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
the extent of her dominion both by sea and land likewise of the firmenesse of her establishment for twlue ages entire and of the prudent conduct of so wise a gouernment is without doubt the chiefe Power of Italie next that of the King of Spaine And shee also has been the first Common-wealth that has setled the rules of her conseruation and that has most punctually obserued them in taking for her particular interest that of Italie in generall Moreouer for particular respects shee makes it a maxime to hold a strait intelligence with the Turke and for the same shee spares not any cost Shee belieues also that her interest is to maintaine warre abroad and foment the same with money That which the other Princes of Italie ought also to doe if they had strength and courage to vndertake it Shee looses noe time for to hinder the King of Spaine and the Pope from waxing great The State of Venice seemes extraordinarily jealous of these two Potentates though it be a maxime common to all Princes to hinder the growth of their Neighbours As for the other Princes of Italie shee vpholds them according to her owne benefit OF THE INTEREST OF THE SEA OF ROME THE interest of the Sea of Rome is first to procure by all manner of meanes the diminution of the greatnesse of Spaine because the Church lands ly so fitt for her that if once the King of Spaine come to quitt the specious pretext that he has taken to protect the holie Sea certainly he will easily appropriate all this goodly demaine for to joyne together the two ends which allready belong vnto him The puissance of the Venetians and of the great Duke does much enfeeble that of the Sea of Rome which without these obstacles would commaund the two Gulfes So shee ought to desire that these two Princes remaine at least as they be But all these are but generall maximes There be yet three particular of the Sea of Rome The first is to maintaine her credit throughout by the meanes of Eeclesiasticall personnes as the sinnewes of her greatness whom shee ought to protect against the secular Powers The second is to make Princes dread the thunder-bolt of excommunications But not to vse it too oft for feare they come to contemne it The third is to restraine the Popes as much as may be hindering them from making great their houses at the Churches cost or committing any extrauagance by their passions prejudiciall to the common good of the Ecclesiasticall State It would be to no purpose to touch the interest of the other Princes of Italie for that they are either so little considerable as they can doe nothing of themselues or else so subiected as they dare not make shew of any other interest then that of those on whom they depend OF THE INTEREST OF THE DVKE OF SAVOY IT remaines onely for conclusion to speake of the Duke of Sauoy The Estate of this Prince is in such manner situated that to which side soeuer he turnes he is of great importance to the partie he embraceth CHARLES EMANVEL who was first willing to make knowne that a Duke of Sauoy could make peace and warre in Italie beleeued that the interest of his Estate was to side one while with France another while with Spaine according to the occurrences and good of his affaires which was the sole but of his designes without thinking of Treaties made either with the one or the other But this Prince full of vast thoughts and who could not bound his ambition by the barriers that Nature had set to his Estate was glad that the situation of his Country might serue for a pretext to his disquiet For indeed the true interest of the Duke of Sauoy is to haue allwaies a good correspondence with France because shee can assist him with the whole masse of her forces against one member of the power of Spaine who hath more jealousie of her Estates in Italie then to say in a manner of all the rest together hauing also a vehement desire to joyne Piemont to the Dutchie of Milaine So as the Duke of Sauoy should beleeue that what amitie soeuer he has with Spaine it is most dangerous to him He ought neuerthelesse to entertaine it in so much as it is needfull to gard him from France OF THE INTEREST OF GERMANIE THIS huge masse of Prouinces joyning together inuironned with three Seas and diuided by so many mightie riuers has beene heretofore the terrour of the Romane Empire which at length shee hath transported to her selfe And as before shee had noe other interest but her libertie so since shee has no other designe but to conserue the same For truly if the name of Empire has brought splendour and reputation to Germanie it hath giuen her in recompence much jealousie and distrus Shee presently discouered her Emperours and essayed to limit their power for feare that from Chiefs of this Country they come to be Masters thereof Dominion being such a daintie morcell that the most temperate cannot forbeare it This notwithstanding by the continuance of certaine successions the Empire being established in the house of Austria that