conceived For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale to this end were the seditions raysed in Scotland c. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause and in the Dutchy of Cleve Gulick and the Imperial Citie of Aquisgrane Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109. 5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphick Oracle and most infallible prophesie That the last Monarchy shall be fixt in Spain and that for this reason that in regard it came in order from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece and returned for a few years into Asia again under Alexander and his successors at length out of Greece to Rome therefore it necessarily followes that it must be establisht in Spain as being the most Westward of all other Countreys Thuan. lib. 133. 6. The Spaniards for the setling of their Monarchy by warres fraud and other plots destroy as many as are able to oppose them as Anno 1584. when Andino according to most mens opinions was poysoned whereof he being dead the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed by one hired of the Duke of Parma and the Queen of England aimd at by the same Arts at the same time lib. 79. 7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more then by subduing all other Kings and Princes to make themselves Monarchs of the whole Christian world Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118. 8. At the election of Charles the fifth Anno 1519. one of the Episcopall Electors said That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire would hardly restore it again to its liberty Sleidanus 9. The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy do not only permit but allow and perswade even incestuous marriages lest by the division of kingdoms forsooth their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Moreover for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces to streighten their priviledges liberties to impose new taxes and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches to poverty and misery Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60. 11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is to take off all free Elections which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperours and in the kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary yea and by the exclusion of the right heirs to advance their own Kings to kingdoms as in the said kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 69. 13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion his son Philip was troubled at it as if he had not had kingdomes enough even without those Provinces which when the Father observed he comforted him saying Quidvis promittas quid enim promittere laedit That he had indeed promised those Provinces but that there were many by-wayes and tricks to be found out to shun the performance Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 108. 14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon wherein he told them in most eloquent words That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong to get and occupate other kingdomes that so he might come to the long hop'd for Monarchy For it was fâ—r that since there was but one Head namely the Pope in spiritual affairs so there should be also but one namely the King of Spain in temporal and that he was therefore called Catholick because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world Now the wiser sort do justly conceive these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. That the inexpleble covetousnesse of the king of Spain was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine and that they were reputed his enemies by him whosoever should endeavour to stop or hinder his designe to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family Thuan. lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power that they never fail in all their kings dominions to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices and substitute Castillians in their places which more disgusted the Catalonians then any thing else as may be seen up and down in their complaint anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point and especially chap. 34.35 16. Antonio de Leva charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperour and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Dutchy of Milan and himself put in his place Paul Jovius lib. 6. Elog. 17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand to abdicate the Roman Empire and transfer it upon his son Philip or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy and the Low Countreys But Ferdinand answered him That he was called Augustus or the enlarger of the Empire and therefore he could not grant ought thereof to any other Zniegrefius part 1. Apotheg p. 112. 18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperour and answer being made That Europ was like a mans Body and that Spain represented the Head And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperour Livius Fink Graecensis replied If so then Germany wins the day for she is like the Belly and it is clear that the Belly rules all and all obey the Belly Znicgrefius p. 1. Apotheg p. 309. CHAP. XVI The Ambition Arrogance Boasting and Scorn of the Spaniards AS it happened to C. Caesar and Cn. Pompeius that the one could not endure a Superior and the other an Equall so is it also with the Spanish Nation For conceiving themselves only to be Eagles and to fly above the clouds they look upon all others as Dolopes or creepers as they frequently testifie both by their words and deeds When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugall the Spaniards to terrifie the Portuguezes boasted thus That there was no power equall to that of the Spaniards who as often as they had had warres had vanquisht France led the Princes of Germany in triumph put the Turk to flight and freed Maltha from the Barbarians Thuan. lib. 97. 2. King Philip the second after the seizure of Portugall whether justly or unjustly I say not caused money to be coyned with this Inscription Non sufficit orbis Luckius in Nummis p. 279. 3. When the
The KING of SPAINS Cabinet Councel Divulged OR A DISCOVERY of the PREVARICATIONS of the SPANIARDS With all the Princes and States of Europe for obtaining the Universal Monarchy LONDON Printed by J. H. for J. S. and are to be sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard 1658. The Contents of the severall Chapters CHap. 1. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants and their Religion pag. 1 Chap. 2. The prevarications of the Spaniards in order to the Pope and his Elections pag. 9 Chap. 3. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards towards the rest of the Catholicks pag. 17 Chap. 4. Of the Spanish Inquisition pag. 24 Chap. 5. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Empire pag. 30 Chap. 6. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of France pag. 40 Chap. 7. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England pag. 48 Chap. 8. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugal pag. 54 Chap. 9. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countries pag. 59 Chap. 10. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principate of Catalonia pag. 62 Chap. 11. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kingdom of Aragon pag. 69 Chap. 12. The prevarications against the Kingdom of Naples pag. 73 Chap. 13. The prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Common-wealths thereof pag. 77 Chap. 14. The prevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms pag. 80 Chap. 15. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and rule pag. 87 Chap. 16. The Ambition Arrogance boasting and scorn of the Spaniards pag. 94 Chap. 17. The Spaniards perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises pag. 97 Chap. 18. The Spaniards Hypocrisie and Dissimulation pag. 101 Chap. 19. The ingratitude of the Spaniards toward such as oblige them pag. 104 Chap. 20. What the Spanish succours are pag. 110 Chap. 21. The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages pag. 114 Chap. 22. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans pag. 117 Chap. 23. How the Spaniards treat and keep peace pag. 120 Chap. 24. The Briberies and pecuniary Corruptions of the Spaniards pag. 123 Chap. 25. The Spaniards are Murtherers pag. 126 Chap. 26. The Cruelty and promiscuous Tyranny of the Spaniards pag. 129 Chap. 27. The Cruelties and Barbarities of the Spaniards in America pag. 132 Chap. 28. The rapacity avarice lust adultery and other vices of the Spaniards pag. 137 Chap. 29. Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their designes pag. 145 Chap. 30. The various Apothegmes and Observations concerning the Spaniards pag. 151 The Conclusion pag. 157 Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for or sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard In Folio THe Civil Warres of Spain in the Reign of Charls the 5th Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherein our late unhappy differences are paralleld in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of King James The History of this Iron Age. Dr. Lightfoot his Harmony of the N. Testam In large Quarto John Barckley his Argenis Translated by his late Majesties special command The Prose by Sir Robert le Grise The Posie by Tho. May. In Quarto The Harmonious consent and Confessions of Faith of all the Protestant Reformed Churches professed in all the Kingdoms Nations and Provinces of Europe published with Authority to prevent the spreading of Errors and Heresies Camdens Remains concerning Britain with many choice Additions by W. D. Gent. Christ tempted the devil Conquered being an Exposition on part of the fourth Chap. of St. Mathews Gospel by John Gumbledon Rector of Coyly in Glamorgan Abrahams faith or the good old Religion proving the Doctrine of the Church of England to be the only true faith of Gods Elect By J. Nicholson Minister of the Gosp The Anatomy of Mortality by George Stroad Aynsworth on the Canticles Paul Bayne his Diocesans Trial. The Supream Power of Christian States and Magistracy vindicated from the insolent pretences of Gulielmus Apolonius By E. Gralle A Treatise of Civil Pollicy being a clear decision of 43 queries concerning prerogative right and priviledge in reference to the supreme Prince and the people By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St. Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military observations of Civil and Military Government containing the birth increase decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr. Pinchin his meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Stars and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Large Octavo The Reconciler of the Bible wherein above 2000 seeming contradictions are fully plainly reconciled A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customes and Ceremonies The History of England Illustrated with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the Conquest Small Octavo Ed. Waterhouse Esq his Discourse of piety and charity A view and defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Peter du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the delusions of the Priests and Jesuits who are now very busie amongst us Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers useful upon all occasions Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of scheams or figures of heaven ready set for every four minuits of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the reign of William the Conqueror to the death of the late King Lingua or the Combat of the Tongue and the five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The Poor mans Physician and Chirurgeon Duodecim Doctor Smith's Practice of Physick The Grammer Warre Poselius Apothegms Faciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions Drexelius School of Patience Helvicus Colloquies The Christian Souldier his combat with the three arch enemies of mankinde the world the flesh and the devil In 24. The New Testament The third part of the Bible FINIS The Causes of the Publick Hatred of the King of Spain and the Spanish Nation CHAP. I. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants and their Religion TO shun the suspition of fancying to write Iliads after Homer I will not now make a large Martyrologie which of it self were enough to fix a Title to this Chapter nor will I compile Histories of the Belgick or Low-Country War especially of that which was waged by the Duke of Alva for those are both sufficiently known and there is store of them to be had This I shall only say and this for their sakes who think the Spaniards will prove milder to them because they imagine to themselves that they are
set forth by the Noblemen of the Low Countreys likewise Speculum Hispan Tyran In which book the Reader will find such things as will amaze him principally pag. 35 36 37. at Brussels Mounts in Hennault upon the Moze Lile Tornay Roterdam Mechlin Zutphan Nard Harlem Antwerp the sacking whereof exceeded all the rest above 8000 Citizens and Souldiers being massacred in it besides that they extorted and took from the Inhabitants above forty Tuns of gold excluding Jewels and other things of price c. For these and other causes I shall not weary my own hands with writing nor the Readers eyes with reading of these things but will make a leap over rhe sea into Catalonia That excellent book of Thomas Camponella a Spanish Fryer must not be left out of this Catalogue wherein be shews above thirty wayes for the King of Spain to subjugate the Low Countreys as first by sowing the seeds of discord amongst the Inhabitants Secondly by throwing them out of their Countrey to which he adds this advantage that the King should fly to Jasons Arts and procure some Medaea that is some promiscuous marriages CHAP. X. The Praevarications and Excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principal of Catalonia THe States and Noblemen chiefly the Magistrates of Barcelona Anno 1640. publisht a Book called A Catholick Complaint to King Philip wherein first they demonstrated their fidelity and constancy in his service freenesse zeal submission and other deserts towards him whereby they justly deserved and ought to be more gently and better used by the Spaniards for as they write chap. 7. whilst the war lasted between him and the King of France in the County of Rossillion Anno 1640. they maintained 30000 men for seven moneths together Gathered and presented him an infinite sum of money at several times for his necessary uses without order insomuch that scarce any Province hath deserved more better But what thanks received they Those which in their Preface or Epistle to the King they complain of to wit that they had been bitterly treated by his Souldiers who as they write c. 4. had extorted a great deal of money from the Husbandmen that they had committed various sacrileges in Monasteries Churches and other sacred places plundred Churches and fired them broken Fonts burnt consecrated Hosts violated the Images of Christ and the Virgin In the seventh chapter they shew how the favour which they had merited was bestowed upon the Spaniards for that they bad been traduced by them to the King to have run out of the field and afterwards they accuse the Spaniards of envy and falshood and purge themselves to the King of the crimes objected against them saying that the Spaniards make other mens merits and honour their own by all means extenuate obliterate and forget the praises of others They recount the various Arts of the Spaniards adding that since the year 1620 the Spaniards had done nothing in Catalonia but vex torture and suppress the Catalonians in manifold manners infringed their ancient priviledges and immunities and took them quite from them traduced and accused them to the King sowed differences and discords betweeen the King and the States of the kingdome utterly averting his Majesties heart from them imposed unnecessary charges upon the King and kingdom exhausted the Countrey with exactions and expeditions and brought it even to beggery Adding moreover that now they were worse and more cruelly used by their Associates and Auxiliaries the Spaniards then they formerly were by their profest and open enemies the Mores that the Count of Fonteclaro squeezed a great sum of money out of the Company of Merchants violated their wives and daughters kild their husbands and others plundered their goods and estates fired their villages many whereof they express by their names That Leonardo Mala the kings Captain seized upon the Gates of Villa Franca extorted money from the inhabitants for going in and out and that adulteries rapes murthers plunders house-breakings and firings were but sport and pleasure to the Spaniards That Baron Lisaga took away their goods and sold them by out-cry fired their houses and committed an infinity of other tyrannicall facts and insolencies against the Catalonians And although they complained of these excesses to the kings Officers and Ministers they had effected nothing but to be sent back with scorn which irritated the Souldiers to commit still greater outrages They complain likewise that the kings Officers were still desirous of warres and to prolong them yea and to sow warres out of warres thereby to gain time and opportunity to vex and burthen the people and enrich themselves and theirs as finding that it was better to be rich Souldiers in war then poor and contemptible Fellows in peace chap. 8. They often complain that one and he no rich Countreyman neither was forced to quarter and maintain above a dozen Souldiers which was enough to devour them to the very bones and when there was no more left to give them that they pluckt them by the Beards drag'd them about the floor beat them and crippled them with their swords abusing them moreover with most bitter scoffs saying Go now and sell thy wife and children and give us meat and drink They besieged the Castle of Antonio de Fulvia a man of prime Nobility and beloved by all for his integrity of life burnt the gates pillaged the Countrey peoples goods brought thither to be secured and most cruelly massacred the said Antonio with some others in the very Church with a sacred Image in his hand and left him naked on the ground Cap. 10. They relate how in a certain village called Gava the Spaniards proceeded by killing ravishing of wives in the presence of their husbands hanging men by the arms to extort their money from them beating of a Priest in the Church saying Though it were the Apostle Paul himself and had the Sacrament of the Altar in his hands he should not be better used And in another place they stole all the ornaments out of the Church ravisht young women and murthered their parents who came to help them and all this without punishment nay they say that the Spanish Officers and Ministers severely forbad the Lawyers to undertake the cause or defence of the Catalonians Their petitions were derided and the Inhabitants prohibited under pain of death to complain of the injuries done them so that the Spaniards do often more cruelly and hainously handle their Friends and Associateâ— then open Enemies In Catalonia there is nothing seen or heard but women bewailing the murtherings of their husbands and husbands the ravishing of their wives and abusing of their marriage beds old men complaining of the violating of their daughters and the daughters lamenting the losse of their chastity Orphans howling for the violent death of their parents both Citizens and Countrey-men invocating the help of Heaven in these calamities c. Chap. 12. They recount how the Citie of Perpinian was vext besieged
