Imprimatur Prid. Id. Jul. M.DC.XL Tho. Broun A TREATISE OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES AND STATES OF CHRISTENDOME Written in French by the most noble and illustrious Prince the Duke of Rohan Translated into English By H. H. Printed at Paris M. DC.XXXX TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE JOHN LORD FINCHE BARON OF FORDWICH Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England and one of his Majesties most honorable Privie Councell c. MY LORD THis little Booke being written by so excellent a person as the Duke of Rohan and treating of so weighty a Subject as the Interest of the Princes and States of Christendome being received also with good esteeme by some judicious men I thought it not amisse to communicate the same imploying the advantage of so many spare minutes during my abode in France as to make it speake English Then being invited to expose it to the light to the publike view the publike voyce taught it to implore your Lordships protection whether be considered the quality of the Author the gravity of the Matter or Knowledge in the Originall wherein it was penned For as the Author was noble and eminent in his place in like manner is your Honour shining in your orb as a starre of the first Magnitude lending a most benigne and gracious influence to the just causes of the oppressed distressed fatherlesse and widow The Matter is of politick maximes and divers remarkable occurrences in sundry Republikes and to whom now can this be more aptly addressed then to a principall Minister of State in whom Prudence Science and Integrity in a sweet harmony doe all concurre to make a perfect conduct of affaires for the glory of God the honour of the King and the good of this Church and Common-wealth Lastly the Originall from whence it was derived being French your admired knowledge and unparallell'd expressions in the same language may speake you as well a patterne in the originall as a Patron in this translation For my owne part if it may be permitted to say any thing of my selfe I speak confidently My Lord with your permission that albeit I had not so much vanity as to perswade my selfe that any thing could proceed from me worthy your reception or advantagious to your Honour since that my act herein shewed more of duty then merit and its insufficiencie demanded rather pardon then remuneration yet had I some kinde of assurance that a favourable acceptation would entertaine what I most humbly present seeing the most heroick minde disdaines not the meanest services but like the Sunne that nobler Planet spreads his indifferent rayes upon all as well on abject as glorious objects These and such like considerations made me adventure but with all reverence and humility to prefix here your most Honorable Name that thereby this Book might live and withall incessantly beseeching him whose name is I AM to preserve and continue Yours in perpetuall being in all honour and prosperity and to write your name in a larger volume the Book of life For which end the Lord be still your Keeper and Seale you with that great Seale the holy Spirit of promise to the day of redemption So prayeth My Lord Your Lordships most humbly devoted HENR HUNT THE CONTENTS OF THE INTEREST OF THE Princes and States of Christendome THe preface pag. 1. Of the interest of Spaine pag. 4. Of the interest of France p. 13. Of the interest of the Princes of Italie pag. 18. Of the interest of the sea of Rome p. 22. Of the interest of the Duke of Sauoy pag. 24. Of the interest of Germanie p. 26. Of the interest of the Suisses and of the vnited Prouinces of the Low-Countries p. 31. Of the interest of England p. 34. THE SECOND PART OF The interest of the Princes and States of Christendome the Preface p. 38. THe first discourse vpon the affaire of the League p. 40. The Second discourse vpon the warre of Sauoy p. 58. The Third discourse vpon the difference that happened betvveen Pope Paul V. and the Republike of Venice the yeare 1605. p. 64. The Fourth discourse concerning the Truce of the Low-Countries with the King of Spaine pag. 81. The Fifth discourse vpon the affaire about the succession of Cleues and Iulliers p. 93. The sixt discourse vpon the Election of the Count Palatine to the Kingdome of Bohemia pag. 103. The Seuenth descourse vpon the commotions that happened in Italie for the succession of the Dutchies of Mantua and Montferrat p. 117. FINIS OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES AND STATES OF CHRISTENDOME THE PRINCES commaund the People and the Interest commaunds The Princes The knowledge of this Interest is as much more raised aboue that of Princes actions as they themselues are aboue the People The Prince may deceiue himselfe his Counsell may be corrupted but the interest alone can neuer faile According as it is well or ill vnderstood it maketh States to liue or die And as it allwaies aimeth at the augmentation or at leastwise the conseruation of a State so likewise to get thither it ought to varie according to the times So that to consider well the interest of the Princes of this time wee need not remount very high but onely take the standing of the present affaires For this purpose one ought to lay for a ground that there be two Powers in Christendome which are as the two Poles from whence descend the influences of peace and warre vpon the other states to wit the howses of France and Spaine This of Spaine finding it selfe augmented all at once hath not beene able to conceale the designe shee had to make her selfe Mistresse and cause the Sunne of a new Monarchie to rise in the West That of France is forthwith carried to make a counterpoise The other Princes are annexed to the one or the other according to their interest But forsomuch as this interest as it hath beene well or ill followed hath caused the ruine of some or the greatnesse of others I haue purposed to publish in this present Treatise First what was the true interest of these two mightie Powers and then of the other which seeme in some manner to depend on their protection Next of all I shall shew how much has beene the digression from this true interest either because the Prince hath not well vnderstood it or else for that he was disguised by the corruption of his Ministers OF THE INTEREST OF SPAINE SPAINE is at the head of Europe where the Ocean serues her for bounds vpon the entrance of the Mediterranean sea which separates the same from Affricke hauing the Pyrenean mountaines for barriers against Frāce On this great Country so well situated do depend many States spread in diuerse parts of the world Philip King of Spaine who attempted to extend this vast power to the top of all greatnesse finding himselfe lesse sitt for warre then ciuill businesses judged that Monarchies got as it were in post by the valour of warlike Princes are not of
