some States were branded there was prouerbially Fides Punica and Foedus Locrense and therefore I admonish all good Townes which capitulate to haue no Cittadell built within their walls to prouide that none bee built vpon them By what blood I know not the Kings of Spaine are become heires vnto Francis Sforza Dâ—ke of Milan of whom when Lewes the Eleuenth of France pressed by the Confederate warre du bien public wherein his brother the Earle of Caralois and the Duke of Bretagny were engaged desired aydes of money hee supplied the King with a good Counsell Comines to agree to any conditions with any of the League to disband or to sowe a iealousie among them preseruing onely his Armes entire with which wheÌ„ they were separated he might humble them singly at his pleasure adding that Princes lost no reputation when they attained their ends The History is vulgar and the successe of that aduice was the flight of the Duke of Berry the staine of Charles of Burgundy and the beggery of Bretagny I am perswaded the Spaniards haue concocted the Doctrine and would come to an agreement with any of the Leagues to disunite them and the Breach once made is not easily repaired Perhaps in this Coniuncture they would if honour would suffer it consent to make a generall peace vntill Armes were deposed But here is the present danger to loose an opportunity not to bee recouered in many yeares The Counsell of Spaine doth know at how great expence of time and charge of Ambassages these Leagues haue beene composing which once dissolued and lulled asleepe in security would slowly returne to the present perfection Therefore there is great Caution to be vsed in giuing eare to the Enchantments of a Spanish Treaty For some lye nearer punishment some make easier Conditions but all singly shall feele the reuenge of their particular Interests Polib in the generall offence Occasione enim tuâ—â—itati â—os vltum ineunt qui per occasionem temporum ipsis nocuerant The truce that Amilcar gaue the Romans Idem when the Insubrian and Alpine Nations hung ouer them like a Cloud Vt ne patriam retinere sine periculo potuissent did more aduance their future Empire then the three Battailes of his sonne Haniball did hinder it because hee gaue them leaue to grow and to haue no Enemy but Carthage Therefore I haue resolued there is no safety in any sudden accord â—or profit in accepting wasted Countries vntill some ambitious blood bee let out and the Spanish Realls consumed and that Nation and all the World brought to know that it is possible to resist their greatnesse and to abate their pride and that in themselues they are truely humbled Polib Hoc igitur si quid aliud qui Remp regunt solicitè obseruandum meminerint vt quos animos esserant qui in gratiam positis inimicitiis redeunt aut nouam amicitiam ineunt ne ignorent quando temporibus cedentes quando victis animis pacis conditiones amplectantur vt ab illis quidem seu temporum suorum Insidiatoribus semper sibi caueant But seeing the end of all iust war is a good and safe peace qua nihil pulchrius nihil vtilius the meanes thereunto treaty and the assurance thereof publique faith when it shall be necessary to negotiate a reconciliation with Spaine Let it be accepted for a Rule and foundation that the one part is neuer secure what the other would haue esse dolum quia credidit hostis and when all reasons of State are narrowly enquired and outward Counsells waighed with vtile and honestum yet there is a secret fit to bee reuealed That the Kings of Spaine haue a Councell of Conscience which may approue or annull all that is or shall bee transacted and dormant dispensations which haue reference to Contingences in ordine ad spiritualia to continue or dissolue all Conclusions and this Retraict is formed like waxe to take the Impression of the present aspect and necessity of affaires In the last treaty betweene France and Spaine in which Amiens was surprised when King Phillip saw the vigorous resolutioÌ„ of Henry the fourth to recouer the Townes in Picardy by the sword and that he had giuen expresse Command to the President de Silerye to consent to no Conuention so long as one foote of ground vnsurrendered remained in the possession of the Spaniards considering that the bounds of that Prouince were the entrance into Artois Pierre and that victorious Armies extend their pretences with prosperity Math. especially the Title of Soueraignty inuiting and iustifying that progresse he consulted first his Councell of State for the restitution who loath to remit any thing of their stiffnesse interposed the respects of honour and so it was necessary not to confesse inability to keepe them but the wise King knowing to contend might draw the quarrell into the bowells of Flanders resoluing both to preuent the occasion and to saue his reputation called his Councell of Conscience to deliuer their opinion who concluded that hee could not by the Lawes of Religion vsurpe nor dye with quietnesse of soule if he restored not to euery man his owne and so those places were piously surrendered