Kings mercie Before this holy Prince parted with his life by much penitence he parted with his sins For highest courages fall lowest when overcome by supernaturall grace And how vast a progresse toward heaven can a soule so illuminated make even in a moment For the immence bountie is not tyed to measure and how can the quantities of time prescribe to the Eternall His testament beares evidence to posteritie that his minde was no way dazel'd looking downe on death from the highest precipice of Empire For discreetly he made distribution of his command and treasure to John his brother he bequeath'd his Kingdome neglecting the weaker yeares of Arthur and having more regard to the peoples safety than the right of blood To his Nephew though then Emperor he left one part of his treasure the other to his servants and the third to the poore whom the wealthy never thinke their friends till death His bodie hee disposed too though corruption still challengeth that legacie and commanded it at Fonteverard to be layd prostrate at his fathers feete that even after death hee might crave him pardon whom in life hee had unnaturally offended To Roane in testimony of his love hee gave his heart that great undaunted heart which being more valiant than that of man and the heavenly spirits wanting proportion for the comparison was forc't to permit it selfe to bee call'd a Lyons heart But his entrailes he bequeath'd to Poeters to obrey'd it to posterity with its ingratitude as which by many treasons was rendred unworthy to receive any Nobler part of so great a Prince The battell of Varna between Vladislaus King of Hungary and Amurath the sixt King of the Turkes 1444. THe prevailing vertue of Iohn Huniades the greatest Captaine of that age by continuall victory humbled the proud Monarch of the Turke so low that peace was sued for to the Christians Which Vladislaus condescended to imposing such conditions as if Fortune had made him Conquerour And indeed it was sought with an earnestnesse so farre beneath their former arrogance that it was receiv'd at first either as a high contempt or dangerous stratagem But when time assured this overture to bee no counterfeite Vladislaus demanded that Amurath should withdraw all his Forces and Garisons out of Servia and restore it to George the Despot delivering with that Country to the long exil'd Prince his two sonnes whom the Turke kept prisoners and whose eyes in hatred to the father had beene put out That he should never after make claime to Moldavia and Bulgaria which Countries the fate of the last warre had won to the Christians That he should no way molest the Hungarians or invade any part of their dominions And that hee might not onely part with territory but even with money to purchase this peace hee was to pay forty thousand Duckets to the King and in recompence have Carambey his Bassa not long before taken prisoner by Huniades restored This peace the most honourable that ever Christian Prince made with the Turkish Sultan was interpreted ill and Vladislaus thought rather to have sought his owne quiet than the glory of the Christian name For in so high a tide of victory it could not be but a poore designe to secure his fortunes by treatie with an Infidell whom necessitie could onely make religious and whom want of power could onely preserve a friend This consideration incited Iulian the Popes Legat and agent for other Christian Princes in this cause to perswade Vladislaus to repent his former peace and to settle his Conscience without scruple to prosecute the war For what Religion could obleige him to preserve an oath of faith with him who onely endeavour'd by pretence of fidelity to entrap him Or why should a nice pietie hinder the growth of Religion Or to what purpose should only one party be obleig'd when experience instructed him that the Turke never swore but to tye the Christian and enlarge himselfe But now was it more than ever impious to have peace when all men concur'd to advance a warre so holy where victory was an increase of Religion and even to be overcome the highest triumph of the soule since it assured a Martyrdome And beside the assistance of heaven whose cause they fought and whose souldiers they were all polliticke regards concur'd to assertaine the ruine of the Ottoman Empyre which not to doe upon the too tender conscience of a league was an injurious pietie which onely merited reproach for a reward For Iohn Paleologus Emperour of the East was then prepared with mighty Forces and protested that in religion to the Christian cause hee had refused by making peace to endeavour his owne safety Many Princes likewise of the Turkes invited the Hungarian to this warre desirous rather to abate the overgrowne Empire of Amurath then to continue the splendor of their Sect with danger to their state For religion hath but a slender tye upon that soule which is over-ruled by ambition or private interest And where maintenance of command was concern'd what wonder if Mahometans labour'd the Christians common enemies of their law into association Moreover all the States of Italy had prepared for the present warre sending their fleete into the Hellespont to joyn with the Grecian Emperour that the Turke on both sides assaulted might in neither meete with any thing but ruine As for Amurath himselfe age and evill fortune had throwne him into despaire and that confin'd him to a solitude where in an impious pietie with certaine Monkes counterfeite base coyne of the right Christian stampe he tyred his time away and expected an ugly death The whole government of that usurped Empire now by resignation of the Father under Mahomet but fifteene yeares of age fitter for a Schoole and obedience to Tutors than the manage of warre against as able Souldiers as the most warlike age ever boasted But these regards onely look'd on pollicie that which made the Conscience free from obligation to preserve this league Sacred was a former made with the Princes of Christendome With whom to breake faith was Sacriligious and to maintaine it with an Infidell sinfull and ruinous Vnlawfull oathes being vicious in the making but far more in the performance Hee who sweares the burning of an Altar commits a crime but his absolution comes farre easier if repentance make him perjured then if obstinacie render him sacrilegious Easily was the conscience of Vladislaus untyed from his former league the appetite of glory and extent of Empire oftentimes taking as soone away all scruple from the soule as the most sober resolution of Divines For Huniades upon whose valour and fortune the successe of the warre depended had promise of the Kingdome of Bulgaria and who not miraculously awed by vertue will not endanger to bee but a bad Christian to become a powerfull Monarch The Despot of Servia had his hopes too of a more setled principalitie and some extent of power and that made his Religion which never much troubled his