DISCOVRSE VPON THE AFFAIRE of the League VNDER the Raignes of Francis the second and Charles the ninth France was exceedingly molested with ciuill warres the youth of these two Princes was the principall cause thereof Each would haue the managing of affaires A contestation was betwixt Queene Catherine their mother and the Princes of the blood and vnder them the houses wich had most power were those of Guise and Montmorancy which had quietly ruled Henry the second their Father Francis of Lorraine Duke of Guise bore the partie of Catherine Annas Duke of Montmorancy tooke part with the Princes of the blood Likewise there was amongst them difference of Religion The warres about Religion were great and bloodie and lasted euen to the death of Charles the ninth and his brother Henry the third succeeded him He was of age capable to gouerne he had goodly qualities and gaue hopes of a happy Reigne At his comming to the Crowne Henry testified a desire to lead a peaceable life but it was rather for to plunge himselfe in idlenesse and pleasures then to reigne well Henry Duke of Guise sonne of Francis a Prince endowed with great qualities and full of loftie thoughts seeing the King and his Brother without children and the first Princes of the blood to make profession of the Protestant Religion is bold to aspire vnto the Royaltie and to gett thither makes himselfe Protecteur of the Catholikes and the Persecutour of the Protestāts against whom he stirred vp diuers warres Henry of Bourbon King of Nauarre first Prince of the blood Chief of the Protestant partie and a Prince adorned with an heroïque vertue successfully waged diuers warres in fauour of the Protestants Here be three Henry's Chiefs of three seueral parties in France who haue euery one their interest The King to maintaine his lawfull authoritie The Duke of Guise to possesse the Kings place and the King of Nauarre to hinder the King of France his ruine which was indeed his owne and of his partie which made him subsist in reputation The first of these through weakenesse lets himselfe be induced to make warre vpon the King of Nauarre The second makes himselfe Head of the Catholike partie The third becomes Protectour of the Protestāts So that as he who ought to haue commaunded others is very happie to haue place onely in the partie of the Duke of Guise who therein came so farre with him that when he was kill'd in the yeare 1588. he was vpon the point to make him be declared to the States of the Realme incapable to reigne and the Princes of the blood to succeed him Philipp King of Spaine who had allwaies an eye open to his great designe foments this businesse fauours the Duke of Guise at Rome helps him with money in France le ts him not want for any thing and euen after his death continues his assistance to his Brother Charles Duke of Mayne The King seeing himselfe abandonn'd of all the great Townes of his Realme and of the most part of his Nobilitie casts himselfe into the armes of the King of Nauarre who by his assistance retireth him almost from the hands of his enemies which held him besieged within Tours he brings him as triumphant before his Capitall Cittie of Paris where by the stab of a knife he dyed and left the Kingdome to the King of Nauarre in the yeare 1589. This Prince seeing himselfe eleuated to so high a dignitie was inuited by the change of his condition to make change of his interest and quitting that which he had held euen till then he embraced that of France He had great oppositions caused by Philip as well by his practises at Rome as by his assistance to the League of France allwaies vnder pretext of his great zeale for the Catholike Religion During the time that Henry is a Protestant Philip maintaines that he cannot reigne causeth him to be excommunicated his Subjects to be dispensed from the oath of allegeance setteth his kingdome in prey that by this meanes he might gett it as easily as Ferdinand got the Kingdome of Nauarre from his Predecessour When he giues hope to turne Catholike Philip declareth that he is an Hypocrite and that hauing beene relapsed he can neuer lawfully reigne he aideth his enemies with money and armes sufficient to weaken both parties but not to ruine the one in such sort as that the other might subsist without him willing to wearie them whom he maintained to the end that they should be constrained to giue themselues vp to him Henry on his part shewes vnto Queene ELIZABETH and the Vnited Prouinces with the Protestants of Germanie and the Swisses what interest they had all in the cause He receiued great assistance from them all and euen secretly from Ferdinand great Duke of Tuscanie a Prince of great vnderstanding and who judged that the acquisition of France to the King of Spaine was to subject all the other Princes But the Republike of Venice onely amongst all the Catholike States did without delay acknowledge him King of France after the death of his Predecessour So wellas with all these aides and his owne valour he resisted in the very beginning and afterwards hauing obtained diuers victories and his affaires beginning to prosper he was considered as a great Prince From thence forward the People wearie of their miseries beganne to disabuse themselues