which could not safely be maintained But Conscience extended no further then present question When the same Catholique King found it necessary for Spanish reason of State that his own braue and eldest sonne should dye Nature and honour both contended against the Sentence but obligations were pretended and found aboue humanity as the Act was without humanity The Councell of Conscience and to these a Iunto of Diuines were added to resolue the tender Conscience of a Father whether hee might with safety of Conscience pardon his owne Child of offences not yet fully published and therefore for euer suspected Idâ—m These Ephori pronounced with weeping eies que le salut de son peuple luy deuoit estre plus cher que celuy du son filz and the geatest fauour the Prince could obtaine was to choose his death that which was preferred and enioyed by Caesar facinus intragloriam fuit Before Alua appeared neere Portugall with his Army the Duke of Ossuna and Don Christofero di Mora Cones were imploied to buy a party for the Catholique King and they promised mountaines of Gold to withdraw some of the Lords from Don Antonio When the kingdome was setled these did demand their recompence and pleaded their Contracts in the name and by vertue of the Kings order Who remitted them not to the Counsell of State for they must iustifie their owne Acts but to that of Conscience Who gaue sentence that if the Crowne belonged to Don Antonio they could not rightfully conferre it vpon Phillip If Phillip were the true heire the Petitioners could not sell their Allegiance to their owne Prince for money so that both wayes they were iudged Traytors and their expected reward was changed into a shamefull pardon I conclude
conseruation della feè Catholicho en el Reyno di Francia y a instantia y requesta del y que no pensaua dexar las armas hasta cobrallos O yo el pontifice atenta mente la pretâ—stacion y tomò della el Duque instrumento publico Auertiò antes à sua Santitad de algunos inconuenientes che temia hauian de resultar de la absolucion que tenia determinado dar à Enrico That is The Euening before the Absolution should be giuen the Duke of Sessa Ambassadour of the Catholique King on his behalfe protested to the Pope that the absolution which his Holines intended to giue to Henry should not preiudice the Reasons of his King in that which concerned the Kingdome of Nauar and the County of Bourgundy nor in the expence which he had made for the Conseruation of the Catholique faith in the Kingdome of France at his instance and request and that he determined not to depose Armes vntill he had recouered them The high Bishop attentiuely heard the Protest and the Duke tooke thereof a publique instrument hauing first aduertised his Holinesse of some inconueniences which hee feared might result from the Absolution which was purposed to bee giuen to Henry These Protests did appeare to men of sound iudgement ill grounded prentences the alleaged inconueniences false foundations of that great Building which those malicious aboue mentioned did figure to themselues They said it was requisite to the strict Christianity which the Catholique King professed all humane Interest deposed to aduance with all his spirits the conuersion of Henry and to exhort the high Bishop affectionately to receiue the prodigall Sonne seeing he was returned penitent to his fathers house and to take into his Armes the strayed sheepe which hee had now found to carry him to the Sacred sheepfold of Christ They did blame as a work very 〈◊〉 Catholique but rather as a suggestion of the Deuill to attempt the hinderance of that Absolution which onely hee ought to haue procured for the quiet of France and the publique good of Christendome which if it had not succeeded might haue wholly allenated that Kingdome from the Church as the like had done in England They did consider that it was wide of the purpose to feare any preiudice in the kingdome of Nauarre and the County of Burgundy seeing the Absolution did not deriue any more right to Henry then that which any other which should be King of France might haue But aboue all the pretensions of the expence made in the warre did giue them greatest scandall They discoursed if only for the loue of Christ the Catholique King had disbursed that money why was he not content to haue Christ his Debtor But how a Debtor if hee doth enioy of the Patrimony of Christ aboue Three Millions yearely Reuenue granted him by the Vicar of Christ of Tenths Subsidiâ—s and Croysado's and other meanes with condition to employ them against the Enemies of Christendomeâ— why takes hee noâ— penne in hand and comes not to a distinct Account of the Receipts and Issues well balancing il dare con l' hauere and hee shall finde himselfe not Creditor of one Maraâ—edi but certainely Debtor of many and many Millions spent not according to his obligation for Christianity but for the interest of his owne priuate Estates What then doth hee pretend Why then doth he not lay downe Armes Vpon what hath hee fixed his thoughts To what end doth he aspire