appear by the States answer to Peck 8. It is undoubted that the Spaniards treat peace to no other end then to collect their forces and work their designes by any means they can to scrue into the secrets of their adversaries to corrupt some and draw them to their party and to sow the seed of discord amongst others which hath been tried by France Flanders and Savoy and may be seen in various discourses of de jure Publico and what is more common then Lipsius his Consultatio Epistolica 9. All endeavour must be used saith Thomas Campanella Discursu de Monar Hisp c. 23. to breed perpetual discord between the Marquess of Brandenburgh the Landgrave of Hassia and the Duke of Saxony between the Duke of Brunswick and the Palatine of the Rhyne between the Duke of Wirtenbergh and the lower States of Germany c. CHAP. XXIV The Briberies and Pecuniary corruptions of the Spaniards THe Kings of Spain have learned to fight as well with silver and golden pikes as their Souldiers with iron ones yea and perhaps they effect ten times more with those then these and therefore they spare no Bribes how great soever to the Councellors and Secretaries of Kings and Princes to render them obnoxious to themselves or to tempt and seduce the Governors of Towns and Castles c. 1. Nicolas Hosta Villaroy's Secretary had a yearly pention of MCC crowns to reveal his Masters secrets to the Spaniards who when the business was discovered endeavouring to save himself by flight was drowned and his body proceeded against according to Law Thuan. lib. 132. 2. Charles Howard Earl of Nottingham being Embassador in Spain Anno 1605. had ptesents made him by that king which were said to be worth above XXXM pounds besides the presents sent to his wife his sons and son in law yea and Willongs Norrice and others of his train were also richly presented finally a pension of XIIM pounds as it is reported promised the said Embassador Thuan. lib. 133. 3. The Spaniards offered the Counsellors of Frederick Elector of Saxony a great sum of money at the election of Charles the fifth and they asking their foresaid Master whether they should take it or no he answered Yes you may take it but know withall that afterwards you must be no more any Counsellors of mine Znickgrefius Apothegmate 4. When Anno 1607. The consultation of Truce began between the Archduke and the States of Holland Fryar Ney forthwith began to tempt some men with money whereof Barnefeldt publickly complained Thuan. lib. 138. 5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. sayes That the King of Spain uses all means possible to corrupt the Ministers of Princes with gifts and bribes yea and sometimes also with menaces and by their means to get their Masters into his power and under colour of Protection to circumvent them and hurry them up and down at his pleasure 6. I forbear to relate the corruptions of the Governours of Towns and Castles c. For the trecherous conditions of Gertrudenbergh Geldres Zutphan Doesburgh c. are sufficiently known 7. The Spaniards got the lower Palatinate rather by money then force of Arms for as one said Hispanicos duplones facere duplices nebulones The Spanish Dublons make double Knaves And Thomas Campanella cap. 26. saith That the Spanish Gold hath a great strength CHAP. XXV That the Spaniards are murtherers DOlus an virtus quis in hoste requirat This was anciently a Symbol of the Heathens but it is now the fifth Gospel of our Spaniards We have already spoken of other juggles and frauds but there is yet one trick more whereby when they cannot do their businesse by open warres they endeavour to destroy Kings and Princes by secret deceitfull and murtherous plots Nor need wee fetch examples from the Indies as having plenty of them in Kingdoms and States neer at hand for who is so great a stranger to the proceedings in France in our times but that he knows that the Spaniards incited Peter Auden a Carthusian Monk to kill Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 118. sub finem And of their practises against the Queen of England I have spoken sufficiently before 2. The Prince of Orange was no less then six times attempted to be murthered by the Spanish Emissaries sicariss as 1. Au. 1589. by John Jaurege Thuan. l. 75. 2. by Nicolas Salcedo c. who also endeavoured to kill Allenson Duke of Brabant 3. by Peter du Vignon 4. by Balthazar Gerardi who also often sought to murther Prince William and at last effected it upon the sixth of July 1584. Thuan. lib. 79. Spec. Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 84. 3. In the same manner was Prince Maurice of Orange exposed to the danger of his life by men corrupted by the Spaniards with money to that end who voluntarily confest it and were punished according to their deserts amongst whom was Michael Renichove 1594. 2. Peter du Four 3. Peter Panne and others of whom Thuan and Metteran 4. I will omit to speak of persons of meaner quality who have perisht by the Spanish treachery since it appears both by History and experience that nothing is more treacherous and more practicall in this Art then the Spanish Nation 5. A certain Spaniard having murthered two women and being condemned to die for it the Governor of Gant a Spaniard said That it was not fit that so honorable a person then employed in the Kings service for he was a common Souldier should be put to death for killing of a paltry woman or two Met. lib. 27. 1606. 6. Indeed there is nothing more frequent with the Spaniards then to poyson and destroy privatly such as they cannot do openly according to the Flemish Proverb Yemandt een Spaensche Vijgh koocken To dress any one a Spanish Figg CHAP. XXVI The Cruelty and promiscuous tyranny of the Spaniards ALthough it be evident enough by what I have already related that there is nothing more cruell nor more barbarously tyrannicall then the Spaniards yet will it be convenient for the confirmation of the argument of this chapter to alledge some examples thereof here that so I may seem not to neglect the Readers satisfaction and from whence can I more properly take my rise then from the Low-Countreys For how many of the prime Nobility did the Duke of Alva destroy partly by the hand of the Executioner and partly by the warres c. He condemned them promiscuously both Gentle and Simple to nasty Jayls caused many of them to be drag'd to death unheard and unconvicted confiscated their Estates The Trees through all Holland he made frequently serve for Gallows where men were hanged and their wives put to Spaniards against their wills yea and some women were put to death because by disguise or otherwise they helpt to save their husbands At Vtrick he hanged a man for suffering his son who was banished to lodge one night in his house and another for giving a poor
included in the Pacification of Religion they who are commonly called by the envious name of Calvinists being excluded then to the Reformats as they term them that they are superlatively mistaken For whosoever they be that differ in opinion from the Spaniards whether in matter of Religion or in order to their long-dream'd of Monarchy are all alike to them 1. The cruelty which the Duke of Alva exercised upon them of the Reformed Religion in the Low-Countries is notorious enough yea and himself a little before his end boasted that by his command above eighteen thousand persons passed through the hands of the Executioner with different sorts of punishments for Religions sake 2. Philip the second freely and boldly answered the Emperor Maximilian his Cousin-German by the Fathers-side who having sent his Brother Charles into Spain exhorted him to moderation in the business of Religion That he had rather lose all his Provinces then seem to grant or favour any thing which might be prejudicial to the Catholick Religion Thuan. lib. 133. 3. The Spaniards in the Pacification of Colein 1580. were wont to say That the Protestants would be well served if they were stript of all their goods and forced to go seek new Countries like Jews Egyptians and Nubians who wander up and down like Rogues and Vagabonds without any place of abode 4. The Citizens of Aquensis had been much more mildely dealt with in the year 1605 had it not been for the importunate flatteries of King Philips Embassadors as Thuan. testifyes lib. 133. 5. The Spaniards once took the French in the Isle of Florida and hanged them all with this title This I do not as to French but as to Lutherans Camer horis subcessivis c. 98. 6. In the year 1577. when by the Emperors demand there was a Conference appointed between the Kings Ministers and the States of Holland the said Ministers urged only this That the liberty of any other Religion whatsoever might be excluded out of the Low-Countries and the Catholick only admitted which was the cause of dissolving the Conference re infectâ 7. Ought the Count of Bructerons calamity to be silenced whose Castle the Admiral unjustly and violently seized upon took his person prisoner ejected his wife and children plundred his goods killed the Countrymen whom he found there yea and wickedly murthered the very Count himself together with his Kinsman and a Preacher contrary to his word which he had given them and this for no other colour but out of hatred to the Reformed Religion which he most constantly profest and from which he would not be removed by any menaces whatsoever See Speculum Arragonicum as also Speculum Tragicum 8. Philip King of Spain in the year 1590. the 8. of March made a Proclamation at Madrid wherein he declared that after France was cleared he would make War upon all such Provinces as were infected with any Sectarian Contagion Ancellus apud Thuan. lib. 118. in oratione ad Principes Germaniae 1570. where the words of the Proclamation are also recited 9. If there were no other example to be found of the Spanish hatred against the Gospel and Gospellers that most cruel Fact of Alphonso Dias a Spaniard would suffice The example of Dias who caused his brother Juan Dias to be killed by his own Executioner because he embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel in the year 1546. and however the Law were prosecuted against the said Fratricide he yet obtained his Pardon by the intervention of the Emperours Letters 10. The King of Spain by his Duke of Parma urged the Senate of Aquensis to banish them of the Reformed Religion out of the City as Peter Beck a Canon of that City confesses cap. 13. Comment sui de urbe Aquensi 11. Cardinal Granvellanus was often wont to boast that he would reduce the Catholick Religion in all places though a hundred thousand men were to be burnt in an hour and that he would begin with Saxony and Orange See Gaspar Grevinus in sua Institutione p. 192. 12. The Emperour Maximilian the second most faithfully advised and intreated the King of Spain to treat the Flemmings more gently in matter of Religion but he could obtain nothing as himself writes in a certain Letter of his to Lazarus Swendius 1579. the 22. of February from Vienna This Letter is to be read lib. 16. Apoph Baudartii See also Speculum tyrannidis Hispanicae in Belgio per totum 13. And who ever either saw or heard of a greater fact of barbarous tyrannie and hatred against Religion then that which by the instinct of some ill Instruments the Archduke Albert committed in a certain Maid called Anne Vandenhoven at Brussels whom he caused to be set quick in earth and smothered Martyrologium Meteranus Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 91 93. 