OBSERVATIONS VPON HISTORIE BY W. H. Esq. LONDON Printed by T. Cotes for Will Cooke and are to be sold at his shop neere Furnivalls-Inne gate in Holborne 1641. TO THE READER THe world must forgive me my trouble and perhaps its owne if I throw my selfe on censure by this publicke Edition of my private studie These observations are history such as surpris'd me in the reading wch least my memory should betray me I committed to writing They are singular accidents and therefore more powerfull to arrest the eye and make the imagination stand amaz'd at the vicissitude of time and fortune And where can Phylosophie finde such sober precepts as out of history History that faithfull preserver of things past that great instructer of the present and certaine Prophet of the future By it wee may discover the print which former ages made and treading that know how to avoyd the by-wayes of errour and misfortune By it wee are taught the value of humane things by contemplation of the frailtie and ruine of which wee are elevated to the love of the Eternall For when we reade the subversion of Empires and looke for those great Princes who commanded them and finde not so much dust left of them as may serve the smallest wind to sport with what variety of power is not confounded What authority with most famed Monarchs can secure it selfe to the least complacence when the proud manreades the folly of all those cunning Arts which advance to greatnesse but never could protect from ruin And who can looke cloudie on his owne poore fortune when he findes that the too much favour of Princes like the too neere rayes of the Sunne tans them they shine upon Neither can discontent finde entrance into that soule who by a just valuation of what is transitory resolves fortune hath not in her gift vvhat may ennoble nor in her rage vvhat may debase a vvell ordered minde This History instructs us to vvhich maturely read by a Sober spirit hath povver in the uncertaine Sea of fraylty to settle man fixt against all the injures of nature hath depraved us to Farewell OBSERVATIONS UPON HISTORY Of Henry the seconds association of his eldest Sonne to the regall Throne MAude the Empresse by the weaknesse of her Sexe lost that Crowne she had title to in being sole Daughter to Henry the first The ungratefull English opposing powre against infirmitie and violating that oath they had sworne to her succession as if fealtie could not be obleiged to woman and the more politick regards had authority to dispence with the more honest Yet did her son prevaile and Anchor'd in the Haven of that Monarchie from which so various tempests such broken tides and so many shelfs and rockes had bar'd her For the very Genius of this Nation by a strange dotage on the male heires hath still bin cruell to the female when they had a sonne able for government Henry the seventh like this great Henry not disputing the title of a mother when youth and action rais'd him to be acceptable to the Kingdome though in that some contempt reflected on her reverend weakenesse So little did the appetite of power regulate it selfe by the streight rule of conscience But Henry the second disdain'd this disordered voting in the people who were in danger as easily to misplace Authority if fancie should mis-leade them to doate unlawfully since in how dangerous a Doctrine an unwarrantable president instructs posteritie And with what little difficultie the multitude breakes all dutie if by an awfull hand not kept to the most severe The libertie of such elections having beene ever of ruinous consequence to that Nation which maintaines it Among many gallant sonnes to leave the Kingdome no dispute about the choyce he gave order for coronation of his eldest thereby to exempt the people from the trouble of an hereafter suffrage For since the violent entrance of his great grand father William the Bastard on the government of England passion had disorder'd succession and no Prince but might challenge in his tyrannie a descent from the first usurper But King Henry brought justice to the throne and making claime to the Monarchie by a streight line with more earnestnesse endeavour'd to continue it to posterity But when pollicie shoots too farre her arrowes fall ever wide for humane judgement hath no sight into the future and mistakes when it endeavours beyond a lawful distance The wit of man delights to finde eternitie in a moment and to build a lasting edefice on a quickesand For what Arts can perpetuate Monarchie and how fraile a reede is all our wisedome to support an empire This very cunning in King Henry proved such folly that his friends were enforst to pittie For while in the pompe of this Coronation he seem'd even to survive himselfe and see his eldest sonne succeed which happinesse no Prince here had for long time attain'd A sudden Devill for what els can we terme ambition was rais'd which no exorcisme of a parents awe had powre to lay For this new honour created new passions and the sonne having equall title with the Father disdain'd to want equall greatnesse Why should he bee made a mockery of Princes and weare the Diadem without the power why should he be thought worthy the throne and not the Scepter why should his youth active to great attempts be frozen up by the cold advice of a declining father If it was wisdom to raise him to so eminent a degree why wanted he justice to exercise it Vnlesse his father design'd to make the most serious act of government an interlude of mirth and convert the Church into a stage to represent