If he prosecute this warre he prosecuteth an vniust warre How doth that correspond with the zeale of Religion for which onely at first he vndertooke it What change is this Certainely it proceedeth not from the right hand of the most High But bee it so let him follow the warre at his owne pleasure there is no remedy Henry shall bee absolued and shall bee King of France Doth the Catholique King perhaps hope with his owne forces and by strong hand to depriue him If he was not able with the vnion of so many other Princes to hinder him from taking possession of his Kingdome how shall he now be able to expell him hauing set sure footing in his Throne He attempts a dangerous Action Here they proceed with witty and politique Consideration that a good issue of this warre against Henry not ensuing hee should be sure to acquire a powerfull and perpetuall Enemy that might in time make Spaine to tremble within her owne bowels and the Prophesie had well neare beene verified the whole world knowes it if a violent death had not interposed toâ—stay him But this yet which perhaps was foreseene they did iudge insufficient to free Spaine of the danger Seeing the offence of the father and with the offence the disdaine might descend to the Sonne his Successor as soone as heâ— came to ripe age and should fall into consideration that the Catholique King had done his vtmost to keepe him from being King of France when hee indeauoured to take the Crowne from the head of his father and that if his father in despight of Spaine mainteined himselfe King he also in despight of Spaine might enioy his fathers Kingdome But all these considerations which certainely were very great before any other conceiued them were resolued by the most wise King Phillip who by common Iudgement was the Salomon of his time From whence for the same reasons that others did iudge it requisite to leaue the warre hee esteemed it necessary to prosecute it Seeing he knew he had so grieuously offended Henry that hee could by no other meanes secure himselfe from his disdaine but onely by opposing him to become King of France Wherefore seeing the cause of Religion did cease it was expedient to fasten vpon some other pretence to resist with his Holiness the absolution and in France the Coronation and to proue if it were possible already reason of State had insinuated that great building of the Malicious to make a King of his owne fashion as he had already caused to be propounded in Parliament Tarde se desengana el desseo de mandar y ser Rey Bauia p. 4. vita de Clem. 8. C. 30. Por esto aunque con â—enos brio no desistian los pretensores Proponia el Duque de Feria al Serenissima Infanta de Espana Dona Isabel. Affermaâ—a deâ—ersele el Reynâ— porque hauiendo faltado la linea masculina de Hugâ— Capeâ—o eraquien tenià meior derecho a la Corona como hija de hermana mayor de Enrico III vltimo Rey de Francia Y dezia con esto que el Rey Catholico su padre la ca saria con al un principe Frances con que el nombramiento del tal quedasse en su elecion That is The desire to command and to bee King was slowly cleared from all doubt For this cause though with lesse boldnesse the Pretenders gaue not ouer The Duke of Feria did propound her highnesse Donna Isabella Infanta of Spaine He did affirme the Kingdom to belong
of the Holy Ghost in the Conclaue of Rome for the election of the high Priest so it comes to passe that Abissus abissum inuocat Let in preuaile to speak truth ô sacred Catholique King and what else are those great Pensions I will not say that your Maiestie giues but which your Ministers make you giue because you giue not but according to their Counsell and perswasion to so many Cardinalls but Simoniacall bribes wherwith they intend to buy their voices to elect Popes to their Content and to exclude those who are not of their humour And although this is not done by way of Contract yet enough for aduantage to him who lookes vpon the intention though cloaked yet too well knowne to the world And I am assured that when they counsell you to giue a pension to any Cardinall here I call to witnesse of truth the inward Conscience of your Maiestie they doe not bring to your Consideration that hee is a man of good life and poore fortune or that he well vseth Riches dispensing them to the poore of Christ that hee builds Hospitalls and Monasteries for needy and religious persons but they set on the frontispice that he is a Prince Cardinall great in blood great in authoritie great in dependance that he is a Subiect capable of the Papacy that hee is affectionate to your Crowne that he will euer remaine your deuoted seruant and obsequious to your will and such other like None of which concerne the good of the Church the honor of God nor the fruit of Christianitie but all addressed to the satisfaction and Interest of your Maiestie I say not now you doe ill to giue pensions to Cardinalls rather it is well done you ought to doe it seeing you giue them nothing of your Royall Patrimonie but Ecclesiastique goods which are the Patrimonie of Christ and