14. It may also be a most sufficient testimony of the hatred of the Spaniards against the Protestants and Lutherans and chiefly the later that when they have a mind to dishonour any one very much or call him by any injurious name they call him Vellaco Lutherano i. e. Lutheran Knave so that even by this reproach they who are willing and glad to be stiled Lutherans may be sufficiently taught what they are to hope for from the Spaniards when the Protestants are supprest who are as much oppugned by others as by the Papists to wit that they shall be served with the same sawce 15. When after the Smalcaldick war and the taking of John Frederick Elector of Saxony Wittenberg was yielded to Charles the fifth the Spaniards petitioned the said Charles to give them leave to dig up the dead body of Luther and burn it but the Emperor refused it saying Let him rest for if he hath done ill God will revenge it I am Emperor of the living and not of the dead He further added Let him alone I desire to see him no more for I saw him enough at Worms Zingrefius p. 2. Apoph p. 11. 16. Charles the fifth presently after the Dyet of Auxburgh ought to have surprized and opprest the Hereticks Luther by Art under some other pretext See Thomas Campanella a Spanish Fryar Discursu de Monarchia Hisp c. 16. 17. In the first place it was an extream error to let Luther go off alive from the Dyets of Wormes and Auxburgh And then it was indeed well done of Charles the fifth I say to keep his word with Luther whilest he was at the Dyet but afterwards in his going home he should have surprized him and after having already supprest the Protestant Princes have utterly extinguisht them The same Campanella c. 27. 18. That Peace was to be granted for a time and sometimes the Hereticks says Campanella were to be flattered with magnificent banquets c. 27. And besides it was an error in Charles the fifth says the same Campanella that he did not suppress the Countreys of the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh and of the Landgrave of Hassia c. by thrusting
with that pernitious faction who fancied to be called Zelots for having seduced the hearts of the common people the Towns and Cities throughout the whole kingdom revolted from their lawfull King and Magistrate and letting the Spaniards into the kingdome laid all France open to forraigne pernitious enemies to the French name insomuch as that a certain learned man not unpleasantly said That though the Prodigie which appeared in Nero's time when in the Agro Marruccino the whole Olivet of Vectius Mercellus was carried over the high way and plowed lands instantly brought in its stead were very great yet the French were a greater miracle to us in our dayes namely to see Spain come into France and Frenchmen to behold Spaniards strutting in the middle of Paris Thua Lib. 90. 2. That King Philip of Spain entred into league with the Guisians to the disadvantage of the kingdom of France may be read as well elswhere as in Thuan lib. 81. where the conditions of the league are also exprest The crown of France is desired for Isabel 3. An 1593. the Duke of Feria Embassador to the King of Spain most highly extol'd Clara Eugenia Isabella the Spanish Infanta in an Assembly of the Noble men in France desiring at last that in the choyce of a King though Henry the fourth were already King the said Infanta might be remembred Thuan. lib. 106. which was manfully opposed by c. The Petition for Isabel iterated by the Spaniards 4. The same petition was likewise afterwards renewed with the States and most vehemently urged by John Baptist Taxis and Inigo Mendoza Idem Thuan. lib. 16. But these men were refuted by some who posted up papers in certain places wherein amongst other things were found these If the French should do this they would not onely be condemned of high treason for betraying their Countrey to their enemy and nominatively the Spaniard but also shew themselves meer mad-men by trusting the security of their Religion with that faithless Nation the greatest part of them being Marianists and such as held it a common crime not to know God and render their wives children and whatsoever is dear and good to them to the lust and cruelty of those white Mores whose ways were not to be endured even by their own subjects to be greedily and cruelly dealt with and thereby stir up the most just hatred revenge and armes of the neighbouring people and Princes against themselves to whom the Spanish ambition is with good reason both extreamly suspect and hateful in regard they seek nothing else but that under pretence of Religion they may every where usurp a tyrannicall Rule thereby to deceive the simple and suffer the wicked to transgress with impunity c. 5. The Spaniards observing that this business of the Infanta would not succeed The crown of France desired for Ernestus propound Ernestus to whom Isabella was to be married to the Confederates but finding a rub also there they proposed The D. of Lorrain is propounded to the French for their king by the Spaniards that the Noble men would choose some one of the Princes of France as aiming at the Duke of Lorrain to whom Isabel was afterwards to marry But at length they nominated the Duke of Guize promising to give him the Infanta to wife and asking Low Britany for her Joynture They prescribed also other insolent conditions to the French as if forsooth they had been sent into the full possession of France and had treated with conquered people which yet was understood by Meduan and Bassompierre and therefore they rejected their propositions See Thuan lib. 106. lib. 107. 7. The Spaniards under the pretext of succouring their Allyes and Confederates seaze upon some Towns vvhereof the Citizens of Lyons being sensible 1594 secured themselves betimes and agreed with Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 108. A plot against the life of the King of France framed by the Spaniards The attempts against Henry 4. 8. Fontano and Steven Ibarra Ministers of the King of Spains suborned Emanuel Andrada with huge promises to poyson the King of France with a Nose-gay Thuan. lib. 109. 9. The high endeavours of the Spaniards to alienate the Pope from Henry the fourth are described by Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Philip the second at first by privat plots but afterwards by open force brake into France and fisht as it vvere vvith a golden hook for the ill affected persons Thuan. lib. 110. 11. Henry the fourth complains grievously of the Noblemen of France upon the discovery of the new plot Anno 1604. That the Spaniard would want no matter for his crimes for that he could not reduce his mind from the vice it got on the other side of the Pyreneans nor cease to draw his subjects to wicked actions c. Which letter is exhibited by Matthaeo in Historia Franciae lib. 7. 12. By vvhat means the Spaniards attempted to intercept Masseilles Anno 1596 and how Menargus vvas punisht for it is taught by Matthaeus lib. 1. tom 3. Hist Fran. Thuan. lib. 116. 13. The King of Spains various prevarications against France are deduced by Henry 4. in denunciatione belli Provinciis Philippi Thuan. lib. 3. 14. The Spaniards incited Peter Owen a Carthusian Monk to murther Henry the fourth but the King pardoned him notvvithstanding he vvere condemned Thuan sub finem lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards however there were peace on both sides complotted vvith Biron Anno 1610. by Fontano Parario Thuan lib. 125. 16 What was their design Anno 1602. when it was agreed between the King of Spain and Biron to seize upon King Henry when he was a hunting and send him into Spain Thuan. lib. 128. 17. Fontano Anno 1600 at which time there was peace between France Spain had forty thousand men and forty pieces of Ordnance ready wherewith he intended to invade France because King Henry was then busie with the war of Savoy Thuan. lib. 128. 18. What pernicious counsels Taxis and Sunica King Philips Embassadors took in France against the kingdom of France is manifest out of the confession of Balsack Count of Eutrage Thuan. lib. 134. As also out of another with other Noblemen at the same time as out of another with Merargus Governor of Marseilles where King Henries speech is likewise related wherein he both freely and largely upbraids Sunica King Philips Embassador with the Spaniards plots Thuan lib. 134. 20. Santa Cruz King Philips General after his victory against the French neer the Tercera Island condemned and executed 28 Noblemen about 50 Gentlemen and 300 common men Thua lib. 75. 21. In like manner Valemundo General of the Spanish Army in Florida perfidiously broke his word with Ribald and Otigni and most cruelly murthered above 600 French men after Quarter given and caused their eyes to be pluckt out after they were dead and to be stuck upon the points of their pikes as Thuan amply describes lib. 41 Anno 1568. 22. The Spaniards
