them Conquests to be almost impossible disgraces easie and the dammages certaine No account to be made of Salsas and though it should chance to bee lost Perpignane not to be feared though it should be assaulted being strong of it selfe back'd by a Province abundant in provision rich in coine and numerous in hardie and valiant men That the King of Spaine would bee the hardlier turned by reason he was tied to defend himselfe being assaulted by great Forces and had strength enough to doe it and because of th' effect which the love of their King and the hatred they have to the French might worke in the hearts of the Catalonians That his Majestie had with the Havens the Dominion of the Sea his Gallies might hinder any one else from becomming master of it This gate being closed it would be impossible for the French to maintaine a potent Army seeing hee was to bring Ammunition and provision on his backe so farre for it The fire to bee kindled in Italie Piemont in eminent danger to bee lost and the Kings Sister with it That it was good to draw the Spaniards thither where the reward was great and whither they could not come but by Sea where the Climate is different and where once routed it was hard for them to bee recruited That Nature had parted these two Nations with th'Appenines the Spaniards Foote to bee more valiant and the French more numerous in Cavallerie The one to bee forced to come into the Mountaines to move warre where they can make no use of that wherein they most abound and the others to descend into the plaine where that was needfull which they most wanted To so many motives of reason and naturall cares was added the ancient experience and especially the moderne of Fonterable where the last yeare they lost so many men and so much reputation But now in these dayes experience is followed onely wherein it is favourable if adverse it must bee overcome and though its authority be not denied yet it must be interpreted The cause is attributed to chances which alwaies accompany every great enterprize and the crosse of chances imputed to the Commanders changing of which in stead of taking away th'inconveniences they alter the Generalls in stead of amending the evill they multiplied and increase it One runneth not twice into an error when in the same there is both shame and losse for the danger of losse will not suffer them to adventure the shame Enterprises obtaine not their effects either because they are projected or badly executed the error is sometimes in the one sometimes in the other but the fault is alwayes laid on him who can least helpe it It is common to all men to erre but proper onely to brave men to confesse their error He that hath often dealt infallibly if he receive blame for being once deceived receives no shame by confessing that he was deceived It is no abasement of spirit nor losse of reputation It is a confidence in ones owne credit which is not feared to be lost in one onely action Hee that confesseth an error bindeth himselfe to the cancelling of it by some great attempt whereas he that denieth it seemes to be subject to commit a greater And it is strange that an ignorant man will never confesse one when the wise man affirmes that the just man commits seven in a day The French Army numerous being of twenty thousand Foot commanded in chiefe by the Prince of Conde a Lord of a great bloud and secondarily by the Duke of Luin a Souldier of great valour was by the most Christian Kings Officers sent into the Countie of Ronciglione as though they would overcome the bounds of nature the valour of the Spaniards and alter the Generalls fortune Fortune smiled but did not favour Valour overcome by multitude appealed to time Nature was betrayed and not overcome The Governour of the Castle of Oppoli a small place a passage of those Mountaines of a craggie situation inaccessible by Ordinance and almost impenetrable to man suffered himselfe to be surprised by a Fanatick terror The cries of the French threats entred into his eares the number of the men presented it selfe before his eyes and in stead of viewing them with emissive rayes which he might have done a farre off from the foot of the hill he received th' impression of them in th' eyes of his imagination he figured them to himselfe as if they were before him and was disturbed and before hee could come to himselfe againe he lost his courage his discourse and himselfe for yeilding up the Castle to the French hee and his Lieutenant were put to death at Perpignane punishing him and by his punishment giving others example The Count of Santa Colomba governed the Province of Catalonia in those dayes to the King and peoples great satisfaction a Gentleman of great hopes though but of small experience The defect of this quality suffered him not then to bee an eminent Souldier the plenty of other promised he would be one Hee was noble apt prudent calme and valiant In a peaceable government you could have desired no more And in warre hee so behaved himselfe that it seemed that did him no hurt which he was defective in For providing discoursing and doing every thing