and to giue no more such credence as they had done to their Preachers the Nobilitie to thinke vpon the side that prosper'd the Gouernours of Townes to assure their affaires with the strongest and the Principalls of the partie to conserue what dignitie soeuer they had beene raised vnto All these commotions caused the Leaguers to assemble the States Philip takes occasion from such an extremitie for to perswade them that the onely remedie to restablish their affaires was to choose a King and offers his daughter to him whom they chose This was the apple of discord The Duke of Mayne principall Commaunder could not pretend to haue her he being allreadie married nor would suffer that another should lest himselfe from being Master should become a Seruant His Nephew the Duke of Guise was inticed with this daintie bit The Duke of Nemours his Vnkle had as good an appetite as he The Duke of Mercueur pretended the Dutchie of Britanie to belong to him by his Wife The eldest sonne of the Duke of Lorraine as head of the familie was also mentioned So that Philip thought by this discord to draw them to make choice of him While these things were a doing Henry turnes Catholike This change made some of the principall Townes and Gouernours to declare themselues on his parte and the other beganne to treate in the Court of Rome Philip neglects nothing no more then the chiefest Leaguers for to impeache that Henry be not acknowledged a good Catholike and a long time hindered his Ambassadour from hauing Audience At the length Clement VIII then Pope seeing well that he was establishing
vnto them for to disunite them one from another ought to be the bands of their concord and good intelligence This is the true interest of the Princes of Germanie and of the Imperiall townes which they neuer ought to relinquish For without this support they will become the prey of the first Vsurper and their great magazins and stately Arcenalls will serue for a lure to intice those that are Masters of the field There are foure Kingdomes which depend in a manner vpon Germanie and are obliged to follow the fortune of this Country Poland and Hungarie for diuers interrests remaine tyed to the house of Austria Denmarke and Swedeland embrace the partie that maintaines the libertie of Germanie fearing their owne may be in danger after this comes to be oppressed It is requisite that Germanie remaine strictly vnited with both these Realmes But the latter shee can neuer forsake without an eternall blot of ingratitude hauing receiued from thence euen that which was beyond her hopes seeing her selfe allreadie swallowed in the very gulfe of so hard a bondage when this King shewed onely to the world through so many darke clowdes made the Sunne of her deliueraÌ„ce appeare to this desolate Country OF THE INTEREST OF THE SWISSES AND OF THE VNITED PROVINCES of the Low-Countries ON the two sides of Germanie at the entrie of this large Country there are formed two Common-weathes dreadfull amoÌ„gst the other powers of Christendome both for the valour of their people and for the forme of their situation So that very rightly one may call them the two armes of Germanie The right arme is Switzerland the left is the Vnited State of the Low Countries The one is amongst the rockes and precipices the other amongst the Seas and marshes The one domineers in the Alpes and the other in the Ocean The naturall disposition of both these people is so agreeable to the nature of the Countries which they inhabite as that the Swisses seeme made for the Mountaines and the Mountaines for the Swisses The Sea for the Hollanders and the Hollanders for the Sea In Switzer-land euery Canton in the Low-Countries euery Prouince is a Commonwealth The Swisses sell the libertie of their bodies to others and doe guard the libertie of their country the HollaÌ„ders gaâ—d their owne libertie intire Long peace hath enriched those but these flourish by the continuation of warre The interest of the Swisses is Peace but the Hollanders should hold for an assured maxime to be alwaies in Armes These two Republikes cannot make better alliance for their subsistence then with France who to oppose Spaine does enrich the Suisses with her money and supports the Hollanders with her Counsell and Armes These two Powers should neuer be diuided betwixt themselues either through iealousie or Religion since these are the sole maladies that may extinguish them OF THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND ENgland which is as a little world apart had not any thing to doe with other Princes but onely so far as the necessitie of commerce did oblige her which was then her true interest For thereby shee gained great riches which together with her situation haue made her of very great account But since that vnder the shadow of that misterious mariage betweene PHILIP and MARIE the practises of Spaine are insensibly slipped in England which before had maximes conformable to her owne selfe is by litle and litle accommodated sometimes to the interest of France and sometimes to the interest of Spaine Queene ELIZABETH who by her prudent gouernment has equall'd the greatest Kings of Christendome shee knowing well the disposition of her State beleeued that the true interest thereof consisted First in holding a firme vnion in it selfe atcheiuing to smother the reliques of precedent factions deeming as it is most true that England is a mightie Animal which can neuer dye except it kill it selfe Shee grounded this fundamentall maxime to banish thence the exercise of the Romane ReligioÌ„ as the onely meanes to breake all the plots of the Spaniards who vnder this pretext did there foment RebellioÌ„ And allthough shee professed her selfe very much obliged to Philip towards whoÌ„ shee bare euer a speciall regard neuerthelesse shee had so carefull a consideration of the interest of her State that shee beleeued it was neuer fitt to conclude a peace with him for three very euident reasons The first was for to weaken the power that shee suspected in the Indies