the Comedie more to the life But though this was intended onely for a Pageant yet did it behoove him in this first appearing to the world to shew himselfe farre above the scorne or sport of either his enemies or friends This was whisper'd in his eare and the discourse pleasing the vanitie of his passion soone wonne authoritie on his reason For with how little remorse is the conscience perswaded when the least apparence of justice priviledgeth ambition what thoughts at first he feard to trust his heart with by this advice he enlarged to his tongue and from private discourses he began open complaints so that hee tooke confidence to urge his father to a resignation of his Kingdome and other Provinces which with so eminent a fame he hitherto had govern'd Nor was a powerfull faction wanting both in England and abroad who though at the inward tribunall of their judgement they condemn'd so unnaturall ingratitude yet outwardly did applaude the young Kings most crooked wayes which easily are made streight to opinion when they carry in them matter to foment hopes of innovation The father endeavourd by reason to calm this tempest advis'd the son not to anticipate vexation for how smoth a brow soever Majestiepretended the inward aspect must needes prove rugged Since no command is happie
cut downe For no free delivery of all the prisoners taken in the late battle and fully re-invested in their greatnesse no over liberall allowance no solemne protestations of a Father could winne authoritie with the Sonne New disgusts on the least grounds were built by his owne unquiet spirit and the suggestions of cunning instruments For he wanted that absolute power his title challeng'd from which he was debar'd by his fathers life and fortune they who had adherd heard to his disobedience expected recompence for mischeife and hee unable to pay them for their sinnes rewarded their humour with discontent His disease of minde was incapable of cure for no Phificke without the mixture of his Fathers vitall blood could minister releefe that the old King preserved against all practise And to a resignation of Empire no Argument could perswade him not willing to encoffin himselfe in a Church solitude till death enforc't him At length unquiet thoughts destroy'd the young King who disdain'd to live and not to raigne and since he could be onely the mockery of his owne title he was willing not to bee at all For while with his brother Geoffrey he was in armes against his Father and found no successe to his designes a violent fever with a flux seiz'd and admonisht him he was to dye which he entertain'd with little horrour till at last the conscience of his many crimes frighted him with apprehension of that world he was suddenly to travaile to The racke which put his soule to the extreamest torture was the injurie hee had contriv'd against his father which hee redeem'd by humble penitence for the old King sent his signer whether he durst not trust his person and assured his sonne a pardon which gave courage to his death and made him with lesse trouble resolve for his last account Having by his preposterous association into the Soveraigne title created to his father disquiet and repentance and to himselfe onely enlarg'd the shadow The death of Richard the first King of England THe severall parts of humane life are distinguisht by our vices The smoothnesse of youth is tyranniz'd by sensuall pleasure the body growing to more strength ambition engageth to action but when age inclines toward the grave Avarice preposterous to reason forceth man then to reckon upon treasure when death threatens to cancell all the bonds and Out him from the world with no more gaietie than at his birth hee entred Thus are we mockt by our owne sinnes vainely providing for the safetie of life when the tombe layes claime to our wrinckles and infirmitie holds before our eyes Times houre-glasse with the last graine of sand readie to fall downe The soule busying its thoughts with setting long leases when it is suddenly to be turn'd out of its owne weak cottage Richard the first of England varied not from this common path having stain'd his youth with lust honour'd his maturer yeares with triumphs but leaning now toward age permitting Avarice to be night the glory of his former actions And so vainly did this wretched vice mis-governe him that as wandring by the conduct of an ignis fatuus hee followed the acquisition of an imaginary treasure For vvhile he pursued the punishment of some Rebell Lords in Poitou vvho had assisted contrary to alleigance the French Kings affaires during the late vvarres hee vvas inform'd that Widomer a Vicount of base Britaine had possest himselfe of much vvealth fortune unavvares to his endeavours having leade him to a secret cave vvherein foolish Avarice or feare of some sudden surprise had buried vast treasures This severe pursute thrust the distracted Lord into severall passions vvhich councel'd him rather to foregoe his alleigance than his fortune and knovving hovv safe even innocence and integrity are against the assault of povver hee having no such vvarrant fled into Limosin a Country which owed to King Richard no obedience but what his just title and sharpe sword did force and in the strongest towne there hee inclosed himselfe and the purchase of that treasure which created him so many feares and so little safety By the communication of his gold he brought the townesmen into association of his danger for where they are interested in a regard to profit what tye hath fealtie upon the conscience and how little is a life esteem'd when money that supreame felicitie of fooles is concern'd The King disdained thus to be opposed threatning ruine and devastation to that place which could so easily sell its homage and in the heate of rage and power he assaulted it ventring for a poore bargaine the Crowne of England and his principalities in France and Ireland For if his life miscarried in the attempt what interest could death reserve for him to Empire who wanting children despair'd even to survive in that imaginary vanitie But when did passion take advice of truth Or when powerfull Avarice inclined to revenge what reason could give a bound to mischiefe But