included in the Pacification of Religion they who are commonly called by the envious name of Calvinists being excluded then to the Reformats as they term them that they are superlatively mistaken For whosoever they be that differ in opinion from the Spaniards whether in matter of Religion or in order to their long-dream'd of Monarchy are all alike to them 1. The cruelty which the Duke of Alva exercised upon them of the Reformed Religion in the Low-Countries is notorious enough yea and himself a little before his end boasted that by his command above eighteen thousand persons passed through the hands of the Executioner with different sorts of punishments for Religions sake 2. Philip the second freely and boldly answered the Emperor Maximilian his Cousin-German by the Fathers-side who having sent his Brother Charles into Spain exhorted him to moderation in the business of Religion That he had rather lose all his Provinces then seem to grant or favour any thing which might be prejudicial to the Catholick Religion Thuan. lib. 133. 3. The Spaniards in the Pacification of Colein 1580. were wont to say That the Protestants would be well served if they were stript of all their goods and forced to go seek new Countries like Jews Egyptians and Nubians who wander up and down like Rogues and Vagabonds without any place of abode 4. The Citizens of Aquensis had been much more mildely dealt with in the year 1605 had it not been for the importunate flatteries of King Philips Embassadors as Thuan. testifyes lib. 133. 5. The Spaniards once took the French in the Isle of Florida and hanged them all with this title This I do not as to French but as to Lutherans Camer horis subcessivis c. 98. 6. In the year 1577. when by the Emperors demand there was a Conference appointed between the Kings Ministers and the States of Holland the said Ministers urged only this That the liberty of any other Religion whatsoever might be excluded out of the Low-Countries and the Catholick only admitted which was the cause of dissolving the Conference re infectâ 7. Ought the Count of Bructerons calamity to be silenced whose Castle the Admiral unjustly and violently seized upon took his person prisoner ejected his wife and children plundred his goods killed the Countrymen whom he found there yea and wickedly murthered the very Count himself together with his Kinsman and a Preacher contrary to his word which he had given them and this for no other colour but out of hatred to the Reformed Religion which he most constantly profest and from which he would not be removed by any menaces whatsoever See Speculum Arragonicum as also Speculum Tragicum 8. Philip King of Spain in the year 1590. the 8. of March made a Proclamation at Madrid wherein he declared that after France was cleared he would make War upon all such Provinces as were infected with any Sectarian Contagion Ancellus apud Thuan. lib. 118. in oratione ad Principes Germaniae 1570. where the words of the Proclamation are also recited 9. If there were no other example to be found of the Spanish hatred against the Gospel and Gospellers that most cruel Fact of Alphonso Dias a Spaniard would suffice The example of Dias who caused his brother Juan Dias to be killed by his own Executioner because he embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel in the year 1546. and however the Law were prosecuted against the said Fratricide he yet obtained his Pardon by the intervention of the Emperours Letters 10. The King of Spain by his Duke of Parma urged the Senate of Aquensis to banish them of the Reformed Religion out of the City as Peter Beck a Canon of that City confesses cap. 13. Comment sui de urbe Aquensi 11. Cardinal Granvellanus was often wont to boast that he would reduce the Catholick Religion in all places though a hundred thousand men were to be burnt in an hour and that he would begin with Saxony and Orange See Gaspar Grevinus in sua Institutione p. 192. 12. The Emperour Maximilian the second most faithfully advised and intreated the King of Spain to treat the Flemmings more gently in matter of Religion but he could obtain nothing as himself writes in a certain Letter of his to Lazarus Swendius 1579. the 22. of February from Vienna This Letter is to be read lib. 16. Apoph Baudartii See also Speculum tyrannidis Hispanicae in Belgio per totum 13. And who ever either saw or heard of a greater fact of barbarous tyrannie and hatred against Religion then that which by the instinct of some ill Instruments the Archduke Albert committed in a certain Maid called Anne Vandenhoven at Brussels whom he caused to be set quick in earth and smothered Martyrologium Meteranus Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 91 93. 14. It may also be a most sufficient testimony of the hatred of the Spaniards against the Protestants and Lutherans and chiefly the later that when they have a mind to dishonour any one very much or call him by any injurious name they call him Vellaco Lutherano i. e. Lutheran Knave so that even by this reproach they who are willing and glad to be stiled Lutherans may be sufficiently taught what they are to hope for from the Spaniards when the Protestants are supprest who are as much oppugned by others as by the Papists to wit that they shall be served with the same sawce 15. When after the Smalcaldick war and the taking of John Frederick Elector of Saxony Wittenberg was yielded to Charles the fifth the Spaniards petitioned the said Charles to give them leave to dig up the dead body of Luther and burn it but the Emperor refused it saying Let him rest for if he hath done ill God will revenge it I am Emperor of the living and not of the dead He further added Let him alone I desire to see him no more for I saw him enough at Worms Zingrefius p. 2. Apoph p. 11. 16. Charles the fifth presently after the Dyet of Auxburgh ought to have surprized and opprest the Hereticks Luther by Art under some other pretext See Thomas Campanella a Spanish Fryar Discursu de Monarchia Hisp c. 16. 17. In the first place it was an extream error to let Luther go off alive from the Dyets of Wormes and Auxburgh And then it was indeed well done of Charles the fifth I say to keep his word with Luther whilest he was at the Dyet but afterwards in his going home he should have surprized him and after having already supprest the Protestant Princes have utterly extinguisht them The same Campanella c. 27. 18. That Peace was to be granted for a time and sometimes the Hereticks says Campanella were to be flattered with magnificent banquets c. 27. And besides it was an error in Charles the fifth says the same Campanella that he did not suppress the Countreys of the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh and of the Landgrave of Hassia c. by thrusting
with that pernitious faction who fancied to be called Zelots for having seduced the hearts of the common people the Towns and Cities throughout the whole kingdom revolted from their lawfull King and Magistrate and letting the Spaniards into the kingdome laid all France open to forraigne pernitious enemies to the French name insomuch as that a certain learned man not unpleasantly said That though the Prodigie which appeared in Nero's time when in the Agro Marruccino the whole Olivet of Vectius Mercellus was carried over the high way and plowed lands instantly brought in its stead were very great yet the French were a greater miracle to us in our dayes namely to see Spain come into France and Frenchmen to behold Spaniards strutting in the middle of Paris Thua Lib. 90. 2. That King Philip of Spain entred into league with the Guisians to the disadvantage of the kingdom of France may be read as well elswhere as in Thuan lib. 81. where the conditions of the league are also exprest The crown of France is desired for Isabel 3. An 1593. the Duke of Feria Embassador to the King of Spain most highly extol'd Clara Eugenia Isabella the Spanish Infanta in an Assembly of the Noble men in France desiring at last that in the choyce of a King though Henry the fourth were already King the said Infanta might be remembred Thuan. lib. 106. which was manfully opposed by c. The Petition for Isabel iterated by the Spaniards 4. The same petition was likewise afterwards renewed with the States and most vehemently urged by John Baptist Taxis and Inigo Mendoza Idem Thuan. lib. 16. But these men were refuted by some who posted up papers in certain places wherein amongst other things were found these If the French should do this they would not onely be condemned of high treason for betraying their Countrey to their enemy and nominatively the Spaniard but also shew themselves meer mad-men by trusting the security of their Religion with that faithless Nation the greatest part of them being Marianists and such as held it a common crime not to know God and render their wives children and whatsoever is dear and good to them to the lust and cruelty of those white Mores whose ways were not to be endured even by their own subjects to be greedily and cruelly dealt with and thereby stir up the most just hatred revenge and armes of the neighbouring people and Princes against themselves to whom the Spanish ambition is with good reason both extreamly suspect and hateful in regard they seek nothing else but that under pretence of Religion they may every where usurp a tyrannicall Rule thereby to deceive the simple and suffer the wicked to transgress with impunity c. 5. The Spaniards observing that this business of the Infanta would not succeed The crown of France desired for Ernestus propound Ernestus to whom Isabella was to be married to the Confederates but finding a rub also there they proposed The D. of Lorrain is propounded to the French for their king by the Spaniards that the Noble men would choose some one of the Princes of France as aiming at the Duke of Lorrain to whom Isabel was afterwards to marry But at length they nominated the Duke of Guize promising to give him the Infanta to wife and asking Low Britany for her Joynture They prescribed also other insolent conditions to the French as if forsooth they had been sent into the full possession of France and had treated with conquered people which yet was understood by Meduan and Bassompierre and therefore they rejected their propositions See Thuan lib. 106. lib. 107. 