exceeding well none could judge he needed that which hee onely wanted Hee did not find himselfe to have strength enough to resist the enemie in the field The men he looked for to recruit that Armie were not yet come greater conveniencie therefore was to be exppected it being reasonable to doubt in things not to be questioned at that time The Marquesse of Leganes businesse would not permit to have six thousand Foot taken from the Army which were allotted for that place seeing he had lost many men in the Conquest and employed many to secure the conquered places The Gallies of Naples and Sicily thinking their orders for comming into Spaine had a connexion with those six thousand Foot 's comming stayed for new orders whereby they retarded the arrivall of the Tertia of Modona of the Levies made within the Territories of Lucca and of the old Gally souldiers The Catalaines either because they did not imagine the enemy would at that time set upon those parts or because they were too much tied to the Letter construing their priviledges too straitly and rigorously had not made any fitting preparation To all these accidents there concurred at last to the great wrong of wisdome which opposed is the ruine of wise men some French Officers had intercepted certaine Letters sent by the Marquesse of Leganes importing that the Prince of Conde with his Forces in Linguadoc was to march towards Italy It was easily believed for if it was not it ought to have been so and though it did not perswade to desist from being carefull yet it disswaded from using compulsion Spaine was encompassed with enemies a mighty Fleet at the Groine a great Army in the County of
THE CHIEFE EVENTS OF The Monarchie of SPAINE In the yeare 1639. Written By the Marquesse Virgilio Maluezzi one of his Majesties Councell of Warre Translated out of th' Italian Copy by ROBERT GENTILIS Gent. LONDON Printed by T. W. for Humphrey Moseley at the signe of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard 1647. To the right Honourable EDWARD Earle of Dorset Lord Buckhurst Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Garter Lord Chamberberlaine of his Majesties Houshold and one of his Honourable Privie Councell SIR I Have presumed to present this Translation to your Lordships view and send it into the world under your Patronage And though my selfe bee not worthy so great a Patron yet the Author Count Virgilio Maluezzi his Workes generally are of such esteem that a Noble and honourable Penne in this Kingdome hath vouchsafed to English some part of them And this particular Historie is so inter-woven with severall grave politick Discourses learned and pithy Speeches upon sundry occasions that I question not but your Lordship may find somewhat in it worthy your reading at vacant houres This and your ever knowne love to learning shewed by your daily favours continually flowing upon Scholars hath encouraged mee to prefix your honoured Name to these my endeavours in which though I come farre short of Maluezzi's incomparable stile or the honourable Translators facunditie I shall most humbly beseech your honour to cast a gracious aspect upon it which may encourage mee to attempt higher things if so great a one shall deigne to accept of this so small present So praying God ever to blesse you all your honorable family I humbly rest Your Honours most devoted and humble servant Robert Gentilis To the Reader REader I confesse I use my uttermost skill to not write a Historie with a plaine narration and that I employ the uttermost of mine understanding to set it out it seeming to me to be the dutie of him who is to leave unfolded to posteritie the noble remembrance of the renowned deeds and admirable actions of the greatest King in the world The Tuscane aires the Ruggierie and Romancies other touches Songs and Daunces are playd in the streets and Market places and also in the Royall Palace The Merchant the Citizen the Gentleman and the King also goe clothed in Silke but those which are playd in the Royall Pallace are playd leisurely with learned counterpoints touched with Forraigne daintinesses stopps quavers accents and spirits This place on most noted dayes clotheth the Kings person in a habit woven with gold and gemmes embroidered and garnished and so great is the art and workmanship that the least thing that is heard in the one is the Basso and that is seene in the other is Silke If Royall things are so different from City ones who shall blame my Historie onely for the manner of it Surely if the subject is good I have given it state and embroidered it if bad I have put it out of tune and bundled it up If Histories be written to give instruction instructing or teaching is not to take off the course and bring to an end a thing needfull to bee done both for those which read them curiously and for them who study them attentively either to change vain desires or give satisfaction to those as are well regulated So that hee is questionlesse praise-worthy who taketh a man out of the ordinary way which is long and broad and conducteth him through one that is not darke but short full of