and fifty two Fire-balls thrown into it and five hundred sixty four houses consumed with fire and 1115. pillaged not so much as the very Churches spared and the Monastery of the Carmelites together with other sacred places plundered by the Spaniards who took above eight thousand Ducats in despight of the intercession of the Bishop and the Religious The Inhabitants of Perpinian disarmed no body permitted to go out of the Town and the Townsmen imprisoned The complaints which were made hereof to the Spaniards were either not accepted or plainly rejected or else put off till other times Many of the prime Citizen were taken and cast in prison without cause and there retained for some moneths before they could know why no justice administred the rents of the Bishop and Clergy of Barcellona taken away all Jurisdiction both Temporal and Spiritual transferred upon the Spaniards c. They also complain of the Spanish Kings ingratitude concluding thereby that they were forced to take arms against their wills c. But I will stay here and remit my Reader to their Catholick complaint out of which I have taken this CHAP. XI The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Arragon VVHat I have written elswhere that the Spaniards endeavour to diminish the ancient liberties and immunities of other Kingdomes and Provinces thereby to give the inhabitants an occasion to rebell and themselves a fair pretence to chastise them as they call it and to invade depress and plunder others and do all things according to their lust is testified by the process and suit of Antonio Perez which I wil briefly relate here Philip the second resolved for some suspitions to destroy Escovedo Secretary to Don Juan de Austria his brother and that by some clancular Art not to offend his said brother to whom Escovedo was chief Favorite which thing he brought to passe by Antonio Perez his own Secretary and aemulator of Escovedo But Escovedo's friends and kindred petitioned the King that this murther might be revenged upon the murtherers employed by Antonio Perez The King who had incited Perez to this fact and promised him protection and safety under his hand craftily after a thousand tergiversations and as many sharp instances of the Escovedo's at last imprisoned Perez to satisfie them and by this means secure his life whom they plotted to destroy After a long imprisonment wherein Perez was sometimes proclaimed free and then instantly clapt up again and at length also rackt the Letters wherein the King had commanded him to do this act were the greatest part of them extorted from his wife by the fraud of her Confessor or Ghostly Father and she together with her children also taken and all their goods sold by an out cry so that poor Perez had nothing left him but his life and even that in imminent danger too But he made his escape to Saragosa in Arragon whither the Kings Officers pursuing him took him out of Sanctuary and threw him in Jayl from whence he was freed and taken again and delivered to the Kings Governor The Saragosians angry hereat as a thing against their priviledges making a concourse of the people forced him out of that Inquisition and kild some of the Kings Officers in the tumult and so Perez being freed absolved by a publick sentence of Justice evaded After he had been three years in this misery sometimes a prisoner and sometimes a freeman sometimes condemned and sometimes absolved the king by the instigation of the Spaniards to revenge this injury done them by the Saragosians sent an Army into Arragon under the conduct of Antonia Vergas which that State by vigor of their priviledges opposed But the king wrote kind Letters to such of them as whom afterwards by the dissembling of Vergas he chiefly punishâ— for as soon as Vergas was admitted he first laid hold of them to whom the king had written so kindly and afterwards of the rest of the principall Officers of the kingdom restoring them who had formerly been thrown out of their places by the Deputies as traytors to their Countrey and subverters of the Lawes He confiscated the estates of most of them he also seized upon the Lord chief Justice of Arragon whose name was Juan de Nuzza and twenty hours after admitting of no excuse or defence caused him to be beheaded and his estate to be confiscated The Citizens were deprived of their priviledges so that that murther of Escevedo proved highly damageable to Perez destructive to the kingdome of Arragon reproachfull to the King dishonorable to the Spaniards and scandalous to the whole world Ex relatione Historiae de Perezzio The Catholick Kings Governor in Arragon sent once for the Advocate Misero Sarces who conceiving that the Governour wanted his advice came speedily to him and as soon as he came the Governour caused him to be strangled without any lawfull proceeding at all Ex eadem relatione Perez whilst he was in prison was fain to live upon almes amongst the kings Ministers in Arragon his Majesties Officers having taken away all his goods yea and puld off his very childâ—ens shirts Ibidem The Spaniards also most injuriously treated the Religious because out of compassion they had undertaken to protect and mediate for Perez as seizing upon them and plundering them and casting them in prison insomuch as a certain Canon died of grief Ibid. In which relation many things are described of the attempts of the Spaniards against that kingdom and their priviledges CHAP. XII The Praevarications against the kingdom of Naples IN the description of the kingdome of Naples which is in Thesauro Politico apotelesmate 62. the Author sayes thus 1. That the Spaniards have extenuated this Body i. e. Naples monstrously and yet they hold it with such suspition that not content to have duld the heart of it and broken all its members they labour still by all means to hinder it from gathering strength lest it should afterwards abhor physick and with great losse of reputation and disadvantage extrude the Physitian 2. King Ferdinand of Spain after the death of Queen Joan howbeit she by her Will transferred the kingdome of Naples upon Rene brother to the Duke of Anjou took it and made himself free Lord thereof pretending that it was reverted to the Church c. 3. The Spaniards alwayes take a course to have the Popes favourable to them in the cause of the kingdome of Naples and to lessen and depress all such as maintain the report of any other power in the said kingdom 4. The Spaniards somtimes grant the Neapolitan Noblemen some Offices especially in the Court but publick administrations to none or very seldome and with great limitations 5. Whilst the King of Spain committed the government of all things in the kingdom of Naples to the Spaniards and suffered no complaints to be made of his Ministers the insolencie and licentiousness of the said Spaniards sweld so big that abusing the kings design they tyannically satiated their
Extraordinary Revenews of the Dutchy of Milan and for that cause a proclamation was made by the said Fontano's authority in King Philips name which was smartly answered and opposed by the Family of the Malaspines and had almost given an Alarm amongst the said Princes had not most of the Embassadorâ— in King Philips Court interceded with him and at length obtained that the prosecution of the businesse might be protracted and suffered to vanish Thuan lib. 134. 5. Anno 1606. there arose a controversie between Pope Paul the fifth and the State of Venice about certain Priviledges vvhich when it was almost brought to a friendly composition by the endeavour of Henry the fourth of France the Spanish faction the chief vvhereof were Cardinall Pompeio Arrigovio Paulo Sfondrato and Ferdinando Pacero Duke of Ascalonia by the pravalency of King Philips Embassador with the Pope the businesse was not onely frustrated but also brought to open war and the Pope excommunicated the Venetians and Philip forthwith by lettters artificiously pen'd offered his service to the Pope to that end Fontano listed Souldiers apace and yet nevertheless he sent Francisco de Castro as Extraordinary to Venice with intention that if the matter inclined to a peace which he having kindled the war at first began already to suspect he might praecept the honor of the pacification from the King of France or at least have a great share in it by his intervention But the common report in the Court of Rome was that Philip according to the Rule of his Ancestors was glad to hear of such Disputes amongst other Princes concerning the Popes Supremacy as in relation to Civil Government yea and to have them agitated up and down in Spain it self by connivencie as conceiving them not to belong to him at all he being very potent and using to quash the Popes attempts in all his dominions with a word well knowing that his Holinesse dares not so much as hiss against him which was sufficiently demonstrated afterwards in the businesse of Sicily yea and the Spaniards boyling with the heat of ambition convert such wars and feditions as spring from thence to their own privat advantage as lying in ambush in the mean while to see if any of the weaker Princes be prescribed that so they have an occasion to invade their Dominions as it hapned in the seizure of the kingdom of Navarre even in our parents dayes Thuan. lib. 137. 7. When Ferdinand King of Spain and Arragon Anno 1501. attempted the Kingdom of Naples and took the Citie of Tarento with Ferdinand son to Frederick King of Naples in it he swore to him by Gonsalvo before the Altar that he would leave him the liberty of a King but yet he slighted his oath sent him prisoner into Spain and reserved the kingdom for himself 8. By the exhortation of Ferdinand called the Catholick Henry the eighth King of England sent 6000 English into Spain to joyn with the Spaniards in the invasion of the Dutchy of Chira but Ferdinand who had a quite other designe sent them against John Albert King of Navarre by the right of Catherine de la Fosse who being wholly unprovided for Ferdinand carried his business with high dissimulation towards him fled into France and so Ferdinand seized the kingdom of Navarre without any cost or pains Speculum Tragicum Anno 1612. 9. It is no newes for the Spaniards to sow sedition in divers kingdoms at one and the same time as they did Anno 158â— in France and England Thuan. lib. 179. 10. Anno 1581. The Spaniards sowed discord amongst the Knights of Maltha by setting Matuirno Scuto Romaegassio against John Bishop of Casserio Avernio chief of that Order and casting him in prison from whence he was cited to Rome to his triall whither he came and stoutly acquitted himself howbeit he dyed during his abode there Thuan. lib. 74. 12. The Spaniards raised seditions in Scotland and sollicited with vain promises some Noblemen to a revolt some of whom were beheaded for it The States to the Letters of Ernestus Anno 1594. Thuan. lib. 109. 