the Towne resolv'd to oppose since no conquest could bring more desolation than to yeeld to that passion which hath no affinitie with mercie And while the King when violence receiv'd repulse labourd by Art to master the place an envenomed Arrow shot by a revengfull hand strucke him into the shoulder Which wound being drest by a rude unskilfull Surgeon made the anguish insupportable to any man whom rage arm'd not with a new kinde of patience For neglecting all complaint he so seriously used his wit and courage to prosecute his designe that within twelve dayes he brought the towne to yeeld to mercie Where after narrow search hee found the treasure hee so vainely followed a deceitfull vision that misled him to his ruin This conquest finisht he began to acknowledge he was but man for death commanded him away and hee obeyd the summons Then hee found another law to over-rule his spirits and being to appeale from the severity of the eternall Iustice hee laboured in himselfe to practise mercie And in this short intervall betweene the glorious thoughts of life and his last houre hee left his vertue an example to the most religious as his valour had beene an envie in the most ambitious For when the Paracide in a pride of the high mischiefe hee had committed refused to lay fault on errour but impiously aver'd hee did that great sinne to revenge his Father and two brothers slaughtered by the King the King forgave him with so much pietie that hee rewarded even the Executioner and conjured his servants that this unhappie man might enjoy the comfort of his revenge and survive a Trophee of so eminent a mercy But this pious Testament had no obedient Executors the King no longer obey'd than he had liberty from death to command For justice then unsheath'd her sword and least the example of too much favour might afterward become an injurie the Paracide was fleade and hang'd upon a gibbet In the horrid silence of his punishment more effectually expressing his owne treason and the
is vitall heate to the loyall but lightning to the Rebellious Huniades by flight reserved himselfe to farther fortune but Iulian perisht there lesse wounded by the enemies cymiters than the reproaches of the Christians who obrayded him to have perswaded with breach of league to enter into this fatall war Which had it ended in victory the world would have said that Christ disdain'd to regulate successe according to the vaine invocation of Amurath and that it Religion is not so ruinous to it selfe as to command observation of faith with a faithlesse enemie whose very law enlargeth him to perjurie The losse of Constantinople of the Turke THe great City Mistis of the Easterne World which gloried in bearing the name of Constantine the Great was now after eleven hundred yeares commanded by another Constantine But age and fortune made it now the common pitty which had beene the envie of all the most Noble townes of the habitable earth For Cities like humane bodies have their diseases and death is their fate cruell to them as us The vast extent of its command was streightned to a small circuit and it appear'd onely its owne monument serving the Inhabitants for an empty boast and strangers for History It had beene often attempted by the Turkish power who disdain'd the Christians even a titular Empire having forc't away all those large Provinces that heretofore preserv'd it formidable Mahomet was now enterd upon the Turkish government and the Neighbouring Christians were comforted in the change Amurath the father having assured them by a long cruell Reigne that no Prince could succeede more dangerous Moreover this new King was by the Mother a Christian which gave them hope who were willing to entertaine any that his youth had receiv'd good impressions of Religion But he soone assured the world that his blood by the mixture was growne so impure that it rejected all thought of a Divinitie that might curbe it when invited either by lust or ambition And hee hath left it disputable to Posteritie to the tyrannie of whether passion he more slavered himselfe But the latter was of farre worse consequence which perswaded him as soone to attempt the ruine of Constantinople as he enter'd on his owne Kingdome It being a Law enacted by the unruly pride of that family not to beleeve their command glorious unlesse unjust as if Rapine and injurie were the two supports of Empire At first hee entertain'd friendship with the Christians having two regards revenge and treason The King of Caramania had provoked his rage in wanting patience to smile when he was injured whose punishment was the first resolution of his government And this dissembled friendship was the easiest way to worke the Christians to securitie which would be a charme to make them dreame of safety But they soone found themselves betray'd for Mahomet was no sooner releas'd from the designe of his revenge but presently resolv'd on his ambition Constantinople was prepared against and with the more fierce desire In regard the conquest would not only possesse him of the most Imperiall Citie of the world but raise him above the victories of his Father and Grand-father Bazazet who in vaine had attempted it In which contention Mahomet shewed that having no competitor for greatnesse among the living he was forc't to rivall with the most eminent conquerours of the dead And no family producing spirits worthy enough he was constrain'd to contest with his own by out-shining the glories of his Ancestors to make his memory the wonder of all History and the envie of posterite The Spring opening the wayes for an Armie hee gather'd three hundred thousand Souldiers the least part of which were the naturall Turkes or renegades Christians were the maine bulke of that fatall body and they onely such whom his command and tyrannie enforced to the most unjust executions but voluntaries out of Germanie Hungary and Bohemia whom hope of prey and entertainement invited to betray the honour of their Religion Men who coveted the warres to satisfie their Avarize by Rapine having no honest wayes to subsist Men who beleev'd their soules as temporary as their bodies and who mockt their Saviour by carrying his name when they fought against his cause Men