Heir of the Dutchy of Mantua And it was this which the Court of Modrid had a mind to hinder The King of Spain had a mind to make himself Master of the Dominions of the House of Mantua for fear they should one day fall into the Hands of a Prince of French Extraction who would favour the French Interest by reason of his great Possessions and Alliances in France This â—…s too true that Ferdinand at this time â—…alling dangerously ill the Ministers of Spain had already laid their Design to declare the Duke of Nevers had forfeited all his Right to the Succession of Mantua and that the Investiture of the Dutchy should be given by the Emperor to him whom the House of Austria should best like of as if the Male Line of the Gonzagues had been utterly extinct The Republick of Venice traverses the designs of the King of Spain The Cardinal Duke of Mantua who had neither understanding nor experience enough in Affairs to extricate himself out of all these Intrigues did supply his defects by his teachable Temper and by the Respect which he paid to the good Counsels which the Senate of Venice carefully sent him These refined Politicians saw with extream Jealuosie that the Spaniards had no less a Design than to devour all Italy Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1. Not being content to assist Ferdinand with their Counsels and with their Forces and to encourage him resolutely to maintain the Interests of his Family this Republick further gave pressing Orders