The second for to enrich her Realme by depredations The third thereby to make her Subjects warlike and keep them in perpetuall exercise for Sea-fight which is the defence of the Kingdome Shee beleeued that the interest of her Estate was to aide France and releeue it least that by the fall thereof shee suffer those to waxe great from whom shee had cause to defend her selfe By the same maxime Shee supported the springing libertie of the Vnited-Prouinces whose protection against the puissance of Spaine is one of the principall points of Englands interest as well because shee thereby weakens a too powerfull Neighbour as for that Protection serues sometimes for a step to reach some higher matter Shee held most strait intelligences with the Protestants of France for reasons alltogether peculiar to England Shee did the same though for other respects with the Protestants of Germanie By all these maximes this wise Princesse has very well made knowne to her Successours that besides the Interest which the King of England has common with all Princes he has yet one particular which is that He ought throughly to acquire the aduaÌ„cement of the Protestant Religion euen with as much zeale as the King of Spaine appeares Protectour of the Catholike For this effect England should haue intelligences throughout where soeuer it is fitting and take part in all the Treaties that are made with Protestant Princes Shee should likewise be allwaies armed to become thereby considerable Here is the true interest of England which being well followed will establish a third Puissance in Christendome THE SECOND PART OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES AND STATES of Christendome AFTER the stablishing of the true interest of each Prince and State it ought to be made appeare by the recitall of the principall affaires agitated in Christendome for the space of fifth yeares past how the ill successes that haue therein happened proceeded not from any other cause then the neglecting of the said interest For to teach vs that in matter of State one ought not to suffer himselfe to be led by inordinate desires which carrie vs oftentimes to vndertake things beyond our strength nor by violent passions which doe diuersly trouble vs according as wee are possessed therewith nor by superstitious opinions whereby ill-conceiued scruples are ministred vnto vs but rather by our proper interest guided by reason aloÌ„e which ought to be the rule of our actions to the end that by such examples wee seeing as in a mirrour the faultes of others may thereby benefit our selues THE FIRST
dexteritie knowing how to aduantage herselfe in Treaties inuites her inferiours to enter more forwardly in league with her and to set themselues vnder her shade The estate of her armes allwaies on foote consumes those that are suspicious of her and assures others that depend on her protection From all these things results the reputation of Spaine Her interest is to manage well this pietie And though all Princes hold for a generall maxime that they should carefully conserue their reputation Spaine ought to be so much the more jealous thereof as her designes are greater then those of other States This huge frame composed of so many parts and as it were incumbered with its owne weight moues by its secret springs which loose their force euen as they are discouered OF THE INTEREST OF FRANCE FRANCE being seated betweene the Alpes and the Pyrenean mountaines and flanked by two seas seemes to be inuited by nature to oppose it selfe against the proceeding of this puissant Neighbourhood For shee appeares like a banke against this torrent and the opportunitie of her situation is such that shee may hinder the distribution of the head to the members of the Monarchie which does oppugne her But this being not sufficient to crosse the proceedings of Spaine the interest of France is to take all the counter-course to impeach all shee may her designes by maximes which wee come now deliuer vnto you Henry the fourth vpon whom the actiuitie of all these subtilties has been exercised euen to the vtmost point hauing better vnderstood them then any other before him for that he proued them more he first confirmed the true interest of France which is to thwart or counterpoint Spaine in all these points In such wise that if the first maxime of the interest of Spaine be to persecute the Protestants for to growe by their spoyles the first of the interest of France is to make the Catholickes perceiue the venome hidden vndes the same Especially to let the Court of Rome vnderstand that the hopes which Spaine giues her to augment her treasures by the ruine of Protestants is not but to further her designe towards the Monarchie where shee can no sooner arriue but the Pope must become her Seruant whereas his authoritie neuer has more lustre then when the power of Christian Princes and States is ballanced Moreouer France should make shew to the Protestant Princes and States that allthough shee be of a diuerse Religion to theirs yet shee would rather their conuersion then their destruction assuring them that this shall not at all hinder her that shee contribute not of her owne to conserue them and to aide them freely against all those that would trouble or change any thing in their States and liberties Likewise as the second maxime of the interest of Spaine is to aduantage her designe through intelligences The second of the interest of France is not to sleepe at all in hers Nor to spare money in spies and pensioners to the end to know what passeth amongst her neighbours and that as occasion serues shee strengthen the weake assure the fearefull stop the engagement of those that are moued to decline retire those that are allready engaged and that shee crosse in all places and by all meanes the intelligences of Spaine To the third maxime which concerns negociation It ought not to be suffered that Spaine meddle in any Treatie but that France also step between on her part Especially in Italie where shee would be sole judge and