whose memory is onely safe in an eternall darknesse The poore Emperour Constantine having no treasure and therefore no friends sought by his Ambassadors to the Princes of the West to move them by Religious compassion to participate his dangers But they had their quarrells at home hopes to encroach upon their Neighbours territory Jealosie of anothers growing power Subjects not perfectly regulated to obedience and other small excuses begot a ruinous neglect of the common cause With much solicitation the Pope the King of Naples and the state of Venice condiscended to furnish out thirtie Gallies in defence of that place for which what Christian should not blush not to have hazarded a life But this assistance was no more remedie than trecherous comfort of a Phisitian to a patient past all cure For it onely serv'd to please the imagination of the wretched Emperour who like a man now drowning was willing to catch at every smallest hold For this ayde which could not have beene of strength to resist such an opposition fail'd him too But what title had the Graecians to complaine the neglect of strangers who were so cruell to themselves In the publicke danger every man threw the care of his safetie on his Prince yet tax'd his want of providence grumbled against his smallest impositions and denied supply when instructed in their perills no man conceiving himselfe interessed to support the falling Empire though certaine to be over-whelm'd by it If declaration were made of Turkish Forces levied it was presently suspected a state bug-beare to surprize the people with unnecessary feares If the enemie took the field the Emperour was calumniated of underhand confederacies If upon undeniable appearence of invasion contribution for defence was required the over politickes whisper'd it nothing but a State-ambush to seize unawares without Legall Order the treasure of the Empire Thus when a Kingdomes sinnes have procured an universall desolation by the just sentence of the eternall Iudge the delinquent is blinded by his vices and becomes his owne executioner Already vvas Mahomet Master of one of ther elements the vvater paying him tribute For before he layd siege to the Citie he built such strengths upon the Streights of Bosphorus that the rich trading to Caffa and other Ports upon the Euxin sea was interdixted So that the Empire acknowledg'd a maime the Merchant disabled to furnish the Exchequer with the former customes And the insolent Turke grew wealthy by frequent surprize of such vessells which to their owne repentance and ruine continued traffique For what dangers threatned by a remorselesse enemie and a more cruell sea can deterre the covetous The enemie drawing neere the Citie the Emperour in haste made levie of what Forces hee could in so short a time and so
great a danger Sixe thousand Graecians he prest in whom he hoped the sence of liberty would quicken the sence of honour and three thousand Venetians Genowayes and other of Europe he entertain'd making choyce of Iustinianus an adventurer of Genoa who with two tall ships man'd with foure hundred Souldiers having scowred the Seas by accident came to Constantinople to be Generall of all the Forces destin'd for the last defence of that Empire And certainely while the least probabilitie of successe gave life to courage no man perform'd more acts of great direction and admirable resolution But when fortune absolutely forsooke the Citie he forgot his Spirit and gave proofe to the World that no humane vetue can long triumph over ruine unlesse by heaven miraculously supported For while there was any sparke glowing of the ancient Roman fire with which the Citie first became the glory of the East Iustinius made victory incline from the vast Turkish multitude to the defendants strong onely in honour of that cause they were to fight So farre did courage despise number that Mahomet enter'd into sober councell whether the attempt might not end in losse and the chiefe Bassa perswaded safetie in a retreate by the example of his great progenenitors But emulation in the inferiour Bassas urged young Mahomet to danger to which the ambition of a proud nature violently forced him As if heaven had forsooke the defence of whatever place the lust of his pride had desire to violate And indeede such fortune at that time prosper'd mischiefe that the Earth appear'd abandon'd to his tyrannie For when the vast labour of this seige threatned the Turkes to expire in reproach of the Assailants the Haven keeping one side of the Citie secure from ruine and open to releefe in regard a strong chaine and many great shippesbarr'd the enemies fleete all admittance A Christian wittie to invent highest treason against that Majestie his professision obleig'd him to observe instructed the Turke upon certaine engines by Land to conveigh his Navie into the Port of Constantinople Which passage opposite both to Nature and Religion extended first to the terrour then to the overthrow of the poore defendants Who perceiving the Earth made Navigable and the enemies vessels to saile upon dry land became astonisht and submitted their courages to the miracle of that power which triumpht o're the Elements Yet in the hourely expectation of death the wretched inhabitants of the Citie omitted not the trades of life and the enemie readie even to make prey of all their substance the Merchant busied his thoughts in continuance of his bargaines and congratulated the smallest gaine the builder rais'd up his glorious piles as if not threatned to bee his monument and the rich man reckon'd upon the unnaturall generation of his monies as if no insolent theefe endanger'd the principall For though the Emperour fearing so fierce a warre from the most formidable Prince of the earth labour'd to make his peace with heaven by prayers and fasts and all those humble acts to which ancient pietie instructs us yet no commanded devotion could expiate the vices of a licencious Citie some fondly beleeving it a point of valour to dare in so visible a danger to be vicious As if there were a cowardize so abject as that captivates the minde to sinne While any hope remain'd the Emperour disdain'd to give his courage over to despaire and exhorted the tradesman