7. The Spaniards under the pretext of succouring their Allyes and Confederates seaze upon some Towns vvhereof the Citizens of Lyons being sensible 1594 secured themselves betimes and agreed with Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 108. A plot against the life of the King of France framed by the Spaniards The attempts against Henry 4. 8. Fontano and Steven Ibarra Ministers of the King of Spains suborned Emanuel Andrada with huge promises to poyson the King of France with a Nose-gay Thuan. lib. 109. 9. The high endeavours of the Spaniards to alienate the Pope from Henry the fourth are described by Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Philip the second at first by privat plots but afterwards by open force brake into France and fisht as it vvere vvith a golden hook for the ill affected persons Thuan. lib. 110. 11. Henry the fourth complains grievously of the Noblemen of France upon the discovery of the new plot Anno 1604. That the Spaniard would want no matter for his crimes for that he could not reduce his mind from the vice it got on the other side of the Pyreneans nor cease to draw his subjects to wicked actions c. Which letter is exhibited by Matthaeo in Historia Franciae lib. 7. 12. By vvhat means the Spaniards attempted to intercept Masseilles Anno 1596 and how Menargus vvas punisht for it is taught by Matthaeus lib. 1. tom 3. Hist Fran. Thuan. lib. 116. 13. The King of Spains various prevarications against France are deduced by Henry 4. in denunciatione belli Provinciis Philippi Thuan. lib. 3. 14. The Spaniards incited Peter Owen a Carthusian Monk to murther Henry the fourth but the King pardoned him notvvithstanding he vvere condemned Thuan sub finem lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards however there were peace on both sides complotted vvith Biron Anno 1610. by Fontano Parario Thuan lib. 125. 16 What was their design Anno 1602. when it was agreed between the King of Spain and Biron to seize upon King Henry when he was a hunting and send him into Spain Thuan. lib. 128. 17. Fontano Anno 1600 at which time there was peace between France Spain had forty thousand men and forty pieces of Ordnance ready wherewith he intended to invade France because King Henry was then busie with the war of Savoy Thuan. lib. 128. 18. What pernicious counsels Taxis and Sunica King Philips Embassadors took in France against the kingdom of France is manifest out of the confession of Balsack Count of Eutrage Thuan. lib. 134. As also out of another with other Noblemen at the same time as out of another with Merargus Governor of Marseilles where King Henries speech is likewise related wherein he both freely and largely upbraids Sunica King Philips Embassador with the Spaniards plots Thuan lib. 134. 20. Santa Cruz King Philips General after his victory against the French neer the Tercera Island condemned and executed 28 Noblemen about 50 Gentlemen and 300 common men Thua lib. 75. 21. In like manner Valemundo General of the Spanish Army in Florida perfidiously broke his word with Ribald and Otigni and most cruelly murthered above 600 French men after Quarter given and caused their eyes to be pluckt out after they were dead and to be stuck upon the points of their pikes as Thuan amply describes lib. 41 Anno 1568. 22. The Spaniards
Extraordinary Revenews of the Dutchy of Milan and for that cause a proclamation was made by the said Fontano's authority in King Philips name which was smartly answered and opposed by the Family of the Malaspines and had almost given an Alarm amongst the said Princes had not most of the Embassadorâ— in King Philips Court interceded with him and at length obtained that the prosecution of the businesse might be protracted and suffered to vanish Thuan lib. 134. 5. Anno 1606. there arose a controversie between Pope Paul the fifth and the State of Venice about certain Priviledges vvhich when it was almost brought to a friendly composition by the endeavour of Henry the fourth of France the Spanish faction the chief vvhereof were Cardinall Pompeio Arrigovio Paulo Sfondrato and Ferdinando Pacero Duke of Ascalonia by the pravalency of King Philips Embassador with the Pope the businesse was not onely frustrated but also brought to open war and the Pope excommunicated the Venetians and Philip forthwith by lettters artificiously pen'd offered his service to the Pope to that end Fontano listed Souldiers apace and yet nevertheless he sent Francisco de Castro as Extraordinary to Venice with intention that if the matter inclined to a peace which he having kindled the war at first began already to suspect he might praecept the honor of the pacification from the King of France or at least have a great share in it by his intervention But the common report in the Court of Rome was that Philip according to the Rule of his Ancestors was glad to hear of such Disputes amongst other Princes concerning the Popes Supremacy as in relation to Civil Government yea and to have them agitated up and down in Spain it self by connivencie as conceiving them not to belong to him at all he being very potent and using to quash the Popes attempts in all his dominions with a word well knowing that his Holinesse dares not so much as hiss against him which was sufficiently demonstrated afterwards in the businesse of Sicily yea and the Spaniards boyling with the heat of ambition convert such wars and feditions as spring from thence to their own privat advantage as lying in ambush in the mean while to see if any of the weaker Princes be prescribed that so they have an occasion to invade their Dominions as it hapned in the seizure of the kingdom of Navarre even in our parents dayes Thuan. lib. 137. 7. When Ferdinand King of Spain and Arragon Anno 1501. attempted the Kingdom of Naples and took the Citie of Tarento with Ferdinand son to Frederick King of Naples in it he swore to him by Gonsalvo before the Altar that he would leave him the liberty of a King but yet he slighted his oath sent him prisoner into Spain and reserved the kingdom for himself 8. By the exhortation of Ferdinand called the Catholick Henry the eighth King of England sent 6000 English into Spain to joyn with the Spaniards in the invasion of the Dutchy of Chira but Ferdinand who had a quite other designe sent them against John Albert King of Navarre by the right of Catherine de la Fosse who being wholly unprovided for Ferdinand carried his business with high dissimulation towards him fled into France and so Ferdinand seized the kingdom of Navarre without any cost or pains Speculum Tragicum Anno 1612. 9. It is no newes for the Spaniards to sow sedition in divers kingdoms at one and the same time as they did Anno 158â— in France and England Thuan. lib. 179. 10. Anno 1581. The Spaniards sowed discord amongst the Knights of Maltha by setting Matuirno Scuto Romaegassio against John Bishop of Casserio Avernio chief of that Order and casting him in prison from whence he was cited to Rome to his triall whither he came and stoutly acquitted himself howbeit he dyed during his abode there Thuan. lib. 74. 12. The Spaniards raised seditions in Scotland and sollicited with vain promises some Noblemen to a revolt some of whom were beheaded for it The States to the Letters of Ernestus Anno 1594. Thuan. lib. 109. 13. Antonio de Laeva a Spaniard and Governor of Lumbardy for Charles the fifth being besieged at Milan thought fit to spare neither things Humane nor Divine for the maintenance of his own honor and Caesars dignity and in stead of pay granted every Citie and every Citizen thereof to be most inhumanly plundred by the Souldiers that by the ejection of the Duke of Milan Sforsa might enjoy the command of so great a Principate Paulus Jovius lib. 6. Elogiorum 14. Hugo de Moncada governed Sicily after such a fashion that he left many monuments of avarice and cruelty behind him for he put many Sicilian Gentlemen to death and amongst the rest the Lord of Camerata for that he lived somewhat seditiously according to the ancient loosness of that Nation Paul Jov. lib. 6. Elog. 15. How cruelly did they use the Hussites in Bohemia as beating them dragging them cutting children in two and throwing them to their mothers saying Jam habes sub utraque Now thou hast it under both alluding to the ceremony of the Hussites who took the Sacrament under both species 16. Thomas Campanella in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy Chap. 26. faith That the King of Spain must take care that none but a Catholick king be elected to the Crown of Poland And therefore wise noble Embassadors must be sent to Câ—achoven to give weight and authority to the Spanish union amongst the Electors and prevail to have one of the King of Spains younger sons chosen King of Poland And the people of Scandinaven and Dantzick must also be moved to set forth a Fleet to sea against the English c. CHAP. XV. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and Rule IF that old saying Semper imperare superiorem esse aliis Alwayes to command and be superior to others be innate to any Nation it is certainly so more to the Spaniards then to any other since all their actions cogitations and consultations tend to that end and therefore they may most clearly consent and say with Caesar Si violandum est jus regnandi causa violandum If right must be wrong'd it must be wrong'd for Powers sake For this reason they are not afraid by publick writings to admonish and exhort their king yea and to shew him the wayes and means how he may arrive to the universall Monarchy amongst whom Thomas Campanella is the Ring-leader Nor did Charles the fifth seem to have laid slight foundations for this Monarchy when besides those kingdoms which he possest by right of succession in the West and elsewere he was also made Emperour of the Romans to which were yet added other titles afterwards and it hath been hitherto the onely business of the Spaniards to be alwayes in warres that so they may be ready upon all occasions to produce that Monarchy of the whole Christian world which they have long since
conceived For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale to this end were the seditions raysed in Scotland c. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause and in the Dutchy of Cleve Gulick and the Imperial Citie of Aquisgrane Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109. 5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphick Oracle and most infallible prophesie That the last Monarchy shall be fixt in Spain and that for this reason that in regard it came in order from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece and returned for a few years into Asia again under Alexander and his successors at length out of Greece to Rome therefore it necessarily followes that it must be establisht in Spain as being the most Westward of all other Countreys Thuan. lib. 133. 6. The Spaniards for the setling of their Monarchy by warres fraud and other plots destroy as many as are able to oppose them as Anno 1584. when Andino according to most mens opinions was poysoned whereof he being dead the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed by one hired of the Duke of Parma and the Queen of England aimd at by the same Arts at the same time lib. 79. 7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more then by subduing all other Kings and Princes to make themselves Monarchs of the whole Christian world Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118. 8. At the election of Charles the fifth Anno 1519. one of the Episcopall Electors said That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire would hardly restore it again to its liberty Sleidanus 9. The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy do not only permit but allow and perswade even incestuous marriages lest by the division of kingdoms forsooth their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse Thuan. lib. 107. 10. Moreover for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces to streighten their priviledges liberties to impose new taxes and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches to poverty and misery Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60. 11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is to take off all free Elections which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperours and in the kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungary yea and by the exclusion of the right heirs to advance their own Kings to kingdoms as in the said kingdom of Portugal Thuan. lib. 69. 13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion his son Philip was troubled at it as if he had not had kingdomes enough even without those Provinces which when the Father observed he comforted him saying Quidvis promittas quid enim promittere laedit That he had indeed promised those Provinces but that there were many by-wayes and tricks to be found out to shun the performance Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 108. 14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon wherein he told them in most eloquent words That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong to get and occupate other kingdomes that so he might come to the long hop'd for Monarchy For it was fâ—r that since there was but one Head namely the Pope in spiritual affairs so there should be also but one namely the King of Spain in temporal and that he was therefore called Catholick because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world Now the wiser sort do justly conceive these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. That the inexpleble covetousnesse of the king of Spain was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine and that they were reputed his enemies by him whosoever should endeavour to stop or hinder his designe to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family Thuan. lib. 118. 15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power that they never fail in all their kings dominions to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices and substitute Castillians in their places which more disgusted the Catalonians then any thing else as may be seen up and down in their complaint anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point and especially chap. 34.35 16. Antonio de Leva charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperour and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Dutchy of Milan and himself put in his place Paul Jovius lib. 6. Elog. 17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand to abdicate the Roman Empire and transfer it upon his son Philip or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy and the Low Countreys But Ferdinand answered him That he was called Augustus or the enlarger of the Empire and therefore he could not grant ought thereof to any other Zniegrefius part 1. Apotheg p. 112. 18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperour and answer being made That Europ was like a mans Body and that Spain represented the Head And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperour Livius Fink Graecensis replied If so then Germany wins the day for she is like the Belly and it is clear that the Belly rules all and all obey the Belly Znicgrefius p. 1. Apotheg p. 309. CHAP. XVI The Ambition Arrogance Boasting and Scorn of the Spaniards AS it happened to C. Caesar and Cn. Pompeius that the one could not endure a Superior and the other an Equall so is it also with the Spanish Nation For conceiving themselves only to be Eagles and to fly above the clouds they look upon all others as Dolopes or creepers as they frequently testifie both by their words and deeds When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugall the Spaniards to terrifie the Portuguezes boasted thus That there was no power equall to that of the Spaniards who as often as they had had warres had vanquisht France led the Princes of Germany in triumph put the Turk to flight and freed Maltha from the Barbarians Thuan. lib. 97. 2. King Philip the second after the seizure of Portugall whether justly or unjustly I say not caused money to be coyned with this Inscription Non sufficit orbis Luckius in Nummis p. 279. 3. When the