of Spaine which is the principall branche thereof knew to manage this beginning of establishment with such dexteritie that now it seemes as hereditarie in that house The maxime of Germanie was to hinder the progresse of this vsurpation And now her interest is to reduce things to their former estate by distributing this honour interchāgeably to the principall houses and restraining the power of the Emperours whose counsell ought to be the generall Diets to consult alltogether of the meanes to conserue the common libertie and to resist the Turke who is the onely force that Germanie should be afraid of The diuersitie of Religion ought not to cause any diuersitie of opinion in things that concerne the common good The interest of all the Princes in generall and of euery one of them in particular is mutually to defend and jointly to hinder that the Emperour make not an attempt vpon the libertie of any vnder what pretext soeuer it be They should likewise take heed that the stronger amongst them oppresse not the weaker whereto the Emperour will allwaies lend a hand for to gaine by the ruine both of the one and the other The Catholicke Princes ought from henceforth to disabuse themselues and to hold for certaine that vnder the colour of Religion they serue the designe of the house of Austria and forge by little and little the irons of their owne bondage being not able to hope for any other aduantage then to be the last ruined The Protestants since they alone cannot withstand so great forces should make it a maxime to be first well vnited at home and afterwards to hold necessarie intelligences abroad for to counterpoise the Catholicke league Their chiefest aime should be to abide streightly conjoind together and to beleeue that their assured ruine lieth in their disunion All the aduantages proposed
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
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
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
perpetuated and because shee would not be violently incountred hereafter shee has essayed to put downe those who had lawfull right to interrupt that course endeauoring likewise to lift vp her selfe by abolishing the lawes of the Empire and by vsurping the principall States and Townes thereof The first euident occasion that has manifested in our time this designe was vpon the succession of Cleues and Iulliers which happened in the beginning of March the yeare 1609. occasioned by the death of Iohn William who hauing noe children of his owne left this goodly heritage to his foure sisters married to the Elector of Brandebourg to the Duke of Neubourg to the Duke of Deu ponts and to the Marquesse of Turgaw The first of these laied claime to the succession entire as indiuisible hauing married the eldest The second makes the same claime because the eldest sister died before the brother and his wife was the eldest of the sisters liuing The two other say that it ought to be equally parted betwixt them all foure Moreouer the Electour of Saxonie reuiued an old title and also the Duke of Neuers another Brandebourg and Neubourg enter in possession the Emperour becomes offended thereat pretending that the whole heritage ought to be sequestred into his hands and each of them to vndergoe his ordinance He sends thither Leopold a Prince of hie owne House who seiseth on Iulliers the principall fortresse of the Country The Princes that were in possession seeing such an obstacle judged well that this sequestration tended to an vsurpation and not thinking themselues able enough to resist in regard of the neighbourhood of Flanders and of the best forces of Spaine who in an occasion so aduantageous for the House of Austria would not faile to helpe her kinseman they haue recourse to those who were principally interessed to impeach the amplification of the said House They rallie to their defence France England and the Low-countries with the most part of the Protestant Princes of Germanie who made such a mightie warlike prouision to recouer Iulliers seised by the said Leopold that notwithstanding the vnexpected death of Henry which happened before the execution yet the designe was happily accomplished Spaine not daring to oppose it One may see in this affaire euery one 's true interest That of the Emperour was to make vse of the occasion to catch hold of such an Estate in Germanie That of the King of Spaine to assist him therein as well for the principall end which is the aduancement of the whole House as for the neighbourhood of the said State to Flanders That of the lawfull successours was to maintaine their owne right That of the Germaine Princes not to suffer that Power whereof they were jealous to be strengthened by their owne weakening And the interests of France England and Holland were not to permit the amplifying of all the House of Austria Hitherto euery one played his game aright but Marie for to support the interests of Spaine that promised her to maintaine hers euen to the end abandonneth