to forsake unseasonable labour to worke his owne defence who fullenly made answere that it was to no purpose to fight upon the walls and afterward to starve in his house And the Corne masters upon a generall complaint for want of bread brought their graine in to the Emperour to be divided indifferently among the people with so averse a minde as if they had design'd it onely to supply the enemie when at his entrance into the Towne they were to be enroul'd his slaves But the private wealth of the inhabitants was on no conditions to be borrowed in the generall cause every man desirous to admit the barbarous insolencies of a new government rather than to part with that treasure which they were shortly for ever to forseite and which then well order'd might have prevented so famed a desolation But the Emperour at so sad a necessitie for got the ceremonies of Religion and made bold with the wealth of Churches to pay the Christian Souldier least it might be destinated to a more prophane abuse But no endevours could support an Empire ruin'd by the battery of an over-powerfull enemie and undermin'd by its owne vices For the Turke made frequent breaches and gain'd even when repulst with losse for if the slaughter of five Turkes procured the death of one Christian considering the inequalitie of the number yet had the Emperour justice to complaine For his men lost were irrecoverable whereas the Infidell as Cadmus is fabled seem'd to have sowed the dragons teeth upon any repulse new armed men growing up out of the earth in his defence Frequent assaults on every side brought the Citie to hope no honour but in ruine for to servive it selfe and become the seate of blasphemie were to resemble the punishment of a soul in hell grow more miserable than not to be That subsistance far more horrid than to suffer the labourer to plough up the rubbish of the most envied Pallaces But this happinesse was denyed a long continuance in vice prepared the way to the most powerfull impietie that ever swayd the world This Citie like a ship overcome by tempests yeelded at length to a Sea of enemies which enter'd through the breaches and suncke it for ever In one of which Iustinianus having receiv'd a wound lost his spirit and by flight endeavour'd a poore reprieve of a disgraced life for who that was interess'd in the quarrell could out-live that siege and retaine his honour Constantine the sonne of Helena allied in name and title but not in fortune to the first Constantine in the throng of those who yeelded to the violence of the Turkish Armie perisht undistinguisht among eight hundred who pressing for life became their owne murderers But the narrow scrutinie of the Turke and his owne ill fate denyed him even the honour of being unknown so that as his life was more eminent his death had greater ignominie For having that day his imperiall habit on it onely serv'd to obrey'd his ruin and sequester him for more scorne from the vulgar His head they presently sever'd from his body to make a common reproach of what had beene so awfull in its diadem And in the crueltie of that mirth all hope and courage of the defendants perisht The Citie three dayes lay prostitute to the licence of the conquerours who were wittie to invent new mischiefes to please their barbarous wantonnesse And well might they congratulate the fortunes of their victories for never did so much treasure become a prey to so much rapine and never did such ancient greatnesse fall
to buy his absence To the Duke of Burbon he gives assurance for the portion due to him in marriage with his sister And to every great man who had beene in opposition hee contributes largely since the event of warre might have beene uncertaine to make asure bargaine by this Treatie of peace Thus at Lewys his cost every discontented Lord attain'd his aime and triumpht in the fortune of his designe And so farre was this agreement the ambition of both parties that when the Earle of Charolois allured by the pleasure of Lewys his endearing Language was engaged into his power and the Burgonion Armie gave their Generall lost Lewys return'd him backe with all the ceremonie of love disdaining an advantage that might suffer the blemish of trechery Actions of so extraordinary a vertue strangely conduce to the fortune of a Prince for they create him high in reputation which keepes Soveraignety entire and beget confidence to his after proceedings which whether just or unjust are by that successefull For as to vertuous men faith is naturall so to the polliticke the practise of it is necessary For how can any designe prove fortunate when the contriver is held in distrust Pyrates and Politicians as common enemies to mankinde obnoxious to the selfe-same jealousie no man embarking his fortunes with either but whom desperation forceth or libertie invites This accord changed the face of France the brow smooth with joy and acclamations which had bin wrinckled with so many troubled thoughts Every man retreates to his private entertainements and discor'd no longer cimenting them they divided their businesse according to particular interest Charolois returnes home findes employment for those passions the ambitious never want He takes possession of the townes assign'd him and triumphs in recovery of a small Country whose unquiet pride the world wanted extent to limit Yet did he carry still a vigilant eye over his great enemie knowing that mighty spirits over-ruled by ill fortune disdaine that humility they are forc't to And though conveniency or necessitie bend them down to low conditions it seldome obleigeth the cōscience longer than fortune restraines the power Lewys was not well pleased with debasing Majestie to the irregular requests of them who ought not to have prescribed their Prince And since to oppose them all was unsafe it was convenient to destroy one by one that the revenge might bee more secure and lesse observ'd For those wounds are most mortall that bleede inward and waters which raise least noyse have the greatest depth The shallowes of Princes actions sounding loudest to popular judgements but where the understanding hath the chiefest agitation the greatest attempts proceed with least disturbance His resolution was