intollerable pride by the depression of others 6. That the Vice-kings Officers and Governors have ingrost all the riches of all the Provinces Ibid. 7. By how much the severer an Officer professes himfelf in the kingdome of Naples especially towards the Nobility in so much the more favour and esteem is he with the Spaniards by whom he is advanced in Court and exalted to higher degrees and titles 8. The aforementioned Author also complains of other burthens imposed and daily to be imposed upon that kingdome as of an extraordinary Donative of certain * Granos Granos is as I remember about an English penny or somwhat more in value which every Fire or Family is bound to pay for the quartering of Souldiers and for salaries to the Vice-kings Train of seven Granos for the guard of the Towers of five Granos for the Field-Sergeants of nine Granos for the reparation of the wayes of the tax for five foot Souldiers upon a hundred fires of yearly pensions of the new tribute put upon wrought and unwrought silk of the tax upon Cards which is farmed at 20000 Crowns a year and other emunctions of this kind 9. He complains that the King of Spains Vice king commanded the Neapolitans once to make and eat the bread of a certain root called Panis porcinus or Hoggs bread which proclamation was nevertheless forthwith suspended under pretext that it was commanded onely to try whether in time of need that bread would suffice 10. He complains that the Vice-king would needs crown a certain fellow called Catinario who was rich indeed but not considerable otherwise in despight of the Order of Knighthood 11. He complains that he took the Princes daughter out of a Monastery by force under pretext to try whether she had a mind to marry or no when the true reason of it was because he resolved to match her to his own son 12. He complains that when the States of the kingdom intended to send the Donative of the kingdome to the King by their own men the Vice-king would needs send it by his men and forced them to deliver it to him 14. He complains that he got in a short time seven thousand pistols a year for his wife and as much for his son Bernardino out of the Church Revenewes c. That Dispute was written An. 1579. in the beginning of April and it is to be seen in Thesauro Politico Casp Ensi part 3. Apothegmate 62. CHAP. XIII The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Common-wealths thereof IT would be a business of too much length for me by going through a series of Histories to pick out all the prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Princes and Republicks thereof and insert them into this Narration especially since some of them against the Pope are already alledged and other are to be alledged Cap. de Praevaricationibus c. And yet in regard that though there be so various Principates and so various Common-wealths there is yet scarce any which complains not of the Spanish domination and ambition it seems fit to alledge at least some of them and omit the rest to avoid prolixity 1. What monuments of their ambition they have exprest towards the Pope and his dominions is said above What intention they have towards the Republick of Venice is very well known to the said common-wealth though she think fit to dissemble it and yet she hath not forgotten how craftily they carried themselves in the Confederation or vvar against the Turk and in the Controversie between Paul the fifth and Her Nor do I think the Genuezes have also forgotten what their designs were against them both in and after the time of Dory How they seized upon the Dutchy of Milan Sleiden shewes In the Countreys of Piemont and Savoy and other territories they have erected very many monuments of their prevarications and are daily erecting more What the Sienneses and Florentines have suffered by the Spaniards is taught by the Historians both of this and the former Age. I willingly pass by the Dutchys of Mantua Montferat Ferrara Appulia and Calabria nor will I touch the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily because every body knows by what tricks they got those how unworthily the Spanish Ministers treat the Noblemen and subjects thereof insomuch as that according to Histories and Relations for never so slight a cause as sometimes for an inconsiderate word their lives and fortunes are in danger 2. How the king of Spain invited Charles the eighth king of France to make vvar upon Italy Comines 5. lib. Belli Neopolitani neer the end 3. Anno 1617. Whilst the vvarres yet lasted between Ferdinand of Austria and the Common-vvealth of Venice the vice-Vice-king of Naples invited and encouraged the Turks to make vvarre upon the Venetians but the Turks made an impression into Sicily and carried away great booty Baudart lib. 38. Vt etiam Epistola ipsa 4. It is written also in the same book how the Embassador of Savoy complained to the Princes of Germany at the Dyet at Hailbrun of the breach of Articles 5. Anno 1618. in the beginning of May vvas discovered a dangerous plot and treason of the Spaniards against Italy and the Republicks thereof vvhen they intended by their Emissaries to set Venice in many places on fire and kill the Senators but the business being detected many of the Conjurators were hanged many stifled and many executed other wayes Baudart lib. 38. 6. At the same time the Spaniards attempted to surprize Cremona but the business had the same issue vvhich the plot upon Venice had Ibid. CHAP. XIV The Praevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms THe King of Sweden smelling the Catholick Kings designs howbeit he could hope for nothing from the house of Orange yet he despised all the said Kings great promises and refused him the use and loan of his great Vessels whereof he hath good store and for that reason the Poles several times rejected the Austrians lest by the addition of so vast a kingdom to Bohemia and Hungary the City of Dantz by the benefit thereof should forbid commerce and force the Hollanders to submit Thuan. lib. 107. 2. Nor was it without some remorse of conscience that when Philip the second and his Father were a dying they desired that the business of the kingdom of Navarre might be looked into by Lawyers and learned men to wit because they were convinced that they held it unjustly by the exclusion of the right heir Thuan. lib. 120. 3. The reason why the Spaniards gape for the possession of Saluces and the Territories adjoyning is because they can most conveniently send Souldiers from thence into the Low-Countreys and therefore Fontano Anno 1600. earnestly urged the Popes Nuntio that the King of France might yeeld up the County of Bress Thuan. 125 Anno 1605. Don Pedro Guzman Fontano Vice-King of Lumbardy summoned most of the Princes of Italy by the President and Treasurers of the
Spaniards besieged Leyden they said That the starres in the Firmament would be pulled down with ones hand before that Citie would be freed from the siege Olerus in Lauro Nassovica pag. 30. 4. The pride of the Spaniards is such that if they see themselves reduced to streights they will not first ask conditions of peace but seek it by some second or third hand as they did anno 1597. when they suborned the Emperour and he the king of Denmark to move the Princes to a pacification Thuan. lib. 119. 7. A certain arrogant and proud Spanish Count asked a certain Gentleman coming out of the Court what was said of him in Court The other answered Nor bad nor good The Count being angry cudgel'd him and presently after gave him fifty Ducats saying Go thy wayes now to the Court and tell what I have done to thee to wit both bad and good Florista Oratione de gloria The Duke of Alva used to say That he would bring the Low Countrey people to obedience in despight of Heaven and Earth and also that the Sun and Moon should lose their light before hâ— would remit or take off the tax of the tenth penny Metteran And Juan de Vergas that bloody President of the Councell was also wont to say Vergas habet virgas Vergas has Rods. 9. When the Professors of Lovain complained to him for having taken Prince Philip of Orange out of the University and violated the priviledges of the said University he answered Non curamus vestros privilegios Such as himself vvas such was his Latin 10. That Navy vvhich vvas sent against England 1588. the Spaniards termed Invincible and compose these verses upon it alluding to the Queen of England Tu quae Romanas voluisti spernere leges Hispano disces subdere colla jugo Thou who the Roman Lawes scornd'st to obey Shalt learn to bow thy neck to Spanish sway But hese words were indeed but Wind and Smoke 11. The Duke of Alva caused a most magnificent Trophie of Brasse to be set up at Antwerp vvith various Elegies of his own exploits as Thuan describes it lib. 44. Anno 1569. upon vvhich the Duke of Areschots jest may be seen beneath cap. 33. Apotheg 12. The Spaniards after they had so miserably used the Indians were wont to brag that God had given them those victories because they made so just a war against Barbarians and Infidels Bartholomaeus de Casa CHAP. XVII The perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises NO wonder that this vice is common to the Spaniards with the Africans For in regard that they are for the most part their successors they seem to be also heirs of their vices amongst which perfidie was not the least and therefore I have thought fit to shew some examples thereof that so this Chapter may have credit True it is that King Philip sometimes promised the United Provinces pardon for what was past and made proclamation therof but the States being taught by the examples of others were not so credulous as for that reason to lay down Arms or consent to a wily fallacious pacification For so an 1576. Don Juan de Austria feigning conditions of peace vvith the States vvas convicted of fraud by that that amongst the Letters of Hieronymo Rhoda there was found one That he should first court his Countrey-men with fair words and by other means and assistance reduce Holland and Zealand and then he should punish the rebels according to their merit mean while that he should carry himself warily and conceal his design with exquisite Art Thuan. lib. 62. 