strangenesse sentences expressions which sometimes teach and sometimes delight and which at sometimes mingled together doe both teach and delight If I have done so I have fulfilled my desire and peradventure my duty But because it would be pride in me to affirme I had done it it shall be a sufficient excuse for me I have a desire to doe it that if I be not praised I may at least be suffered The Italian Printer to the Reader THe Author is resolved to print this Booke in his owne naturall tongue in Regard of some considerable errors with change of the sense which passed in the Spanish Impression at Madrid through the Printers carelesnesse which happened whilst he was absent from that Court The chiefe Events in the Spanish Monarchy AFflicted Europe weepes for many ages from time to time at her ruines either because God doth most chastise the carelesnesse of those whom he loveth best and so it is good will or because he most punisheth the faults of them who are most bound unto him and so it seemes revenge he either trieth as mercifull or scourgeth as wrathfull Sometimes she seeth her Inhabitants bloudy themselves in civill warres and oftentimes she seeth her land overflowne with barbarous Nations Our bitternesse calls simplicitie Barbarisme and him barbarous who is not tedious of other mens affaires who is content with his owne as long as it is able to maintaine him who to offer violence will first have it offered to himselfe who goeth against a man through a desire of preserving himselfe and not through greedinesse of growing great who slayeth another to preserve his own life who invadeth Countries to get a dwelling place valorous without cunning hardy without deceit as if Nature were worse then Art and he best who much knoweth when much knowledge serveth him to doe the greater hurt Warre was once more terrible to Nations when it was moved against them to dwell in the Country then when the aime was domination The one was against all the other against one in losing the one obliged to change a master the other to leave being one Now adayes also the worst would be our leader if our lamentable times with a most evill comparison did not justifie it The Countries were more fortunate the men lesse evill The necessity of living pricked men forward and not the greedinesse of commanding nor the hatred of him that commanded The land changed its Inhabitants it did not lose them men did not destroy the houses where they meant to dwell they did not make the land barren which was to nourish them they peopled it and did not lay it waste and it did renew it more then ruine it Then was Europe a prey but to men now it is a prey to the Sword Fire Famine and Pestilence warre taking the dominion away from one and not gaining it to the other if so be command is meant over men and not over buried carkasses which are turned to dust over fruitfull and abounding plaines and not a desert burnd unmanured and barren Countrie In these turbulent motions and deplorable times came in the yeare one thousand six hundred thirty nine the fire of dissentions burning more then ever and like Mount Aetna shewing no signe of going out as if it also had its Scillaes and Charibdies which devouring the wealths of Kings and Nations did feed upon bloud and treasure Germany was destroyed full of civill warres The French overcome but not weakened nor
occasion serves and never before Monarchie and Aristocracie often lose themselves by seeking to get what is â—nothers and Democracie sometiâ—â—â— by suffering it to be taken away The Switzers to the perswasions of neutrality had added a protestation That if the most Christian King followed the warres in Burgundie they should be driven to recall their forces which served him And because they were but small of no profit and great charge to the King of France it was a threatning hurtfull to them onely that made it which cansed every one to judge it vaine and of no moment Yet I will adventure to say that the hurtfuller the Protestation was to the Switzers the more it was to be feared by the French King Hee that doth hurt in shewing himselfe to be distasted seemes to be by that already satisfied Hee that receives hurt shewes a token that he will have satisfaction I cannot believe that so warlike and honourable a Nation will so shamefully forsake the Burgundians in such an urgent case without any occasion or infamously by taking a reward to doe it Weymar left Pontaglier and Joux contrary to his conveniencie it being a most important passe And burned them contrary to his promise for which hee had received money sufficient Hee went to wards Alsatia and without attempting any great matter either there or in Burgundie he died This Nobleman was a man of his own interest He was no friend to the King of France whom he being a German abhorred as a stranger Hee was an enemy to the house of Austria which hee descending from Duke Maurice of Saxonie hated he was of a turbulent minde various in fortune he lost oftner then he got yet got more then he had lost His spirits were generous his bloud royall expert and very valiant in warres better known