13. Antonio de Laeva a Spaniard and Governor of Lumbardy for Charles the fifth being besieged at Milan thought fit to spare neither things Humane nor Divine for the maintenance of his own honor and Caesars dignity and in stead of pay granted every Citie and every Citizen thereof to be most inhumanly plundred by the Souldiers that by the ejection of the Duke of Milan Sforsa might enjoy the command of so great a Principate Paulus Jovius lib. 6. Elogiorum 14. Hugo de Moncada governed Sicily after such a fashion that he left many monuments of avarice and cruelty behind him for he put many Sicilian Gentlemen to death and amongst the rest the Lord of Camerata for that he lived somewhat seditiously according to the ancient loosness of that Nation Paul Jov. lib. 6. Elog. 15. How cruelly did they use the Hussites in Bohemia as beating them dragging them cutting children in two and throwing them to their mothers saying Jam habes sub utraque Now thou hast it under both alluding to the ceremony of the Hussites who took the Sacrament under both species 16. Thomas Campanella in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy Chap. 26. faith That the King of Spain must take care that none but a Catholick king be elected to the Crown of Poland And therefore wise noble Embassadors must be sent to Câ—achoven to give weight and authority to the Spanish union amongst the Electors and prevail to have one of the King of Spains younger sons chosen King of Poland And the people of Scandinaven and Dantzick must also be moved to set forth a Fleet to sea against the English c. CHAP. XV. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and Rule IF that old saying Semper imperare superiorem esse aliis Alwayes to command and be superior to others be innate to any Nation it is certainly so more to the Spaniards then to any other since all their actions cogitations and consultations tend to that end and therefore they may most clearly consent and say with Caesar Si violandum est jus regnandi causa violandum If right must be wrong'd it must be wrong'd for Powers sake For this reason they are not afraid by publick writings to admonish and exhort their king yea and to shew him the wayes and means how he may arrive to the universall Monarchy amongst whom Thomas Campanella is the Ring-leader Nor did Charles the fifth seem to have laid slight foundations for this Monarchy when besides those kingdoms which he possest by right of succession in the West and elsewere he was also made Emperour of the Romans to which were yet added other titles afterwards and it hath been hitherto the onely business of the Spaniards to be alwayes in warres that so they may be ready upon all occasions to produce that Monarchy of the whole Christian world which they have long since
Spaniards besieged Leyden they said That the starres in the Firmament would be pulled down with ones hand before that Citie would be freed from the siege Olerus in Lauro Nassovica pag. 30. 4. The pride of the Spaniards is such that if they see themselves reduced to streights they will not first ask conditions of peace but seek it by some second or third hand as they did anno 1597. when they suborned the Emperour and he the king of Denmark to move the Princes to a pacification Thuan. lib. 119. 7. A certain arrogant and proud Spanish Count asked a certain Gentleman coming out of the Court what was said of him in Court The other answered Nor bad nor good The Count being angry cudgel'd him and presently after gave him fifty Ducats saying Go thy wayes now to the Court and tell what I have done to thee to wit both bad and good Florista Oratione de gloria The Duke of Alva used to say That he would bring the Low Countrey people to obedience in despight of Heaven and Earth and also that the Sun and Moon should lose their light before hâ— would remit or take off the tax of the tenth penny Metteran And Juan de Vergas that bloody President of the Councell was also wont to say Vergas habet virgas Vergas has Rods. 9. When the Professors of Lovain complained to him for having taken Prince Philip of Orange out of the University and violated the priviledges of the said University he answered Non curamus vestros privilegios Such as himself vvas such was his Latin 10. That Navy vvhich vvas sent against England 1588. the Spaniards termed Invincible and compose these verses upon it alluding to the Queen of England Tu quae Romanas voluisti spernere leges Hispano disces subdere colla jugo Thou who the Roman Lawes scornd'st to obey Shalt learn to bow thy neck to Spanish sway But hese words were indeed but Wind and Smoke 11. The Duke of Alva caused a most magnificent Trophie of Brasse to be set up at Antwerp vvith various Elegies of his own exploits as Thuan describes it lib. 44. Anno 1569. upon vvhich the Duke of Areschots jest may be seen beneath cap. 33. Apotheg 12. The Spaniards after they had so miserably used the Indians were wont to brag that God had given them those victories because they made so just a war against Barbarians and Infidels Bartholomaeus de Casa CHAP. XVII The perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises NO wonder that this vice is common to the Spaniards with the Africans For in regard that they are for the most part their successors they seem to be also heirs of their vices amongst which perfidie was not the least and therefore I have thought fit to shew some examples thereof that so this Chapter may have credit True it is that King Philip sometimes promised the United Provinces pardon for what was past and made proclamation therof but the States being taught by the examples of others were not so credulous as for that reason to lay down Arms or consent to a wily fallacious pacification For so an 1576. Don Juan de Austria feigning conditions of peace vvith the States vvas convicted of fraud by that that amongst the Letters of Hieronymo Rhoda there was found one That he should first court his Countrey-men with fair words and by other means and assistance reduce Holland and Zealand and then he should punish the rebels according to their merit mean while that he should carry himself warily and conceal his design with exquisite Art Thuan. lib. 62. 1. How true and faithfull the Spaniards be to their Associates the case and end of Gomeron may shew whom Fontano cunningly enticed to Brussels cast him his two brothers in prison afterwards beheaded him in the sight of Hanâ—e which Orvilliers would not yeeld up to him without any respect to the Noblenesse of his Family or that he served the Henoticks who yet were most zealous to the Spaniards c. See Thuan. lib. 112. Anno 1595. Nor did they deal much more faithfully with Mercuriano chief Captain after Metuanio of the Legists for they endeavoured by all means to alienate the Nobility from him and force him to live as they pleased Thuan. lib. 113. 7. How the Spaniards have performed their promises to such as had done them any kindnesses the example of the Portuguezes shewes Thuan c. 3. lib. 78. 8. Don Juan de Austria Anno 1577 being put in mind of the Contract made and signed by the States said That the States must shew more prudence then to complain if the Kings interest were advanced by the breach of conditions 9. It is the Spanish Maxime That the promises of Princes made to their rebellious subjects are not binding 10. Lewis the 12. King of France said That the perfidie of the Paenes and Carthaginians was anciently much celebrated but that now the Spaniards sufficiently supplied their places 11. Anno 1577. Don Juan de Austria renewd the pacification of Gant with king Philips Provinces and tooke away the Spanish Souldiers but forthwith brought them back again and so made the later worse then the former And vvhen he resolved to cut off the head of Peter Pan of Mecklin and was informed that it was against the Pacification he answered That the pacification only concerned such as were banished and not such as remained in their Countrey A fine interpretation Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 106. 12. Howbeit the Spaniards made a peace with Charles the eighth King of France and many other magnificent promises yet they sent private Letters and Agents to various Princes and chiefly to the Venetians and made war against him not onely by themselves but by others also Comines lib. 5. Bello Neopolitani 13. The Duke of Ossuna the Kings Deputy in the Kingdom of Naples Anno 1617. presumed to maintain 1. That Agreements and Oathes obliged Princes of smaller Countreys to keep them but not his King because forsooth he was the greatest and most potent of the Christian world 2. That all the Kings promises and engagements ought to be accommodated to the resolutions of his Councels and the variations of times 3. That the Kings Ministers were not bound to what the King commanded but to what was advantagious to the King and Kingdom Baudart lib. 38. Anno 1617. CHAP. XVIII The Spaniards Hypocrisie and Dissimulations AS the Spaniards fall short of no nation in the breaking of Promises and Engagements so do they also excell in the Art and skill of Hypocrisie and dissimulation whereof there be many old and modern examples amongst which that great one of Philip the second may be noted who when Anno 1579 he invaded the kingdom of Portugall with his Army and knew well enough notwithstanding what sinister reports went up and down of him not onely in Portugal but even in Italy too finding it fit to indulge Fame a little by a dissimulation very familiar to him as if he
had repented himself of that enterprise would needs have the whole businesse examined by the Rule of Conscience for on the one side he found himself sollicited by the Pope and on the other censured by the opinion of men as if he had violently invaded anothers kingdom having calculated the Title in Law to which the weaker submitted and consequently opprest the liberty of the kingdom which he ambitionated the States therof complaining that their right was thereby taken from them and alledging besides that they were bound by oath not to obey him for the avoiding of which difficulties without difficulty he committed the business to the Dâ—vines an Assembly of Divines to be discust at leasure who forthwith gave him their votes affirming That he ought not to submit the disputation of his right to any body no not so much as to the Pope himself Thuan. lib. 67. 