1. How true and faithfull the Spaniards be to their Associates the case and end of Gomeron may shew whom Fontano cunningly enticed to Brussels cast him his two brothers in prison afterwards beheaded him in the sight of Hanâ—e which Orvilliers would not yeeld up to him without any respect to the Noblenesse of his Family or that he served the Henoticks who yet were most zealous to the Spaniards c. See Thuan. lib. 112. Anno 1595. Nor did they deal much more faithfully with Mercuriano chief Captain after Metuanio of the Legists for they endeavoured by all means to alienate the Nobility from him and force him to live as they pleased Thuan. lib. 113. 7. How the Spaniards have performed their promises to such as had done them any kindnesses the example of the Portuguezes shewes Thuan c. 3. lib. 78. 8. Don Juan de Austria Anno 1577 being put in mind of the Contract made and signed by the States said That the States must shew more prudence then to complain if the Kings interest were advanced by the breach of conditions 9. It is the Spanish Maxime That the promises of Princes made to their rebellious subjects are not binding 10. Lewis the 12. King of France said That the perfidie of the Paenes and Carthaginians was anciently much celebrated but that now the Spaniards sufficiently supplied their places 11. Anno 1577. Don Juan de Austria renewd the pacification of Gant with king Philips Provinces and tooke away the Spanish Souldiers but forthwith brought them back again and so made the later worse then the former And vvhen he resolved to cut off the head of Peter Pan of Mecklin and was informed that it was against the Pacification he answered That the pacification only concerned such as were banished and not such as remained in their Countrey A fine interpretation Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 106. 12. Howbeit the Spaniards made a peace with Charles the eighth King of France and many other magnificent promises yet they sent private Letters and Agents to various Princes and chiefly to the Venetians and made war against him not onely by themselves but by others also Comines lib. 5. Bello Neopolitani 13. The Duke of Ossuna the Kings Deputy in the Kingdom of Naples Anno 1617. presumed to maintain 1. That Agreements and Oathes obliged Princes of smaller Countreys to keep them but not his King because forsooth he was the greatest and most potent of the Christian world 2. That all the Kings promises and engagements ought to be accommodated to the resolutions of his Councels and the variations of times 3. That the Kings Ministers were not bound to what the King commanded but to what was advantagious to the King and Kingdom Baudart lib. 38. Anno 1617. CHAP. XVIII The Spaniards Hypocrisie and Dissimulations AS the Spaniards fall short of no nation in the breaking of Promises and Engagements so do they also excell in the Art and skill of Hypocrisie and dissimulation whereof there be many old and modern examples amongst which that great one of Philip the second may be noted who when Anno 1579 he invaded the kingdom of Portugall with his Army and knew well enough notwithstanding what sinister reports went up and down of him not onely in Portugal but even in Italy too finding it fit to indulge Fame a little by a dissimulation very familiar to him as if he
both to him and his Kingdom Philip King of Spain seemed forsooth at first to disapprove and disswade it but it was observed by the wiser sort that he was not reall in the business as promising much and performing little yea and somtimes instantly denying his promises Thuan. lib. 65. 2. King Philip of Spain by his Emissaries the Jesuits deterred Henry successor to Sebastian aforesaid as well by menaces as other perswasions from his purpose of subrogating John Duke of Braganzia in his place in respect of his age howbeit all the Nobility of Portugall favoured the said Duke yea and he also wrote Letters to the common people of Lisbon to debauch them and gain them to himself which he at length in his Npehew Anno 1640 atchieved Thuan. lib. 65. sub finem 3. None have ever more sharply resisted free election for want of Male-issue and in a dubious right of succession to the Crown of Portugall then King Philip and his adherents Thuan. lib. 69. 4. Philip by Ferdinand of Castile deterred Henry King of Portugall from marriage that by his dying a Batchelour he might more easily come to the Crown of Portugal Thuan lib. 69. 5. Thuanus saith that Philip intended to prosecute his right to the Kingdom of Portugall by way of Arms as putting more confidence in his might then in his right or in the opinions of his Lawyers 6. Philip made many large promises to King Henry and the Portuguezes by the Duke of Ossuma his Embassadour to make him King which afterwards were not half performed Thuan. lib. 69. 7. Whilst the suit was still depending and King Henry yet living King Philip armed himself against Portugal which Henry perceiving began to boggle as being perswaded by Leo Euric a Jesuit that he would merit heaven if he would appoint Philip for his Successour Thuan. lib. 69. 8. The matter being come to blowes Philip referred the businesse to the Divines the Jesuits and the Franciscans to be discust at leasure A fine way of proceeding and proving his cause For they excluding the Popes authority because it was a meer earthly business c. gave their votes for Philip. Thuan. lib. 69. And howbeit the Pope indeed first by Sega his Nuntio and afterwards by Alexander Riario were urgent with Philip to desist from war til the business were composed yet could he effect nothing at all with him See Thuan. lib. 70. Anno 1580. but put off the Conference with various reasons delayes and excuses 10. The Duke of Alva took Cascaio by force and although before it were done the besieged put forth a white Colour and desired a Parley the Spaniards notwithstanding in hope of prey stormed the Town and put Diego de Meneses whom they found there together with Enric Perei ra Governour of the Castle with some others to death Thuan. lib. 70. 11. An. 1581. King Philip of Spain at his coronation gave the Nobility of Portugal a general pardon for what was past but the event answered not their expectation for not onely Antonio Prior Francisco Portugallo Count of Vimioso and Bishop Juan Garda brother to the said Count together with fifty more principal men of the contrary faction and all religious men were excluded from it Thuan. lib. 73. 12. Philip readily granted the Portuguezes all such of their requests as were of almost no moment but such as were of any concernment he either flatly denied or answering them ambiguously in the margine eluded Thuan. lib. 73. In the same manner he also denied the requests of the Nobility 13. How Philip gul'd the demands of such of the Portuguezes as had rendred him faithfull service in the acquest of the Crown Thuan teaches lib. 75. saying That either the Kingdom of Portugal in right belonged to him and then they were bound in justice to help him get it or not and so they were traytors to their own Countrey but whethersoever it were of both he owed them nothing and that it ought to suffice them that he had given them their lives 14. How inexorable and severe Philip shewed himself to some sacred persons who were against him in his acquisition of Portugal see by the Letters above Chap. 2. for two thousand of them perisht in that war Thuan lib. 72. 15. Immediatly after Philip got the Kingdome of Portugall he utterly outed the Portuguezes and preferred Spaniards in the government thereof Whereupon Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583. It troubled the Portuguezes that Francisco Villefanga a Castilian and not a Portuguez was made high Treasurer of Portugall 16. Michael de Vasconcellis the Spanish Kings Secretary shewed himself so proud and insolent in the said Kings Councell at Lisbon that he forbore not to strike some prime persons who came to him upon businesse Others of the chiefe Nobility he condemned and sent to the Gallies and used other insolencies Ex Relationibus Portugalliae Anno 1640. 17. Comines neer the end of his fifth Book of the Neapolitan warre sayes that the Spaniards do naturally hate and contemn he Portuguezes CHAP. IX The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countreys TIme the greedy Readers expectation require me now to return out of forraign parts into our Low Countreys and shew what things have been cruelly perfidiously trecherously and lecherously both done suffered then by the Spaniards before and after this war which hath already been begun and with no lesse variety then heat and courage of the parties contending continued since the year 1566. But in regard there is so great a cloud and bulk of them that one my sooner grasp the sky in ones hand then relate them either with tongue or pen Besides that there be many other Authors extant of both Religions who have collected them with as much faith as care and have inserted them in their Histories according to the series of years I will forbear to tire my pen with setting them down There are few who have not seen the History of Emanuel Metterano together with the continuation of William Baudert written in Low-Dutch as also the Relations of P. Boorn of the same War besides the History of Eberhard Raid to be silent of the noble Historian Jacobo Augusto Thuano the Livies of the French Kingdom by whom both the beginning and successe of the Low-Countrey-war are written with great elegancy and integrity where we may also see what plots were contrived against the Noblemen and especially against them of the house of Orange both Father Son how many Towns taken and miserably plundred and the Inhabitants more then barbarously treated how many rebellions raysed by the Spanish Souldiers and how miserably the subjects and Citizens especially they of Antwerp and Mecklin were abused and pillaged yea how many thousands died by the Hangmans hands excluding such as perisht in the warres To which may also be added the Martyrology of Corvinus and the Apologie of the Prince of Orange besides the speech of Ansellus to the German Princes together with other Apologetick writings