vmpire That which shee will be if France were not assured of one port to enter there which shee ought to keepe euen so long as shee will oppose the others greatnesse and be considered as the bullwarke of the Christian libertie Moreouer flegmaticke personnes ought to be made choice of for to treate with Spaine and such as haue not any impatient humour whereof the French nation is accused to the end to take away their hope of profiting by delaies wherewith Spaine has been accustomed to wearie all the world To the fourth Maxime There ought to be opposed force to force For neither perswasions nor the Iustice of armes will awe him that 's armed So as that France ought to cutt off all vnnecessarie expences and be allwaies powerfully armed hauing sufficiently to doe the same without borrowing elsewhere soldiers munition and money If so be that the aboue named maximes be well obserued the reputation of Spaine whereby shee doth so aduantageously preuaile will be abated that of France eleuated and the other Christian Princes and States seeing such a counterpoise to affaires will againe take courage and without apprehension of future danger will voluntarily embrace the cause of their conseruation OF THE INTEREST OF THE PRINCES OF ITALIE ITALIE which is enuironned with the Alpes and the Mediterranean sea after the deluge of those barbarous nations that so long time afflicted it seemed as if shee ought to thinke of nothing more then to benefit herselfe by the opportunitie of her situation to keep her selfe close and secret being as well separated by the interest of Prouinces as diuided by her situation And truly it was then the maxime which shee ought to hold For these little Princes might liue preaceably vnder the shadow of the greater when hauing amongst themselues their just counterpoise they cannot attempt any thing vpon their inferiours And the principall Powers sharing amongst themselues the dominion of such a Countrey had reason to exclude their neighbours from the Knowledge of their affaires But since that the King of Spaine hath set footing in Italie and that finding himselfe Maister of both ends thereof he has made the ballance incline on his owne side the true interest in generall of the Italian Princes has beene to keep euer one gate at least open to guard themselues from the oppression which such a formidable Power might make them feare And although that for this effect they ought to hold intelligences with other Princes it behooues them notwithstanding to doe it cheifely with the King of France for three reasons First for the neerenesse and opportunitie of being able to succour them either by sea or land Secondly for the great forces that this great Realme can set on foote And lastly by this bridle to restraine the Spainard who otherwise would carrie himselfe towards them with lesse moderation The other maxime which Italie ought to obserue is to conserue her selfe in peace First because there can be noe warre but the Kings of France and Spaine will there take part either as fauouring one of the parties or else as Arbitrators Besides it ought to be considered that warre cannot be enkindled in this Country without great danger of stirring vp diuerse humours which doe now lie still These are the two points wherein lieth the interest of Italie in generall And although that euery Prince ought to haue the same aime there are notwithstanding certaine particular interests in each State The Common-wealth of Venice in regard of
meanes he kept the Catholikes that followed him thereby also he gained newe ones from the partie of the Leaguers and he lost not the Protestants who he well knew could neuer be taken in the number of his enemies without destroying the pretext of Religion which alone maintained them So as that this Prince complying with the time knew how to take his aduantages so fitly that he had good successe in his affaires Philipp who had a designe to the Christian Monarchie and imagining that the maine obstacle which he should therein meet with was the puissance of France he embraces the occasion offer'd vnto him for to ruine the same He aptly serues his purpose by the ill gouernment of the King and by the ambition of the Duke of Guise He inciteth the first to expell the Protestants out of his Kingdome by which way so euer giueth him his owne example offereth him his assistance publisheth his great zeale at Rome exhorts the Pope to ioyne with him in such a pursuite On the other side he vnderhand exciteth the second to continue courageously his designe assists him with money and Counsell And by such deuises he makes himselfe esteemed in France as the chiefest prop of their Religion He makes a diuision betwixt the King and the Protestants of Europe he authoriseth the Duke of Guise amongst the Catholikes of France he incenceth the people against the Princes of the blood and remoueth so much as he can the the children of the Familie from the gouernment of the Realme for to introduce Strangers there No other consideration diuerteth him from his profound designe he holds that allwaies couered vnder the vaile of Pietie and of his great zeale to the Catholike Religion He trauelles there step by step without being impatient through the length of the way or precipitated through any accident After the Duke of Guise his death in stead of leauing off the worke he became more resolute He assists his Brother and the whole partie so much the more vigorously as he beleeued there was more need and euen thought assuredly that it would be more easie for him now to make an aduantageous gaine thereby then in the life time of the said Duke Because that the whole faction hauing more need of him he could more easily reduce them to his owne will In so much as he aduanced the businesse so forward that the Kingdome of France escaped not his hands but by miracle And if he had beene content onely to dissipate it in stead of getting it intirely he had therein obtain'd his ends And this is the onely fault that he committed against his interest in this Affaire