cannot better bee dispensed then to those who are the Pillars of holy Church The euill is that with this Interest it is purposed to oblige them to your wil so that at your pleasure and not according to their Conscience and Inspiration of the holy Ghost they should giue their suffrages for the Election of the Pope Moreouer it is known in the Court of Rome though Histories mentioÌ„ it not yet the memories of men preserue what was practiced with the Cardinalls their Confederates in the choice of Vrban the Seauenth Gregorie the Fourteenth by the Ministers of the King Don Phillip father of your Maistie who glad of the death of the most holy Pope Sixtus the fift a death desired and by common opinion also by them procured and fearefull of the danger that another of like thoughts should succeed him they did embroile the whole Conclaue least any should ascend to the Papacy who was not trusty and fauourable to the Crowne of Spaine as if to the Interest of Spaine the good of Christendome ought not to be preferred Vrban the Seauenth did succeed Sixtus who in thirteene dayes died After Vrban those of the Spanish faction by all meanes would haue the Cardinall Palioto Pope But God did ordaine that Sfondrato called Gregorie the fourteenth was chosen This Election made vpon the fift of December 1590. your Maiestie may obserue a most Christian and wise Act of your Catholique father the King Don Phillip who was consenting to the Negociations of his Ministers dispatched in the Moneth of Iune following 1591. to the feet of his Holinesse to aske pardon and absolution of the Censures into which he was fallen by intermedling of his Ministers in matters of the holy Conclaue An Act as I haue said most Christian because it was an amends of the error committed and most wise because it serued as an insinuation by that humilitie to be reduced to the grace of the new Pope who could not but bee distasted as hee was with the workings which he had seene scandâ—lized Thus the Ministers of your Crowne O sacred Catholique King doe negociate in Rome onely presuming by meanes of Pensions to hold the Cardinalls in bonds With which practices the vnitie of the Church seemes almost to bee diuided from whence there is nothing else heard of to the great shame and destruction of Christianity but factions of French and factions of Spanish Cardinalls And although the French Lords doe not intend particularly to oblige any Cardinall vnto them but leaue all in their libertie Neuerthelesse those are called of the French faction who by Pensions or other Interests are not tyed to depend on the Spaniards and for them to make a faction And therefore there is nothing else done but scrutiny which of those parties are like to preuaile in the Conclaue at the Election of a new Pope I speake so clearely and so truely that I am bound to confirme it by their owne Spanish Histories Of the Election of Innocent the eighth who succeeded Gregory the fourteenth it is recorded that it passed without any contradiction Bau. p. 3. vita de Innoc. 9. C. 1. because the Spanish faction saith Bauia which consisted of 29 Cardinalls and that of Montalto which exceeded 20 did easilie vnite together But what shall we say of the negociations made in the Conclaue after the death of Innocent I will alleage the formal words of the History to obtaine the more credit Por hallarse muy pocâ— conformes Bau. p. 4. uita de Clem. 8. C. 1. las dos principales prouincias de Europa EspaÌ„na y Francia à las quales coâ—â—o à cabeâ—aâ— sellegan las demas esta misma diuision auia en el sacro Collegio queriendo cadauno faborecer à la parte que la razon ò aficion le obligaua That is By the great inconformity of the two principall Prouinces of Europe Spaine and France to which as Heads the rest doe adhere the same Diuision was in the sacred Colledge euery one desiring to fauour that part to which reason or affection did oblige him Behold a confession of the factions which I mentioned of the French and Spanish Cardinalls But because at this time France was without a King and the warre was made against Henry the fourth the French faction had little credit wheÌ„ce it was iudged that the contrary part was easilie able to create a Pope dependant vpon the Catholike King w ch much imported to the perfection of his affaires That which makes mee astonished is that his Maiestie who had acknowledged his error to haue busied himselfe in the former Election of Popes and had with so great submission demanded pardon of Gregory the 14. should in this occasion suffer himselfe to be drawne anew into the same error And if the Historie lye not your Maiestie also who was then Prince of Spaine did therein concurre The Cardinall Santa Seuerina a Neapolitan who saith the Author Era vassallo del Rey Catholico Bauia vbi supra y tan querido de los dos Philipos padre y hijo que siempre procuraron ponelle en la filla de S. Pedro como