those of France and againe secondeth the trouble about this succession The occasion was offred by the imprudence of the Princes that held the possession which caused the King of Spaine to reattempt the businesse The sonnes of Brandebourg and Newbourg did joyntly gouerne this faire Estate The forteresses were guarded by equall garrisons they dwelt in the same Pallace and managed their affaires with one common hand But this lasted not long it being no easie matter to gouerne a State long time after this manner without dissension especially between two Princes of diuerse houses where there is also diuersitie of Religion They beganne to enter into jealousie one of another Those that were friends to them both and interessed in their subsistence perceiuing the same and fearing least their misintelligence should increase perswaded them to make an alliance together Newbourg agrees thereto goes to the Electour Brandebourg and requires of him his daughter in marriage But as the best meates being corrupted turne into the strongest poison so in the most wholesome counsell giuen to these Princes to confirme their amitie there was found occasion of a most implacable hatred which caused the ruine of them both in the said succession For whil'st they were in the deboshes of their feastes the Electour vpon some discourse that did not please him offended Newbourg so farre euen in his owne house and at the table as to giue him a boxe on the eare for which he would not afterward make him any teasonable satisfaction In such wise that in stead of a wife he carries backe an offence so engrauen in his heart as he admitteth noe other counsell but that of reuenge This spirit thus exasperated being vpon returne to Cleue-land it was easie for the Spaniards to gaine him to them They made meanes to marrie him with the sister of the Duke of Bauaria perswaded him to turne Catholike for to make all the Catholike league of Germanie to be on his side they take him into protection and giue him a pension The vnited States seeing how prejudiciall this change would be to them they supported Brandebourg These Princes from suspicions doe come to attempts Newbourg seiseth on Dusseldorp Brandebourg on Iulliers from whence the King of Spaine takes a pretexte to stirre and armeth powerfully to recouer the same The States on the other side prepare to defend it They furnish it with men and munition fitt to sustaine a great siege The true interests of France being forsaken they had nothing from thence but words and Embassages England seeing France had giuen off was contented to doe the like in sending her Embassadours The Princes of Germanie seeing themselues forsaken of these two Crownes and diuided amongst themselues both by Religion and by the different affections that they bore to those two Princes they therefore stirre not at all Spaine finding now noe other opposition but onely from the vnited States prosecuteth her intentions and whilst shee amuseth the Ambassadours of these two Kings shee sends Spinola into the country with a puissāt Armie who in stead of setting vpon Iulliers which was then but a rude entreprise he goes to inuade the States he passeth the Rhine assaults and takes wezel within foure dayes Maurice seeing this exploit he delayes no longer leaues the Ambassadours in their negociation takes Rez and Emerik and at length a thing neuer before seene these two Armies seize vpon this heritage without impeachment one of another without breaking the Truce and also without making any skirmish at all For when one of these Captaines had possessed a place the other still retired not pretending any thing there So as he that was most diligent made the most progression The reason of this gentle dealing was because Spinola knew well the Armie of Maurice to be better then his owne Maurice likewise well vnderstood that the safeguard of the States consisted in the subsistence of his Armie So as he beleeued he
should come off with honour enough to diuide this spoyle with the King of Spaine without exposing any thing to danger Is is now easie to judge that the ruine of the Princes which were in the possession proceeded from hence viz. Because that Newbourg forsaking his true interest to follow his passion cast himselfe into the armes of Spaine Because the Protestant Princes of Germanie not considering their true interest did not stirre at all likewise because France embracing not the interest of Maurice forsooke her owne and for that England did the like with France On the other side the aduantage that Spaine and the Low-Countries haue gotten in this conquest proceeded hence for that both the one and the other were entirely fixed vpon their true interest THE SIXT DISCOVRSE VPON THE Election of the Count Palatine to the Kingdome of Bohemia IF the quantitie of set battailes or the number of the personnes slaine or the reuolution of sundrie States or the qualitie of the Princes interessed or the length of the time might make a Warre memorable then that which