kingdomes of Spain might be committed was himself committed and dyed with grief of mind c. Nor did the Duke of Braganza or the Marquess de Monte Real obtain their rewards and dignities expected from king Philip from whence they both of them had suffered much affliction the former a while after deceased lamenting that his Country was brought under the Castillian yoak and the kings promises not performed Thuan. lib. 78. 10. The ingratitude of the Spaniards towards Marquess Spinola may appear by this That the king did not only not pay him his promised Sallery but did not also satisfie those debts which he had contracted in the said kings name and for which he had past his word so that when he died he left nothing to his son but debts for which he durst not claim his inheritance 11. The Ingratitude of the Spaniards towards such as do them service especially the Germans is shewed by Thuan. lib. 16. where he sayes That the king paid the Spaniards and neglected the rest But Count Henry Vandenberg layes it more open when in his Letter to the Infanta Isabel Anno 1632. amongst other things he complains That without any respect to his forty years services done the King of Spain in which time he lost six brothers in his Majesties warrs he had not onely received no thanks but moreover by the envy of the Spaniards especially of the Marquess of Leganes he was deprived of his charge of chief Generall of the Kings Army That the Flemings were every where thrust out and Spaniards preferred who every way opprest and supprest them and contemned their Nobility That they labour by all means to protract the warre thereby the better to exhaust and impoverish the Belgick Provinces That they were angry if they had not alwayes the best Commands in the Army That they shot his Image through at Brussels and defaced it Tha they intercepted and concealed the Kings Letters to him c. Which later complaints were taken out of his Letters to the Lords of Brabant CHAP. XX. What the Spanish succours are AS it was said by I know not whom of the Ancients A socio infido qui concilium petit vel accipit ex poculo inaurato venenum haurit He who asks or takes counsell of an unfaithfull companion drinks poyson out of a guilded Cup. The same may they also say who have recourse to the succours of the Spaniards for the Spaniards what they dare not do openly as hindered either by some reason of Blood or Religion that they indirectly attempt with a vain offer and ostentation of defence Cardinall Perron and others agree in this opinion for in his speech to Pope Paul the fifth concerning the pacification vvith the Venetians he argues thus That the Spaniards through their in-begotten ambition would make use of their time and so it would come to passe that his Holinesse by the Sectaries on the one side and the Spaniards on the other who sell themselves for Auxiliaries would be most unhappily endangered vext And presently after The Spanish succour will be unsafe and very small besides for they are for the most part burthensome and importunate to their friends Thuan. lib. 137. 2. Anno 1575. When there was a disturbance betwixt the Nobles and Citizens of Genua K. Philip craftily feigned himself to be troubled at those dissentions and gave leave for Corn to be brought out of Sicily for the use of the Citie But Don Juan de Austria ingenuously confest That he consented to the warre against the Genuezes and that he had rather when he saw them who were in the Citie refuse equall conditions have them try it out amongst themselves then flye to any other Prince but such as were Philips friends for their protection nor did his Ministers cease more and more to inflame the Nobles against the Citizens But by the intervention of Princes his hope was eluded Thuan. lib. 61. 3. That the Spaniards succours prove for the most part to the ruine of them to whom they are given may be learned by the ruine of Frederick of Arragon for Gonsalvo king Ferdinands General feigning that those Forces which were sent for his destruction were sent for his relief under colour of securing his said Forces seized upon some Towns of Calabria by Fredericks own consent and a while after laid open both his own and his Kings designs yea and Fredericks son was also detained and sent into Spain and there kept prisoner contrary to his word given See the story in Spec. Tragic anno 1501. 5. The privat differences of aemulation vvich arose between Meduanio the chief of the Henotick faction and the Duke of Parma were encreased by suspitions as if the said Duke by king Philips order had undertaken an Expedition into France that so under shew of friendship and aid he might take all the authority from Meduanio and putting Garrisons into the places taken oppress the French who aspired to liberty with the hard yoak of slavery Thuan. lib. 99. 6. For the succour which the Spaniards gave the Duke of Newburgh in the controversie about Cleve and Gulick neither the said Duke himself nor any of his subjects have any great reason to thank them for they did not only exhaust those Principates but carried all things according to their pleasure as if forsooth they had been the lawfull Lords thereof 7. The Spaniards under shew and pretext of succouring their sociates and confederates seek how themselves may be able to surprize and draw Cities to their own power and possession which had almost hapned to the Citizens of Lyons in France Anno 1594. had they not perceived the fraud and reconciled themselves with Henry the fourth Thuan. lib. 104. who sayes moreover lib. 107. that the Spaniards are wont to undertake the protection of kingdoms but that those protections at last draw domination with them Thus was the kingdom of Bohemia and Hungary which are otherwise carried by election and thus was the Common-wealth of Genua subdued under the colour of protection But the protection of an inferior is useless of an Equal fruitfull of a Supeperior suspect and perilous CHAP. XXI The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages THere was a proverb amongst the Ancients Eadem fideliâ— duas dealbare parietes To whiten two walles with one Chalk which we interpret thus with one daughter to get two sons in law 1. That the Spaniards have this Art in daily practice the better to advance their interest thereby it plainly appears by the many matches which they pretended for the Infanta Isabel aâ— sometimes to Guise somtimes to Ernesto and sometimes to others Thuan. lib. 106. 107. 2. The marriages with the daughters of Spain have scarce succeeded well to any for either they have been barren as Eugenia was or the causes of warres as the Duke of Savoyes wife was or scrues into the secrets of the Princes their husbands as those of the house of Austria are Anonymus 3. Philip
certain Nobleman of that Kingdom a Kinsman of the Popes notwithstanding the Popes intercession 9. How the Spaniards gulled the Censure of Pope Vrban the 8th against Poza the Jesuit Alphonso de Vergas in his relation teaches at large See also the Appendix to that relation 10. Thomas Campanella a Spanish Dominican Fryer in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy cap. 6. says We must labour to get a Spanish Pope or rather one of the house of Austria 11. That the Spaniards bear not that reverence and respect which they pretend to the Bishop of Rome but abuse his Authority for their own Interest is clear enough out of Ancellus in his Speech which he made to the Princes of the Empire 1597. Thuan. lib. 118. 12. What stone did the Spaniards leave unmoved in the Election of Clement the 8th to wit that by the exclusion of him a more Hispaniolized Pope might be chosen and chiefly Sanctorio though yet for all that Clement were elected who after he had absolved Henry the fourth King of France from his Excommunication the Spaniards said openly That the Pope was worse and more an Heretick then he whom he had absolved Perionius in his Epistle to Henry the fourth Thuan. 