through our mens defaults then his owne victories Seeing the greatest that he obtained were the overthrowing of John Vert when he was carelesse and the taking of Brisack when it was unprovided The hopes which through his reputation he had framed for the raising of his Famiâ—ie ended with his life There happened this yeare no losse of any value in Burgundâ—e The faithfulnesse prudence trust attention and vigilancie of Don Antonio Sarmiento who by the Kings command was there Marquis de Leganes his victories which drew from thence the Duke of Longueville his forces The battell Piccolomini wonne which broke Weymars designes and his death which gave no time for the reundertaking of them defended it The Kings Fleets which were in the Harbour of Cadiz set saile one very powerfull towards Italy commanded by the Duke of Naccara and Maccheda to be employed for the Common-weaâ—th of Venice if need required the other commanded by Don Antonio di Oâ—hendo directed its course towards the Ocean to fight with the French shipps and having spent much time in putting out into the Maine to come up with a scarce wind to the Capes St. Vincent and Finisterre fell just upon the Groine It came not into the Harbour but stayd onely till the shipps under the command of Don Lope de Ozes came out of it which though hee performed with all possible celeritie yet they could not come so soone but that the French ships were retired into their own harbours Almost at the same time came his Majesties Army out of Perpignane and the Fleet from the Groine the rumour of the one made the Duke of Luin returne into France and the report of the other caused the Archbishop of Burdeaux to forsake his place The coast of Spaine being freed from the enemie they undertooke their voyage to carry the reliefe into Flanders Being come into the Chanel they discovered seventeen Holland shipps Don Antonio appointed his to goe on and hee followed with the Admirall but they staying and he thrusting forwards found himselfe alone in the front of the enemies who had placed themselves in form of a halfe moone for to deceive them Hee desired to board their Admirall which to attaine unto he was for almost an houre forced to be the aime of all their shot without answering with his intending to make use of it at the boarding So soone as he came neere hee began to shoot and when he thought to board the enemy hoysed up his Sailes and went further off The next day being made stronger by sixteen ships he shewed himselfe againe There began the horriblest fight that ever was seene at Sea The noise of so many pieces of Ordnance hindered their hearing and the smoake their sight that little as could be seen or heard was the battering of ships tearing of sailes shivering of masts the voyces of Commanders and the groanes of dying men One of the Kings Ships and a Hulke inconsideratly or ignorantly straying from the rest fell into the hands of the Hollanders reare-ward Don Antonio went to rescue them he rescued the ship but not the Hulke finding it already taken by the enemie The time being farre spent the Fleets tacked about to get the wind and were parted that of Generall Ochendo having sailed within sight of the coast of France found it selfe neere the English shore where the securenesse of the Habours the friendship and peace between the two Kings and finding his Admirals ship evill intreated having alone fought with sixteene ships of the enemies made him resolve to Anchor at the Downes from whence hee sent over almost all the reliefe to Mardick in small vessells though the Hollander were in the same Harbour increased in shipping to the number of one hundred and fourteen The Spanish Fleet seemed to lie there secure and was to be so by the capitulation between the King of England and the Catholick King But the Hollander was not long before he undeceived the world if there were any one in it so simple as to be deceived by setting upon his Majesties Fleet though the two Generalls of Spaine and Holland had both passed their words to the Vice-Admirall of the King of England that they would not offend one another the Vice-Admirall being there and threatning to fall upon them who should break their Covenants A great boldnesse and presumption in those Ports and harbours which are their Asylums and places of refuge and a dishonour done by them to that King whose Ancestors first set up their reputation But what dare not those people doe They are pernicious to all men and lesse to those to whom they most seeme to bee so more powerfull in stratagems then valorous in strength without God without Law without Faith friends or enemies they measure all in one manner They hate all that is not common-wealth and lay snares for any thing that is a Principalitie In one part they fight against a Monarch and in another against Monarchie They seeke to augment the one and diminish the other In some places they assault states in some the formes of them And having bin assisted while they were rebells they likewise assist rebellion They are every where