Germanie now suffers is in the highest degree since that there are giuen already more then fifteene battailes three hundred thousand men haue lost their liues in the same almost all the States of Germanie haue thereby changed their condition and their Masters all the Princes of Europe haue taken an interest therein and it is now fourteene yeares since the warre begunne without being yet ended The occasion thereof happened through the rejection of Ferdinand of Austria from the Kingdome of Bohemia and the Election of the said Kingdome conferred on the personne of Frederic Count Palatine of Rheine The first would establish himselfe in a dignitie which he beleeued was vnjustly taken fron him The second would maintaine himselfe in the Kingdome as being justly chosen thereunto The first would make it a businesse of Religion thereby to interest all the Catholike Princes of Europe in the same The second would shew that it was nothing else but a State-warre that he might interest in the same all those by whom the greatnesse of Spaine was suspected But for to judge well of this great commotion one ought to remount a little higher It is certaine that since the warre which happened about the succession of Cleues and Iulliers Germanie was as it were deuided in two factions and in imitation of the Catholikes the Protestants also had made a League whereof the Prince Elector Palatine was chosen Chiefe as the Duke of Bauaria had beene of the other The pretence which euery one tooke for the defence of his Religion did agrrauate the matter amongst them And the secure peace which this nation had enjoyed a long time did not permir her following the reuolution of this world to abide thus any longer There wanted onely an occasion to make her bandie against her selfe The Bohemians present this occasion whether it were by reason of their naturall ficklenesse or for being ill treated in the libertie of their consciences or else through some discontentment of the principall men amongst them or for all these reasons together they reject Ferdinand their King and choose Frederick in his place And for to render themselues so much the more irreconcilable with him in the full assembly of the States they cast those of his partie out of the windowes This action arriued in the yeare 1619. after which euery one tooke armes The Protestants were the forwardest for they were alreadie prepared to it and attended onely the bruit of this Election to beginne the game Amongst those who tooke part with Frederick he that brought the most powerfull assistance was Betheleem Gabor who from an ordinarie Gentleman being made Prince of Transiluania and fearing the house of Austria which had alwaies endeauored to appropriate this State he put himselfe into the protection of the Turk for to secure the same and finding so faire an opportunitie to depresse this House his interest suffered him not to loose it The vnited Prouinces not to be wanting to their interest doe here contribute on their part The King of Denmarke for the same reason and also for his honour and reputation assisteth his Nephew King Iames more interessed then he forgetteth his interest concerning his Sonne in law The King of France likewise drawes backe and stands newter At this beginning Ferdinand is ill handled and reduced to great extremities Here Spaine seeing that shee must venture her share to or else loose both her hopes and reputation shee spares nothing but vseth all manner of meanes In Germanie shee vrgeth the Elector of Saxonie against the Palatine in point of honour shee remonstrates vnto him that he holds his Electorship of the house of Austria and that he cannot maintaine it without her At Rome shee perswades the Pope that her losse is the ruine of the Catholike Religion and the meanes to make all Christendome a prey to the Turk insomuch as the Pope abandonning his true interest takes part with her fournisheth both men and money and laboureth to declare the other Catholike Princes for her defence In England shee easily entertaines King Iames in his peaceable inclination In France by the Nuntio's helpe shee gaineth the Duke de Luine who hauing vsurped neere Loüys the authoritie that Marie had there possessed he tooke also the same maximes supporting himselfe by Spaine which neuer faileth in such occasions to maintaine those who distrusting their owne worth seeke their securitie out of the Realme So as the interest of a Fauorite being preferred before that of the State they assist Spaine But to the end that it might be with more profit and lesse noise they vndertake an agreement they send Embassadours to both parties they amuse the Protestants with faire hopes they make them loose the opportunitie of a victorie which they had in hand and they induce them to disarme In the meane while the Catholikes hauing this time for respite strengthen themselues on all sides take their aduantage prosecute their former designes and by gaining the battaile of Prague wholly ruine their ennemies In this reuolution