2. When Anno 1614. in the transaction of Xant for the Controversie concerning the Dutchess of Cleve and Gulick the businesse was already Articled and subscribed and the main point remaining was that the Spaniards should draw their Souldiers out of Wezel one of them laught and said Do you think us to be men of so narrow consciences as to suffer our selves to be forced to observe words and subscriptions 4. Bartholomaeus de la Casa in his book of the Tyranny of the Spaniards in the East-Indies saith That they would needs cloak all their cruelties enormities tyrannies rapes and murthers under the pretext of Religion and conversion to the faith reduction to the king of Spains obedience when yet those wretched people knew less of God and Faith then they did before the Spaniards came thither And as for the rest they wre softer then wax and milder then sheep and never rebelled against the king but were most ready to obey the commands even of the coÌ„mon Souldiers And how often they have deceived the West-Indians with Hypocrisie and feigned kindness is demonstrated by the Histories of the Invasions and Seizures of those Countreys and chiefly that of Athanasius juga printed at Amsterdam Anno 1624. CHAP. XIX The Ingratitude of the Spaniards toward such as oblige them NOw as for you Lords and Gentlemen vvho serve the Spaniards you may learn to know what thanks favour you are to expect from them to vvit such as the Countrey-man received from the Fox which he had brought up And you Germans in the first place vvho have been so often pincht in your Ancestors learn once to be wise like the Fish from the hook 1. To begin with Charles the fifth he most dishonorably removed Ferdinando Gonzaga who had highly deserved of him from the government of Milan deprived him of all command and dignity and most ungratefully unmercifully put him to death Which fact is not yet so much imputed to the Emperour as to the envy of the Duke of Alva Thuan. lib. 75. But most memorable is the example of the Counts of Egmund and Horn and chiefly of the former of vvhom Thuan. lib. 41. sayes thus This was the end of Count Egmund when he was 46 years old a man for splendor of birth and military vertue to be compar'd with few of his time and who in the battels of St. Quintin and Graveling the story whereof was attributed to him by the consent of all men had most highly deserved of King Philip and yet there was then no account at all made of so many gallant and happy actions 3. To Egmunds case may justly be added the tragedy of Florentio Momerantio Baron of Montigny vvho being sent as Embassadour from the States into Spain vvas there taken miserably treated for some years and at length put to death without any respect at all to his blood or merits vvhose story is recounted at large by the Author of Speculum Tragicum 4. Fontano Ibarra and the rest of the most powerfull in the Kings Councell out of love to their own Nation and a naturall scorn of others paid the Spanish souldiers when they mutinied without taking any notice of the Italians and other Nations which they resenting very highly that for so many labours and dangers they reaped injury for a reward miseries for comforts punishment for patience and despair for ease began also to mutiny at Areschot Thuan. lib. 109. Thus Francisco de Velasco when he retired from Henry the fourth shut himself and his Spaniards up in the town of Graves and shut the French and the rest who served both Meduanio and him out of the town and sent them wounded as a scorn to the enemies and the peasants howbeit they were more mildly used by Henry the fouth then by their own Commander Thuan. lib. 112. anno 1595. 6. Duke Maurice of Saxony and others although they deserved superlatively well of Charles the fifth yet because they would not receive the An Imperial decree so called Interim by the instigation of his Spanish Councellours he threaned to proscribe them 7. Charles Croy Prince of Cimay and son to the Duke of Areschot Anno 1584. delivered up Bridges to the Spaniards but received but small yea no honour or recompence from them for it Thuan lib. 79. 8. Selly Egmund Campaniac three of the king of Spains Captains were offered by the States to be changed for Lanoy who was taken by the Spaniards with a great president of civility toward a stranger for he was a Frenchman but with a greater testimony of an opinion of his vertue which was the reason as it is believed that king Philip by the perswasion of Cardinall Granvellano would not consent to the freedom of an Officer of so great reputation which did not a little imbitter the Nobility of the Countrey to find themselves daily exposed to danger with little hope of life and none at all of liberty if they chanced to be taken and so Selly and Egmund were shut up in the Castle of Rammekens with a closer and stronger guard where Selly four years after died with grief often exprobrating the Spaniards with ingratitude and lamenting that his own and his brothers merits were so little valued by the king Thuan. lib. 71. anno 1580. 9. The greatest satisfaction for ones merits towards the Spaniards is to expect no recompence thereof but for the most part also disfavour of the king by the instigation of that envious Nation Proceres Cataloniae c. 33. where they add That the Duke of Alcala suffered so many injuries and abuses for his many deserts that he languished with grief and died In like manner the Marquess of Aytona to whom the preservation of Flanders was onely to be ascribed had so many troubles cast upon him that it hastened his death And the Duke of Feria because he ever carried himself so well was accused for having distributed a sum of money to the Souldiers Consalvo de Cordua dyed with meer sorrow when he found his warlick exploits to be so slighted The Duke of Ossuna to whose prudence all the
dâ—spatcht to some Office or employment farre from their Lordships where they may spend more then they get and if the King chance to go on progress he should do well to lodge at their houses thereby to put them to extraordinary charges And he further saith chap. 15. That as soon as the King hath conquered any Nation he must take away the immoveable goods of the people allow them only food and clothing and make them till the earth forcing their sons to be either Souldiers or Husbandmen 11. Nor must this practice of the Spaniards be past over in oblivion namely that they use to call Lords and Earles and such as are richest and most in power and favour with the people in any of their Dominions to the kings Court under any pretext whatsoever as of bearing an Embassie or commanding an Army c. out of hope whereof they are not wont to appeâ—r without great magnificence and spâ—endor and when they have made their appearance the Spaniards pretending sometimes one thing and sometimes another delay and detain them not only one but many years till by expectation they have spent and wasted the greatest part of their estates and are fain to pawn them to others And this practice they chiefly observe in the kingdom of Naples CHAP. XXX The various Apothegmes and Observations concerning the Spaniards A Certain Spaniard called Ferdinando Soto coming into the Isle of Florida said He was the son of God to whom one of the natives answered If your God whose son thou sayst thou art commands you to invade the Dominions Provinces and Estates of others and there to kill slay snatch wrest steal spoyle whore adulterate c. we tell you plainly that we cannot believe in such a God Another Indian speaking with Hieronymo Benzoon said What kind of people are these Christians They take away our bread our hony our sugar our cloathes our wives our daughters our silver our gold and what ever we hold dear They will not work they are cheaters theeves robbers plunderers before they go to Mass they brawle scuffle and hurt one another And when Benzon told him they were not all such he replied I never yet saw a good and honest Spaniard Joan. Petit. in Chron. Holland lib. 6. Martin Luther was wont to say That as the Spaniards write otherwise then they read so they think otherwise then they speak At the siege of Frankendal a certain Captain fell into the hands of the Spaniards who bidding him yeeld himself and they would give him quarter he cryed out aloud I will have no quarter of the Spaniard but quarter in heaven and so after he had received many wounds dyed with his sword in his hand The Spaniards having once petitioned Charles the fifth to remove all the drunken Germans from his Court he at length convocated all the Germans and shewing them the petition of the Spaniards pretended to go along with them which the Spaniards perceiving most earnestly besought him to stay Idem pag. 94. A certain Spanish Captain asked a subject of the Palatin why they so strongly and faithfully adhered to their Prince since he had been the cause of their being so opprest and exhausted in war by strangers The other answered Why should we not love him and stick close to him for we paid not so much to him in a whole year as to you in a moneth Znickgref p. 1. Apotheg p. 336. A certain Gascon called Pyrrhinuncule coming to his Inne and having a Ducklin oyld and garlickt set to Table a Spanish traveller suddenly stept in and casting his eye upon the Ducklin Sir quoth he may a friend be welcom to you What is your name sir said the Gascon the Spaniard strutted and answered Don Alopanzo Ansimarchides Hiberoneus Alorchides Marry out quoth the Gascon Four Spanish Lorsd to one poor little Bird God forbid here is but enough for Pyrrhinuncle alone for small things become small persons Simon Majolus in Canicularibus p. 326. The Spaniards traduced the Germans to Charles the fifth and especially the Souldlers intreating him to make a proclamation to forbid them drunkenness To whom he answered I should effect as much with them by such a Proclamation as I should with you by forbidding you fornicacation adultery and rapacity Hector Vogelman Chancellor of Wirtenbergh being asked by Duke Frederick his Master what rarities he had seen in Spain answered Mountains of pride and vallies of tears and happy is he who believes it without going to see it A Spaniard seeing a Fleming at dinner with a boyld Capon without Limmons cryed out with great vvonder What is a Capon without Limmons The Fleming answered And what are Limmons without a Capon Spinola at the treaty of the Truce between the King of Spain and the States shewed Prince Maurice some golden Apples and Citrons and bragged that they grew twice a year in Spain but the Prince shewed him a Holland Cheese and said This Fruit growes every day with us in Holland Bartholome de la Casa a Spanish Bishop so often cited in this Book lib. de Descrip Tyran Hispan in India Describes the Spaniards with various Epithets and Titles and amongst others he sayes That they are hellish Tyrants plunderers of the Empire that by too much greediness of gold they sold and still sell denyed and still deny Jesus Christ that they are not Christians but Divels Not servants of God or Ministers of their