of witnesses as no modesty will oppugne them Which being now manifest to the world and that it is expected euery wise Prince and State will consider nunc meares agitur I also haue presumed to warne diuisos ab orbe Britannos who being separated from Generall Commerce by the Sea which is our wall true Information may bee kept out as well as Enemes To which purpose without any malignity or willing offence I must looke one age back For in the former Alas the Kings of Castile were good Neighbors and were content not to bee supplanted by their owne Moores mingled with their Subiects both in house and bloud England hath been the speciall and most advantagious marke at which this new Monarchy hath aymed since cupido dominandi outgrew Conscience and all lawes of Iustice England the Queene of the Sea and Lady of Traffique being conquered halfe of the whole is done England hath more hindered this vnnaturall growth then all Europe it is then out of question that the wisedome of Spaine which neuer erreth in the way of greatnesse loues and hates no kingdome so much as England When Don Iohn of Austria had wonne the famous battaile of Lepanto Raphael Pereg. and therein laid to himselfe a foundation of advancement and had gotten possession of the Citty of Tunis the Spanish Councell foreseeing the rising Starre of a new Monarchy though in their owne Princes bloud rather resolued to rase and destroy that Towne and accordingly gaue order to the Generall But hee who had higher thoughts fortified it and sollicited the Pope Pius quintus to intercede with the Catholique king that the Title of that kingdome might bee conferred vpon him to erect a fresh opposite to the Ottoman Empire The king of Spaine iealous of any Concurrent vtterly refused this honor to his owne Brother and suddenly to exercise his great mind vpon some subiect of his priuat seruice sent him Gouernour into Flanders where hee was as like to breake as rise The young Prince whose fathers bloud boiled in his veynes discontent to bee shut vp in so narrow a Compasse fell vpon a new practise to conquer England and procured so farre with the same Pope that he dealt earnestly with the Catholique King to consent to that Enterprise and to contribute Aydes for the Execution in fauour whereof his Holiness had already granted him Bulls Breues Money and the secret Inuestiture though this Proiect in the manner was not acceptable to King Phillip that the Pope should giue that away without first consulting with him which hee had embraced in his owne thoughts yet he yeelded and promised to assist Don Iohn in the Inuasion of England So much more hee thirsted to depriue a Christian Prince of an antient Inheritance then to keepe a great Kingdom opportunely seated to annoy the Turks from his friends the Ottomans I will not Physically coniecture what bloud begat this Counsell but propose it as a worthy and great Consideration The attempt of the Duke of Medina and the inuincible Armado was a fruit of the same root But that the sword might not seeme to cut through all Iustice to corrupt the minds of the ignorant and to satisfie the doubtfull and scrupulous a counterfeit booke Dolman vnder a counterfeit name was published discussing the seuerall titles of England and seeming to giue euery one their owne right it cunningly insinuates that the reasons of the Infanta Isabella were more pregnant then all the rest which could not come into question vntill Sixteene Princes successorily raigning were condemned for Vsurpers one of whom her father had married and by her taken the title of England But God fought for vs Tonante in coelis Iehouah Psal 18. Excelso edente vocem suam grando prunaeigneae it a emittens sagittas suas dispergit fulgura iaculans fundit illos When fained Titles were foolishnesse before God and men and the Chariot wheels of the Enemy were taken off outward force not prevailâ—ng Religion and the defence of that as the last refuge and Sanctuary of Ambition was taken vp and a holy pretence aduanced to practise Treason and Rebellion in Ireland To this end the Eâ—rles of Desmond and Tyron were thrust out and maintained in defection against their naturall Prince and as soone as their actions were worth the avowing Aids and Supplies were openly sent from Spaine and that Kingdome doubly inuaded by Conspiracie and Armes But Kinsale is a famous sepulcher of their honor that Climate perhaps hauing as naturall an Antipathy to Cholerique complexions and Intruders as to noysome and venemous beasts I purpose not to enumerate priuate and clandestine minings and machinations These three notorious examples will proue the general Assertion That Spaine doth aspire the subiection of Europe by the first ascent of England yet to shew more clearly the wiles and religious Counsells wherewith this Designe is prosâ—cuted it will be no vnprofitable digression to reveale to the world the Negotiations of this Monarchy with the Ottomans when eyther it hath beene in want or feâ—re or preparing for some new Attempt Catholique waies which the Lyon hath neuer trode in the Desert nor the Vulturs eye seene in the wildernesse It is one of the Vaine-glories of Spaine that they hold no correspondence nor euer made any peace with