For had he considered the affection this Nation beares towards her Kings the detestation shee has of the Spanish dominion besides her naturall sicklenesse as also the reputation of the clemencie of Henry IIII. he would not haue beene so obstinate as to goe about to surmount things impossible and would haue contented himselfe to part the Realme among seuerall personnes And aftewards vpon the differences that are wont to happen betweene vsurpers it would haue beene farre more easie for him to gett by peece-meale what he would haue carried all at once Howsoeuer it would haue beene a gaine great enough to him to diuide this mightie Kingdome the which being Vnited does euery where impeach the amplification of Spaine THE SECOND DISCOVRSE VPON THE WARRE OF SAVOY IT seemed that the Peace of Veruins had restabished a solid tranquillitie to Christendome and that these two mightie Powers of France and Spaine wearied of troubling each other had beene glad to tast of rest But as it is ordinarie that in all accords which are made between Princes and Soueraigne States there men leaue vndecided the Claimes about Which they cannot agree So likewise in this Peace the restitution of the Marquisate of Saluces was remitted to another season in such wise as Henry afther hauing imployed some yeares to setle againe the affaires of his Realme in good order he resolued to question the Duke of Sauoy for the inuasion of the said Marquisate insomuch as he made him plainly vnderstād that he would haue it restored This peece although little is of very great importance It is the Port of Italie whereby the French might passe either to assault or succour it Those that feared their power had reason to withstand the designe of Henry but those that feared any other fauoured him So the interests of Italie were diuided Emanuel Duke of Sauoy as the most interessed of all in the businesse vses all meanes to diuert this Tempest He solliciteth the King of Spaine not to forsake him and gaineth the Popes Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandin to procure the Popes fauour But being exceedingly confident of his dexteritie and adresse he resolued to goe into France to the end that vnder the pretence of treating this affaire he might gaine some of the principall Ministers of Henry and raise a broile within the Kingdome herein he was at great cost and vsed such sleights that he failed but very little of his purpose Neuerthelesse being too confident of a thing vncertaine and hauing too much neglected the meanes of his true assurance he became so surprised that within three Moneths he was dispoyled of all Bresse and Sauoy This rude beginning awak'd him He continues his practises in France he hasteth the succour of Spaine and seekes the intercession of the Pope who to this effect sendeth the Cardinall Aldobrandin towards Henry for to treate the same In the meane while euery one armeth some to assault Piemont others to defend it but the mediation of the Peace was the strongest For it was concluded in the yeare 1600. wherein Sauoy was render'd to the Duke and Bresse remained to Henry for exchange of the Marquisdome of Saluces That which made Henry commit this errour against his interest was the desire he had to tast of repose it being a thing certaine that a man ordinarily flatters himselfe in that whereunto his fancie carries him This Prince naturally loued his pleasures and the necessitie of his affaires allwaies engaged him to labour So as now seeing himselfe at peace in his Relme and beleeuing he had done enough for his honour he chose rather to take a recompence for the said Marquisate then to imbarke himselfe in a long warre This Peace touched Ferdinand great Duke of Tuscanie so much to the heart for the prejudice that it brought to the libertie of the Princes of the Italie that he offered to breake it by the meanes of 200000. crownes wherewith He and the States of Venice should furnish the Cardinall Aldobrandin But Henry would not hearken to it In this affaire and the sequele thereof there are two things remarkable Viz. The losse which France hath sustained by leauing the Marquisate of Saluces and the aduantage that one gets by gaining the Nephewes of the Pope By the first the French-man has lost all credit in the affaires of Italie and the Spaniard remaines Master
which they endeauour'd to doe by the meanes of the Turk as on the contrary it became aduantageous to the Republike For though the Marquesse de Saint-Croy hauing ransacked Duras beleeued that the Turks to take reuenge would turne against the Republike as being neerest or at least enter within the Gulfe Yet it happened that the Turk perceiuing the Spanish wiles commaunded the Admirall of his Fleet to aide the Venetians against the Pope and the Spainards But the Republike judging it not fit to make vse of such a helpe for feare the remedie should be worse then the dissease it selfe shee put it off so handsomely that the Grand Signior receiued not any distast thereby Neuerthelesse making the Pope vnderstand that in case of necessitie shee well knew whither to haue recourse The Spaniards out of season offer'd a whole entire Armie to the Pope Some beleeued that it was for to reclaime the Venetians by this way but it was nothing lesse For all whatsoeuer the Spaniards did then for the Pope proceeded onely because the Duke of Lerma was tickled with vaine-glorie for that the Pope in his Briefs had giuen him the title of Excellence Lastly they perceiued in Spaine that this businesse would be ended by treatie and that France was to haue all the honour thereof This made them about to send extraordinaire Embassadours from one side to the other but it was too late the negociation being so farre aduanced by the French that t was impossible to get it out of their hands Insomuch as whatsoeuer the Spaniards could doe to crosse the Treatie the honour thereof remained full and wholly to Henry who ended the businesse by the dexteritie and prudence of the Cardinall de Ioyeuse and of Frenes-Canaye ordinarie Embassadour