times because it increaseth the understanding and for the most part because it leaves a man to his free will taking away the power of Law with that of necessitie In engaging hee disingageth in raising difficulties hee makes them easie changing just things into unjust and making that necessary which was but convenient Nature be it slow wise or sparing delayeth her uttermost endeavours for the last violent assaults True it is that reserving it selfe to be able to doe it it often dies without doing it and oft-times because it hath not done it One ought not to runne upon conquests every time as one may In the execution of these orders which were the soule of the enterprise of Salsas it is fitting to speake with honour of the vigilancie and care of Don Hierome of Villanova Protenotarie of Arragon a most qualified Officer acute of understanding quick in executing great in intelligences and most faithfull in his services To have great designes come to a good end it is enough if hee undertakes them losing one hope he despaires not and never forsaking the businesse either he attaines to it by valour or tireth it with diligence and alway overcommeth it This Hold which Marquis Spinola besieged against his will being ledd unto it by chances engaged in it by fortune kept there through obedience he wonne not onely by great valour gallantnesse and vigilancy qualities by which men use to winne such holds but also by diffidencie which ordinarily loseth them He did as much as a Generall could doe to bring an enterprise to passe and writ as much as an officer could to desert it sometimes shewing a desire to raise the siege and almost still giving occasion to be commanded to continue it This way which gon about by a dejected mind would have ruined the enterprise being undertaken by a high spirit secured it The Count Duke was not daunted like one that had no heart nor grew not obstinat like those that have no braine Constancy engaged him to find a remedy for diffidencie and he stood not to dispute the matter with reasons but went on to overcome difficuties with providing money ammunition provision and men and the seemingnesse of want to be greater then it was became the cause of having the conquest by a meanes thought impossible The eminency of understanding causeth a man to be fearfull and a great heart to be rash where they are equall they oppose one another to get the conquest the braine would intimidate the breast and the breast would make the braine valiant From that conflict comes forth a mixt which is not feare but consideration and there they two being qualifyed leave off the contention betweene themselves and with one accord set upon the difficulties the breast will not yeeld to them the brain will overcome them and whereas severall they might have lost the one being abject and fearefull the other obstinate and rash being united they overcome with constancie and providence I know not whether next to God and the King the glory of the enterprise be due to the Count Duke but I know he gave it knowledge power will and accomplishment giving them order they should not give off the siege teaching them how to secure it providing for the maintenance of it and with so much abundance that it might be overcome The Cavallerie lay idle under Salsas There came Intelligence that the enemy had laid up in a Castle in France fodder and victuall and had not left a sufficient guard to defend it from a sodaine assault The Generalls with the advice of other commanders resolved to send Duke St. George with eight hundred horse and five hundred musquettiers to fire it The enterprise seemed to be bold and painefull as grounded onely upon doubtfull and unlikely advices The Duke set forward and by the way met with a body of Cavallery more numerous then his owne standing in a readinesse whether it were there before or by chance or upon notice given This unexpected accident forced him to alter his mind but not his valour nor wisedome and made him resolve to alter his fire into steeâ—e and conquer where he could not burn He sent th'Infantrie to take the passes to make his retreate good in case he should discover more forces and be with his Cavallery went to charge those horse which were in sight he routed and put them to flight slew them and tooke but few prisoners because he would not trouble himselfe and so returned victorious to the Camp This Cavalier is sonne to the Marquis of Torrecusa his actions which speake for him shew his father to be not onely valiant in fighting but also happy in begetting of children Leaving it doubtfull in what fortune hath most subjected him to envy either in what he hath performed or in that he hath begotten The King of France his Army consisting of twenty thousand horse and foot shewed it self entrenched upon a little hill with some few squadrons descending into the plaine viewed the outward workes to relieve the Place Marquis Spinola had disposed all things with watchfull prudency fearelessely expecting th' assault A troope of horse about midnight endeavoured to come neere the trenches but the ground slippery and yeelding by reason of the great quantitie of raine water engaged some to forsake