King but Traytors Destroyers Robbers and Overthrowers of the Lawes and Ordinances of their King Villains fell Tygers devouring Wolves fierce Lyons pestilent men more mischievous then any plague from heaven voracious Dragons wild Beasts Butchers Hangmen c. The Book intituled Speculum Indiae occident printed at Amsterdam in Lowe Dutch sayes thus A Spaniard is like the Divel the more good a man does him the more will he plague him but such as value him not and care not for him he lets alone The Nobility of the Kingdome of Maguara being advised by the Spaniards to render themselves to the obedience of the king of Spain and embrace the Christian Religion said amongst themselves That they could not perceive that they should receive a better Religion then they should forsake in regard say they that we see no more good nor righteousness in their actions then in our own and our faith does us no hurt as long as our Gods defend our religion and are favourably inclined thereto But their religion brings us much mischief and unsafety and therefore neither can their Gods be good nor can the Christians be any where welcom for that they endeavour to overthrow and extirpate such mercifull Gods and such a merciful Religion The Emperour Charles the fifth being to depart out of the Low-Countries for Spain most earnestly commended those Provinces and the Nobility thereof for their singular faith and loyalty towards him for vvhich indeed he extraordinarily loved them to Philip 2. his son exhorting him to love them cherish them and advance them as his most faithfull subjects and not to shew too much favour to the Spaniards vvhose natures he very well knew as having had them alwayes about him nor suffer them to contemn oppress or in any wise abuse the said Nobility and subjects For said he I very much suspect the innate haughtiness and pride of the Spaniards if they get to the helm of the Government they should convert pervert and evert all and run the ship against the Rocks And some of the Dutch Nobility standing not farre off pointing them out with his finger to his aforesaid son Seest thou my sonne said he those Lords and Gentlemen Those are they upon whose faith I have hitherto relyed and whom I have chiefly trusted rely thou also upon them and trust them c. But Philip quickly forgot this advice of his Fathers and trusted chiefly to the perswasions of the Spaniards and consequently both he and his Successors received such fruit as they desired not from them THE CONCLUSION I Have now shewed you enough and more then enough indeed of the Spaniards and yet if any body fall short of his satisfaction herewith I remit him to the various Authors which I have cited and alledged in this small Book But methinks it should suffice the courteous reader as wel as it doth me for the present to have demonstrated that there is no Nation which hath given more and greater testimonies and prejudices of prevarications and exorbitations both in this and in the other world then the Spaniards therefore have they most deservingly incurred the hatred of all other nations I will add no more but onely declare in this writing that such as either blinded by the Spaniards gold or inticed by their briberies make it no scruple of conscience to serve them to the destruction of their Countrey Religion and Liberty do not only not perform the duty of good Patriots or true-born men of their said Countrey but are rather Sinons who lay open the walls and gates thereof to the common enemy and make a bridge for the Trojan Horse to come to invade fire and destroy our Ilion ah truly Ilion But God avert that evil both from them and us Amen FINIS
the second king of Spain caused his lawfull wife Isabel the king of Frances sister to be kild that so he might marry his own sisters daughter Thuan. lib. 71. 4. Amongst the Austrians and Spaniards it is no news for brothers to marry their sisters daughters so Ferdinand of Austria son to Ferdinand the Emperour married Anna Catharina the Duke of Mantua's daughter by his own sister Elianor anno 1580. as before him Philip a Prince of the Family did Anne his sister Maries daughter by the Emperour his cousin german Thua lib. 71. 5. When Anno 1581. the match was treated between Andino and Queen Elizabeth of England king Philip by his Embassador expostulated with the king of France and afterwards laboured to sow seditions in France Thuan lib. 73. 6. What detriment the Spanish matches and friendships have brought upon France is taught by Evagrius de Origine Gestis Francorum lib. 1. fol. 40. lib. 2. fol. 66. lib. eod fol. 86. 7. What good did the English get by the marriage of king Philip to Queen Mary And what the Portuguezes but that by this pretension that kingdome fell into the hands and under the yoak of the Castillians 8. The Spaniards assign their daughters great portions but they keep not their words 9. Thomas Campanella cap. 30. sayes that it imports that the kings of Spain never marry any woman of the House of Austria unless he grow thereby to be heir of some new Countrey CHAP. XXII The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans IT is no new thing for the Spaniards to envy the felicity of the Germans â—or they did it many years ago About he year of Christ 1419. the King of Spain forbad the German Merchants to sail in the Spanish Seas and punished such of them as he took in disobedience to that Order he took 40 ships and killed all the Merchants Albert. Cratzius in Sax. suo l. 11. c. 3. 2. The Spaniards do all they can to obscure and lessen the fame of the German Nation which Avila did in his Pamphlet whereof Albert Marquess of Brandenburgh Anno 1522. complained Thuan. lib. 9. 3. How unjustly and rigidly they treated the Citizens of Mentz men of their own Religion upon whom the Bishop put two thousand for a Garrison at that time when Gustavus Adolphus king of Sweden i. e. anno 1631. made warre in Germany is demonstrated by the Histories of that warre and especially by Cornelius Danckhard in his History of the Swedish affairs 4. Anno 1582. when the Spaniards and French fought at the Tercera Island Santa Cruz the Spanish Generall left the German Souldiers to Hieronymo Ladron to punish them as he pleased Thuan. lib. 75. 5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. sayes That the King of Spain was not so well affected towards Germany in regard he plainly neglected the imminent danger of his common countrey from the Turk and assisted the Emperour and his Countrey-men with so small succours And moreover that he sought his own advancement by the overthrow of the house of Austria Thuan. lib. 118. 6. How rigidly and contrary to the Electoral dignity Charles the fifth treated John Frederick Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hessia is amply described by Sleydan as also of the cruelties and outrages of the Spaniards in the Dutchy of Wirtenbergh 7. The Spaniards used to commit such Towns as are either far off or ill fortified to the trust and government of the Germans to the end that if they be lost the dishonour and infamy thereof may redound to the Germans and not to themselves which besides other appeared in the rendition of Lingen and Groll which were governed by Herman and Frederick two brothers of the house of Bergh Thuan. lib. 119. Anno 1597. 8. An. 1590. The Generall of the Spanish Army hanged sixty German Souldiers at once because they demanded their pay and afterwards made an example of an hundred and fifty more by cutting off the right hands of some and the three fore-fingers of others 9. The Spaniards in Charles the fifths time being distributed up and down in Garrisons in Germany exercised no less enormities upon the said Emperours party then upon the other Sleidanus 10. In the distress of the Palatine when the Spaniards seized upon the lower Palatinate it happened that a poor Taylor having let fall some passioâ—ate words was taken and carried â—efore the Captain who asking him â—o great a sum of money as he was neither able to pay it nor to provide any body to be bound for it he forthwith caused the man to be hanged without compassion of his wife and seven children who begged for him Relationes 11. If the king of Spain sayes Campanella would seize upon Germany he must first be made Emperour and then under colour of going against the Turk march into Hungary and so surprise the Protestants suddenly at unawares together with the Imperial Cities before they are able to oppose him as Charles the fifth cunningly did and make new Colonies and new laws with Italian Ministers because that Climate endures not the Spaniards c. c. 23. Disc de monarch Hisp CHAP. XXIII How the Spaniards treat and keep Peace That the Spaniards shew bread in one hand and hide a stone in the other treat peace and prepare for war shall be proved in this Chapter 1. In that treaty of the Emperour Maximilian the Spaniards basely and deceitfully guld the Princes by taking the Towns of Boure Leerdam Schoonhof Owdtwateren Bommel and Zirzea 2. The Pacification and Union of Gant 1576. was sworn to and approved of by king Philip but not kept 3. The conference at Colein was pretended to be liked of but in the Interim the people of Hennault Arras and Mastricht were sollicited to disloyalty 4. The Conference being begun in Flanders Queen Elizabeths Deputies were also invited to it and in the mean while that formidable Fleet anno 1588. was prepared and sent to surprize England Thuan. lib. 119. where the States at large express the fraudulent Arts of the Spaniards 5. That the Spaniards peace is not to be trusted to is taught by the Lords of the United Provinces in their answer to the Emperour Rodolph Anno 1591. and there was many stampt by them at that time with this Emblem A Holland virgin fits sweetly sleeping under a quick-set hedge with this adscription Pax patet insidiis and upon a sudden her enemies break through the hedge assault and surprize her Then she sits again under another hedge waking with a Sword and a Guard by her with these words Tuta salus bello est and the breach being stopt the enemies designes are frustrated Luckius in Numismatis p. 328. 6. When the Truce was made between Spain and Holland the Spaniards said That the King made a step backwards thereby to leap the further forwards upon occasion 7. That the conditions of the truce were not candidly and sincerely kept by the Spaniards may