at Venice The Prisonners were deliuered into the hands of the Embassadour The Lawes of the Republike continued without alteration and the Pope was forced to take off the Interdict without any token of submission from the said Republike This has beene a warre of Negociation wherein the Venetians full and wholly carried the victorie Likewise one must acknowledge they were ingaged to deale in that part wherein they were most able They followed therein all the maximes of their true interest The Pope did quite contrary Spaine was amusing after Chymeraes and France had the scope which shee ought to haue wherefore shee likewise had the glorie THE FOVRTH DISCOVRSE CONCERNING the Truce of the Low Countries vvith the King of Spaine THE Truce of the Low-Countries with the King of Spaine is an infallible proofe of the excellence of the Spaniards in matter of Negociation The King of Spaine seeing that in fortie yeares Space the warre had augmented and enriched this State in stead of ouerthrowing it and that it would greatly diminish his reputation to treate of Peace with those whom euen till then he had treated as Rebells he therefore resolued to doe his vtmost to enter into their Country and to make them feele euen within their intrailes the discommoditie of Warre For which purpose he employed the two last Summers vnder the commaund of Marquesse Spinola one of the renownedst Captaines of the time Who with powerfull Armies endeauoured to enter the first yeare into Frisland and the second into Holland Neuerthelesse Maurice Prince of Orange a Captaine to whom wee owe the restauration of the auncient militarie discipline all though he was much inferiour to the forces of Spinola yet he made so good vse of the situation of his Country that he frustrated all his endeauours This hauing depriued the King of Spaine of all hope to conquer by force he resolued at last to make triall of a Treatie at the cost euen of his reputation But his end herein was 1. to secure the trafficke of the Indies where he was endammaged by them 2. to diuide them in the time of peace and lastly to beare armes more aduantageously against people lesse trained in warre and more easie to subdue being confident that any good successe in some affaire would make him recouer that reputation which he then hazarded and whereof he has beene euer jealous A Monke did first lay open the matter to a Holland Marchant The hope giuen to the States that in this Accord the King of Spaine would acknowledge them for free States made them giue eare whereupon followed a suspension of Armes for to treate more at large This intermission awaked the interessed and neighbour Princes Henry's mind was troubled with the true intererest of his Estate which he best of all knew and also by his particular affections The States by reason of their interest had succoured him in his necessitie He for the same reason powerfully assisted them in his prosperitie He willingly would haue them continue The warre prouided that he augmēted not his assistance They offered to continue the same on cōdition that he would double the money which he gaue them yearely The desire of doing thriftily made him seeme to incline and not alltogether abādon his true interest thinking it should be a great aduantage for him to remoue from his frontiers such good Armes which a Peace or long Truce might dissipate and that it should be a great honour for him to cause the Low Countries to be declared a free State Insomuch as He bent his thoughts to become Arbitratour of this negociation and to make it succeed aduantageously for the Low-Countries IAMES the first King of England whose strong inclination to peace did not also permit him to follow the true interest of his Realme which was to nourish Warre in the Low-Countries for to consume the forces of Spaine and hinder their entreprise vpon him he contents himselfe to haue part in the Treatie by his Embassadours Diuers Protestant Princes of Germanie imagining well that the Armes of Spaine being no more imployed there might fall vpon them doe likewise send their Embassadours of purpose to diuert this Accord os else to procure the protection of those that intermedled in the businesse Maurice whose particular interest was joyned with the true interest of the States wholly withstood the Accord Bernaueld who had most abilitie in the State-affaires of the Country seeing that his owe credit grew in Peace rather then in Warre he would haue the interests of the State to serue his owne ends Here is the true pourtrait of those that dealed in this affaire But for the better vnderstanding of the true interest of the States we must remount higher and come to the originall William of Nassau Prince of Orange who alone in this Age had the honour to found a State although neither his disgraces receiued nor the endeauours of Philip the most puissant and able Prince of his Time could haue hindred him was constrained to assemble the peeces for to compose a bodie thereof with such conditions as each Towne and Prouince required For hauing met with people that haue euer affected their libertie more then their very liues he could not alter the conditions