their horses which were fallen and mired there and the rest to retreate A thunder bolt fell in the mid'st of them the noise gave alarme to the trenches The night was darke tempestuous and rainy His Majesties army stood impatient and desirous to fight Having laid aside their musquets as unprofitable they expected their enemy with â—pike and sword when a light descended upon them which shewed the points of their armes bright in proportion of a starre Whether it was naturall as well it might be signified the clearing up of the aire or supernaturall which may be believed in a cause so just and shewed heaven to be favourable to us But whether it indeed proceeded from a heavenly or ethereall knowne or unknowne beginning it was a light and every one saw it The Walloones whose fortifications the enemy threatned after much silence gave a great shout In doubtfull cases every thing is great There is no meane betweene silence and shouting The spirits which in danger runne to the heart cannot move the tongue and there is silence If need require to advantage our selves by uttering our voice being all heaped up in a vitall part they runne with such violence to the organs of speaking that they must needs frame a great sound The enemy had a great number of forced and new men who being already fearfull of their owne nature and dejected by reason of the waters which incessantly powred downe terrified and amazed with the light armes and shouting as if the thunder and lightning had followed them fled away the valiantest sought to stay them and when they found that to be in vaine they likewise retired and fled confusedly Their tents armes waggons
Ronciglione threatned in the Mediterranean by the Ships and Gallies of Marseilles in Cantabria by the Forces which were gathering together in Bayona and yet the people a thing worthy of note which last yeare were affrighted with one Siege in a place of no great danger were no more moved at the rumour of so many forces then if there were none Whether it were because the French who have no power to overcome but at the first shock could affright them but at the first Or that the people being assaulted where they thought they could not bee endammaged believed their owne judgement to be deceived and not the enemies And not finding what reason moved him because they could not find it they judged it to be great and finding it once vaine and weake giving over unreasonable feare they fell into a foolish securenesse Novelty deceives the judgement either because it goeth before the discourse or because it disturbeth it In a moment it strikes to the understanding and forceth it presently to frame a confused and indistinct conception and with deceit increaseth those passions which ignorance would abate Every thing in the world is vaine when it is once knowne There is no delight can please the mind nor feare can terrifie it Habit diminisheth our passions not through any power it hath from custome but through the want we have of the true objects Novelty increaseth them not because it is unusuall but because it is unknowne But whether the Spaniards or the French-mens nature caused these various motions Sometimes ignorance sometimes undeceiving sometimes the novelty sometimes the habit Certaine it is that above all other things that wrought in it which the eyes of all Spaine saw the yeare before the Kings great wisedome wise phantasie and sure direction The certaine judgement eminent understanding quick execution and uncessant labour of the Count Duke whence arose the confidence which encreaseth the courage and perswades obedience which if it be not deceived in the object assists the Victories and being deceived it hopeth for them And if it be not sufficient to make one overcome it sufficeth at least to make him fearlesse The Marquesse of Villa Franca went to command the Spanish Gallies which were in Barcellona Gianattino d'Oria arived thither with them of Genoa Frigets were sent to hasten away them of Sicily and Naples It was ordered that the remnant of the Count Dukes regiment should march and with it six thousand of the choicest foot in Cantabria That Perpignane should be fully ammunitioned and that the forces should lie under shelter of it That the Marquesse of Torracusa and Arena should goe thither That onely five hundred horse should stay for the defence of Cantabria and the rest should march to Perpignane That money munition and victuals should be provided That the Levies in Arragon and Valencia should bee hastened that these should be perswaded to defend their Countrey and all should remember the bond wherein they were tied to their Liege Lord. The King of France his Fleet lay at the Groine and vexed the coast of Spaine The Hollanders lay in the Channell and hindered the sending of men appointed for Flanders And because it was necessarie to defend the one and relieve the other the Count Duke called the Junta of the Councells of State and Warre without which he hath done nothing and in which hee hath done every thing If he spake first the voting ended in him Hee left way for nothing but for applause If last