the great Enemy of Christendome calumniating and reproaching all other Princes and States who for vtilitie of Trade maintaine a Civill Commerce with them But wise men will discerne the fallacy and difference betweene those who according to the liberty of the lawes of God and Nations doe onely traffique communicate the abundancies of their Countries with Infidels and others who will haue no exchange nor intercourse but vnder the condition of diuiding the world and oppressing by mutuall consent of all Princes And such a Peace and opportunitie the Spaniard hath offered and sought of the Emperour of Turky And if this be not sufficient to returne the ignominie cast vpon others Let it be weighed vprightly and it shall appeare that all the correspondence and trade of all the Princes in amity with the Grand Signior together doth not bring to him halfe the profit and securitie as the dissentions and Intrusions of the House of Austria wherwith they keepe all Christendome in continuall feare or warre Wherby that common Enemie liues in safety and at ease watching aduantages vpon all indifferently About the time that Phillip the second the holy League to depriue Henry the Fourth of the Crowne of France failing him in the Reigne of Mehemet Grand father of Morat now liuing a certaine rich Portugall Iew Don Aluaro Mendes resident in Constantinople pretending occasion to send another of his Tribe called Iehuda Serfati vpon priuate affaires but practised by the Ministers of Spaine into that Country as soon as he arriued at the frontire by the Kings order he was created an Ambassador from the Grand Signior and conducted in that qualitie to the Court and a Counsel
pursue it with the like wayes and Counsells except onely the wayes of Darkenesse to take from them those ranke parts which nourish this Concupiscence To discouer the right line of this opposition it may be enquired what Spaine did aduance in the last warre in the blessed dayes of the glorious Queene Elizabeth either vpon England France Germany Italy or Holland and the totall summe shall be found nothing Whether they lost in Flanders or of their owne is not the question for the warre was in the end defensiue and hee is beaten that assailing conquers not But that the Indies were not able to supply nor appease the mutinies of his Souldiers nor to pay the Interests of Genoua and that they had lost all Reputation and sought peace on all sides precariò Hoochstrat the Electo's their Bills protested their trauailng Fryars their owne Ambassages and the World are irrefutable witnesses To account what they haue gotten in these latter yeares of Peace onely by peace besides the daring so bold an Act as to expell many Millions of inborne Enemies and thereby raising another Indea of treasure for a designed warre at the spring tyde of their full Coffers would if it lay together make a competent estate for a moderate Prince Somewhat in this point hath beene touched in a generall enumeration but particulars do fully instruct Alarache in Barbarie to strengthen their South Coasts of Spaine and to helpe to shut vp the Streights of Gibralterra Acon vnder the Imperiall Coulours depriued of the libertie of Conscience the Reformed Magistrates banished and the Citie reduced to their Deuotion The non Plus Vltra of the Rhyne 40 yeares defended sliptouer and thereby Wesell the Retraict and Sanctuary of our Religion made the Spanish Garrison Gulick and the Inheritance of the Heyres of Cleue possessed vnder the title of protection and kept as a pledge The Palatinate distributed to their Dependants but the Ports and Fortresses of Importance held in hostage And thus Holland surrounded The Valtoline blockt-vpp The Crownes of Bohemia and Hungary intailed and the Nobility spoiled of their priuiledge of free Election The Euangeliques vniuersally exiled and oppressed And all Germany trembling vnder the example These are the fruits of a Spanish peace If the slumbring Lyon bite so mortally what shall hee doe enraged after his pursued Prey And if in peace contrary to the nature of peace such achieuements are obtained that the ship of Spaine runne in the night so many leagues while the Pilot seemes to sleepe It is euident in peace and Warre they haue one end of Conquest Seneca Sapiens non semper it vno gradu sed vnavia From these examples wee must learne bellum vtiliter inire prosequi I will not presume to vnderstand where the Spanish Empire is most sensible and weake but exhibit some generall rules that Riuers are onely to be preuented of their waters by stopping or diuerting their fountaines Aegypt depends vpon the courtesie and payes tribute to the King of Ethiopia to giue leaue to Nilus to water it The body is soonest reduced to a consumption by destroying the Liuer the Indies of blood And then demonstrate these axioms by a fewe Roman and Spanish Parallels what they did and what they suffered and leaue the application to Actiue men That Princely People had no Indies but their Virtue Rome and the Senate was all while they caried their Armies abroad they had