13. When Leo was chosen Pope the Spaniards reclaimed much against it especially Cardinal de Avila who when Pope Leo was nominated cryed out as loud as he could Treason Treason I protest I protest He is an enemy to the Catholick King See Perionius in his Epistle to the King And Hulsius in Leon. ii They had a design to poyson the Pope nor was it far short of truth for he lived but 25. days and the Spanish Arts are known 14. In like manner did the Spaniards behave themselves at the Election of Vrban the 8th which when they were not able to hinder they set forth a Libel at Rome wherein they asked Whether the Pope were a Catholick or no To which Pasquil answered Peace peace He is most Christian And at the Popes Arms they jeered thus Mella dabunt Gallis Hispanis spicula verum Spicula si figunt vita cum melle carebunt Their Honey France to Spain their stings they 'l give If stings they fix nor Bees nor Honey'l live But another answered Pope Urbans Arms were as I remember three Bees Vrbani Imperium vis dicam quale futurum Dùm dominantur apes copia mellis erit What Urbans sway shall be wilt thou needs know Whilest Bees bear sway still shall their Honey flow CHAP. III. The Praevarications and excesses of the Spaniards towards the rest of the Catholicks THE rule whereby I have purposed to my self briefly and as it were by Indexes to shew the Praevarications of the Spaniards permits me not to recount whole Histories of their excesses and Praevarications towards the rest of the Catholicks themselvs for the confirmation of the Argument of this Chapter it will suffice slightly and cursorily to hint such Histories and Authors as have written them more at large 2. In the year 1580. when the war was hot in Portugal besides other extraordinary cruelties committed by the Spaniards against the Catholicks and Clergy they came to the Church of St. Roch neer the Almeda which is the Jesuits Colledge and whither many people out of respect to the Jesuits and for safety sake had transported their goods of most value and thrusting out the Italians under colour of Friendship and as if they had been sent by their Commanders to guard the Place partly by force and partly by theft they plundered the said goods and carried them to the Navy then neer at hand Thuan. lib. 70. And many of the Clergy who would not adhere to the Spaniards in their Invasion of Portugal were killed and destroyed by them as is delivered by the Historians who wrote that War 3. When Charles the 5th sent his Spanish Souldiers against the Turk under the conduct of Antonio de Leva the said Souldiers used all kinds of baseness coveteousness and libidiousness towards the Catholicks in Austria plundring and firing of Towns as if they had been amongst their open enemies 4. Who can choose but be strucken with extream horror to read the sacking of the City of Antwerp 1576. as it is described by Thuan. lib. 62. when it began to be a vulgar saying amongst the Spaniards to them of the same Religion when they begged them to spare them for Religions sake If you have a good faith that is for your souls but if you have much money that is for us and our Trunks 5. The fine Latine Speech and the form of condemning men which Vargas the Spanish Inquisitor was wont to use when being drunk and drowzy he pronounced the same Sentence upon all such as were accused unseen and unheard viz. Haeretici franxerunt templa simulachra Catholici nihil fecerunt contra ergo utrique debent patibulari The Hereticks have broken the Churches and Images the Catholicks have done nothing to the contrary therefore they must both be hanged 6. Nor is that usual scoff of the Duke of Alva related by Thuan. lib. 42. to be silenced viz. That one Salmons head was more worth then fifty Frogs heads for the said Duke fulfilled this verse Tros Tyriusque fuat nullo discrimine habendi Be they Protestants or Catholicks if they be not Hispaniolized c. away with them Hereof the Counts of Egmond Horn Montigni and other Noblemen had sad experience yea and all the Catholick part of the Low-Countries likewise Witness so many Towns taken sackt and dispeopled Witness those Towns which even yet being loaded with Spanish Garrisons are brought almost to the utmost calamity by various exactions pressures and burthens Witness the Clergy of Portugal heretofore and at present the Kingdom of Catalonia omitting that of Arragon Sicilie and Naples Witness some Bishops of the Empire one whereof to another great man brake out into these words I see and foresee that the Spaniards seek nothing more then that we and other Bishops may speedily die and bequeath our Bishopricks and habits to them by Will But what do we read Yea even whilest we are yet living they are plotting and struggling to pull them from us and put them upon themselves And further says he It is not enough for them to have invaded the Electoral Land but they will needs mount up to our Altars and place themselves neer the Virgin and her childe We need not says he go far for the Archbishop of Trevirs and the Abbot of Maximinus can testifie by experience c. 13. Philip the second King of Spain in his Pardon which he granted them who had resisted him in Portugal ever excepted sacred Persons so that he gave leave to all people either to kill or severely punish them For when that War of Portugal was ended it is known that two thousand Religious men in the Islands and in Portugal either by the sword or some other mischief lost their lives for the said Wars sake Thuan. lib. 75.
anno 1582. Philip the second son to Charles the fifth confiscated all the goods of the Archbishop of Toledo and caused him to be poysoned because he had said and that constantly indeed that the said Charles last Confession was that he confided only in the merit of Christ See Baudartius lib. 16. Apoph where also is rehearsed that contemptible Epitaph made upon Charles the fifth Hic jacet intùs Carolus quintus Ora pro eo bis vel ter Ave Maria Paternoster 15. Anno 1576. in that fury and direption of Antwerp raised by the Spaniards wherein they spared none of what Religion soever they ran up and down the Markets and streets crying out as loud as they could Todo todo todo All all all Dineros y no palabras Moneys and not words They brake open gates and windows with their guns and weapons crying Fuora fuora vellacos Out Knaves out and one of the chief of them caused these words to be wrought upon his pillow Castigador de los Flamengos The Chastiser of the Flemings 16. At Mechlin they plundred all the Archbishops of that Town and all the Bishops of Namurs his Church-stuff the dammage whereof was valued at some millions of gold See Speculum Hisp Tyran in Belgio p. 41. 17. At Owdenard they threw some of the Clergy into the water Ibid. 18. The Spaniards likewise sufficiently testifyed their cruelty towards the Catholicks when the Admiral of Arragon invaded Westphalia the Bishoprick of Munster and Paterborn nor spared so much as the Bishoprick of Colein See Speculum Arragonicum Specul Hisp tyran in Belgio p. 99 100 101 c. 19. The Spaniards did more hurt in the Indies by their cruelty then good by their Religion yea they were often cause that the Religious men were murthered and ill used by the Indians as Bartholomè de la Casa teaches in his spec Hisp tyran in India And the same moreover says that the Spaniards could not endure that the said Religious men should be there and teach in regard that thereby the Indians were not so much their slaves as being better informed yea and they took it ill that any of them should be converted to the Christian Faith The same Barthol 20. The Noblemen of Catalonia discover remarkable examples of the Spanish Praevarications against the Catholicks and Clergy in their Catholick Complaint especially p. 4.10 12. See below Cap. de Cataloniae regno relata nostra 21. Nojo Moncata who first prophaned the Church in the Vatican at Rome never violated before and dedicated from the times of the very Goths and Vandals to St. Peter and Paul the Saints Guardian of the City was a Spaniard Jovius in ejus Elogio 22. The Spaniards use Churches for their safeâ—â— as Sanctuaries and yet if others flie thither for refuge they violently pull them out and carry them away without any respect to the Sacredness of the place or priviledge whereof the Reader hath an example in Perez in the Kingdom of Arragon And Anno 1640. the Vice-King of Naples drew a certain Grandee of Naples out of the Church and put him to death CHAP. IV. The Spanish Inquisition THat all mischiefs were brought into the world by this Pandora the more sincere and more prudent Catholicks themselves cannot deny how much soever the Fathers of the Council of Trent defend it and how much soever the Spaniards like some Divine Palladium as without which their Religion can hardly stand adore it Whereof Thuan. lib. 104. says thus 1. The Inquisition is a Bencâ—â—â—r Tribunal in Arragon to enervate or weaken the Rights of their Countrey-Liberty invented by the Kings against such as bore publick Offices The Inquisitors a kinde of men of a more then Scythick or barbarous nature ingenious for the invention of most unheard of torments thought nothing sharp and bitter enough to torture mens bodies without sparing either sex or age Robertus Abbatius The Citizens of Lisbone offered King Philip five and twenty hundred M as the Author of the Book of the Inquisition sayes not that the said Inquisition might be taken away but that in the terrible jurisdiction thereof this temperament might be kept That no body might be imprisoned without first knowing his accusers name and expressing the heads of his Crime that so the accused by the knowledge thereof might be able to prepare his answer before his condemnation And in short that the prisoners might be heard according to custome in other Trials before sentence were pronounced against him But the Inquisitors would not endure to have their terrible power so circumscribed for it rambles up and down to express its jurisdiction at pleasure and hath this priviledge in it to give credit to the testimonies of base and perfidious fellows of whom no account is had in other causes By this trick was weakned the liberty of Lumbardy and the Kingdom of Naples the Arragoneses priviledges broken the Lisbonezes and Portuguezes by degrees disarmed Author anonymus ad ordines Belgicos An 1605. apud Thuan. lib. 133. 