from him it tooke beginning mending errors or by him it got perfection bettering what was defective To desire to be the onely adviser of a King makes not an Officer great it makes him odious and exposeth him to danger and oftentimes is a signe of a rash mind which arrogates too much to it selfe sometimes of a suspicious and mistrustfull bea rt and many times also of a weake breast which shunneth the test fearing to divide the Kings favour and lose it if he prove inferiour There was scarce ever any great Officer but that desired to doe every thing himselfe and doing it hath not been ruined But if the wisest men could not keep themselves from this itching desire surely there must be some great conveniencie in it And if so many have beene wracked thereby there must lie hidden in it some great danger Two great qualities which the Count Duke hath make these so intricate points even namely his moderation and valour doing every thing by the advice of counsell and in counsell prevailing above all whereby he enjoyeth the conveniencie of avoyding hatred and converting it into admiration I desire not to bee alone believed in what I say of this great Officer Let the Originall consultations of both the great Councells of state and warre together be looked upon and you shall find which is a thing worthy of wonder that the vote comming last to the Count Duke upon some particular considerations of his many Consultations have bin altered all confessing that they had erred The meanes was canvassed in the Junta how to remedy the present inconveniences It was voted by all that the Coast should be defended by land and that the reliefe should be conveyed into Flanders if the French Army did not hinder it by sayling about Scotland with a long compasse exposed to many misfortunes and by a parcell of Sea naturally threatning shipwracks But the Count Duke in whose understanding lyeth joyned the whole frame of the Monarchie whose breast is capable of two worlds considering what vessells were in Cantabria in foure townes namely in the Groine Lisbon Cadiz Alicant and Cartagena some Merchants Vessells which were come out of the Indies together with those as were every day expected with the Fleet made it appeare that his Majesty had a Fleet sufficient to fight with the French carry reliefe into Flanders and also to passe into the Mediterranean Seas and for a need fight with the Turke and relieve the Venetians His Majesty and the whole Iunta agreed with the Count Duke his opinion who sent Orders and provided for necessaries that these Fleets might as soon as possibly they could be ready to set saile From hence let it bee gathered how great the forces of the Spanish Monarchy are and which most to bee regarded When these did not so much as come in sight nor thought worthy consideration though they were greater then some as other great Potentates would make their last refuge and ground their highest thoughts and liveliest hopes upon Piccolomini was marching towards Luxemburg to fight with Fucchieres but could not reach him so soon but that hee was first entrenched and besieging of Teonvill He set upon him disordered two of his quarters made him breake up relieved the place passed over the Mose fought with him squadron after squadron where for a time th' enemy fought valiantly then gave way and at the last fled The French have swift and subtile spirits easie to be moved and being moved easie to
be dissolved and because swift and moveable they run presently where they find occasion and united in the selfe-same time and place they make the subject at the first greater then man and because they are tender and subtile and apt to consume in the end being weakned destroyed and dissolved they forsake him and leave him a dead carkasse Such like effects are seene every day in a candle before it goeth out and in a sick man before he dieth The candle because it shall not ruine at the first by framing a great light is hindered by the tenacity on grossnesse of the matter which at the latter end being softened rarified moveable and light runs without delay to foment the flame and increase it it doth it but for a little time because there is but little matter left In a sick man the spirits being subtilized by diet not overburthened nor hindered by the body already brought low consumed wasted finding themselves at liberty and loos fiercely set upon the diseas being more active then ever they were at first they overcome but being tender they consume in overcomming being consumed not finding where to refresh themselves having none to second them if they overcome not in an instant they die The slaughter was great because the foot were all slaine or taken The victory was the more famous by the chiefe Commanders being taken This Noble man a Politician and a souldier of greater experience in State-businesse then in warres was advised more by politick then Military art did rather follow the time then manage his forces and lost seeking to prevent losse Hee knew by th' example of former Captains that there was no meane that hee must either conquer or lose himselfe amongst his