no returnes but victories and triumph and they could loose nothing except men that sold their liues dearely But when their Emuli the Carthagenians discouered by their Inuasion of Sicily that their ambition had no limits and considered that while they fought for their owne ground they could get nothing but blowes They resolued to send Haniball to the Gates of Rome where he reduced that Empire to nothing but a Colledge of braue old men prepared to dye in Maiestie Eighteene yeares this glorious Captaine trode on the spoiles of Italy and doubtlesse had finished that Dominion and in that day in which he turned to Capua had supped in the Capitoll Hor. Si quemadmodum sciret vincere sic vti victoria scisset From whence grew the prouerb Capuam Hanibali Cannas fuisse We must not trust in errors nor hope this Courtesie of our Enemies When the young Scipio reuiued the hearts of the Romans by vndertaking the Prouince of Spaine where his Father and Vncle and so many Legions were buried he found three Armies greater then his owne Polib to oppose him Vulgaria omnia consilia quorum venire in mentem cuiusuis poterat omisit To fight with all at once was impossible to beginne with one desperate the other two were at his back entire vincendo vinceretur And fortune must not be often tempted But when he fell vpon the consideration that new Câ—rthage was the fountaine from whence all the diuisions were supplied the Port and harbour of succours he resolued omnes vnà aggredi by taking that City to dry vp the streames at the spring head Thus the Enemies retraict storehouse became his tota Regio in vna vrbe superataest and he changed the face of the whole warre by one deliberation and was victorious without the vncertaine tryall of Battell dubium an vtiliori falicioriue concilio Lastly when there was no other way to retire Haniball out of Italy this fate of Carthage vndertooke to transport the warre to their own doores and then hee that neuer refused to fight treated sought peace and almost confessed that he was vanquished then he made that pittifull oration the most inglorious of all his Acts Hanib ad Scip. Si nunc esset integrum optaturum se fore vt neque Romani quicquam vnquam eorum quae sunt extra Italiam nec Carthagenienses eorum quae extra Affricam concupiscent To this moderation must Spaine be reduced Haniball knew hee might safelier haue lost all his battells within the Alpes then one at the gates of Carthage In them he aduentured nothing but the superfluity of youthfull blood which en gaijetè de coeur sought their desteny in the field of honour But now the Common-wealth was at stake and they plaied their Altars Liberties Wiues and Children at one game Haniball to auoid this desteny attempted Italy to wast Rome at their owne charges But Scipio had learned that wisedome of him which himselfe could not vse and finished at once a double warre and the Spaniards imitating the one part shewes vs the way to take the other Spaine while it was a single Kingdome threatned no body and in Spaine litl e is to be gotten where me ate must be supplied and a victorious Army may starue Therefore that not being the roote it must bee sought from whence this euill of ambition ariseth and as in naturall Bodies there are other parts besides the head and the heart which being cut off or wounded cause desolution so it is possible to find a way to weaken that Monster
years he laboured in the study of holy Lawes to be well instructed in the knowledge of Iustice. He affirmeth nothing which he doth not learnedly proue All his works were directed to his owne King and the Royall Councell before whom more then once hee appeared in person to entreat of this Businesse Who can then beleeue that hee durst say that which was not apparant truth Men vse not to speake ill of Princes to their owne faces Ignorance of the fact or of the Law cannot be obiected to him so much practised and who had so long studyed these matters Argument of affection or of passion cannot be imagined in a Prelat of most exemplar life who renounced his Bishopricke onely to assist in the Court of his Prince in the defence of a People from any interest in him as farre remoued as our world is distant from theirs From whence of necessity it must be said that onely the loue of truth did moue him and the inuincible reasons wherewith he maintaines all his Assertions doe most clearly demonstrate it So that your Maiestie who is as much a louer of truth as of God considering with a 〈…〉 all the fore-alleadged discourses will in the sinceritie of your conscience conclude that which in the beginning was declared That Enterprises vndertaken onely for Religion are often reduced to proper Interest and that Titles Dignities and Authorities granted with most holy zeale by the Vicar of Christ haue beene peruersly abused It is very true that this good Prelatate hath indeauoured to excuse the Catholique Kings by saying that the aboue mentioned euills were against their Intentions clearely expressed in many orders and holy instructions giuen to those crooked ministers