2. It was the Duke of Alva's designe having reduced the Low Countries to a hard servitude and destroyed the Noblemen to build a Castle for the Spanish Inquisition or Tyranny from whence he might send Armies to destroy the Germans English and French under colour of establishing Religion but the truth is to impose their Monarchy upon the whole Christian World which the Spaniards have long had in their thoughts and for the atchievement whereof there is nothing so detestable in counsell nothing so horrible in fact nor nothing so dishonest in issue but they hold it lawful for them witness Mounts and Berghs seat upon the publick trust with leave of Margaret Dutches of Parma into Spain and unworthily put to death so many Noblemen beheaded and more then 20000 innocent persons butchered by the Hangman The States in their answer to the King of Denmark 1597. Thuan. lib. 11.9 3. The perverse and preposterous form of the Tryals of the Inquisition against all naturall equity and lawfull order is observed in the explication of that jurisdiction as also the barbarousnesse of the torments wherewith contrary to truth whatsoever the Deputies should think fit to fancie they extorted confession from the wretched and innocent prisoners whereby it hapned that they said that it was not invented so much for the maintaining of piety for which there was another way shewed by the ancient Discipline of the Church as for that by ruining the fortunes of all freemen might by this means be brought into danger Thuan. lib. 3. where he likewise recounts how the Dominican Inquisitors being ejected by the Neapolitans there arose tumults about it Anno 1542. 4. How much the Dominican Inquisitors were also hated by the people at Rome and how odious the Inquisition grew to the Romans after the death of Pope Paul 4 Thuanus teaches lib. 23. Anno 1559. 5. Charles 5. An. 1550. granted the Inquisitors power to question not only the common people but the
the second king of Spain caused his lawfull wife Isabel the king of Frances sister to be kild that so he might marry his own sisters daughter Thuan. lib. 71. 4. Amongst the Austrians and Spaniards it is no news for brothers to marry their sisters daughters so Ferdinand of Austria son to Ferdinand the Emperour married Anna Catharina the Duke of Mantua's daughter by his own sister Elianor anno 1580. as before him Philip a Prince of the Family did Anne his sister Maries daughter by the Emperour his cousin german Thua lib. 71. 5. When Anno 1581. the match was treated between Andino and Queen Elizabeth of England king Philip by his Embassador expostulated with the king of France and afterwards laboured to sow seditions in France Thuan lib. 73. 6. What detriment the Spanish matches and friendships have brought upon France is taught by Evagrius de Origine Gestis Francorum lib. 1. fol. 40. lib. 2. fol. 66. lib. eod fol. 86. 7. What good did the English get by the marriage of king Philip to Queen Mary And what the Portuguezes but that by this pretension that kingdome fell into the hands and under the yoak of the Castillians 8. The Spaniards assign their daughters great portions but they keep not their words 9. Thomas Campanella cap. 30. sayes that it imports that the kings of Spain never marry any woman of the House of Austria unless he grow thereby to be heir of some new Countrey CHAP. XXII The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans IT is no new thing for the Spaniards to envy the felicity of the Germans â—or they did it many years ago About he year of Christ 1419. the King of Spain forbad the German Merchants to sail in the Spanish Seas and punished such of them as he took in disobedience to that Order he took 40 ships and killed all the Merchants Albert. Cratzius in Sax. suo l. 11. c. 3. 2. The Spaniards do all they can to obscure and lessen the fame of the German Nation which Avila did in his Pamphlet whereof Albert Marquess of Brandenburgh Anno 1522. complained Thuan. lib. 9. 3. How unjustly and rigidly they treated the Citizens of Mentz men of their own Religion upon whom the Bishop put two thousand for a Garrison at that time when Gustavus Adolphus king of Sweden i. e. anno 1631. made warre in Germany is demonstrated by the Histories of that warre and especially by Cornelius Danckhard in his History of the Swedish affairs 4. Anno 1582. when the Spaniards and French fought at the Tercera Island Santa Cruz the Spanish Generall left the German Souldiers to Hieronymo Ladron to punish them as he pleased Thuan. lib. 75. 5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany Anno 1597. sayes That the King of Spain was not so well affected towards Germany in regard he plainly neglected the imminent danger of his common countrey from the Turk and assisted the Emperour and his Countrey-men with so small succours And moreover that he sought his own advancement by the overthrow of the house of Austria Thuan. lib. 118. 6. How rigidly and contrary to the Electoral dignity Charles the fifth treated John Frederick Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hessia is amply described by Sleydan as also of the cruelties and outrages of the Spaniards in the Dutchy of Wirtenbergh 7. The Spaniards used to commit such Towns as are either far off or ill fortified to the trust and government of the Germans to the end that if they be lost the dishonour and infamy thereof may redound to the Germans and not to themselves which besides other appeared in the rendition of Lingen and Groll which were governed by Herman and Frederick two brothers of the house of Bergh Thuan. lib. 119. Anno 1597. 8. An. 1590. The Generall of the Spanish Army hanged sixty German Souldiers at once because they demanded their pay and afterwards made an example of an hundred and fifty more by cutting off the right hands of some and the three fore-fingers of others 9. The Spaniards in Charles the fifths time being distributed up and down in Garrisons in Germany exercised no less enormities upon the said Emperours party then upon the other Sleidanus 10. In the distress of the Palatine when the Spaniards seized upon the lower Palatinate it happened that a poor Taylor having let fall some passioâ—ate words was taken and carried â—efore the Captain who asking him â—o great a sum of money as he was neither able to pay it nor to provide any body to be bound for it he forthwith caused the man to be hanged without compassion of his wife and seven children who begged for him Relationes 11. If the king of Spain sayes Campanella would seize upon Germany he must first be made Emperour and then under colour of going against the Turk march into Hungary and so surprise the Protestants suddenly at unawares together with the Imperial Cities before they are able to oppose him as Charles the fifth cunningly did and make new Colonies and new laws with Italian Ministers because that Climate endures not the Spaniards c. c. 23. Disc de monarch Hisp CHAP. XXIII How the Spaniards treat and keep Peace That the Spaniards shew bread in one hand and hide a stone in the other treat peace and prepare for war shall be proved in this Chapter 1. In that treaty of the Emperour Maximilian the Spaniards basely and deceitfully guld the Princes by taking the Towns of Boure Leerdam Schoonhof Owdtwateren Bommel and Zirzea 2. The Pacification and Union of Gant 1576. was sworn to and approved of by king Philip but not kept 3. The conference at Colein was pretended to be liked of but in the Interim the people of Hennault Arras and Mastricht were sollicited to disloyalty 4. The Conference being begun in Flanders Queen Elizabeths Deputies were also invited to it and in the mean while that formidable Fleet anno 1588. was prepared and sent to surprize England Thuan. lib. 119. where the States at large express the fraudulent Arts of the Spaniards 5. That the Spaniards peace is not to be trusted to is taught by the Lords of the United Provinces in their answer to the Emperour Rodolph Anno 1591. and there was many stampt by them at that time with this Emblem A Holland virgin fits sweetly sleeping under a quick-set hedge with this adscription Pax patet insidiis and upon a sudden her enemies break through the hedge assault and surprize her Then she sits again under another hedge waking with a Sword and a Guard by her with these words Tuta salus bello est and the breach being stopt the enemies designes are frustrated Luckius in Numismatis p. 328. 6. When the Truce was made between Spain and Holland the Spaniards said That the King made a step backwards thereby to leap the further forwards upon occasion 7. That the conditions of the truce were not candidly and sincerely kept by the Spaniards may