friends with shame or amongst his enemies with glory For in France where the unwillingnesse of losing was not admitted for a sufficient reason of not having overcome there remained no proofe of a man 's not being able to overcome but onely by losing Piccolomini stayed not to enjoy the victory he thought to increase it by trying Mouzzone and if hee had attempted it presently he had surely taken it but want of provisions hindered him Man proposeth an end unto himselfe and for that end he prepareth his means if upon a new occasion he change his end if he provide not new meanes he loseth himselfe and while he doth provide them he loseth his opportunitie He that goeth about one enterprise ordinarily cannot performe two and hee that will undertake two seldome performeth any Some have not followed victories because they could not and so have lost their credit and some when they ought not having gone on to follow them have quite lost them When one partie is in possibility of being overcome the other is not alwaies fitting to set upon him The staying of his Majesties Officers gave the Marshall of Castillon time to come and relieve it causing the forces which Piccolomini had sent thither to retreate whilst hee marched on speedily with the Cavalrie sent for by the Cardinall Infanta to relieve Edino brought to the last gaspe The Cardinall of Richelien the most Christian Kings great Officer had brought his Lord to the Frontiers of Artois very neere to Edino were it a purpose to give the King the honour of it as Joah did or upon necessitie to encourage the Army that it might not disband Confidence of overcomming or provision to overcome had so much the more ingaged him because that having counterpoised the losse with the gaine the following of the enterprise with the deserting of it he found it was more reproachfull to retreat halfe flying then glorious to enter into a small place when it was wonne Joabs successe then had some conveniencie in it now adayes it is become a meere curiositie David was a great Commander it might be thought of him that by his braine he had taken the place though he was farre off whereas it would not be thought so of other men though they were neere But if this were imprudencie which I will not affirme over carelesnesse transformed it into wise dome For the Garrison wanting powder being well assaulted better defended wanting Ammunition it was lost not being not able to subsist eight dayes which had been enough to have made this yeare the gloriousest yeare that the Monarchy of Spaine had ever seene The Cardinall Infanta could not relieve it for want of Horse the Governour for want of Powder and Piccolomini for want of time He came to the Army and was there received with applause Hee was born of Auncestors famous both in Peace and Warre renowned sometimes by the Keyes and sometimes by the Sword he served his naturall Lord at Court in his childhood Being yet but young be went to the German warres and in his first beginnings shewed himselfe worthy of the chiefe degrees He arrived thereunto by the lesser for whereas they use to stay for a time that yeares may increase valour they were faine to stay a time that his age might increase because that which was proportionable to his merit might not be disproportionable to his yeares so that leaving it to be questioned whether fortune or valour were greater in him I will onely affirme that he hath been longer valorous then fortunate Generous magnanimous fearlesse liberall and ordained for victories hee made them spring in the middest of losses and conquered where he did not overcome So fortunate that valour seemed to superabound in him and that hee had no need of it So valorous that it seemed fortune was superfluous to him and that he even forced her This enemy to merit when she cannot beat it downe by abandoning it will follow it to make it seeme lesse and weakens glories by dividing that which is not to be divided and requiring share in that wherein she hath not wrought In his first age he was valiant without any defect of wisedome in his second wise without any diminution of valour Happy in all occasion victorious at all times so that nothing hinders him from being compared with the greatest Commanders of our time but this onely that he was never overcome His Majesties forces overrunne Piemont without any resistance Prince Thomas propounded to the Marquesse of Leganes to goe before Turin with the Armie not to trie the strength of it by force but onely to shew himselfe and encourage those friends which he had within it But all were not of that mind Some said that there was no reason to goe thither but onely upon hope of intelligences which hope was easily perceived when there was no other and once perceived was easily crossed That the Citizen was nothing worth where the Souldier was armed and forewarned That darknesse and suddennesse did favour turbulent designes light and time would dissipate them That what might be would for that time be made impossible by shewing ones selfe And the surprizall for ever by making ones selfe knowne That the course of Fortune ought not