of affaires Spaine makes good vse of the victorie continues her intelligences amongst her Neighbours that shee might not be diuerted in her conquests and joynes her forces of Flanders to those of Italie for to become absolute Mistresse of the Empire Feare and corruption interpose amongst the Princes of Germanie and the Imperiall Townes Euery one hasteth to submit himselfe to the yoake distrusting least he should not be time enough receiued there The Counsellours of Princes and Magistrates of Common-wealthes are corrupted by money and all contribute to forge the irons of their owne bondage This kind of proceeding makes the King of Denmarke feare least the firing of Germanie consume him he takes the defence thereof and goes into the field but is vanquished looseth part of his dominions and for to recouer it againe is constrained to make a dishonourable peace The Transiluanian seeing this disorder maketh his
well extinct but that from time to time the cinders thereof haue caused new flames Ferdinand supported rather by the justice of his cause then by his owne forces implored the aide of all the Prince which by common interest were obliged not to suffer such an outrage Marie in whose hands at that time lay the gouernment of France thinking of nothing more during the minoritie of the King her sonne then to maintaine her selfe in peace shee beleeued shee had enough to doe to smother the factions of the Kingdome and to appease by all meanes those that were capable to resist her authoritie So shee regarded the commotions of Italie no further then to endeauour to asswage them and shee imployed her credit to induce the Pope to interpose between the two parties for their accord The King of Spaine considered the beginning of this discord after another manner For perceiuing the aduantage that might from thence accrue vnto him he intermedled so farre in all the whole course of this affaire as he failed but very little to draw from thence aduantages proportionall to his designes The Princes of Italie whilst the game was playing looked on without medling therewith The grand Duke vndertooke the defence of the Duke of Mantua beleeuing he was obliged by his proper interest to assist the weaker against the stronger besides the particular reasons that incited him thereunto The Duke of Sauoye seeing the small aduancement that he could hope for from his entreprise hearkened to an accord which was proposed to him and letting the businesse be put to a treatie he contented himselfe with the glorie that he durst vndertake to vsurpe vpon his neighbour and so all this goodly designe vanish'd it to smoake euen as it had beene plotted against all reason it being not the interest of a Duke of Sauoye now of any other Prince of Italie to imbroile himselfe with his neighbours since all the aduantage that can 〈◊〉 aid from their 〈◊〉 is to see the difference reconciled by the power of one of these two Kings which cannot be without manifest danger This businesse so ended the King of Spaine who had an eye euer vpon Piemont as a piece that lay fitt for him saught a plausible pretext to quarell the Duke of Sauoye For considering France out of case to medle with the affaires of Italie the Duke of Sauoye by the late warre exhausted both of men and money and the other Princes of Italie disunited betwixt themselues He thought fit to take this time to enter in to Piemont hoping as he had had the glorie to be arbitratour of the first controuersie without gaining so fauourable an occasion for his particular profitt he would make amends for his default by reinflaming a second warre He inuaded then the Territories of the Duke of Sauoye where finding more resistance then he expected he was in the end fayne to make peace It is true that France bestirred herselfe in this second occasion but the principall commendation therein is due to the Marshall de Lesdiguiâ—et who in all this warre albeit that he followed his particular ends engaged France to embrace her true interest as shee ought to haue done in the former commotion This second trouble being appeased the most vnderstanding men judged well that Italie was not to continue long time in peace Because they saw Ferdinand Duke of Mantua childlesse and his brother Vincent leading so disordered a life as they beleeued he could not liue long and the euent was answerable to their opinion For after Ferdinand's death Vincent continuing the disorders whereunto he had formerly accustomed his body died leauing his cousin Charles de Gonzague Duke of Neuers heire of his Estates who alone by all right could pretend there The death of Vincent although it was well enough foreseene yet it astonished all the Princes of Italie in such a manner as euery one beganne seriously to consider his affaires The Venetians foreseeing that the Spaniards could not endure the inheritance should be conferred on the Duke of Neuers and that therefore they would diuert the Emperour from giuing him the inuestiture they resolued to doe their best