therefore to begin his revenge with him who was neerest to his person those contents being scarce heard which are spoken a farre off but the least whisper pierceth when the voyce approacheth too neere the eare The late Duke of Normandie afflicted him most in regard nature tyed his memory to a continuall torment that preposterously his younger brother had prevail'd For those disgraces obrey'd us most which wee suffer where we have good title to claime respect And betweene brothers the distance is so little that the sence of honour growes too tender which makes the least touch peirce the very quicke Lewys therefore compell'd him to an exchange of Normandie for Gaien either by remove to prevent his growth in Faction or by shifting him from one command to another in fine to leave him none But this Art was presently discover'd and the divided re-unite bringing Lewys into the same feare and danger Which with much dissimulation hee prevents And by overpleasing Charolois and Brittaine he gaines liberty to oppresse underhand his brother Which was with lesse difficultie conived at in regard Charles now made Duke of Guien was of an easie spirit desirous to master an evill fortune but fearefull to effect it with hazard Moreover he naturally abhor'd war either in Religion or compassion and the complection of that time was troubled Men onely safe who feared no danger ' and such Princes onely secure of peace who were not frighted at war Then which was his ruine any probable conditions of safety made him renounce confederacie with turbulent unquiet men And who can hope from others participation of danger who never entertaine friendship but for necessitie Or who will adhere to his fortunes who deserts himselfe and no longer loves a confederate than hee is usefull This inconstancie in the Duke of Guien layd him open to King Lewys who finding that his brothers life quicken'd so many disorders in France gave way if History be not unjust in censure that hee should dye But nature yeelded little hope to effect the businesse the remedie therefore of the present troubles was to be sought from Art and so well was the plot contrived that he sicken'd and dyed for the quiet of the Kingdome for his death broke all those intellegences had beene held so long in France and the confederate Princes began to thinke on a new way of greatnesse not by disturbing their Neighbours Kingdome but by quieting their owne subjects A greatnesse not destructive to their enemie but effective to themselves Which creates a triumph more glorious because more innocent For power doth never shine unclouded which is maintain'd by darke designes or obscure dishonest Arts Of Charles the fifths resignation of Government CHarles the fifth Emperour of Germany singular in the preheminence of life disdain'd to tread the beaten way of Princes now declining to his grave In all enterprises hee still appear'd superiour to fortune to whose mercy he resolv'd to leave nothing in his age least that giddy power loathing infirmitie and wrinckles might have distasted him and forgot her flattery But his courage did rise yet higher and vanquisht death it selfe Death that great Tyrant which adornes its darke Pallace with the spoyle of Kings and devests the Proud of all the gaudie circumstance that swells their greatnesse Death was onely left him now to conquer three parts of the world had seene the Trophees of his fortune and all had submitted but death To which since inevitably he was doom'd to pay the common debt yet he contrived it so that it should be small losse to him who had nothing now remaining but his body and that weakned by time and sicknesse To Brussells hee summon'd all the Nobilitie of the seventeene Provinces and solemnely cancell'd that sacred obligation they owed him as their Soveraigne To his sonne Phillip to that purpose sent for out of England he gave those Countries and their homage T is true he wept but they were teares of wonder his vertue not onely astonishing that great assembly but even himselfe the example was so new it forc't him to an extraordinary expression with which his courage never had beene acquainted For Noblest spirits in such an extasie weepe as fast as weaker soules out of foeminine softnesse Two moneths after he had made
this essay upon his vertue hee gave perfection to the great worke and to his sonne made transaction of his dominion over the rest of his Kingdomes Provinces and Islands both in this and the new world Which was with greater concourse of Princes as the businesse was of larger extent and more value For to this Troegi-Comedie came spectators from all the world in regard the Scaene was so new and the Actors the most eminent of that age and perhaps as Noble as any other ever gloried in Nothing was left him now but the Empire which soone after hee renounced sending to his brother Ferdinand King of the Romans the Imperiall Crown and Scepter by the hands of William Prince of Orenge Who though he appear'd unwilling to this Office loath to see his Prince buried thus alive yet with small scruple he afterward rent from his Soveraigne King Phillip a great part of the Low Countries and indangered them all Thus with a complement of regret the Subject often appeares in just things troubled to obey who can dispence with all duty when his owne ambition is concern'd and justifie rebellion with pretence of lawfull liberty Charles having nothing left him now but what lives yet the memory of his many victories retired to private lodgings till the wind serv'd faire to waite on him into Spaine And soone he found in his first solitude it was but his shadow had made him appeare so mighty For being now nothing but himselfe he tooke justly his owne height and confest he was but man The swarme of those Courtflyes who had quickned in the heate of favour appear'd no more now his aspect though more cleere wanted the former vitall warmth The wonder past every man forsooke him who had left his glory and as honour or profit directed them began to beate new pathes For what truth had in vaine heretofore labour'd to perswade now hee acknowleged when hee so suddenly perceiv'd that the supreamest vertue not made awfull by authority can never keepe it selfe high in regard