whereupon they first joyned themselues vnto him This same hath caused in this State so many Republikes as there be Townes amongst whom in a generall decree pluralitie of voices has noe place because that if any one Towne approue it not shee is not bound to obserue it So as he deuised rather to flatter them in their libertie that he might wholly take off their desire to complie with Philip then to propound vnto them good Lawes for to maintaine them in the time of Peace His sonne Maurice brought vp from his infancie in Armes thought principally of the establishing of militarie discipline as the thing then most necessarie to vphold the State wherein he surpassed all the Captaines of his time Insomuch as this State beeing exceeding well grounded for to subsist by warre and as ill to maintaine it selfe in Peace it is euident that the true interest thereof is to continue the Warre According to the interest of each Prince their Ambassadours being assembled at the Hague did worke about The Spaniards make a great difficultie to ratifie the declaration of the Archdukes who acknowledged the States free and soueraigne to the intent to make them better relish the same and that in yeelding they might obtaine of them conditions that would worke their ruine As the graunt of libertie of conscience to Catholikes thereby to make diuisions among them The priuation of trafficke in the Indies and so to make a mutinie by the Marchands the most considerable corporation amongst them Besides the exchange of certaine places most aduantageous to the King of Spaine and most prejudiciall to the said States Maurice earnestly opposed such conditions Bernaueld durst not countenance them France and England perceiuing the venome hidden vnder the same could not digest them In such wise as all Treatie of peace being broken they renew that of a Truce for many yeares Maurice doth his best to hinder it but Bernaueld backed by France and England is the cause they did hearken to it The worke beginnes anew and the Spaniards seeing they could not obtaine the conditions which they desired imagining also their repose to be very necessarie at length they gaue ouer sauing that the Article wich declared the States free and that of trafficke in the Indies were couched so obscurely as they might saue their reputation and interpret them to their owne aduantage as occasion should serue On the other side the French for to induce the States to conclude make a league with them wherein they oblige themselues to giue them pay for tenne thousand Souldiers Specially for to make them keepe the Truce in case it should be broken on the Spaniards side whereupon the Spaniards complaining they were answered that whatsoeuer was done was for their good and that without doing the same nothing could be obtained Maurice for his part yeelds vnto that which he could not hinder conditionally that the Armie might be maintained for the securitie of the State Henry approueth this condition and contributeth to the maintenance of 4000 Foote and 200. Horse So as the Truce was concluded for twelue yeares the States acknowledged free and Soueraigne and their Ambassadours receiued in this qualitie by Princes Thus ended this negociation which lasted two yeares where each one endeauours to deceiue the other and also flatters himselfe with the perswasion of hauing gotten that which he had desired In effect Henry had the most honour in this affaire and the States by his meanes the most profit But he being dead and Louys vpon the Throne at nine yeares of age there was an vniuersall alteration in France For Marie had obtain'd the Regencie and willing to strengthen her authoritie against the Princes of the blood and great ones of the Realme shee procured a disunion amongst them and cast herselfe into the armes of Rome and Spaine beleeuing that shee had then need of the former Power and allwaies of the later insomuch as during the time of her gouernment the true interest of France being abandonned there was taken the contrarie course The Spaniards lost not so good an occasion especially vpon the Low-Countries in the businesse of the Arminians the which Bernaueld seeing himselfe vpheld by France through the practises of Spaine vndertooke to maintaine against the Prince of Orange in such wise as that from a dispute of Religion there was made an affaire of State so pernicious that it was like to ruine this Commonweath Here it was where the Spaniard displayed all his cunning for to make Marie worke in this Country according to his interests He perswaded her that her disunion was aduantageous to her to maintaine her authoritie To the end that shee might not assist the Princes of the blood disontented with her nor the Protestants of France which might joyne with the said Princes He makes her to act a superstitious zeale which is an euill counsellour to those that entertaine it So as the Ambassadours of France vnder the pretēce of zeale to Religion become sollicitours of the affaires of Spaine in Holland They fauour the cause of Bernaueld they foment the diuision within the State they bring it vpon the very brinke of its downefall and had it not beene for the patience and constant courage of Maurice assisted by the souldiers this Republike had runne the hazard to seeme as sonne extinct as borne By that which is aforesaid and by the sequele of affaires one may judge that the true interests of the State of the vnited Prouinces are to maintaine warre against Spaine otherwise it would be ruined of it selfe The interests of France and England are to assist the said State for to giue Spaine this bone to picke The interests of the Germane Princes are to foment the same to the end that by the fall of this burden they likewise be not ouerthrowne And the interests of Spaine are to keepe all the other in broiles amongst themselues or else set them one against another least they should all accord against her Therefore so soone as any of them haue abandonned these maximes their affaires fall to the ground THE FIFTH DISCOVRSE VPON THE affaire about the succession of Cleues and Iulliers SINCE the time of Charles the Fifth Germanie liued very happie so long as shee kept her true interest and whil'st that the Emperour did containe himselfe within the bounds of the lawes of the Empire which ballancing the power thereof with that of the Princes and Republikes of Germanie suffered them not to vsurpe one vpon another The first that forsooke this interest were the Princes Electors in hauing continued the Imperial dignitie without interruption to many of one and the same familie who in tract of time haue raised the same to the prejudice of the Imperiall Lawes the which hath chiefly happened to the house of Austria specially since this house and that of Spaine haue beene both the selfe same thing For seeing her selfe established in so high a dignitie and supported by such a Power shee was willing to be there