for to frustrate their designes supposing it would be a cast too preâ—udiciall to them to see a Prince depending on the House of Austria established in an Estate set in the middest of their owne That which most troubled the Republike was the siege of Rochelle where the King of France was so ingaged that he had not any hope to be free a long time The Pope was agitated with the same motiues as the Republicke of Venice but he could not so openly shew vnto the King the desire which he had to disengage him from thence least he should thereby witnesse that his particular interest was more preualent then that of the Catholike Church for the honour whereof they pleaded in depressing the Huguenots The other Princes of Italie kept close not daring to shew which way their inclination was bent The Duke of Sauoye onely imagined that he might profit by thâ—s warre and vpon the good opinion that he had of himselfe was perswaded that he might share the conquest of Montferrat with the house of Austria The King of Spaine tâ—king his aduantage by the siege of Rochelle and by the presumption of the Duke of Sauoye thought fit to take his opportunitie to seise vpon Cazal Wee must confesse that his designe was well conceiued and with great likelylood of a fortunate successe Hitherto the Spaniards had in euery thing so well taken their time that it seemed a thing impossible to crosse their designes neuerthelesse the wheele of their good fortunes beganne here to stop and from hence forward wee haue seene a continuall company of ill accidents befall them whiâ—h last euen to this day For Loüys by an incredible diligence and resolution takes Rochelle in despite of the English forceth the Streight of Suze relieueth Cazal and so endangers the Dutchie of Milaine that had it not beene for the troubles in Languedork which he desired to make an end of he might haue carried it away from the King of Spaine at the first blow The Spaniards secure themselues and recouering the paths of their ordinarie prudence seise vpon the Grisons cause most mightie Armies to passe that way send Marquesse Spinola to the gouernment of Milaine raise an armie in Italie and besiege Cazal anew Lewys sendeth strong forces into Piemont The Duke of Sauoye would amuse him with hopes of a peace but he met with his match with such an vndaunted courage that both in sight of him and Spinola he forced from him Pignerol which will be an euerlasting memoriall to posteritie of the Raigne of Lewis The siege of Cazal continues The pestilence rageth in both the two armies The Venetians receiue an ouerthrow towards the Mantuan The citie of Mantua is surprised Notwithstanding all these accidents Lewis assembles new forces and prouides to relieue Cazal In the meane time he falles sicke at Lyons The Spaniard sowes dissention in his Counsell which interrupteth the course of so many heroïke actions and after so many stormes past one seemes vpon the point to suffer shipwracke in the hauen There appeared his vertue against whom all these deuises were contriued for at length he got out of this Labyrinth by the clue of honour The King recouers his health Cazal is brauely relieued and the Duke of Mantua not onely reestablished in his Dominions but which will seeme incredible to after ages he is inuested therein by the Emperour The Grizons are set at libertie Italie is freed from the armies of Strangers the port lies open to her assistance and for diuers defections of the Duke of Lorraine they make sure of his Estates by which meanes the communication of Italie with Flanders in barred See here the true and liuely table of these differences where note first of all the Duke of Sauoye his fault in hauing imagined that he should share Moniferrat with the House of Austria in despite of France it being a case most euident that he could not faile to be dispoyled by the one or the other or by both two together if extraordinarie indulgence had not beene vsed towards him It is also a thing wholly manifest that the Duke of Lorraine hath forsakeÌ„ the maxime of his true interest in taking by a fiâ—t of jollitie the partie of the Empeâ—our against that of France in a season when the House of Austria was so vnable to dâ—fend herselfe and that of France so free to enterprise As for the Emperour he cannot excuse himselfe for hauing inuaded Italie before he was sure of Germanie and for hauing quitted the pretence of Religion which hath so much serued him in oppressing the Duke of Mantua being a great Catholike The resolution of France will be for euer memorable which notwithstanding the siege of Roehelle assisted by the English and the warre in Languedoc which the Spaniard made shew to foment has not albeit euer abandonned her true maximes in assisting powerfully her Neigbours and euery where dashing the projects of Spaine Whence I conclude that the glorie of the King the greatnesse of his State and the eminent reputation that he now enjoyeth will continue as long as he shall remaine constant in this resolution FINIS