nor attract the applause of men And though his sonne King Phillip let fall words on the Anniversary of this resignation which seem'd to taxe his Father to have as soone repented as done this glorious Act of vertue yet who can beleeve in so constant a minde so poore a frailtie Perhaps he was a little amazed at the change and the Sonne who was enamor'd on that Empire his Father had resign'd interpreted the wonder to repentance Nor can we but imagine that Charles was somewhat astonisht at the steepe descent hee had on the suddaine made from so high a precipice though it was with a farre other passion then tortures them who are throwne headlong down by death or fortune When hee landed in Spaine he kist the earth whether he had brought his owne to Sepulture and made his lippes doe pennance for some few trespasses his youth was guilty of He acknowledged it the common parent in that homage and confest how high soever we are in growth and however wide our branches spread themselves our roote is still in the earth till age the Axe or some violent tempest plucke us up and afterward envious time takes away even the Print that ere wee florisht there At Burgos where he expected the suddaine payment of some monies for discharge of his attendance hee exprest a just disdaine perceiving the Officers slow to serve not him but his necessitie And his title was honest to that passion for ingratitude cannot bee forgiven by a mercy lesse than heavenly and he was yet apparrell'd with his earth Of all the immence revenues of so many wealthy Kingdomes hee had reserv'd to his owne use but one hundred thousand Crownes annually for that small time hee was to out-live his greatnesse And this was not payd but with trouble for the living grudged to allow any tribute to the dead among whom Charles was to be numbred when hee ceas'd to Raigne But this ill nature of the world serv'd him to good purpose for it comforted him that he had forsooke all commerce with that which servilely obey'd him onely when as a Master hee heretofore commanded it This hasten'd his finall retirement to a religious house of the order of S. Ierome which was seated in a most wholesome ayre that he might not cowardly seeme to desire to dye vvhen hee had given over to command And in this his valour out-did all former example that after resignation of so large an Empire he could patiently studdie the Arts to live and contract his businesse to so narrovv a roome vvho had made nine journies into Germanie sixe into Spaine seven into Italy foure into France ten into the Lovv-Countries tvvo into England and as many into Affrick But vvhen hee fixt here his ambition out-ravail'd in tvvo yeares all the labour of fiftie for his thoughts disdaining to measure earth or Sea vvhich Geographie can give account of made hourely their ascent beyond the fancie of Astrologie Whether the humble onely can climbe vvhom Pietie rackes till they acknovvledge themselves dust and sin Enter'd into this solitude he felt a vvarre vvithin him of more terrour than that vvith vvhich hee had avved the World For novv hee vvas to fight alone where no confederate Prince came to his assistance no subjects tender'd their lives with their obedience but even his passion who should have beene his slaves with his flesh a great part of himselfe revolted and conspired his trouble This combate ended in a happie victory humane industry strengthen'd by Divine grace triumpht over weakenesse and inthroned him above his Rebells Yet had hee still in his minde a soft eccho of the former noyse of warre those houres he borrowed from heaven to solace himselfe on earth were recreated with martiall sports Which was either to make a mockery of his heretofore most serious stratagems and all the businesse of the warlike or else to exercise his time in the Mathematickes which had much enamor'd him from his youth For Iannellus Turrianus a great Master in that knowledge did usually delight him with miracles of studie making little armed men muster themselves upon the Table and Artificially move according to the Discipline of warre which was done so beyond example that the superiour of the house nothing reade in the Mysteries of that Art suspected it for witch-craft Neither was Charles himselfe unapt to worke the little wheeles of watches and to make a clocke up which as it strooke did warne him what vanitie it was to reckon on the succeding moment And now this great Sun grew neere his night But desirous to out-live his funeralls hee obtain'd to see them solemniz'd before his death A sad curiositie to bee a mourner to himselfe and understand how short a pompe waites on the most mighty to the grave The herse was rais'd furnisht with all the vanity of hatchments which told the world over how many wide Kingdomes his power had intended and to what a streit lodging it was now shruncke up The Mourners assisted and perhaps with as deepe a sorrow as would have pierc't them had his griefe beene serious while hee with a sober mirth beheld the last Scaene of all his glory personated and found what an empty honour Princes labour for in the sweate and hazard of all their victories For what a no comfort to the ashes of the conquerour is the triumphs of his life since onely Christian vertue maintaines trafficke betweene earth and heaven But death disdain'd to bee made a sport to the greatest spirit of that age for this odde pastime soone became serious and he found he was to dye in earnest VVhich hee per form'd with the like cheerefull looke for there vvas neither honour that endeared nor beautie that enamor'd him to the vvorld and this two yeares silence had given him a taste of heaven He therefore without despute parted with that little of the earth he had reserved and which in this retirement he had punisht till it grew subordinate to the soule And though he had quitted all interest to Empire yet would not heaven let him dye without his comet For as he sickn'd a new star appear'd which gain'd in brightnesse as hee declin'd toward death and pointing its glory on the Cloyster vanisht as he expired the poore comet unable longer to shine when this greater starre was darkned from whom it derived its luster FINIS Imprimatur Tho. Wykes Novemb. 12. 1640.