who obserued no part of them But this excuse is not admitted of wise men yea rather confuted with most strong Reasons First because it hath not beene found that the Catholique Kings did euer punish any of those Ministers vnlesse perhaps some for Rebellion notwithstanding their wickednesse was manifest vnto them which the foresaid Bishop doth more then once affirme Secondly because so many iniquities by them committed were neuer retracted in particular the Diuisions of the Commenda's vpon which the said Author doth exclaime euen to the Heauens Lastly because the immediate Dominions are encorporated vniuersally and particularly with the Supreme Dominions and this is euident in fact all faculty being taken from them which had it to choose their Prince and the inheritance from them to whom the estates by succession did appertaine of whom some miraculously escaping aliue in that destruction of the Indies lamentably by this Bishop described were transported into Spaine lest by the loue of their Naturall Subiects they should aspire to recouer that of which against reason they were depriued And yet to this day the Issue of that great Motezuma Emperor of Mexico doe liue in the Court of your Maiestie prohibited vpon paine of life to goe out of Castile From which most true reasons the wisedome of your Maiestie may easily comprehend how little the aforesaid excuses 〈◊〉 preuaile and how great Account the Catholique Kings haue to render to God of the vsurpation of the immediate dominion of the Indies vnder pretence of amplifying the Christian faith The religious zeale of the King Don Phillip the second father of your Maiestie cannot inconsiderately bee ouerpast when inuited by the Pope hee tooke Armes against Henry the fourth King of France The cause of Christ was in question against a publique Heretique and Enemy of Christ. It was expedient that the sacred Catholique King Protector of the Church of Christ should abandon his owne Affaires of Flanders to defend that of Christ. The which Heroique Action the fruit of perfect vertue which is rarely found among Princes of the World did beget in many wonder and incredulity and in others it caused too malitious suspition Algunos saith the Spanish Bishop que juzgaâ—an la virtud agena por la malitia propia no querian creer â—auia Pontif. par 3. vita di Grigor 14. C. 9. que el zelo de Rey Catholico fuesse tan grande che desamparando su haziendâ— propia â—on tan gran costa fuesse a remediar la agena That is Some who iudge the vertue of others by their owne malice would not beleeue that the zeale of the Catholique King could be so great that leauing the care of his owne business hee should at so immence Charge relieue the necessitie of others Behold the wonder and the incredulity Otros as after followes in the history que no bien conocian la Religion y Christianidad del gran Filippo II. â—auia p. 3. vita de Innocâ—ntio 9. C. 9. â—ondauan en esta jornada un gran edificio dizâ—endo que se queria hazer Rey de Francia ò ponelle de su mano assegurandosse ensus Estados comarcanos y sacando à bueltas no pequeno interes That is Others that did not well vnderstand the Religion and Christianitie of the Grand Phillip the second did from this vndertaking lay the foundation of a great building saying that he desired to make himselfe King of France or to place a King of his owne dependance hereby assuring his owne neighbouring States and drawing to himselfe no little aduantage Behold the malice and that truely very great against that most innocent Monarch who did clearely show to haue no other interest nor further desire then that the Catholique Religion should not be vtterly ruined as it was freshly threatned in the Kingdome of France But what cannot the Deuill doe Saints and Heremits are rarely secure much lesse Princes in Courts Scarcely hath Henry begunne inspired by the holy Ghost to shew himsefe willing to be reduced to the wombe of holy Church to be truely a most Christian King when the Catholique fell vpon a Councell by no meanes to consent that hee should bee King of France And yet to him the Rights of that Kingdome did appertaine nor for other cause was the opposition but for being an Heretique whence the impediment being taken away it was most vniust any longer to withstand him But it was whispered in the eares of the Catholique King by certaine Machiauells rather then Disciples that the Coronation of Henry might bring some danger to his Maiestie for the kingdome of Nauarr and the County of Burgondy vpon which States the Crowne of France hath pregnant pretensions and that his Maiestie had cast away in vaine so much Gold and spent so much blood of his people in that warre Therefore Latarde antes so saith Bauia que hiziesse la absolution Pontif p. 4 vita de â—le 8. Cap. 56 el Duqâ—e de Sessa Ambaxador del Rey Catholico de su parte hiza al Papa protestacion que la absolucion que su santitad pensau a dar à Enrico no perjudicasse al derecho de su Rey â—n lo toccante al Reyno de Nauarra y Contado di Borgâ—na ni à los gastos que hauia echo en la